Walk the Shadows

'The part where I said it didn't matter.' He set the tray over Harry's legs, and gestured to the utensils as an invitation for Harry to start eating. 'You used an incredible amount of magic the other night, and your body is trying to replenish your magical core. It will do so by feeding off any food you put in your stomach, or from your muscles and organs if your stomach is empty. They will break down into their component parts, causing you quite a bit of agony in the process. Is that clear enough for you?'

Wide-eyed now, as was Severus' intent, Harry swallowed hard enough to be heard and reached for a slice of apple.

'Good. After you're done, you can finish your summer homework.'

With a barely suppressed sigh, Harry nodded, his mouth full of apple, even as he reached for the marmalade covered toast.

Severus settled into the chair again, this time with a book, but keeping an eye on the boy even so. Despite his protests, Harry was making short work of the tray, which Severus had known he would. There was no way Harry's body would not require refueling on a fairly drastic scale after what he'd done the other night. He was frankly amazed that Harry could claim to not be hungry, actually.

'Sir?' Harry said, less than ten minutes later, when he had finished the last of his bacon and was wiping his mouth with a cloth serviette. 'Um, Severus?'

Severus lowered his book and raised an eyebrow.

Harry smiled a little, then bit his lip and said, 'Um, did you give all my letters, from Ron and Hermione, to Dumbledore?'

'I did not. They are still in my desk, for when you finish your summer work.'

'So, er . . . that was another lie then?'

'I imagine so.' Severus sighed. 'The Headmaster is rather upset about what he put all of us through the other night. Particularly what he put you through.'

'But it wasn't his fault. He had Voldemort in his head!'

'I realize that, Harry. And so does he, but it doesn't change the fact that he is sorry.'

Harry looked like he might protest some more, but then just shrugged a little, and said, 'I'd like to start on my work now, if that's okay.'

'Of course.' Severus rose, banished the dirty dishes from the tray, and summoned Harry's books and the parchment he used for his essays, as well as ink and several quills. The tray itself he transfigured into a small, padded writing surface for Harry's lap.

'You're not gonna let me out of bed, are you.'

'Not today,' Severus said, and smirked. 'Magical core, remember. Devouring you from the inside.'

'Got it. Thanks for the visual.'

'You're welcome. Do you require anything else before you begin?'

'No. Thank you, sir.'

'Very well. I'll be in my lab.' He placed a small, glowing yellow cube on the table beside Harry's bed. 'Tap this twice with your wand if you need anything. Anything, you understand? It will summon me from anywhere in the castle.'

Harry nodded. 'Okay. Thanks.' He was already opening up one of his textbooks as Severus left the room.