Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Half-Blood Blessing
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Albus
Madame Pomfrey sent a messenger to me; it used to be easy, using the floo, but that was too risky now. It was a polite request and not rushed, of my presence in her hospital wing. She generally treated the area as entirely separate from the school and disliked my presence there. I had been accused of agitating her patients often enough. And perhaps I had been encouraging them to get out of bed on the early side, but as far as I saw they had needed little prodding. I walked, unhurried, that way. The doors stood tall. I opened one and walked in with calculated casualness. She had suggested caution of a sort.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, it is certainly odd to see you here. I did not think you visited the ward often especially when none of your students are here."
"Ah, Minister Scrimgeour," I had wanted to forget that Zabini had been replaced by Scrimgeour, the populace had perhaps hoped that he would be able to deal with the problem Zabini had failed to, "I too am human; I came for a little pepper-up. The days are cold and old bones seem to soak it in."
"Dumbledore, I have been informed that a suspected follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, is here. I know you spoke for Severus Snape, but new evidence has been brought forward. Can you be so sure of his loyalty?"
Madame Pomfrey had said he had only been in one of her beds for a few hours. I was mildly shocked that the ministry had caught wind of him. They were normally woefully behind; and on matters like this I had to admit that I preferred it that way.
But since they knew, "Professor Snape has been able to provide information invaluable in thwarting Voldemort's plans, at the risk of his life. I understand even now it is possible he has taken mortal wounds." The last was only partly true, he had taken mortal wounds, but they were healed now and he was in no danger. Other than the danger the ministry posed. "If you excuse me one of my staff has been grievously injured. I must speak with him."
"I would speak with him after you."
"Certainly, Minister, that is still your right."
I tread lightly down the row of beds to the last one. Madame Pomfrey ran out of her office and when we were cloistered behind the curtain around Severus' bed, she turned me. Severus was asleep.
"Albus, have you seen Harry?"
"Madame," I said gently, her worry was clear, "The boy is a ghost within these walls; I have not seen him close since two weeks before Halloween. He visited my office yesterday morning, but he refused to sit down across from me. Merely stood at the door, told me something had gone wrong and left. Snape came in shortly thereafter. I hardly think the boy is unwell, at least not in the fashion that he will allow assistance."
"It looked as if he had been under cruciatus all night." Her stance became firmer demanding that I do something.
I redirected her, "how is Severus?" I asked.
"He is fine now, or he will be. Harry and the Malfoy boy were here." She sighed. "Harry looked as if he had been through a fight, is that scar on his neck from that night."
"Yes," I looked at Severus. He did not stir. I didn't know where he stood now with Voldemort, but it seemed the ministry was going to use him for a scapegoat the way they were already posturing in a sick ward.
My influence had weakened, everyone suspected everyone else of passing on information to the other side, or just maneuvering for power. The Ministry seemed more fearful of the second.
I looked at him a minute more, and left. Madame Pomfrey followed and then shooed everyone not in a bed out of her ward. She was a powerful woman on her turf.
Author's Note: A little short but I thought Albus deserved his one chapter.
Regards,
Shifted Illusions