A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 29

“You’re kidding me? This is homework? It’s easy!” Harry bit his lip in irritation as he watched Paris easily glide through the short essay questions the headmaster had set for them. Draco was scribbling furiously away on his own piece of parchment. Harry however had written two lines, one of which contained his name and the date, a poor effort even for him.

Hogwart’s had reopened its doors on Monday and while most of its students had returned to the newly rebuilt castle the ‘three stray’s’ as Mrs. Weasley had referred to them as had been ordered to remain at number 12. Snape and the headmaster had said the reason behind the three of them not returning to school with the other students was their continued recovery. Harry however was dubious. Draco was fine the only sign he’d been in a war was the scar he bore across his back where debris had slashed him open in the schools dramatic explosion. The blonde had taken great delight in describing in detail to Harry what had happened including being pinned beneath a protective Snape. Paris too was for all intents and purpose free of the potion that had once ruled his life, Snape had declared it so himself one evening last week when the boy had deposited himself unceremoniously in Snape’s lap much to the professors irritation and disgust. So it was as Harry suspected he, who was the real reason they hadn’t been returned to school. While Paris might have been cured Harry’s body still betrayed him. Cramps, cold sweats, aching chest and headaches were a continued presence in Harry’s life and as much as Harry was loathed to admit it, they got worse when Snape was away at Hogwart’s teaching and got instantly better when the wizard stepped through the floo into Grimmauld place at the end of each day. It was a depressing existence, craving just a glimpse of a wizard he’d once loathed more than Voldemort himself. Thankfully, just as Snape had said the screams of the other boys in his dreams had silenced and now he was only left with the images of Julius staring down at him and the memory of the pain that man had inflicted on him.

“Harry? Are you at all listening to me?” Harry snapped himself out of his reverie and glanced questioningly at Paris who was cocked back in his chair making his quill levitate with his wand.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Pushing aside his homework in disgust Harry focused his attention on the two other boys’ both of whom had finished their assigned homework and were relaxing for the evening.

“I said, are you coming to London with us this weekend? Severus said you could come as long as you didn’t drink.” Harry stared at Paris, the boy having easily fallen into life in normal wizarding circles. Ron had even taken to showing Paris how to play Quidditch, the boy supposedly a natural born seeker.

“Severus?” Harry questioned having never heard anyone aside from the other professors and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley call the wizard by his first name.

“Yeah, you know the tall potions professor, dark, mysterious and with a really nice arse.” Paris laughed jokingly, Draco joining in so the two of them were both roaring in amusement. Harry however didn’t even smile, the knotted twist of jealousy inside of him that he’d waged war on since the very beginning was threatening to bubble to the surface.

“Since when do you call him Severus?” Harry muttered from beneath his breath watching as Paris and Draco continued to laugh at him, like he was the center of the joke. Tension between the three of them had been building for over a week now and Harry was having a tough time keeping himself controlled as the ‘potion’ thrummed through his veins.

“Since he told me to call him Severus, that is his name after all. Why are you jealous that we’re on first name basis and you haven’t even got to first base yet?” Paris joked again this time hitting a raw nerve with Harry. It seemed everyone was talking about him and his little problem like it was common knowledge. Losing his temper Harry stood up abruptly, startling both Draco and Paris into silence as Harry pulled out his wand and aimed it squarely at Paris’ temple.

“Just because I’m not a common slut like you are. You were all over Julius, I bet you even enjoyed it but now he’s dead you’ll have his brother too. It wasn’t an accident he found out about your piercing I bet you fucking showed him you whore!” With the potion clouding his senses Harry could do very little as Paris stood up his wand and the curse already at hand. A bolt of silver hit Harry square in the chest sending him sprawling in agony to the floor half way across the room. The pain was intense like ‘cruatius’ only the tendrils of magic burnt his skin. Screaming in pain, Harry didn’t notice as the fireplace roared into life and two familiar figures stepped through into the living room.

“Finite.” The pain stopped almost instantly and Harry slumped against the blessed cold of the polish wooden floor. A hand came down to rest on his forehead and Harry instantly curled up towards it. “What in Merlin’s name is going on in here?” Snape. The deep melodic voice of the man Harry had been craving all day was hovering above him and Harry quietly whimpered as another hand came down to rest on his waist. There was silence in the wake of Snape’s query, obviously Draco and Paris just as unwilling to share what their argument was about just as much as Harry was reluctant to.

“I believe Severus, it is time that these young gentlemen returned to Hogwart’s. Idle hands make mischief.” The headmaster’s voice came from over near the fireplace and Harry knew there was some serious eye contact happening around him, if only he could bring himself to open his eyes and look.

“Albus I don’t think…” Snape was cut off as the headmaster spoke again, this time Harry braving the pain to open his eyes and watch the stern glare the elder wizard gave the potions master.

“We will make the necessary arrangements Severus, it is not the end of the world. Beside I believe Remus is in need of some time without this trio running circles around him.” Harry watched as Snape pursed his lips together in irritation clearly not impressed by the agreement he’d been forced into. However like most things concerning Albus Dumbledore there was very little room for negotiation when the man got his mind set on something. “Now come along boy’s I believe it is past the hour for which young wizards like yourself should be tucked up in bed.” Harry gritted his teeth as Snape helped him up from the floor, the headmaster already ushering Draco and Paris upstairs.

“How do you feel?” Harry shook Snape’s hand coldly from his shoulder as he straightened his shirt, angry that he’d caught Paris’ smug smirk as he’d left the room.

“Fine.” Harry ground out as he bent down and picked up his wand from the floor. Snape said nothing as he watched Harry walk out of the room and disappear up the staircase. With a sigh Severus poured himself a glass of brandy before slumping down into the soft armchair beside the fire. Harry was showing some unusual signs, signs that Snape couldn’t place as effects from the ‘constantine’ potion. As yet though he hadn’t expressed his concerns about Harry to the headmaster, but having now exhausted his own references and not found out anything it was time to involve the old coot.

“Cracking idea Severus, a brandy would be lovely thank-you.” Snape rolled his eyes as Dumbledore breezed back into the living room, with obviously no intention of pouring himself a drink. With a flick of his wand Snape summoned a glass of the amber liquid, watching as the elder wizard took a hearty sip of it before sighing in exaggerated delight and settling in the chair opposite the potions master.

“This isn’t a good idea Albus.” Snape spoke calmly as he stared into the fire, his thoughts firmly focused on Potter and the boy’s unusual behaviour.

“It is a somewhat better idea than leaving the three of them here unaccompanied to kill one another.” Dumbledore smiled at Snape from over the top of his brandy glass, Snape sparing the headmaster a resigned glance before turning his gaze back on the fire.

“Something doesn’t feel right, he’s withdrawn, jealous and moody. He should be at least part way through expelling the potion by now but he’s shown no signs of improvement since I brought him back. Poppy said his last tests were all over the place.” Snape sipped from his brandy, now warmed by the fire and his hand clutching tightly at the glass. “We’ve missed something Albus, but I can’t put my finger on what?”

“You are not the only one to worry Severus, I have myself have been pondering Harry’s condition.” Snape looked around at the headmaster this time watching as the elder wizard stroked his beard in thought. Snape expected the headmaster to elaborate but when he didn’t the potion’s master lost patients and tutted loudly.

“And? What have you come up with, because I am at a complete loss as to explain it other than putting it down to it just being ‘Potter’?” Amused the headmaster chuckled at Snape’s explanation as he finished his brandy and sat the empty tumbler aside.

“I have a theory, but you won’t like it.” Raising a bushy eyebrow in Severus direction, the headmaster smiled as he watched the potion professor roll his eyes contemptibly.

“With all due respect headmaster I haven’t liked any of your theories ever, so the fact I won’t like this one does not come as a surprise.” Again Albus chuckled as he stretched and leaned in a little closer to Severus.

“It is possible that the potion Harry was forced into ingesting has accelerated the growth of something that perhaps was there all the time?” Severus stared at the headmaster blankly, the elder wizards entire meaning lost on the potions professor. Smiling at the blank unimpressed look Severus was sending his way, the headmaster continued. “The ‘constantine’ potion was originally created to mimic certain elements of a ‘love’ potion, in ensuring loyalty of slaves. Harry is as we assumed extremely receptive to ancient forms of magic, is it not a possibility that his own magic has reacted to the older elements in the ‘constantine’ potion?” Albus watched as the cogs and wheels of Snape’s brain processed the information he’d been gingerly fed. It was only when Snape’s eyes widened and his eyebrows rose in astonishment that the headmaster knew the man had worked it out for himself.

“I can’t believe you’re even suggesting that? It’s….” Snape was cut off as Albus continued quickly, knowing already the barrage of abuse he was about to receive.

“It’s possible Severus. The Potter family are steeped in history, just because the boy’s blood is diluted makes no less difference to his magic, we have enough proof of that.” Snape opened his mouth to abuse the headmaster but something made him fall silent, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Albus stroked his beared again in amusement glad that he’d made the potions professor think.

“What you’re suggesting hasn’t been recorded in history for millennia, the old magic died out with the pure blood lines and even if it is so, my brother is dead so there is no cure.” Clearly irritated the headmaster rolled his eyes dramatically, somewhat annoyed that Snape still hadn’t read between the lines.

“It hasn’t been recorded in recent history because the magic has been dormant, it only takes an triggering event to start it up again.” Snape frowned but nodded in agreement, a lot of ancient magic was triggered by external events it was how wizards and witches first came into being.

“Still if this is true, and I’m not agreeing that it is until I see proof, it still does not help the situation, Julius is dead and can not fulfil Harry’s needs.” Snape didn’t like the wide smile that broke onto the headmaster’s face, the mischief in the man’s eyes not sitting well in the potion professor’s stomach. All of a sudden he got a feeling he wasn’t going to like what was coming next.

“Do you believe it is your brother whom is the source?” Snape didn’t answer and only listened in growing worry as the headmaster continued. “No, if it was your brother then his death would have taken Harry from us too. Indeed I believe the source to be another Snape entirely, one whom unconsciously seeks his own happiness in that of Harry’s….” Before the headmaster could continue Snape butted in, instantly rising from his chair and shaking his head furiously in the headmasters direction.

“Don’t you dare say it Albus, you know it’s impossible…” Snape had already begun pacing angrily, his face like thunder as he dared the headmaster to put words to his thoughts, thoughts Snape didn’t want to hear.

“Severus don’t you wonder why Harry had such insight into the supposed ‘accidents’ that happened to you when I first employed your brother at the school? The potion in your classroom, the duelling club mishap, the Quidditch match? Harry saw visions of threats only a lover would see happening to his mate?” Albus remained calm as he watched Snape rapidly loosing his temper; the wizard’s fists clenched tightly at his side in built up rage.

“Enough! What you’re saying is pure speculation, Potter no more desires me than the squid in the lake, and I can offer him nothing which could possibly cause this reaction!” Snape was flaming and Albus remained seated even when he felt the pulse of magic wash out from Severus, the man practically glowing in a pool of his own anger. Albus had known for a long time Severus Snape was something of a dark horse, his potential as a wizard underrated by everyone. Even if Snape hadn’t seen it in himself, Harry certainly had and it was hardly surprisingly considering the raw power radiating from the wizard as he raged back and forth across the living room, his robes swirling about him like a hurricane.

“I’m afraid Severus your offer has already been made for you. Harry’s condition will not settle till his magic has what it desires. If you both do not give in then I, nor anyone else will be able to stop what will happen to you both.” Snape came to a complete stand still, his murderous gaze focused on the headmaster as the elder wizard rose from the chair by the fire and straightened his robe unaffected by Snape’s glare. “Now if you have done making a display of yourself, I suggest you awaken Harry and help him pack. I will make the necessary arrangements for your chambers at the castle.” Calmly Albus took a hand full of floo powder from the pot on top of the fire and with a polite smile at Snape stepped into the fire and promptly disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. With the elder wizard gone Snape’s temper hit its peek and with a scream of defiance Snape shattered all the windows and glass ornaments around the room, set the coffee table alight and then collapsed in a spent heap on the rug in front of the fireplace, his head in his hands. For years he’d tortured himself over a Potter, and just when there seemed to be light at the end, another bloody Potter came and ruined it all again.

“Severus?” A timid voice shattered Snape’s blessed silence and he glanced up to see Remus’s bloodied and pale face looking in at him from the doorway. Snape stared at the thin, battered man for a long moment before taking a deep calming breath and hauling himself to his feet. There were worse people off in the world than Snape was. Walking over the broken shards of glass and the still smoking remains of the coffee table, Snape leaned heavily against the doorframe beside Remus who looked like he’d been dragged through a bramble bush backwards.

“I loved him you know. Loved him and loathed him at the same time.” Severus stared at the now silent portrait of Mrs Black on the far wall, the frame beaten and battered where countless people had had a go at her. Remus sighed heavily, his own gaze lost in the pattern of the wallpaper, the memories of his childhood flashing through his mind.

“Everyone did Snape, even me. James Potter was a prize only Lily could have ever have won.” Snape closed his eyes and set his chin on his chest, as he watched Remus turn towards him, his gaze resting steadily on Snape’s face. “Harry needs you Severus, more than he probably realizes himself, don’t let the past get in the way of your decisions now.” Slowly Snape opened his eyes and glanced down at Remus who was struggling to keep himself upright against the doorframe.

“He’s not going to like it.” Snape whispered watching as Remus smiled a bloodied grin, the last reminder of his wolf transformation lingering in his still extended canines.

“He doesn’t have to, Snape. Just take him away, romance him and fuck him for all our sakes. He’ll realize soon enough what it’s all about, and where he’s better off.” Snape chuckled darkly and shook his head at the werewolf, whom he slung his arm around and helped across to the stairs.

“You know for a model professor you’re awfully crude Remus Lupin.” Remus laughed weakly as he began up the stairs, Snape supporting him the entire way.

“You know for a lowly potions master, your magic’s got a kick.” Remus replied cheekily watching as Snape rolled his eyes, the smell from the still smoldering table filling the hall. “Besides when you’ve been doing it doggy style in the woods for as long as I have vulgarity means nothing.” Snape laughed, genuinely amused by the man’s comments.

“I’ll take it, it was a successful night then.” Reaching the top of the stairs Snape helped Remus into the bedroom and gently helped the man down onto the bed before straightening up and raising his eyebrow in the darkness waiting for a reply.

“Bloody wonderful.” Remus muttered, the mirth in his voice infectious causing Snape to laugh again.

“Glad to hear it.” With a final smile Snape left the room, quietly closing the door to Remus bedroom as the man groaned and rolled over to try and get some sleep. Standing in the darkened hallway Snape stared at the closed door of Harry’s bedroom. It would have been easier to turn around and walk the other way but Severus knew he owed it to himself to see this through. With a deep calming breath he strode confidently to the door and with a sharp knock let himself in…..

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