Emerald green flames shot out of the fireplace of the potions classroom. Someone had the gall to fire call him on a Friday afternoon. It was no secret that the potion master, Severus Snape loathed Friday afternoons because of the Slytherin/Griffindor fourth year class that would be darkening his door in a scant half hour.
"WHAT?!" the teacher exclaimed, not even turning to see who was disturbing his few remaining moments of peace. His hands threatening to snap the quill held tightly in his grasp.
"Severus, my boy, would you join me in my office after classes let out for the day." the headmaster frowned at his tone. "I have a matter I wish to discuss-"
"Is it essential that I am present; I have much to occupy my time with at present" the younger wizard sneered. Did the old man fail to notice the endless scrolls of rubbish that littered his desk? Severus was certain the headmaster was not offering to grade any of the drivel the "children" turned in as "homework." Really! He should just give them all, with one or two exceptions, a T- and save himself the agony of reading it.
"Oh very much so, my boy, I'll expect you by five then. Good afternoon." Severus narrowed his eyes as the disembodied face of Albus Dumbledore disappeared with a pop, not even waiting for a response. And none to soon, as testament to the teachers temper an empty potion vial crashed against the hearth.
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The headmaster sank down in his office chair with a sigh. Something was troubling his newest professor of that he was certain. However, what exactly was a mystery. Severus did not exactly share his feelings willingly. In fact, the majority of staff and students alike would resoundingly claim the snarky potion master possessed none, save anger and contempt.
Few individuals knew of his real past or the pain his emotionless façade masked. A pain that went far beyond the Dark Mark etched on the young man's forearm.
The Headmaster leaned back letting out a deep sigh as his thoughts focused on his former student. Dumbledore loved puzzles and Severus Snape was certainly an enigma. Although he would never admit this to the boy, he often wondered if the sorting hat did not make a mistake with him. He had the intelligence of a Ravenclaw, the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, the bravery of a Griffindor, as well as the cunning of a Slytherin. He just did not know it yet.
Intelligent enough to become the youngest potion master ever, he was scarily older than some of the seventh years. He had great potential but was in need of guidance. Already he had made some grave mistakes. Mistakes which robbed him of his freedom and indirectly lead to the death of the Potters. Sending not one but two children into a sea of pain and grief.
Yet, he was well on the way to atonement for his crimes. He had renounced the Dark Lord and agreed to be a spy for the light.
But how to make sure his feet would remain on this path…
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"You wished to see me, Headmaster." those words brought Dumbledore out of his revelry.
"Yes, Severus, do come in" the headmaster motioning to a chair before his desk.
The younger wizard frowned at the elegant tea that awaited him on a side table. He eyed the headmaster suspiciously as he sat. The old coot was up to something, he thought.
"Please help yourself to some tea, Severus. It is a unique blend that I am sure you will enjoy."
Making a point of not meeting the older wizards eyes, he thought I am sure I won't.
Watching how the boy made no move toward the offered refreshments told Albus this would be a difficult discussion. He sighed inwardly knowing that he was partially to blame for the mistrust he saw in those dark ebony eyes. Had he dealt differently with the "werewolf incident" Severus would not have felt so horribly betrayed as to run into the waiting hands of Voldemort. He had said to the boy that he was disgusted with him, but in truth it was himself he was disgusted in. The older wizard deeply regretted those words as he saw the hopeless resignation expressed in the teenaged wizards' eyes. The elder wizard vowed to never see that look again, if he had any say in the matter.
"I ran into a student today…" the headmaster began noticing the rigid posture and crossed arms of the professor in front of him. Yes, this was going to be a difficult discussion.
Severus raised his strongest Olcummency shields and glanced up at his employer. Really, that narrows it down to about a thousand individuals.
"She came to me because you had given her detention" Dumbledore let that sentence hang in the air as he watched the wheels turning in the boys mind.
"She" and "detention" further narrowed his list down to mere one hundred that he had reprimanded in the past three days.
Anger flared from the younger wizard, "I thought you said you did not interfere in the way teachers here ran their classes!"
Albus pushed aside his tea cup and sent a warning glance to the young man in front of him. "Normally, I am content to stay out of my teachers affairs. However, this is a little extrem-"
"Let me guess. The girl came crying to you with a tale of how horrible unfair I was and asked you to waive her detention." the potion master interrupted, theatrically rolled his eyes. Probably a bloody Griffindor!
"Quite the contrary, she did not ask me to reduce her punishment in any way" Dumbledore looked pointedly at Severus before continuing. "She asked me to find out what has been troubling you the past few days."
"I highly doubt any child would be concerned about me. NOTHING is bothering me." the professor made to leave with that comment not wishing to continue this conversation further.
"Perhaps then you care to explain to me-Do stay seated-what the child did to earn four detentions, back to back, on a Saturday in less than one hour." the elder wizard crossed his arms on the desk looking at his professor askance.
The potion master looked away. He knew short of striking a professor the punishment was too harsh to justify.
When Severus did not answer the headmaster continued, "or perhaps you might tell me how Miss Gage, a Slytherin, managedto have acquired the only detention you have given to your house all year?" The headmaster figured that a little well placed guilt would not go astray.
"Obviously, something is troubling you…I would like to help…if only you will let me" his sad blue eyes reached out to the boy in front of him.
"There is absolutely NOTHING wrong! And if you don't like the way I run class, or see to my house, then fire me! The irate professor shot to his feet in an uncharacteristic show of emotion. "Now, if that is all I will return to my quarters to pack-"
"Young Man, Sit Down!" Albus's tone brooking no argument. He silently counted to ten as Severus slowly and reluctantly obeyed.
The boy petulantly threw himself back into the chair he had so recently vacated.
Albus sighed, rounded the desk, closing the distance between himself and the young wizard in front of him. He did not need to be an olcumens to feel the waves of anger radiating from the youth. "Severus, please let me help you, my child" he whispered in a calm voice. Getting angry would solve no purpose, only drive the child further away. Anger would only cause the younger wizard to retreat into himself.
"I need nothing from you!" he said, shrugging off the elder man's hand from his shoulder as he made for the door once again.
Dumbledore raised his wand locking the door with a click and applied a silencing charm wordlessly .
"Alohomora!"
"Experiarmus!" an ebony wand flew into the headmaster's palm.
Losing his patience with the boys childishness he shouted" you most certainly do need something from me, and it as been a long time coming. You will not leave this room until willingly or unwillingly I know what has gotten you so out of sorts." He pocketed both wands as he advanced on the young wizard.
Kicking the door in frustration, Severus screamed "Let me out!"
"Never, child, not when you are so upset. Won't you please come to me." he beckoned to the child before him removing all anger from his voice. He imagined only too well how he had been raised by his father, Tobias. Tobias, a muggle, was known to drink heavily that in combination with a short temper had damaged Severus almost irrevocably. In truth, he had no proof that Severus was being abused then. Severus had never confided in anyone, not even his best friend, Lily Evans. It was only later, during olcummency training, that a few images slipped. Fists with broken noses was no way to discipline a young child.
A vase whizzed by causing his gray hair to flutter. "Severus, Come here!" Albus demanded in a stern voice.
"NO! I am not one of your students any longer! I needn't listen to you! I wish I had never come to this blasted school or had magic then maybe none of this would have ever happened" he ranted as he plummeted his hands against the wooden door until he bloodied his hands.
Sensing that this temper tantrum was inevitable, he allowed it. He waited until a dark head of hair was leaning against the office wall panting with exertion before speaking to the boy. "Child, you have hurt yourself. Come let me heal you" he coaxed patting the sofa he sat upon.
"You-I can't" he cried out with such despair as he slid down the wall breathing raggedly.
Albus rose and slowly made his way to the distressed child so as not to startle him. He bent down and pulled out his wand. With a gentleness Severus had never experienced, the headmaster healed his wounds. "There now, that is better, isn't it, my boy"
"How can you call me that?" the youth spat out dragging his fingers through his hair.
"I call you that because I care for you Severus" the headmaster replied while looking steadily into the boys stormy eyes.
The younger man turned his eyes on Albus with such a profound sadness that the headmasters' throat constricted at the pain he witnessed in those fathomless eyes.
"Please, don't-
To Be Continued...