He glanced around to check the coast was clear, then knocked on the frame of the portrait. It opened, and he snuck inside, waiting until the door was closed before removing his cloak. He looked around the unusually frowning. "I thought supposed to be here?"
empty Remus
room, was
"He was," Snape replied curtly. He'd taken off his teaching robes, leaving him in just a black shirt and trousers. He looked exhausted, if Harry was honest. "There was a change in plans."
"Is everything okay? Is he alright?" Harry asked, brain immediately throwing dozens of disaster scenarios his way.
"He is well. The mutt is merely having a difficult time; Remus didn't feel it prudent to leave him alone."
Harry winced; Sirius was doing a lot better since moving into Seren Du, but every now and then he had nightmares from Azkaban and got stuck inside his own head for a little while. It was happening less and less, especially after Snape helped him with his Occlumency shields over the summer, but… twelve years surrounded by dementors had left him with a lot of damage.
"Oh," he said, feeling awkward now he knew it was just him and the Potions Master. "I'll, just, uh— go, then. Sorry to disturb you."
"Not so fast, Potter," Snape drawled before Harry could put the cloak back on. The man looked skyward for a moment, like he might regret what he was about to say, but carried on nonetheless. "There was clearly a reason for your visit here. Sit; perhaps I may be of assistance. I am not Remus, but I'm also not an idiot."
Harry blinked, needing several seconds to comprehend the man's words. Snape was… inviting him to stay? "Oh," he said again. "I— okay then. If you're sure." Harry walked over to his usual spot on the sofa, and his eyebrows rose when a steaming teacup floated his way. "Thanks."
Snape sat in his armchair, raising one eyebrow. "Well? What dilemma do you need a way out of now?"
Harry bit his lip. Snape had been a lot better since the summer, in private at least. He could trust him. "Well, I know what the egg's clue means now. I just don't really know what to do about it." He drank his tea, unsurprised that it was exactly the way he preferred it. Snape was a spy, after all; he was supposed to be observant. "I have to be able to breathe underwater for an hour."
He explained the mermaid's song to Snape, whose lips pursed. "Of course they're sending you into the Black Lake in February," he muttered. "No wonder Poppy asked for those extra-strength Pepper-Up potions. Honestly!"
Harry hadn't even thought about the issues that might arise from the temperature of the water, and grimaced. Could he hold a Warming charm for an hour? Should he just wear one of his charmed robes, even though it would slow him down in the water? "There is of course the Bubblehead charm," Snape continued, demonstrating with a wave of his wand. A large bubble appeared around his head, like he was wearing a fishbowl as a helmet. "Useful for being underwater, and also to avoid noxious fumes from potions. I often teach it to my NEWT students." His voice was somewhat distorted by the bubble, but Harry could still hear him. Another wave of his wand, and the spell ended. "However, keeping the spell up for a full hour — especially in the face of whatever trials there will no doubt be waiting for you — requires a lot of concentration, and is a risk for someone as unfamiliar with the spell as you are. I would recommend you learn it as a precaution, but not as your main method for the task."
"So what do I do, then?" Harry asked, watching Snape think.
"There is no similar limitation to the first task, where you could only use your wand?" the Slytherin checked. Harry shook his head.
"It doesn't say anything about it, so I assume we're fine to have other things. If not, I could always summon something again," he added ruefully. "Why? Are you thinking about some sort of scuba diving apparatus? Because I thought about that but I don't know how mechanised they are, and I didn't know if the magic in the lake might mess with it." The last thing he wanted was for an oxygen tank to fail on him in the middle of the Black Lake.
"No,
that
wouldn't
work,"
Snape dismissed immediately. "But there is a plant — gillyweed. If you eat it, you will grow gills; and also sometimes fins. The effects vary from plant to plant, which makes it a somewhat risky approach, but if you carry enough for a second dose, that will cover you should the first dose lose its effects before you've finished."
"Brilliant!" Harry breathed, perking up. He just had to eat this plant and he'd be all set! "Where can I buy it?"
"It's rather rare," Snape told him, making Harry falter. Of course it was. Just his luck. "However, it is used in several potions, so I keep some in my private stores. I will provide you with some when the task is nearer." The Slytherin smirked. "If anyone asks where you got it, tell them you stole from me. There will be a detention for your efforts, after the task. Remus has been looking for a chance to test your Ancient Runes progress."
Most of Harry's Snape-related detentions turned into private lessons these days, so that didn't bother him too much. "You'll just give it to me? Really?"
"It would rather upset Remus if I just let you drown," Snape pointed out mildly.
Harry was hit with a burst of bravery or perhaps stupidity. "You'd be sleeping on the sofa for at least a week," he teased. Snape stared at him, unimpressed.
"Don't make me regret my offer, Potter," he muttered. Harry just laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it, sir," he assured, before sobering. "Seriously, thanks. I was starting to run out of options."
"I'm sure Mr Longbottom would have enlightened you, had you shared your dilemma with him," Snape said, and Harry wondered if that was a gentle reminder to trust his friends more. He was happy to talk about the egg with the other champions — at least, he had been before Viktor had solved the clue — but he'd been keeping it quiet around the rest of his friends, not wanting to worry them by explaining what he was about to undertake.
"But then I still would have had to figure out where to get this gillyweed stuff," Harry pointed out. "So really I just skipped the middle man."
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