Dedicated to FRC Coazze and Sabine - this is one of my favourites too, but in the words of Missy in Doctor Who, don't tell the others! I have no idea yet where it's going, but I am loving writing it. Well I say no idea, I have a vague idea. I apologise for the typos in the previous chapter - I am mid planning school work for the next term in very strange circumstances, which takes considerable concentration, and writing is my relief so sometimes I forget how to read and definitely how to proof read!

Also, after a few days of writing evil!Dumbledore, it's nice to get back to fatherly!Dumbledore which is where I started in the first place! Much love ~ SS19

Bumblebee Blood
Chapter 22

He could hear Fawkes singing. The notes were so gentle, rising and falling like beats of wings, as soothing as a lullaby sung from a devoted father to a child, filled with hope and tenderness and protection and reassurance; nothing could cause harm, nothing would reach them here, nothing would ever be hopeless or despairing again. Fawkes was not singing to him - Fawkes was singing to the not quite small huddled bundle of black robes and cloak sat by the trunk of a fallen tree and he knew Severus could not be too badly harmed for Fawkes would have come to find him, but even still, this was not right. He swept a little closer and Severus responded to his footsteps even if he did not raise his face from his knees, one arm wrapped around his legs and the other tucked somewhere out of sight. "Severus." He knelt by the younger wizard and stroked black hair carefully and cautiously, as Fawkes' notes dwindled into lingering quiet, "Where are you hurt?" Why did every conversation in this situation commence with whether Severus was injured? Severus seemed not to respond beyond a very muffled mumble into his arm and Albus moved both hands to his shoulders, "My boy. What happened?" He turned his attention briefly to his phoenix who, reassured that his most important charge was in safe hands, took off toward the cloudy sky.

Eyes closed and with the sluggishness of incredible tiredness, Severus strung a sentence together, "Nothing - just angry - just wanted - you know what he is like - just likes power -"

Albus squeezed the shoulders gently, "Are you going to show me why you are hiding your arm?" He was reminded of a time when Severus had fallen from his broomstick while practicing flying and had broken his arm and tried to hide it, and the small smile was borne of the utter affection this paradox of a wizard could provoke so effortlessly in him. "I am not blind, Severus."

Severus then did something very unexpected.

He hugged Albus.

Hugged was perhaps not the right word, Albus reflected, as he wrapped his arms around his boy with a mounting sense of worry. What Severus actually did was he buried his head in Albus' shoulder and clung to him. Albus reacted instinctively, "Severus..." He could feel the other shaking and although his responses were innate, they felt very strange - Severus had never been one for physical attachment nor very rarely sought it, even casually after long absences over the holidays - he was always happier with a hand on a shoulder or occasionally an arm - he had never shown...what he would perceive to be weakness...like this. "Was he particularly angry?" He was not going to break this hold until Severus did, particularly as he realised he was comforted by it too - every time Severus left, every time, he could never return and - "Please let me see your arm." He was aware he was not getting much of an answer from the other and wanted to actually talk to him - and finally, Severus released his grip and sat back, face cast down, staring at the ground, "I...I need you to believe in me."

Albus' heart twisted. "Severus, I am so sorry for earlier - it was not intentional - well, it was intentional but it was definitely not fair of me - I was relieved and I was angry - and jealous, to an extent - that our time is interrupted by Tom and yet he can demand yours on a whim. What I said was unthinkable and I know what I implied was unforgivable. I will make it up to you my boy." He rested a hand on Severus' knee, "Perhaps if I can see your arm, I can start making it up to you." Something in his tone broke through to him and Severus hesitantly offered his left arm, which was still wrapped up in his cloak, much to Albus' bemusement as the rest of him was shaking, "So it was more machinations and plotting? Nothing of any interest?"

Severus' eyes were closed again. "Yes, no."

Albus chuckled at Severus' almost humorous response. "Such information, my spy. I can definitely win the war with that." He reached out his other to tuck under Severus' chin, "Look at me, child." The gesture, he hoped, belied everything he wanted to say - and perhaps it did, because Severus resisted the obviously pressing need to half nap and looked up at him and -

Albus leapt back, one hand out, with a shout that was also a cry and a denial and almost a heart breaking -

Severus watched him, a crease appearing between his eyebrows, "Headmaster?"

Albus realised he could not breathe and forced himself to take a shuddering shaking shattered inhale as he stared at Severus - who appeared to be utterly bemused and confused with a repeat of his title and a holding out of his good hand to match Albus', "What is it? What is wrong? Are you hurt? Albus could not answer Severus' panicked questioning as tears burnt the back of his eyes and acid twisted his stomach and somewhere the practical part of his mind encouraged him to grasp his wand and wave it over a fallen twig and transform it and hand it to Severus before he had to turn away.

Severus took what he realised was a handheld mirror from Albus with rising worry - what in Merlin's name was wrong - he - he looked at the mirror and expected to see blood or bruising or - or -

Or -

Not -

He dropped the mirror and looked to his Headmaster, who had stood and created significant space between them, not so much as he was too far but certainly not close, "Albus - I -"

"She said to me." Albus' voice was a harsh whisper but Severus could not fail to hear it, "She said - she told me - how he certainly had my eyes - "

Severus glanced back down to the mirror, where it had fallen, reflective surface facing up and he hazarded another look - and his face was not his own - or it was - but his eyes - "Albus -"

"He knows." Albus would not look back at him, "He knows, now, does he not?" He clenched his fists and Severus retreated a little, as far as the trunk would allow him to do so, "He did this - he ended the incantation put on your eyes to protect you -"

"Albus - Headmaster - he does not - he believes I did not know - he believes me!"

"You lied to me, Severus!" Albus Dumbledore turned to face Severus and Severus had never seen that face so angry and for all his so fabled bravery to stand before the most evil wizard of a generation and not flinch, how he flinched now, desperate for Albus to calm down, "I promise - it is not -"

"I would have sent you back to him!" Albus bellowed even as Severus winced and despite himself cowered, "I would have sent you back when he knows what you are! Who you are! How dare you lie to me! I was right to doubt - " He broke off and shook his head, unwilling to believe that Severus, his Severus, his boy, his son, would lie so easily and so freely to him.

Severus held up his hand in a desperate plea, breathing fast and sharp even as the words came punctuated with something of a stutter, "I swear - I am not in danger - he said - " Suddenly the forest span and his sentence cut and he tried to breathe more slowly but panic and fear and concern and anxious thinking gripped him and he could not regulate his rhythm and he slumped forward, fist falling to the dirt as he tried to regain his breathing, fingers raking and curling through soil - his arm burnt and spasmed and he whimpered at the pain -

His pathetic cry cut through whatever haze had gathered around Albus and he felt, after mere moments, the hand on his agonised arm, "Let me see -" The voice was calm, though any earlier affection seemed to have been chased away and Severus gave his arm up freely, and as Albus carefully unwrapped it and rested his fingers on his skin he felt soothed even if the pain did not diminish. He did not trust himself to speak and he did not wish to torment Albus further with his eyes so he stared down at his lap and stayed very quiet and still, not watching as Albus considered his hand and arm.

Neither of them said anything as Albus cautiously cast a couple of counter curses over Severus' injury, and slowly the pain did start to abate a little.

"You will need gloves, I think." Albus said finally, and Severus looked to his hand, confused until he saw the black and red and purple transformation of his once pale skin, almost conveniently patterned so the Dark Mark still dominated, visible and taunting, his fingers trembling even as he flexed them to ensure they still worked despite what was the aesthetic horror. He swallowed around the lump in his throat - but then he watched as Albus rubbed the forearm gently before catching Severus' fingers in his and entwining them, and it was clear what he wanted. Severus looked to those blue eyes - and realised that Albus was doing the same - although Albus' were touched with softness even if it was perhaps reluctant given the fact he was probably still angry, "Tell me what happened." He held up a finger before Severus could start, "The truth, this time, Severus. All of it."

It was clear he would not accept anything else, so Severus inclined his head, "He found the medi-witch who helped you - tortured her - she told him that she gave the baby to my mother on your command." He paused. "He tortured and killed her. I'm sorry - there was nothing I could do - she was never going to survive once he had used her to try to trap me." The fingers tightened around his, "You would have done your best if you could have, my boy. So he trapped you."

"He tried to trap me - I denied it - all of it - what she said, what he thought I knew - " His words faded and he tried to pull away but Albus would not let him, "I denied you...twice..." Albus brushed a finger across the back of Severus' knuckles in a comfortingly familiar gesture, "You would have had to; Severus I would have been far, far, far angrier with you if you had died there." Severus half smiled despite himself, "He thinks I did not know; he thinks he saw what he wanted to see, and he said that we could work together to torment you because you would have to continue sending me to him - or lose your advantage." Severus was tired. Albus shifted to sit so they were shoulder to shoulder, "So how was it left?"

"Just that; he obviously knew you would find out, from my e-eyes - and I - I think he is still playing with me as I think he knows I will say to you that I still want to spy. But I am not sure; he is...he is clearly undecided and I think...I think it has led him to play his cards differently."

Albus reflected on Severus' words, "So; we can send you back, or you choose to stay and no longer spy."

"Well, everyone will know now, won't they? One look at me - anyone who knows you will imagine the link." Severus exhaled through his teeth, "This is a mess, Headmaster."

"That is most certainly is, my boy." Albus considered, idly playing with Severus' fingers, "No one has to know - we can enchant your eyes and you can continue to hide and just be the Hogwarts Potions' Master. I can say it is too dangerous for you to return, Lord Voldemort is too volatile - what would you like to do?"

Severus watched him for long stretching moments, and Albus did not interrupt whatever thought process was going through that clever and sharp mind. "I want..." He shook his head and rested the side of his head against Albus' shoulder, "I want to sit here and pretend none of this exists." Albus' shoulder was warm and comfortable, "Is this what you imagined it to be like - having a child that gets himself into all sorts of scrapes and you having to, continually, pick up the pieces?"

A long moment, stretching due to comfort and knowing and most of all love.

"Actually..." Albus murmured, "This is exactly what I hoped it would be like."

Quiet breathing suggested a sleeping Severus had not heard him.

Ugh, so fluffy. It's so fluffy I'm gonna die! But not before I finish the story. Hopefully, unless vengeful Voldemort gets me first. Bumblebee Blood will be updated next Saturday, 6th June. Thank you for being here with me, your words mean so, so much. ~ SS19