Spur of the Moment

Chapter 11

Harry had just been drifting off into a potion-induced sleep when McGonagall, Severus, and Kingsley brought in Mr. and Mrs. Granger. As he was nearly asleep, he didn't hear or see much except for the still bodies being placed on beds and a quiet murmuring amongst the older witch and wizards. He saw someone heading over to him through sleep-filled eyes, but was unaware of who it was as he quickly fell into a deep sleep.

"Has Poppy not looked over Potter yet?" Severus said as he looked down at the sleeping student. Harry's forehead was streaked with dried blood that had seeped from his scar in the midst of his nightmare.

"She's not here, Severus, remember? She's taken the weekend off to be with her sister who's due to have her baby," McGonagall said.

"Has no one been to see the boy? He hasn't been cleaned up," Severus growled and grabbed a cloth. He got it wet with water from his wand and began to gently wipe the blood from the boy's skin.

"How are they, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked as he entered the Hospital Wing, taking note of Severus on the other side of the room with Harry.

"They are alive and will survive, Albus. They've both been severely injured and it will be quite some time before they are back to full health," McGonagall said.

"How's Harry?" Kingsley asked, worried about the young man he considered his little brother despite the very large age difference.

"Simply exhausted. He will be fine in the morning," Dumbledore reassured him. Kingsley nodded and turned back to Mr. Granger who was sporting nasty cuts on his face.

"Has his scar ever bled before, Albus?" Severus asked, walking back over to the others.

"Yes, it has. It mostly happens when Voldemort is allowing Harry to watch something quite horrific, such as this attack on his best friend's parents." Dumbledore nodded. "It is simply the anguish and dark magical aura from Voldemort that causes it to bleed."

"The dark magical aura from Voldemort? How does that affect his scar? Surely their connection cannot cause his scar to bleed," Severus said. He wondered if the headmaster would tell him about his knowledge of the horcrux in Harry's scar, but, for some reason, he knew the older man wouldn't tell him.

"Yes, their connection is very strong, Severus, and it causes the bleeding." Dumbledore nodded and moved to Mrs. Granger's side. Severus hid his frown. He glanced over at Harry as the child rolled onto his side and burrowed under the covers.

"Severus," Kingsley said quietly, standing beside the Potions Master.

"Kingsley," Severus said.

"Has he told you?" Kingsley said and Severus looked at the Head Auror with a furrowed eyebrow.

"Has who told me what?" Severus asked.

"Harry," Kingsley said with a little bit of confusion. "He told me he would tell you."

Severus sighed in frustration. "Tell me what, Kingsley?"

"That he wishes to be your friend. He highly respects you, Severus, and has wanted to become your friend. I told him to try and make friends with you because, as I'm sure you can imagine, he was positive that you would never accept him," Kingsley told him.

Severus looked back at Harry again. The child truly wanted to be his friend? But why?

"Why would he want to be my friend? He's always hated me."

"As I said, he highly respects you," Kingsley said. "Severus, he knows the way you've had to live, the way your life has been. He always says how you're such a brilliant man and brave, and he really wishes to be your friend. He always says he thinks you'd be an amazing friend."