DISCLAIMER JKR owns all.

First Day Back

Albus Dumbledore walked through the corridors of Hogwarts humming to
himself. He was going to see Severus Snape, who had just returned to
teaching after suffering a bad bout of wizard's flu.

As he reached the dungeon, he heard a strange noise. It sounded like a
whimper and then a small wail. What on earth was Severus putting in
his potions these days?

Entering the classroom, Dumbledore could not see anything amiss. He
looked around at all the glass jars. Thankfully, nothing looked alive.

Suddenly he heard the noise again. He looked down and to his utter
amazement; Professor Snape was sitting on the floor beside his desk.
He was hunched up, with his knees to his chest and staring up with
wide, frightened eyes.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked, "What has happened? Are you all right?"

Perhaps it was the shocked tone Dumbledore used or the fact that he
looked so tall, standing over Severus, that caused the younger wizard
to burst into tears.

Dumbledore was truly amazed now. It was very rare for Severus to show
any strong emotion (apart from anger) and extremely rare for him to
cry. He regarded him silently for a moment. Something was not right.

"Severus?" this time he crouched down so he was face to face with him,
"Do you know who I am?"

"Sorry," the voice coming from the dark haired man was oddly
childlike, "Please, no bad spell? I'll be good. I promise!". With that
he dissolved into tears again.

Slowly and very gently, Albus gathered him into his arms. He looked
around and saw a half-empty cauldron beside Snape's desk. Freeing his
wand arm carefully, he conjured a small bottle and dipped it into the
purple liquid.

"I'll have to get Horace to look at this," he murmured, "I don't think
you'll be teaching potions for a while, my boy. In fact, I shall have
to acquire some parenting skills very quickly."

And with that, he pulled the unresisting Severus to his feet and
walked him though the quiet halls, all the while speaking to the
distraught man in low, soothing tones.

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The Headmaster guided Severus through his office and into the
cheerful rooms behind it. He sat down with him on the couch and
pulled back a little to look at him.

Severus was shaking with emotion but he seemed to be holding the
tears back. He looked fearfully at Dumbledore.

"What's wrong, child?" Dumbledore's blue eyes were bright with
concern.

"S Sorry," Stammered the younger wizard, "I'm not supposed to cry.
I'm too big".

"What age are you, Severus?" The Headmaster felt that now was the
time to confirm his suspicions.

"Three," the man answered quietly, "Daddy's going to be cross with
me. I have to go home". The quivering intensified and Albus pulled
him close.

"Severus," he soothed, "Your Daddy is not here. He can't ever harm
you again. I am Albus. You remember me, don't you? I came to see you
when you were little. You were such a good child. You ARE such a good
child".

"A Albus," Severus's voice was shaking.

"Yes, that's right, my boy. I am going to look after you and I do not
think anyone is too big to cry. I would never punish you for crying".

The younger man's lip trembled anew and Dumbledore pulled him even
closer, directing the dark head onto his shoulder.

"Come on child," he cooed, "You have a lot more tears in there. Let
them out. Let go. I have you. Yes, that's it. That's right, my young
one. Shh".

Receiving the permission he so desperately needed, the Potions Master
began to cry, not like an adult, trying to hold back, but like a hurt
child who could find no other way to express his pain.
All the while, the old Headmaster held him, rocked him and stroked
his hair, crooning to him softly. He felt the young man almost melt
into him and he gave him all the comfort he needed.

"I know, Severus. I know. Such a lot of pain. Such a lot of hurt. My
poor, poor child. I failed you before but not this time, my dearest.
I'm here. I'm here, little one".

After a time the sobs turned to hiccoughs and gradually to steady,
even breathing. Snape pulled back a little and Dumbledore conjured a
warm damp cloth to wipe the tear strained face.

"There, now. Does that feel better?" he asked gently. He received a
little nod in response.

"Are you hungry, Severus? Do you need to use the bathroom," the old
man was trying to remember what stage Severus should be at in the
latter department.

Severus nodded an affirmative to the bathroom question and Albus
helped him up and took him there. He waited patiently for Severus to
finish and helped him to wash and dry his hands.

It was then that he got his nice surprise for the day. Severus turned
and leaned against him, putting his head back on his shoulder with a
little sigh. Dumbledore responded immediately, wrapping his arms
around him and taking most of his weight.

"I think someone's tired, hmm?" he smiled, "I should think so after
the morning you've had".

He led Severus back to the couch and helped him to lie down. Severus
wouldn't let go of him so, in the end, he simply sat down and let the
young wizard use his lap as a pillow. One hand was clinging tightly
to Dumbledore's and the old man used his free hand to stroke the dark
hair. Severus sighed in contentment and was asleep within seconds.

Waiting until he was deeply asleep, the Headmaster called a house elf.

"Sparkle, could you please ask Horace Slughorn to come and see me?"

With a flourish and a nod. The little elf disappeared, leaving
Dumbledore to listen to the soothing sound of his child's quiet
breathing.

TBC