Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 35

“Again!” Alaster Moody, called the group to begin sparing again. Like Harry had predicted the shed they were all clustered in was rather large, and each of them with their partners had spread out in an even line, practising the hexes, charms and spells Alaster was teaching them. Surprisingly Moody, was far better than Harry remembered him, and his reputation for being completely mad, was over rated. Harry was careful not to use any of the dark spells Jasper and Severus had taught him, only sticking to the routine casts everyone else knew. Just like Severus had said Harry was refocusing his spells on protecting both himself and the child within in him. It was hard and more often than not Harry would be sent flying flat onto his arse by Ron, but he was getting better as the day progressed.

At lunch they had paused to feast on sandwiches prepared that morning by Mrs Weasley, the four of them then having fled upstairs to check Hermione’s map. Harry was relieved to see Severus’ dot still moving and completely away from the insuring danger, although he was alone. Harry wondered where he was exactly; the map not sophisticated enough to pinpoint his exact location. Eventually Moody had come to find them and they’d been put back to work.

By the time late afternoon rolled around they were exhausted and none except Harry heard the door to the shed open, or the curse that tore through the air. On instinct Harry dropped to the ground, the shield Jasper had taught him whipping around him like a bubble as the cruse shot straight past him, ricocheting off the shield and exploding through the side of the shed like a cannon ball. Quick as lightening Harry had spun around onto his back his wand aimed firmly at the intruder as a nasty little disabling charm left his lips. The dark curse hit the intruder’s own shield and dissipated into the ground but before anyone else could attack the dark figure had stepped out of shadow to reveal Severus. Harry’s heart, which had been firmly wedged in his throat, the entire time suddenly relaxed and the boy collapsed in a heap, allowing his shield to fall.

“You’re an utter bastard Sev.” Harry croaked weakly as a small wicked grin broke out across Severus’ face. The others who had taken cover behind the garden tools in the shed all slowly came out of their hiding places to stare stunned at Harry and Severus.

“Just keeping you on your toes Potter.” Severus replied as he strode into the shed and helped Harry up from the dusty floor. “Very sloppy return curse Potter, but quick reaction time, and a nicely rounded block.” Severus leaned in closer to Harry, his voice lowering to a whisper so the others wouldn’t hear. “Didn’t take you long to adjust after all.” Harry smiled knowing that Severus’ round about comment was the best he could hope for in the way of a compliment from his mate. Jasper and Severus had been springing surprise attacks on him since they’d first starting training, and Harry was rather glad he’d had the practice.

“Wow Harry, that was cool.” Ron strode over to his friend as Severus stepped away and over to Moody whom was leaning casually against the wall, his own wand still clutched in his hand.

“Teaching the boy dark magic have we Snape.” There was a little gasp of disbelief from Harry’s friends as they all realised the curse Harry had just used was illegal. Harry cautiously watched the exchange between the Auror and his mate, Severus merely shrugging uncaringly.

“Nothing you wouldn’t have Alaster.” Severus replied curtly before turning back to the group gathered around Harry. “Molly’s put dinner on you’re all to go wash up ready for it.” There was a sigh of relief from everyone, and Harry smiled as he began to follow his friends from the shed. Having had only minimal food all day, he was rather hungry now. The twins were still chattering excitedly about Harry’s block of the curse and Harry was following them, but as he went to step out of the shed, Severus pulled him to a halt, slamming the door closed in front of him. “Not yet, we need to discuss something.” The shed now empty of people had shrunk back to its normal cramped size and Severus shifted around Harry to sit down on a toolbox. Harry watched as Severus pulled out the second wand from beneath the folds of his cloak and laid both wands side by side on the rickety wooden box in front of Harry. Harry determined not to give away the fact Jasper had already told him about the two wands pretended to look shocked but Severus wasn’t fooled.

“Cut the act Potter, I know Jasper told you about it.” Harry sighed and nodded, as he sat down beside Severus on the toolbox. Harry had never seen his father’s wand before, or no knowingly anyway and he stared at the dark wooden shaft and the worn leather grip. Harry went to reach for the wand in question but Severus slapped his hand and pointed to the familiar light wooden wand, with the red carved grip Harry was used to seeing Severus handle. “That’s your fathers, this is mine.” Severus picked up the dark wood wand and tucked it back into his cloak, leaving Harry staring stunned at the light wood wand.

“But I thought…..I mean you even used this in class….I assumed.” Harry was speechless, Severus it seemed had only ever used James’ wand, or at least only around Harry.

“Well you assumed wrong.” Severus paused and Harry opened his mouth to demand an explanation but Severus silenced him with a sternly pointed finger. “And before you start accusing me things there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for my use of your fathers wand as my own.” Harry fell silent and closed his mouth patiently waiting the explanation he’d been dying to hear, since Jasper had first told him about Severus’ debts and the payments he’d asked for them. “I have for the past year and a bit been testing your fathers wand and its capabilities, because I believe it is the key to the successfulness of your defeat over Voldemort.” Harry frowned but dutifully kept his mouth shut. When Severus was explaining something important Harry knew better than to interrupt him. “Without all the other interfering forces, you and Voldemort are equally matched, that is why when you confront him at times such as the Tri Wizarding Tournament neither of you win nor lose the battle. Now it’s my theory, having studied Voldemort for as long as I have, that something about you must become different from him in order for you to gain the edge over him. And I believe your fathers wand is the key.” Harry frowned in confusion at Severus who sighed and picked up the wand, handing it to Harry who held it reverently in his own palm.

“I don’t understand.” Harry whispered was he hesitated in wrapping his fingers around the grip, as a strange tingling sensation rippled through his hand and up his arm. Severus watched him closely, noting the boy’s uncomfortable feeling.

“I know and it’s complicated. But just trust me when I say this must be the wand you use to kill Voldemort with, because he won’t be expecting it. Voldemort is so attuned to you Harry, it’s as if he’s apart of you and he’s become used to fighting you with your own wand, and your own magic because it’s so like his own. He can predict your moves and spells; I’ve seen it first hand. This is something he doesn’t know about, that he can’t predict and he won’t be able to stop. It has your fathers signature not your own, and will have a far better chance of making it past Voldemort’s barriers.” Harry looked sceptically at Severus who merely sighed and folded Harry’s hands around the wand’s grip and held them there tightly. “I have researched this thoroughly Harry. Your father while stupid in my opinion was a powerful wizard, far more than he probably realised.” Harry frowned at Severus’ insult of his father but let the matter drop as his mate continued. “That power you inherited, only you also inherited your mothers intellect and good nature as well, making you a formidable wizard Harry. But for you defeat Voldemort you must channel all of those characteristics through your father’s wand so that Voldemort has no defence against it. The wand is going to make the difference between you and he, and seal your fate.” Harry swallowed difficultly and flicked his father’s wand, hoping to create a simple light charm in the darkened shed. What exploded from the end of the wand was a fireball that singed both his own and Severus’ robes before Severus put it out with a quick flick of his own wand. This time Harry did look extremely sceptically across at his mate who sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t say it was going to be easy Potter, using and controlling another wizards wand is hard but you only really need to know how to create the killing curse with this wand, the rest can be done with your own. If I can teach you to control this long enough to use the killing curse then that’s all you’ll need.” Severus smiled at Harry who nodded quietly and put his fathers wand back down on the wooden crate where Severus snapped it up and tucked it back into his own robes.

“How are we going to practice that, and on what? I don’t think anyone’s going to volunteer to be killed.” Harry whispered as Severus stood up and opened the door of the shed, leading Harry out into the darkened garden. Light streamed out from the kitchen window and the voices of the order eating dinner filtering out of the open back door.

“I’ve acquired some lab rats, which can be easily transfigured into likenesses of your enemies Potter. It’s a little macabre but it’s the only thing Albus and I could think of to help you.” Harry nodded silently as Severus guided him up the path with a hand in the small of his back. Before they reached the open door however Severus pulled Harry to a halt and stepped in front of him, the hand that had been at Harry’s back sliding around to gently caress the boy’s stomach.

“Severus.” Harry blushed as his mate pressed a soft kiss to his lips, playfully tickling the boy’s stomach. Pushing Severus hands away from his stomach Harry leaned up and wrapped his arms around Severus’ neck pulling his mate down for a deep passionate kiss, something he’d missed earlier that morning. “Why did you tell me all this sooner?” Harry whispered as he broke away from Severus’ lips but still pressed his nose up against Severus’.

“You weren’t ready.” Severus replied brushing a stray lock of hair from Harry’s forehead.

“And do you think I’m ready now?” Harry whispered again as Severus’ arms sat comfortably about his waist, gently caressing the middle of his back.

“No.” Harry was a little stunned by Severus blunt answer and pulled back a little to stare at his lover in confusion.

“Then why are you telling me this now if you don’t think I’m ready?” Harry looked affronted at his lover, and Severus sighed and placed a gentle reassuring kiss to Harry’s forehead before slipping his right hand around, and up Harry’s t-shirt to rest gently on the boy’s belly.

“Because of this.” By way of explanation Severus drew his thumb over Harry’s belly before pulling his lover against him in a warm hug. “We just don’t have the time to wait anymore Harry. Come December the risk will be too great to you and…” Severus trailed off as someone moved past the back door blocking the light momentarily before allowing it to stream out again. Lowering his voice even further Severus continued in a hush whisper. “You need to defeat him now while you can, because I won’t risk you going into a confrontation in that condition.” Harry nodded understandingly and hugged Severus tightly back before stepping away from him and entwining his fingers together with that of his lovers.

“You know you keep telling me you’re not a romantic but when you say things like that I don’t believe you.” Harry looked sideways at Severus who rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be led towards the door into the kitchen.

“I’m being sensible in my reasoning Potter, not romantic.” Was Severus reply as they walked past the small rose garden Harry had thrown up in that morning.

“I don’t believe you Snape, I bet if I wanted chocolate, poetry and roses you’d get them me.” Harry glanced confidently over his shoulder at Severus who snorted loudly and shook his head.

“You’d be sadly disappointed Potter.” Severus replied, as Harry pulled him into the kitchen, totally unaware that on his way past the rose bushes Severus had secretly picked one of the red flowers and tucked it away out of sight into his robe.

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