When All is Lost One is Found
Author: Rinoaebastel
Chapter 11: Exhausting Troubles
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.
AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.
February 1992
He fell back on the sofa, melding his body against the soft seat that seemed to engulf him. He was about to doze when his mental to-do list bombarded his thoughts. He needed to look over his class essays, but he didn't have strength enough to do much of anything, much less read written forms of idiocy. Not today. Watching over a quidditch match to make sure Potter didn't break his neck was draining enough. He had to admit that he'd feared for the boy's life. He wasn't sure who cursed the broom in the past match, but it wouldn't have been difficult to do so when said broom belonged to an inexperienced child.
He had his suspicions just as Dumbledore had. He thought it was Quirrell, but without proof he couldn't do anything. Weeks of spying on him and spotting him in the darkness near the third floor had made him suspicious and wary of that man's actions. Quirrell knew how to play innocent. He knew not to fall for the act.
Dumbledore had asked him to watch the man, without explaining why as per usual when it came to the older wizard. At first he'd been curious as to why, but now that curiosity was fading. This wasn't the same Quirrell that was here a year ago, and by adding more complexity to the year, there was a dangerous artifact in the castle's depths that needed to be guarded.
He swallowed.
He'd acted as judge during today's quidditch match to make sure that no one made another attempt against Potter's life. At least no one set his robe on fire this time. The embers were a spell he'd seen before, but he couldn't quite recall where. His work for the order, protecting and checking to see if someone had disturbed the enchantments on the Philosopher's stone, was enough to occupy his mind. Now, he had Potter to deal with all the while watching him smash Slytherin morale in quidditch too. Like father, like son. The way the Potters ruined everything for him, everything he loved, astonished and angered him at the same time.
He rubbed his face and closed his eyes, letting his head rest on the arm of the seat. Sleep tried to claim him, but he couldn't allow himself the luxury of rest. In a few minutes it would be his turn to watch the third floor.
His door opened and an unannounced visitor stormed into his living quarters as if they owned the place. Lifting his head, he saw that the intruder was indeed who he expected.
Anger rushed him.
The old fool had time to come down here but not enough time to do his part in protecting the boy. He placed all the weight onto his shoulders and gave him the duty to protect a child that looked just like the man he hated.
"You should've been there," Snape said, not giving the headmaster a chance to sit before starting the conversation. He didn't bother sitting up either. He was as comfortable as he could be considering he was never relaxed to begin with.
"I assume everything went fine. You didn't find the culprit?" Dumbledore said and sat down. He reached into his tunic. "Lemon drop?"
The offer of a sweet brought further irritation. No, he didn't want a bloody lemon drop and wouldn't dignify the stupid question with an answer. "It would've been less suspicious if you attended the match instead, and I kept watching the third floor. No one would've dared to hurt the boy in front of you."
"You promised to protect the boy, Severus. It's your task no matter how arrogant you think the boy is. You should not judge the boy over the sins of his father."
"Don't try for a moment to make me feel guilty. I said I would protect him, but I can't do everything Albus. I can't be in all corners of the castle all the time."
"All right, Severus. I'll attend the other matches as much as I can, but the rest of the time falls on you. I trust you can do that."
"Of course."
He would have to learn to keep his temper controlled and his memories of the late Potter suppressed. He needed to have a clear head and the rage wouldn't help his focus. He hoped Potter wouldn't fall into more problems if he kept a closer eye on Quirrell.
But he wasn't confident that would be the case.
-/-/-
May 1992
Potter had demonstrated numerous times that he and his friends were troublemakers. The boy had the nerve to wander at night with an invisible cloak that his father had owned. Dumbledore had called him an hour ago and told him of yet another nuisance he had to be on guard for. Then, not even a few minutes later, asked that he put another protection spell around the Philosopher's stone because he was going away.
At least now he knew why he always felt as if he were being kicked out of nowhere as a teen. He'd had his suspicions on who did it, but no one would've taken the word of a seedy Slytherin verses a golden Gryffindor. Now young Potter was following in his father's footsteps, only he was in much more danger than the elder Potter had been. Not only did he know that Potter's eyes were on him at times, he feared the idiot would try to look for the stone for himself.
A few nights ago, he knew someone had been watching his threatening conversation with Quirrell, forcing him to confess who he was working for. Now he knew who that someone was.
Everyone feared him, probably even more now if that were possible, and it could be used to his advantage. With every month that passed, he knew Quirrell was twisting and manipulating a plan that would ultimately place the blame on him.
He heard the suspicions in whispers and saw it in Potter and Weasley's eyes. He wasn't worried. They had a snowballs chance in Hades at solving the puzzles that he'd set up. The only way they'd get past is if they took the girl with him. As annoying as she was with trying to show her knowledge in inappropriate moments, he had to admit she was extremely intelligent.
She was a muggleborn and had a different way of thinking. That made her handy to whatever cause she chose to lend her skills to. It irked him that she was like him at that age, though he'd never been anywhere close to being that presumptuous.
A whisper came to his ears and he crossed the shadows and moved around the corner that separated him from the voices.
The three of them stood there speaking about their new mischievous plot. If their words hadn't been enough, the look in their eyes revealed that they were up to something. This was especially true when Granger's wide eyes met his.
They were speaking of stealing the philosopher's stone of course. The boy he was protecting wanted to steal an item he was protecting.
Weasley and Potter turned and he offered a smug smile.
"Just what are the three of you doing here in the shadows on such a nice day? You'd better be careful or one would think you were up to something you shouldn't be. Right, Potter?"
Each of the three had their own roles just like the ones in the elder Potter's own gang. Potter was the mastermind like his father. Weasley was clearly the buffoon, and it baffled him what good he was other than to be bossed about. Granger was clearly the brains and moral compass. Yet, she'd defend her Gryffindor friends no matter what they did.
It was disgusting to see history repeat itself.
Their quick answers and gulps of nervousness gave them away. Granger was the only one that looked down at the ground and showed any sort of remorse.
They scurried away when dismissed. When they were out of his sight, he turned and walked down the corridor. He'd have to talk to Minerva about those three, go have his blasted bite tended to again, and then do his rounds.
It was going to be a long, troubling day, and it fit perfectly with the school year he'd had.
Thank Merlin it was almost over.
AN: In these first years I'm only going to focus on some important parts about severus and his little development. Hope you like it and let me know what you think! Untill next week!