Antiquity's Corollary by gonnabefamous
Past Featured StorySummary: At Lily's request, Albus Dumbledore has kept a secret from Severus Snape for 17 years. When Dumbledore learns that this secret plays a vital role in the war, however, it is Snape who is left to deal with the consequences. As Harry's true parentage is revealed, both his and Snape's futures become uncertain. The two must learn to work together in order to survive. PreHBP.
Categories: Parental Snape > Biological Father Snape Main Characters: .Snape and Harry (required), Draco, Dumbledore, Ginny, Hermione, Ron
Snape Flavour: Canon Snape
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Drama, Family
Media Type: None
Tags: None
Takes Place: 6th summer
Warnings: Alcohol Use, Torture, Violence
Challenges: None
Series: None
Chapters: 58 Completed: No Word count: 401010 Read: 379388 Published: 28 Jun 2005 Updated: 11 Oct 2015
Knowing the Unknown Spy by gonnabefamous

Knowing the Unknown Spy

Chapter 10

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"Severus, get Headmaster Dumbledore!" Madame Pomfrey shouted, running to the supply cupboard.

"Not on your life, Poppy." Severus said, rushing to her side.

Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes and shoved a series of potions into Severus' arms. He, knowing exactly what to do with them, hurried back to Harry's bedside with the remedies in hand and immediately began administering them.

They were doing everything they knew how to keep Harry alive; pouring liquids down his throat, calling his name to keep him from slipping away, whatever they could say to keep him there, they did. Naturally, Madame Pomfrey had a much better idea of what to say than Severus did, but he was handy in the potions department.

Madame Pomfrey had gone to work with her wand, using various healing and stimulating spells. It took three jolts of a shocking spell before Harry had begun to breathe again. His condition was still unstable; a finger to the neck proved his heart was beating irregularly.

As his current state guaranteed, Harry's body soon began convulsion, his limbs flailing out of control, his body quivering as though waves of energy were coursing through it. What was even more eerie about this state was despite his seemingly painful twitching and writhing, he stayed completely silent. His eyes were closed, and there was almost a calm look on his face… one that suggested he may not be holding on any longer.

Harry's seizure was escalating out of control, and Severus and Madame Pomfrey had become almost completely helpless. They'd used almost everything they had on hand, but the state he'd reached called for more than potions and spells. They needed a healer.

"Severus," Madame Pomfrey said in a voice of scared quiet, staring at Harry with wide eyes.

"You go, I'll stay." Severus said determinedly, taking a step towards the boy.

As she was afraid to lose any time, Madame Pomfrey left the hospital wing to call for St. Mungo's without another word. As she left, Severus swiftly stepped forward to help the boy, though he had no idea what he was going to do.

"Take my hand, Potter." Severus said, locking hands with the boy.

And something very odd occurred.

Harry immediately stopped moving. His breathing rate slowed, and he appeared to be returning to normal. Severus' eyes widened, and he looked over the boy in disbelief. He wanted to investigate what had happened, but dared not to release Harry's hand.

Though Harry appeared unconscious, he was lying awake trapped inside his own mind. He felt his body twitching and convulsing violently, but could do nothing to stop it. He didn't feel the pain, but he knew it was there. All he could do was sit and hope that whatever Snape and Madame Pomfrey were trying to do would work.

Part of Harry wondered if he shouldn't just let go. What was the point of this life that was nothing but constant pain and loss? His godfather had left him, and even if not by choice, he was still gone. Harry was constantly being torn from his friends, and who could blame them if they left when they realized what friendship with him meant? It was constant secrecy and danger- Harry wasn't certain he would want to be around himself, if he had a choice. And Dumbledore, the one man he had trusted above all others, had been lying to him for years. What was there to live for?

Then, out of nowhere, Harry felt someone grab his hand, jerking him back to life. He couldn't understand what had happened; suddenly, he'd stopped moving. He was returning to a normal state. There was some sort of warm energy flowing through him, as though the owner of the hand wanted him to live and was giving him some of his own life. Harry couldn't explain the way it felt, but the feeling in him was like something he'd not felt before; there was some sort of connection.

Suddenly, out of the calm, images flashed through Harry's mind. Many of the faces he saw were familiar… He saw his mother and father, laughing and joking, but distant from each other- not as a couple should be. He saw Dumbledore's concerned gaze fall upon his mother, he saw Lupin and Sirius at the wedding, holding strained smiles on their faces. Then he saw someone else. He saw Snape.

Without another second, Harry jerked back to life; his eyes snapped open and his eyes darted around the room, alarmed by the suddenness of it all. Only a moment ago, he had thought about letting go, and now he was looking around at the world he'd almost lost. He looked up to see who it was that had clasped his hand and brought him back… it was Professor Snape.

"Stay with me." Severus commanded firmly as Harry's eyelids threatened to fall closed. "Just concentrate on my hand, and keep holding on."

Harry tried to do as he was told, but he could feel himself slowly slipping away. He clutched his Professor's hand tightly, hoping to keep himself in a state of consciousness. "Professor," he whispered. He was going to continue, but at that moment, Madame Pomfrey returned in a panic, closely tailed by Dumbledore and, one could only presume, a healer from St. Mungo's.

Dumbledore looked beyond worried; he looked as though he were desperately trying to suppress the frantic feelings within as they hurried to Harry's bedside. Before he could do or say anything, however, the healer he'd brought with him took over.

The St. Mungo's official approached the bed, relieved at Harry's stability. He looked back and forth from Harry to Severus. The dark Potion's master was not moving; he was fiercely clinging to his student's hand, looking down at him in concentration.

"It's alright," the healer said to Severus. "I've got him from here."

It was a moment before Severus realized that he was being spoken to, and that he was still holding Harry's hand.

"Oh, of course," Severus said, releasing Harry and stepping back slowly. He didn't see the odd look with which Dumbledore was watching him.

"Ok, Harry," the healer said. "You may rest your eyes; I can see you're struggling to keep them open. I'm going to help you; this is what I do every day. When you wake up, everything will be fixed."

Harry knew he should trust this man, but somehow, he didn't. He couldn't let his eyes fall closed because he didn't know everything would be ok; he couldn't trust that he would wake up. He looked around at the familiar faces of the people standing around him, fear obvious in his eyes. Then he looked to Snape. He couldn't explain why, but for some reason, he trusted Snape. He was honest; he never tried to spare feelings or make things sound any different from what they were… at least, not when it came to bad news.

Severus gave him a small nod of reassurance. "You'll be fine," he said. "This man knows what he's doing."

Harry was soon asleep.

Harry could hear the gentle hum of voices in the room with him. They were speaking quietly, but not so that he was unable to hear what they were saying. From what he could tell, the people talking were Dumbledore, Snape, and Kingsley Shackelbolt.

"Severus," Kingsley's voice was saying. "I'm telling you, I don't think it wise that you return. They were very suspicious of my story, and the only reason I wasn't punished was because You-Know-Who needed you well for the coming Order meeting."

"I can't abandon my duties, you know that." Severus was saying irritably. "If I left, the order would have no other way of finding out the information that I give every week."

"We could find a way." Dumbledore said quietly.

Harry opened his eyes only slightly, and saw in the reflection on the window that Dumbledore had a look of deep concern on his face. "Severus, you provide valuable service to the order, yes. But you are in danger, and Voldemort is growing suspicious."

"You weren't so worried two years ago when he'd risen again," Severus said darkly. "Why is it different now?"

"I was scared at the end of that year; I'm not above admitting it." Dumbledore said penitently. "We all were. Your spying was a necessary danger then. Now, we know more. We could do without you-"

Severus raised his eyebrows. "Do without me?"

Dumbledore held up a hand, as if to take his last statement back. He carefully reworded what he'd said. "We could make it work if you wanted to leave, is what I meant to say. You know we couldn't do without you."

"Then why would I leave?" Severus said.

"Weren't you listening when I told you that the next time you go back, you're a dead man? He made that clear." Kingsley said in an urgent whisper.

"Not a dead man, Kingsley. Punished, yes, killed, no." Severus paused and allowed his head to drop to the hand propped on the table next to him. "I'll survive." He said.

The room fell silent, and Dumbledore sighed. "We can't force you to quit, Severus." He said. "But if you're doing this in attempt to redeem yourself, you needn't. You know you were forgiven long ago. You were forgiven the day you stepped into my office."

Severus gave an exaggerated role of his head and stood up. "And if I hadn't begun spying then, you do understand what could have happened? We've saved lives this way; we probably saved your precious Harry Potter. If I hadn't warned you about the Potters-"

"That's beside the point, Severus—"

"It's exactly the point, and you know it, Dumbledore. I won't quit. Not now, when we're getting so close. Good day to you, gentlemen."

Harry waited until he heard the door close behind him and Dumbledore and Kingsley's voices had faded away behind the door of Madame Pomfrey's office before sitting up. His heart was pounding and he could hardly believe what he'd just heard. Snape... Snape had been the spy who'd try to save his parents.

xxx End Chapter xxx

To be continued...


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