Albus didn't consider himself particularly fallible. Okay, okay, there was that thing about Grindelwald. He should've realized that Grindelwald was becoming evil. If he was really honest with himself, then letting Sirius off for nearly killing Severus was a phenomenally bad idea and a definite mistake. Ignoring Severus' pain entirely hadn't been a much better idea. Giving Harry to the Dursleys… that hadn't been a too great idea. Making Severus teach Harry Occlumency, very bad idea.
Okay, so he had made mistakes before. Quite a lot of them, apparently.
And a whole lot of them involved Harry and Severus.
Not this one though. Yes, it involved Harry and Severus, but he was not mistaken. Not at all.
Harry Potter absolutely, positively detested Severus Snape. Simple as that.
Well, not that simple.
Because Harry was coming back to Hogwarts, which meant that Severus would have to put up with him again (another phenomenally bad idea? Albus dismissed the thought as insignificant. He couldn't possibly find another Defense professor on such short notice. Or a Potions one, if he did finally give Severus the Defense job).
Albus sighed. It was going to be hell. Harry would say something that Severus considered stupid. Severus would snipe at him and tell him to use his brain. Harry would say something suitably sarcastic. Severus would answer in kind. One of them would start yelling. Harry would fume and throw off sparks – literally. Severus would slam out and sulk for days. Harry's magic would be uncontrollable and a liability. Severus wouldn't show up for meals, and Albus would have to make sure that Severus ate something. Lovely.
And they'd poison the students with the never-ending fighting.
Yes, it had been a bad idea inviting Harry back.
But really, he couldn't base his hiring around Severus' moods. It was impossible.
Albus sighed and made his way to the staff meeting. They'd both be there. Oh fuck.
"Wait," Harry asked during the meeting. "Why do we need to make potions in bulk at all? Aren't most of them specialized?"
Oh shit. Dumb question. Next would come the 'use your bloody brain' sentence.
"Yes, but the ones that aren't can be made in bulk, saving me time," Severus answered. "Should be obvious, really, even to someone of your limited mental capacity."
"Pardon me for actually taking part in these meetings!"
"I shan't until you ask an intelligent question!"
The argument escalated.
Albus ended the meeting hastily. Severus slammed out as soon as he did. Soon after, so did Harry.
Albus sighed and went down to the dungeons. He'd have to talk to them to stop this. Might as well start with Severus.
He opened the door – Severus wouldn't open it if he knocked – and entered.
No Severus. He looked in the bathroom and then the bedroom.
Oh my.
An entirely naked Severus was chuckling down at a half-naked Harry, who was wrapping his arms around Severus' neck and kissing him.
Albus slipped out quietly. Apparently, he really was fallible.
Fallible – adj. 1. Liable to make a mistake. 2. Liable to be inaccurate or erroneous. Word of the Day, February 28, 2008)