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<div class="chap-title">
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15. Chapter 15
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p><em>I want to thank you all very much for your reviews. They were a joy to read
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and I'm tremendously happy that the battle scene was so well-perceived. Please enjoy
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this next chapter as well!</em></p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 15</strong></p>
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<p>Harry stood there in a daze, still reeling from the knowledge that he had come
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very close to death once more. His eyes were fixed on the limp form of Bellatrix,
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searching for a sign of life. When he found none, he released a breath he didn't
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realize he was holding.</p>
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<p>"Is she –" came Draco's doubtful voice.</p>
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<p>"As a doornail," Harry replied softly. He felt sick to his stomach. With a sudden
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flood of realisation, he turned around to face his mentor. Snape was breathing
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heavily, holding himself upright against the tree he had been bound to before. He was
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deathly pale and Harry knew that they needed to get back to Hogsmeade now.</p>
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<p>"Do you know how to apparate?" he asked Draco.</p>
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<p>Draco frowned. "I do," he replied, "But I've never tried side-along apparition. I
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think I could take one person with me but that's it."</p>
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<p>"I believe I could be of assistance," noted a voice.</p>
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<p>Harry swirled around so fast he thought he might've given himself a whiplash. His
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wand was still drawn and he trained it on Rabastan Lestrange. The death eater simply
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raised his hands in surrender, smiling kindly.</p>
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<p>"Come now, Mr Potter," he said, "I think there's been enough death for one day,
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don't you?"</p>
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<p>Harry said nothing. He stared at the man who was standing next to the stunned form
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of his brother and remembered that he had contributed nothing to the fight.</p>
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<p>"What's your angle?" Harry spat.</p>
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<p>"I made a deal with dear old Severus," Rabastan said. "Go ahead and ask him. Why
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do you think I allowed you to hold on to your wand? And why do you think I took out
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my brother?"</p>
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<p>Harry glanced at Snape, not sure if he would be able to get a valid response out
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of the man but their eyes met and Snape nodded.</p>
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<p>Harry still didn't trust the man. He was a death eater after all. But he realized
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that he didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. If Snape didn't get medical
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attention soon, he might still die.</p>
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<p>"You take Severus," Harry told Draco. If anything went wrong, at least Snape would
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make it to Hogsmeade.</p>
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<p>"Harry –" Draco said but Harry held out his hand to stop him.</p>
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<p>"We have no time to discuss this," he said, "Go now. We'll be right behind
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you."</p>
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<p>"Out of the – urgh – question," Snape protested but Harry simply looked at him
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with fierce determination.</p>
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<p>"This time, you have no say in the matter," he said and nodded to Draco to signify
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that they should leave. The blonde did not fight him anymore, grabbed Snape's arm and
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with a loud bang, he disappeared.</p>
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<p>Harry summoned his invisibility cloak to him as well as Snape's wand that was
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hidden in the folds of Bellatrix' robes. After a moment's consideration, he summoned
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Severus' severed finger as well.</p>
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<p>"We're taking the girl with us as well," Harry said coldly.</p>
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<p>Rabastan glanced at the lifeless body of their victim and frowned. "I honestly
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don't see the point but whatever you say, champ."</p>
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<p>Harry lifted the girl into his arms and went to stand next to Rabastan who was
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kneeling next to his brother.</p>
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<p>"If this is a trap," Harry growled, "You can be sure that your fate will be worse
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than that of your werewolf friend."</p>
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<p>"A bit dark but duly noted," Rabastan replied much too cheerily in Harry's
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opinion. "Well, grab hold, I would say," the man added.</p>
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<p>Harry grabbed Rabastan's shoulder tightly while he struggled to keep the girl
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balanced properly in his arms. Rabastan took hold of his brother's arm and apparated
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out of the clearing.</p>
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<p>When Harry popped back into existence, he was slightly overwhelmed by the crowd
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surrounding him as well as the noise that emanated from it. They were surrounded by
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Aurors who were – in turn - surrounded by curious civilians. Dumbledore stood
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somewhere to the side and had looked at Harry intently when he came back. He smiled
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at him before turning back to whatever he was doing. Harry couldn't tell because of
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the crowd surrounding him but since he didn't see Snape anywhere, he presumed that
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Dumbledore was tending to him.</p>
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<p>Rabastan raised his hands in the air, surrendering himself and his brother.</p>
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<p>"Gently, fellows," he said, "I did help your golden boy, after all."</p>
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<p>Harry sneered and wanted to say something when someone broke through the crowd,
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hurrying towards Harry.</p>
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<p>"Suzie!"</p>
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<p>It was Mr Pippin. When he saw the still body in Harry's arm, he released a
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strangled cry and sank to the floor. Harry kneeled next to him and handed the man his
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daughter.</p>
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<p>"She's still alive," he said softly. But that was all he could say. Frankly, he
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didn't expect the girl to ever recover from this state if Neville's parents were
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anything to go by.</p>
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<p>The Aurors took Rabastan into custody and awoke Rodolphus before doing the same to
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him. The befuddled death eater was completely confused and glared wildly at the
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surrounding crowd but when he looked at Rabastan, his brother merely shook his head
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in resignation.</p>
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<p>"It's over," he said solemnly.</p>
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<p>"Thank Merlin," Rodolphus replied.</p>
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<p>Harry made his way through the bodies that surrounded him. Some people parted
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immediately for him while others seemed to insist on checking him over to see if he
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was alright. But all he wanted to do right now was reach Snape and make sure that he
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would be alright.</p>
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<p>Finally, he broke through the crowd and reached Dumbledore who was now kneeling
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next to Snape. Draco stood there, looking decidedly lost. Pomfrey, as well as some
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Aurors that had received medical training, were tending to him fervently.</p>
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<p>"Excuse me," Harry interrupted, feeling quite silly for what he was about to do.
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When one of the Aurors looked up, he produced the finger out of his pocket and handed
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it over. "I managed to take this with me."</p>
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<p>"Oh Harry, there you are," Pomfrey said when she recognised his voice. She glanced
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towards the finger in Harry's hand and frowned. "I'm sorry but I fear that it's far
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too late for that."</p>
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<p>"Oh," Harry said, dropping his hand. "How is he?"</p>
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<p>"We've managed to stabilize him for now," Pomfrey answered, "But he will need time
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to recover. I would send him to St. Mungo's –"</p>
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<p>"He would hate that," Harry interrupted.</p>
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<p>"Yes, well, quite frankly I think it's rather ridiculous to agree with the
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patient's wishes in a case such as this but the headmaster –" she inclined her head
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towards Dumbledore sharply, "- seems to agree with your sentiment and has made it
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clear that Severus is to stay at Hogwarts."</p>
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<p>"He will be safer here, Poppy," Dumbledore said, "There are still more death
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eaters out there. I can't be sure if they too would seek revenge but if they do, St.
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Mungo's is the first place they would check."</p>
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<p>Harry kneeled next to Snape where he still found some room to do so and took hold
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of his hand. Snape's eyes remained closed and he was completely unresponsive. Harry
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hated seeing him like that. He felt the unmistakable sting of tears trying to force
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their way out but he refused to allow them to fall. He squeezed Snape's hand a bit
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tighter and inhaled deeply.</p>
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<p>"Please be alright," he said softly. "Please, dad." In an attempt for comfort, he
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placed Snape's hand against his own cheek, holding it steady, finding at least some
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smidgen of hope in the warmth of his palm.</p>
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<p>"Please move aside for us dear," an Auror told him. Begrudgingly, Harry let go of
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Snape and got back up, not even noticing it when Dumbledore put a hand on his
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shoulder.</p>
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<p>"I'm so sorry, my dear boy," Dumbledore suddenly said, "I neglected to ask. Are
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you hurt in any way?"</p>
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<p>"Just some scrapes and bruises," Harry mumbled, "Nothing life-threatening."</p>
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<p>"Only because you're so damn lucky," Draco growled.</p>
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<p>"What?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"You know <em>what</em>. If Bellatrix' wand had been just a fraction less broken
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or if she had cast that spell sooner, you would be dead now."</p>
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<p>"But I'm not," Harry countered.</p>
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<p>"How do you keep finding yourself in these types of situations," Draco sighed,
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"Can't you ever have a normal year?"</p>
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<p>Harry groaned. "Draco, I assure you that Severus will make sure to lecture and
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punish me properly once he feels up to it. Besides, you came along as well."</p>
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<p>"Only because there was no stopping you," Draco countered.</p>
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<p>"Let's take him to the castle," Harry heard Pomfrey say. She levitated Snape into
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the air and started walking, accompanied by three Aurors as she went. Harry was about
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to go after them when he Dumbledore's hand squeeze his shoulder. He sighed, not
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really wanting to speak with Dumbledore right now.</p>
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<p>"Harry," he said sadly, "Why didn't you leave this up to me?"</p>
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<p>"There was no time," Harry replied evenly, "You would have taken too long and
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Severus would have lost more than a finger."</p>
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<p>"Perhaps if you had informed me of your plan, I could have helped you."</p>
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<p>"Or they would have spotted you – or whomever you would send along for help – and
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apparated away, just like they said they would."</p>
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<p>"You can't know that," Dumbledore said kindly.</p>
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<p>"With all due respect, sir, neither can you," Harry replied, finally glancing up
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to look into Dumbledore's eyes. There was no sparkle and the wizard look every bit
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his age at the moment.</p>
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<p>"No," Dumbledore agreed, "But if I might be less than humble for a moment, I do
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have quite a few more years of experience than you. I know which risks I can take and
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which I can't."</p>
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<p>"I don't think I would've agreed with your choices," Harry said quietly, "I just
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didn't want Severus to suffer."</p>
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<p>"As noble as that might be, you put yourself in harm's way. Do you think Severus
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would have agreed to that?"</p>
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<p>"No," Harry said, "But why is it <em>his</em> choice? Especially when he was
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incapable of making any decision at that point. I know he would rather have died than
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allow me to come but I would never have been able to live with myself if he did."</p>
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<p>Dumbledore sighed deeply. "My boy, will I ever be able to convince you to leave
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these sorts of things up to the adults in your life?"</p>
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<p>"I'm legally an adult myself, now," Harry retorted.</p>
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<p>"And a fine one you have become indeed," Dumbledore said. "Your parents would have
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been proud of you and even though Severus will no doubt be very upset with you, I
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know that he too is proud of who you have become."</p>
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<p>"I'll keep that in mind when I'm scrubbing cauldrons," Harry said glumly.</p>
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<p>"And Draco," Dumbledore said as he put a hand on the Slytherin's shoulder. "Your
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courage today was worthy of that of a Gryffindor." Dumbledore chuckled when Draco's
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face turned sour.</p>
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<p>"Oh come now," he said kindly, "That's a compliment."</p>
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<p>"Honestly sir," Draco said, "I was hiding under Harry's cloak most of the time.
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There was no courage in that."</p>
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<p>Dumbledore looked at him fondly. "The way I see it, much of someone's real
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character lies in what they won't admit about themselves."</p>
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<p>"He's right," Harry said, "Thank you for coming with me. I couldn't have done this
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without you."</p>
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<p>"Don't get all mushy, Potter," Draco growled, "Before you start blubbering."</p>
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<p>Harry rolled his eyes. "Have it your way Malfoy. I thought you would appreciate
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having a Gryffindor indebted to you."</p>
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<p>Dumbledore laughed and Harry was pleased to see the twinkle back in his eyes. Even
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in his darkest moments, it was never that far away.</p>
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<p>"What say you we go and visit Severus now," Dumbledore said.</p>
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<p>"Don't we need to explain what happened to the Aurors?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"Draco already gave them a brief account of the events," Dumbledore explained, "If
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they require any more information than that, they will simply have to wait. For now,
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all of us need to recover from today's events."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>It took a while before Snape even woke up. Harry had stopped brewing all together,
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only going to the dungeons to visit Hedwig and make sure that she had access to fresh
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food and water. He skipped his classes but dutifully did his homework when Hermione
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brought it to him. He simply did so while sitting at Snape's bedside.</p>
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<p>Harry spoke to Snape often, knowing full well that the man could probably not even
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hear him. He would've held his hand but refrained from doing so. His hands needed to
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heal. Out of the nine fingers Snape had left, all of the fingernails had been ripped
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out so they would be sensitive to any sort of touch. The finger Snape had lost was
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thankfully just his pinkie finger. Snape would be peeved but he would get over
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it.</p>
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<p>Many of his bones had been broken which explained why Snape had manoeuvred so very
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little during the battle. It had honestly been a miracle that he had been able to
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raise his wand at all. Since Bellatrix was quite fond of the cutting curse, it was no
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wonder that Snape's body was littered with lacerations all over. It had taken Pomfrey
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hours to tend to all of them. Even his lips had been severely damaged and if that was
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not enough, he had been dehydrated as well.</p>
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<p>The fourth day after the incident, Harry was scribbling away as he focused on his
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potions essay for Professor Slughorn when he was startled by a gruff voice.</p>
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<p>"Shouldn't you be in class?"</p>
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<p>Harry dropped his quill and immediately pulled his chair closer to Snape's side,
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relief evident on his face. "You're awake!" He exclaimed.</p>
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<p>"Your skills of observation are as keen as ever," Snape said icily, "Now what are
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you doing here?"</p>
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<p>"Why don't you use <em>your</em> observation skills to figure that out?" Harry
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replied, "Surely, the answer is not that difficult to deduce."</p>
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<p>"Don't argue with me. I –"</p>
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<p>"Hold that thought," Harry said before getting up and rushing into Pomfrey's
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office to inform her of Snape's revival. He came back a few minutes later, the
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mediwitch close behind him.</p>
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<p>"I'm glad to see you re-joined the living, Severus," she said, "How are you
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feeling?"</p>
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<p>"I've been better," Snape replied.</p>
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<p>Pomfrey rolled her eyes and ran a diagnostic. "You're very lucky that Harry and
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Draco acted when they did," she said, "Not that I condone their rash behaviour in the
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slightest, mind you but their interference probably prevented a lot of lasting
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damage."</p>
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<p>Harry did not miss the malicious glare Snape sent his way which he responded to
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with a cheeky smile.</p>
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<p>"How much longer must I stay here?" Snape asked gruffly.</p>
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<p>"I would say at least another week," Pomfrey told him.</p>
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<p>"That's absurd," Snape growled, "Who is going to teach defence?"</p>
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<p>"I'm sure your students can manage without you for a while," Pomfrey said, "It's
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not like a half-dead teacher would do them any good."</p>
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<p>Snape attempted to sit up but Pomfrey placed a hand on his chest and shoved him
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back down.</p>
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<p>"If you manage to lie still as much as possible, you might be able to heal up
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enough to get out of bed within five days. But if you act like a certain someone else
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I know –" her gaze shifted to Harry momentarily who protested with a loud 'Hey!' "- I
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will be forced to keep you longer."</p>
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<p>"Understood," Snape sighed. He raised his left hand and grimaced slightly when he
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counted only four fingers.</p>
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<p>"I'm sorry, Severus," Harry said, "I brought your finger back with me but it was
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too late."</p>
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<p>"I could have guessed as much," Snape mumbled, "You shouldn't have wasted any time
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on it."</p>
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<p>"A normal person would say thank you," Pomfrey chided.</p>
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<p>"Quite frankly, Poppy. This sort of thing doesn't happen to normal people," Snape
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replied easily.</p>
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<p>Harry snorted and shook his head. He was happy that Snape was back to his snarky
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self already. Even if he wasn't quite healed yet, it made Harry feel a lot more
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relaxed.</p>
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<p>Pomfrey handed Snape five different vials. "Drink these," she said, "And don't
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give me that look. You brewed these yourself. You know very well what they're
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for."</p>
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<p>"I'm quite sure I didn't say anything," Snape said.</p>
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<p>"Drink the potions," Pomfrey repeated. "And Mr Potter, I believe it's time for you
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to leave. This isn't your common room and I don't want you getting too
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comfortable."</p>
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<p>"But Severus just woke up!" Harry complained, "Can't I have a few minutes with
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him?"</p>
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<p>Pomfrey sighed. "Fine," she conceded easily, "But make it short."</p>
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<p>"Oh sure," Snape growled, "Him, you placate." Pomfrey chuckled and walked
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away.</p>
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<p>"The perks of being the boy-who-lived-twice," Harry joked before he realized what
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he said.</p>
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<p>Snape glared at him. "Indeed," he growled.</p>
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<p>"Oh, don't be so grumpy," Harry chided lightly, "Everything turned out alright in
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the end."</p>
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<p>Snape stared at Harry, unnerving him tremendously. His jaw was clenched and so
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were his fists, which must have undoubtedly been hurting him.</p>
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<p>"Severus, stop," Harry said, grabbing one of his hands and unfurling his fingers.
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Snape yanked his hand back from him and looked the other way.</p>
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<p>"Would you stop?!" Harry said loudly, his own frustration bubbling to the surface,
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"I sat by your bedside for four days, waiting for you to wake up and this is how you
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behave when you finally do? I did nothing to deserve this treatment!"</p>
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|
<p>"I told you not to come," Snape said quietly.</p>
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<p>"What?"</p>
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<p>Snape suddenly sat up straight and made to grab Harry by the collar of his shirt
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but Harry stepped back. "I told you to ignore that letter," Snape snarled, "There is
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no way that even you could have misinterpreted my message like that. I didn't want
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you there!"</p>
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<p>"Well, not everything is up to you, is it?" Harry growled, "And I'm of age. I can
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make my own decisions."</p>
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<p>Snape snorted. "Of age," he spat, "Only barely and you still make all the wrong
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decisions."</p>
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<p>"Well, what would you have done?" Harry retorted, "The roles could have easily
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been reversed. Are you telling me that you would have left me there to rot? That you
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would have calmly waited for Dumbledore to come find me."</p>
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<p>"The difference is that I know what I'm doing," Snape said, "I had a plan."</p>
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<p>"Well isn't that just fantastic?" Harry spat, "Plan or not you do realize that you
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were practically half-dead when we got there, right? There's no way you would have
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survived much longer."</p>
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<p>"I would rather have died than put you into harm's way."</p>
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<p>"Hypocrite!" Harry shouted, "If I say the exact same thing, I'm a dunderhead that
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doesn't act his age but when <em>you</em> say it I should just accept it? No, don't
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you dare. Just shut up! You are my father and I will never – do you hear me – NEVER
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abandon you when you're in need. And I don't <em>bloody</em> care that you don't want
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me to. You can just suck it up and deal with it."</p>
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<p>"What is going on here?" Pomfrey suddenly shouted, "Mr Potter, when you asked to
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stay here I didn't expect you to start screaming at the top of your lungs. Severus
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needs his rest."</p>
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<p>"Fine!" Harry said harshly, "I'm not wanted here anyway." He gathered his books
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together in a messy pile and shoved them unceremoniously into his bag.</p>
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<p>"Don't you dare walk out on me," Snape said.</p>
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<p>"Try and stop me," Harry snarled. He flung his bag over his shoulder and stomped
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out of the infirmary leaving a very angry Snape behind.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry stomped off to the potions lab and threw his books into a corner. He knew
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Snape was going to be angry at him but he was still so infuriating at times.</p>
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<p>"Argh!" Harry exclaimed loudly. Hedwig ruffled her feathers in dismay at her
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master's tantrum but stayed on her perch.</p>
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<p>"Can you believe him?" Harry asked Hedwig. "He doesn't even see it! He doesn't
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understand that he always acts exactly the same but does he ever get reprimanded for
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it? No, because when Professor Snape does something, he has some bloody fantastic
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reason for it that negates any argument that he uses against me."</p>
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<p>Hedwig tilted her head to the side as if to indicate that she was listening.</p>
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<p>"I know that he means well," Harry told her, "But I do too and he doesn't seem to
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realize it. How could he possibly expect me to just sit there and do nothing?
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Sometimes I think that he doesn't know me at all."</p>
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<p>Hedwig hooted softly. Harry chuckled. "You're right," he told her, "It's not
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exactly fair of me to shout at an injured man who can't even follow me. The stairs
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into the dungeon would probably be too much for him."</p>
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<p>Hedwig spread her wings and flapped a few times.</p>
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<p>"I'm not going to apologize," Harry told his owl, frowning as if she just asked
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him to rehouse himself into Hufflepuff. "I don't regret what I did. I would do it
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again in a heartbeat. I just wish I could've gotten there sooner. He must've been in
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so much pain."</p>
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<p>Hedwig flew over and nipped gently at Harry's finger.</p>
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<p>Harry groaned. "Yes, the man has just been tortured," Harry agreed, "So maybe it
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wasn't entirely fair of me to be upset with him for losing his temper. The last thing
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I want to do is cause him even more pain."</p>
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<p>Hedwig started grooming Harry's hair.</p>
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<p>"That's just pointless, Hedwig," he told her, "You should know that by now."</p>
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<p>When she yanked hard at a particularly knotty strand, Harry yelped and stood up
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straight.</p>
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<p>"Fine!" he told her, "I'll go apologise. There's no need to bully me into it."</p>
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<p>Hedwig hooted a few times and flew back to her perch, burying her head underneath
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her wing.</p>
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<p>"Now?" Harry said doubtfully. He sighed. "I suppose you're right." He stroked the
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feathers on her chest lightly before heading back out. "Thanks, Hedwig. You always
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know just what to say."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Trying to channel his inner Slytherin, Harry glanced into he infirmary, checking
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if he could see Pomfrey anywhere. When he couldn't spot her, he silently crept
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inside, glancing towards the bed Snape had been in. The curtains were drawn so he
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could not see him.</p>
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<p>Harry took off his shoes in an attempt to be quieter and snuck further into the
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room, skulking towards the only occupied bed with large yet careful strides. So far
|
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|
so good. When he finally reached the edge of the curtains surrounding Snape, he was
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about to open them when a quiet voice startled him.</p>
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<p>"You look rather ridiculous when you try to sneak around, you know?" Snape
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said.</p>
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<p>Flushing instantly, Harry drew back the curtain, hurried inside and closed it
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again.</p>
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<p>"How did you see me?" he whispered.</p>
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<p>"You can see the outline of anyone coming in," Snape replied, "How have you been
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in here so many times already without noticing that?"</p>
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<p>"I just don't pay attention to those sort of things," Harry shrugged.</p>
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<p>"Clearly," Snape said. Harry was relieved by the lack of malice in Snape's voice.
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Apparently, they had both calmed down.</p>
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<p>"Hedwig told me to come talk to you," Harry said matter-of-factly.</p>
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<p>"Oh," Snape replied, "I wasn't aware that you sustained a brain injury."</p>
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<p>"I'm sorry for making you worry," Harry continued, "But I hope that you understand
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that I was worried too."</p>
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|
<p>"I'm sorry, Harry," Snape said, "I was careless. I shouldn't have been
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|
caught."</p>
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<p>"That's beside the point," Harry said, "And not at all your fault, by the way, but
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I need you to understand that I would do it all again."</p>
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|
<p>"Why?" Snape said.</p>
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<p>"Sometimes, you're a right dunderhead yourself," Harry said in exasperation. "Why
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|
do you think? You are my father. I care about you! More so than I care about
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|
myself."</p>
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<p>"I don't like hearing that, Harry," Snape sighed.</p>
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<p>"It's not like that," Harry replied urgently, "You know what I mean. You are my
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family and I couldn't stand losing you."</p>
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<p>"I understand," Snape replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I should've
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|
realized that there was no way for you to let me be."</p>
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<p>"Not a chance," Harry grinned, "It's a good thing that I'm such a wicked
|
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|
dueller."</p>
|
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|
<p>"A very good thing, indeed," Snape agreed. "For the both of us. Thank you, Harry.
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|
For caring so much."</p>
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|
<p>Harry leaned forward and embraced Snape tenderly, trying not to aggravate his
|
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|
injuries too much.</p>
|
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<p>"I love you, dad."</p>
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<p>Harry sighed contentedly when he felt strong arms embrace him back.</p>
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<p>"I love you too, son."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p><em>I'll probably not update until Monday since weekends seem to make for slow
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traffic. Please do review and tell me what you thought!</em></p>
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