Potions and Snitches
Snape and Harry Gen Fanfiction Archive

Connection

Chapter 11

Connection

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The next morning, despite himself, Severus made his way down to the Hospital Wing to check on Potter's condition. Little though he wanted to admit, the events that had transpired yesterday had shaken him; the way the boy had calmed at his touch had been especially eerie.

Severus reached the hospital wing and made to push open the door, but upon the sight of Dumbledore sitting next to Potter's bedside, thought better of his trip. He backed slowly away from the door and was turning to leave when he heard Dumbledore's gentle voice call his name. Cursing himself, he turned back around and entered the hospital wing. The only thing worse than Dumbledore knowing he had come to check on Potter was Dumbledore knowing that Severus was hiding from him.

"How's the boy?" Severus asked quietly as he moved towards Harry's bedside.

"Sleeping, but stable," Dumbledore replied. His hand was resting affectionately on the boy's head, and his forehead was creased with worry. "Severus, I must ask you... did Harry try to fight, at all?"

"Fight the Dark Lord?" Severus questioned. Dumbledore nodded. "Albus, he was hardly in any condition to do so, when I arrived. The Death Eaters were... overzealous... in their efforts to torture him... he has been the source of many of their failings, over the past several years, and it seems they have not forgotten that his escapes led to many of their punishments."

"I just worry... he has always been so resilient, but this last year has been difficult for him. He won't speak to me... but he should speak to someone."

Severus shifted uncomfortably and remained silent; the last thing he felt like discussing was Potter's current emotional state. "Well," he said after a moment, "I just thought I would check on the situation, but it appears that everything is in order, so..."

"You stay," Dumbledore said, as though he had not heard. "I was just leaving. You will let me know if his condition changes?"

"Who- who said I intended to stay?"

"Well, if you hear anything then." Dumbledore said, the corners of his lips twitching slightly. "I'll be going now."

For a moment, Severus stood awkwardly at the foot of Potter's bed. If he gave the Headmaster a couple of minutes to get down the hallway, he could follow behind him and escape to his dungeons with no further interruptions for the day. Then-

"Professor Snape?" A strained voice interrupted his thoughts, and Severus looked down to see Harry attempting to prop himself up on his pillows, wincing as he did so.

"Well, don't hurt yourself, Potter," Snape muttered in exasperation, moving to help the boy into a sitting position. Yet after he had done so, he felt uncomfortable once more. He didn't know what to do with his arms, where to look, what to say... He cleared his throat and moved as though to sit in the chair next to the bed; then, changing his mind mid-sit, straightened back up and folded his hands in front of him.

Harry watched his professor fixing his bed in contemplation, a frown creasing his brow. He had never seen the Potions Master... fidget... before. It was weird; almost like he might be human.

"Yesterday... thank you, for yesterday," Harry said quietly, after a long moment of silence.

"It was nothing," Severus said repressively, though he knew that was a lie. It had been quite... something.

"You hate me... but you keep saving me. I don't understand."

Severus still was at a loss for words, but he recovered shortly, and pulled over a chair. "I expect you want to know about what happened in the cavern," he said, changing the topic. His tone was rough and callous, and Harry blinked several times before responding.

"If it's not too much of a burden, sir." Harry finally responded.

"I will manage," Severus said tiredly. There was a short pause before Severus continued. "Now, I'll answer your questions, if you'll answer mine. How did you end up where I found you?"

Harry shrugged.

"I don't know," He mumbled. "All I did was take a walk up to the astronomy tower, and one minute I was sitting there admiring this great bird, and the next it was carrying me away. It was flying right over me, but I didn't think anything of it until it sunk it's talons into my shoulders… I never knew Lucius Malfoy was an animagus."

"Leave it to you, Potter, to get kidnapped by Lucius Malfoy in bird form on your first night at Hogwarts." Severus said dryly.

"Oh yes," Harry said sarcastically. "And I did it just to spite you."

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Severus.

"I bet you wouldn't." said Harry. He was watching Severus closely; the man wasn't really the same as he normally was. Again, Harry asked, "Why do you keep doing it?"

"Doing what?" Severus said exasperatedly, frowning.

"Saving me," said Harry. "And risking your life to do it. Why?"

There was a long pause.

"Because you always need saving." Severus finally replied plainly, before abruptly changing topics. "Now, Potter, I really don't have all day, so if you want to know what happened…"

"Right," Harry said, deciding not to press the issue. "Well, the last thing I really remember was being thrown onto the floor in the circle of Death Eaters."

Severus nodded, remembering the horrific event. "You were quite a mess, Potter." He said, frowning. "What did they do to you?"

"Whatever they could," Harry replied quietly. He didn't like admitting that he'd been their victim for hours; he'd been completely helpless. It made him feel weak, which was the last thing he wanted Snape to think of him. He hardly needed another negative trait added to "the list of Harry's faults".

"When we got down to the potion's lab, I told you to struggle, if you remember," Severus started, respecting the fact that Harry didn't want to talk about the Death Eaters and their cruel ways. "Lucky for you, you did, and so Malfoy was already under the preconceived notion that you were giving us trouble. I pocketed one of the main ingredients for the potion they were asking me to brew, and then sent Malfoy off to collect another one. From there, I contacted Kingsley Shackelbolt, who took my place while I got you out of there."

Harry nodded. "What happened at the water's edge?" He asked, only scarcely remembering the details of the incident.

Severus hesitated, and then said, "You were passed out when I jumped into the water. Naturally, you inhaled... and I had to revive you. Then we arrived here, you thought you'd attempt death one last time, we revived you again... it's really quite a cyclical story. The boy who lived determined to die."

Harry looked down at his hands, smiling slightly at Severus' dry humor.

"Always have to be the center of attention, don't you?" Severus added, though it came out sounding gentler than he had intended.

Harry looked up, about to respond, when he noticed Severus' hand go to his left arm.

Severus looked at Harry, and seeing instantly that he understood, gave him a curt nod and rose to leave.

"Don't go," Harry said, unable to explain why he was saying this.

"Potter, I have to."

"He's going to hurt you; you know that, don't you?"

Severus considered Harry for a moment, wondering why he suddenly seemed to care.

"We all have to make sacrifices." Severus finally said a moment later. "Be sure to call Madame Pomfrey if you start feeling unwell again, or if you have any of those odd scar twingings or visions."

With that, Severus turned and left the hospital wing, leaving Harry to himself. With nothing left to do, Harry rolled over to his side, and closed his eyes. He tried not to think about the sick feeling he'd gotten in his stomach when Snape had walked out that door.

xxx End Chapter xxx

Chapter End Notes:

Would you believe this chapter gave me the worst case of writers block since the one that started in January and ended in April? Seriously, it took me two weeks to write chapter 12, and then very next day I wrote all of 13, revised it, and started on 14. GRR… it’s frustrating. Anyways, it looks like I’m going to be updating once a week, around Wednesday or Tuesday. However, it really does depend on reviews. I may post more often if I feel pressure to do so, but for now, I think once a week will have to do seeing as how chp 12 decided to be difficult… but I can’t wait for you guys to read it!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I love you Truly Madly Deeply! (Cookies for anyone who knows right off the bat what I’m referencing.)

So, chapter 13… I’ll tell you all that they start finding out at the end of that chapter… and then I left a nice cliffhanger cuz I know how you love those…

I love you all platonically! (That is my official signature.)


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