Dumbledore was growing concerned. Strange things were happening today, and not the usual type of strange things that happened daily at Hogwarts. It was lunchtime, and Dumbledore was seated at the teacher table in the Great Hall puzzling over his turkey sandwich. He twirled the end of his beard around his index finger as he thought. Both Harry and Severus accepted a lemon drop. Minerva wasn't her usual attentive self. But those were only the obvious things.
Harry and Draco had not gotten into a fight yet today either. This was not altogether surprising; the two boys had been getting along better than their track record suggested they might. But a scuffle was a common occurrence. There was also the appearance of Harry's curious new nickname to consider.
Neville Longbottom had not exploded or otherwise incapacitated his potion today in class either, or he felt sure Severus would have mentioned it as he usually made a habit of doing. Or was that just it? Perhaps dear Neville did explode a potion, and the oddity was that Severus failed to mention it.
Hagrid, who wasn't known for a lack of appetite, had yet to show his face at the head table. What could be important enough to him to warrant skipping a meal?
Nymphadora Tonks had flooed into his office on time just before lunch upon his request. On time. And had also accepted a lemon drop. Albus had offered the candy to her once he was seated out of tradition, yes, but also out of apprehensive curiosity. Would she take one as well? It was strange, to see a small dent out of his lemon drop dish that he had not put there himself. Almost unnerving.
None of these things, had they happened on separate occasions, would have warranted a second thought; some wouldn't have even gotten a first. But together, they put the world off balance just enough to make Dumbledore take notice.
He was startled out of his musings by a hand on his, disentangling his fingers from the end of his beard.
"You'll pull it all out." Snape murmured before taking his seat and pulling his plate towards him nonchalantly. Would he have done that if it were yesterday? Dumbledore thought childishly. He shook his head and went back to his lunch. Severus was a kind man, he just didn't like to show it. …So why was he doing so today? Albus's eyes widened.
He stood abruptly and started walking towards the doors to the great hall. His walk was no longer without haste; he was positively unnerved, and needed to do some thinking. Though perhaps the thinking would lead to overthinking, as he was prone to do, but that was just a risk Dumbledore would have to take. He slowed a bit as he walked by the Gryffindor table and leaned down to ask a question.
"Neville my boy, did you happen to have a mishap in potions today?" He saw the boy grimace.
"Yes, sir. I'm very sorry, sir, and Professor Snape has-"
"No worries, my boy. I was just satisfying an old man's curiosity." He said, and walked out of the great hall without another word.
Author's note: I really shouldn't be associated with this story any more. It's pretty much writing itself, with no input from me at all. Thoughts?