Snape opened his eyes gradually, grateful for the darkness. He took a deep
breath, as slowly as possible, letting it out in defeat when he felt the
sharp pain of obviously broken ribs. Slowly, he forced himself to
alertness and brought his concentration over each part of his body,
mentally checking for significant wounds. Other than the ribs, pain in his
chest from being out in the cold all night, and a pervasive lingering
soreness, he realized that he was probably fine.
If he had been home already, he'd count his blessings and consider himself to have gotten off easy. But he wasn't home and the punishments administered to him the other night had only been from Lucius Malfoy, for not telling him about Allosia's return to Hogwarts.
Snape hadn't even understood why it was an issue. It's not like he hadn't been previously informed by Dumbledore. The bastard was on the Hogwarts board of governors after all. But Lucius was bored and drunk and Snape had always been a favorite plaything for his agressions and the potions master knew it could be much worse.
He considered his bed and looked around the dim room. A guest room. He doubted he could move freely about the house, but if he were a prisoner of either Lucius or Voldemort he knew his prison would have been far more obvious. They both had a certain sense of decorum about these things.
He eased himself into a sitting position, grimacing. Better that he do this now, be ready to move, show as little pain as possible. It would give him better odds for getting out of this mess in one piece.
Allosia circled once, and then swooped down, landing her broom in a short run.
"Headmaster."
"Albus, please," he reminded her.
She smiled. "Of course, it's hard to remember sometimes."
"For me too. I remember when you and Severus used to sneak out here."
"You knew about that?" she asked incredulously
"Of course," he smiled, and looked at the ground for a moment. "I used to watch you two from the Astronomy tower, silently laughing and chasing each other."
"Exaudio."
"Yes, of course."
"Why didn't you ever say anything, we were breaking a ton of rules."
"You seemed happy, Severus was getting exercise. Most of my job, most of anyone's job, Allosia, is learning what to let go." He paused then. "I remember when you started coming out here alone."
Allosia nodded again. "That was very hard on me. Knowing more about it now, it's still very hard on me."
"With good reason. Severus has made many of his most terrible and interesting choices when it comes to you."
"He's told you then," she said trying her best not to sound ashamed.
"Not much escapes me, child," he said clapping her on the back, "but yes, we've discussed it."
She nodded and swallowed, feeling at ease walking with the older man, who had been such a beloved figure of her childhood.
"You know, he won't be home tonight."
Allosia turned sharply then, bit her lip and nodded.
"Tomorrow, I expect, and if not, then I too will join you in worrying out here."
"I'm going to fly some more, if you don't mind, Albus."
"Not at all, you still laugh softly," he smiled and turned then, to walk back to the castle, but he paused for a moment and said, "good night, Allosia."
"Goodnight Headmaster," she said softly as she took to the air, remembering all those nights flying where the delicate dark-haired boy chased her stream of black curls. They never spoke of it during the day, not even to plan really. She suspected it took too much out of him, to really think about the joy the air and the activity gave him. He was so afraid, she remembered, to give into it. It made her angry then and sad now. Because it was no doubt the flaw that kept him alive.
If he had been home already, he'd count his blessings and consider himself to have gotten off easy. But he wasn't home and the punishments administered to him the other night had only been from Lucius Malfoy, for not telling him about Allosia's return to Hogwarts.
Snape hadn't even understood why it was an issue. It's not like he hadn't been previously informed by Dumbledore. The bastard was on the Hogwarts board of governors after all. But Lucius was bored and drunk and Snape had always been a favorite plaything for his agressions and the potions master knew it could be much worse.
He considered his bed and looked around the dim room. A guest room. He doubted he could move freely about the house, but if he were a prisoner of either Lucius or Voldemort he knew his prison would have been far more obvious. They both had a certain sense of decorum about these things.
He eased himself into a sitting position, grimacing. Better that he do this now, be ready to move, show as little pain as possible. It would give him better odds for getting out of this mess in one piece.
Allosia circled once, and then swooped down, landing her broom in a short run.
"Headmaster."
"Albus, please," he reminded her.
She smiled. "Of course, it's hard to remember sometimes."
"For me too. I remember when you and Severus used to sneak out here."
"You knew about that?" she asked incredulously
"Of course," he smiled, and looked at the ground for a moment. "I used to watch you two from the Astronomy tower, silently laughing and chasing each other."
"Exaudio."
"Yes, of course."
"Why didn't you ever say anything, we were breaking a ton of rules."
"You seemed happy, Severus was getting exercise. Most of my job, most of anyone's job, Allosia, is learning what to let go." He paused then. "I remember when you started coming out here alone."
Allosia nodded again. "That was very hard on me. Knowing more about it now, it's still very hard on me."
"With good reason. Severus has made many of his most terrible and interesting choices when it comes to you."
"He's told you then," she said trying her best not to sound ashamed.
"Not much escapes me, child," he said clapping her on the back, "but yes, we've discussed it."
She nodded and swallowed, feeling at ease walking with the older man, who had been such a beloved figure of her childhood.
"You know, he won't be home tonight."
Allosia turned sharply then, bit her lip and nodded.
"Tomorrow, I expect, and if not, then I too will join you in worrying out here."
"I'm going to fly some more, if you don't mind, Albus."
"Not at all, you still laugh softly," he smiled and turned then, to walk back to the castle, but he paused for a moment and said, "good night, Allosia."
"Goodnight Headmaster," she said softly as she took to the air, remembering all those nights flying where the delicate dark-haired boy chased her stream of black curls. They never spoke of it during the day, not even to plan really. She suspected it took too much out of him, to really think about the joy the air and the activity gave him. He was so afraid, she remembered, to give into it. It made her angry then and sad now. Because it was no doubt the flaw that kept him alive.
