Sanity Restored

Part 6

Harry became aware with a suddenness he was not used to. Usually, when he had been injured he drifted awake, first hearing his surroundings, then feeling and lastly, seeing. This time he went from nothingness to wide awake and sitting up in barely a second. Sitting up and not seeing a thing. The darkness was total, and for a moment he wondered what had happened to the infirmary window.

When he, with customary swiftness, had pushed the pounding headache into the background, he turned his focus on his surroundings. He immediately realized he was sitting in a puddle of water, and more of said water was dripping from the ceiling. The ground was rock hard and he was very very cold. "Bloody fucking hell!" he swore when he realized something had gone spectacularly wrong with his portkey. Thank goodness he was at least still holding onto his wand. "Lumos!"

The room spun and tilted crazily when his sight engaged. He closed his eyes momentarily before he could take in his environment. He was in the anteroom outside the Chamber of Secrets. Snape was still knocked out not far from him, and his Potter-body looked far from healthy, squished as it was under Severus weight. Ignoring them for the moment, he sent a command to light the torches along the walls and stalked over to the locked door.

He put his still bloody hand against the door to the Chamber and hissed menacingly. "Wards of Salazar, what is the meaning of this? I am the Heir of Slytherin, I have free pass through the wards! Do not deny me!"

"You do not have the blood of Slytherin," a flatly hissing voice reverberated through the anteroom.

Harry winced, realizing what he'd done. He'd forgotten how the resurrection had changed him. The blood in his veins now, was not that of his birth. Merlin, how could he have missed such a basic thing? This could have gone spectacularly wrong, could have killed them even. His head was still pounding even though the initial dizziness was abating. "Crap!" he swore.

Before Harry had time to get angry and violent at the gate, the voice continued flatly. "However, you do have the Magic of Slytherin. You will be allowed entrance through this gate because of it. So will your companions, as they have also gained the Magic of Slytherin through you. Magical travel will not be allowed, as that is reserved for blood only." The voice quieted and the heavy door swung open.

"That will be good enough. Wards, unlock and open up the guest quarters," he ordered.

A deep groaning of stone against stone came from within in response. Harry sighed, relieved that the chamber was still at least somewhat under his command.

He turned back towards the still unconscious Severus Snape behind him. "Mobilicorpus," he commanded. The two bodies gently rose into the air, stretching out and ordering their haphazardly draped bodies. He directed their bodies ahead of him, through the opening to the chamber with his wand. The heavy gate closed behind them with a firm thud, something that made Harry feel safe at last. No matter if Fawkes knew the way down there, he would not be able to bring anyone with him, not even the mighty Headmaster.

Even though he knew Severus had harvested the Basilisk, he half expected to see the corpse of the enormous snake still there, when he stepped into the main part of the chamber. He was thankful that he didn't have to see it up close again, when the room was nice and clean. He grinned at the sparkling marble floor. Severus had left the place in the same impeccable order he kept his own lab, it seemed.

Harry guided his unconscious cargo towards a new stone door that had opened on the far wall, next to the large Salazar statue. Harry knew from memory that Tom Riddle had never actually been into the suite, but he knew it existed. Within, was a suite of rooms made to cater for any and all guests of the Slytherin family. Since only the closest of friends, or most important of allies were deemed worthy of staying in the chamber, the rooms were opulent and extravagant for the time. The remains of any fabrics or tapestries should have long ago fallen into dust in the drafty, damp and cold environment, but to Harry's great surprise they looked as if left only yesterday. "Whoa, this is one powerful preservation charm!" he mused, impressed.

The temperature in the rooms was rising, he noted as he moved the two bodies through a large common room, into what seemed to be a master bedroom. He almost grinned at the sight of Harry Potter sharing a bed with Severus Snape, but the situation was a little too grim for such frivolity. He stepped over to his real body and checked it over first. The skin was cold and clammy, but he could feel a steady pulse and there seemed to be only bruises, no cuts.

He first took care of drying and cleaning the both of them, then moved onto the medical spells. He cast a diagnostic charm to be certain everything was as it should. Deciding to do it properly, he went for the most thorough one he knew; the full and complete medical history scan. A quill and parchment appeared and started filling with information. He probably didn't need it for the current situation, but thought it might be good to have all the abuse documented. He'd never been conscious for anything like this happening, at least not in the infirmary.

Ignoring the writing parchment for the moment, he went over to the other side of the bed to check over Severus. It worried him a great deal that the man was still unconscious. He brushed away the curtain of black hair that covered the man's face, it was matted with blood even after the cleaning charm. He immediately found the reason behind it; a broken nose. Harry suppressed a chuckle, it was ironic really, even with such a small nose, it was still getting in the way. This time taking more care, he cast a more restrictive diagnostic, to check on the current state of health only.

Thankfully, it only revealed the broken nose and a mild concussion. The former professor may have been knocked out on impact, but he was in a state of deep sleep at the moment. "Huh? He must have really been tired," Harry mused to himself.

"No matter, time to fix you up." The concussion would need a potion, but he could fix up the nose, he grinned menacingly. "This should wake you up, professor. Episkey!"

Severus came awake as abruptly as Harry had, except he immediately shrank back into the pillow at the sight of two glowing red eyes, barely inches from his face. "Good morning, Severus," Harry greeted the obviously confused man.

Severus groaned, massaging the right side of his head. "G'mornin', m'lord," he mumbled. "Wha' 'appened?"

Harry couldn't help himself, he burst out in laughter. "I seem to have scrambled your brains on the front door to the chamber," he managed eventually.

Severus just blinked for a moment longer, then something seemed to finally come into focus behind his eyes. "We're in the Chamber of Secrets?" he hissed, almost snakelike.

Harry nodded, still enjoying the humorous moment of his old professor acting less than his usually composed self.

"You are telling me you tried portkeying us into the Chamber of Secrets?" he asked again, this time with focus and a simmering anger that finally made Harry realize the man wasn't in anything remotely good mood.

Harry shrugged. "Yeah. So?"

"You stupid fool!" snarled Severus in return, out of the bed and in Harry's face in two seconds blank. "Were you trying to kill us?"

Harry knew Severus had a point. "Yes, well, I didn't hear you make any better suggestions back there. It was a spur of the moment decision, all right?" Harry defended himself.

"You have the mind of the big bad Dark Lord, and THIS is what you come up with?"

"Do YOU have a better suggestion, Severus? Did you back there? I seem to remember you yelling at me again and again to tell YOU where to apparate us!" Harry glared back, using his new height to his advantage.

The anger went out of Severus, like a punctured balloon, he sank back onto the bed again. "We could have bloody died!"

Harry threw up his hands. "Yes, well, I realize that and I'm sorry, okay? It was the panic, it made me forget one little crucial detail. Voldemort could apparate and portkey into the chamber, but that was before he was killed and resurrected with my blood, you see."

"Good thing we at least minimized the damage by transporting such a short distance then," Severus nodded, apparently abandoning his flare of temper. He pinched his newly healed nose and closed his eyes. The headache must be spectacular.

"Yeah, if we had gone all the way in one go, we would have splattered like bugs on a windshield."

Severus opened his eyes and looked up with a weary sigh. "So, we're hiding out down here until we're sure they're not actively scanning for us?"

Harry sank down next to him. "I haven't had time to consider the details, I woke you up pretty much as soon as I got in here and made sure the other me was still alive."

Severus turned towards the body behind them and saw the writing still appear on the now pile of parchment. "What charm did you do?" he asked frowning.

"Oh, I did a full medical history. I can't remember one ever being made. You should have a look once it's done, should give you some idea of why I don't really trust Dumbledore's motives."

"What does that have to do with your medical history?"

"The Dursleys' didn't just treat me badly, they abused me in any way they could from an early age. The Headmaster never cared, even though I told him and showed him the scars and bruises. The malnourishment should have been evident, but no action was taken by the school. As long as Death Eaters or Voldemort didn't get to me, he didn't care if I was miserable and in pain."

"That damn old fool!" Severus growled, on his feet again. This time the anger was at his old boss. "He promised me you would be well taken care of! He swore you would never want for anything. If only I had known he was playing me, making me hate and act out towards you when all I really wanted was to protect you."

"Our eyes have been opened now, Severus. I didn't have it in me to see through his nice-old-man-act until this happened to me. Should be interesting to see how many compulsions are on that body," Harry noted with a nod towards his old body.

The diagnostic charm ended with a light chime and Severus snapped up the parchments almost before the ink had dried.

While Severus scanned through the diagnostic, Harry checked out more of the room. The bedroom was clearly decorated for two, with a large wardrobe, dressers and a small sitting area in front of the fireplace. Obviously there were no windows or skylights, the room was lighted with magical fires placed around the walls. A roaring fire was already magically lit, it was the source of the heat rising in the room, he realized. He stepped into the bathroom, he found it much like the prefects' bath upstairs in the castle; large pool, separate twin showers and twin sinks. Huh, the plumbing was surprisingly modern for a thousand-year-old suite of rooms. Maybe it adapted magically like the castle above did?

"What does it say?" he asked as he returned to face Severus.

The other man was shaking his head in bewilderment. "It is amazing you could even function, Harry. The amount of damage done astounds me."

Harry shrugged. "I was used to it, the constant ache in the joints, the tiredness that never went away, the bad sight, the hunger...all those things only hit me as not normal when I moved into the Dark Lord's body."

"We need to do more than find a way for you to return you to that body, we have to fix it first. I can not in good conscience let you abandon a perfectly healthy and strong body into 'that', Harry."

Harry didn't know what to say to that. He was very uncertain if he even wanted to return after what the Goblins had revealed to him. He had to be honest with Severus though. "I found out something at Gringotts that may change things, Severus," he said seriously. He immediately had the other man's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"The Horcrux in my scar, it merged with my soul. On the soul level I am as much Tom Riddle as I am Harry Potter, there's just no way of separating us anymore. You've heard of the term 'soulmates' right?"

Severus nodded, but Harry saw his doubts as to its relevance.

"They say two soulmates are one soul, born as two people, thus always striving to join back as one. The Goblins said Riddle and I were soulmates and we were joined as one in a very unusual way."

Severus frowned suddenly. "I wonder..." he began, silencing for a moment.

"Wonder what?"

"The prophecy. I only heard and told the Dark Lord about the first few lines. It already fit the situation we're in. What if what Dumbledore told me later, after you had vanished the Dark Lord in 1981, isn't true, and I'm beginning to suspect he may have manipulated the wording to suit him. You see, he told me and the most trusted of the Order that the last part of it speaks of one not able to live while the other survives and either must die at the hands of the other. He took it to mean you were the only one able to kill him. Everything Dumbledore's done since then has been aimed towards you both dying. What if you don't have to? Isn't it a bit strange how desperately he's tried to keep the Dark Lord from knowing the full prophecy, if it only confirms what everyone already thinks?"

Harry nodded thoughtfully."I wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore changed the prophecy to suit his own plans, it's right up his alley. I'd say the prophecy is taken care of already. I vanquished him by taking over his life, then I'm going to destroy his anchors, making it impossible for him to return. As for the last part; I'd definitely say I'm 'living' for the first time now. Inhabiting that body over there can only be considered 'surviving', don't you think?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, that conveniently takes care of the Dark Lord. Besides the remaining Horcruxes, we also have the Death Eaters, the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore to handle before we can even think about relaxing."

"Nothing's ever easy is it?"

"No, that would be too much to hope for."

"Well, we should have plenty of time to discuss things, make some plans. We are kinda trapped here for a few days at least." Harry made his way out into the common room, giving it a once over.

The older man followed him out into the larger room, furnished with several large leather chairs and couches. They were grouped loosely around an already lit grand fireplace on the right side wall. "How do you suppose we survive down here? Did you pack anything to eat or drink?"

Harry shrugged even as he checked the other doors around the room, finding only other bedrooms and an empty cupboard. "I didn't. If it comes down to it, we'll have to live on magic, there's plenty around to draw from."

There was a growl from Severus's stomach in response to that grim response. He sank down into one of the closest chairs with a tired sigh. "I should have a couple nutrient potions in my trunk, but those are about as bad as you giving me pure magic. Doesn't stop the hunger, does it?"

Harry joined him across from a small coffee table. "I had planned to borrow a couple elves from the Malfoys until we could get the castle up and running again. Who knew Dumbledore and the Ministry could act that fast, huh? He drags his feet for years and years without a single direct attack, and now he comes for us in hours." He sank back, the chairs were surprisingly comfortable.

"Too bad you can't call that crazy elf of yours down here," Severus mused sadly.

"You mean Dobby? You think he..." he didn't get any further before there was a loud pop next to them.'

"Dobby is here Harry Potter, Sir," a small bundle of brightly colored elf squeaked. He was about to throw himself against Harry's legs in an enthusiastic hug, when he realized he was addressing someone he didn't really know. He looked from Harry to the room they had just left, he ran to the doorway, only to find the body on the bed. Confused, he kept looking between them. He finally ended up in front of Harry, staring. "Harry Potter Sir? You is who? You know, who?"

Harry couldn't help bursting out in laughter. He sank down, off the chair, onto one knee in front of the little creature, grabbing him gently by the shoulders to keep him from skittering back. "Hello Dobby, my friend. There's been a little accident and I've taken over this body as if it was mine. We, Severus and I, are working on permanently eliminating the previous owner." He released one shoulder and held out his hand to the elf. "Still friends?"

"Dobby is honoured," the elf grabbed his hand and bowed over it, low enough for half his knitted hats to fall off.

Harry smiled and tried to pile the hats back onto his head.

Dobby kept staring at him, tilting his head to the side, making the hats fall once again. "Harry Potter, Sir. You is part same as elf now. You is able to use the magic of the environment as well as from your core to do magic." The small elf quieted in his obvious awe. Then came the surprise. "Please, be my Master, Sir," he begged with a small voice, wringing the hats he'd grabbed in his hands.

"What do you mean, Dobby?" asked Severus. "I always thought you elves used the magic of your masters to do magic?"

Harry made big eyes. "You need a master to do magic?"

Dobby squirmed at their attention. "This is elf history, Sirs. Wizards never told unless they ask. They never ask."

"We want to know, Dobby," Harry tried to sound soothing and comforting. He sat back down and patted the wide, padded armrest next to him. "Tell us your history and how your magic works."

Dobby grinned toothily and found his seat next to Harry.

"In the beginning of time, elves could do magic like wizards. We lived in great cities in the forest, living in harmony with all other creatures there. One day, illness came to the forest. From that day, elves were born without their own magic, they could only use magic already present around them. They tried to find a solution, but slowly elves lost more and more power and stature. The day the last of the unaffected elves died, they found out the magic of nature was not enough, they needed to find other creatures with magic to survive. They found wizards, and through living and bonding with them, they learned to survive. We serve the wizards out of gratitude, though wizards do not recognize it now. Many elves do not remember, not allowed to." The elf quieted, ears sagging down sadly.

Harry hugged the little creature affectionately. "I would be honoured to be your Master, Dobby. I should have granted you that right long ago. I'm sorry."

"So, while at Hogwarts a Master-less elf can survive, but not thrive, then?" Severus seemed to be on the mechanics of elf magic, still.

Dobby nodded eagerly. "Yes, Professor Snape. Only place in Britain we survive without Master. Founders declared Hogwarts Elf Sanctuary. We always have home here, when needed. Only an elf unbound, or bound to Slytherin's Blood or Magic may enter this chamber."

"This is really interesting, Dobby." He came to think of another unbound elf. "How is Winky doing?" he asked.

"Not well, Winky is needing a family more than she need magic, she dies." Dobby's big eyes teared up and he looked really sad again.

"Will she bond with me or Severus, you think?"

The elf's eyes perked up again. "Dobby will ask!" he was about to pop away when Harry stopped him.

"I think Severus here would love some breakfast if you're going up to the kitchen," he winked.

"Of course, Sir. Right away, Sir, One breakfast feast coming right up," and with that the elf was gone again.

Severus was chuckling. "That is one energetic elf. Please, tell me this other elf you want me to take on isn't at all like that!"

Harry laughed as well. "No, she's more of a traditional house-elf. She used to belong to the Crouch family. She's been in a bad state without someone to take care of. She'll probably do a great job taking care of that body of mine in the bedroom."

"Thank Merlin for small mercies."

"Don't worry, Severus. Things will work out, I'm sure."

"Aren't you the optimist," he groused, a touch of his old self in the tone.

"You're with me now, Sev. Haven't I always had luck on my side?"

Severus snorted. "You call this situation luck? You're living the life of the bloody Dark Lord!"

Harry sighed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, I'm the bloody Dark Lord. But we can do the best of this, can't we? We can turn this around and defeat them all."

"How? We're running and hiding here. We don't know anything about what's going on out there! We're two against the bloody world!"

"Silencio!" Harry snarled at the negativity fountain.

Severus growled, in silence, and sat down with crossed arms.

"Get a hold on yourself, Snape!" Harry ordered, channeling his inner Dark Lord. "You speak as if we're already dead and gone. We will do this. One step at a time. Do you understand?" He released the silencer and watched the former professor gather his wits.

"Yes, My Lord," came an almost whimpered reply. "I apologize. I should not have let my doubts run away with me."

"Better not," Harry nodded.

"You know," said Severus after a short contemplative silence between them. "For a moment there you were the Dark Lord."

Harry snickered. "I know." He leaned back and reached into a pocket for a cigar. He held out one to Severus, who accepted it looking puzzled.

"I didn't know you smoked."

"I didn't. I do now, on occasion. You see, I found this box with Magical Cubans while I was looking for a container for the snake, they're quite nice I realized." he cut and lit his own and watched Severus do the same. "It calms me and I figured it might do the same for you."

"Indeed."

Harry studied his companion while they enjoyed their cigars. It was so strange still, to be in the company of his old Professor and be comfortable. They had always been very different people it seemed, Snape had a tendency to always see the negative, while he himself always went for anything positive. It was his way of surviving in a world when so much bad happened to him all the time. He had to find the good in people and situations, or he'd be long dead; if not by his uncle's hand, by his own from depression. He'd always say he was 'fine' if asked, because if he admitted to how bad it actually was, he'd end up broken.

The only thing he had a hard time fighting, was his need to take the blame for things that really wasn't his fault. Or, now that he thought about it, he no longer felt guilty for Cedric's death, or for causing his parents and godfather's deaths. Could that tendency have been one of the compulsions from Dumbledore? "Severus? What did you find in that diagnostic about compulsions?"

Severus blew out smoke, looking more relaxed already. "Loyalty towards the Light and Dumbledore, a desire to live up to expectations and an aversion to studying, not counting the aversion to anything Dark, Slytherin and myself of course. As I said, I'm amazed you could even function."

"No wonder then that I felt such a clarity of thought when I first took over this body. I thought it was because Voldemort was so much smarter than me, but perhaps this is the real me."

"The more we discover that old bastard has done, the happier I am that I left the Order." He suddenly giggled. "I wish you could see what I did to the castle before I left."

Harry was all ears. "What did you do? Did you prank them? Oh Professor, you're so wicked!"

"Oh, I just made Gryffindor the new Slytherin, painted the walls silver and green all over the stairways and corridors between Gryffindor tower and the infirmary."

The laughter bubbled up within Harry. He folded double in his chair, laughing.

"Master Harry? Something funny?" came Dobby's voice moments later.

Harry swallowed his mirth somewhat. "Did you see what Severus did upstairs?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. Walls so nice and colourful now." he turned towards Severus. "Dobby likes, Professor Snape!"

Harry had a thought. "Severus, do you know how to make two-way mirrors?"

"Of course, I am … was a spy. Why?"

"Oh, I just had the marvelous idea that we can both keep an eye on our opposition and have some fun if we place mirrors across the castle in some strategic places. Only one way mirrors though, of course."

"Dobby can help!" the little elf volunteered.

"Yes, just as soon as we've sworn you two into service," Harry leaned to the side and found the other elf hiding behind Dobby. She was shaking, her eyes big with apprehension and fear. He held his hand out to the elf. "Do not worry Winky, I am Harry Potter, not the Dark Lord. You need not be afraid, I promise." He pointed towards Severus. "Severus here will be your Master as I will be Dobby's. Are you alright with that?"

Dobby stood aside and she nodded timidly. "Winky wants a family," she whispered.

Severus held out his hand. "Come here, Winky," he commanded in his gentlest voice. "You will get to take care of me, Harry here and the old body of Harry's in the bedroom. It is very important that the unconscious body remains healthy, do you think you can help with that?"

The elf looked around him, into the bedroom, then nodded violently. "Oh yes, Winky help. Winky good with sick wizards, yes." Then she destroyed her solemn vow by swaying and setting off an intoxicated hickup.

She held out her hand and Severus held out his. They touched lightly. "I, Severus Tobias Snape, take you Winky as my elf. May this bond last for as long as we live, or until one of us asks to be relieved, so mote it be."

"So mote it be," Winky replied. Magic swirled around them, and Winky's condition immediately improved. She stood tall and confident, no trace of intoxication. A pristine black uniform appeared, silk and silver wrapped around her body like a toga.

"You're so pretty, Winky!" Dobby squealed and hugged his friend. "Now me!" he ordered, bouncing over to Harry who was watching with a smile.

They held hands. "I, Harry James Potter, in the body of Tom Marvolo Riddle, take Dobby as my elf, for as long as we both live, or until I return to my original body. If I do, then the bond with this body will be broken and we will renegotiate our bond, so mote it be."

"So mote it be," Dobby replied with a glowing grin that matched the golden aura that surrounded the two of them momentarily. Dobby's uniform turned out to be also black, a tunic with an elegant toga draped over one shoulder, except his had a thick border in the colors of the rainbow along the seams. It was the perfect blend between his personal style, and the new Harry's preference for black.

Harry knew his vow was more restrictive than Severus' had been, but he knew Dobby would want it that way. Though he did want to make sure the elf wouldn't end up serving whatever remained behind if he returned to his original body.

Severus rubbed his hands together with a smirk. "Now for the fun stuff."

Dobby snapped his fingers, and breakfast appeared between them. "Masters eat first," the elf ordered even as Winky sneaked into the bedroom to begin her chores in there.

to be continued...