Walk the Shadows

almost like Remus' when he wasn't wolfing out, and they regarded him seriously. 'He said he would protect me, and . . . and . . .'

'And?' she prompted.

'And that I wasn't just good for one thing, defeating V- Voldemort, you know? That I had a right to a life aside from that.' He didn't tell her about how he knew he wasn't going to survive that fight; it was enough that Snape knew. 'I think . . . I think he just wants me to be safe, but also, you know . . . happy.' And he realized, in that moment, that it was true, though Snape hadn't said it in so many words. 'No one else has offered me that. I'm just a weapon to them. Or a burden.'

'I see,' she said, and scribbled a few things down, before she closed her folder. 'I'll just talk with the Professor for a few minutes and then get going. We should have a decision to you by the end of the day.'

'That soon?'

She smiled. 'Well, you are a bit of a special case. I also have a recommendation from Headmaster Dumbledore, written in favor of Professor Snape's request.'

'Oh. Good.'

Madam Phineas stood up, and Harry rose with her, then went to knock on the door to the lab. It was opened so fast Harry figured Snape hadn't been actually working on any potions, but was just biding his time until it was his turn in the hot seat.

'Madam Phineas has some questions for you, sir,' Harry told him.

Snape nodded and came out to the sitting room.

'Do you want me to leave?' Harry asked.

'That will not be necessary,' Snape said and sat down when Madam Phineas did, and she reopened her folder.

She spent the next few minutes verifying information Snape had put in his application, and then asked similar questions to her last few for Harry.

As for how they were getting along, Snape said, 'Harry is going through a rough period, and I have made accommodations for his attendant needs. I will not tolerate self-harming behaviors nor attempts at isolation, as neither are conducive to his recovery. He is also required to get adequate amounts of sleep and nutrition.'

'Yes,' Madam Phineas said, 'but how are you getting along?'

Snape peered at Harry so long he felt like a bug about to be ground to powder, but he was honestly interested in the answer. Finally, Snape said, 'Our interactions are satisfactory.'

Harry thought that might be the biggest compliment he had ever received from Snape, and grinned, even while Madam Phineas' brows dipped down. Then the corner of Snape's lips twitched, and the woman's frown smoothed as she offered an almost Dumbledore-like smile, and Harry knew that everything was going to be okay.

TBC . . .

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A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews, everyone! Next chapter will be out by Monday at the latest, with a conversation with Dumbles and the Ministry's decision.

*Chapter 32*: Chapter 32

Walk the Shadows – Chapter 32

By jharad17

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. Honest. She's rich, I'm not.

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Aug.19

I have to go meet with Dumbledore in a few minutes. I really, really don't want to. What am I going to say to him? 'Oh, hey, Headmaster, thanks a bunch for sending me back to the effing Dursleys, again even though I begged you a million times not to, and told you how much I hated it there. And for keeping an eye out for me, your little Prophecy Boy, so I'd be sure and whack Voldie for ya. Not that I'm bitter . . .'

Yeah. That'd go over like a lead balloon.

But maybe he just wants to let me know he's kept me out of Azkaban as a bloody favor, like he did for Snape. . . . Hm. I wonder if I could be a spy, instead of a killer? The mortality rate would be about the same, I bet.

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'Can I go flying?' Harry asked. 'I wrote.'

'Don't you have a meeting in less than ten minutes?'

Harry sighed. 'Maybe.'

Snape looked at him, dark eyes unreadable. His tells were . . . untellable. 'Harry. I was there when you decided on the time. If you don't want to meet with the Headmaster, then tell him so.'

'Really?'

'No. You had the chance to beg off earlier. Now it would just be rude.'