Chapter 8

"AAH!" Snape's eyes snapped open and he sat ramrod straight upon the stone altar. He looked in wonder at his hands and then felt his body hesitantly. He shivered slightly as damp air wafted past him as he was only in a thin shirt but gone was the overwhelming fatigue a wizard gets when emptying their core to dangerous levels. Severus had only experienced it one other time, when he was marked, resulting in weeks of recovery.

"Sir, calm down. We're safe," A voice said near him, and once his head shot to the right he noticed Harry standing nearby.

"Potter what happened?!" Snape questioned.

"A lot really," Harry scratched his neck. "We're safe right now. Death aparated us into Merlin's cave."

Snape's eyes widened as he asked "Tintagel castle in Cornwall?"

"Wow, sir, so you know the place."

"Potter, anyone that paid attention in History of Magic would know this place," Snape stated. "This was supposedly the place that Arthur Pendragon was conceived."

It was now that Harry looked sheepish as he'd never really put in much effort in his History of Magic lessons. After graduating he'd focussed more on his Defense and Charms masteries.

Snape's stomach took that exact moment to growl. Snake's lips pursed as if his stomach had just betrayed him gravely. Harry however was oblivious to that reaction as he leaned down to grab the basket Death left for them.

"I've already eaten most of my half Professor," he said while he showed Snape the food. "I'm assuming you'd want some since you've been asleep for over eight hours."

"Say what now Mr. Potter?"

"Come on let me help you up," Harry offered Snape a hand to help him off the altar. A hand Snape took after a few seconds but that resulted in the curious case of Harry Potter getting electrocuted.

"Merlin's beard! What was that?!" Harry exclaimed upon getting his wits about him again while Snape looked at his hand perplexed. Harry cautiously stuck a finger towards the usually dour man and yanked it away as he felt the shock. 'Wow, Death wasn't kidding with that Energizer Bunny comment,' he thought before he spoke "Sir... I think you're statically charged. Or magically charged.... Uhm I don't know,"

"No worries Potter, I'll get off this thing myself," Snape muttered as he slid off. He didn't feel weak at all, especially given that he'd nearly drained his core to 10 percent to get those blasted manacles off. To test out a theory, Snape poked Harry who yelped, not by being electrically shocked but because his usually stoic-as-hell teacher just poked him in the ribs.

"Why is it so dark in here?" Snape questioned as he eyed the torches along the cave. Some were already nearly burned out which wouldn't do considering Severus had no clue what else this place was hiding. "Potter, could you at least not have transfigured some things into furniture?"

"Transfiguration isn't exactly my strong suit Snape," Harry shot back. "I once got blamed for the hopping chair incident,"

"The what now?" Snape questioned while looking intrigued.

"No... No! I am not telling you the details! It's super embarrassing!" Harry proclaimed.

"Fine Potter, just hand me my wand so I can conjure us some tables and chairs," Snape stated while holding out his hand expectantly.

"Sooooo.... Good news and bad news Professor," Harry said nervously while taking a step back as well. "So... good news, we got away from the Headmaster. Death mentioned something about eternal enslavement so thanks for saving me,"

When Snape wasn't impressed and just crossed his arms to glare at Harry the other let out a nervous chuckle. "So... sir... uhm... the bad news is... wehadtoleaveyourwandbehindbecauseithadatrace...."

"Potter speak slowly," Snape hissed as his eyes narrowed. However, this didn't help Harry's confidence in the slightest.

"We had to leave your wand behind because it had a trace," There... Harry had said it. He'd spill the beans. Cautiously he looked at Snape who for once was a mixture of emotions.

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Snape shouted as his hands balled in fists.

"I had to sir!" Harry took another cautionary step back while holding his hands up in a supplicating manner. "Death said there was a trace on it and I know for a fact he's sure about these things. The Headmaster or the Order would have tracked us down in a heartbeat if I let you take your wand."

"What... when... I never... I never leave my wand unattended," Snape looked more horrified than angry now. Perhaps he was thinking that all this time, even with his defiance in Harry's fourth year, the Headmaster had never trusted him.

"I'm so sorry professor," Harry expressed. "I'll make sure to get you another wand... oh but you can use wandless magic still?"

"Just for the bare minimum of spells Mr. Potter," Snape huffed, and as if to prove a point he wandlessly cast a Lumos. What no one expected was for the cave to be engulfed in light.

"My eyes!" Harry wailed.

"Nox!" Severus said quickly as he too had to shut his eyes due to the intense light.

"Professor I know you like proving a point but.... That was a bit overboard wasn't it?"

"Mr. Potter.... Lumos isn't even that bright with a wand. What the hell happened to me?!" Severus questioned.

"The leylines probably charged your core more than we thought," Harry pondered. "I mean, even I got most of my muscle mass back due to leaning against the altar for a couple of hours,"

"Mr. Potter, this is serious. If a simple Lumos did that then I wouldn't want to use any offensive spells." Snape hissed. "Nor can I brew any potions as that requires a precise amount of magic being injected into the mixture,"

"I'm sure the effects will dissipate.... At least I hope so," Harry replied.

The side-eye Severus shot Harry spoke volumes.

"Also, Death wanted you to have this," Harry said as he produced the key and held it out for Snape to take. "He said it was a reward for saving my life,"

"I don't need any reward Mr. Potter," The Potions Master argued.

"Look, sir, please accept the key. Death can be super pushy if it's something he wants you to have. I should know after the donut incident,"

"The what now?!" Snape's brow rose.

"Never mind that, sir. Please just take the key before Death becomes insufferable," Harry grumbled as if speaking from experience.

"Fine," Snape said as he snatched the key out of Harry's hand and scrutinized it. "Seems to be a Gringott's key," Snake stated.

"I thought all their keys were gold, not silver," Harry questioned.

"Potter, this isn't silver," Snape muttered. "It's platinum."

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AN: I've already finished writing chapter 27 so quite a lot to come, especially Lore-wise. XD