Author's Note: I am sorry about the long time between updates and will try, try mind you, to correct that. This chapter is a bit short, I wanted to get it out before Monday when the semester in my college begins. I'm taking my first writing class, writing science fiction and fantasy, so I'm quite nervous and wanted to give myself a week or two to get used to the writing class before I updated this story. I'm going to try to post every week or two after that. I hope.
A Memory Found
by: Mystical Dragon
Thanks to Draco and Ivan's ability to be the center of attention, Severus was able to join the feast with little notice. Dumbledore was quite pleased that he had decided to join them. The man might have easily changed his mind since Dumbledore had gone up to his tower to get ready and Severus had gone to his dungeons, leaving the choice completely up to Severus to come to the feast or not.
But Dumbledore wasn't pleased with Severus's eating everything within reach that was made of chocolate. He didn't want to say anything, Dumbledore knew Severus would resent it, so he kept his mouth shut and hoped Draco or Ivan would eventually realize what Severus was doing and stop him but they didn't stop him, even when they noticed what he was doing. Maybe that had been the deal, Severus could eat chocolate if he stayed. Dumbledore gave in and placed his rather large bowl of chocolate pudding on Severus's plate.
Severus grinned at him. Dumbledore smiled back. That grin had been worth keeping his mouth shut. Dumbledore was going to have to curb his instinct to 'father' Severus and just let him be.
Dumbledore listened to the conversations around him, enjoying the break from his duties and Severus's continued company. A female fourth-year Ravenclaw was asking Harry, very quietly, why Professor Snape was wearing glasses. Harry hedged around the answer but the gist was clear; Karkaroff had messed up his eyesight. The student looked horrified and kept herself from staring at Severus. That was good. By the time classes started, the entire school would know 'why' Severus had glasses and not bother him about it.
"Draco," Dumbledore said, getting the young man's attention, "why don't you discuss the class you're going to start as soon as classes begin again."
Draco, who Dumbledore had discussed this with earlier, smiled and then smirked at Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "I'm starting a self-defense class which all three of you have to be in. I get to order you around," he declared, leaning back and looking very smug.
Dumbledore let his head fall into his hands. "Draco," he said, his voice raised in slight warning.
"It was worth a try," Draco said, and Severus shrugged at Dumbledore, amused.
"Is he serious?" Ron Weasley asked, looking at Draco skeptically.
"Yes he is, halfway at least," Dumbledore said, throwing Draco a warning look which Draco ignored. "The three of you do need to learn to defend yourself. Flitwick will be starting a dueling class which the three of you will have to attend also. I'm sorry, Harry, but you need to know how to protect yourself and so do your friends. You can't protect them."
Harry looked into Dumbledore's eyes, hopefully seeing Dumbledore's seriousness on the matter, and slowly nodded his head. "All right. I can still do Quidditch, right?"
"Oh, yes, Harry," Dumbledore assured him. "The classes won't interfere with that."
"Why is Draco teaching us self-dense?" Ron asked, still eyeing Draco doubtfully.
"He's a black belt in some style or another," Ivan said, "and quite skillful at it."
Draco slightly blushed at the praise. "Do you want to have to wear uniforms or just regular clothes?" Draco asked the trio.
"Which is better?" Harry asked.
"Uniforms would give you more of a sense of purpose, you'd feel more official, but regular clothes would work," Draco said. "I prefer a uniform myself."
"Uniforms, I guess," Harry said, shrugging.
Draco smiled and quickly produced a stack of Muggle-made catalogs. "Grab one and tear out the page with the uniform on it you want. I'll get them by class time."
Ron, Hermione, and Harry took one each and Dumbledore noticed a few other students, and some teachers, eyeing the catalogs.
"The class is open to any who want to take it. No obligation. You can quit anytime if it proves to be something you don't like," Dumbledore said, encouraging everyone.
The catalogs disappeared.
"Why don't you take the class?" Severus asked as everyone began talking about the uniforms they wanted or other various things among those that weren't interested.
Dumbledore didn't want to, he felt too old for that kind of thing, but if Severus wanted him to then Dumbledore would try it. "All right. I just hope I'm not too old."
"Draco will take it easy on the ancient people," Severus said, his voice teasing.
Dumbledore poked him in the ribs as Severus looked at him with wide-eyed innocence.
"What was that for?" Severus asked, looking bewildered.
Dumbledore flung a small cookie at Severus, who caught it and ate it happily, and then turned to Draco. "Do you have another catalog?"
Draco held up two returned ones. "They both have pages missing but it's not the same page so you'll be okay," he informed Dumbledore, pushing the catalogs to him.
Dumbledore, interested, flipped through them. "Which one do you have?" he asked, glancing at Severus.
Severus leaned over and pointed at a plain black one. "I don't like flashy clothes," Severus said as Dumbledore watched him flip the pages, his long slender fingers making short work of it. "This one is Draco's," he said, tapping a picture.
Tearing his eyes off Severus, Dumbledore looked at the picture. A sleeveless uniform in green and black.
"I want something flashy," Dumbledore decided.
"Figures," Severus muttered. "You and Lockhart."
"You didn't like Lockhart's choice of clothing?" Dumbledore asked, pretending to be shocked.
Severus looked at him, rolled his eyes, and shook his head in disgust. "I almost went blind that year."
"Some of his robes were rather bright," Dumbledore admitted.
"Bright isn't the word for it," Severus said. "There's no really flashy uniform..."
"The white one can be dyed," Dumbledore decided.
Severus shook his head. "I'll be sure to wear sunglasses."
Dumbledore nudged him. "Wear two pairs. Are you going to be in the class?"
Severus looked miserable as he nodded. "Draco needs to show the techniques on someone who knows how to fall, me in other words, and I'm going to have to help correct the students. It won't be fun. Hopefully no one will show up but Potter, Granger, and Weasley."
"It might be fun," Dumbledore said. "As long as you control that temper of yours," the minute Dumbledore had finished the sentence he winced. There went the friendship Dumbledore had been trying to build. Severus was sure to storm out of the room.
"I'm not the one with the temper," Severus said shortly. "You're the one that screams at my students, at the top of your lungs, and terrifies them. Really, Dumbledore," Severus said, shaking his head at Dumbledore, his lips thin in disapproval. "What were you thinking."
Dumbledore stared at him, nearly choking in relief and disbelief. Severus, as far as Dumbledore had known him, had never been able to make fun of himself. He certainly had changed.
"I'm sorry," Dumbledore said, properly contrite, "I'll behave myself from now on."
"That's all I can ask for," Severus agreed, reaching over and taking everything chocolate of Dumbledore's plate. "You can't have this, you're allergic to chocolate."
Dumbledore looked away, amazed, and noticed Remus, who was sitting on the other side of him, looking at him with a soft smile.
"He's changed," Remus remarked, soft enough for Severus not to hear. "I can't believe he's teasing you."
"Me either," Dumbledore said, enjoying it. "I hope he keeps it up."
The conversations around the table started to get softer and Severus quit talking, probably afraid of being overheard but he didn't leave and Dumbledore, quite full on good food, decided that he had never had a better Christmas feast.
"I don't feel so good," Severus suddenly said, pushing his plate away from him. "My stomachache keeps getting worse. I thought it was just nerves."
Dumbledore carefully looked at him. A sheen of sweat was covering Severus's face and he looked pale. That was more than a stomachache. Why hadn't he mentioned something before about being in pain? Well, if Severus had thought it was nerves than he would have just discounted it as being natural.
Getting up, Dumbledore sighed. "I just remembered I had some things to attend to that can't wait. This feast has been wonderful, thank you all for attending," he said.
Several of the staff and students looked at him, slightly grateful. The feast hadn't gone on long enough for it be a burden for those that came but it had come close to it.
"Severus, if you would accompany me, and Ivan," he said, slightly louder as chairs were pushed back and people started to mill about in circles, talking, or leaving.
Severus gratefully got up and followed him out.
"What's wrong with Severus?" Dumbledore asked, feeling nervous.
Had someone poisoned him?
Ivan gently put a hand on Severus's forehead and seemed to concentrate. "Your appendix is about to rupture," Ivan reported.
"What?" Severus asked, his voice sounding strangled. "Of all the blasted things. My appendix?" he asked, disgusted. "On Christmas?"
"Let's hurry," Dumbledore said. "I had a friend die from a ruptured appendix."
"It's not that close," Ivan quickly assured Dumbledore, "but you need it out."
Severus draped an arm around his stomach. "I hate operations. They better not take my shirt off. I don't want them to see the bu....," Severus blinked. "Oh, right. Keep me covered anyway," Severus asked, looking at Ivan. "I don't like being shirtless."
"I'll be sure they keep a shirt on you," Ivan promised.