The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 43

With a breathless chuckle Harry collapsed on the bed beside Ginny, the youngest Weasley smiling wistfully as she buttoned her lace nightgown back up and rolled over to pillow her head against Harry’s bare chest.

“You’re a natural.” Ginny whispered gently as she pressed a kiss to Harry’s chest just below his right nipple. Harry grunted in approval as he stretched languidly against the sheets before dropping his hand down onto Ginny’s head, to run his fingers through Ginny’s red curls spread like a fan over his chest.

“That was good.” Harry murmured as he drew Ginny’s chin up so that he could press a languid, slow kiss on the witches already kiss-swollen lips. Ginny smiled up at him and nodded before resting her head back against the boy’s chest, her fingers idly tracing Harry’s belly button and the light downy hair that trailed down to his softening cock.

After the incident at the death eater party Harry had allowed himself to be swept up in the resulting chaos. Harry had neither done nor said anything and as a consequence had had most of the decisions regarding the issue made for him. Harry was so used to having things decided for him it was easy to just go with the flow. Harry had been automatically pulled out of Potion’s class and had instead taken ‘Ancient Runes’ with Hermione. It was in class that Harry had apologized to his best friend, and from there Ron. It had been with some trepidation that Harry had approached Ron to apologize for his behavior towards his best friend. The two of them had sat for hours in the owlery discussing Quidditch afterwards, and it had settled at least one of the demons on Harry’s back, that his best friend still liked him and that they could be friends once again. It had been in the shed that Ron and Harry had discussed Hermione, or more particularly what she and Ron had been doing for the past year. Harry was ecstatic that the pair were still together, although a little jealous that his two friends were so happy together.

Harry had thought very little about Snape since the incident and had put the entire night from his mind and had tried to concentrate on his friends. While it was easy to forget during the daytime it was not so easy as to forget what had happened in his dreams. Dreamless sleep potion only went so far, and though he hadn’t told anyone the potion also upset his stomach cramps that had not abated. Despite everything Harry was still sharing Snape’s dreams, and without the elder wizards occlumency Harry was being treated to the full experience. The horrors Snape dreamt about were enough to make Harry vomit every morning. He’d wake up time and time again in a cold sweat, his bed sheets soaked through and his cramp folding him up double. For perhaps the first time in the Potion masters life, someone could at least understand what he went through on a nightly basis. The dreams had brought some of the truth behind Snape’s lies forward and although still unforgiving of his former lover, Harry did feel sympathy.

Harry’s dreams were partially what had brought him to Ginny Weasley’s bed. Perhaps if Ron hadn’t have been dating Hermione, Harry might have sought friendly comfort from his best friend instead but as it was Harry had turned to Ron’s sister. Harry hadn’t meant for it to go so far. It had begun as simple company at night, tucked in the safety of Ginny’s dorm room bed, playing cards or reading magazines. Ginny distracted him from his dreams, and at first helped him stay awake. Eventually though Harry had taken to sleeping there with her, her arms hugging him tightly as he rode out his nightmares.

Then they’d kissed.

After a particularly violent nightmare Harry had awoken seeking any kind of reassurance and unfortunately Ginny had been a willing participant. It had spiraled out of control from there. From a reassuring kiss of a friend to a passionate French pash behind the divination curtains between class, to a hand job out by the whomping willow and finally to fucking like nymphs every night in the secrecy of Ginny’s curtained bed. Harry felt bad, the sex was nothing spectacular and in truth did nothing for Harry. Sure he came, but it left him feeling decided empty and guilty. What the sex did do however was keep the nightmares at bay and that was enough for Harry to continue it. This was after all his last year of school, and any sleep he could get with out nightmares would help him concentrate better on his Newt’s and less on Severus Snape.

“Damn.” Harry grumbled as he stretched too far and reignited the pain in his stomach. Dropping his hand from Ginny’s curls, Harry sat up and began rubbing his stomach. Ginny sat up too and frowned as she watched Harry sooth his stomach.

“You should really go to Madam Pomfrey about that Harry, you look bloated.” Ginny whispered as she reached over the side of the bed and picked up Harry’s boxer shorts that had been discarded last night. Harry rolled his eyes and took his shorts, kneeling as he pulled them back on. “I’m serious Harry, it could be an infection or something.” Ginny persisted as she opened the curtains a little and peeked out to make sure the coast was clear.

“I’m telling you it’s just a stretched muscle, I probably re-injured it yesterday with Quidditch practice.” Harry grumbled as he followed Ginny out of the bed and into the deserted dorm room. Ginny pursed her lips together angrily before folding her arms across his chest. Harry rolled his eyes and with a casual smile leaned over and pressed a warm, soft kiss on Ginny’s tight pouty lips. “See you at Breakfast Harry.” Ginny whispered as Harry quietly opened the sixth year girl’s dorm room door and crept into the stairwell. Harry had stayed longer than usual and already there were students moving about the common room. Thinking he was in the clear Harry strode across the common room floor heading for the stairs leading back up to the boy’s dorm but the boy froze as his gaze fell on Professor McGonagall blocking the stairwell back up to the boy’s dorm. Harry bit his lip as he glanced behind the professor where a very sheepish looking Hermione and Ron were standing in their night things. Inwardly Harry swore to himself as he looked back at McGonagall who was glaring at him over the tops of her glasses.

“Mr. Potter, the headmaster wishes to see you immediately.” Harry sighed as McGonagall held out Harry’s fluffy robe for him, before striding out of the common room leaving Harry to scurry out after him. Harry spared a glance back at Hermione and Ron, who silently shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads, seemingly just as confused as Harry was.

Harry caught up to McGonagall at the stone gargoyle leading up to the headmaster’s office. Obediently Harry joined the elder witch on the moving staircase and fidgeted with the tie of his robe as the stairs ascended. Reaching the top McGonagall scooted Harry forward towards the headmaster’s door, herself remaining at the top of the staircase. Harry frowned as he looked back at his head of house before reaching for the door handle.

“Potter.” Harry paused and glanced back at McGonagall. “Stop by my office this afternoon, I believe Hogwart’s has certain rules regarding sleeping arrangements of students.” Harry swore silently to himself but nodded quietly in understanding. Whatever Dumbledore wanted to see him about obviously wasn’t about last night. Harry watched McGonagall disappear back down the staircase before knocking on the headmaster’s door.

“Come in Harry Potter.” Harry rolled his eyes as he pushed through the door and into Albus’ office. Harry was surprised to see only the headmaster sitting by the fire in an overstuffed blue armchair. “Have a seat Harry, I apologize for having awoken you at such an early hour.” Harry tentatively padded across the room and climbed into the other overly large armchair opposite the headmasters. Gratefully Harry accepted the lemon tea he was offered hoping that it would sooth his cramp.

“I was up anyway.” Harry murmured as he blew away the steam from the rim of the cup before sipping quietly at his drink.

“Yes, so I hear.” Harry snorted his lemon tea, at Albus’ statement. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand Harry glanced up cautiously at the headmaster whom was smiling at him from behind his half moon glasses, his eyes twinkling knowingly. “There is not much that goes on in this castle that I am not aware of Mr. Potter. You forget I was once young too, although admittedly I preferred brunettes.” Harry coughed a little as he swallowed another sip of tea, the headmasters eyebrow rising marginally at Harry’s pink stained cheeks. “But I am not here to chastise your youthful exuberance for young Miss Weasley, instead I wish to discuss your previous foray into love.” Harry’s mood changed instantly as he glared at the headmaster from over the rim of his teacup, his hands tightening on the china cup dangerously.

“Well funnily enough I don’t want to discuss…” Harry went to snap at the headmaster but Albus cut him off abruptly.

“I do not make a habit of saying this to my students Mr. Potter, childhood is a sacred time of innocence that should not be rushed however in this case I shall make an exception. Grow up!” Harry was a little taken back by the force behind Albus’ words and instantly slumped down in his armchair to watch tentatively as Albus took a deep swig of his tea. “I confess that I have had some regrets in my handling of the delicate situation between yourself and Professor Snape, but what you must understand just as I have come to accept is that everything happens for a reason and the past cannot be undone. What happened between you and Severus happened for a reason, and although at the time none of us could see the good, I believe in time it will reveal itself. In saying that I apologize for the distress I caused you last year.” Dumbledore paused to sip from his tea, and leant forward to offer Harry an orange cream biscuit. Politely Harry refused but did accept the offer of more tea from what appeared to be a bottomless pot.

“I’m still sharing his dreams.” Harry whispered the silence that had hung between he and the headmaster an unspoken acceptance of the offered apology. Dumbledore nodded understandingly as he bit into his biscuit, the orange crumbs catching in his beard as he munched.

“Yes, and you will continue to do so until Severus makes a conscious effort to shut you out.” Harry sighed heavily, for the last month he’d avoided Snape. The Potion Master was rarely seen out of his classroom and attended meals only when required. Harry had avoided the dungeons at all costs and even took the longer route to Ancient Rune’s so he’d avoid any confrontation in the common hallway. He felt a coward for sticking his head in the sand and pretending the other wizard didn’t exist, he felt childish too for turning his back but most of all he felt guilty. “Severus has had numerous things on his mind of late that have prevented him from being as diligent with his occlumency than he should be. I shall ask him to make more of an effort if his dreams are disturbing you.” Quietly Harry shook his head not wanting to put more pressure on Severus, who was undoubtedly already overworked.

“No, they don’t disturb me.” ‘Liar’ Harry’s voice screamed at him, his hand automatically falling to his stomach where his cramp still throbbed painfully. Albus raised a curious eyebrow at Harry’s movement and obvious lie but said nothing as he sipped from his tea.

“As I’m sure you are aware Harry, Severus Snape did not have a happy childhood.” Harry huffed into his tea at Albus’ understatement regarding Snape’s home life as a child. Compared to Severus’ upbringing, Harry’s seemed like a blessing if the dreams were anything to go by. “Alexander Snape was a hard man, he taught Severus a lot of lessons the hard way and ruled the Snape family home with an iron fist and violent discipline.” Harry swallowed awkwardly as he remembered a particularly violent dream of Snape’s, Severus as a boy aged five had dropped books in the hallway and had been beaten for hours with a potion text, the excuse being that he’d made a noise. Harry shuddered as he pushed the memory aside and took a long sip of the calming lemon tea.

“By the time Severus came to Hogwart’s he was practically a recluse, he had no social skills, he rarely spoke and shunned all physical contact. However the one thing the boy did have going for him was his magic, and his talent for potions. You know yourself that Severus made an easy target for your Father and his group of friends. I had high hopes for young Severus, especially when Professor Mortimer Grindfeld took him under his wing. Sadly however Severus was destined for Voldemort’s ranks and the stupid boy thought all the promises Tom Riddle had made him would be kept.” Harry watched as Dumbledore sighed heavily his bushy white eyebrows furrowing together momentarily as the wizard visualized his painful memories before pushing them aside to look up sadly at Harry. “Severus may refer to himself as Voldemort’s alchemist Harry but that wasn’t what he was recruited for. Severus knows pain unlike anyone else, he’s a master of delivering it in such a way that your mind is as equally damaged as your body. Severus can make even the strongest Auror sob for mercy with a single flick of his wand. He knows weaknesses and he knows how to manipulate them to bring you unimaginable pain.” Dumbledore paused and put his now empty tea cup aside, the elder wizard reaching across the small space between the two arm chairs to place a comforting hand on Harry’s knee. Harry wasn’t aware he’d been staring at nothing as he listened to Dumbledore’s words, nor was he aware of the tears that rolled freely down his cheeks. “I know you’ve seen it Harry, you’ve seen their pain, heard their cries and witnessed their deaths but you can’t condemn him for what he’s done. He’s a victim of Voldemort’s corrupt power, and just like he did under his father’s rule, Severus is simply doing what he has to do to survive.”

“He should have told me.” Harry whispered his teacup tipping precariously towards his lap. Carefully extracting the teacup from Harry’s grip Dumbledore crossed from his own seat over to Harry’s and balanced easily on the arm of the chair, his arm draped comfortingly around Harry’s shoulders.

“Perhaps he should have told you, but what good would have come of him telling you himself that he was a murderer Harry and how would he have told you? How would he have explained that everything everyone said about him was right?” Dumbledore sighed and leant forward, pressing a soft reassuring kiss on Harry’s temple over the lightening scar. “The last person Severus ever told about his involvement with Voldemort was Professor Mortimer Grindfeld. A week later Severus killed him outside the Three Broom Sticks in Hogsmeade, not by his own will but under Imperious Curse after Voldemort had discovered Snape’s treachery in revealing his involvement with the movement. It broke him Harry to learn what he’d done to Grindfeld. He retreated into his own little world behind a mask not even Tom Riddle could see behind. You should consider yourself privileged Harry Potter, to be among the scarce few who have ever been allowed to see Snape as he really is.”

“Why are you telling me all this? I thought you didn’t care?” Harry breathed out quietly as he wiped the tears from his cheek with the sleeve of his robe. With a comforting squeeze of Harry’s shoulder Dumbledore moved back over to his own chair and refilled both their cups with lemon tea, that had still remained steaming hot in the never ending pot.

“I never said I didn’t care Harry, only that I was concerned. Beyond Grindfeld I don’t know much about Severus’ bed partners or even if there were any at all. The only time I was ever given that sort of access into Severus’ personal life was when he came to me in your second year expressing his growing affection for you. Naturally I was concerned for your well being considering Snape’s past and your distrust towards him, so he and I both agreed it would be best if Severus kept his emotions to himself. When it became clear at the start of your third year that Severus was having difficulties controlling himself, I suggested the ’69’ club. I confess I had an ulterior motive in suggesting the club. Apart from the obvious memory shifts the club provided, I believed it would help Severus integrate into wizarding society a little better and teach him how to care for someone, if only during sexual intimacy. This war won’t go on forever Harry, and I’m sad to say if Severus survives he has very little social skills.” Harry had to agree and nodded sadly at Albus who huffed a small laugh and picked up another orange cream biscuit.

“Then why did you make such a big deal out us being together?” Harry muttered a little bitterly as he sipped from his third cup of tea. The headmaster sighed heavily as he finished his mouthful of biscuit and washed it down with a swig of tea.

“Aside from the fact you were underage and in my care, it was because I was genuinely afraid for you Harry. If Voldemort knew you and Severus were together the consequences would have been catastrophic and I doubt all the Auror’s in England nor I could have protected you. I never meant to make you unhappy Harry, and I apologize again for being so heavy handed it was wrong of me.”

“It’s okay.” Harry muttered quietly as he finished his tea and put the empty cup on the tray, politely declining a refill as his stomach gave an unhealthy lurch at a particularly sharp pain in his stomach.

“Well I suppose we better discuss the other reason I asked you here.”

“What? That’ wasn’t it?” Harry inquired in shock as he watched Albus shake his head.

“No I’m afraid not but I couldn’t tell you this next part without you being a little more rational and calm than you have been of late.” Harry grimaced as he reflected on his behavior in the last month and how awful he’d been to be around. It was a wonder Hermione and Ron had put up with him again. “After the incident at Malfoy Manor, Severus thought it best that we distance you a little from the order and what was going on, so you could concentrate on your Newt’s, settle and get over your relationship with him. Despite the general view on Severus’ selfishness he is fiercely protective of those he cares for, you included. Unfortunately though things have taken an unexpected turn for the worst and we need your involvement.”

“Why, what’s happening?” Harry became instantly worried his concern centering on Severus. Albus took a deep breath as he looked sadly up at Harry.

“Draco Malfoy has applied for a Ministry sanctioned marital union, between himself and Severus, sighting it necessary as protection against his father...”

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