Interlude VII

Dumbledore was pacing in his office as he often did.

It was a common sight to the dozens of portraits that lined his walls. What wasn't a common sight, was that he was pacing in front of another person. He usually preferred to do it when he was alone. The portraits watched and listened carefully, all of them interested in the Headmaster's unusual cognitive process.

The man that sat in front of his desk seemed just as curious, but not because he wished to know about Lord Dumbledore's intellectual methods. No, he was just unfortunate enough to be seated in the middle of the older man's circular path. He tried to keep his patience, he really did, but after half an hour of this, he had to speak.

"Lord Dumbledore, might I ask what you plan to do with my information?" Severus Snape asked carefully. He was not ignorant of the fact that he remained outside of Azkaban and in the Magisterium on the former Magister's goodwill alone. He always worried that all that he had worked for in the last decade could be taken from him on a mere whim, so he always remained respectful in Lord Dumbledore's presence.

For his part, Dumbledore look surprised to even see him. "Oh! Severus! Are you still here?" He peered at him curiously. "Most people take my silence as a dismissal." He said this in an infuriatingly vague sort of way, that left Severus wondering if he wanted him to leave or not. Slowly, he began to stand to leave but Dumbledore waved him back down before he started pacing again.

Severus swallowed a groan of despair.

After another hour, Dumbledore paused, and for one shining moment it seemed that he was finally going to speak his mind. However, he merely shook his head and begun to pace again. Smothering a scream of frustration before it could escape his lips, Severus had to wonder if the old man was deliberately mocking him, but before he could decide whether that was true or not, Dumbledore finally spoke.

"You've seen the boy?"

Even though it was framed like a question, Severus knew that it was a statement. Dumbledore kept a close eye on the boy, especially when there was a Death Eater in the castle. Given where Quirrell's loyalties lay, this was at all times.

"Yes."

"What do you believe Quirrell wants with him?"

Severus had to admit his ignorance on the matter. "During our meetings, Quirrell had never once uttered the name Potter." He felt a though he were missing something. "Why do you ask?"

Dumbledore hummed. "Since the first week of the school year, young Harry has been training under the youngest of Voldemort's Acolytes."

Severus jumped, both at the Dark Lord's name and the information the Headmaster had just shared. "You are allowing him to train the boy in the Dark Arts?"

"I am not omniscient." Dumbledore shrugged, finally taking his seat. "Quirrell hid it well. Even with my surveillance of the child, I did not realise what was going on until Halloween. When I asked Quirrell to explain himself, he explained it away as a possible change to the curriculum." Severus' doubts must have shown on his face because the Headmaster chuckled. "He had come to me with such suggestions before his sabbatical, so it was not uncharacteristic. His practical style of teaching has more than proved itself. During the last duel of theirs that I had witnessed, I could hardly believe I was watching a First Year."

Severus was breathing heavily through his nose, having to squash his anger with the tried-and-true method of Occlumency before he spoke. "Quirrell has not told me how, but he plans to return the Dark Lord to his former glory. If Potter trusts him then it would be all too easy to kidnap him and present him to his master when the time comes." Severus shook his head. "To return his power and deliver the one who took it from him? He will be rewarded above all others."

"What would you have me do?" Dumbledore asked. "My only proof of wrongdoing is the word of a proven Death Eater. The High Court would not take it seriously, especially when they compare Quirrell's tragic past to yours." Severus flinched at the reminder. "Besides, I need the boy to know I am on his side."

"So, go to him. Tell him the truth."

"Is this a roundabout way for you to strike back at James Potter?" Dumbledore asked lightly. Severus fell silent and the Headmaster sighed before continuing. "I need him to see me as his best option, someone he can rely on."

Severus' silence was short lived. "You mean to let this all go ahead? To save him at the last minute?"

Dumbledore changed the subject, which told Severus everything he needed to know. "How is Horace?" The Potions Master sighed at the Sage's obliqueness as he began to explain Slughorn's rapidly declining health.