Stolen Wings

I found this chapter already typed up *dances around all silly* so after this, I'll have to actually start typing stuff that comes from my brain... well, more stuff actually. For those wondering, and to possibley explain a few things, like why the chapters are so short so far, and why some things seem rushed. It's because I wrote this while sitting in a mall at a craft fair for three days before christmas in 2004. Everybody knows what it's like in the malls during that time. Suffice to say, I wanted to get most of it on paper before I forget my ideas. The chapters after this should be longer and more fleshed out... hopefully. Also, if I have the time, I might go back and flesh out the previous chapters a bit more. I'll let you know if I do.

I hope that this doesn't suck too badly. I also must thank everybody who has read this, and to those who commented. I never thought I would recieve such feed back so soon, it made me want to dance and become all giggley! But enough, for I think I have taken up enough time... for those of you who bothered to read this, if you have, just know that you are loveded by me!

As always, I don't own any of them, I just borrow them to use for my own devices and amusing plots.

On with the show!


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In the first couple of weeks, Snape noted the subtle changes in Harry. He was quiet as a mouse, and on a couple of occasions managed to creep up to Snape without him noticing right away. He never lingered in an empty room for very long, even if it was the company of a house elf, it was better then being alone. During the days when the boy hadn’t draped himself in such billowing robes that he looked like he was wearing blankets, Snape could notice that he wasn’t nearly as thin as when he first found him; of course he had to remind the house elves not to try and force feed the boy all the time.

The day was like any other, in that he was within the library researching a couple of potions, watching the boy out of the corner of his eye as he moved about the shelves. He was in the midst of reading a familiar passage, when he noticed that Harry was right there beside him. Damn the boy was getting quieter by the day. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Harry was silent for a moment, then so softly that Severus almost didn’t hear him, he asked “Why?”

The Potions master, paused with a slight frown, then looked to the boy “As much fun as it would be to sit here and guess as to what you are referring to, perhaps it would be to both of our best interests if you informed me of what specific ‘why’ you are meaning.”

He watched as the boy took a quick breath before speaking. “Why... why did you rescue me?”

He had known the question was going to arise at some point; he had even given it some thought. Nothing conclusive had ever come from those moments; even if there had been, it wouldn’t have helped him now. All thought emptied from his mind as soon as the words fell from Harry’s lips.

Why had he rescued the boy? Everybody knew his dislike for the Potter family; it was nothing he hid from the world. Then again he had never hated Young Potter, and had saved his life on numerous occasions before.

He knew he has taken too long to answer when Harry mumbled a soft ‘I’m sorry, forget that I asked,” and turned to leave. Severus reached out to grab his shoulder, stopping the boy. The fear that shone through those deep green eyes almost made him recoil. He wasn’t sure why it was there, but knew that something had instilled this overwhelming fear in the boy.

He loosened his grip on the shoulder and spoke softly. “I rescued you because...” a pause to take a breath, pulling his thoughts together. “...Because I could not forget about you.”

Harry looked puzzles, and so he continued. “I was forgotten once, though not to the same extent as you. A part of me wanted to forget,” he wasn’t going to lie to the boy. “A part of me that was still angry at your father for the things he has done to me.” He didn’t have to look at Harry to know the old hurt that would be there; but he was surprised when there wasn’t the usual protests. “When I heard you had been captured, I knew that you did not deserve what was happening. After all, if you hadn’t been around to save their pitiful lives....” He stopped there, knowing that he didn’t have to finish that thought; instead picking up with the next one.

“I couldn’t forget, yet I had to wait, or any attempt to help you would have been in vain. I am unsure as to why, but it seems the rest of the world has forgotten your very existence.” He let Harry go, having nothing more to add; didn’t know what else he could say.

Harry stood there for a long moment, letting this information sink in. Severus was about to turn back to his texts when Harry spoke. “You couldn’t forget me?” A pause as the words sunk in, and twisted in a different direction. “You remembered me... wanted to rescue me all this time?”

Snape turned back to him and nodded slowly, “It would appear so, yes.”

He watched, as for the first time in so very long, a smile formed across Harry’s lips. Dancing to life, this simple smile lit the boy’s face, brightening his eyes; and at the same time effected Snape. His cold heart melted, beated against his chest, then broke as Harry turned to leave.

Watching the boy move out of the library, Severus knew right then and there, that he was in love.