Against His Nature

CHAPTER 6

They smelt.

The fetid stench of rotting flesh, burnt wood and sour milk engulfed his classroom like a dust storm rolling in from the desert. It was vile and made him heave. The smell had become worse over the last few days steadily engulfing his senses until this point at which he was sure he was going to be ill. The nasty creatures he called students had never seemed this bad but with the added sense of their stench Severus was rapidly wishing he’d taken another profession. The smell lingered in the halls where they’d been, it hung in thick clouds above the great hall turning his stomach of the food in front of him. The entire school was drenched in a rancid odor that made him shudder with revolution.

The elder students were the worst, and he found himself consciously holding his breath as he watched his seventh year students take their seats in front of him. Glad that he was sitting down, Snape glared with a new found disgust at his seventh year class, swallowing back another heave as he forced himself to stand up and address them.

“Today you will be completing a surprise test.” There was a groan of disappointment that fluttered around the classroom from the students, and Snape smiled inwardly at providing at least a little of discomfort back to his students that they were giving him. “There is to be no talking, the test will take the entire class.” Snape flicked his wand and the papers stacked on his table darted out around the classroom onto the desks in front of the students. “As always there is an anti cheating ward on the room, and if any of you so much as shift on your seats I will know!” With a satisfied nod Snape moved hastily back to his desk as far away from the students as possible. “You may begin!” There was a momentary scuffle of papers and quills but before long the room had fallen into silence, the students heads down and their hands furiously scratching away at the parchment.

Snape breathed out a little in exhaustion as he slumped in his chair his lip still unconsciously curled up in disgust as the scent of the students continued to wash around him. Trying to concentrate on marking other homework Snape only twice glanced up to ensure his class were still working. It was the second time that he’d glanced up when something caught his eye.

Harry Potter was staring at him. The green-eyed boy was blatantly gawking at him like a sideshow attraction. Snape glared back hoping to spur Potter back to his work but for some reason his face wouldn’t co-operate. Reaching up unconsciously Snape felt the trickle of perspiration that had broken out on his forehead and begin dripping down his nose and neck. Snape’s breathing hitched up a notch as he felt his glamour he’d erected in the morning beginning to crumble, and his hands begin to shake. This was not what he needed now. Quickly Snape made to get to his feet ready to stumble if necessary out of the classroom and into his private office away from his students. Snape quickly regretted getting up from the chair as he stumbled against the desk.

“Professor Snape, are you alright?” Snape swallowed heavily and opened his eyes. The classroom had begun to swim before his eyes, the blobby mass that had become of Harry Potter now swayed from side to side. Trying to open his mouth and dismiss his class Snape found himself unable to form the words. Shaking violently now Snape could no longer hold himself up and with a shocked gasp from the students in the classroom Severus collapsed behind his desk. Distantly Severus heard the scrape of stools on the stone floor before the inevitable patter of feet scurrying over to him.

“Professor are you alright? Hermione’s gone for help.” The scent of them clustered all around him was overpowering and Snape felt himself begin to heave

“He’s going to spew.” Just hearing the words made a shiver of mortification swamp Snape’s self-pride, and putting pay to what was left of his control. A firm hand on his shoulder managed to roll him over onto his stomach before what little he’d eaten for lunch was coughed up in a spatter against the floor. There was a disgusted muttering ‘ewww’ that rounded from the students hovering around him, everyone undoubtedly moving back from him. Making a concerted effort not to open his eyes and reveal what the glamour had hidden for the past week Snape listened as someone sat down at his side a gentle hand on his back, while the other held back his hair from his face as he threw up again.

“You’ll be okay sir, I can hear them coming now.” It was Potter’s voice that hovered above him. It was Potter that held his hair back, and gently patted his back. The irony wasn’t lost on Snape even in his present condition. Having spent a lifetime trying to protect the boy that lived, that said boy was now protecting him. The sound of rushed footsteps entering the classroom made him feel ultimately happier and with an exhausted sigh Snape gave himself over to the darkness that pulled at him from within.

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Harry sat quietly in Dumbledores office swilling the cold dregs of his tea around in the deep cup nestled in his lap. McGonagall had walked him up to the headmaster’s office after Snape had been rushed away by Madam Pomfrey and Filch to the infirmary. Harry had been sitting for over an hour staring at the books on Dumbledore’s office walls before Dumbledore had arrived back via his fireplace. The graying wizard had acknowledged him with a brief smile and a cordial nod before disappearing quickly into his observatory the door closing behind him. Dumbledore hadn’t reappeared since going into the observatory over half an hour ago and Harry was beginning to think he should just leave. Putting the cup down on the table Harry stood up and grabbed for his school bag that he’d dumped by the chair on the way in. Harry hesitated to just leave, and so tip toed quietly over to the closed observatory door. Harry raised his fist to knock but was startled as the door swung open and Dumbledore’s smiling face appeared.

“Harry, I am sorry for keeping you but this emergency had to be dealt with immediately.” Harry frowned a little as he caught movement over Dumbledore’s shoulder. There was someone else in the observatory with the headmaster but Dumbledore was doing a fine job of blocking the view. With a hand on Harry’s shoulder Dumbledore guided Harry away from the door and promptly closed it behind him, the twinkle in his eye and the beaming smile never faltering. Harry’s lips tightened in irritation, but he obediently followed Albus back to the overstuffed armchairs by the fire, where yet another pot of tea had been placed on the table.

“How’s professor Snape?” Harry inquired softly as he politely declined another cup of the lemon tea.

“Not himself I’m afraid Harry, he is quite unwell.” Albus sipped from his tea, his sparkling eyes quietly assessing Harry’s reaction over the rim of the teacup. Harry nodded in silence, not really sure what else to say. Professor Snape wasn’t his favorite teacher, and it wasn’t as if Harry really cared about him it was only out of good nature and partial fear that he had helped the potion’s professor when he’d collapsed. Severus Snape wasn’t the type of wizard to be overcome by anything smaller than apocalyptic war, he was strong, arrogant and to overly conscious of his environment to be taken ill so violently and with little warning. “Poppy thinks it is a virus he’s picked up, no doubt from one of the muggle borns who’s brought it with them from summer.” Albus shrugged his shoulders casually and sipped from his tea, his gaze not quite meeting Harry’s this time. Harry knew a lie when he saw one, and tightened his lips in anger as he decided to press for information. There was no way what Snape was suffering from was a simple muggle virus, no virus Harry knew of changed the colour of people’s eyes and the temperature of their skin so rapidly.

“He was shaking and” Harry paused and watched as Albus nodded for Harry to continue. “He was cold to touch, like ice and his eyes they turned….”

“Just a fever Harry I’m sure.” Albus cut the boy off abruptly and stood up from his chair, his teacup abandoned on the armrest. “Now enough about Severus he’s in very capable hands, What about you and Miss Weasley.” Harry couldn’t keep the shocked expression from his face as he stared at the headmaster like he had two heads. Never had Albus changed the subject of a conversation so quickly or so obviously. Albus Dumbledore was a master of manipulating conversations and situations to his advantage without a fault yet something Harry had said had seemed to upset the elder wizard and had thrown him off his usually sharp guard. It took a second for Harry to realize the headmaster was waiting for answer, and another minute to think of an appropriate reply.

“Good, thank-you for asking.” Harry mentally kicked himself at having not been able to come up with something more convincing. If truth were told things with Ginny were rapidly spiraling out of control but not in the way Harry had expected. Dumbledore had clearly picked up on Harry’s hesitation and the boy quickly berated himself yet again for being so readable.

“Little problems in a relationship only help to strength the bond of understanding between couples Harry.” The twinkle in Dumbledore’s eyes had returned behind the half-moon glasses a knowing smile twitching at the corner of his lips.

“It’s not a relationship.” Harry snapped immediately already tiring of hearing about his so called ‘relationship’ with Ginny. “Why is everyone so quick to label us, and push us into something. Only last Christmas Lupin was warning me about making rash decisions about women, and now look everyone’s so eager to see me and Ginny shacked up together.” Harry paused and watched a strange twitch of guilt wash over Dumbledore’s otherwise emotionless face. “Ginny’s just my girlfriend, it’s nothing serious just a girlfriend.” Harry emphasized every word as he flopped back into the couch, pouting a little and scowling at the fireplace.

“Oh, I’m sorry Harry I was under the impression you and Miss Weasley were, in an intimate relationship. I apologies.” Harry snapped his gaze back at Dumbledore at the word intimate, unable to contain the blush that crept up into his cheeks.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Dumbledore sighed and smiled at Harry’s awkward embarrassment.

“Everything my boy, it has everything to do with it.” Harry was confused but didn’t have time to question the headmaster before there was a knock on Albus’ door and the Minister of Magic walked in. Harry watched Fudge’s gaze shift between Albus and himself clearly something being passed between the elder wizards.

“I’m sorry Harry, we’ll have to finish our conversation at a later time I have a meeting with Mr Fudge.” The Minister of Magic was already in the room making himself comfortable by the fireplace, as Albus walked Harry to the door. “Thank-you for your kindness towards Professor Snape this afternoon Harry, and here’s a couple of lemon drops to keep you going.” Harry smiled crookedly at the headmaster as he dropped a handful of lemon drops into Harry’s shirt pocket. With one last glance back at the Minister of Magic, Harry left, the weight of confusion sitting heavily on his shoulders. Undoubtedly it would be another sleepless night…

TBC>>>>>