Disclaimer: See Ch.1
Ch.2 – Indestructible
McGonagall's POV
I stumbled wearily back to the castle earlier that day. Upon opening the front door, the first sight that greeted me was Severus having fun with Potter… And then having heard what Dumbledore said…
Tears welled in my eyes.
I can't take it! Maybe if I didn't get cursed by that abomination of a human, I could have been there for Harry… Maybe I could have tried harder to persuade Severus into giving Harry Occlumency lessons again… Maybe, just maybe, if I was younger!!
I couldn't help it, but tears fell once more my cheeks. I couldn't help it. Dumbledore told me… nothing could have been done… he died fighting… honorable death…
I blew my nose, and looked into the mirror absentmindedly.
"You look horrible dear," my mirror wheezed.
Indeed, I looked terrible. My hair had come undone from the bun; the little make-up around my eyes was smudged from the amount of my crying, and my eyes where blood-shot.
Poor Harry. That poor dear, losing the only thing that he could have called family. Those monsters in Little Whining didn't count, heaven's no!
"You should get some sleep honey, you've got a long day ahead you tomorrow," the mirror commented sleepily.
Nodding, I knew that it was right, and I made myself ready to bed…
Standing in the hall I had cornered the four delinquents.
"Black, Potter, Pettigrew! How many times have I told you that sneaking in the halls at night to duel with Snape in out of the question?" I heard myself say. I then turned on Snape who was standing there with a bleeding nose. "Mr. Snape, I'd appreciate if you'd stop…" But I froze, as I heard Pettigrew moan. I turned and to my horror he was growing, changing, morphing, into a black twisting shape.
"Potter, Black, Snape… Back!" I commanded, but instead of listening, Potter and Black jumped in front of the now You-Know-Who/Pettigrew and Snape had positioned himself in front of me. Laughing insanely You-Know... Vol-Voldemort… blasted first Potter and then laughing shrilly aimed his wand at Black. I couldn't move while a 16-year-old Severus was holding me tight, so tight I couldn't scream, couldn't breathe…
"Noooo!!" I yelled, as I toppled from my bed, tangled in my sheets.
I lay on the wood floor, enjoying the silence while steadying my heart-beat. When I finally regained some of my calm I clumsily straightened up and put my bed in order, tears running down my sweaty face. The mirror had awakened but thankfully didn't say anything.
Nightmares! Of all things possible I needed nightmares!! And I wasn't even there!!!
I pulled the nearest cloak over me, slipped on my tartan slippers on, and silently headed out my door. I didn't want to go to Poppy's… She'd just ask me pointless questions. Questions that would be answered with tears. No, I had to go to someone who wouldn't want to understand.
I made it down to the dungeons. Everything was dark and eerily quiet, and I fumbled down the steps with my sore feet, my walking stick made a foreboding *click* on the stone floor. Luckily, Severus' door was agar, and faint candle light spilled onto the hallway outside. I knocked.
"It's open," was the curt reply from behind the door. I hesitantly pushed the heavy oak door and stepped inside. The sight that greeted me was the usual one; Snape was sitting at his desk, writing something hastily and glancing up at the thick volume of yellowed parchment. He briefly glanced in my direction and I thought I saw a strange glimmer in his usual pained or vindictive eyes.
"What?" he snapped at me already looking for something in his book.
I bit my lip and couldn't keep the tears at bay. A strangled sob left my mouth and I noticed through my blurred vision that Severus had gotten up and accioed a chair for me. He then set his teapot to pour two cups of tea, all the while not meeting my gaze, which had cleared as my crisis had passed. I sat in the moth eaten chair, and took a sip of the tea that Severus just served me.
"I still c-can't believe that h-he's g-gone," my voice trembled, and I cursed myself for I knew that Severus hated weakness. To my surprise he sipped his tea quietly, and determinedly was staring at his book.
Slowly, weighing every word he stated, "You are risking a lot in coming here. If anyone… inappropriate finds you here…" His voice drifted off, and his gaze hardened as he kept looking at the book. I nodded glumly.
We finished our tea in the unexpected stillness that had entered the room. Somehow I had been comforted by his presence.
Must be his youth that still makes him so indestructible.
"Severus," I started timidly, "Is it possible that I could have some of your Dreamless Sleeping Potion?"
For the first time he glanced at me, slight surprise covering the usual smirk on his pallid face. But it was his eyes that conveyed something to me. For the first time they were so fragile, so scared, just like when he was being sorted by the Sorting Hat. He was suffering just as much as us. He was still human, whether or not he would like to admit it.
A sudden wave of drowsiness washed over me.
'You spiked the…"
******
The next morning I woke, a light headache throbbing in my temple. Did I just dream everything? Could I have dreamt it? Was it possible…?
Knowing Severus, anything was possible, but I couldn't help but feel reassured. I smiled weakly.
"Glad to see you smiling dear," the mirror said in a trance like voice
Ah well, my smile broadened, I guess age doesn't matter; it's the heart that is indestructible.
TBC
******
AN-
Well, I had fun writing McGonagall. I'm not sure who I'll write about next, but I would appreciate lots of reviews to keep me writing!!!