Chapter 25

"Severus," a voice called. "Severus? May I come through?"

Severus looked up from his work and turned toward his young charge, an eyebrow raised.

"Do not touch anything!" he commanded.

Harry meekly placed his hands underneath his bottom and swung his legs to and fro.

Charity stepped out of the hearth, and automatically began smacking any excess soot from her khaki shirtdress. There wasn't much – thank the Gods! She placed her satchel down and drew her wand.

"Finite incantatem," she sighed, as she pointed her wand toward the unwanted futon. Immediately the couch returned to its original state.

"Thank you," Severus stated dryly.

Charity started but was quick not to show it. "You're welcome. I'm sorry I charmed it so that you couldn't do it yourself," she replied evenly, keeping her back to him as she fluffed up the pillows. "How's Harry?"

"Displeased, as I told you he would be," the Potions professor chided.

The young witch pursed her lips and turned to face her colleague. She sheathed her wand.

"Did he ask after me?" she queried, placing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yes, many times, through most of the night."

Charity furrowed her brow. "What happened?"

"Well, shortly after you left he awoke with a nightmare. He called for you, but of course, you weren't here. So, I sat with him on and off through the night, wiping his tears and doing my best to comfort his troubled mind."

Severus was laying the guilt on thick and it was working.

"What did you say about my absence?" she asked, feeling guilty.

"I told him that you hate me and can't stand to be in my presence."

"You said what?" she cried, stepping closer to Severus.

Severus smirked.

"Oh, shut it!" she sneered. "Now tell me what you told him."

"Nothing really," he returned calmly. "I told him you'd clarify your decision when you came back in the morning. And here you are, so, I'm quite certain you'll have some explaining to do."

"Yes, I'm sure I will. So…where is he?"

Severus shifted his stance and nodded toward his lab.

"Really, Severus? Really? There's barely any air down there!" she reprimanded, shaking her chestnut brown locks. She walked straight past him toward the cellar. The door was open, the light on. She hoped to Merlin the child wouldn't be tempted to touch anything.

"Did you at least feed him before you put him to work?" she asked curtly, turning back.

"No. I spent the whole night consoling him, only to not make him egg on toast and weak tea in the morning."

Charity rolled her eyes. "Fine! I deserved that!"

Severus snickered in agreement.

"Well…is he helping you with something or can I take him outside for a short jaunt?"

"I'm sure fresh air will do him good, but I don't want you going anywhere with him alone."

"Why?"

"Dumbledore's worried about his safety and my wards don't go all that far. And you only received an A in Defence!"

"Excuse me?" she asked in shock. "I'll have you know, I received an E in the theory component of my Defence NEWT!"

"Undoubtedly, but an A in the practicum."

Charity was perturbed and simultaneously amused.

"I should challenge you to a duel right now!" she said half-seriously.

"And destroy my home? I think not!"

"Chicken!"

"Hardly!"

Charity didn't know what had come over Severus. Maybe it was the better night's sleep, but if she didn't know better, she'd think he was flirting with her. Well, two could play at that game.

"I should hex you, Severus Snape, but I don't want to set a bad example."

Severus shrugged. "You wouldn't dare try," he drawled.

Charity narrowed her eyes and then balked, to Severus' satisfaction.

"So, how far do your wards go?" she asked, quickly changing the subject. "I was hoping to take him to the park I passed by yesterday."

"My wards cover the street. That's all, I'm afraid."

"Gods! The thought of leaving him cooped up in here another day…" Charity sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Hey! Why don't you come with? It'll be safer if we both go, no? Unless, you're tired from comforting a distraught child all night and need some beauty rest," she teased.

"You want me to go to the park?" he grimaced.

"Yes!" she stated firmly, as she breezed back toward the basement door. "You could use some fresh air too, I'm sure."

Severus sighed. "I suppose it would help my beauty regiment."

The young witch could not help but laugh at his quips.

"However," he continued, "we won't be able to keep up this ruse that you hate me."

Charity shook her head and turned back toward Severus completely exasperated.

"I don't hate you!" she declared, unprepared for the fact that he was right behind her. Startled, she took a step back onto thin air. She flailed backward and began to tumble down the stairs. In a split-second Severus grabbed her arm and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her purposefully toward himself. Once she was in his grasp, he stepped back and turned her away from the open door.

Charity's heart was pounding from fright. She could have broken her neck if Severus hadn't had caught her. Just the thought made her want to cry, but her eyes were bone dry. Instinctively she buried her head on Severus' chest anxious for a safe place to catch her breath. She took in a few long deep breaths to compose herself, subsequently breathing in her professor's scent. He smelled liked tobacco and gingerroot, and citrus. Merlin, he smells good! Charity's eyes snapped open.

"I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, pulling abruptly from his embrace. "That was so stupid of me. I'm such an idiot!"

"You owe me a life-debt, Ms. Burbage," he averred.

"Charity!" she rebuked, missing his subtle humor.

"You owe me a life-debt, Charity. And you're not an idiot. I shouldn't have startled you like that."

"No, you shouldn't have," she groused. "But I shouldn't startle so easily. Thank you, Severus. I really do owe you." Charity was leaning against the kitchen table, forcing herself to calm down now for other reasons.

"I should go check on Harry," she stated, refusing to look Severus in the eye. She really needed to get away from the young wizard, before she did something even more ridiculously stupid. Charity righted herself and straightened her dress.

"Do I look less crazed?" she asked Severus weakly.

Severus chortled at her choice of words. "Yes. A little."

"Good!" Charity whispered, as she headed toward the cellar steps, this time, face forward.

Charity found Harry seated quietly on a stool beside Severus' large wooden lab table. He was sitting on his hands, swinging his legs, watching a tincture pipet into a large vial. He'd obviously been told not to touch anything. The young witch made her way down the stairway hoping to get the child's attention, but he adamantly refused to give it.

"Good morning, Harry," Charity greeted cheerfully. The child ignored her, continuing to watch the brewing tincture.

"Mr. Potter!" Severus, who had followed behind, interjected, "Professor Burbage just spoke to you."

Harry scowled at Severus but obeyed his new guardian's voice.

"Morning," Harry replied, unwilling to acknowledge Charity with his eyes.

"How are you feeling this morning?" she tried again.

"Ok."

"That's good. Did Madame Pomfrey come and visit you this morning?"

"Yeah."

"What did she say?"

Harry shrugged in response.

Severus was growing impatient. He would not tolerate rudeness from a child toward an adult no matter what said child had just been through.

"Potter…" he growled, but Charity held up her hand to stop him. She drew closer to the child and placed her hand on his knee, silently requesting he cease swinging his legs. He paused.

"Harry," she started quietly, "I'm sorry you're so upset with me. But don't you want to know why I decided to stay elsewhere? At least hear me out before continuing to be cross with me."

The boy shifted in his seat and removed his hands from under his backside to his armpits. His posture was defensive, but he nodded, agreeing to hear her case.

"It's been a harrowing few days, has it not? Professor Snape and I brought you here to keep you safe and to help you recover. But you've probably noticed that this is a small home, comfortable enough, but not large. I became concerned when I realized that Professor Snape had nowhere to sleep. Did you know he'd been sleeping on a chair in the sitting room to make room for me?"

Harry shook his head.

"Well, that's what he did the night before last. That situation could have gone on for days or weeks, and I didn't feel right about it. I was helping you and Professor Snape was taking care of both of us, but who would take care of him?"

This time the child didn't respond, but bit his lip, comprehension sinking in.

"The arrangement was good for us, but not equitable for everyone. There just isn't enough room here. But with me staying elsewhere, now there is! You see?" Charity reached out and lifted Harry's chin to face her.

"Why couldn't you stay instead?" the child whined, to which Charity laughed lightly and Severus rolled his eyes.

"Harry, this is Professor Snape's home. I'm not going to kick him out of his own house. That wouldn't be fitting, now would it?"

"But I needed you!" Harry grumbled, trying to stifle tears.

"Harry…I'm here now…and I'll be here every day. I just won't be here in the night time."

"But that's when I need you!" he bemoaned.

"Did Professor Snape not intervene during your nightmare?" the young witch cut in.

"Yes, but…"

"No buts! What was different?"

"Nothing…really…but…but you let me…" the child stopped himself and looked away.

"I let you what?"

"Youletmesnugglewithyou," the words spilled out of the boy's mouth to which Severus snorted in derision.

"Ahhh…well…Professor Snape is certainly not a snuggler," Charity smirked, "and no one should force that on him. But he knows things I don't know, Harry."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah…like how to calm yourself at night as you're going to sleep so that you don't have nightmares in the first place. He can teach you how to protect your mind and emotions so that certain thoughts and images won't frighten you. He taught me something similar many years ago and it really helped quell my anxieties. Don't you want to learn how to do that?"

Harry nodded his agreement.

"So…since that learning will take place at night…do you agree it's better for me to stay until your bedtime and return in the morning? Then you can tell me everything you've learned and how it went."

"Yeah…I guess so…" he replied.

"Good! I'm glad you're no longer in a strop because otherwise you wouldn't have gotten your presents."

Harry's eyes grew wide.

"Presents? For me?"

Charity nodded knowingly.

"Why don't you head back to your room and I'll join you in a few minutes, ok?"

Harry nodded his head and slipped off the stool. He intended to move past Charity, but paused, slowly turning toward her. Hesitantly he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her middle. The young witch hugged the child back giving him a deliberate and reassuring squeeze. She ran her hands through his hair and lightly kissed the top of his head. He'd need another bath soon, she mused. Harry released Charity and made his way up the stairs, holding the banister as he ascended.

Charity sighed and looked at Severus.

"Well done, Ms. Burbage."

Charity could only scorn his praise. "I just told him the truth."

Severus reflected on her words. The truth was the last thing he wanted Lily's child to hear. But, Severus, the truth will set you free.