Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 7

Harry sat quietly on the benches of the Gryfindor locker room his eyes cast downwards as he listened to his team mates excitedly chatter around him about the game about to take place. Despite how hard he tried Harry’s heart just wasn’t in it today. Closing his eyes Harry brought his hand up to his cheek, gently touching the purple hand shaped bruise. After being thrown from Snape’s room Harry had struggled up to the Gryfindor tower before sealing himself in the 6th year boy bathroom. Literally he had crawled into the corner of the marble room and cried himself into exhaustion. Harry had heard a few of his friends trying to get in to him but as the first hour passed everyone had given up and left him in a miserable silence.

Eventually he’d had no more tears left and what anger he’d had was now more correctly directed. As simple as it would have been to just blame Snape for his misery it was in fact Voldemort’s fault, just as most ugly things in Harry’s life could be attributed to. Wiping his tears from his eyes with the sleeves of his robes Harry had focused his rage on Voldemort and concentrated on sending the bane of his life a good hard kick in the nuts. Harry had hoped it had worked just as he always did when he wished pain upon his enemy, not that there was any hope that it might. With his anger and sadness in check Harry had slowly risen from the floor and moved over to the sink to wash his face. That’s when he’d seen the bruise in his reflection. There was little doubting anyone who saw it would know what had caused it, four long finger marks clearly visible on his pale skin. Just as he did now Harry had run his hand over the bruise unconsciously reliving the moment over and over again, remembering the moment when he’d looked up into Snape’s dark eyes. Yes, there had been anger and rage but the more Harry thought about it the more he was sure he’d seen hurt behind the mask of the man and it scared him that he didn’t know why.

“Harry? Harry? Are you alright?” Harry shook his head quickly as he felt someone shaking his shoulder. Removing his hand from his cheek Harry looked up into the pretty blue eyes of Ginny.

“Um, yeah sorry what’s going on?” Harry silently thanked his forethought for having put a glamour charm on himself to hide the bruise. There was no point in having people question him about it especially when he was still feeling extremely depressed. Glancing around the locker room Harry frowned a little as he saw that the excitement of the team was somewhat now subdued.

“Didn’t you hear? Slytherin have forfeit, seems their seeker has just quit the team.” Harry sat up a little straighter on the bench surprised at the news.

“Malfoy’s quit?” Harry whispered hardly believing what he was hearing. The blonde haired boy would never do something so unpredictable as quit, especially after his father had gotten him onto the team in the first place. “Any reason?” Harry inquired as he loosened his wrist guards conscious now that they probably wouldn’t be playing Quidditch that afternoon. Ginny shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, obviously in the dark about Draco’s shock resign as everyone else seemed to be. A moment later McGonagall strode into the locker room, Madam Hooch trailing behind her all geared up for refereeing the game.

“Attention please, may I have your attention.” The chatter in the locker room fell silent as the team turned towards their head of house. When she was sure she had the teams attention the professor continued. “As you have all heard Slytherin have forfeit the match. Despite that though the school is still out there waiting to see a game of Quidditch and we will not disappoint them, even if it is only a friendly match they will be watching. Madam Hooch already has ‘Padama Snufflewig’ Hufflepuff’s seeker dressing to fill Slytherin’s vacancy.” McGonagall smiled at her team all of whom were now excited again at being allowed to play. “Well, get yourself ready play begins in fifteen minutes, and the weather out there is pretty nasty.” McGonagall dismissed the team who began eagerly regrouping for the match. Harry however remained were he was, as he watched McGonagall, Hooch and a familiar dark haired girl walk over to him. “Harry. I think you know Alison Woodly, she’s Ravenclaw’s new seeker this year.” Harry smiled and nodded at the young girl, as McGonagall introduced them. Harry had seen her a few times in the hall but had never bothered to talk to her. “Alison volunteered to play for Slytherin but Padama is far better suited to their side, still Madam Hooch and I believe this friendly game would be beneficial to Alison’s training and would give the Ravenclaws some interest in the game as well, with these teams being mixed and all. Would you mind awfully if Alison took your place just for this match?” McGonagall seemed almost reluctant herself to allow her star seeker to be replaced but Harry silently welcomed the excuse not to play in the match.

“No, it’s fine I wasn’t feeling the best anyway.” Madam Hooch and McGonagall looked at Harry with concern. Quick to alleviate their worries Harry added. “It’s just been a long day, I’m a bit tired.” McGonagall nodded at him knowingly, having herself sat through the vigorous meeting all day as well.

“That’s wonderful Harry, a great seeker and sportsman too.” Madam Hooch patted Harry enthusiastically on the back causing the boy to wince a little with the force. The flying instructor didn’t seem to notice however and with a final smile left the locker room with McGonagall, leaving Alison standing quietly shy in front of Harry.

“Thank you Harry.” Harry looked back at the young girl and nodded quietly. Just then Ginny ran up to him her gaze resting somewhat jealously on the Ravenclaw girl.

“Come on Harry, we’re having a quick strategy meeting.” Ginny tugged on Harry’s arm but Harry pulled his arm free a little rougher than he meant to, causing Ginny to look at him in concern.

“Nah, I’m not playing today. Alison here is taking my place, McGonagall and Hooch think it’s a good idea for mixed teams.” Ginny’s expression darkened a little and Harry didn’t miss the way the ginger haired girl glanced over Alison’s appearance with a critical gaze.

“Oh, right then. You better get dressed.” A little too haughtily Ginny turned her nose up at Alison before turning her attention to Harry, her smile returning instantly. “You’ll still be watching though won’t you Harry?”

“Yeah probably.” Harry whispered as he sat back down on the bench and began to unlace his riding leathers. With a smug smile and a jealous glance at Alison Ginny disappeared back into the team having their strategy meeting, leaving Alison still standing in front of Harry who was undressing slowly.

“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend Harry.” Alison whispered a little shyly, her face colouring somewhat as she spoke. Harry shook his head quietly as he stuffed his wrist and shin guards back into his locker bag.

“Nah I don’t.” Harry didn’t want to into specifics and changed the subject quickly. “The girls change area’s just over there behind screen, you better hurry not much time.” Alison nodded and Harry watched as the girl picked up her own Ravenclaw colored locker bag and disappeared behind the screen to get ready for the game.

Harry waited until the locker room had cleared and he heard the roar of the excited crowd from the stands as the players took to the field. It was raining hard outside, storm clouds had apparently rolled in during the day and Harry was kind of glad now he wouldn’t have to play Quidditch in such bad weather. Taking his time Harry slowly got changed back into his jeans and red sweater, before locking up his broom and his things in his locker ready for practice after the weekend. With the roar of the crowd barely audible above the wind and the rain Harry made his way out of the locker room and out onto the edge of the field.

Grabbing his cloak Harry draped it around himself and pulled the hood over his head to keep himself dry as he squinted up into the stands to look for where his friends were sitting. Beyond the swooshes of brooms flying to and fro in the rain Harry could see his two friends sitting with the cheering Gryfindor’s up in the far right stand. Harry went to begin across towards the stand when he unconsciously glanced up into the Slytherin stand. Amongst the banners of green and black Harry saw a familiar figure sitting alone on the backbench of the Slytherin stand. Despite the rain on his glasses Harry knew who it was and something inside of him drew him suddenly left instead of right towards his friends. Since he’d been thrown out of Snape’s rooms earlier, Harry’s mind had spun with questions, and it was that Gryfindor compulsion to find answers that now drew him towards the Slytherin stands. Tucking the cloak around himself and pulling his hood further down his face as a sort of disguise Harry began up the stairs of the Slytherin stands, just coming to the seats at the top of it when the Slytherin students stood up in a loud cheer as their chasers scored. Using the opportunity of their attention to the game Harry scuttled up to the top bench of the stands and shuffled awkwardly onto the bench beside the cloaked figure sitting alone. Despite the small roof on the stands it did little to stave off the rain and Harry huddled further down into his cloak glancing sideways at Snape. Before Harry could say anything though Snape had beaten him to it.

“No content with getting yourself killed on the back of a broom, you must instead walk unprotected into the lions den. I’m beginning to wonder about your sanity.” Harry noted the way Snape kept his eyes trained on the Quidditch game, his voice low enough to be heard by Harry but not by the cheering row of Slytherin students in front of him. The comment was also purposely devoid of Harry’s name, but even though Snape had said it Harry’s mind supplied the ususal sneering ‘Potter’ remark on the end of the sentences.

“I wanted to talk to you.” Harry whispered deliberately ignoring Snape’s biting remarks as he buried himself further into his cloak as some of the Slytherin’s in front of him stood up to get a better look at the game.

“You seeking me out to ‘talk’. Should I be shocked or concerned by this unusual and certainly most uncalled for event?” Harry bit his lip, determined not to be baited by the man whose usual sarcasm had returned with vengeance.

“Neither.” Harry whispered before continuing. “I just wanted to ask you about something.” Harry waited patiently, intently watching Snape’s expression beneath the man’s hood in case it changed even slightly from the usual stern scowl. When Snape made no move to reply to Harry’s request the boy continued regardless. “I wanted to know how you knew about my uncle.” Harry watched and waited for Snape to reply but when the silence continued, and Snape made no show of answering the question Harry sighed heavily and went to move away from the bench. There was little point in him sitting here waiting for trouble when there was little chance Snape was willing to talk. Not that Harry should have been surprised having abused the man earlier in the day.

“It was among my unofficial tasks to watch you.” Harry paused as he heard Snape’s cold reply the man hardly flinching as Harry sat back down next to him, a little closer now so that the information wouldn’t go beyond their hearing. Harry remained silent as he waited for Snape to continue, which the professor did after a moments pause. “I am the only one among the group whom has such close contact to you, and free access to your school records, it is my unofficial duty within the circle to keep him informed of your activities.” Snape’s voice was now hardly audible above the driving rain, the howling wind and the cheers and cries of the spectators. Admittedly the weather was playing havoc with the Quidditch match but Harry paid it no attention, his eyes solely focused on his professor’s expression. “While I choose carefully the information I pass on I do research my subject matter thoroughly. The first sign was your address being listed as ‘the cupboard under the stairs’.” Snape trailed off and Harry lowered his head to stare at where his hands were twisting in the edges of his cloak he was having trouble keeping around himself in the wind.

“And did you know about him hit….” Harry struggled to bring himself to say the words, remembering all to clearly the beatings Vernon had graced him with. Snape seemed to know what Harry was talking about without the boy having said anything and continued answering the question, saving Harry the embarrassment of being explicit.

“There are something’s magic cannot hide, a limp, a wince of pain, an unexpected flinch when someone passed you too close. It’s amazing what you notice when you’re looking for the signs.” For the first time since they’d started their conversation Snape turned his attention from the Quidditch match to face Harry. Harry swallowed nervously as Snape drew his hand up and slipped it easily into the side of Harry’s hood, softly pressing icy cold fingertips to the disguised bruised cheek. “Drop the ‘Glamour’.” At the whispered command Harry closed his eyes and allowed the magical energy to fall from his face, revealing the angry purple bruise on his left cheek. Harry didn’t finch as he felt Snape’s fingertips brush gently over the bruise now clearly visible. Not once did Harry take his eyes off Snape’s and as he felt the man outline the clearly defined finger marks on his cheek he saw a glint of regret in the corners of the professors expression before the emotion was quickly blinked away again. “Come down to my chambers after dinner and I’ll give you something to take the bruising down.” Harry nodded feeling strangely empty when Snape drew his hand from his cheek and turned back to focus on the match. “If you’ve satisfied your curiosity I suggest you return to your proper house.” Despite himself Harry was reluctant to get up from Snape’s side, there was so much more he wanted to know but it was obvious Snape didn’t want to talk anymore.

Sighing Harry tugged his hood further down his face before he rose from the bench and shuffled out to the end of the row. Harry was about to take a step out of the stands however when he turned around and looked back at Snape, who had strangely slumped in his seat his head bowed so that the only part of his face Harry could see beneath the hood of the cloak was his nose.

“Sir?” Harry inquired softly aware now of some Slytherin students trying to see who he was. Snape turned his face towards Harry in inquiry. “How come Draco’s quit the team?” Harry hopped he sounded like one of the Slytherin’s after all he was drawing quite some considerable attention to himself now.

“That would be none of your business.” The reply was curt and like before Harry mentally supplied the obligatory ‘Potter’ on the end of sentence he knew Snape would have done if they were in a normal school situation. Nodding Harry sighed and quickly turned to leave the Slytherin stands, not bothering to glance back at Snape who unbeknown to Harry was watching the boy walk away.

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