Love, Lies & Loneliness

Chapter 5
(Crossing Over)

Harry yawned as he stepped down onto the platform after Hermione and Ron, his two friends still chattering animatedly about Harry’s information. It was raining, and despite his jumper Harry felt a chill run down his body so he wrapped his cloak tighter about his body. With his eyes to the platform Harry followed the sound of his friends voices towards the carriages waiting to take them to the gates. Stepping around some excited first years Harry didn’t look up until he came into contact with an unexpected body. Thinking it was a student Harry went to apologize without looking up but froze instantly as a familiar voice addressed him.

“Mr Potter.” Snape seemed to barely register the rain, the hood of his cloak pulled up over his head, so that only his crooked nose stuck out to catch the raindrops.

“Snape!” Harry was stunned his eyes widening to saucers as he stared up at the potions professor.

“That’s Professor Snape, Mr Potter and you would do well to remember it unless you wish to start the new school year off with your house in negative points.” Snape looked down at Harry from beneath his hood and Harry spared a moments thought that the professor would truly be a fearful sight dressed in his death eater mask and robes.

“Sorry Sir.” Harry whispered softly as he glanced behind the professor at where his friends were now waiting at the side of a carriage looking expectantly at him to follow them.

“Mr Potter you will come with me and we will apparate to the castle, the headmaster wishes to see you before the other students arrive.” Snape turned in the opposite direction to the carriages leaving Harry no other choice but to follow. With a short wave to his friends Harry joined the professor under the small awning of the train station. Before he could even speak Harry found an arm wrapped around his middle and his whole body melting into a kaleidoscope of colors. A moment later Harry found himself at Hogwarts gates. Snape’s hand that had clamped around his middle let ago almost instantly, the boy taking a moment to recover his head before he had to run to catch up with the professor’s long stride. Once inside the castle Harry surrendered his coat to the waiting house elf, just as Snape did before trailing the professor to Dumbledores office.

“Whizzing Fizzbees.” Harry managed a smirk to himself as he heard Snape say the password to the gargoyle at the bottom of the headmaster’s office. Taking the steps to the top with Snape, Harry paused to notice that Snape neither knocked nor announced himself before pushing through the door into the office.

“Ah, Severus. Harry.” Dumbledore sat perched by the fire in an overly large armchair a plate of cookies, and a tray of tea already sitting beside him on the table. “Come and have a seat by the fire and warm yourselves.” Harry obediently took the seat next to Dumbledore and helped himself to tea, knowing already that refusing Albus’s tea was not an option. Snape however remained standing next to the fire, his back turned to Harry and the Headmaster and his hands clasped loosely behind him.

“Is this about my hearing? I didn’t think it would be until next week?” Harry sipped his warm tea, relishing its warmth in his cold hands. Dumbledore softly shook his head. Something in the way the headmaster glanced at Snape’s back however told Harry this had something to do with the conversation he’d overheard in the garden.

“No my dear boy, I will discuss that with you privately later on when you are settled. For now I wish to discuss something much more serious.” Harry frowned in concern as the headmaster put his tea aside, Snape moving without being asked over to where Fawkes was busily preening. Cautiously Harry looked from Snape back to Dumbledore, the twinkle in the man’s eyes not diminishing despite his more sedate smile. “Sirius has no doubt discussed with you the stage of Maturity ‘Transition’, has he not?” Harry nodded slowly his gaze still flittering between Snape and the headmaster curious as to what Snape would have to do with that.

“Yes, he said I was young but that it wasn’t anything serious if I took care, everyone goes through it he said.” Harry looked seriously at the headmaster who nodded calmly in reply.

“Indeed every wizard and witch experiences Transition, it is the final step into adulthood however I believe your godfather has downplayed the seriousness of the matter in order to protect you.” Harry swallowed around a sudden lump in his throat as he heard Snape huff contemptibly at the mention of Sirius coverage of the topic. Dumbledore ignored Snape and continued to look supportively at Harry. “Transition at the best is a time of great awkwardness and weakness for the person experiencing it. As such it leaves young wizards open to abuses of those less understanding. There are those who would take advantage of this time in a young persons life to influence them towards activities which would ultimately lead to ruin.” Harry did not miss the sympathetic glance that Dumbledore threw at Snape, but the potions master did not seem to react and merely continued to stroke Fawkes’ feathers calmly.

“You mean people like Voldomort.” Harry knew immediately whom the headmaster was talking about, and watched sadly as Dumbledore nodded his head in silence.

“Yes Voldomort recruits most of his followers during their transition, using their time of weakness and vulnerability to secure their loyalty to him. The dark mark takes more easily to wizards and witches weakened by transition and by the time the recipients are strong enough to realize their mistake it is often too late.” This time Harry stared directly at Snape, the potions professor barely meeting his gaze before lowering it back to the bird now sitting on his hand.

“So what has this got to do with me? I don’t believe Voldomort is going to recruit the person who has already destroyed him once.” Harry looked back to Dumbledore.

“No Voldomort has no intention of luring you into his fold.” Dumbledore paused his gaze sweeping across to Snape who moved away from Fawkes and back to the fire, his back still turned away from them. “However like yourself Tom Riddle experienced transition earlier in his life and as such knows far to well the weaknesses that come with the instability of magic. Indeed it was during his own time of Transition that Riddle learned most of what we now consider the Dark Arts.” Harry nodded still not quiet sure where the conversation was leading but feeling his stomach dropping with every moment that passed. “It is because of your connection with Riddle and the uncanny similarities between yourself and him in certain aspects of your magic that we are being forced to take measures to ensure your safety.” Dumbledore touched his finger to his own forehead prompting Harry to run his thumb down his own lightening scar in understanding.

“What measures?” Harry didn’t like the sound of what Dumbledore had said and looked cautiously between Snape and the Headmaster yet again.

“Please understand Harry that we are not doing this to punish you in anyway, it is only to keep you safe should Voldomort attempt to attack you during your time of weakness.” Harry’s frown deepened as Dumbledore sighed and looked yet again at Snape.

“What are you talking about?” Harry questioned quickly his heartbeat quickening in concern as he braced himself for the inevitably bad answer he knew he was going to get.

“For this year you will not be staying in the Gryfindor Tower and instead will be placed within the Slytherin Dungeons.”

“What! Why!?” Harry could hardly breath as his chest constricted in shock.

“It is designed so that Professor Snape can watch over you and guide you through this difficult time. He alone knows the signs that may indicate Voldomort’s attempts to reach you and can help you learn to refocus your magic and its strength so that your vulnerability is kept at a minimum.” Harry’s head swam in a mist, his mind refusing to accept that his second last year at Hogwarts would be spent being watched over like a child, by of all people Severus Snape.

“ No!” The word was meant to come out stronger than it sounded but Harry ground it out from between clenched teeth and his tight chest. He felt ill to the stomach, the very thought of what this meant to his entire schooling life made his brain shut down in disgust.

“Harry please hear me out, you will not be isolated from your friends in Gryfindor, indeed you will still attend classes with them, and your social time shall be still yours to do with what you please. You will simply be required to sleep and study with the Slytherin’s under Professor Snape’s care.” Harry wasn’t listening to Dumbledore however and continued to shake his head in refusal. “I understand this will be difficult for you to adjust to but it is for the best. Any problems you have, you will report to Professor Snape first as he is in the best position to help you Harry.” At the very mention of Snape’s name Harry stood abruptly from his chair, his finger pointed accusingly at the professor in question.

“You fucking piece of slimy shit.” It was clear from the expression on Snape’s face that he hadn’t been expecting that exact phrase to slip from Harry’s lips but the boy paid the expression no heed as he shook his head now in anger rather than shock. “You did this didn’t you? You absolutely love this, seeing me suffer. You take delight in other peoples pain don’t you, you sick fuck? I’ll tell Sirius, I bet he won’t agree to this. He hates you; he’d rather see you swing from the tower than have you watch over me.”

“Mr. Potter!” Almost immediately Harry shut up, the headmasters voice stern and angry, with a tone Harry had never heard Albus use towards anyone before. Harry even saw Snape cower a little at the headmaster’s tone of voice, clearly shocked as well. “Your language and comments are inappropriate. Your godfather has already agreed to this arrangement, understanding that it is in your best interests that it takes place. As for Professor Snape’s part in this, he was entirely absent when the decision was made as has merely taken this position on the understanding that there is no one better to perform the tasks required.” Dumbledore seemed to calm again after his outburst and his tone of voice returned to its normal passive level as he continued to address Harry. “Because of your difficult summer Harry, I will overlook your momentary lack of judgment in this matter. There is no room for discussion on this topic Harry, and until such time as your transition is complete the arrangement will remain in place.” Harry slumped dejectedly into the chair, his eyes lowering in defeat.

Already with the summer he’d had, this year was turning in to shit, right before his eyes, and would only, undoubtedly get worse. “Now that you’ve calmed down I think an apology is required Harry.” Dumbledore stared sternly over the tops of his moon glasses at Harry, who obediently whispered his apology to Snape. Snape nodded in silence, the man having said nothing the entire time Harry had abused him to his face. “Well it’s nearly time for the sorting ceremony to begin, I am sure you two can make it down to the hall on time if you go now.” Knowing he was being dismissed Harry shuffled sadly out of Dumbledore’s office somewhat surprised when Snape followed him down the stairs.

Unintentionally Harry fell into step beside the potions master feeling all of a sudden extremely guilty for having referred to the man as a slimy piece of shit, especially having remembered what Snape had done for him when Sirius has rescued him from the Dursley’s. As they neared the door to the hall Harry’s guilt finally became too much and he grabbed hold of Snape’s arm, catching the billowing fabric of the man’s robes and causing the potions master to spin around to glare at him.

“Mr. Potter?” The familiar Snape stare was back and Harry swallowed around his nervousness stuck uncomfortably in his throat, along with his guilt, fear and anger.

“I really am sorry I called you a………” Snape held up his hand silencing Harry from finishing his sentence, aware now that there were other students milling around.

“If it means something to you Potter, I protested against this arrangement but like always the headmaster is not to be disagreed with once he has made up his mind.” Harry nodded knowingly, understanding completely that Dumbledore was never questioned in his reasoning. “I will attempt to make this easier on you Mr. Potter but you in turn must do so for me. Neither of us like the arrangement but we must deal with it, and for the duration I think it appropriate that we try to get along.” Harry nodded again somewhat relieved to hear that Snape was attempting to make the arrangement run more smoothly. “Now I will meet you here after the feast at 6.30, and escort you to the dungeons. Please be on time.” With that Harry watched as Snape swept into the hall, scattering students who stumbled over each other to move out of the way. Harry could hear McGonagal bringing up the first years and Harry quickly moved into the hall and took his place at the table. All eyes were on him instantly, whispered questions of his whereabouts moving along the table. Ron and Hermione were looking at him expectantly be he waved away their questions for later, as the first years were led in and the sorting ceremony began. Harry however paid no attention what so ever to the happenings around him, his gaze merely fixed on the pristine table in front of him as he thought about what the coming year now held in store for him.

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