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Ladylancelot




Fears

Pounding over the grassland Harry cursed under his breath when he almost dripped at the edge of a rivulet and was once again hoisted into the air by Severus' strong arms.


“You never said we had to walk several hours to get there because there are powerful wards protecting the estate. I would have worn boots then, not one of my best pair of sneakers,” Harry complained.


“Stop whining Potter and instead try to not to loose your balance every ten minutes.”


There was a smug expression on Severus' face as he led his lover over a clearing and then out of the wood. The sun was shining down here, not concealed by trees and even if it was late September, it was pleasant. In front of Harry towered a huge manor into the sky, built of black brick stones and it radiated a hostility that rested heavily in his chest. Peeking at his lover Harry tried to discern Severus' expression but it was blank.


He had his eyes closed, very likely testing the wards. Opening them he motioned for Harry to follow him around the castle, which took them almost twenty minutes until he finally found the passage in the wards to pass. Pulling Harry closer, he carefully stepped into the powerful curses protecting the manor from all people Tobias Snape considered enemies.


The air around them prickled as they adjusted to the younger Snape and there was more than a weary expression on Harry's face, as he felt the curses closing in on him. Six weeks ago he would have ran away but clinging to his lover Harry held his breath waiting for the wards to drop.


Finally they did and Harry exhaled audibly.


“What the fuck was that? Who did your father expect, an army of aurors?”


“Language Pottter,” Severus admonished absent mindedly as he checked for any hidden curses he might have missed but his shoulders slowly dropped when he was relatively sure there were none. “Actually many of these wards were already in place when Tobias Snape was born- for centuries the Snapes were into dark arts and what you feel here, is a culmination of that interest. These wards are so dangerous that nobody in the ministry dared to breach them- so we should find the house like it was, when I abandoned it.”


“This place gives me the freaks,” Harry muttered as he followed Severus over the meadow until they reached a tall gate that seemed to guard the house. “Another gate? Your family sure was paranoid.”


Ignoring the whining boy, Severus flicked his wand and the gate opened revealing a completely overgrown garden that must have been beautiful once. Confidently the potion master strode over the little cobble path heading to the front door.


The front of the house looked even more hostile up close but Harry was just glad the arduous walk was over. Leaning against the wall he watched his lover as he stared at the door an unreadable expression on his face.


“The last time I was here was shortly after Tobias Snape's death- I took my personal belongings and Slinky and left this cursed place.” His voice sounded pained. “Still I feel as if this manor has a hold on my life even after all those years.”


“Then let's get rid of it,” Harry stated entwining his hand with his lover's. “You have to face your worst fears and once you do, they have no power over your life any longer.”


“Dumbledore?” Severus asked.


“Hermione. Just before the last battle.” Harry smiled thinly. “But it is true.”


Straightening his shoulders Severus pulled his hand away and with another flick of his wand, the giant steel doors opened creaking with effort. Determinedly both wizard entered the huge hall that looked as if a hurricane had ravaged here, with all wallpapers and painting adust, peeling away at many places and most the furniture destroyed.


“What happened here?” Harry asked starring at the chaos.


Severus smiled thinly. “The aurors tried to attack the house with the most powerful curses they could come up with and that is the result. I cannot say I mind very much. Come on, I want to see the study.”


Averting his eyes from the remains of a painting showing Tobias Snape, Harry followed Severus through a door to the left, not wanting to get lost in this dreadful place.


The study was more a library, with shelves lining each wall filled to the brim with books and meters of dust. In every corner there were artefacts and most of them were not only illegal but dangerous.


Severus turned to the younger wizard. “Do not touch anything, Potter!” When Harry nodded he turned to the fireplace checking for a glass of brandy or a sign that somebody had used the chair in a while.

Nothing.


'Of course there is nothing, it was a dream.' he chided himself and leaned against the mantle of the fireplace, that was like everything in here, covered with dust.


He would sleep better once this place was no more- he had already talked with the headmaster who had promised to help him with taking down the wards before the building was destroyed.

Curling his lips he imagined Tobias Snape having a violent fit by the time there was nothing more of Hillmoor Manor than a ton of debris. Maybe that would free him from the haunting memories so he could start to live his life- especially now that he had another pet as lovely as Harry.


Remembering the boy Severus looked around but could not see the younger wizard. Frowning he walked back into the hall but there was no sign of a brown- haired boy anywhere.


“Potter, where are you?” he grunted annoyed with him for not following orders. When there was no reply, Severus started to get worried. He knew the house well enough to be aware that nothing in here would kill the boy when a Snape was around but still plenty of objects here posed a danger to his health.


Just before panic took hold of him he heard a strange noise as if something heavy was moving and he spun around. Stunned he saw the wall to the left moving and his lover appeared, his face set into a smile.


“Hey I found a hidden room,” he stated obviously proud with himself and the relief that settled into Severus' chest when the boy was unharmed turned to anger.


Striding over he pulled his lover close and scowled with fury written on his face.


“Did I not tell you to refrain from touching anything in here, Potter?” he hissed his grip on Harry's shoulder tightening.


Astounded the boy nodded, as usual not getting that the fury on his former teacher's face was a masquerade for fear. Sighing Severus let go of him and crossed his arms.


“What about that hidden room?” he asked, seeing the beginning of understanding in those green eyes that felt threatening. Better distract the boy with the chance to show off.


The boy hesitated but then his face lit up.


“If you touch a certain part of those panels, the wall moves to the side and there is a room behind it. Did you know about that?”


Shaking his head Severus walked over to the opening and peered inside. There was only more of dust and debris inside and he wanted to turn away when his eyes brushed over a little table.


His heart almost stopped when he recognized a bottle of his father's favourite brandy and a glass. It was not the fact that they stood there but the state they were in. There was no dust on them and when he sniffed into the air he could make out the scent of the brandy.


The shock must have been written on his face because Harry followed his lover's gaze and took in the table.


“It looks as if they were recently used,” Harry muttered and walking over he smelled on the glass making out the tell-tale scent of the brandy. “That is weird because you said that nobody could breach those wards but it looks as if recently somebody did.”


'Nobody could breach those wards but a Snape'


The colour in his face paled considerably as the only possible explanation remained- Tobias Snape was not dead but very much alive. The horror this thought induced was overwhelming and he staggered back.


Quickly Harry was by his side, gently closing the door and steering the frozen wizard out of the house until they had reached the boundaries of the wards.


“He is dead,” Severus whispered horrified.


“There could many explanations for that,” Harry returned.


Pulling himself together Severus sneered. “Like? I am the only living Snape left and I have not set foot into that house for years.”


Sighing Harry embraced his lover until he visibly relaxed. “Everything will be alright,” he muttered against the older wizard's chest and apparated both away.