Chapter 25- It's My Fault.

Severus woke up with his arm hurting him. He did not want to complain, as he was sure he would get in trouble for getting hurt in the first place. It had been a very busy day and in the excitement at Diagon Alley he had not noticed the pain. At first it was just an ache that he figured would go away if he slept it off. Severus sat up slowly and rubbed his shoulder then cradled his sore arm against his thin chest with his good arm. He thought of what he could do to make it feel better. Severus hoped he could remember how to say the charm properly "Turpens, frigere" he whispered to himself and his and the pain subsided as the arm went numb with cold. 'It feels weird but at least it don't hurt anymore.' he thought to himself, as he laid himself back down on his bed. He started thinking about what was said about the break-in at the Burrow and he was wondering what was found that told Voldemort that he was now a child. His thoughts were a little fuzzy as he tried to think. He made a list in his mind of everything he had that could indicate his age and then he remembered.

Harry and Ron thought they heard Severus stirring around and decided to go in and check on him. They found him lying down with his arms folded across his chest. He was staring up at the ceiling obviously in thought.

"Hey Twerp I thought you were still sleeping." said Harry as he sat on the edge of the bed. "You were sound asleep when Remus brought you up." He reached over and stroked back the lank of hair that had fallen across Severus's eyes. The little boy looked up at Harry with bleary eyes and said groggily "I just woke up, is it time for supper?"

"Hey the kid is hungry, that's a first." said Ron as he pretended to show shock at hearing Severus hinting he was hungry.

Harry swatted him and said "Knock it off Ron, it really has been a long day. I guess the Twerp's stomach thinks he should wake up regardless of how tired he is."

"Funny guys." Severus answered back as he went to sit up. "I think you better stay in school, the world isn't ready for your kind of humour."

Harry went to tickle him in the ribs. "Oh, you think so do you? Well lets see about that.' Severus started to kick and laugh as Harry and Ron started in on him.

"N-N-Not fair g-guys, T-two on one." stuttered Severus as he attempted to wiggle away. Harry went to grab Severus by the arms and noticed that one was very cold. He quit tickling and asked, "What in Merlin's name is wrong with your arm, It's cold."

Severus stopped laughing and said in a pensive voice "I used a charm to cool my arm so it wouldn't hurt so much."

"Severus, why did you not say something earlier." Harry said seriously. "This sort of injury could be serious."

"I think we better take him downstairs to Mom." suggested Ron, "She will want to see this.'

Harry picked Severus up off the bed and said "It will be fine Twerp, you really should have said something about your arm hurting though." Setting him down on his feet as he protested about being picked up, Harry and Ron took him with them downstairs to the kitchen where the meeting of the Order had finished and most everyone had been to busy to linger for long.

Arthur and Percy were still sitting at the table with Sirius and Remus discussing some things when they heard footsteps fast approaching the kitchen., "Mom, the Twerp needs his arm looked at." said Ron as soon as he came through the door to the kitchen with Harry and Severus who was looking very worried about what was going to happen.

What happened." Molly roared excitedly" as she left the stove where she had been getting the supper together. She moved swiftly to where Severus was being held in Harry's arms, she gathered him into her arms and looked over both his arms as if she expected to see one broken, then felt them "Your left arm is cold, what did you do to it?"

Severus looked over at Percy and Arthur and then replied, "I charmed it."

Molly pursed her lips as she said "I meant how did you injure your arm, I figured you charmed it, Madame Pomfrey warned me about your tendency to heal yourself when you could, no matter what she told you."

Severus winced as she looked down at him with concern. He sighed then said softly, "The man who grabbed me in Diagon Alley before Harry arrived, twisted my arm back."

Molly's eyebrows shot up as she fought to control her rising temper. "And you didn't think to tell me earlier? Why did you let yourself suffer needlessly?" she scolded him gently as she ran her fingers again over his arm and felt the chill. "I have to warm your arm now and it may tingle once you get more feeling back."

Severus looked as if he expected to be struck and looked downwards. Percy who was watching his mom as she fussed over the twerp said, "She isn't going to hit you for getting injured Twerp, It wasn't your fault."

Severus sat still looking toward the floor as he spoke "It is too my fault, If I wasn't dumb enough to let go of her hand that man wouldn't have got me."

Molly sighed as she placed her fingers under his chin and lifted his face up to look at him in the eyes, "It was not your fault Severus, It was just an accident that caused you to let go, after all there were a lot of people around us." She gave him a very tight hug and finished healing his arm. "Now that didn't hurt too much did it?"

Severus shook his head no, Molly told Harry and Ron to go get the others to come down for supper and leave Severus with them. Remus smiled as he said, "Getting hungry Severs? It seems to me you were very tired when I tucked you in two hours ago.

"Yeah, I guess I am." he admitted as he sat down in his chair beside Percy. Molly placed a glass of milk in front of him and told him to drink it all. Severus was not going to argue with her since she was obviously not in any mood to be trifled with.

As the two teens left the kitchen Harry noticed Ron was thinking something out. What is the matter Ron? He asked as they started to leave the room.

"I'm not sure Harry, but how is it he can act so adult when he is teaching us Occlumency and be a small defenseless child all at the same time? I mean he seems to think he is supposed to be blamed every time something is wrong."

"Beats me how he can be both Ron, all I know is, I have got to spend a whole summer away from my aunt and uncle for the first time since I was one. "

"I wonder what it will be like for him to go back to Hogwarts as a student again. He already knows his subjects. I mean what will he learn the second time around?"

"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has that all figured out since he took responsibility for Snape."

"That's another thing, with that poly-juiced Snape running around do you think the Ministry will be on Professor Dumbledore's case?"

"Probably."

"Probably?"

"Definitely, but knowing him he will deal with whatever happens. After all what can they say? It was obvious that he was attacking fellow Death Eaters."

"Maybe to you but don't forget how the Daily Prophet likes to ignore the obvious truth and says what the Ministry tells them to." Ron answered back.

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Severus sat straight in his chair while eating sandwiches and drinking his milk. He was listening to the conversation around him, as everyone else came down for his or her supper. The twins were grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats, which luckily for them only Severus noticed, and he wondered what they were up to. He intended to ask them what they were up to later when they were back upstairs.

Arthur told them that the Ministry was planning to put curfews in place because of the attacks in Diagon Alley. Molly wondered what that was going to do since the attacks were through the day, not at night.

Arthur shrugged his shoulders and said, "Fudge seems to think that by imposing curfews he would be preventing the 'ruffians' from causing any more panic."

Molly had a perplexed expression as she asked "And he thinks Death Eaters will be intimidated by a curfew?" She placed another large plate of sandwiches down on the table, "It don't make any sense."

George and Fred chuckled and said humorously "Yeah right; Sorry Voldemort sir, we can't come to you when you summon us at night, because Fudge has ordered a curfew."

Molly placed her hands on her hips and said "Boys, it isn't something to joke about, we are facing some bad times."

"All the more reason to keep a sense of humour."

"Yeah, otherwise we could go mad with fear,"

"If we didn't find ourselves home before the cur—few."

Arthur looked amused and said "All right boys, but that is his idea." Arthur looked down at Severus "And you had quite a day of it too, I hear."

Severus nodded as he swallowed the bite of roast beef sandwich he was chewing and. replied, "Yes I guess so, I had fun looking around till those men in masks scared everyone." He paused a few seconds, "It could have been worse, I guess."

"Yeah I agree, it could have been," said Harry." I noticed you've gained at least an extra half-pound, carrying you today. He smirked. "Another half pound and I don't think I would have been able to move as fast as I did."

"A half a pound? Asked Rom. "where? Must be the new shoes that gave him the extra weight."

Severus sighed, and stifled a yawn "funny, I would laugh if I could remember how."

Molly noticed him yawn and said, "You will head straight to bed after supper young man. You've been up since five or five thirty this morning and had only a couple hours of sleep this afternoon." Severus stared at her and before he could comment she said , "You will feel better in the morning, once you have had your rest"

"There is no arguing with Mom, Twerp. Don't worry about Occlumency lessons tonight Harry will practice with Hermione and Me." consoled Ron.

"Sure, we won't let you down." Hermione said as she nudged Harry. "RIGHT, Harry?"

Startled by Hermione's elbow in his ribs jumped a little in his chair and glared at her, then he muttered." Right, we will work on Occlumency."

Ron grinned at Harry who was obviously annoyed with them.

Severus barely noticed the teens as they talked. He was still trying to think of what was found back at the Burrow and it occurred to him that he had forgotten to pack up that first letter from Albus. Percy had observed his inattention to the conversation and it was apparent that something was upsetting him. Percy wondered what the problem was, unless it was just a delayed reaction to the day's events. Severus was oblivious to the fact that one by one each person at the table noticed that he wasn't really paying attention to anything being said at the table.

George reached around and laid his arm around Severus's shoulder then asked him what he was thinking about.

Severus was startled and setting down the last couple bites of his sandwich said "I think I left behind a letter in my room from Albus. It had got wet when we went frogging. You don't think that had anything to do with the Malfoy fellow wanting to catch me, do you." He looked up at George.

"Are you sure you didn't bring it with you Twerp? " asked Harry. Severus turned his head and looked over at Harry.

"It was wet and I laid it out to dry on the dresser. I remember doing that but I can't remember if I picked it up again." He said sadly. "I've put everyone in danger by my carelessness."

"I wouldn't go that far Twerp. After all this situation wasn't something you could have anticipated." Percy told him.

"Even if they did find the letter Twerp, I don't think your actual name was mentioned in it or I think Percy and I would have had more pressure put on us at the Ministry to reveal where you are." Arthur told him. "We know there are Deatheaters working for the Ministry, It's difficult to prove any of them are actively involved with Voldemort since there is no official recognition that he has come back."

Molly thought for a moment, there was the letter to us Arthur and I am sure Seveus's name was mentioned.I hope I still have it." She said as she picked up her carry all and rummaged through it. "I seem to remember dropping it in...Oh yes here it is."

Hogwarts

Professor Dumbledore was talking to Bill Weasley who had come to the castle to talk over his temporary job as potions teacher.

"I am going to keep trying to convince Horace Slughorn to come back. As you know, He was the head of Slytherin House before Severus and the potions teacher." the Professor told him. "Until then Professor Sinistra will be temporary head of Slytherin house."

"What does the Governors of the school say about all this or have they any idea as to what happened to Snape?" asked Bill. "After all the Daily Prophet has been writing all those articles about him."

"I have told the Governors not to worry, everything will be explained in time, but for everyone's safety I deemed it better to not reply to the allegations put fourth in the Daily Prophet, obviously by Cornelius Fudge who seems to think I want his job by getting Severus to stir up trouble on my behalf with help from Sirius Black to ruin him."

"I don't think he needs any help to prove his incompetence." said Minerva who had been sitting back quietly with Filius and Poppy. "Who is going to be the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher this year?"

The Headmaster sighed and said, "I haven't had any luck myself if finding one. Fudge has 'ahem' kindly found someone to take the position."

Minerva caught something in his tone that alerted her to his disapproval. "And who has he appointed?" she asked in guarded tones.'

"Dolores Umbridge." Albus frowned as he told them, "I don't want any of you to indicate to her that we are not pleased to have her here."

"We know she is Fudge's senior undersecretary, " exclaimed Filius. "Does she know anything about Defense against the Dark arts?

"I suspect she was sent here not to help but to hinder our efforts against Voldemort." Albus explained. "Both Harry and Severus will have to be careful to not draw too much attention to themselves."

"So you plan on having Severus here?" asked Filius. "I think it would be hard for Umbridge not to notice a tiny student who resembles Severus running around in the hall."

"Harry will more than likely be her focal point since he saw Voldemort come back. She will do everything in her power to discredit him." Albus said. "Severus needs to be here, not just because of Harry and the Occlumency lessons. He still needs to be around the children and I know he wants to do some courses"

Minerva leaned forward, "And how is he going to do this without being resorted again. The Hat will know he has already been sorted.'

"The records at the ministry have been altered to show that I have accepted a request to raise an orphan in an extended family atmosphere. " Albus's eyes twinkled as he talked. "It won't be a lie as Severus is indeed an orphan, and I have endeavoured to give him a taste of family life by leaving him with the Weasley family for the summer."

"Nice cover story Albus, we will be proud to help while he is here." Said Filius for everyone in the room.

"If anything happens to me, Arthur and Molly have agreed to shoulder the responsibility for him." Albus informed them.

12 Grimmauld Place

Severus was playing with the marbles that Hermione had given him. He gazed at the different colours as he let them gently clink against each other. He was in his room as Molly had told him to do so. He didn't want to go to sleep yet even if his body ached for sleep. He wanted to keep awake till he was so tired he wouldn't dream. He wondered if he was going to be anything like the man he saw in Diagon Alley when he grew up again.

Albus had told him a little about his adult life during one of the times he had stayed to visit him, but Severus thought he wasn't telling him everything. From what Severus saw that afternoon he knew Albus glossed over some aspects of his life. He had described his adult self as Sarcastic, Honest, sincere, witty and astute. A practical person who would rather keep hid his feelings, emotions and vulnerability by pushing people away who might hurt him. The most important thing Albus said to him was that he loved and trusted him.

Severus stopped playing with the marbles a minute; he listened to the three teens in the room across from his as they practiced Occlumency. Hermione had progressed the most, which didn't surprise Severus too much. She was also learning Legilimency from him and the boys were determined to catch up. Severus grinned while thinking of this friendly rivalry between the three friends.

Percy popped into the room and noticed him sitting on his bed. "Hey Twerp, aren't you tired yet?'

Severus dropped another marble on the pile in front of him. The clinking sound was soothing in a strange way.

Percy walked over and sat on the bed watching the little boy as he picked another marble up and dropped it. He noticed how strained the little fellow was. He waited till Severus placed the marbles one by one into their bag. Severus then gave him the bag and he set it on the dresser. Percy then tucked him back into bed. "You want some dreamless sleep potion tonight?"

Severus nodded his head and Percy got the vial for him. "Thanks." he said as he drank the potion and Percy waited till it took effect before leaving the bedroom.