What’s coming? Severus wondered. He looked around. The room was just as distorted as it had been when they arrived. He shivered. The cold had come on so suddenly.
“Severus.”
Severus looked at Lailie. She had stopped rubbing her arms and was now rubbing Harry’s like she had earlier. “Give me your cloak.”
Potter’s teeth were chattering harder now, his body shivering to an almost violent extent. His lips held a purplish hue. Severus took off his outer robe and covered the boy with it. Potter was oblivious to this as he continued to mumble incomprehensibly.
“It’s freezing.”
Severus found Lailie’s habit of stating the obvious thoroughly annoying.
“Where is the cold coming from? The Horcrux, do you think?”
Severus shrugged. He did not know and he did not care. He just wanted to get away from this dratted place and he said so. “Just explain to Potter about the potion and let’s go.”
Lailie seemed flustered by his dismissive attitude. A spark of fury shot through Severus and he snapped at her. “Don’t just sit there. Get on with it!”
Lailie looked like she had just been slapped. The anger passed through Severus and he suddenly felt horrible.
Where did that come from?
“I’m—I apologize. I don’t know where that came from.”
Lailie looked subdue, but she nodded none the less. “It’s the Horcrux. If you get to close to it, it can influence you, cause you to act a certain way. It can even possess you.”
“You’re close to the boy as well. Why aren’t you acting out?”
“I don’t mean close ‘physically’. You’ve put so much into this relationship—“ Severus wanted to cut her off. He and Potter certainly did not have a relationship “—that you’ve become close to Harry emotionally.” Seeing the way Severus was looking at her she added “It doesn’t have to be a positive relationship. As long as you have that much invested, the Horcrux in him can, and will, affect you.”
All the more reason to get rid of it. “Still, I apologize for my behavior. You’ve done nothing to deserve it.”
Lailie just gave him a small smile. “We probably should get this done quickly. I’m not sure we have much longer. If you’re reacting to the Horcrux, we’re running out of time.”
Severus did not want to ask what she meant by ‘running out of time’. Lailie was already leaning over Harry, talking to him softly. He didn’t listen to the explanation she was giving him; instead he studied his surroundings more closely. Glancing around, the fog seemed to settle on top of them. He raised his hand to swipe at it. Severus did not think there was anything colder than the death rattle of a Dementor, but this soft icy mist surpassed that.
The fog was right in front of his face and Severus tried to see passed it. In the distance, the vapor sparkled darkly. As he studied it, the mist seemed to come closer and suddenly Severus wasn’t sure it was just a fog.
“Lailie.” Severus hissed quietly.
She ignored him and continued talking to Harry. Severus said her name with more force. “Lailie.”
“What?” She looked at him and turned to follow his gaze. Her eyes widened and she let out a curse. “Get in the cupboard.” She grabbed one of Harry’s arms and began to pull him up.
“What?” Severus asked as he knelt down to help.
“The cupboard.” She struggled to get Harry into a standing position and tilted her head in the direction of the small door as she slung his arm over her shoulders. “You heard Harry before. It’s safe there.”
Severus pulled Harry’s other arm over his shoulders and they began to move forward, slowly and awkwardly. Harry hung limply between them. “Are you sure?”
“If Harry was sure about it, so am I. He was safe in there, we will be too.” grunted Lailie as they shuffled along. She glanced behind her. The darkened fog was steadily advancing towards them. She tried to move faster but Harry’s dead weight was too much for her regardless of how little he weighed.
Severus noticed and told her to stop.
“We can’t, we have to get in that room now.”
He nodded. “I know. Give him to me.” He un-slung Harry’s arm from around her shoulders and slipped an arm under his knees, picking him up. Harry moaned as Severus began moving quickly.
“We’re almost there.” Severus didn’t know if he was reassuring himself or the boy. Severus did not remember the door being so far away. In fact, he was under the impression that they had been right beside it.
What in Merlin’s name is going on here? He thought frenetically.
Lailie was a few steps ahead of him, running to get the door open. “Come on, Severus!” Holding Harry in his arms prevented Severus from flat out running but, as he glanced behind him and saw the black vapor almost upon them, he tried as hard as he could, sprinting the last few feet.
Lailie reached the door and threw it open. Severus could see her lips moving as she chanted something. He was almost there. She was urging him forward, frantically. There! He ran passed her through the doorway. His foot caught on something and Severus felt himself falling. Harry went flying out of his arms and Severus found himself floundering to catch himself before he hit the floor. He felt a familiar sharp tug in his stomach. He put his hands out in front of him as the floor rushed up to greet him. Once again, Severus found himself falling through something solid.
.
Acta est fabula- The drama has been acted out.