…beyond all measure…

Albus Dumbledore had come to a realisation. He hated Hogwarts. He hated the students, he hated the staff, he hated the house elves and he hated Hagrid's monsters. He hated his office, his quarters and the Great Hall. He absolutely loathed all his paperwork. He really detested the Ministry and the Wizengamot who kept owling him for instructions and he hated the Order of the Phoenix too. All of these things were keeping him from where he wanted to be, and stopping him from doing what he wanted to do, namely going to visit his summer home in the half term and spend time with his protégé and young Harry.

He knew they were alright; there was a secure line of communication involving some very clever charmed parchment and a locked box, but it just wasn't the same as being in their presence and seeing with his own eyes. He knew that Severus wouldn't lie to him, Harry might but Severus wouldn't, and Harry was getting along quite well by all accounts. They were dealing with a few nightmares, but Severus had found a way to manage things for Harry, who seemed to be opening up to his former enemy. It did his old heart good to know that those two could put aside their differences and form a friendship. It would never rival Harry's bond to the excellent Ron Weasley, but it was a close bond none-the-less. The problem was he didn't want to read about it, he wanted to be there.

It was taking all of his not inconsiderable skill to hide his growing agitation from those around him. After all, it wasn't their fault that Albus couldn't abandon his responsibilities and please himself. Young Ron had been looking a little down of late, the forced absence was wearing on him as well, and Albus was trying to plan a visit for them all at Christmas; either at the summer house or here at Hogwarts depending on how strong Harry was and if he'd overcome his panic reaction to Magic being cast at him.

Fawkes gave an irritable peep as Albus shuffled his papers again and tried to settle down to the latest ridiculous request by the insufferable buffoons at the Ministry. The Phoenix rustled its wings in disapproval as Albus tapped his quill and finally took flight in exasperation as he hitched his chair closer to his desk. The Phoenix took a turn around the room and then dove for Albus' neck, grabbing him by the back of his collar and flashing them away, releasing him into the sitting room with a jolt and scolding him loudly as the red and gold bird fluttered to the back of the nearest chair.

"Albus?" Harry's voice interrupted the harangue, and there he was, standing confidently in the door to the lab, one hand resting on the jamb, "Whatever have you done to Fawkes?"

"Take his side, why don't you!" Albus exclaimed, smiling broadly, "I wasn't doing anything."

"Which means he was irritating the creature beyond all measure," Severus' voice floated through the open door, accompanied by the sound of a furiously boiling cauldron, "Don't let it in here, I'm at a crucial point."

Harry smiled over his shoulder and closed the door behind him, moving towards Albus with sure steps. He put his arms out when he was closer and the elderly Headmaster was happy to sweep him into a hug, holding his favoured child close and revelling in the healthy weight gain that he saw. Harry had a bit of colour in his cheeks and his untameable hair had a healthy lustre to it; the sight made Albus' heart soar in relief.

Fawkes cooed sweetly at them and Harry laughed, freeing an arm for the Phoenix to perch on. Albus had easily detected the sarcasm his Phoenix was directing at him, and evidently Harry could too.

"Was he sulking, Fawkes?" Harry asked lightly and the Phoenix bobbed on his arm affirmatively. Albus tutted and grumbled under his breath but neither of them took any notice, to his delight.

"We missed you too, Albus," Harry made his voice mock soothing, and Albus chuckled, ruffling dark hair lightly and stepping back a bit. It was too cold now to have the windows open, though the curtains were flung back to admit as much sunlight as possible. They moved to a couch and sat down, the Phoenix settling smugly into Harry's lap to be petted, Albus sitting with an arm around Harry to 'pet' him as well. Harry leaned into his side happily, making the Headmaster's day for him.

"Is Hedwig still here?" Albus had idly wondered what the snowy owl did with no letters to deliver and no other owls for company, but hadn't wanted to waste the charmed parchment asking. It was a tricky spell, and Flitwick cast it better than Albus or Severus could, but as it was linked to the Fidelius charm they couldn't take the risk of involving the Charms Master. That meant putting up with charms that were not as elegant or stable as Filius could have produced.

"She is, she's sleeping up in my room at the moment," Harry confirmed, "In fact she and Severus are currently arguing over my meals."

"I beg your pardon?" Albus was not entirely sure how to take that comment and Harry chuckled, stroking Fawkes neck gently as the Phoenix blinked in contentment. The famous green eyes stared fixedly just past Albus, something he didn't think he'd ever get used to.

"Well, I'm still skinny, and she wants to make me better. Early on, she was at the breakfast table when I complained about the taste of the nutrient potion that Severus is still making for me. It's pretty awful, and not something that is going to make me want to eat a big breakfast on top of it. I told Severus that I'd rather suck on a mouse than drink more of it, and he said he could make it that flavour if I insisted, which I didn't. I know better than to dare him about something like that! Anyway, Hedwig must have taken what I said to heart, because the next morning she brought me a mouse for breakfast."

Albus burst into hearty laughter. Severus certainly hadn't seen fit to mention that in any of his daily reports. He could just see it now, the expression on his protégé's face, even the one on Harry's when he'd realised what Hedwig had gifted him with. Harry was snickering along, careful not to disturb the now slumbering Fawkes.

"I get one every second day now, and Severus says that she glares at him when she delivers it to the table. I told him he was jealous and got a blistering lecture about how he didn't need an owl to look after him thank-you-very-much and I could keep my silly notions to myself," Harry paused with the air of one about to reveal a great secret, "I wouldn't mind, but only yesterday she brought one for him as well!"

Albus positively cried with laughter, taking his arm from around Harry and bending double with the force of his hilarity. Harry fished in a pocket for a moment and then solicitously offered him a handkerchief, which didn't really help matters.

"Harry!" Severus scolded through the door, "You better not be telling tales!"

"No Severus!" Harry called back, his tone so innocent he should have had a halo at the very least, "Of course not!"

Irritable muttering ensued from the potions lab, but they both knew better than to take it to heart, just as they knew that Severus was not sincere in his censure of Harry's tale. For all of his insistence on his dignity and pride, Severus was more than able to withstand a little teasing, provided the teaser and their audience was someone he at least liked. It was a good sign and Albus straightened up and tried to regain his breath, more reassured by that little mutter than by any long speeches that could have been made. His boys were fine and getting along well. All was as he had fervently wished. Who knew what would develop between them in time.

[A/N - not Sev/Harry slash!