As Hermione was walking through the portal Severus Snape was walking into Professor Dumbledore's office trying to conceal the slight limp he walked with. The Headmaster had eagerly been awaiting his return.
"Severus, are you injured? Please sit." Dumbledore said as he watched his Potions professor and personal spy walk in.
"I will be fine." Snape assured him as he sat down in a chair opposite from Dumbledore. Despite his assurances that he would be fine, Snape looked like he had suffered during the night. "The Dark Lord was not pleased with my delay in rejoining him, although after explained that I did it in order to not reveal my loyalties he relented."
"You've seen him then?" Dumbledore asked. "What is his condition?"
"The ritual to return him to his body has left him weak. He required several strengthening potions before I left." Snape explained. "It will take some time for him to marshal his forces and return to the position of power he once held. Now is the time to go on the offensive, Albus. He will never again be as exposed as he is now."
"I see." Dumbledore replied as he gently stroked his beard. "I promise to consider your advice, however I am not convinced now is the time to strike."
"Damn it, Albus! Why?" Snape demanded to know. "It has not escaped my attention that you have been reactivating the Order of the Phoenix the last few months. Surely you can muster the forces necessary to deal with the Death Eaters and face the Dark Lord yourself."
"You, more than anyone else, should know that it is not my lot in life to defeat Voldemort." Dumbledore reminded him.
"That bloody prophecy again. I rue the day that fraud Trelawney made it." Snape replied with disgust. "I'll admit Potter has improved this year, but he is still no match for the Dark Lord and I don't think he ever will be. Meanwhile people will die, myself possibly included."
"We will do our best to prevent that, Severus." Dumbledore answered, although Snape did not seem to be impressed by the response. "For now I must ask that you continue your duties as they are. Please know that no one appreciates your efforts more than I do. I promise I will continue to look for alternate ways to destroy Voldemort."
"Very well." Snape said. "If that is all I shall be leaving. Good night." With that Snape turned and left, wondering once again how he had allowed himself to get stuck in the middle of this mess.
...
The next morning Harry was surprised to see Daphne still asleep in the hospital bed with him. Despite what he had said the night before, he really did think that Madam Pomfrey would come and make her leave at some point during the night. Harry tried not to move too much so that he wouldn't wake his girlfriend, but he could sense that she was slowly waking up as well. A few minutes later Madam Pomfrey walked through the door and Harry felt a slight moment of panic worrying about what she would say about Daphne still being there, but then he realized she had probably checked on him at least once during the night and would have already known.
"Good morning, Mr Potter. I need you to take this potion and then you are free to go." the nurse said softly, but the sound was enough to wake Daphne.
"What's going on?" she asked groggily before sitting up in the bed and rubbing her eyes a little. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Madam Pomfrey looking at them. "Madam Pomfrey! I swear this isn't what you think!" But the older witch just laughed at Daphne's reaction.
"You mean you didn't just spend the night in bed with your boyfriend?" Pomfrey asked with a playful smile.
"Well yes, but-"
"Daphne." Harry interrupted. "It's ok. She would have kicked you out if she was really worried about it."
"True. But don't either of you think I am making a habit of it." Madam Pomfrey replied. "And I would prefer it if you, Mr Potter, would try and quit your habit of ending up in my care so frequently."
"I'll try." Harry answered, knowing that with his luck he would just be glad to stay out of the infirmary for the few days remaining in the school year. Madam Pomfrey seemed to sense this as well but just shrugged and handed him the potion she had mentioned. Harry looked at it curiously before deciding it was another pain potion and then downed the entire potion in one great swallow. It, like most potions he had been forced to take in this room, tasted horrible. "So that's it?"
"It is. You can go now, have a good day you two." Madam Pomfrey said before walking away to continue her morning routine. Harry rolled out of bed and stretched a little. He felt much better than he had last night, and his energy seemed to have mostly returned to him. All things considered, he felt better than anyone who had been hit with any two Unforgivables the day before had any right to feel.
"So what are you going to do today?" Daphne asked from the bed.
"Fudge's hearing will be broadcast on the wireless starting in a few hours and I was thinking we could listen to it." Harry suggested. "It should be very entertaining."
"Good idea." Daphne agreed. "Funny how no one knows how much you had to do with it."
"I think I prefer it that way." Harry replied. "I need to go get cleaned up, but can you meet me in front of the kitchens in about a half hour?"
"I guess so." Daphne answered. "Why?"
"I was thinking we could pick up some food and then I could take you somewhere special." Harry said with a mischievous smile on his face. "Just be sure to wear some clothes you don't mind getting dirty."
"What are you planning?" Daphne asked suspiciously.
"You'll see, just trust me." Harry said. Daphne eventually shrugged and agreed, knowing that Harry would be stubborn and not tell her what he had planned. After a kiss good-bye they went their separate ways to get ready for the day. Harry did not spend much time in the Gryffindor tower that morning and neither of them stopped by the Great Hall and as a result they both failed to notice that Hermione was no where to be found.
...
About an hour later Harry and Daphne finally were able to leave the kitchens. As soon as Dobby discovered that Harry was there the little elf had insisted that they sit and allow him to serve them a full breakfast. It wasn't what Harry had in mind, but he found it difficult to say no and disappoint the devoted elf. The moment Harry started eating he knew would have to thank Dobby for insisting because his hunger came back with a vengeance. He realized he had not eaten since lunch the previous day and afterwards had a very strenuous day. Dobby was quite pleased to see Master Harry enjoying his food so much and was happy to keep bringing more of it. Eventually Harry could eat no more and the couple left, after many promises to Dobby that they would return.
"So will you tell me where we're going now?" Daphne asked.
"The second floor." Harry answered, still obviously enjoying not telling his girlfriend everything. Daphne sighed in frustration, but by now her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she followed Harry anyway. It was not until they reached a girl's bathroom on the second floor that she realized what they were doing.
"Harry!" Daphne said loudly, "Why are you taking me to the Chamber of Secrets?"
"There's something down there I am going to need." Harry explained as he walked over the sinks in the middle of the room. Luckily for them, Myrtle had chosen to haunt another bathroom that day and they were able to avoid the somewhat annoying ghost. Daphne had heard Harry's story about his experience during their second year but he had never showed her the Chamber of Secrets before. To the best of her knowledge, no one had been back there since Harry killed the basilisk and saved Ginny Weasley. She watched with a great amount of interest as Harry hissed something in Parseltongue to the faucet and the sinks began to move, revealing a passageway. Harry hissed again and stairs formed leading down into the Chamber of Secrets.
"Do you still want to come?" Harry asked from the top of the stairs.
....
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