Twenty Five
The furor over the Daily Prophet article and photograph of Harry and Severus's night out lasted almost a fortnight. The pair had been hounded by the media and fans alike, their students and colleagues had found it hilarious and Harry had received an incredulous letter from Sirius, demanding to know why he was willingly spending time with Severus. Harry had dealt with all in the same way, ignoring them completely.
Severus, for his part, took the whole thing surprisingly well. Certainly better than Harry would have expected. He had brushed the gossip off as 'puerile drivel' and refused to speak any more on the matter.
Harry had been concerned that Severus may pull away from the easy friendship they had formed in order to combat the gossip surrounding the nature of their relationship, but, to his relief, that had not been the case. In the following weeks they had spent many hours together, always under the guise of some real need, though Harry had begun to think that, just maybe, Severus was seeking him out purely to enjoy his company.
It was with these thoughts as his companion that Harry spent most of his time and, as he was walking to dinner some three weeks after his evening with Severus, his mind was swimming with pleasant memories of a chess game they'd shared in the staff room some several hours before. Severus had demolished him of course, but being best friends with Ron Weasley rather equipped one to become accustomed to losing at chess, and Harry remembered it as an hour rather pleasantly spent.
So absorbed was he in remembering this pleasant time that he barely registered the hex being thrown at him. Only his years as an Auror resulted in him automatically throwing up a shield so large and so strong that it covered not only him, but the students surrounding him and, rather than deflecting the curse, absorbed it into Harry's magic instead.
The next words out of his mouth were as automatic as the shield charm he had thrown out moments before, as he bound his attacker in thick ropes of anti-Apparation wards, forgetting for the moment, that it was impossible to Apparate inside the castle. Still, the ropes served a second purpose of binding his attacker and as Harry strode forward he was shocked to see Gordon Selwyn struggling against the ropes and looking at Harry with an expression of utmost loathing.
Despite his shock, Harry immediately sprung into action. Spotting two prefects in the crowd he had them shepherd the students into the Great Hall where dinner was awaiting them. Next he summoned his Patronus to fetch both the Headmaster and Selwyn's Head of House, Severus. Both appeared within moments.
"Are you alright my boy?" Dumbledore appeared deeply troubled as he clasped Harry's shoulder bracingly.
"Fine," Harry replied shortly. "A blasting hex I believe. My shields absorbed it and I bound Mr. Selwyn before summoning you."
"I believe we ought to retire to my office," Dumbledore announced, taking control of the ropes surrounding the struggling fourteen year old.
"Go ahead Headmaster, I'll join you shortly," Harry muttered, suddenly sick to his stomach. Dumbledore hesitated a moment, before nodding his acceptance and leaving the Entrance Hall.
Severus remained, unknown to Harry, who stumbled behind a nearby statue and was violently ill. Summoning a goblet of water, Severus calmly passed it to Harry, along with a handkerchief.
"Sorry," Harry murmured, downing the water and wiping his clammy brow with the fine silk handkerchief, embroidered with Severus's initials. "It's just..."
"You have no need to explain to me," Severus interrupted, in perhaps the kindest tone Harry had ever heard the man use. "Come, Mr. Selwyn and the Headmaster await us."