A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 27

Harry sat quietly on the edge of the sofa watching curiously as Severus and Remus engaged in what appeared to be an intense game of wizard’s chess. Draco and Paris were lying in front of the fire on the rug, chuckling and laughing as Draco helped Paris sort out the bags of lollies Mrs. Weasley had brought for them yesterday when the family had come to visit. Harry had been so surprised to see how Draco, and Ron had become friends. The pair of them had been out in the garden all day showing Paris how to fly a broom. Unfortunately Harry had been grounded by order of Snape, who had suddenly become more of an authority over him than the headmaster or Lupin. It had been two days since Harry had finally gotten out of bed, well enough now to shower, stand and eat on his own. He still got dizzy though, and stumbled occasionally on things around the house. Paris too was fitting in to life at Grimmauld place extremely well, the boy seemed to have taken on a completely new perspective on life and enthusiastically was up for anything Draco got him into. Harry was envious of his new friend, who despite being afflicted by the same potion Harry was, seemed far less affected. All Harry could think of was the pull he felt constantly towards Severus. Touching Severus didn’t seem to bother Paris at all, at random times during the day Paris would lean against the potions master, or tuck his hand into the others. Even now as the boy lay on the rug, his bare foot was conspicuously resting against Severus leg beneath the coffee table. The casual touches, and brushes Paris gave Severus were infuriating, especially when Harry was doing his best to fight it. He knew what happened last time he didn’t fight the potion and he wasn’t about to let it happen again. At times when the pull was strong Harry would go outside in the backyard and lie down on the grass, staring up into the blue sky and pretend he was somewhere else in the world.

What was infuriating too was that no one was discussing what had happened over the week that Harry had been held captive. Admittedly Harry had read the story in the daily prophet about Voldemort now dead and the job the ministry were doing of cleaning up the remaining death eaters but no one had actually sat down and told him what had happened, or even ask him what had happened at Julius manor. Harry had nightmares. Every night he’d wake up in a sweat, panting and calling Severus name uselessly. Thank-fully so far no one it seemed had heard, and while he shared a room with Draco the blonde was a sound sleeper. What was worse however were the nightmares he had about the other boys, he could hear their screams, and their pain and he wondered what had happened to them all.

“Where are they all?” Harry spoke his voice distant yet still cutting through the relative silence of the lounge room.

“Where’s who?” Remus inquired casually as he shifted his knight, only to have it chopped into little bits by Severus’ vengeful Queen.

“All of them, the others that were there in that house. Hamish. I can hear them…” Harry whispered as he watched three pairs of eyes turn on him in slight concern. Snape however remained staring at the chessboard, his hand poised above his castle. Harry glanced from the potions master to Paris who was now staring at Snape in fear.

“Draco, take Paris into the kitchen and make yourselves a drink.” Severus spoke calmly, his expression as usual unreadable. Draco knew the difference between a request and an order and instantly stood up from the rug, leaving the bags of sweets strewn about as he took hold of Paris’ arm and led him quickly from the room. Remus glanced nervously from Severus, to Harry and then back before slowly rising from his armchair.

“I think I’ve left the basement door open, I’ll just go and shut it.” It was a lame excuse but Severus nodded and Remus scuttled from the room making sure the door closed tightly behind him. Harry let the silence hang in the air for a moment as he stared at Snape who was still bent over the chessboard as if deliberating his next move.

“Well?” Harry whispered carefully watching as Severus lowered his hand and sat back in his armchair, his eyes falling on Harry.

“Most are currently being reunited with their families where possible.” Snape glanced over at Harry cautiously before turning his attention on his glass of scotch, which he’d picked up from the coffee table a moment before.

“And the rest, those like Paris who aren’t wanted?” Harry watched as Snape casually swilled the deep colored liquid around in the crystal carefully choosing his words before he replied.

“There are muggle institutions for cases such as theirs. The wizards among the group will be given homes with surrogate families. Paris I believe is now legally Remus’ responsibility.” Harry managed a smile at that thought, glad that his godfather’s best friend could help in such a way. The smile was short lived however as Harry remembered their screams.

“Why can I hear them screaming?” Harry whispered watching as Severus took a sip of the scotch before casually handing what was left of the liquid across to Harry. Obediently Harry took the offered glass making sure his fingers brushed Severus in the exchange.

“Drink it all.” Was the short command and Harry upended the glass down his throat quickly, almost gagging on the strong burning flavor. The scotch wasn’t anything like the brandy Harry had tried and the boy coughed loudly as he sat the empty glass aside. With the alcohol gone, Severus continued. “They are echo’s.” Snape paused as he flicked his hand at the scotch decanter on the mantel levitating it over to the empty glass and refilling it for himself. “What you must understand was that the ‘constantine’ potion was designed purely for consumption by one person, not on mass like my brother was using it. The effect then of using the identical potion on all his victims was like tying you all together with a rope. While the potion bound you to Julius, it also bound you to one another. It’s not a strong tie, but strong enough for anomalies such as echo’s to happen.” Harry was slightly confused but spoke up anyway.

“Why are they screaming then?” Harry whispered wondering if he really wanted to know the answer.

“Because unlike you Potter, they are having to endure the unpleasant side affects of the ‘anti potion’. The ‘anti potion’ cleanses your body like a large wet rag, stripping away every trace of potion in your body, leaving you feeling in some case physical pain. Having the ‘constantine’ potion stripped from their body so violently is most likely leaving them feeling mental pain of separation more than anything but with time their voices will drop away as their bodies are finally free of the potion and they adjust to their new existence.” Harry shuddered as he remembered how easily he’d been willing to take the potion, just to rid himself of the unnatural feeling of craving Severus.

“Couldn’t you have…” Before Harry could continue Snape cut him off with a sharp glare.

“No I couldn’t. I am just barely tolerating Paris and yourself touching me, without forcing myself to have endured 100 more pairs of hands grappling over my person like I was a common school broom.” Snape continued to stare at Harry who had the good manners enough to apologies having realized how stupid his comment would have been. “If you believe this is humiliating for yourself Mr. Potter, consider it from my perspective? While my brother may have enjoyed the sick pleasures of young boys, I do not and it is only through a mysterious streak of good nature that I am allowing you the privilege of working through this potion the less painful way.” Again Harry nodded in understanding having realized now just how difficult this must be for Snape as well. After all Harry had never seen anyone ever touch Snape during school, accept when being threatened by the man or bodily thrown out of a classroom. The potions master just didn’t seem the type to want or need the company of other people.

“How come we all now want you? I thought the potion was designed to make us want Julius?” Snape huffed a smug laugh as he drained his second glass of scotch dry before answering Harry’s question.

“Ah, that would be my brothers impetuous nature coming out. In his rush to secure his victims affections and loyalties he merely had the potions maker create the potion based on his magical signature, rather than blood, as it should be correctly made. Being brothers a mere year apart in age our magical signatures are practically identical, save for subtle differences a potion of this strength would never be able to discern between. Thus just as you were drawn to my brother you were also drawn to me, which in way proved to be quite a lifesaver.” Harry stared quietly at Snape watching as the man closed his eyes momentarily.

“How did you know I’d come to you?” Harry whispered a shiver running the length of his spine as he thought about the night in the manor, and the feeling that had engulfed him when he’d recognized Snape’s boots. Snape’s eyes remained closed as he let the question hang in the air. Harry stared at the elder wizard, noting the high cheekbones, the strong chin, and the crooked nose, features that singularly were ugly and coarse but together created an unnatural attractiveness that was purely Severus’s.

“Power is a strange thing Potter. Too much and it becomes a thing of fear, to little and it creates a sense of vulnerability.” Snape paused this time his obsidian eyes opened and locked pointedly with Harry’s. “My brother didn’t understand the concept of power. It’s not a matter of having it all, you just have to acquire more than your opponent at the time it’s needed. You came to me because you knew that while my brother held the most power he also held the most fear. I had enough power not to seem vulnerable but also not enough to be a threat to you. Essentially you trusted me and my ability to use power.” Harry smiled distantly as Severus finally turned his gaze from Harry back to his empty scotch glass, which he’d been rolling around in his hand for a good five minutes. Harry became entranced by the fingers that wrapped around the glass, not really noticing how he unconsciously leaned forward towards Severus craving the touch just as he had on the night the professor had just described. In the silence Snape must have realized something was amiss and glanced back at Harry, having stopped fiddling with the glass. Harry was shaking, his breathing slightly labored as he fought the pull. Instantly Snape put down the glass and turning in the armchair reached forward and pressed a soft hand atop of Harry’s resting on his knee. Like a doll Harry crumpled in on himself clutching at Severus hand so tightly it made the elder wizard hiss in pain. Unable to do anything but follow the boy to the floor Severus kneeled in front of Harry who was still clutching his hand, fighting the pull he obviously felt.

“Potter, don’t fight it. The longer you fight the potion the longer it will take to run its course and the harder it will be.” Prying his hand from Harry’s tight grasp Snape leaned forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Harry’s body pulling the boy bodily against him. While Harry’s shakes stopped the boy continued to fight and Severus sighed heavily as Harry elbowed him in the stomach.

“No, I can’t give in, it’ll hurt again, please don’t hurt me.” Harry’s voice was practically hidden beneath his sobs and Snape tightened his hold on Harry’s body so that the boy was forced to clutch to him.

“I’m not going to hurt you Harry, but you need to relax. The more you fight the worse it will be, trust me.” Severus drew his hand up Harry’s back and gently soothed his fingers through the boy’s unruly mop of hair. To Severus it was pure torture having the boy in his arms, and he thought perhaps this was hell. Damned to eternity in a state of constant heart wrenching agony. Severus needed to calm himself and Harry down and quickly before he spiraled into the point of no return. Gently Severus began to recite potions ingredients, softly. He was sure he’d read somewhere that common, familiar elements when spoken aloud incited relaxation. It was likely a whole heap of shit but at the moment Severus was willing to try anything.

By the time Severus had recited the entire contents of his private potions ingredients, along with all those he knew from his rare ingredients dictionary Potter had gone still and quiet in his arms. Severus too had calmed himself down to his usual level of control and the pair of them merely sat on the floor in silence until there was a short, tentative knock on the door.

“Come.” Severus whispered not releasing his hold on Harry who was curled up against him, undoubtedly asleep with exhaustion. Glancing over his shoulder Snape watched as a blonde mop of hair and a cautious face appeared between the open gap as the door was inched open carefully. “Sent you into the lions den did they Draco?” Snape muttered a touch of amusement behind his usual stern warning. Draco smiled as he stepped fully into the room aware now that he wasn’t in any danger.

“Yeah, Remus has cooked pasta for tea, we wanted to know if you and Harry want any?” Draco looked cautiously over the sofa and down to were Severus and Harry were still on the floor. Severus hand was swollen where Harry had practically torn it in two and Harry looked tired.

“I’d love a bowl but I’ll eat it in here if that’s agreeable with the wolf?” Draco nodded and scuttled from the room, just as Severus lifted Harry onto the couch, supporting the boy’s head with a pillow before sitting himself down on the other end of the couch, the boys’ feet resting in his lap.

A few moments later the door to the lounge opened again and three smiling faces appeared carrying trays of food. With a flick of his wand Snape cleared the coffee table in front of him and Remus put down the glasses of pumpkin juice and steaming bowls of pasta.

“How did he take it about Voldemort?” Remus inquired as he sat down opposite Snape, as Draco and Paris grabbed their own food and retreated back to their place by the fire. Snape snorted as he added a little salt to his meal.

“Would you believe we didn’t make it that far, the stupid boy’s been fighting the potion for the past three days, he’s exhausted himself.” Snape snapped irritably as he shoved a fork full of pasta into his mouth and chewed purposefully.

“Harry always was a fighter.” Remus explained with a huff as he too began to eat.

“Well this time it’s not for the best. If he fights the potion just makes it more difficult for him to function. It’s in his interest for once to stop fighting.” With a sigh and a shake of his head Snape fell into silence, listening instead to Draco and Paris discussing sweets as he ate his meal rather than thinking about Potter. The boy just wouldn’t make this easy on himself would he?

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>