12 Grim Old Place

Chapter 3
Date Started: 02-27-07
Pairing: WTF Remus crushing on Snape? XD Future DM/HP
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own them. Wish I did...but nope. The idea wasn't even mine. It was Yami Bakura's. I had thought of something like this... but my idea was a lot stickier so I knew deep down I'd never write it. XD Yami Bakura

***

Harry was currently sleeping beneath a tree when a long crack roused him slightly. He rolled over but it wasn't until his Uncle stuck his head out the window and bellowed, "Boy," loud enough for probably the entire country to hear. Harry blinked and stared at his Uncle's red face, his sausage like fingers tightly gripping the window pane while Petunia tried desperately to pull her husband back inside. The more Harry's senses alerted, he discovered he could hear Dudley crying faintly in the background. He groaned and rolled over, fixing his glasses before slowly pushing himself up and walking slowly back towards the house.

What could he have possibly done now?

He entered the house and walked around to the living room when the sight of two familiar adults greeted him. His spirits rose. How could he have forgotten?! He ran up to them, ignoring the way Vernon seemed to look like he might explode, or the way Petunia kept turning her head to check the windows as if expecting someone to be looking in, not even the way Dudley was whining behind the couch could dump Harry's mood.

"Hey, Harry." A pink cheeked, black haired witch said as she smiled sweetly. Harry recognized her at once. She was with him the last time he left the Dursleys. Hestia Jones.

"Harry," said a blonde haired man that Harry didn't feel completely familiar with. The man must have caught something from Harry's expression. "We've met before. I worked at the Ministry, guarding prophecies. Sturgis Podmore."

Something in Harry's brain clicked and he smiled and walked up to them both. "It's really great seeing you both again."

Vernon finally exploded.

"BOY! WHO... ARE... THESE... PEOPLE?!"

Harry looked back at his Uncle. "Remember... I told you that I was going away for the weekend... They came to pick me up."

"WHO ARE THEY?!"

"Sturgis Podmore... and Hestia Jones..." Harry tilted his head faintly.

Vernon looked like he was heavily constipated. "WHY ARE THEY IN MY HOUSE?!"

Harry sighed, "They came to pick me up..."

Petunia looked like she might faint but that didn't stop Vernon. "Well leave then! I don't want none of your people in my house!" When Harry made no effort to move from his spot Vernon raised his voice. "LEAVE NOW!"

"Right Muggle, aren't yeh?" Sturgis muttered before heading past Harry. "I'll get your things."

"There's just a bag on my bed." Harry said with a smile and looked back to Hestia. She smiled again and looked up at the Dursleys.

Harry looked back at Vernon, who's face by now could resemble a large red balloon. Harry might would have laughed if the sight wasn't so terrifying.

Sturgis returned a short time later, carrying Harry's bag and Hedwig. "I figured you'd like to take her. Not sure the Muggles would know how to feed her." Petunia decided that sitting down sounded like a wonderful idea after that.

Sturgis nodded to Hestia, who nodded in return, and clutched Harry's bag and cage close to his chest and with a crack he was gone. Vernon looked frightened and very very angry.

Harry was glad to leave when he felt Hestia's arms come around him and he felt the squishing sensation.

***

Remus was laughing at something that Snape had said, but the humor appeared to beyond Snape's plane of thought. The werewolf stopped his chuckling long enough to notice that the Potion's Master wasn't finding the same amusement and cleared his throat.

A single dark brow rose up on Snape's forehead before Remus simply began. "So... It would seem that you're now one of the most powerful wizards, Professor Snape."

"Do not call me that... and don't call me Snivellus, either."

Remus couldn't help but grin. "I never called you that. T'was James and Sirius..."

Snape didn't look satisfied with that answer.

Remus sighed. "Severus."

"Better."

They both stared at each other for a moment before Remus reached out to lightly poke the back of Snape's hand. "I'm thirsty, care for a drink? Sirius had some firewhiskey hidden under the cabinet." The werewolf stood, dusting off his jeans before moving over to collect the mentioned items, ignoring the way Snape stared at him.

He was used to Snape staring at him like that. If Snape had almost killed him. He might look at him funny, too.

"No, thank you." Snape spoke calmly, simply adjusting his robes where he sat to ensure no contact with the floor would be made.

Remus raised a brow and poured himself a portion before returning to the table and sitting, giving another small smile to the other man. "What do you plan to do now, Severus?"

Snape was a little unnerved by the use of his name but barely showed it. "In terms of?"

"Well, you've used the killing curse. I highly doubt that the Ministry would be so forgiving. You can't return to Hogwarts either." Remus said thoughtfully, as if he'd been thinking about Snape's furture a lot lately.

"I'll simply do my duty to the Order then I'll worry about it if the time comes."

Remus frowned, looking slightly defeated but he decided to not pursue the topic further. Snape was quite possibly the second strongest wizard in the world in the absense of Dumbledore. Having grown up with him told him that. The boy... this man was exceptional in all his studies and very skilled in topics that were never taught to students. It was almost amazing to think of what Snape was capable of.

Snape noticed the change so turned his head to look to the side. "The Wolf's Bane will be ready soon."

Remus gave a weak smile. "Thank you..."

Snape looked back and before he could say anything there was a loud crack from outside and within seconds there was a spectacled boy running into the room and latching onto the werewolf. Remus could only smile and hug Harry in return.

"How are you, Harry?"

"Much better to be back her-" Harry started but cut himself short at the view of something large and black out of the corner of his eye. He jerked his head to the side quickly, green eyes wide before they narrowed. "Snape!"

Snape fought against a grin when Minerva came into the room just as Harry was drawing his wand and quickly snatched it from the boy. "No underage magic. I don't care if you are here."

Harry looked as if McGonagall had just betrayed him in the worst way possible. His mouth had opened slightly in protest but the woman's stern look stopped him from speaking anything on his mind.

"Potter... if you would come with me. I have some things to explain." McGonagall stated simply and slowly ushered the boy out of the room, those green eyes shot back at Snape in one last glare.

Snape slowly reached forward, taking Lupin's glass and tipping back a generous amount of the liquid. Remus looked at him and could only grin. "Is it good?"

"Not nearly as strong as it should be." Snape pointed out, setting the cup down now that it was half empty.

Remus started at the cup as if contemplating something very serious before picking it up and drinking from it. Snape looked at him curiously but said nothing.

"Harry will come around... once he understands. He loved Dumbledore a lot, you know..." Remus stated, slowly setting the cup back down, cradling it within his hands.

"All of us did..." Snape looked down at the table, taking in a deep breath before leaning back languidly in his chair, seeming to slump slightly.

***

Ron was running around the Burrow, ignoring the twin's loud laughter. Pigwidgeon was flying around and looking fairly close to having a seizure. Ron was getting more redfaced by the second. He grabbed the closest thing, which happened to be a rag, off the table and flung it sharply at the owl. Pig flew to the side and his rag met a redhaired girl square in the face.

Ron took a step back, giving a nervous grin. "Sorry about that, Ginny."

Ginny fumed and threw the rag down and promptly went directly back up the stairs, slamming the door to her room.

Fred and George exchanged looks then both bursted out laughing.

Ron sighed just as Pig flew down and landed almost gracefully atop his head. He reached up, grabbed the tiny owl and shoved a letter at the owl before throwing it unceremoniously out the window. "Bloody bird."

"Sorry, mate." George started.

"You just can't handle that bird." Fred added.

"Too bad Ginny wasn't a goal post..." George prompted.

"Ron'd make a great Chaser..." Fred finished.

The twins grinned at each other before laughing again.

Turning back to the room, Ron pointedly glared at each of his brothers in turn before walking to the closet and pulling out his broom and heading outside to have a go at flying.

***

"So, you see, Potter. Severus was only doing what was requested of him by Dumbledore..." McGonagall said as delicately as possible.

Harry sat perfectly still in the old but still very comfortable chair. Dumbledore knew...and wanted to die. Snape had looked at Dumbledore like he hated him... but maybe he just hated what he was doing. Dumbledore had pleaded... but maybe not for his life but to be killed. If Dumbledore was dying and suffering, it made sense that he would want to die. Harry had seen his hand after what had happened to it. If it couldn't be fixed... it had to be terrible.

Harry had wanted to die after Dumbledore died. He could understand that now.

It seemed to be all falling into place. Snape wouldn't hex him or kill him. He wasn't a coward. He was standing up. He didn't kill Dumbledore because he thought he'd be killed by the vow. He killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore was ready to die. Dumbledore wanted to die.

Death was only the next adventure. There were things in the world worse than death.

Harry suddenly tensed, the faint burning around his eyes was almost unbearable. Within a few seconds there was hot tears sliding down his cheeks, collecting at the corners of his mouth as his lips thinned. He could feel his glasses slipping down his nose but couldn't bring himself to push them back.

McGonagall slowly moved from her chair to Harry's side, slowly moving her arm around the boy's shoulders. Harry suddenly began to shake and she wasted no time in pulling the boy firmly against her chest, a hand lifting to lightly stroke over the messy black hair. Harry's arms eventually came up and around her, clinging to her as if she was her only lifeline.

Releasing a small sigh, McGonagall continued to pet over Harry's hair, her eyes searching around the room. It all didn't seem fair. Harry was still just a boy. And he was slowly losing everything that he had ever had. He still had material things, but those people he grew close to only seemed to perish. She could only hope that soon it would all stop.

---

Thanks to my two reviewers! XD thrnbrooke your reviews are very inspiring. You NEED it. :D That makes me happy that you like it that much. Oh... and in answer to your question after chapter two... Well... :D You'll see. I have a few ideas... but I've already changed and added more things than originally planned. So... to be honest... I can't tell you. I'm also very glad that Yami Bakura likes the story so far. :D That makes me oodles of happy that the person that gave me my plot bunny is enjoying the story.