Chapter Text
Prompt: [Dialogue] “Don’t use words you don’t understand.” [Time] Bedtime
A03/FFn Name: Galx20
House: Slytherin
Class: Charms
Category: Standard
Word count: 1487
The bulldog, Ripper, charged toward him, a full-throated growl in its throat. Panic surged through him as he sprinted across the lawn, scrambling to climb up a low-hanging limb. The rough bark pressed into his palms as he clawed up to safety. He clung to a branch, feeling relief wash over him.
Below, he could hear the Dursleys laughing, and his cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Harry staggered, hitting his back on a potions table, and heard the unmistakable sound of glass shattering.
He clutched his head as it pulsed; they'd been at it for hours, far longer than usual, and the pain was starting to become unbearable.
“Pathetic, Potter,” sighed Snape loudly.
Harry closed his eyes and focused on his breathing; getting upset wasn't worth it. “I'm trying my best, sir.”
“Well, your best isn't enough. Get up, Potter.”
Harry struggled to stand; he was starting to see spots in his vision. On top of it, his arm was killing him. Umbridge’s detentions were getting worse and more frequent.
Harry glanced up at the clock; it was half past 10. Curfew was approaching, and he was going to be late for bed. “Professor, can we stop for the night?” Harry asked uncertainly.
Snape's head snapped towards him. This wasn't going to go well.
“The Dark Lord doesn't stick to a schedule. He won't just call it quits after two hours.” Snape moved closer, close enough that Harry could smell a faint musk on the man that reminded him of the forbidden forest. Snape's eyes narrowed as he stared down at the young Gryffindor.
“No, he will continue until he has revealed all your secrets and, more importantly, the Order's secrets.”
“But professor, if Voldemort tries to use Legilimen on me, couldn’t I just do it back to him? Why do I need to learn to block his mind?” Harry asked, blurting out his thoughts.
“Potter. Don’t use words you don’t understand.” Snape sneered. “Legilimency is the art of magically delving into the minds of others, while Legilimens is the spell. Secondly, if the Dark Lord were to invade your mind, you wouldn’t be able to breathe , let alone try to use Legilimency.” Snape tapped his wand against his leg, “Pay attention and clear your mind.”
Harry shifted uncomfortably under the professor's gaze, feeling his face redden. He tried to keep up a brave front, but the exhaustion was hitting him hard, and his head was starting to pound from all the invasions.
Snape backed away, returned to his corner, and raised his wand.“ Also, you need to make up for your last lesson. The one for which you were indisposed.”
Harry gritted his teeth. He remembered; another one of Umbridge's detentions that night—that one had gone an hour over schedule, causing him to miss ‘remedial potions’. Harry’s anger rose. Umbridge even wrote him a note after she had him write 50 lines with the Blood Quill.
“ Legilimens !”
Fuck , he wasn't ready. Think of something, anything!
Images flashed through his mind as he felt Snape charge deep into his memories. Nothing coherent was forming. Harry panicked and tried to focus on Sirius, knowing Snape’s hatred of the man would make it hard for him to resist.
They were sitting in the dining room of Order headquarters. The room was overcrowded, with the Weasleys gathered together, each trying to get the other in trouble. The atmosphere was joyous and loud. Molly was outdoing herself like always, placing plate after plate of food on the table. Memory-Harry was laughing so hard that pumpkin juice accidentally shot out of his nose; the act drew Snape's attention. Sirius started to tear up at the sight, his booming laughter attracting a few curious glances . Memory-Harry’s happiness shone through at having brought such joy to a man who had suffered for so long.
Harry felt Snape try to push away from the memory, obviously tired of observing Sirius happy. Harry panicked, trying to get him to stay, but his will did nothing against the man. The memory closed, and they were floating again. Harry felt his mind open. The Dursleys came to mind. Memories flooded, passing quickly– Dudley and he playing Harry Hunting, Dudley when he pulled Harry's arm out of his socket, even Harry making breakfast for the family.
Snape stopped to watch, but nothing seemed to grab his full attention. He began searching again.
Harry gritted his teeth. The pain was getting unbearable; his head felt like it was cracking in two, and his arm burned as if alcohol had been poured on it.
‘I must not tell lies,’ the words echoed briefly. Harry panicked, trying to bury the memory, but Snape had already caught hold and pushed deeper into his subconscious. Harry screamed as Snape forced open the memory of his last detention with Umbridge. All Harry could do was follow along as the memory he had dreaded to be discovered for so long finally came to light.
The connection abruptly ended, and Harry was back in the potions classroom. He was kneeling on the floor. Sweat lined his face as he worked to control his breathing.
“Get up.”
Harry ignored him. He wanted to scream. He had no right to chase that memory. It was his problem, not anyone else's. A hand gripped under his armpits and hoisted him to his feet. Snape backed him into a chair before crouching before him.
“Give me your arm.” Snape's words were cold and precise.
He was angry; Harry could tell, probably because he was having to deal with him more. Well, Harry didn't care. He wasn't a child to be ordered about. He moved to stand, but Snape was faster, and flicked his wrist, wordlessly putting him in a partial body-bind. Harry tried to reach for his wand, but without the ability to stand, Snape had a much bigger advantage. Harry crossed his arms in his final act of defiance.
Harry felt a wave of anxiety as he braced himself for an explosion from Snape, but to his surprise, it never came.
“Stop fighting me,” the professor said. He sounded more tired than angry.
Harry glanced up, locking eyes with Snape. The usual flicker of hatred he had come to expect wasn’t there; instead, he found it replaced with something different– a mix of emotions that left Harry almost uneasy.
But before he could reply, Snape stood and walked towards his office. Harry felt off balance; what was he getting? Maybe to get something to make him talk?
Snape returned moments later with a jar of thick orange paste and a few red vials. He must have seen the wary look on Harry's face as he stopped what he was doing and returned the stare down.
“Mr. Potter, if I wanted to kill you or use Veritaserum on you, I would have a long time ago.” He motioned for Harry to give up his arm.
“ And besides, poisoning students would get me dismissed,” Snape said dryly.
Harry did not move, honestly too stunned to move. Did he just make a joke ? What was happening?
The older man exhaled deeply and fell back on his heels. Harry, frozen in place, watched as the professor’s usual regal demeanor vanished, replaced by slumped shoulders and weary eyes.
They sat in an almost tangible silence, the air thick with unspoken tension as they studied one another intently. Snape tilted his head slightly, and a strange flicker of an expression passed across his sharp features as if he were remembering something.
With a deliberate motion, he withdrew his wand and wordlessly waved it over Harry. Panic washed over him, but before he could fully react, he noticed he could move his leg. Snape had lifted the body-bind. Harry turned to stand, and surprisingly, Snape did not stop him this time.
Harry was halfway to the door before Snape said, “That wound needs looking after. It could very easily get infected.”
Harry turned and said, “I think I’ll take my chances.”
He rubbed his forehead, hoping to relieve the ongoing headache. God, he was tired; he really needed to lie down.
“Honestly, child, many of your problems could be solved by seeking help from an adult.” Snape was standing now, his arms behind his back.
Anger surged up inside Harry. “Yeah, well, adults don’t always seem to have my best interest at heart, sir.”
Snape clicked his tongue before stepping towards the young Gryffindor. "I have to say that your track record isn't the best.”
Harry once again felt uneasy. God, now he was agreeing with him.
“Here,” Snape said, holding the medicine out to Harry. “You can always have your friend, Ms. Granger, test it before applying. But that wound needs quick attention.”
Harry took the jar and several vials. “Why are you doing this?” Harry asked questioningly.
Snape raised an eyebrow, eyes glancing to the clock. “It’s well past time you were in bed, Potter. Dismissed.”