Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,157
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,157
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Responsibility
Chapter 23 - Responsibility
Severus appeared before the Dark Lord and bent low before the shadowed throne. He didn’t move at all when Voldemort leapt up from his chair and ran
over to him. Voldemort knocked him to the ground and hurriedly began searching Severus’s pockets.
“That one,” said Severus quickly, staring at the franticness in those red eyes. Voldemort grabbed the small bag out of Severus’s pocket and stood over him
as he pulled the thin chain slowly from the bag. His eyes narrowed as he looked from the casing to Severus’s ashen face.
“Is this some kind of a joke?” asked Voldemort tightly. Severus’s eyes widened further. Oh, this was bad. Worse than bad.
“A joke?” asked Severus fearfully. “N-no, my lord. I found that locket in a cave, just like you instructed. It was under a potion - a green potion.” Voldemort
scowled thoughtfully.
“Green?” he repeated quietly. “Green.” He lifted the locket again and looked at it closely. He flicked it open with a thin nail and plucked out the small note. He
opened it and read it. Severus couldn’t keep his hands from trembling as he watched the slip of parchment begin to vibrate. Voldemort set his wand to it and
burned it. He roughed grabbed Severus by the throat and lifted him off the floor, bringing his face within inches of his own.
“I assume you remember a traitor that we once had within our circle,” hissed Voldemort. “Someone by the name of Black?”
“Yes, my lord,” whispered Severus. “I remember.”
“And you were one of the more - vocal advocates for young Regulus’s defense, correct?” said Voldemort. Severus couldn’t answer, his proximity to
those devilish red eyes filling him with a stifling dread. Not to mention Voldemort’s grip around his neck had tightened slightly.
“I don’t say this very often of you, my Snake,” said Voldemort softly, “but you were wrong. Those damn Phoenixers have my locket, Severus.” His eyes
glowed brighter in his fury. “I want it back, and I want it back soon, do you hear me?” Severus could only gag in response. Voldemort tightened his grip,
squeezing Severus’s neck mercilessly.
“Good,” he hissed. He drew his wand and threw Severus back to the ground hard. “Crucio!”
+HP+
Severus wearily walked back into the house. He shut the door behind him and leaned heavily against it, his knees trembling from the curses inflicted upon
him as he gently massaged his throat. Harry’s face appeared in the kitchen doorway. He pulled the dishtowel from his shoulder and wiped his hands,
following Severus into the sitting room. Severus sat down on the sofa and rested his head in his hands. He felt Harry sit down beside him. He sighed and
dropped his hands, looking over at Harry’s haggard face.
“I take it he wasn’t very happy with you,” said Harry quietly, wiping the sweat off his brow. Severus nodded.
“An astute observation,” he murmured, noting the slight trembling of Harry’s hand. He sat up straight and took Harry’s head in his hands, looking him over
carefully. The boy was horribly pale. Severus frowned, rubbing his thumbs over the cheekbones protruding from Harry’s face.
“What have you eaten today?” he asked, his tone brooking no excuses. Harry gently pulled his head away from his grasp.
“Eaten?” repeated Harry, chuckling softly as he avoided the man’s gaze. “I don’t remember what exactly -“
“In other words, nothing,” said Severus tersely. “You haven’t been sleeping well recently either.”
“I’m fine,” said Harry forcefully, getting up from the sofa. “I finished another batch of Regenerator for you. It’s on the counter.”
“Did you remember the extra stirs?” asked Severus curtly, standing up from his seat.
“Yes,” growled Harry as he climbed the stairs. He slowed his pace once he reached the second floor. He trailed his hand along the wall and entered his
room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
The man was much too perceptive. Harry felt awful. It wasn’t just the exhaustion; it was the lack of appetite, the desire to lay in bed all day and sleep, it was
the memories that flooded his mind night after night - memories of white eyes, clammy skin and blood running down golden gates. The past few days, it had
been hard for him to even keep himself from collapsing.
He bristled when his door opened without warning.
“Damn it!” shouted Harry, his exhaustion shortening his already short fuse. “What do you want?” Severus clenched his jaw and held out a small vial filled
with purple liquid.
“You’re going to make yourself ill,” said Severus sternly. “You have got to get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll work on fattening you up a bit.” Harry ran his
hands roughly through his hair.
“I don’t want a bloody potion,” he hissed. “I. Am. Fine. I don’t need your fucking meddling -“
“Well, that’s just too fucking bad,” said Severus, raising the volume of his voice. “If you think I’m just going to sit back and watch you waste away to
nothing, you are very much mistaken.” Harry clenched his fist, his body trembling in fury. He made to flick his wand into his hand, but Severus beat him to it.
Severus kept his wand pointed towards the floor. His eyes narrowed as Harry drew his wand anyway.
“Don’t you dare,” he said silkily. “You will sorely regret throwing a curse at me right now, child.” Red sparks sputtered out of Harry’s wand, the wood
vibrating in his hand. Suddenly, Harry swayed. Severus cursed under his breath as he dashed forward to catch him before Harry hit the floor. He easily
lifted Harry’s thin frame onto the bed, his worry growing as he felt how light the boy was. Harry’s head rolled to the side, a dazed expression on his face.
Severus quickly pressed his hand to Harry’s forehead, his expression darkening at the warmth of the boy’s skin.
“Christ, what have you done to yourself, you idiot boy?” said Severus softly, tossing the vial of Dreamless Sleep Potion onto the nightstand. His eyes
widened as Harry’s breathing sped up. “Damn it.” He immediately shot his patronus through the wall. He went ahead and sent a second to Kingsley, just in
case. He resheathed his wand and sat down on the edge of the bed. Harry’s eyes fluttered closed.
“No, no, no,” said Severus a bit frantically as he lightly slapped Harry’s cheek. “You have to stay awake for me, Harry. You can’t sleep right now. Talk to
me, Harry.” Harry’s eyes slowly reopened.
“Mm tired,” murmured Harry feverishly. Severus tore at the clasp of his Death Eater cloak, throwing it to the corner of the room. He quickly unbuttoned his
cuffs and slid his sleeves up, sweating as his panic increased.
“I know,” said Severus soothingly, pushing the hair back from Harry’s forehead. “But you have to stay awake, alright? Just stay awake for me now and I’ll
let you sleep all you want afterwards.” He felt the front of Harry’s shirt. It was drenched in cold sweat. He gently pulled Harry up to sitting and lifted the shirt
off of him, laying him softly back on the bed. Harry shook slightly with tremors as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
“Shit!” spat Severus. His hands fluttered nervously over Harry’s face and shoulders as he tried to think of anything to do. He closed his eyes and took a
deep breath, opening his eyes as he exhaled slowly and tried to calm down. Harry twitched slightly, mumbling under his breath.
“Goddamn it, Minerva, where are you?” hissed Severus furiously. His head shot up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
“IN HERE!” he shouted, turning back to Harry. Minerva and Kingsley ran into the room.
“Oh sweet Merlin,” gasped Minerva. She went to the other side of the bed and began running diagnostics.
“He’s in shock,” she said worriedly. She pried one of Harry’s eyes open and lit her wand, shining it into his eye. She shook her head and looked over at
Severus, who was staring at Harry with haunted eyes. “I need a couple doses of MAB and some Invigoration Draught.” She bent back over Harry and
touched her wand to the middle of his chest. She glanced up and frowned at Severus still standing there in a daze.
“Severus!” she shouted, effectively startling him. “Potions! Now!”
“Right,” he said quickly. He ran out of the room, pushing Kingsley roughly out of his way.
“Kingsley, go down there and make sure he doesn’t completely lose his head,” she said tersely. “I need those potions as soon as he finishes them.”
“Got it,” said Kingsley. He rapidly strode from the room and ran down the stairs, making his way to the kitchen. He pushed open the door and ducked to
avoid a dagger soaring through the air. The handle smacked into Severus’s outstretched hand.
“Stand over there out of my way,” said Severus shortly, pointing a long finger at the small dinning table. Kingsley did as he was told, knowing Severus
would flay him alive in a second while in the mood he was in. Or throw a jar of something slimy at him.
“He’ll be fine,” said Kingsley calmly. “This happens all the time at the Academy. A couple of days taking it easy and he’ll be right as rain.” Severus glanced at
him quickly, rapidly stirring the Magical Adrenaline Booster he had boiling on the stove.
“He’s not in the Academy,” he said quietly. “He’s at home.” He pulled out the glass stirring rod and set it in the sink as he killed the flame under the
cauldron.
“This isn’t your fault, Severus,” said Kingsley firmly, clearly seeing the guilt etched on the man’s face. “In all honesty, Harry doesn’t handle grief well. It could
be worse, and probably would be if he wasn’t here with you.” Severus scoffed angrily as he opened a cabinet and took down a small flask.
“He is my responsibility,” he said, almost to himself. He poured the light green potion into the flask and capped it. “Here. The Draught will take another half
an hour.” Kingsley took the flask and hurried upstairs. Severus mechanically continued chopping ingredients and combining them in another cauldron he
had set up on the stove.
He tossed Kingsley’s words around in his head, but dismissed them. He should have seen that Harry wasn’t himself. He himself was no stranger to
insomnia, but his weariness always caught up with him eventually. He’d sleep for a long time and be fine. He’d never seen Harry sleep in, even on the
weekends when they didn’t have any training sessions. He sighed. Maybe he should send Harry to Molly for a few days.
“She says he’s doing a bit better,” said Kingsley as he walked back into the kitchen. “He’ll be out of it for at least a day or two.” Severus nodded, letting his
potion simmer for a couple of minutes.
“Will you do me a favor?” he asked quietly, looking over at Kingsley. Kingsley straightened a little at his tone.
“Of course,” said Kingsley. “What’s up?”
“Will you keep an eye on Harry for me?” asked Severus intensely. “When he’s at the castle? I just don’t want him and the other kids to do anything
stupid.”
“Like going off to save the world?” teased Kingsley. Severus smiled half-heartedly.
“Yes, like that,” said Severus.
“Who are these other kids that Harry’s apparently recruited?” asked Kingsley.
“We have recruited,” corrected Severus. “Harry’s been writing Ginny, and she seems very interested. He also got the twins on board. I’ve got Blaise
Zabini and Pansy Parkinson pretty much convinced, although they’re waiting to talk to Harry in person.” Kingsley rubbed his eyes.
“That’s quite a crowd,” said Kingsley wearily. “Isn’t Zabini Portia Spencer’s son?”
“Yes, he is,” answered Severus distractedly as he sprinkled some crushed spearmint into the cauldron. “I’ve never seen a child so adept at wandless magic
as that boy is. I’ve sent him a couple of books to read, but he needs to get a bit better at nonverbal wand magic.”
“And how exactly am I to keep them at school if they decide to embark on a clandestine mission?” asked Kingsley, bemused. “It sounds as if they could blow
me apart if I get in their way.”
“Harry will stay if I tell him to stay,” said Severus confidently. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms, watching while the Draught continued to
simmer. Kingsley chuckled softly.
“No, he won’t,” said Kingsley. “Especially if he thinks you’re doing something dangerous or something he feels is his responsibility.”
“He cannot help me with what I’m doing,” said Severus firmly. “His little jaunt with Albus has left enough scars. I will not purposely drag him into more
nightmares. Besides,” he lowered his voice slightly, “I’m sure Minerva would be tickled pink if the boy was constantly under her supervision rather than
mine. I’m sure she thinks I’m purposely killing him and Moody will be all too willing to agree with her.” Kingsley smiled to himself, hearing the protectiveness
in Severus’s voice.
“Don’t worry,” he said quietly, “I’ll keep an eye on them and the two old bats.” Severus nodded his thanks at him. He lifted a hand to his face,
worrying his bottom lip. Kingsley sighed softly and pushed himself off the wall.
“Go,” he said. “I can finish this.” He smirked at the slight hesitation in Severus’s eyes.
“I’m not going to screw it up,” said Kingsley. “It’s not as if it’s a bloody complicated potion. Go.” Severus gave him a half grin and walked swiftly out of the
room.
He took the stairs two at a time and hurried quietly down the hallway. He stopped in the doorway, watching Minerva gently tuck the covers in around Harry.
She spun around sharply as he stepped into the room. He completely ignored her stern look, focusing on Harry’s pale, gaunt face.
“He could have died, Severus,” she said quietly, her tone furious. “Any spell he cast would have completely drained his magical reserves and would have
caused his entire body to shut down indefinitely.” She gripped her wand tightly as Severus moved closer to the bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed,
raising his hand. He stifled a groan as Minerva stabbed her wand into his very bruised neck.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he whispered fiercely.
“Don’t touch him,” she said firmly. “You have no business being in here with this child.”
“He is my --” hissed Severus. He saw something flicker in her eyes. He swallowed the shock at his own words.
“He is my child,” said Severus calmly, his eyes boring holes into Minerva’s.
“Not for much longer, he isn’t,” said Minerva quietly, her tone dripping with imperious smugness. “When he wakes up, you tell him he is to remain at the
school for the entire year. Oh yes,” she said, taking Severus’s blinking as a sign that she was correct in her assumptions, “I had a feeling that you
would talk him into leaving early. But if he wants me to uphold my end of the bargain we made a few weeks ago, you tell him he must agree to my
conditions.” She stood from the bed and walked over to the window.
Severus turned back to Harry, brushing the back of his raised hand against the boy’s cool cheek. God, they were in it now. Harry would be furious.
Severus gently brushed Harry’s hair back from his forehead, his thumb lingering over the scar marring his skin. Harry’s eyes opened slowly.
“Hey there,” said Severus softly. Harry’s lips turned up ever so slightly.
“Guess I wasn’t okay,” he whispered faintly. Severus snorted as he pressed a thumb and index finger to his eyes.
“I think that would be an understatement,” said Severus shakily, lowering his hand. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“I told you those cigarettes were bad for you,” teased Harry.
“Hypocrite,” said Severus softly.
“Gryffindor,” murmured Harry, raising his hand to half-point a finger at himself. Severus smiled briefly, his expression becoming worried and serious again
as he slowly pushed Harry’s hair back from his face.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Harry. “I should have told you -“
“Shh,” said Severus softly. “I want you to rest, alright?” Harry shifted his gaze to the occupied corner of the room and back again.
“Will you stay for a while?” he said, his words barely audible.
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Severus intensely. Harry sighed softly and closed his eyes.
+HP+
The next time Harry awoke, the late afternoon sun was shining through his window. A breeze that made the curtains dance carried the scent of impending
rain across his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling it give him a bit of strength. He still could hardly move - his arms and legs felt like
lead weights tied to his torso. He heard Severus’s office clock chime the hour of four. He turned his head slightly and watched Severus sleeping in what was
obviously a very uncomfortable position in a conjured armchair. His long arms were hanging limply over the sides of the chair, his head leaning on the back
of it. There were darkened circles under his eyes, melding into the shadow of stubble on his face.
“And you get on to me for not sleeping,” he murmured softly. He sighed and slowly tried to push himself up to a sitting position.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” said a groggy voice. Harry rested for a moment on his elbows.
“Just making sure I’m not dead yet,” said Harry snidely, panting slightly. He flopped back down on the bed. “I’m not convinced.”
“You certainly won’t be if you don’t stop overexerting yourself,” said Severus, his tone both chiding and gentle. “Are you hungry?”
“Not re --,” said Harry.
“Good,” interrupted Severus. “I'm under strict orders to force feed you for at least three days. I must say you almost killing yourself - again -- has
done nothing for my reputation with certain older members of the Council.” Harry turned his head slowly and smirked at the quick wink Severus gave
him.
“I wasn’t aware that you gave a damn about their opinion of you,” answered Harry, mimicking his tone. Severus acknowledged the comment with an
elegant wave of his hand.
“I don’t,” he said lightly. “However, it would be wise for your future well-being to not totally piss them off, as you will most likely have to deal with both of them
on a weekly, if not daily, basis come September.”
“Oh goody,” muttered Harry morosely. “I can’t wait.” Severus thoughtfully rubbed his prickly cheek with his hand.
“Speaking of school starting,” he said. Harry caught his slight inflection and tensed. He turned his head when Severus didn’t continue.
“Yes?” prompted Harry warily. Severus exhaled softly and looked into his unaided green eyes.
“I know you had talked about only staying for a few weeks,” said Severus softly, forcing himself to maintain eye contact. “I don’t know if you’ve heard from
Blaise or Pansy yet.”
“I have, actually,” said Harry quietly, his stomach knotting. “I haven’t had the chance to write them back yet.”
“Well, you’ll have a bit of time later today, I suppose,” muttered Severus, glancing down at his hands. He looked back up and saw the slight bulge in Harry’s
temple from his clenched jaw. “Perhaps I should wait until you’re feeling a bit -“
“Severus,” said Harry tersely. “What is it? Just tell me.” Severus sighed and made a decision. He was done being a pawn for Minerva to use. Harry didn’t
need to be worrying about him right now. There were more important things.
“I will need you to stay at Hogwarts until at least the holidays,” said Severus evenly. “I don’t want you and the others to be here by yourselves while I’m
trying to get information about our scepter.” Harry closed his eyes, blocking out the rest of Severus’s words. He turned his back to Severus as feelings of
anger and betrayal washed over him.
“Harry,” said Severus softly, “I know you -“
“You seem to know an awful lot, don’t you?” said Harry bitterly. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. After a few minutes, he heard Severus get up
out of his chair, but nothing else. Finally, he heard the door shut softly as the first raindrops blew in the window and splattered on the floor.