Regaining her composure she questioned," Or perhaps had you put him in a burlap sack and drowned him like an unwanted kitten things might be different. Is that what you think? Could you have lived with yourself had you knowingly murdered a child , Albus?"

"I -"Albus struggled to form a response, but he could not he knew the answer would shock her.

Before he could answer Twinkle interrupted with a soft pop.

"Twinkle is watching for young master and is bringing him straight away, as yous asked Great Master." the elf bowed before Dumbeldore as he levitated a stretcher body to the bed. The boy was deathly still. Albus paled as the boy was lowered on to the deep green coverlet.

"Severus!" Both exclaimed simultaneously.

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Dumbledore was shocked! Had hismagicfailedhim? The Port key should have transported Severus here immediately if he was in danger…unless…the child broke his word by not activating it.

Madame Pomfrey, her wand in hand, was quickly stalking towards the prone form. All sorts of horrible ailments and curses were coursing through her mind. What ever had been done to the child now?

As both concerned adults reached the bed their mouths fell to the ground as two obsidian eyes flashed with undisguised anger. Albus was the first to respond. He cast a Finite and all hell broke loose.

"You! The black clad professor all but leaped off the bed. "I will kill you! Then I will use your leathery skin to test my acid potions. Let's see how you like being petrified and silenced you horrid creature."

Twinkle hearing the verbal onslaught directed at him scurried behind Dumbledores' robes peering out fearfully as the young master approached. "Tw-Twinkle bes apologizing young master! But yous be fighting me!" the little elf explained in a high squeaky voice as he raced around the headmaster with the young master close behind. "And the Great Master bes making Twinkle swear to brings yous-"

A sigh of relief from both older adults passed before the elder wizard took action. "Enough!" Dumbledore roared while a hand latched on to the back of a black robe. "I am not a may pole, child."

"Let me go, old man!" He wrestled to free himself, but the headmaster held tight. Severus glared at the two responsible for his present position.

Turning his attention to the house-elf Dumbledore asked, "Twinkle, would you kindly return to the kitchens and prepare some tea and biscuits and return in say- half an hours time."

"Anything you wish, Great Master!" The elf sighed in relief before popping away, but not before sending a scowl at the young one.

"Release me, I have no intention of playing tea party with you. I wish to return to my quarters." he sneered at both occupants.

"You shan't be going anywhere until I attend to your injuries, young man." the medi- witch said placing a hand on her hip. "And don't try to deny it, I can see your hands trembling from here. "How many times did that monster curse you this time?!"

"Only once." The younger man offered calmly to apease the med witch. "I have the potion in my office, I will floo there if that is agreeable." He arched an eyebrow before entering the hearth.

Poppy eyed him suspiciously but remained silent as the young man flooed away…something was…off. "Albus something is wrong. He is never this willing to be healed. I am going after him. She threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace with no affect.

"Why that little Slytherin…he has warded his office. No doubt his quarters as well. Poppy yelled at the fireplace, "Just you wait, Severus Tobias Snape! I'll have you in my infirmary yet, then we will see how brave you are without your wand and your pants -"

"Poppy, I believe I know exactly where he has gone and why." The headmaster replied as he attempted to disable the wards. He paused, twirling his wand in lazy cirles. "Clever boy. He is quite the talented young wizard, isn't he, Poppy? Hmm, these are interesting wards…I could be here for several hours…he must have participated in something terrible to runaway in such a way. I'll handle this, Poppy."

"OH, Would you be kind enough to let Twinkle know to delay our refreshments until I summon him."

"Very well, Albus I'll leave it to you… make sure he takes his potion first...after a meal…he'll fight you there and Then take a switch to that boy's backside. The headmaster chuckled at her conflicted thoughts. Yes, he wondered why she had never had a family of her own. He could see her as a frantic mother embracing a wayward child to her one moment and swatting him the next.

"I think I'll take a little stroll down to the dungeons…

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