Second Place - Romance

Harry slowly awakened in the early morning hours as the sun began to creep over the horizon. His mind still foggy, he tried to figure out why he seemed to be so tired and a bit sore. The details of yesterday,s battle started to filter into his brain and Harry groaned. Things were beginning to make sense and he shuddered as he recalled the chaos of the fight. Opening his eyes, Harry blinked as he struggled to focus his blurry vision. The young wizard could see that someone was sitting next to his bed, but without his glasses their identity was concealed. Knowing that his glasses would be on the bedside table, Harry reached for them and sighed as the world came into focus.

Remus Lupin was still sleeping and Harry was surprised to see that the usual infirmary chair had been transfigured into a cozy armchair. The older man,s feet were propped up on a matching ottoman and all in all he looked rather comfortable. Wondering if Remus had spent the entire time by his side, Harry silently thanked Merlin that his ersatz family member had survived the battle. Harry sincerely hoped that he would be able to get some answers soon to all the questions running about his brain. He had a vague idea that he had managed to fulfill the prophecy and had destroyed Voldemort, but beyond that Harry hadn,t a clue as to the fate of anyone else or even of the outcome of the battle. He hoped that the fact that he was safely ensconced in the infirmary meant that their side had won.

Madame Pomfrey walked into the infirmary ward. Years of tending to sick and hurt patients who needed rest to recover had taught her the art of silence. Smoothing her already neatly coiffed hair back, she smiled when she saw that Harry had awakened. Moving to his bedside, she took out her wand and checking the results, quietly pronounced him ready to leave after he had eaten breakfast.

As the werewolf stirred and opening his eyes, he heard the medi-witch,s diagnosis. "Harry, how are you feeling?" Remus asked the young wizard as the efficient woman nodded and returned to her office to order the promised meal.

"All right, I guess," Harry started. "But what happened and how is everyone else?"

Remus smiled at his former friends, son. "Relax, Harry. You were the only one who needed real medical treatment as you destroyed Lord Voldemort before anyone else could be seriously injured." Seeing the confusion in Harry,s eyes, the werewolf continued. "All of the Death Eaters were incapacitated when their master was killed."

"But what about Snape?" Harry asked quickly.

"Professor Snape, Harry," the older wizard corrected. "He was fine since he had taken a potion that blocked the effects of the Dark Mark." Here Remus paused. He knew that Harry needed to know, but he wasn,t sure how the young man would take the news. "There is something you need to know, Harry. After you collapsed, Ministry Aurors portkeyed Severus to Azkaban. Professor Dumbledore is working on getting him released, but it seems that Minister Fudge had prepared for his capture."

Stunned, the young wizard sat silently as he tried to identify the emotions swirling around his head. Harry had come to respect the snarky potions master even if the man was still a stern teacher and mentor. As Harry understood only too well the role that Professor Snape had been forced to assume, he was shocked that the man had been arrested. Gulping, Harry asked the only thing that came to mind. "What can I do to help?"

Remus opened his mouth to answer when he heard the doors to the infirmary open. Turning, he saw the headmaster enter and decided that the answer was not his to give.

"Ah, Harry, my dear boy. I see that you are indeed awake now. Congratulations my boy, you did it. You destroyed Voldemort. I am so very proud of you," Albus stopped only long enough to pop a lemon drop into his mouth. "Now then, I trust that Remus has informed you of the recent turn of events?" Seeing Harry numbly nod his head, the headmaster continued, "So you see we are left with a dilemma now. Our esteemed potions master has been wrongfully imprisoned by the very community for which he has so diligently and steadfastly labored over these long years. We must find a way to release him from confinement and there must be no chance of his again being taken into custody. Now was I correct in hearing you ask how you could assist, Harry?"

"Uh, yeah, Professor. I do want to help if I can. Despite our differences, I respect Professor Snape and I want to do what I can. I,m just not sure what I can do to help," Harry trailed off.

"Splendid, my boy. I knew I could count on you," Albus beamed as he clapped his hands. "Well, I,ll just leave you to continue resting so you can be released from Madame Pomfrey,s excellent care. Don,t worry about a thing my dear child. I will take care of all the details." With that statement, the barmy old wizard breezed out of the room leaving behind a very perplexed young Savior-of-the-Wizarding-World and a confused werewolf.

Harry looked over to his older friend and asked, "Why do I have the feeling I just signed my life away?"

Remus sighed. "Well, with Albus, one never quite knows. Ah, here is your breakfast now. We,ll face things in a few hours after you have returned to your dorm and rested a bit more." After watching the young wizard eat the porridge and drink his pumpkin juice the greying-haired man reassuringly patted the young wizard,s shoulder and stood. "Are you ready to leave now, Harry?"

"Yes, Moony. I think I have spent enough time here," Harry said as he pulled back the bed covers. Standing, he reached for a clean robe that had earlier been brought by the house elves. Remus stepped outside the screen to give the young man some privacy while changing. He turned when he heard Harry walk up behind him.

"Madame Pomfrey? I am leaving now," Harry called out.

The medi-witch came out of her office and smiled. "Very good, Harry. Now I want you to rest today. No unnecessary exertions. Understood?" Seeing a nod from the young Gryffindor, she waved him off.

Harry gladly left the infirmary with his friend. Together the two walked in silence for a time, until they reached the portrait of the fat lady. "And now, if you don,t mind, Harry. I have spent the last several hours in that chair and would be quite grateful for my own bed now. If that is all right with you?"

"Of, course, Moony. Go and rest. I,ll be okay here. Will you come visit me later?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Harry. I will be up to see you after lunch. And remember what Madame Pomfrey said. Get some rest," Remus said as he turned to leave. The young wizard nodded as the werewolf quietly left to go to the nearby guest suites. Entering the Gryffindor common room, Harry was glad to find that everyone seemed to still be at breakfast as the room was empty. He quickly crossed over to the staircase and went up to his dorm room. Tiredly, Harry settled back onto his bed and he worried at his lower lip as he thought of the fate of his mentor, Severus Snape.

Albus chuckled as he returned to his office. He had a couple of favors to call in and then a young man to convince to agree to a rather unconventional course of action. The wily old man knew that this was going to be a hard sell, but he also knew something that Harry didn,t. Mainly, that Severus was in love with Harry. Oh, his prot�g� had never said anything, but Albus could see it in his eyes, in the way Severus would wistfully watch the younger wizard and in the way he would pull his arms about his body in a protective manner. Albus didn,t think that Severus was even aware of that particular habit of his, but he often did it when he was feeling especially alone and vulnerable. The headmaster wanted nothing more for his young prot�g� than to be able to give him what he so desperately wanted in life. Severus had learned early in life to ask for nothing and that is what the lonely man had usually gotten. Nothing. But now, his mentor had a plan that would hopefully not only release him from Azkaban prison, but would also give him his heart,s desire.

Of Harry,s feelings, Albus was only slightly less certain. He knew that the powerful young wizard respected the potions master, and would probably be friends with the man if given the chance. However, Albus sensed a deeper well of feelings in the young man. Now all the master manipulator had to do was to find a way to force Harry to tap into those emotions.

As promised, Remus went up to the Gryffindor tower after lunchtime to see Harry. One of the younger years let him in the portrait hole and Remus awkwardly stood in the large room as the nervous young child went up to call Harry down. He smiled thinly at some of the students who regarded him with curious eyes.

Soon Harry sedately entered the room. He smiled at his friend as he crossed over to the werewolf. "Moony. Are you feeling better now that you got to sleep in a real bed?" Harry quietly asked.

"Yes, Harry. Thanks for asking. If you are feeling up to it, why don,t we go for a short walk?" Seeing a nod from the young wizard, Remus led the way out of the portrait hole. They walked in companionable silence for a few moments before Remus spoke. "I do believe that we might want to see the headmaster, Harry. I have an idea that he has a plan regarding Professor Snape. I also have the feeling that we, or at least you, are involved in his little scheme."

The younger man sighed. "Yeah, I think you,re right, Moony. But I have to admit that I don,t have a clue what I can do to help."

The last remaining Marauder chuckled. "Oh, Harry. Haven,t you learned by now that Albus Dumbledore is not only a powerful wizard but also a magician?" Seeing Harry,s blank look Remus continued, "That means that he often does the impossible. And I think that you are seriously underestimating your own influence in the wizarding community."

Harry was silent as he processed the older man,s words. He knew that people tended to pay attention to whatever he said or did, but quite frankly he found that to be rather annoying. If they weren,t misinterpreting his words and actions then they were fawning over him like he was the greatest thing to appear. Really, couldn,t these people think for themselves? Of course, silly, he thought to himself. If they could, would Fudge ever have been elected?

Thinking of that idiot Fudge brought Harry,s mind back to Professor Snape. Since he had heard the news this morning, Harry had been unable to think of much else. For reasons he couldn,t quite understand, the man,s fate disturbed him far more than he would have liked to admit. True, a couple of years ago Harry would have been glad to see the snarky potions master get his, but now the idea of the man being locked up in Azkaban horrified him. Harry shook his head as he tried to understand why he should be so concerned for someone who had rarely treated him decently. The young wizard sighed. Maybe Dumbledore could shed some light on the situation and he could just forget about why he was so upset.

Looking up, Harry was surprised to see that they had already arrived at the gargoyle guarding the headmaster,s office. Remus quietly spoke the password, another favorite sweet, and the gargoyle jumped aside, allowing the two men access to the stairs and the tower office.

Albus looked up as he sensed the presence of the two and he quickly called out a welcome. Harry shook his head in amazement as once again the older wizard showed why he was so greatly esteemed. The man in question was smiling brightly as Harry and Remus entered the office and he bid them to take a couple of comfortable chairs.

The madly twinkling eyes meant trouble for someone, Harry found himself thinking nervously. He just hoped that that someone wasn,t him for once. Grabbing hold of some of that famous Gryffindor courage, Harry spoke up. "Headmaster, you hinted earlier that you had an idea of how to get Professor Snape back. Would you care to tell us now?"

If it were possible, the eyes lit up even brighter as the wily old man contemplated his answer. "Tea anyone? Yes, well here you go then. Oh, and have one of these delicious biscuits to go along. I must say that the house elves have really outdone themselves this time. Now, this is my idea, Harry..." Two pairs of eyes grew wider as the astonished men listened to the headmaster outline his plan.

Harry jumped up out of his chair. He couldn,t have heard right. No, he could not have heard right. He opened his mouth to speak, only to find that nothing would come out in his agitation.

Remus simply sat in his chair, his teacup forgotten and now lying on the floor. His mouth clamped shut as he tried to wrap his mind around what the head of the Order of the Phoenix had just suggested.

The Flipside of Sanity - Chapter 6

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