Chapter Five
Worth a thousand words
The last bit of fallen dungeon was levitated down the hallway, allowing enough room for both the headmaster and Professor McGonagall to squeeze into the classroom. The task had taken the better part of the night, and most of their fellow teachers were still working to replace certain charms that had rather mysteriously failed them. As they entered the classroom, Albus Dumbledore chuckled softly with a twinkle in his eyes while Minerva simply put one hand to her mouth in a rather twisted expression of both horrified shock and tenderness. Severus and Harry had fallen asleep. The Boy-Who-Lived was seated next to the former Deatheater, resting his head on the older man's shoulder. The potions' professor was snoring softly, fast asleep despite his broken leg and wretchedly pinned shoulder.
"If only I had thought to bring a camera." Dumbledore mumbled absently.
Harry moved slightly and opened his eyes. He blinked sleepily for a moment before spying the two professors near the door.
"Harry." Albus acknowledged.
"Sir." said Harry, suppressing a yawn. "We knew you'd come."
"We spent much of the night digging the dungeons out. I am afraid that most of Slytherin House slept the night in the Great Hall." said Albus.
"Were there no free beds in any of the other houses?" questioned Professor Snape, untangling his arm from Harry. The fumes were beginning to clear and so was his head.
"They seemed rather indignant when I suggested they sleep in the Gryffindor common room." said Professor McGonagall a bit icily.
"How long were we down here?" questioned Snape.
"All told, I believe about six hours." answered Dumbledore.
"Hours? Only six hours? It felt more like six days." replied Severus, looking at his pinned and broken leg meaningfully.
"Right. We will have you free in an instant." said the headmaster.
Harry stood up and brushed the dust from his robes while the two professors freed their colleague from beneath the rubble. He could feel the effects of the potion lessening as the air of the classroom mixed with that of the hallway outside. For a moment he wondered if the Peacemaker's Oil might have a positive, albeit temporary, effect on Slytherin House, whose dormitory was not very far away.
"It will have dissipated long before it reaches them." he sighed to himself.
As Harry watched Dumbledore and McGonagall haul Snape to his feet, their excavation complete, he felt a twinge of wistful regret. It was unlikely that he would ever be on such good terms with the potions' master again. He thought about what Snape had told him about his parents and was glad the opportunity was not wasted. Harry felt a lump form in his throat as Severus looked at him. There was a strange, sad look in those dark eyes that, had he only realized, was mirrored in his own.
Dumbledore and McGonagall, who looked very prim, supported Snape as he tested his weight on his broken limb. He shook his head mutely as a ripple of pain ran through his leg. It simply would not hold him.
"Very well." said Dumbledore. He glanced at Harry and asked, "I suppose you will be accompanying us on our visit to the infirmary?"
"I'm all right, professor. But do you want any help with him?" he questioned, nodding slightly toward Severus.
"Oh, we'll manage, Harry. If you don't require medical attention, please return to Gryffindor Tower. I imagine you have some people waiting there to see you. Mister Weasley and Miss Granger were quite distraught last night when your disappearance was first noted." Dumbledore informed him.
"Yes, sir." replied Harry as the three professors began making their way to see Madam Pomfrey and he began the long walk toward the tower dormitory alone.
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A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed: What's in a name, Pheonix Flight, Zardiphillian Beryllix, Kara the Slytherin Mage, DescendingAngel, Steph, and snapefan51!
Worth a thousand words
The last bit of fallen dungeon was levitated down the hallway, allowing enough room for both the headmaster and Professor McGonagall to squeeze into the classroom. The task had taken the better part of the night, and most of their fellow teachers were still working to replace certain charms that had rather mysteriously failed them. As they entered the classroom, Albus Dumbledore chuckled softly with a twinkle in his eyes while Minerva simply put one hand to her mouth in a rather twisted expression of both horrified shock and tenderness. Severus and Harry had fallen asleep. The Boy-Who-Lived was seated next to the former Deatheater, resting his head on the older man's shoulder. The potions' professor was snoring softly, fast asleep despite his broken leg and wretchedly pinned shoulder.
"If only I had thought to bring a camera." Dumbledore mumbled absently.
Harry moved slightly and opened his eyes. He blinked sleepily for a moment before spying the two professors near the door.
"Harry." Albus acknowledged.
"Sir." said Harry, suppressing a yawn. "We knew you'd come."
"We spent much of the night digging the dungeons out. I am afraid that most of Slytherin House slept the night in the Great Hall." said Albus.
"Were there no free beds in any of the other houses?" questioned Professor Snape, untangling his arm from Harry. The fumes were beginning to clear and so was his head.
"They seemed rather indignant when I suggested they sleep in the Gryffindor common room." said Professor McGonagall a bit icily.
"How long were we down here?" questioned Snape.
"All told, I believe about six hours." answered Dumbledore.
"Hours? Only six hours? It felt more like six days." replied Severus, looking at his pinned and broken leg meaningfully.
"Right. We will have you free in an instant." said the headmaster.
Harry stood up and brushed the dust from his robes while the two professors freed their colleague from beneath the rubble. He could feel the effects of the potion lessening as the air of the classroom mixed with that of the hallway outside. For a moment he wondered if the Peacemaker's Oil might have a positive, albeit temporary, effect on Slytherin House, whose dormitory was not very far away.
"It will have dissipated long before it reaches them." he sighed to himself.
As Harry watched Dumbledore and McGonagall haul Snape to his feet, their excavation complete, he felt a twinge of wistful regret. It was unlikely that he would ever be on such good terms with the potions' master again. He thought about what Snape had told him about his parents and was glad the opportunity was not wasted. Harry felt a lump form in his throat as Severus looked at him. There was a strange, sad look in those dark eyes that, had he only realized, was mirrored in his own.
Dumbledore and McGonagall, who looked very prim, supported Snape as he tested his weight on his broken limb. He shook his head mutely as a ripple of pain ran through his leg. It simply would not hold him.
"Very well." said Dumbledore. He glanced at Harry and asked, "I suppose you will be accompanying us on our visit to the infirmary?"
"I'm all right, professor. But do you want any help with him?" he questioned, nodding slightly toward Severus.
"Oh, we'll manage, Harry. If you don't require medical attention, please return to Gryffindor Tower. I imagine you have some people waiting there to see you. Mister Weasley and Miss Granger were quite distraught last night when your disappearance was first noted." Dumbledore informed him.
"Yes, sir." replied Harry as the three professors began making their way to see Madam Pomfrey and he began the long walk toward the tower dormitory alone.
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A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed: What's in a name, Pheonix Flight, Zardiphillian Beryllix, Kara the Slytherin Mage, DescendingAngel, Steph, and snapefan51!