Chapter 2
Tears flew down his cheeks with ease. His lungs tightened, causing bursts of much needed air to be spat out. The disgusting sound of gagging filled the room. It was a unfortunately familiar feeling for the sixteen year old. He stood on shaky legs and coughed his way to the attached bathroom. Even with his sight being a blur of yellows and greys, he was able to find his way to the toilet with ease. Sliding down the wall, he allowed the cold to seep into his uncovered skin. He focused on his breathing the best he could, finally getting it down to the occasional cough every ten seconds or so. In the distance, he heard the beginning of footsteps across the hallway. His door is not knocked on as the person enters. From the light steps, he presumes Severus.
“What time is it?” Harry’s voice is shaky, yet he is proud of the lack of a stutter this time.
“Three in the morning.” Severus’ voice is heavy with sleep. Harry almost feels bad, but he knows that the man always woke to the smallest of sounds. He had discovered that when he would try to sneak around at night. Night snacks were not endorsed by Severus Snape.”Is your throat sore?”
A slight nod was the boy’s reply. Looking at Severus, Harry was shocked to see that the man was a blur of browns and golds that normally made up Remus. His face must have scrunched up since Severus let out a scoff.
“My sleeping clothes have been misplaced.” Harry could not help the light laugh, which was cut short by the stinging in his throat.
Something cold and thin was pressed to his hand. A vial. With a sigh, he uncorked it and gulped it in one. This one tasted better than the normal ones. His confusion must have shown on his face as Severus gripped his shoulder.
“The flavouring you made works, it appears.” A shuffling paired with the blur to his right moving, indicated that Severus had taken to sitting with him.
“Really?” Harry’s eyebrows raised as he turned more to face Severus. It was something he had been working on. When he was younger, he had avoided eye contact at all costs. Now that he was comfortable with it, peoples features were so blurry that there seemed no point. He would normally end up staring at their forehead or chin. With his glasses, it was a little easier though, the edges became a little more pronounced. So he could at least take a guess as to where the features were on the face.
“Yes, the amount was wrong, that’s why it ended up tasting terrible last time. Half the amount of Anjelica and it improves the taste.”
“Ah!” Harry mentally notes that for the next time he has to make his potions. There are a few seconds of silence, only disturbed by the occasional clearing of Harry’s throat “Is Remus still out?” He leans against Severus’ side, his head laying on the Potioneers’ shoulder.
“Yes.” Harry hummed in response. His eyes slowly came to a close. Before he could allow himself to sleep, he let out a whisper. “My leg hurts.”
Severus did not respond, he did not need to. Instead he moved to kneel beside the boy, before gathering him into his arms. It was much harder to do this since the boy had become taller, but that did not stop the professor. Before Harry could open his eyes again, he had been laid on his bed.
“Would you like a salve to help the pain?” Severus asked as he wandlessly put out the candles on the night table.
“No, it should be fine in the morning.” Harry pulled the blankets over his head, something he did when he was embarrassed. Severus let a small smile slip onto his face. God, he hoped the world did not tear him apart again.
“Should I tell Remus to let you know when he is home?”
A muffled “Yes.” was given to answer. Severus nodded to himself for leaving the room to get more sleep before the other adult returned home.
The mansion was quiet without the wolf in it. Harry tended to be rather quiet in his spare times away from studies. He tended to spend time outside, in the gardens. With his eyes closed, lying down. What he found so nice about that, Severus did not know. As long as he was happy however, Severus could not complain.
Severus rubbed his palm over his face, a sigh leaving his lips. Slowly, he returned to his room, hoping to get at least an hour more sleep.
~~~
Breakfast was a rushed affair. With Harry eating the eggs and beans but barely touching the sausages. Remus did not make it to breakfast, Harry was quick to inform Severus of him being in his bed. It was a habit of the wolf’s. He would often lie next to Harry once he got back, his bones too tired to make it to their room. Harry never once complained however, he seemed to enjoy the company. Severus is suddenly reminded of walking to Harry’s room and hearing Harry fill Remus in on some runes work he was doing. Remus did not seem to be taking anything in though, if his light snoring was anything to go off of. Yet, Harry spoke endlessly.
“Severus,” The dour man’s eyes raised to the teen. Harry's eyes were squinted at the window behind him. As soon as he turned, he understood why.
On the window sat Fawkes, Albus Dumbledore’s Phoenix. Severus felt a tightening in his chest. Here’s the moment he had been dreading for five years. Harry seemed to sense his unease, if the sudden chill in the room hinted at anything. Turning his gaze to Harry, he flicks his wand in the boy’s direction. The chill disappears instantly. Harry looks down and lets out a heavy breath.
“Sorry.” Severus does not say anything for a minute.
“It is fine.” Swishing his wand again, the dirty dishes begin to wash themselves. “Will you be okay while I talk to Albus?”
“Yes, I will call for Remus if I need him.” Severus knows that he will not. Him and Remus knew better than to trust Harry to ask for help. Plus, Remus is not in the state to help. No doubt he would have trouble standing like he always did the night after a full moon. Severus would not put it past him to try to though. He would not put it past himself either.
“Be sure to.” He forgoes receiving the letter from the bird that seems to be staring Harry down. Pulling down his rolled up sleeves, he heads to the Floo. He looks back to Harry, but the boy seems as transfixed on the phoenix as the phoenix is on him. “Send the bird back when you’re done admiring.”
Harry does not reply and instead walks over to the bird, raising his hand to run his hand ever so gently over the Pheonix’s feathers. Severus watches in surprise as a fire ignites between the birds feathers. The bird does not appear to be turning to ash however. Neither does Harry’s hand appear to be burning. House of Potter, Severus reminds himself. Even though he had not read of anything like this, that’s the only explanation his mind provides him with.
“Harry.” Severus states firmly. Harry’s eyes widen as he turns his head to Severus. His fingers leave the bird, returning it back to the normal red and orange feathered phoenix.
“Sorry and yeah, I will send them back.” Harry nods with a small smile.
Severus turns to the Floo and calls out Albus’ Floo. Within seconds he is walking out and into Albus’ office.
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Harry is slow as he makes his way up the stairs. His hands hold tightly onto a tray covered with food that is easy to stomach.
‘In other news, the Potioneer Committee is glad to report that the long-standing record for youngest Potioneer has been broken by Harry James Potter. The record that had been previously held by Severus Snape, being seventeen at the time, has been broken by none other than his apprentice. Harry James Potter has become the youngest to gain a Potioneer mastery, his age being sixteen. We congratulate him and wish him the best time with his brews!’ The words were fed into his mind seamlessly. With a lift of his finger, they stop. His sock covered feet tapping on the floor are the only sound in the mansion.
He finally reaches his destination and smiles as he uses his elbow to nudge the door open. The room is filled with light and yet Harry can not make anything specific out. He moves with ease though and slides the tray onto a bedside table. Looking onto the bed, his eyes see a glow of golds and bronzes taking up half of the bed, along with a few hints of grey.
“Moony, food’s here.” Harry sits on the edge of the bed, beside where the man lays. A groan is the response he gets, before he feels the sheets begin to move and looks to where Remus is beginning to sit up. “Severus is meeting with Dumbledore at the moment, so I brung it up.”
“Thank you, Harry.” His voice is rough and slow. Harry makes sure to pass him his glass of water. The glass is taken gently from his hold. “How long ago did he leave?” Remus already sounds more awake. The wolf gulps down the glass of water before reaching to put it back on the table.
“About an hour ago.” Harry reaches onto the tray, tracing his fingers over it until he finds what he’s looking for. Eagerly he passes it to Remus. There is a minute of silence as he reads over lines.
“Congratulations!” Even though Harry can tell he is still tired, he sounds overjoyed. A hand is soon on his head, running once through his hair. Harry had been getting more and more used to that show of affection. “Being wished good luck on brews is a sign of high respect in the potion community, is it not?” Remus grabs his tray and places it on his lap.
“Yes, they only tend to wish certain people that. Severus said there’s this brewer that is egotistical and brash. Everyone in the community hates him but he made a big breakthrough on a potion for conceiving. If I remember correctly at the end they put something along the lines of ‘We await what else they discover.’” Remus scoffs.
“Potioneer’s and Goblins have a lot in common. Blunt unless favoured.” Remus notes a quirk in one of Harry’s eyebrows.
“Then I might get along with Goblins as well then.” Remus hesitates on a spoon of porridge.
“You may. They will want to get along with you. The house of Potter has always kept the favour of Goblins.” Harry smiled, as he always did when learning about the creatures of the magical world. “Now that the goblins will have confirmation that you are alive, you are due to have a meeting with them about the Potter finances and estates. Me or Severus could take you.”
“Can you?” Harry responded quickly. Remus is shocked by the suddenness. “As soon as possible, I want to get everything in order before Dumbledore tries to meddle.” Harry’s face scrunches up and he ruffles his hair with his frail fingers. The hair was more tame than James had ever got his to be. It was more akin to Lily’s fluffy hair. Remus remembered fondly how James would spend hours running his hands through her hair. She was so mad when he messed with the styling of it.
Remus nods. “You could write Gringotts a letter asking for a meeting when possible, if they do not contact you first. It’s important that you’re ready to do that though. Once a meeting time is agreed on, they will not take it lightly if it is changed or missed-”
The conversation is cut short by Harry tensing. Remus is not worried by this. Instead he leans back against the headboard. Harry slowly relaxes as footsteps can be heard coming up the stairs.
“All done Severus?” Remus asks as the man welcomes himself into the room.
“Yes. Exactly as we all expected. ‘Why would you keep this from me?’ Was his favourite question.” Severus sighed, rubbing his forehead. Harry gets up and walks over to his desk, pulling out paper and a quill. Severus notes this action and looks over to Remus in questioning.
“Harry’s going to set up a meeting at Gringotts with his account manager.” Remus looked down at his food, avoiding Severus’ steel gaze.
“You’re doing what, Harry?” Harry also avoids his gaze and chooses that silence would be the best route. He is well aware of Severus’ disdain for Goblins.
Severus looks between the two others in the room, both avoiding him and favouring the stuff in front of them for entertainment.