Atrum Viridis

AN: Wuaaa! hiiii! X333 I’m just lucky my project has been moved back. This gives me more time! Yay! XD Anyway! Sorry it’s been so slow up until now, I just really needed to set a bit of a base for the story, showing what the world is starting to turn into before it really picks up. Never fear though! The real drama starts now! X33333



Chapter eight: Frozen





Harry sighed irritably as he ran his fingers through his bed ragged hair, the dark locks falling into his face once more a moment later. He was sitting semi curled up on the plush couch in the living room surrounded by piles and piles of letters and papers. Fan mail. Whoever it was in the ministry that had decided that he suddenly should be given all the wonderful stacks of post that they had been testing for dark magic was a complete and bloody moron. Then again he really didn’t HAVE to read it…he didn’t know almost any of the people who wrote him…but after finding a few parcels with galleons in them and expensive gifts he decided that he had to at least open them so that he could send them back. He hadn’t saved the world so that he could be practically stalked. That Moogles woman had already sent him five packages of family jewelry, expensive robes, and a picture of her sixteen year old granddaughter with a note telling him that she would be coming of age soon and legal to marry. Harry had stuffed those away quickly, intent on having Hermione help him write responses to them all and to make it clear that he wasn’t looking for a wife…



He had been trying to get through the massive piles for three days and still there was more being brought to him by Mr. Weasley every afternoon. The man could only smile weakly, saying that he was sure that they would slow down eventually, but Harry was still more than annoyed – and didn’t really believe him. It had been over a month since he had killed Voldemort and if anything else he was getting MORE mail.



News had circulated through the wizarding world that Harry Potter had shut himself away from the public and of course the moment Rita got her twitchy little fingers on those kinds of rumors she had instantly jumped into a story of the tragic and lonely hero who was in mourning over his lost friends…and girlfriend. She would also add pictures of him, Ron, and Hermione, and Ginny, along with other random classmates to her articles that he honestly had no idea where she got them. Most of them he didn’t even remember getting taken. His fire had started to get a steady stream of rubbish Prophets as fuel – with his face on almost every one of their covers. It was ridiculous and was damn right pissing him off now.



“Master Harry?” Kreacher’s voice came, snapping the young man from his irritated thoughts.



He turned his eyes towards the small house elf and nodded.



“Yes, Kreacher? What is it?”



“Master Harry, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet and it’s almost noon! Master Harry shouldn’t skip meals.” He said sternly, scowling faintly at the dark circles around his owner’s eyes.



The nightmares hadn’t lessened with the weeks that passed and more and more Harry found himself reading, practicing charms and spells, or tucked away back into his potion’s lab. He was actually getting used to the lack of sleep and a night where he could get about three or four hours was a good one. It wasn’t good for his health though and it showed. He lost a bit of weight, looking just as scrawny as he did when he would come back to Hogwarts after spending a summer with the Dursley’s. Not getting much of a chance to go or be outside also faded most of the tan that he had acquired playing Quidditch and being on the run. Mrs. Weasley was nearly beside herself with worry and it always took an hour or more to convince her that everything was fine and he wasn’t dying. It seems she and Kreacher had come to an understanding now, though, and the house elf kept an even closer eye on him, determined to take as good of care of his master as possible. It just got annoying…how could they expect him to eat when every night he saw more visions of blood and death? Thankfully they didn’t know – or at least Kreacher didn’t say anything – but they still wanted to make him eat…



Giving in with a sigh, Harry nodded.



“Alright, Kreacher, I’m coming.” He said, shifting to try and push some of the letters away and climb off the couch and tiptoe around the mail so he wouldn’t step on anything.



“As master says.” The house elf said pleased before popping out of the room and into the kitchen.



The table was already set and ready once Harry stepped in. He settled down into his normal spot at the corner and took a piece of toast - and then a few scoops of eggs when his little cook glared at him reproachfully. At least satisfied that Harry was eating a bit more, Kreacher turned to shuffle off to do whatever it was that he did while Harry wasn’t watching. Harry was tempted to try and sneak the eggs back into the bowl but after being caught doing that once he figured it was just easier to try and eat them.



It took a bit of forcing but he finally managed to eat everything on his plate and drink the glass of milk set out for him before standing. He really didn’t want to go back to reading the mail but at the same time working on anything didn’t seem really appealing either. What he really wanted to do was fly but that was out of the question since he couldn’t go outside or someone would see him…and he didn’t want to visit the Weasleys because as much as he loved Molly he wasn’t in the mood for her coddling and tearful looks. He also didn’t want to get in the way when Fred had been brought home about a week ago and the family was pretty much still taking care of him and making sure he didn’t get hurt again or relapse. He couldn’t go to Diagon Alley – or at least he didn’t want to risk being seen there – and with construction still going on at Hogwarts he’d just be in the way. This left him with nothing to do and nothing to do lead to thoughts that he would rather escape.



He made his way up absently to the potion’s lab before plopping himself down into one of the chairs and staring blankly around at his potions in progress and the ones that were already bottled and put away in the cabinets. Wait…potions! He could go see Snape, make sure he was doing okay. That was a great idea! The Weasleys weren’t at St. Mungo’s anymore and most of the nurses left him alone even when they figured out who he was. And most importantly it would get him out of the damned house! Nodding determined, Harry headed towards his room and quickly changed, brushing his hair and making sure his face was clean before heading downstairs again.



“I’m going out Kreacher!” he called over his shoulder. “I’ll be back soon!”



He didn’t wait for a reply before throwing a dash of floo powder into the fire and stepping in.



“St. Mungo’s!” he called and then was whisked off.



Once his feet touched the floor again he quickly pulled up the hood on his robes to hide his face. He had realized that it wasn’t too uncommon in the wizarding hospital for people to do so in order to hide whatever disfiguration they had done to themselves so it was the perfect way to hide who he was without sending anyone into a panic about Death Eaters. As long as he didn’t act suspicious no one would really notice him. Ideally he could wear his invisibility cloak but Hermione suggested against it since the hospital had wards on it to know when something like that was inside the building. The last thing he wanted was to have to put up with everyone going into panic and then being the center of attention. For right now the cloak alone would suffice.



With that in mind he quickly started weaving around the scattered people coming and going as he headed towards the ward Snape was in. He got a funny look from a man passing by but he ignored it, focusing instead on finding the right door and peaking in. There were a couple of new patients that he wasn’t familiar with but no sign of anyone that would get him in trouble. Not that he was doing anything wrong…he just really wanted to avoid people right now.



With a faint sigh of relief he slipped into room as quietly as possible and headed over to the bed in the corner where his old professor would be. He blinked confused when once again the man was gone… He looked around – wondering if perhaps he had been moved to a different bed and he had just not noticed – but didn’t find the man. He frowned faintly when he noticed that the pot of flowers he had made for Snape was gone as well. He wasn’t really concerned, just confused. After all he was supposed to be alright now after they made the antidote…right?



“Looking for something?”



Harry blinked, looking over to a woman who was lying in a bed, her arm wrapped tightly with bandages. It took him a moment to realize that she was the same woman who had the enlarged arm the last time he came.



“Oh…yeah- I mean yes...do you know where the man who was staying in this bed is?” he asked, hoping that she could give him some information so he wouldn’t have to go hunting for a nurse.



“Well, I think they moved him to a different ward. Getting better, I believe.” She said thoughtfully before scrunching up her nose. “Couldn’t tell though with how he complains and yells at people, though! They had to restrain him and a woman came and yelled back at him to shut up and get better. I wonder if they’re married…I think she was familiar…maybe worked in the ministry. She looked really serious and I think he called her Minva? He didn’t like it and complained more but when he-…” She continued on, rambling almost so that Harry finally had to nod and tried to back out of the room carefully so that he wouldn’t get her angry or disturb her.



It didn’t take a scientist to realize that it had been Professor McGonagall that had come and probably forced the man back into bed. Besides Dumbledore, Harry figured that the Transfiguration teacher was the only one that Snape would consider listening to.



At least now he knew where to look. If he wasn’t in the Dai Llewellyn Ward for the intensive and highly dangerous creature bites then he would be in other rooms for the regular rooms for bites and stings. Turning to look around he headed back down the hall and peaked into the doors. The rooms were bigger and had more windows but it wasn’t until the third room that he found what he was looking for.



Snape was lying in a bed in the far corner with the drapes pulled around as much as possible. Harry knew it was him though, with how all the other patients were in beds as far away from him as possible and he could see the plant that he had left the potions master there beside on the small table. Seeing the flowers made his cheeks heat up with a blush but he tried to push it back before stepping in. Maybe he shouldn’t have left them...Snape probably didn’t even want them…



His palms began to sweat faintly as he neared the bed. Would the man yell at him? What about seeing his memories? To be honest he wasn’t sure if he would be able to handle Snape being different…not when his entire world seemed to be thrown on its side. He wasn’t sure why he had come...it suddenly didn’t seem like a very good idea…



The couple of patients that were awake watched him confused, obviously not used to the man getting visitors. Harry hesitated before stepping closer to the bed and coughing faintly into his hand.



“Who’s there?” Snape snapped sharply, the familiar reaction almost making Harry sigh with relief.



“Er…Professor?” he said a bit hesitantly.



Instantly a pale hand reached out and Snape yanked the drape away to look up at the cloaked figure. He was sitting up in bed, his hair raggedy around his face and his neck heavily bandaged. He looked a bit better than before, the circles around his eyes had faded just slightly and some food seemed to have filled in the shallowness of his cheeks. He still looked too sickly for Harry’s liking…but he was alive.



“Potter? What in god’s name are you doing here?” he growled out, his dark eyes narrowing.



Harry shifted from one foot to another, feeling like the professor could glare through his hood even now…making him feel like a first year all over again.



“N-nothing! I mean…I was just wanting to make sure you’re…you’re alright!” he said quickly.



Snape snorted, giving the boy a look as if to say he was stupid.



“Of course I’m fine. What are you doing here?” he snapped. “Shouldn’t you be out playing hero again for some cat stuck in a tree? I certainly have better things to do than put up with an arrogant brat who isn’t smart enough to stay away from people who don’t like him.”



Harry flared. The familiar feeling of indignant rage steaming in his veins took over just as it did every time he was around the man. Why did he always have to act like this!? Stupid git!



“No. Forgive me if I just wanted to make sure that you hadn’t died! Next time I’ll be sure that they leave you on the floor bleeding to death!” he snarled.



It was interesting seeing how fast Snape’s expression could melt from a mildly annoyed look to a down right enraged one.



“Get out! Damn brat! Just like your father with his self righteous spews! You think just because you have just enough damned luck to stay alive that you can do whatever you want!”



Anger bubbled up in Harry’s chest as he listened to the bastard talk like that to him.



“Hey! At least I wasn’t taken down by a stupid snake!” he barked back.



By now the whole room was awake and listening to their shouting, a couple of whispers about his name and how they were acting. It was probably a good show and helped get rid of the boredom of the hospital. They also hadn’t seen anyone besides the dark haired woman from before that had been able to stand up against the man. Even the healers would cringe away. Seeing the smaller figure – probably a younger man even though they couldn’t see him – yell back just as stubbornly was certainly very entertaining and a bit awe inspiring.



The commotion was noticed though and a few nurses hurried in to see what it was that was going on. By the time one of the women gently pulled him back, Harry was red in the face and ready to start shooting off his wand at the aggravating man. Snape just as angry, but with more composure, his eyes alight with rage.



“Now now, dear, we’re going to have to ask you to leave if you’re going to make such a ruckus.” The same nurse from the last visit said gently.



Harry glared darkly but shook his head.



“No…no I’m fine…sorry.” He mumbled.



“He won’t be staying.” Snape said darkly, making the nurses flinch, remembering how those angered eyes had glared at them.



“Oh, that’s no way to talk to your friend.” The woman smiled. “Here, you two talk nicely, we’ll be back in a little bit with everyone’s lunch.”



Before either could really object the healers had hurried out, moving to take care of the other patients on the other end of the room – none of them wanting to be close to the man more than they have to.



Harry glared before giving in and sitting in the abandoned chair by Snape’s bed, pulling his hood back faintly to show his face.



“Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you.” He said honestly. “How’s your neck? Did they manage to get rid of the poison all the way?” He asked, trying to make civil conversation.



Snape glared a strange look in his eyes before disappearing.



“Mind your own business Potter.” He said stiffly.



Harry glared darker before snorting and looking away. He definitely shouldn’t have come…what was he thinking?



While the boy was fuming though, the professor’s eyes were scanning his face. He hadn’t seen the boy since the fight and he hadn’t been in any position to notice anything about him. Now that he was able to get a good look at him…he wasn’t very pleased. The brat looked worse than when he had first showed up at Hogwarts, boney and paler than a spawn his age should be. He could also see dark smudges under the boy’s eyes that he knew hadn’t been there before any of this had happened…but he was smart enough and experienced enough to know just why the boy didn’t seem to be getting enough sleep.



“I’m amazed Molly let you out of the house on your own.” He finally said with a snort, not sure why he spoke at all…and didn’t just make him leave.



Harry blinked, looking over at the man before frowning faintly, his brow wrinkling at the thought.



“I’m not staying with them.” He said shortly, surprising Snape.



The man figured that the attention seeking hero would have wanted to be by his friends as much as possible. With how they always went everywhere together he didn’t figure that it would change now.



“I’m staying in Sirius’s house.” He answered the man’s silent confusion with a sideways glance. “He left it to me and since I can’t and won’t go back to the Dursley’s I decided to keep it as my home.”



“Oh so now you’re so good you can only stay in a Black’s house are you?” he answered scornfully, the thought of the canine monster that had made his life a living hell during his years at Hogwarts made his mood drop dramatically.



Harry hissed again, almost sounding like he was using parseltongue and for a moment Snape thought that he would actually hex him.



“I want to stay there because I can! No one can tell me what to do now and I’m not going to let anyone try!” he said darkly. “It’s my life and if I want to stay in the house my godfather gave me then I bloody well will!”



“Oh, poor Potter having to do something he didn’t want to. You’re not the only one who had a bad situation – but of course you wouldn’t think about that! You’re just like your father with his self centered arrogance and delusions that the entire universe revolves around him!”



“NO! I’m-” but Harry shut his mouth quickly to stop from screaming at the man again and took a slow deep breath before glaring up at the bastard. “I didn’t come here to fight with you.” He said darkly, standing from the chair.



“I’m glad you’re alive – even if you are a miserable git – and since it’s such a huge inconvenience I won’t bother checking on you again. Goodbye Professor Snape.” He said tightly before turning to stalk out of the room.



Severus watched the boy storm out of the room with narrowed eyes. Blasted brat! Who the hell did he think he was!? Just because he had the luck of the devil himself didn’t mean he could act all high and mighty. If it wasn’t for the fact that he saw Lilly’s face every time he looked into the boy’s eyes he would have put his foot down and shown him just how foolish he was to think he could just stand against the Dark Lord. But no! He had to coddle James’s-spawn on Dumbledore’s orders – let him think he was more powerful – let him just walk into the battle ignorant of everything and sacrifice his life! The whole situation made him sick!



Pulling the curtain quickly around his bed once more, Snape glared at the faded star designs on the cloth. How could Dumbledore have expected him to protect the brat! He was everything he despised! Proof that he had been an idiot when he was younger and hadn’t seen just what was in front of his face…what all he had to loose. Potter had won Lilly’s heart…and in the same breath broken his. But when he was being brutally honest with himself…when he actually let his thoughts wander back to those last instances as the young woman’s friend…he knew that it wasn’t just Potter who had a hand in destroying any chance he had at a happy life. He could have had her…he could have stayed at her side, married her…allowed himself to actually care about someone other than himself. But instead he had been foolish enough to join Voldemort…and it had cost her her life.



Now, even after all that…after a lifetime of trying to make it right…he had to face her child, the insufferable little bastard that looked so much like his most hated enemy…but at the same time so much like her. It was as if she was screaming at him…telling him she would never forgive him…and he shouldn’t be. But still the same he had watched the boy who damned well tried his hardest every chance he got to get himself killed. He tried to protect him…tried to make some kind of amends to the one person who had ever cared about him…and still in the end he hadn’t been strong enough. The boy fought Voldemort on his own, succeeding where no one else had been able to. Harry had helped to save the wizarding world and now he would grow up, have a family and live the happy life everyone expected…but he knew better. Snape had seen what the darkness could do to someone and whether or not he liked him…he doubted Potter would ever be ‘alright’ again. He doubted any of them would.



His eyes flickered over to the side where he could see the shadow of the purple flowers left for him against the curtain. A faint frown pulled on his lips and he stubbornly turned his head and settled down to rest. The stupid boy had felt sorry for him and left them – or at least that was what he gathered from the nurse. Such a stupid gesture. What would he need with something like flowers? It wouldn’t make him get better any quicker… Stupid boy…a waste of time. He’d get rid of them…later…when he wasn’t so damn tired.





Harry fumed to himself as he stormed out of the room and down the hall. Of all the insufferable bastards! Where in the bloody hell did he get off treating him like trash! He saved his miserable life! He shouldn’t have even bothered. He should have just left him there in the Shrieking Shack and let him die.



The thought was like cold water splashed on his head. The dark haired boy froze in the hall, the image of Snape being attacked by Nagini flashing back through his mind and making him wince. No…he didn’t want him dead and he couldn’t have just left him there…but why couldn’t Snape even TRY to tolerate him? He hadn’t even done anything this time…he was really trying to get over the juvenile hatred of the man, trying to be more mature about the whole thing…but then he goes and acts like that!



A sigh escaped his lips and he just shook his head before starting to walk again, the fire and rage seeping away once more to leave the drained and…empty feeling behind. Like his emotions had died and things really didn’t matter anymore. He shoved the thoughts away and just kept walking.



He really wanted to walk out into the muggle street, just take the very long way back to his home and enjoy the sun, watch the people pass by him…but he couldn’t. He hadn’t brought his invisibility cloak with him – something that hadn’t happened since the time running with Ron and Hermione – and without it he doubted he would get very far before someone chased after him. He definitely couldn’t deal with that at the moment.



Realizing that there really was nothing else to do he took the fireplace back to Grimmauld Place and rubbed the soot off his robes. He really wanted to go out now, get fresh air and be OUTSIDE but at the same time the thought of being around others…it wasn’t appealing. He knew there was something wrong with him… When he was alone he wanted to be with other, to be around people and try to forget, but when he was with them, anyone or shopping he just wanted to be alone.



He couldn’t just sit still right then though so when he stepped out of the fire head headed upstairs and grabbed his invisibility cloak from where he had placed it beside his bed and wrapped it around his shoulders then pulled up the hood.



“I’m heading out again Kreacher!” he called as he took out more floo powder. “I’ll be back in a little bit!”



He threw in the powder and watched the flames erupt emerald before stepping in. The familiar warmth and tingling feeling that came with the fire enveloped him then swept him to the Leaky Cauldron. He looked around to make sure he hadn’t been noticed but when no one even blinked he quietly shook off the bottom of the cloak to get rid of any soot before heading towards the back.



A few minutes later he was stepping out into Diagon Alley, the familiar aromas and sights filling his senses as he began following the cobble stone street. He still had more than enough money so he didn’t have to go to Gringotts, but he did want to pick up a couple more books and he was running out of lizard tongue. Maybe this time he would be able to get some of the things before anyone knew he was there.



He decided that the bookstore was closer and ducked inside when someone exited. He instantly began scanning the bookshelves, absently smiling to himself as he realized how much he was becoming like Hermione. But really who could blame him for wanting to know as much as possible. He doubted that he was going to be able to live the rest of his life without ever being attacked again, especially since there were still Death Eaters out there. He should have done all this BEFORE he went head to head with Voldy.



None of the newer books seemed to be any different than the ones he already had but a few of the older ones in one of the back corners seemed promising. He’d have to look and make sure he had all the ingredients before he tried anything, but at least in this one he might find something he hadn’t tried yet. There was another book at eyelevel that caught his gaze. It was bright and an almost repugnant pink. Wondering what would be so grotesque he pulled it carefully from the shelf – mindful that it could bite him or worse – before looking over the cover. He raised an eyebrow but an idea formed and he closed it firmly before taking out his money pouch. This might come in handy. After picking out a couple more books – two on Charms and one about advanced transfiguration – he counted out the coins he would need and placed them clearly in view on the counter before slipping out discretely.



He shrunk the books before placing them into his pockets and turned towards the apothecary.


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