Chapter 56: Library Confrontation
The Ravenclaws had already lost interest in him now that the three had left the Library. They were pouring over their notes taken during the confrontation and comparing them to try and make sure they had the entire episode recorded as they tried to gather their things and the books they'd been reading for checking out. They had a class next period but they also wanted to discuss what they'd just seen and heard. So they weren't exactly being all that quiet or effective in vacating the Library. Madam Pince was doing her best to hurry them on their way while checking out their reference books for them as she knew they had a class in five minutes to get to.
The Slytherins were alternating between reading through their notes, watching him and staring towards the stacks waiting for a directional cue. Like the Ravenclaws they also wanted to dissect the Showdown for any dirt they could possibly use to their own advantage. But the Library was a public place and dirt in more hands than your own becomes somewhat less effective. So they were also trying to jealously guard their notes from their fellows. Just in case their dicta quill caught something others had missed. They were also trying to sneak a peek at the parchments others were guarding in case they saw or heard something they themselves missed.
Once the last of the Ravenclaws had left, and from his position in the stacks, Severus waved his snakes out of the library and the librarian, who had now turned towards Harry back to her desk, before turning to the weary boy who's head was drooping and eyes were closing. Clearly the boys' energy had run dry. With a thoughtful gleam in his dark eyes, he walked over to where the boy sat.
"Come on, Potter. Let's get you somewhere you can sleep for a bit. I think that took a lot more magic than you want anyone to know about." He knew that wasn't strictly true since it wasn't Potter's magic which the spell had used. But at the same time it was true since Potter had been using his own magic to hold the three in place until Magic had cast it's judgment on them and in the case of the Weasely boy, silence him while he called for Judgement against them. Not to mention he might have been using his own magic to reinforce his voice and bolster his sense of presence. Severus couldn't really say for sure. But it also didn't matter because he could tell the boy was tired now. Exhausted really and that meant he'd been using a lot of his own magic. Somehow.
For once he wasn't speaking with his customary sneer. He was simply too confused and awed by the display of sheer power and knowledge he'd never truly believed Potter actually possessed. Fawkes, who'd moved to the tabletop, trilled lightly as if to show agreement with the Professor.
Other than blinking, Harry was too exhausted to show his surprise at finding the Professor behind him. He nodded to Fawkes as he gathered up his books and the Professor put them into his bag for him, keeping hold of it when Harry would have taken it back for the long trek to his room which was still the same one he had occupied since second year. He was still in isolation from the rest of the student body but this time by his own choice. In one way or another, he'd been living in a prison almost all his life. While the Dursleys had improved in the last year or so, they'd still barely given him houseroom until the beginning of last summer. And here in the Castle, he'd been in isolation far longer than he hadn't. He no longer cared since he knew he didn't and never would have any friends amongst the students.
"Do you have a potion for my throat, Professor?" Harry asked in a raspy whisper as they left the library wincing with the pain of saying more. "I'm not used to talking so much any more. And now my throat hurts something awful. I don't have a fresh throat soother made yet either," Harry whispered rubbing at the front of his throat.
"I'll give you a soothing draught once you're back in your rooms. That and some sleep would not be amiss, I believe. Though I did think you'd been allowed back in the tower this year."
Harry sneered and forced himself to give a verbal answer. "I won't voluntarily sleep there again, Professor. Why should I when they've all proven repeatedly not to be trustworthy fellows? Would you stay in a room where you have to wonder every time you go to sleep if this is the time you won't wake up for the knife one of your room mates is concealing behind his back? Or just how many of your possessions are now being claimed by someone else. They may call themselves lions but they behave more like hyenas and jackals. Or maybe monkeys. Monkeys can be quite vicious when their territory is invaded."
Severus walked him down to his solitary chambers and saw the boy inside, making sure he was tucked up nice and safe before giving him the requested potion for his abused throat. Then he dimmed the lights and instructed the door portrait to make sure the boy wasn't disturbed before he had to be up for classes the next day. Not once did he bother to ask where Harry had learned that spell or about life debts and how exactly they were incurred. He'd question Irma about that as she would more than likely know as well as being able to get him a copy of that book so he could read up on the spell himself.
Nor did he chide Harry for refusing to stay in his appointed tower. Truthfully, as someone who's life was always on the line, he understood what the boy was saying. He wouldn't have been comfortable staying there either in his place. His own life had always been in danger since even his own father had been a verifiable threat to his well-being. Which was probably why he hadn't recognized the danger of becoming a Death Eater until it was too late to back out or walk away, now that he thought about it. Personal danger had always been a constant in his life.
As for taking vengeance on the trio, in his opinion, the Triad deserved everything they'd gotten and more. And if Harry hadn't gotten his revenge on them personally, Severus knew damn well he'd have done something himself. He was after all the boy's Guardian/Protector here in the magical world. He may not have wanted to be but he was. He even had it in writing just in case he had to act in a way that called it into question. It was his duty to look after the boy and his interests. That definitely meant dealing with those who harmed or tried to harm him. No matter what their reasons for doing so. And those three had done more than try. Still, the boy had done an admirable job getting vengeance on them himself.
So, he reflected as he walked first to the Library where Irma handed him a copy of the booklet and then to his tower and the waiting Slytherins, he was proud of him for it. The boy had aced as a perfect Slytherin in the way he had trapped them and delivered his just punishment on them. How could he not be proud of that? As Draco had said last year, Gryffindor tie or not, Potter's more Slytherin than he ever was a Gryffindor.
He stopped outside the tower for a few minutes to read through the section Irma had marked for him and couldn't help smirking again when he finished reading. The boy had done well. He didn't have a doubt in his mind after listening to every word spoken today, those three had deserved what happened to them and it helped that Harry was correct in his summation. It was his right to do so. Not only was he the wronged party for all three but he was a Wizard of high standing in their world. Much higher than the three who had been defaming and defrauding him. Not even the Ministry would deny that. So no matter how much the three complained or who they complained to, nothing would come of it.
He entered the Slytherin common room to find it packed full with every Slytherin who wasn't in a class right now. Those who hadn't been in the Library for the Showdown were sending him questioning looks while those who had were looking smug. His smirk grew as he knew those who had missed the Showdown and weren't here now would be really upset over what they'd missed. Anything involving the Triad and Potter was hot news to the student body. He began to speak and his children listened carefully to what he had to say.
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