literature

TheRefugeeAndTheOldHorse11

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Literature Text

Warnings: HBP and DH spoilers


Chapter 10

”I take it you remember the spells to unward the door” Minerva said, gesturing for him to hurry up.
”Someone has already opened it”, he whispered, first sounding confused, then worried. She heard him mutter ”Muffliato” under his breath.
”Other Order members?” she asked. ”Who?”
The Potter boy seemed to hesitate for a short while. ”By someone who knows the wards… Could be Moody or Tonks… But I think it might actually be Hermione…”
A ghost swept by in the corridor, a cold wind against their skin, but it didn’t seem to notice them. She checked that the Disillusionment charm was still in place.
”Miss Granger?” she asked then, raising her eyebrowes at that. ”What would she be doing down here…?”
Potter clenched his jaws, avoiding meeting her eyes. He shrugged. ”I guess..  I guess that she felt we were treating him badly.” He had only a knitted jumper on, she could see he was freezing.
”Well, if that is so, then perhaps she’ll be willing to help us.” She nodded, remembering Miss Granger’s strange questions about Severus’ childhood. And about Lily… Miss Granger had been right – it had been about Lily all the time, all these years since that scrawny boy left school.



XXX


He had fallen asleep in her arms, his head resting against her shoulder. She had never been sitting like that with anyone, especially not with a man. This man was her dreaded teacher, but she had forgot about that. He seemed more like a vulnerable boy or perhaps a hurt animal, with his tear-streaked face and tangled hair. She knew that time was running out. In the morning they would be there to shackle his thin arms and send him to the Ministry, or perhaps directly to Azkaban. She didn’t try to stop her tears from falling. They landed on his his greasy hair and on his face. Still it was dark outside it seemed, meaning they would not come just yet. She leaned her cheek against the top of his head.

Her eyes flew open and she gasped when light hit her face. She was blinded by the sharp white and felt his warm body stirr in her arms. Suddenly panicking, she realized she had fallen asleep. Could they be there to take him away already? Her heart stopped, she felt the tears well up again as she hugged him tighter in some fruitless attempt to protect him.
”Hermione? Mione?”
”Harry…?” she whispered, noticing that the light came from his wand. ”Professor McGonagall…? Please! Please don’t take him! He’s…”
She watched as Professor McGonagall sat down in front of them, her cloak toucing the dirty floor. ”It’s ok, my dear… We’re not handing him over to the Ministry – quite the contrary, I’d say” the old lady stated, as her hand reached out and touched Professor Snape’s cheek. ”Oh, Severus… I wish I had known…”

”We’re taking him to my rooms” she said. ”Potter, would you please carry him upstairs! And cover yourself in that invisibility cloak of yours.”
Harry looked slightly abashed. ”He… He wouldn’t like that.” he said.
”He’s asleep” Hermione whispered, reluctantly letting go of his still form, watching how Harry lifted him. She stood there, once again alone, and suddenly felt how cold the air was.
”Will you be able to carry him, Mr Potter?” Minerva asked.
Hermione locked the door behind them, hearing Harry’s footsteps as he passed her.
”That’s no problem… ” Harry whispered. ”He weighs almost nothing”

XXX

He woke up, hearing voices around him. He saw bright daylight, when he opened his eyes and had to close them again. He felt odd, warm, and remembered the dream in which Miss Granger had held him. It was the best dream he had had in ages. He could still feel her arms around him, he couldn’t remember ever having felt like that before in his life. So safe and cared for. Still, he felt ashamed, dreaming of a student hugging him. The poor girl would be disgusted if she knew. That thought took away all the sudden happiness, and he once again recalled who he was. The greasy git of the Dungeons, the spy, the Death Eater, Albus Dumbledore’s murderer…

Then he remembered Azkaban and the cell. He could feel his back hurting, his head, his arms and legs… But he didn’t lie on a cold floor. It was a bed, white clean sheets, a candelier and a book on the nightstand. A lady sat on his bed, her hand holding his.
”Mum?” he asked.
”Severus. Severus… Poor dear.”
He felt an old hand stroke his cheek and caress his hair. ”I don’t think I have words enough to explain how sorry I am…”   
”Minerva…?” he asked, closing his eyes.
”You’re safe now, poor dear. I’ll keep you safe until we have cleared your name” she said.




All characters © JK Rowling
Ok, this is quite a short chapter... and I'm sorry to say (as I know there are some of you who are addicted to this story ;) ) that the next chapter will be the one that ends the story...
© 2009 - 2024 PhalacrocoraxCarbo
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evyheartway's avatar
cute!! at least he is safe!! :love: