Areas of Expertise

--Sorry I haven't updated, but work has basically been a pain! I spent five hours after work on Friday sorting out stuff, and I spent all Saturday working too. Oh the joys of my job! Then I switched my computer on this morning and it refused to boot! So this chapter is dedicated to my brother who sorted me out - as I was quite close to crying as I'd done shed loads of work on the 'puter yesterday! SP



Chapter Thirty-Two



“Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.” Oliver Wendell Homes Sr.



***



Harry lay still in the bed, not moving at all. Madam Pomfrey had given him Dreamless Sleep to help ease any pain in his mind, and Snape had stayed in silent vigil at the boy’s bed, silently begging the other to be all right when he awoke.



The day slid slowly past.



Severus stayed by the bed, back aching from the uncomfortable position, but determined to be there when his partner woke up. Apart from himself, only Dumbledore and Harry’s two closest friends had been to see him. All others had been sharply turned away.



The day became two days, and still Harry didn’t wake.



Poppy was concerned. “This isn’t natural.” She commented. Snape resisted the urge to hex the woman. She was, after all, stating the blindingly obvious. “He should have come round by now. I gave him the normal dose.” She turned frightened eyes to Severus. “Please, is he all right?”



The black haired teacher eased the crick in his neck whilst he considered. “I could find out, but I may damage him if I invade his mind now.”



Pomfrey clasped her hands together. Snape had the suspicion she was actually wringing them. “You can just touch on his mind, Severus, see that he is healing. He knows you, he trusts you. You would not injure him.”



He nodded, mouth set in a grim line. All that she had said was true – Harry did trust him, but that would not make it any easier to slide into a potentially damaged mind without leaving things worse than when he had gone in.



He took a deep breath and fastened his gaze on Harry’s eyelids. “Legilimens!” He commanded internally.



Harry lay on the floor of the dungeon room, the two guards looming dangerously over him.



“He’s so helpless.” One commented evilly.



“So very, very helpless.” The other agreed.



Snape felt Harry’s fear spike, and then something odd happened – the fear became smothered, less sharp, fuzzier, as if it had had a blanket thrown over it. The entire memory was less distinct, blurry around the edges. Instead of fear, Harry was emoting certainty and calm.



“He’s here. He’s here. He won’t let me be hurt. He’s here. He’s here.” Over and over again the litany was repeated. Even whilst the two men beat and tortured him, even as his blood filled his mouth and dripped into his hair, even whilst his child screamed and kicked, Harry repeated the words, and the scene became grainy, black and white, someone else’s memory…



Another day had passed and now Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, turned to Severus Snape, potions master. “You do have classes,” he murmured. “I will stay here with Harry, don’t worry, Severus.”



“I’m not going anywhere.” Snape retorted, angry. “I don’t care what the school thinks: tell them I am needed to brew potions for him, or tell them I’ve fucked him and he’s carrying my child, I truly don’t care, I’m staying here until I know that he’s fine.”



“I’ll use your first reason, I think,” Albus replied softly, a smile lifting one corner of his mouth. "I'll arrange for a supply teacher. Perhaps Edwin Drood?"



Snape glowered at him. "He's an idiot. Try Michael Oxlonge. He's much better."



"Mike it is, then." Albus agreed placidly. "Now, perhaps you could meet with Mike to talk through the syllabus?"



“No,” Snape snarled, through clenched teeth. “Harry’s been through more than anyone his age should. I need to know that he and Hamlet are all right.”



“Sapphire.” A voice croaked.



Harry’s eyes were fluttering, and his mouth still open on the last syllable of his daughter’s name.



Snape looked down at the boy, too many emotions chased across his face to last for long. “Harry? How do you feel?” He questioned softly, one hand stroking the untidy black hair. The eyes had opened and now looked up into the older man’s face.



“Like I was captured by Voldemort and tortured.” He responded, with a slight smile.



The teacher made a noise suspiciously like a sob. “Do you hurt? Is Sapphire all right?” He placed slight emphasis on the name, a little unsure.



“I feel fine.” Harry answered, overly bright green eyes fixed on his partner. His glance went out of focus for a few seconds. “Sapphire’s good too.”



“We’re having a girl?”



Albus Dumbledore had retreated a little during their initial dialogue, and had been humming quietly as he peered out of the nearest window. Now he stepped closer, the hum gone, blue eyes crystalline. “You are sure?” he asked, voice almost harsh.



Harry wriggled slightly on the bed, trying to get comfortable. He did feel sore in a number of places – and it wasn’t the good kind of sore he felt after a night with Severus. He was aware of his daughter pressing down on his bladder, aware too of her contentment at being near both her fathers.



“I am sure.” He asserted, crossing his legs as his bladder began to complain.



Snape saw the movement and rolled his eyes. “Just go to the toilet, idiot boy.”



“Git.” Harry responded, without any heat. He rolled out of bed and waddled to the bathroom.



“Brat.” Snape breathed. He watched his lover awkwardly pull open the door and pass through into the bathroom area.



Albus seemed pleased. “He is far stronger than any of us knew. To have survived capture and torment and to be able to joke about it.”



“There’s something wrong you fool!” Snape snapped. “I can feel it.” He neglected to mention that he had been into Harry’s mind, and knew with certainty that the only reason Harry was coping was because he’d distanced himself from his memories.



The blue eyes looked angry for a moment. “I may make mistakes, Severus, but I am not a fool. Never forget that what I have done for you.”



“How can I, when you force me to remember it?” Snape spat the words out, so incensed his usual calm mask had disintegrated.



“Harry seems to be coping. Of course, I expect you to keep a close watch upon him in the Room of Requirement. He has such a short space of time left before he will be a parent.” He blinked before adding, “And I have such a short space of time left.”



-- One weird (and obtuse) ref in this one and one joke. Anyone spot it? SP