A Promise to be Better 37
Author: Raven Dancer
disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes, Beryl and Gibbons. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
Summary: another influx
At some point within an hour Dumbledore moved into the lounge, close to the large window and settled into it with Snape. The Potions Master was comfortably snugged against him watching the snow continue to fall in the gathering dark.
"It's about time to eat some dinner, Severus," the Headmaster said quietly.
"'k," Snape answered but made no move. Chuckling, Dumbledore began to run strong hands over his friend's back, along his side, tickling him slightly. Snape squirmed a smile lighting his face.
"Up, child!" the Headmaster commanded. Snape nuzzled once more into the warmth.
"'k," he replied, voice full of mischief and the tickling resumed once more until Dumbledore was able to move off the lounge taking all the covers with him. Snape looked up with a pout, eyes still dancing with happiness.
"Now, Severus. Wash up and I'll ask Dobby to bring up something tasty," the Headmaster reached to pat Snape's hair and had his hand caught. The Potions Master held tight for a moment, then gave it a quick kiss before moving up and away.
"'k," Snape said as went to the loo. Dumbledore smiled to himself as he rubbed the kiss into his hand.
Lamb stew made its appearance on the table, the fragrance brought Snape out sniffing the air. Turnips, rutabagas, carrots, and onions came with the lamb. Dumbledore tore the round loaf of bread into several pieces, buttering one chunk for himself. Snape reached over for a piece, preferring to dip it in the hot broth.
"A little butter?" the older wizard offered. Snape declined as he had usually done in the past. Although the younger wizard professed to loving butter on warm bread. Experimentally, Dumbledore nudged his own buttered piece onto the bread dish next to Snape. He didn't have long to wait until the plain piece was abandoned and the buttered picked up.
Deciding to not say anything, they continued the meal in companionable silence, the Headmaster buttering more bread for himself. He mused on the fact Snape would not generally reach for the butter nor the sugar, taking his tea black. He'd not touch the sweetened, clotted cream unless it was put on his plate. Then he devoured it. While musing on this eating pattern, Dumbledore accepted tea (properly creamed and sugared the way he liked it) while Snape sipped his black.
When the cup was set back down, the Headmaster added a lump of sugar, but skipped the cream part. With a very small grin Snape retrieved his tea, stirred, and took another, longer sip.
Before he could muse on this more, the door opened and Lupin stepped in with Snuffles close on his heels. Seeing that it was only the two at the table, Black transformed into his human form. Dumbledore immediately put a hand on Snape's shoulder.
"Stay, Severus," he murmured, hoping against hope the Potions Master would not try to leave. It was hard but James and Minerva had done their jobs well, Snape remained knowing that Dumbledore at the least would protect him.
"Hullo, Severus!" Lupin said brightly, crossing to the table and pulling out the chair next to him. "You're looking much better tonight!" Snape looked at the DADA professor a moment before answering.
"Thank you, Remus," he nodded slightly then pulled over a clean tea cup and poured.
"Tea?" Snape asked politely, Lupin accepted. He turned to the animagus.
"Tea, Black?" the ill wizard asked just as politely, but refused the familiar first name. The animagus sneered a smile.
"Why so formal, Se-ver-us?" he growled very softly. Lupin and Dumbledore glared at the man as he sauntered to the table, posturing ever so slightly as he stared down at the weakened wizard.
"Just thought you'd prefer it since you don't like the idea of being friendly anymore than I did when Albus first asked me," Snape returned lightly, looking into Black's angry eyes.
"I don't want any tea, thank you ever so much, Se-ver-us," Black stalked around the end of the table to be nearer to Dumbledore. The hatred dripped from his words. Both Lupin and the Headmaster moved slightly as to protect the wizard between them. Sitting down the animagus ignored the Snape and concentrated on the other two.
"Hagrid and I don't know if this is significant or not," Black launched into his concern. He pulled the leather pouch off of his neck and carefully shook out several gold coins on the table.
"We found a small pile of galleons near the edge of the lake. A raven was poking through them. Probably because they were shiny. We all know how carrion birds like shiny things," Black stared pointedly at Snape who sipped at his tea. Lupin shifted closer still. When Snape reached for the pot the DADA professor picked it up and poured more tea into the nearly empty cup.
"Sugar?" Lupin asked politely.
"No thank you," Snape replied.
Dumbledore flicked his hand and a lump danced up and out landing in the cup. Both Lupin and Snape looked at the agitated Headmaster, then the cup. With a shrug the Potions Master picked up his spoon and stirred.
"One lump it is," he remarked.
"What Hagrid wonders is: are the coins hexed? They are gold, and they were left on the ground by the lake," Black continued a bit unsettled by the exchange. Dumbledore looked them over. They had been polished to a nice brightness, certainly hard to miss on the cold winter's ground. The coins would even show up against the snow.
"When did you find them, Sirius?" he asked curiously. Black took this as a good sign.
"Before lunch, before the snow flew. The children had been out yesterday afternoon and this morning, but none down to the lake. Just to classes and back," Black explained.
"But if a raven had found them, it might have taken one or more. They could be back at the bird's nest," Lupin pointed out.
"Or dropped somewhere along the flight path," Snape murmured. "Coins are not easy to hold in a claw or even a beak."
"Any way to tell if they're cursed?" Black grudgingly asked, knowing only Snape would have the answer.
"Not unless the Ministry had found a way outside of holding one and seeing if the person becomes ill," Snape said quietly.
"I thought you helped test these things, Snape," Black accused. Snape raised his head and once more met his glare.
"Once Algie developed the cure, I also helped test what the curse would stick to. We took turns getting sick, Black. It was a wonderful experience: getting cursed and curing one another," Snape shuddered at the memory. Concerned it might push his friend towards a more unpleasant reaction Dumbledore put his hand on Snape's and squeezed gently.
"I'm certain it was not, Severus," he said gently, sending his own particular stream of energy into Snape. The influx was soothing, causing the ill wizard's eyes to widen slightly then relax. Black, not one to miss anything done for the Snape, sneered slightly.
"Feeling a bit weak Severus?" he asked as mildly as he could, which wasn't much. Snape flicked his softened eyes to the animagus.
"Actually, yes, very weak. But Albus is watching out for me," he said quietly. Dumbledore simply ran a hand over his friend's hair affectionately.
"He's much better, Sirius. Just takes time to heal after all that's happened," the Headmaster was pleased with Snape's response and more pleased he hadn't bolted from the room when pushed. He noted Lupin placing a hand on Snape's shoulder.
"Lots of us are watching out for you, Severus," he said calmly, not caring that Black glared at him. Snape just smiled then turned back to his tea. Lupin glanced over at the coins.
"We're going to have to tell the students and staff to watch out for stray coins. We missed the chance to tell them at dinner," Lupin pointed out.
"I'll send for key staff members and we'll make an announcement at breakfast and at all classes tomorrow morning," Dumbledore decided. Glancing at the clock on the wall he did some quick figuring.
"I'll send a note with a some of the house elves and round up McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, Hootch, Filch and Hagrid. They can stop by after eight or eight thirty," reaching for a mug the Headmaster pulled out a packet and mixed it into some juice before placing it in front of Snape. It was nearing 7:30 and he had felt the slight twitching when he'd touched the younger man. Briefly eyeing the mug, the wizard picked it up and drank deeply. Not as good as last night Snape decided. He liked the sweet milk concoctions better.
Black listened to the the Headmaster while staring at the Snape. He was jealous, plain and simple. Even though his best friend, Lupin, had cared for him nearly the entire previous year and Dumbledore had spent hours listening and talking with him just the past month or two, he wanted Snape out. OUT.
He mused over that while the Snape drank down his medicine. Why did he want the Snape gone? Black had always had the best of everything. Good family, great friends but all the while at school he tormented Snape every chance he had. Snape had nothing much then, just texts and school supplies. Those he'd ruined when he had the chance.
Now that Black was back, Dumbledore had given the Gryffindor lots of attention and kindness. He'd given him a place to stay and made sure he could see his Godson often, nearly every day. The animagus was still wanted by the ministry yet the Headmaster had shielded him.
The thanks? Tormenting Snape. Black's head ached as he tried to think through everything that was happening. With an effort he raised up in time to see Dumbledore leading Snape into the bedroom. He growled low in his throat.
"Sirius! Stop that! For Merlin's sake what is your problem?" Lupin demanded, snapping his friend out of his reverie.
"Sorry. I just can't get past the feeling that git isn't any good," Black muttered.
"Well, get it in your skull. Severus is on our side. He is Albus's best friend. He isn't the evil personified you've made him out to be," Lupin hissed, watching as the animagus rubbed his temples as if in pain. Taking pity, he reached out and pushed stray hair back.
"Come on, Padfoot. You need something for that headache and a good night's sleep," Lupin enticed Black up. Once Black transformed they went down to the DADA professor's room for the night.