All That You Leave Behind

12/21/07--Angst here. Thanks to our kind reviewers! Hope you enjoy this next installment. Let us know if you think we're keeping the characters in character and your thoughts on what will happen next.





Chapter Seven


Automatically, without thinking, Harry turned to obey, then he stopped. Snape wasn't his teacher any longer; instead, he was now just a very sick man.



"No!" He said over-loudly, embarrassed about his earlier obedience. "I'm not going anywhere.” He glowered at the weaker man before adding, a touch defiantly, “You can't tell me what to do anymore, Se- Se- Severus."



Snape glared back. Despite his illness, his glare was significantly more threatening than Harry's. He wouldn't allow this BOY to see how concerned he was at the use of his first name. Names were power - the Dark Lord had understood that, and he, Severus Snape, understood that too.



Harry felt himself beginning to glare, and fought the urge. He had decided to help Snape, and he was going to do so.

“How are you feeling?” He asked softly, moving closer to the bed.



"Like a ... dirty ... great ... snake .... bit me." he rasped, his black eyes showing the effort those words had cost him.



Harry smiled to hide his shock at hearing the other sound so weak and responded, “Well, we’ll just have to do our best to get you all better, won’t we?”



Snape’s upper lip curled, "Y-your help...is the l-last ....thing I need....P-Potter!"


“So,” Harry went on when he realised the other wouldn’t continue, pretty much because he couldn’t, “What have we got here?” He began picking up the potion bottles at the side of Snape’s bed and reading the labels carefully.



Severus glowered. The boy was barely able to hold a ladle properly, how on earth could he help with the potions and spells Snape needed almost hourly?



And who said he wanted his help anyway?!



Severus made a derisive grunt. Oh, he could see it now. The boy thought he was going to stay and "help" him get well? Over his dead body!



Goddamn Albus to all seven levels of hell!



He suppressed an amused snort - maybe he should let the boy stay, after all, he had wanted death hadn't he?



What was he saying?!, he thought to himself, his anger and frustration taking hold of him again. MERLIN DAMN Albus to all seven levels of hell and back! Promised not to interfere! He should have known better. Now he was going to be stuck with the brat again, as if Granger wasn't enough! How the hell was he supposed to recuperate with the two biggest annoyances in this or any other life present??



"Take G-Granger....and...GO!" he managed to rasp out, "L-leave...the elf.....just....GO!"



Harry felt his blood boil. "Don't be stupid. Hermione has been caring for you for TWO weeks and you're just going to kick her out?! I don't think so, Snape! You might think you're the big bad, but you're not. Remember I faced Voldemort AND defeated him, so what makes you think I'm scared of you?!" Harry was shouting fit to burst the time he finished.



Snape and he stared at one another, both a little shocked. Then Hermione burst through the door, looking frantic.



"Harry!" she hissed, "What are you DOING?!!"



She grasped his arm and began hauling him out the door, saying shakily to the man on the bed, a big fake smile plastered across her face, “You...you rest, Professor. We'll just go downstairs..."



"Take ... as ... long ...as ... you ... like." Severus replied wearily. "Please."



Hermione shut the door, and her smile immediately escaped her face. "You promised!" she hissed again, and proceeded to haul Harry down the stairs with her, and out into the sitting room. "What is WRONG with you?!" she exploded.



"He started it." Harry mumbled.



"The man has literally returned from the dead, Harry, and you're up there SHOUTING at him?? Have you no compassion at ALL?? What about all that you said about making the world treat him differently? Or was that just talk? You're a hypocrite, Harry! How on earth do you expect others to see him differently when YOU can't?! And you KNOW what he's done for you! You said you were going to make the world treat him as he deserved....is this what he DESERVES then??"



Harry looked down at the tattered carpet, feeling his face burn. He was being a hypocrite. Hermione was right.



Really, had he actually expected Snape to be happy to see him? After all the man had suffered because of him? What was wrong with him? Wasn't this what he had wanted? A chance to make things right with Snape? But could things BE made right? He glanced up at Hermione, thinking. Not with her there. She wouldn't let them air their problems; give them the chance to work past their differences...



And they did need to work past their differences, Harry realised, to be able to make things right. And if that meant that they'd have to row it out, then that was what they'd have to do. But not with Hermione there nagging at him constantly and at Snape constantly. She'd just get both of their backs up. He loved her, was grateful for everything she had done for Snape and for him over the years; she was one of his best friends, but.... she had to go.



"You're right, Hermione," he mumbled, hanging his head, "I shouldn't have shouted at him. And I am being a hypocrite. If I want the world to see him differently, it has to start with me. I'm sorry."



"You need to tell him that, not me," she said, heaving another heavy sigh.



"I know, and I will," Harry said, feeling a bit guilty for what he was about to do. He put on his best concerned face, and putting a hand on her shoulder, turned the full effect of the green eyes everybody was always talking about on her. "You look tired, Hermione," he said sympathetically, "and I know you're missing Ron...and your parents. I'm sure Mrs. Weasley would welcome you at the Burrow, and I know Ron would. Why don't you go there and rest? Take a few days? I'll bet you haven't taken a break since you rescued Snape. Have you?"



"Well..." she said uncertainly, "but Harry..."



"And when you're feeling a bit more rested, you can go get your parents back from Australia. You miss them too...and after all we've been through," Harry said, shamelessly playing on her overwrought emotions, "...well...I know I'd want my mother if I were you. I...I would...if I had a mother." Seeing the tears spring up in her eyes, he put on a brave smile, as fake as hers to Snape had been, and added hastily, "but as I never have, I can only imagine how you must feel. It can't have been easy for you to have to obliviate your own parents. Course, you only modified their memories...just the part about you...their daughter..."



That did it.



"Harry, I..." she began with a stricken look.



"It's fine, Hermione," he said quickly, squeezing her shoulder, "I'll stay and take care of him. You go get your parents, and give Ron a big kiss and hug. He'll be glad to see you turn up."



"Harry", she said, pink creeping into her cheeks.



"Hey, you waited long enough for him to come round, right?" Harry said with a smile. "Now you've got him, so...go be with him. And your parents. Kreacher can show me what to do to take care of Snape, and I promise to behave myself."



"Well..." she said with a doubtful look, "...I...I guess...I mean...he's still very ill...but he is out of the danger zone...just make sure he takes the potions on time, and if anything happens, firecall Madam Pomfrey immediately, Harry."



"I will," he promised, nodding his head, "I will, no problem."



She glanced about uncertainly for a moment, her weariness showing in her face.



"Go on, Hermione," Harry gently urged, "Everything will be fine."



"Alright," she sighed at last, "I am feeling a bit tired. I'll let you know when I'm back from Australia then."



Harry nodded, not wanting to distract her from leaving. She gathered up a few things and was ready to go when something occurred to him.



"Erm...Hermione...don't tell Ginny where I am, will you?" he said feeling strangely unsettled. He didn't like keeping secrets from Ginny.



Hermione nodded and said, "What should I tell her?"



"Tell her I'll contact her soon," Harry said, sheepishly.



"You know, Harry," Hermione said quietly, "Ginny probably would wait forever for you, but...you shouldn't take advantage of that. No girl likes being taken for granted. Believe me...I know."



With that she turned and finally was gone, leaving Harry to chew over her parting words. He sighed and looked towards the bookcase-hidden stairwell, thinking that Hermione just didn't understand. Harry wasn't Ron, and Ginny, thankfully, wasn't Hermione. He didn't think counting on Ginny's understanding was the same as taking her for granted, and he felt sure Ginny would say the same. Having assured himself of that, he started for the bookcase, to apologise to the man upstairs.