Beneath the Surface

Chapter 1: Finding Snape

Notes:

Hello dear reader!I've had this sitting in my laptop for a few months now, the story isn't finished but I have about 110,000 words written as of July 2024. So, I thought I'd start posting, I can't wait for you to read! Let me know what you think, I enjoy reading your comments and insights!

ENJOY!

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Harry looked up at the ceiling of his Gryffindor dorm. It felt strange, he hadn't been there in almost a year. He stretched in his bed, it was so small that his feet dangled on the footboard. It made him think of all the years he'd spent the night in that same bed, everything that bed had seen, all his growth of the last seven years of his life.

He sat up on the bed, looking around. The dorm was empty, and the sunlight coming from the windows told him it must be quite late into the afternoon. He'd probably spent the entire day sleeping, his body exhausted from the ordeal.

It had taken him a while for him to get to sleep, everything he'd lived in the last twenty-four hours still fresh in his mind.

He jumped from the bed, desirous to see how everyone was fairing. His thoughts went straight to the Weasley family. Last night the entire Wizarding World had taken a big hit. They won, yes, and Voldemort was no more. But at what cost? Many had died, mostly students at Hogwarts, people who had just barely started to live. And Fred. Harry shook his head, not wanting to go down that path.

He went straight to the bathroom, finding that his regular shampoo and gel were there, and he smiled. That must've been Kreacher's doing, the Black house elf who had come back to Hogwarts to help at the battle. Not only help, Harry remembered, but to lead the house-elves from the kitchen. Harry sighed, Kreacher deserved something for his loyalty and bravery, but right now he was too tired to think.

He showered quickly and went downstairs, wondering where he could find his friends. He left the Gryffindor tower, greeting the Fat Lady as he left. As he descended the marble stairs towards the Entrance Hall, his legs automatically skipping when they started moving, he started to see the extent to which Hogwarts had really been under siege. Half of the pictures and frames were destroyed or gone, and there was rubble and big rocks sprawled everywhere. Harry looked left and right, thankfully the bodies had been recuperated but the evidence of the battle was still intact.

Once he was close to the Entrance Hall he looked down. The door of the Great Hall was still in its place, though there were dark marks of curses that had impacted the ancient wood. Here, the bustling was more evident, people coming up and down, walking in or out of the Great Hall in small groups.

Harry steeled his nerves and clenched his fists, willing himself to calm down, before he descended the last set of stairs and looked to his right. The house tables were still against the walls, leaving a big part of the space free in the middle for people to walk in and out easily. Harry watched from the door people conversing with each other. The conversations were hushed; as if no one dared to speak louder than the others.

"'Arry!" said a gruff voice coming from his left.

Harry saw Hagrid, the half-giant, looking at him with a big smile on his face. He was carrying a broom big enough for two men to use, and he was attempting to move the rubble away from the floor.

"'Arry, what are ye doin' 'ere? I thought you was sleepin'!"

"I was, but I've slept long enough, I think," Harry replied, walking over to him, "how is everyone?"