Silver Lining • Harry Potter X Blaise Zabini •

Chapter 20: The Great Escape

Harry fiddled nervously with the cuff on his brand new, rather fancy, dress shirt. He felt Severus' calming hand on his shoulder but even the man's presence wasn't enough to completely stop the small tremors that were over taking Harry's still thin limbs.
"It will be fine" Severus said, his voice low and soothing as if he were speaking to a spooked kitten, which in some ways he was.
"Fine?" Harry's voice took on the high pitched tone of hysteria as he stared up at his adoptive father. "You call going to meet Voldemort fine?" He hissed. "He's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill you, he's gonna...mph" Harry cut off as Blaise very gently clapped a hand over his mouth, stifling his panicking.
"It will be fine. Severus knows what he's doing" Blaise said though the Italian teen was scowling slightly. Severus had informed him that he would not be joining the pair in their meeting with The Dark Lord and he was not pleased about that fact.
Harry made a muffled noise of disagreement though he still couldn't speak because of Blaise's hand.
"Harry" Severus crouched slightly so he was looking straight into Harry's emerald eyes. "Everything will be fine. Yes this is a scary moment, for all of us, but I have the utmost faith that things are going to work out. I will be with you and I won't let anything happen to you. Nor will anything happen to me. While he may be insane, The Dark Lord sees the advantage in making this agreement with you. He will not kill you nor me if it means he jeopardizes his chances of winning this war" Severus explained softly. He had said the same thing repeatedly over the last few days as they prepared for this meeting but it seemed Harry needed to hear it one more time. Finally Blaise's hand fell away and Harry tossed his arms around his Father's neck, seeking comfort one last time before the meeting. Blaise stepped back, allowing the two a private moment before coming forward and hugging Harry tightly.
"I'll see you two when you get back" Blaise said, kissing Harry's brow before moving away and letting the two men finish their preparations.
"I'll have hot chocolate waiting for when you get back" Blaise said, needing to offer something and even though it was the height of summer comfort food and drink would be needed and what was more comforting then hot chocolate? Severus shot Blaise a grateful look as he rose to his full height hand still resting on Harry's shoulder.
"Ready?" He asked his son, taking the small squeak Harry made as a yes. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Severus took a moment to compose himself before leading Harry outside past the anti-apparition wards. The only way to get to The Dark Lord was via apperation through the dark mark.
"Turn into Silver" Severus told Harry, his tone soft. "It will make this a lot easier" He added. Apperation was generally uncomfortable but when it was directed through the mark it was excruciating. He couldn't imagine doing it side long with a worried Harry. Silver would be much more cooperative, just like the first time they had gone to see the Dark Lord.

Nodding in understanding Harry quickly donned the guise of the silver Geoffroy's kitten slowly turning cat and waited patiently for Severus to scoop him up. Chirping contently as he was deposited inside Severus' pocket, specially designed for him though he was getting far to large for it.
Shaking his head at the antics of the kitten, Severus took a moment to focus and then, suddenly, with a loud crack, he was gone, leaving just the warm summer evening and a worried Italian teen behind.

Landing with another loud crack, Severus took a moment to school his features before he slowly let Silver free, placing the kitten on the ground.
"Change back" He ordered softly. After a moment's hesitation, Harry soon stood where Silver had, his hair slightly disheveled and his collar askew but besides that, the boy was fine.
Taking a moment to straighten the teen up, Severus made sure they were both composed before he stepped forward, a hand on Harry's arm as he lead him through the ominous front door and inside the foreboding Manor that the Dark Lord inhabited.
"Master is waiting in the meeting room" A squeaky voice sounded to Severus' left causing him to tense slightly and causing Harry to let out a shriek and jump half a foot in the air. Mentally cursing house elves, Severus tried to calm Harry down before he nodded to the elf, indicating that they would be there in a moment. Once again taking a moment to compose himself and make sure Harry was doing alright, he was doing better then what Severus had expected, the pair made their way down the quiet, dark hallway towards the meeting room. It was odd, being here without death eaters, without the normal screams and chaos that filled these hallways. Sometimes blood would be spattered about but today none of that was visible, no jeering Bellatrix Lestrange, no bloodied muggles or muggle borns, and no noise. It was eerie and Severus drew Harry closer to himself as they continued to walk down the hallway.