Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 23

Harry walked through the fire into chaos. Behind him he heard Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall come through the fire after him but he could do nothing but stare at the hundreds of people running about the small, dimly lit room.

“Find Poppy and have your injuries looked at Severus, we’ll talk with Black and the Auror’s.” Harry glanced over his shoulder to watch Dumbledore address Severus, the man nodded quietly before McGonagall and the headmaster strode off into the mayhem. Harry had no idea where he was and it had only been through Severus insistence that he stepped through the fireplace in the room of requirement first. Harry jumped a little as he felt a hand come to rest in the small of his back and the boy glanced over his shoulder again to smile at Severus who was now standing behind him.

“Come on Harry, the sooner I get seen to the sooner I can find out what’s going on.” Harry nodded and allowed Severus to guide him through the crowd of people. Harry could do little but take in his surroundings. From inside the place looked to be a house of some sort but there was little furniture and dust lingered in the air like the place hadn’t been used in years. Severus guided him slowly to the staircase in the hall but just as Harry was about to go upstairs he heard someone call his name.

“Harry!” Spinning around Harry smiled as he saw Ron and Hermione pushing their way through the crowds towards him. Almost instantly Harry felt Snape’s hand fall from his back the man continuing on up the steps leaving Harry to talk with his friends. “We heard what happened, are you alright?” Ron reached his best friend first and physically spun his friend around to make sure he was all in one piece. Harry didn’t comment that Ron looked like death warmed up, the red head probably still suffering from his brothers spiked punch at the party earlier.

“I’m fine guys, Sev…I mean Professor Snape was injured but he’s okay. I think we were lucky. I’ve never seen so many death eaters in one attack before.” Harry easily covered his slip up, his friends not even noticing he’d done it; too busy themselves watching people running about frantically around them.

“Tonk’s says it’s really serious this time, that this might just be the beginning of the end.” Hermione was trying and failing to listen in on passing conversations but Harry paid little attention to her comment.

“Yeah, my Dad reckons you-know-who has finally flipped.” Ron looked seriously up at Harry but the boy wasn’t listening his gaze instead was up on the landing above him where he watched Severus disappearing into a room. “Harry are you listening?” Harry turned his attention back to his friends who were now looking at him strangely.

“Um, sorry guys I’ve got to go do something.” Without waiting for his friend’s permission Harry ran up the stairs and entered the room he’d seen Snape go into a moment before. Harry stepped cautiously into the room and glanced around. Despite its deceivingly normal door, the room Harry stepped into was a stark clinical white, with three beds and a chest full of medical implements along one wall. In the center was an examination table and there sitting on the edge of it was Snape, his shirt and cloak stripped off so that he sat in only his leather pants.

“Mr. Potter, what do you think you are doing!” Harry froze as he watched the medi witch spin around from where she’d been attending to Severus’ back. Harry shrugged his shoulders as he watched Snape glance back at him over his own shoulder. Snape’s back was a mess, the razor curse he’d been hit with shredding his skin like paper. The cuts were deep, raw and bleeding and Harry didn’t know how the man had managed to keep running when they’d been back at the castle. “Out this instant young man, Professor Snape doesn’t need you ogling at his injuries…..” The medi witch was striding towards him with even intention of bustling him out of the door again, but Harry desperately wanted to stay with Severus the pull of the bond so strong.

“But, I….” Harry opened his mouth to protest but the medi witch was having none of it as she began to push Harry back towards the door.

“Unless you’re injured Mr. Potter, I don’t want to see you in here….” Madam Pomfrey had already opened the door ready to kick Harry out when Severus’ voice made the woman stop.

“Poppy, let him stay he needs to be here.” Harry watched as Madam Pomfrey looked strangely from Snape back to him, then back to Snape again her frown deepening. Harry didn’t bother waiting for her reaction; instead he ducked under her arm and ran hastily over to where Snape was sitting on the examining table. Almost instantly Harry pushed himself against Snape’s chest the man gently wrapping his arms around the boy and pressing a chaste kiss to the top of his head.

“You should have said something.” Harry whispered as he avoided looking at the blood pooling on the white sheets of the examination table behind Snape. Snape huffed a contemptible laugh and shook his head.

“What good would it have done. I’ve survived worse Harry, these are just scratches.” Over by the door Harry heard Madam Pomfrey gasp in surprise but any forth-coming comment from her was silenced as Severus glared back over his shoulder at the medi witch. “Will you get on with it woman.” Harry smiled against Severus’ chest as he heard the fast click of the medi witch’s heels on the floor as she returned to tending Severus’ injuries. Despite himself Harry couldn’t help but take notice of Snape’s body. While the man was pale he was very well toned and muscular especially for a potions master. There was a light mattering of hair on the man’s chest and Harry smiled at the trail of dark hair that led from the man’s shallow belly button into the waist band of his leather pants. Harry had not bothered much about seeing Snape in any form of undress and when they’d slept together both of them had always been wearing the ugly gray nightshirts preventing any skin on skin contact. Harry was content to sit wrapped in Snape’s arms, listening and feeling each flinch or hiss of pain as the medi witch worked her medical magic. Eventually though she was done and she stepped silently away from the pair to wash her hands in a sink on the far wall.

“They were deep Severus but not life threatening. Probably the result of a badly aimed curse, you were lucky you didn’t take the full hit.” Harry stepped away from Snape as the man stood up from the table his back cleaned, healed and bandaged up to prevent infection. Harry helped Snape pull his shirt and cloak back on before tucking the man’s wand into Snape’s sleeve in just the position he’d notice his mate liked it. Snape smiled his thanks to Harry before turning back to Poppy.

“So how many casualties so far?” Snape inquired as he moved towards the door, obviously eager to be back among the mayhem downstairs. Harry follow him feeling very much like a puppy to its master, but unable to stop himself. Since their kiss on the Quidditch field Harry’s body had completely stopped obeying him and he’d instead been completely reliant on Snape to guide him in what to do.

“Minor injuries so far but we’re expecting the worst this time. Something really has set the cat among the owls.” Harry swallowed nervously as he watched Madam Pomfrey glance between he and Snape. Beside him Harry heard Snape grumble something beneath his breath before he opened the door and strode from the room, leaving Harry to trail quickly after him.

Where there had been chaos in the house before when Harry and Snape came back down the stairs it was to silence. Glancing both ways Snape chose left down the hall and quietly followed the sound of someone’s voice. Taking a right to another set of stairs, Harry held his breath as he stared down into the basement of the house. Not a spare inch of room could be seen beneath the bodies of people. Hundred’s of people seemed crammed into the little space all of them intently listening to Dumbledore who stood in the center of them all on a stool. Many faces Harry had never seen in his life but dotted among the crowd were a few he knew, the Weasley clan were easily spotted, as was Sirius, Lupin, Tonks and Mad-eye. Following Snape’s lead Harry trailed the man down the crowded steps to the floor of the basement, people making a path for them until they came to stand at McGonagall side, the woman holding the stood steady which Dumbledore was perched on.

“Ah, Severus. Harry. I believe we can begin now.” Dumbledore smiled mildly down at the pair who’d just arrived before glancing up seriously at the crowd. “As you all know a situation has arisen in the past few hours. The wards at Hogwarts have been breached by Voldemort’s forces, making it no longer safe for our students or us. While we were aware that Voldemort possessed such capabilities he has until now not used them, leading us to assume he had other plans.” Dumbledore trailed off allowing the information he’d just passed on to settle among the crowd.

“Do we know why he has chosen now to act?” A voice from amongst the crowd called out and Dumbledore turned around precariously on his stool to look towards where the voice had come from.

“We believe we have some idea. Through our intelligence we have gathered information which suggests that while possessing the ability to breach the schools wards, Voldemort did not intend to do so, preferring instead to lure his victims out into unfamiliar territory and attack them there. This sudden change of his plans seems to have been brought about by rashness, anger and the burning desire to exact revenge upon one of our own.” Harry stepped back against Severus’ as he watched Dumbledore glance down at he and Severus. Dumbledore looked almost apologetically at the two of them before the elder wizard sighed and addressed the main gathering again. “Unbeknown to everyone save for those few of us privy to the circumstances, Professor Snape and Mr. Harry Potter have recently become bound to one another.” Harry closed his eyes and he heard shocked gasps and heated chatter break out around the room, all eyes now turned to he and Snape. Behind him Harry heard Snape sigh heavily before Harry felt the man’s hand slip comfortingly into his own, their fingers entwining together in strength.

“How come we were not made aware of this!” An angry shout from the back silenced the mutterings in the room and Harry briefly opened his eyes, only to catch the stunned gazes of his two closest friends across from him. Ron looked positively pale but Hermione seemed more solemn and not at all surprised. Dumbledore turned his attention towards the comment his commanding voice silencing what was left of the chattering.

“Their marriage was not made common knowledge for the simple reason that Lord Voldemort was not to know under any circumstances of his engagement. The repercussions of having one of the Lord Voldemort’s closest advisors joining together in a wizards bond with ‘the boy who lived’ were beyond comprehension, besides the danger it would place upon the pair in question.” Dumbledore trailed off pleased that he’d alleviated any possible outrage at the keeping of the secret.

“Then how did he find out, assuming that is what has caused you-know-who’s latest attack?” Another question this time from somewhere up on the staircase. Again Dumbledore swiveled around on his stool to look up at the staircase over the tops of his half moon glasses.

“Indeed, this is what we believe has triggered the latest attacks. How Voldemort has been made aware of this is still unknown, what is known however is that Severus will no longer be able to supply us with information regarding Voldemort’s plans so we must rely on our own skills in tracking him yet again. This marriage is not only an irritation for Voldemort it is also a threat to him. Harry’s magic combined with Severus will be a weapon Voldemort has yet to experience and he will be trying everything in his power to dissolve the bond.” Harry squeezed Snape’s hand tightly feeling suddenly very afraid as the true risk Snape had taken marrying Harry now became apparent in Dumbledore’s words. “Let the word go out, I want every watcher, and friendly to our cause keeping tabs on Voldemort’s army. If a death eater so much as sneezes I want to know about it. You all have your jobs and each of you know your place lets ensure Voldemort doesn’t catch us off guard a second time. We may have been displaced from our base but we will fight on.” With a wave of his hand Dumbledore dismissed the gathering and Harry watched as the basement emptied. All kinds of animals appeared from witches and wizards, all of them disappearing through open windows, down drainpipes and out through various doors. Those not animagus, took the stairs everyone seeming to know where they were going and what they were doing. Eventually with the majority of the crowd gone, only a few faces remained, as Dumbledore stepped down from the stool with McGonagall’s help.

“Harry are you alright.” Sirius was the first to get to Harry and the boy nodded and allowed his godfather to hug him tightly. Harry didn’t miss the way Sirius growled at his and Severus’ joined hands but his godfather didn’t say anything for which Harry was grateful. Ron and Hermione were the next faces that approached Harry, and the boy guiltily lowered his head remembering all the lies.

“I can’t believe it.” Ron muttered still obviously in shock, but probably still a little drunk after the night’s party at Grimmauld Place.

“Ignore him Harry he’s still inebriated.” Hermione pushed her boyfriend out of the way and gently lifted Harry’s hand to her lips pressing a chaste kiss to it before smiling up at her friend. “I’m happy for you.” Was her comment before she did the same to Snape’s free hand. Harry smiled as she leaned in and hugged him just as Sirius had done. For Harry it was like a weight had been lifted from his chest, with no more lies to his friends keeping them apart. Harry and Severus stood there for a few minutes allowing everyone to say their piece about their marriage before finally Dumbledore called for silence.

“It’s late and I believe some of us need some healing rest after a certain party? There are a few furnished rooms upstairs for those of you staying, you may have to share though. The rest of you know where you have to be. I will be in the study should anything happen.” With that Dumbledore began up the stairs, McGonagall and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley following them up. Sirius and Remus bid goodnight as well before disappearing up the staircase, leaving Ron, Hermione, Severus and Harry in the basement.

“Well Ron and I are going to go find us a room, see you both tomorrow morning.” Ron was practically dead on his feet, and Harry smiled at his friends as Hermione dragged her boyfriend out of the basement. Finally Harry was alone with Severus again and the boy instinctively turned into the man’s chest and closed his eyes in relief. For a long while the pair of them stood together in silence their fingers still intertwined tightly.

“You better go upstairs and find us a bed before we have to sleep on the couch.” Severus finally spoke up his voice just a whisper against Harry’s neck.

“Are you coming up?” Harry inquired reluctant to leave his mate. Severus chuckled a little at the possessiveness hardly believing that Harry was asking him to bed, when only hours before the boy had told him to go fuck himself.

“I will in a little while, I’ve got to talk with Dumbledore.” Harry nodded and gingerly stepped away from Snape heading slowly towards the steps. Behind him Harry heard Snape following him. When they reached the top of the basement stairs, Snape walked Harry to the bottom of the second flight of the stairs before stopping, Harry on the second step up and Snape on the floor, so that they were relatively the same height.

“Don’t be too long.” Harry whispered fiddling self-consciously with the ring on his finger again. Snape smiled and shook his head before gently leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to Harry’s lips.

“I won’t now go on.” Harry huffed a contemptible laugh and rolled his eyes before turning and making his way up the stairs in search of a spare bed for the night. Severus watched him go. When the boy disappeared into one of the rooms Severus sighed to himself and turned to go in search of Dumbledore. There were things that needed to be discussed….

TBC>>>>>>>>>>