TWO
"You're bleeding," Snape commented clinically, ignoring the absurdity of their chance meeting in the loo, before Harry had a chance to say anything.
Harry stood quietly while Snape reached up and touched his forehead, still in shock at seeing the Potions Master in a muggle campground in Devon. In the loo, of all places! Even more shocking was the fact that Professor Snape had foregone his billowing black robes that evening, instead wearing navy track-paints and a charcoal sweatshirt.
Snape muttered a healing spell, then cleaned up the remaining blood with a flick of his wand.
Harry hazarded a glance up at the Potions Master.
"F-f-fancy seeing you here, Professor," he attempted to sound half-normal, as he quickly moved to dry his tears.
Snape ignored this audacious interlude, his eyes shifting to the blanket Harry had left in the corner of the stall.
"Potter," he began with a menacing softness, knitting his eyebrows, "Kindly explain yourself so I can get on with my evening. Why are you squatting in a loo, in Devon, instead of in your posh quarters in Surrey?"
"Did Dumbledore send you?" Harry asked, putting the pieces together as he ignored the question posed to him, "Or did you just happen to be here?"
Snape looked slightly bemused as he spat, "Did I just happen to be here? What do you think, Potter? Do I look like the sort of wizard who would spend his summers camping amongst muggles?"
"No sir," Harry looked down, chuckling to himself, "Sorry you had to come here to check on me. I should have let somebody know I was leaving Privet Drive for a spell."
"Enough silliness," Snape chided, looking Harry up and down, "Why are you sleeping in a bathroom stall?"
"Well, it's a long story, Professor," Harry swallowed, feeling more like himself, "The Dursleys are here with me. Camping, like. Except I was the one in the tent and it blew away in the storm, sir. So I came in here because it was dry."
Snape narrowed his eyes as if to ascertain if Harry were lying.
"What do you mean, 'you were the one in the tent'? Where is the rest of your family?"
"Oh! Sorry, forgot to explain that bit. They're in their trailer. There wasn't enough room for me so Uncle Vernon let me use his father's tent."
Snape nodded slowly, analyzing each bit of information as it came to him. It certainly seemed plausible…so far.
"Where is this tent?"
"It's at our campsite, sir."
"Lead me to it."
"But, Professor –"
"Lead me to it, Potter. Dumbledore will have my hide if I let you spend the night in the loo like a vagabond. Though Merlin knows you need a good dose of humility."
Glowering, Harry led Snape out into the cold, dark night.
