Accidental Injury Gone Right

Chapter 2

He woke to the sound of talking, or rather shouting, from the hallway outside whatever room he was in. It sounded a lot louder than it should have, but he just assumed the door was ajar. He didn't open his eyes, preferring to continue to doze as he listened to the argument. His idea of dozing was soon flying out the window as soon as he heard Snape's voice.

"I refuse, Headmaster. I refuse to house the boy as well as make an antidote, if one can indeed be made. No. I've done too much for you already. I will not."

"Severus, if you cannot obtain his reactions and how his body is responding, you can't hope of curing him."

"Headmaster, you have made many mistakes concerning my abilities and my feelings. Not to mention all the mistakes with him. He trusts you because he knows no different. I do not because I have seen you make the mistakes concerning him and the toll it took on his mental and emotional state. No, find another to do it."

"Severus, please. I fear that he will not trust anyone with his life as he trusts you."

"Ask the boy if he trusts me then. He does not-and with good reason."

"He sleeps now. I will not wake him from a restful slumber."

"Wrong again. He doesn't sleep with you and I arguing outside this thin piece of wood you consider a door. Go, ask." Harry kept his eyes closed, fearing what he would see when he would open his eyes. Clearly he was immensely hurt, or Dumbledore would not be asking Severus to take him in.

"Harry. Are you awake?" He nodded. "Do you trust Professor Snape?" He opened his eyes, and yet could see nothing. Pushing down panic, he turned his head in the direction of the voice. When he couldn't get it quite right he just stared ahead. After several minutes, he spoke with no emotion in his voice-just a detached air.

"You ask if I trust Potions Master, Professor Severus Snape. Do you wish honesty?" At the confirmation, he continued. "I do not. He has given me no reason to trust him. He made me believe that my father's foolishness was my own, and that I would grow to be as shallow as the people who believed me their savior, when I clearly was not.

"No, I was no one's savior. I was the person who was brave enough to go against the Dark Lord. He killed too many, and that angered me. Everyone else saw fit to grieve. I was never allowed to grieve. I was never allowed to show anything other than obedience. That angered me too. I took it all out on the one person no one would punish me for hurting.

"I do not trust him because he led me to think that he wasn't totally a bastard. He proved me wrong by betraying me. He was supposed to be my mother's best friend, and he betrayed her, too. I cannot trust him because he has not given me a reason to do so. Maybe with time. Maybe. And that's more unlikely than likely."

He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he flinched away, recognizing the old man's hand.

"I'm a legal adult. Leave me to choose on my own." He heard the swish of robes as the man walked dejectedly out the door. "Snape, could you close, lock, and silence the room?"

"Okay Potter, what is this about? And it's still professor or sir, to you."

"I am no longer in school and have no obligation to call you by either title." He had let go of the detached voice, and claimed his regular voice. "As to what this is about. What I said to him was true. However; I would enjoy getting to know you more. As much as I don't trust you, I am curious. Besides, I doubt you're untrustworthy. I just have yet to see proof."

"What are you saying?" He heard the subtle hint of confusion and desperation in his voice.

"I'm saying that I want to be able to trust you. I want to learn from you, about you. I'm asking for a chance to meet Severus Snape, not Professor Snape. Not the Dungeon Bat, or the Potions Master gone Sour. Just you."

He sat in silence, waiting for his rejection and the scathing remark that was sure to come. It never did.

"All right. But only because you're asking it of me. But all rules I give you will be followed. Too many things could happen if they are not." Harry readily agreed.

"So...May I inquire as to why I cannot see?" The answer startled him.

"The car crash has made you go blind. While you stay with me, I will try to create an antidote, if you trust my creations." He thought for a moment, and recalled the Half-Blood Prince. "Excuse me?"

"The Half-Blood Prince. He wrote in a sixth year potions book, and he mentioned something to create and cure temporary blindness. I never tried it because it was way beyond my level and I didn't want to actually make someone go blind-even if it were temporary."

"And you trusted his instructions in sixth year? You followed them intentionally without knowing the result?" Harry nodded. "The Half-Blood Prince was me." Harry nodded.

"I suspected as much. Your mother's maiden name was Prince and your father was a muggle. I hear things. The portraits are gossip-mongers. All you need is to ask them one question and you acquire a wealth of knowledge. I had to purchase a quick-quotes quill to keep track of it all. So yes, I do trust your potions. Just not you."

The darkness really was annoying. He wished to see light. He didn't even care if Snape still had to lead him. He just wanted light. He never really was bothered by the dark, but this was ridiculous.

"Hold onto my arm. We shall apparate to my home." He did as he was told, and was instantly grateful for the warmth of the sun. If he couldn't see light, then feeling it was just fine as a substitute.

"Come."

"No. I want to be in the sun. Please."

"Fine. But let me lead you to the back patio first." When they got there, Severus walked him to the bathroom and let him relieve himself before leading him back.

"This book..."

"You're in luck." He pulled out the book and enlarged it nonverbally. " I never go anywhere without it. It's helped me in many situations. I haven't even finished reading the whole thing yet because of all your notes and added parchments." He heard Snape running his hand over the cover softly, as a lover would caress another after years apart.

"All right. I shall brew this, but be warned. I don't want you getting up and walking. There is a pool and I'd hate to get wet. I shall brew outdoors as this is clearly the safest way with you out here." And without another word, he started adding ingredients to a cauldron he summoned.