Deserving (Final Chapter)

A/N So before we begin I have to fix a big mistake that I made last chapter. I used the wrong word. Castration would only involve removing the testicles and Harry wants the whole bits removed so I am using Rickeshay’s word emasculation. Sorry about that I don’t have an excuse it was simple ignorance.

Chapter 32

Harry heard him coming from the moment he stepped on to the holding floor. He would recognize Ron’s footsteps any time of the day. They were sloppy footfalls that scruffed his shoes at the toe on the way down and close together like a tall man purposely shortening his stride even if there wasn’t anyone else around struggling to keep up. He got up to welcome Ron in hopes that he would get some information about Snape. He saw Ron walk right through the bars as every Auror in good standing can do. He remembered the day they were appointed, Ron must have walked through those bars a dozen times. But he wasn’t as estatic now as he was the first time they were allowed to do it. Harry could see it in Ron’s face. He meant business.

“How is he? How is Snape? Ron, no one will tell me,” pleaded Harry.

Ron sized him then taking a deep breath said: “Still in a coma. Poppy is doing everything possible to get him through this.”

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Snape was alive and in Poppy’s capable hands. He had not seen her lose a patient yet.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” asked Ron.

“You’re asking me, I thought everyone already sentenced me,” responded a skeptical Harry.

“Look, I am the strategist of the group, remember. I know when things don’t add up. And this definitely doesn’t add up. I’ve seen you with Snape. You might try and fool me with your cold words but you tend to worry about his health and then you go and do a stupid thing like this. Harry, it just doesn’t add up.”

Harry couldn’t believe it, Ron was not accusing him. He actually wanted to hear what had happened. The problem was, would he understand what had happened?

“It wasn’t poison. I didn’t give him poison,” were Harry’s meek words.

“Harry I know it wasn’t poison. It was one of the bottles from your last mission. Harry, it was a emasculation potion!”

“Snape wanted to take it,” Harry jumped to defend himself.

Ron gave him a knowing look. “Did Snape want to take it or did he take it because that is what you wanted him to do?”

Harry had to admit that Ron was probably right and he let his chin drop in defeat.

“Harry, we don’t mutilate those we love.”

“LOVE!” reacted Harry in a flash.

Ron understood immediately that he had over stepped a boundary. “Alright, we don’t mutilate members of our family. Harry, would you think it right for me to have Hermione’s breast removed?” corrected Ron, trying to keep Harry in his comfort level. “You are supposed to protect your family not hurt it.”

“Ron, I would never hurt him. You wouldn’t understand. We… I … you wouldn’t understand,” said an exhausted Harry.

“Harry, do you have any idea of the ramifications of your actions? What if Snape doesn’t make it through? What if you go to Azkaban? What will become of Richard?”

“Richard!” reacted Harry. “This can’t be. Snape and I have worked so hard to give him everything we didn’t have.”

Ron saw as Harry stopped to think. You could see him looking into the possible paths that this present situation could lead too.

“Richard would never forgive me. He loves Snape,” murmured Harry.

“I am sure he loves you too.”

Harry nodded. “But you don’t understand; there is a special connection between Richard and Snape. Richard knows when he’s in danger.”

“Harry, when has Snape been in danger under your care?”

Harry dropped his head in shame. “Not actually in danger, just… You know how couples are sometimes in disagreement and I was upset… No, actually Snape was upset, but I didn’t want to sleep on the floor…”

“Snape was making you sleep on the floor?”

“No, of course not. He was sleeping on the floor…”

“You made him sleep on the floor?”

“NO! He likes to sleep on the floor in the kitchen because Kreacher treats him well.”

“As opposed to…” prodded Ron.

Harry had to stop and think of what Ron was getting at.

“I do things for him too, but you see Kreacher has always been good to him, even before we got married and Snape became his master, so Snape has always turned to him for comfort.”

“And you’re alright with this?”

“No… I mean yeah… what I mean is that Snape wouldn’t do anything like what Crabbe did. He wouldn’t leave me.”

“Harry, you do know that what they said about Crabbe is a lie. His elf did save him but the other crap was just crap.” There was no answer from Harry. “So back to Richard sensing when his dad is in danger.”

Harry explained the whole incident to Ron in detail.


***

“Madam Promfrey, please let me try it. It can’t hurt,” argued Neville.

“Mr. Longbottom, Severus Snape is my patient.”

“Yes, I know, but it has been used with coma patients for years in the Orient.”

“And I guess we British are in the dark ages.”

“No, of course not. I am just saying that we should try everything we can think of in order to bring him back.”

Poppy couldn’t argue with that type of logic so she agreed to Neville’s intervention. She watched as Neville gathered Snape’s hands in his and then Neville placed his forehead over their intertwined hands. Then it was as if Neville had entered into a coma himself. He was barely breathing.


***

Neville entered into the realm of Snape’s mind. He searched for Severus and found him in a glade in the midst of a white forest.

“Professor,” Neville called out, but Severus did not respond. He was looking at his reflection in the small pond.

“Professor Severus Snape, it’s me Neville, I have come to take you back.”

But Snape was still not moving. He didn’t seem to notice that Neville was there.

“Professor it’s alright, he can’t harm you anymore. He is locked up and he will not come out in a long time.”

Severus turned to look at Neville for the first time. “Who is locked up?”

“Harry, Harry Potter, he has been charged with attempted murder and he is headed for Azkaban.”

Severus looked incredulously at Neville. “Who’s murder?”

“Yours Professor and all the evidence is there. They will lock him up and you will be free. So you see Professor there is nothing to fear. Why don’t we go back? I can show you the way.”

Severus stood and followed Longbottom. Soon his eyes were opened and Poppy was fussing over him.

“Poppy, where is he? I must see him. I must speak to him,” said Severus, trying to swat Poppy’s probing wand away.

“All you have to do, Severus Snape, is get some rest. You have been to the doors of death and back. A taxing trip if you ask me.”

“Poppy, it cannot be true. They would never arrest the savior of the Wizarding World, would they?”

“Severus, he has been put away and he will never harm you again,” assured Poppy.

“But you do not understand, he did not mean to harm me. I can assure you this has all been a misunderstanding.”

Minerva and Kings walked in at that precise moment.

“Severus, you have no idea how relieved I am to see you awake. You really scared me this time. I am getting to old for this,” assured Minerva, giving him a kiss on the forehead.

“Severus, how are you feeling?” asked Kings.

“How is my husband? Where is he, Mr. Kingsley? I need to speak to him.”

Kings looked up at Minerva who in turn looked at Poppy.

“Severus, Harry has to pay for what he did to you…” explained Kings

“But that is just it. He did nothing to me. You do not understand: he had no way of knowing that the potion was off. You cannot blame him for his ignorance or you would need to build at least two annexes to Azkaban.”

The three looked at each other again.

“Harry gave you a dark potion. Do you have an idea what it was for?” interjected Poppy.

Severus turned to his old colleague. “Yes, and I was in total agreement. You cannot accuse him of harming me if I was in agreement.”

“The emasculation potion is an illegal potion, it in itself grounds for imprisonment,” said Minerva, ending the conversation and turning to lead Kings and Poppy to her office.

“Richard, Where is Richard?”

They all turned. “He is with Dennis. It would have looked strange to leave him with Millicent and Sly. Remember they are not suppose to be there,” explained Kings.


***

Severus was left alone in his hospital bed. He thought about getting up, but where would he go? He had no magic. The castle was in the middle of nowhere. He was hopeless then the idea popped into his head.

“Kreacher,” he whispered.

But the elf did not come.

“Kreacher,” he said a little louder but still no response.

“Kreacher!” but instead of Kreacher it was Ron who came to his bedside.

“Hi ya, Professor, how are you feeling?” said Ron with a sympathetic smile.

But Severus was still searching the room for signs of Kreacher.

“He is not coming,” Severus heard Ron say.

“And I would stop calling him if I were you. It really tortures the little guy to not be able to come to your call.”

“But how can you keep him away? Kreacher recognizes me as his master.”

“Yeah, well, you see, my wife Hermione has this tendency of learning from her enemies and she took a page from Single’s book and locked Kreacher up in a cage of ivy so he would not do anything stupid. In all honesty we were afraid Harry might call him but when he began to rant and rave about how he needed to come to his poor Master’s aid we figured out it was you. So as I said, I wouldn’t be calling him and torturing him like that. I hear you are quite fond of him.”

“Mr. Weasley, please believe me when I tell you that my husband…”

“Meant you no harm. Yes, I know.”

Severus looked at him with questions written all over his face.

“Harry told me everything and we are going to try to find a way to fix this mess but both you and Harry must stay put.”

“You believe in his innocence?” asked a bewildered Snape.

“Should I?” retorted Ron.

Severus nodded and said: “Absolutely.”

“Then that is settled but you’ve got to promise me your are not going to do anything stupid and if by any chance Harry finds a way to do something idiotic you will not go along with his madness. Can you promise me that?”

But Severus knew he could not make such a promise so he simply averted his eyes.

“I didn’t expect less from you. Professor, can you answer me one question?”

“I cannot say until I have heard the question,” answered a cautious Snape.

“Do you love him?”

“He is my husband. He is the father of my child. He is my Guide. I owe him loyalty,” responded Severus in a monotone.

“You and Harry must hold some kind of world record in avoiding your feelings. Well, I’ve got to get back. If you need me just… wow, I guess you don’t have a way…” Ron looked as if he was thinking very hard. Then he reached into his pocket and took out a coin. “Flip the coin to the head side and rub it. That will alert me of your need to see me. It’s one of Hermione’s things. It does pay to be married to the smartest witch of our times,” said Ron with a wicked smile.

“Mr. Weasley, how is he?” asked Severus in a whisper.

Ron looked at him, thinking how meek he looked asking this question. “He is alright I guess. He is certain that you will fix this mess. He seems to rely on you.”

Severus straightened up at Ron’s words. “Please assure him that I will do everything possible to come to his aid.”

“But nothing stupid,” said Ron wagging a menacing finger at his old professor.


***

Harry got to his feet as soon as he heard Ron’s footsteps. Ran passed the bars with a sad face. Harry braced himself to hear the worst.

“Ron?”

Silence for a couple of more seconds but then Ron took pity of Harry and smiled.

“He is out of danger.”

“Are you sure? How do you know?”

“I just spoke to him.”

“Did he fix everything?” asked a hopeful Harry.

“I don’t think they are listening to him. You’ve got to understand, they don’t think you are good for him.”

“But if they ask Snape, he’ll tell them.”

“Harry, what exactly would he tell them?” asked Ron with a raised eyebrow.

“You know, he would tell them that I don’t hurt him. That I gave him a potion lab for his birthday and… and...”

“…and?”

Harry shoulders slumped in defeat. “You wouldn’t understand. No one would, but Snape he knows, he gets it. He knows why I do things and he can handle me. I know it sounds crazy but that’s just us. I know he can find a way out of this mess. I just know it.”

“Harry, let me ask you this: If you were Snape and you had suffer everything that you have made Severus live through would you come to your aide?”

Harry’s actions flashed through his mind: entering Single’s office, punishing Snape in their bedroom, making him confront the mirror, giving birth without the birthing potions, castrating him the day after hhis first orgasm since the consummation of their marriage.

“No, I wouldn’t but the thing is: Snape isn’t me. He is different. He wants this to work. You don’t understand. You could never understand. He wants Richard to have everything we didn’t have. He will get our family back together. I know he will.”

“The question is: do you understand you don’t deserve his help or his devotion? Do you understand that he doesn’t deserve all the things you have put him through?”

“YOU DON’T GET IT! No one does. He knows why we have had to go through some things and why we have to go through some more in order to get where we want to get.”

Ron grew suspicious of Harry’s words. “Harry do you mean you intend on hurting Severus again?”

Harry turned to the opposite wall.

“You can’t be serious. He is family Harry. We protect our family we don’t hurt them. Is that clear Harry?”

But Harry was not turning to face Ron.

Ron took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Sorry, Harry, you can’t ask me to help you if that entails hurting the professor. I just won’t do it,” said Ron as he excited through the bars.


***

In Minerva’s office Kings, Poppy, Dennis and Ron were listening to Hermione’s argument.

“What do you mean he can’t be imprisoned?” questioned Minerva.

“Unless Professor Snape accuses him you don’t have a case?”

“But he had an illegal potion,” argued Kings.

“That’s just it. The potion is not illegal. No place in our legal books does it state that the potion is illegal. The ingredients are illegal and Harry was not caught with any of them. I doubt that you can prove that he brewed it when we all know he took it from that contraband that he worked on.”

“Kings, that must be a crime in of itself right? For an Auror to take evidence…”

“I am afraid it won’t amount to more than a slap on the hand. It being his first offence and tack on to that the fact that we are talking about Harry Potter…” explained the head Auror.

Minerva looked crossed.

“Thank you, Hermione, you have been of great help but if you will excuse us we have other matters to tend to,” said the Headmistress opening the door for Hermione and her husband.

Once they were gone Kings and Poppy let their confusion be known.

“We have other matters? Like what?” they said in unison.

“You did not expect me to speak in front of them. They are after all his best friends.”

“Minerva, that friendship has been severely tried,” explained Poppy.

“Yes, well all the same I rather not let them in on our plan,” said the Headmistress almost to herself.

“Our plan?” asked the two lost occupants of her office.

“Yes, our plan. Hermione knows this legal loophole but Severus and Harry don’t. And Severus, well he believes he owes his life to Harry. So why not use this to his advantage.”

“Minerva, what are you talking about?” questioned Poppy.

“Severus would do anything to keep Harry safe. A n y th ing…” spelled out the Headmistress.

Kings got the message. “If Severus believes that Harry is in danger of going to Azkaban he will do anything to prevent it.”

“I don’t understand; what good would that be?”

“Poppy do you forget who the new head of the Justice Department is?”

“Pomona, but what does that have to do with…”

“I am sure we can get Pomona Sprout to help us free Severus from Harry. She has always respected Severus’ work as he has hers,” explained Minerva.

“But what exactly are we going to do?” asked a still confused Poppy.

“If Severus wants Harry to stay out of Azkaban he is going to have to grant Severus his divorce.”

“Minerva, I can tell you right now, Severus does not want to divorce Harry.”

“He will, if he wants to keep Harry out of Azkaban,” asserted Minerva, standing to her full height.

Kings and Poppy looked at each other finally understanding the plan.

“Poppy, you go speak to Mona and Kingsley, make sure you keep Harry in prison as long as possible. Can you do that?”

Both nodded their agreement and left to fulfill their missions.