Title: Wanted: Single, Older Male for a Roommate
Rating: PG-13 (for now, it may change later on depending on how the story
progresses)
Pairing: HP/SS, mentions of RW/HG
Summary: Continuation of A Camping We Will Go, Harry and Severus continue
their friendship while Harry finishes school and afterwards they move in together
as roommates.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. I'll give them
back to JK Rowling when I'm done. No money was made from this endeavor.
Feedback: Please read and review, flames are not welcome.
A/N: Please read A Camping We Will Go, this story will try to be stand-alone,
but it helps to have read the first one. Thanks go, once more, to ,
my beta, who not only helped me proof my story, but was a wonderful sounding
board for suggestions. Any errors still remaining would be mine.
A/N #2: Sorry for the delay, this chapter would have been posted at some point on the 9th, but real life intruded for once. Hopefully, I can get back on track.
Anything between two *, denotes a thought.
Wanted: Single, Older Male for a Roommate
Chapter 3: Truth, Lies and Prevarications
Dumbledore, though sad to see his colleague in such a state, was not above taking the advantage presented to him. He knew Severus would not remember any of the questions asked of him. He was also aware that if Severus did inquire of Dumbledore after the fact to find out if any questions had been asked, he could truthfully say that he had, but the questions he had asked were to check on his physical and mental well being.
"Severus, how long will the truth serum last based on the amount you have ingested?" Dumbledore knew it would be best to know how long he had to ask his questions.
"I would approximate that the serum will last half an hour, at least."
Dumbledore was greatly pleased with this answer. *Interesting, that means I have about 20 minutes in which to ask my questions. Best get started then.*
"Severus, are you in any pain?"
Severus continued to stare into space, but answered slowly, as if his tongue was numb, "I am not in any pain."
"That's good, very good. Do you know how the accident that occurred here in the labs happened?"
"Yes. Draco, I believe was about to throw the potion into Harry's face, but before he could, I tapped on his shoulder and I got the dose of truth serum instead," Severus replied in a monotonous voice.
"Good." *Now for some really important questions.* "How did Harry know about the potion being brewed today when the other students did not?"
"I told him."
"When did you tell Harry?" Dumbledore was frustrated a bit with the limitations of asking direct and specific questions.
"Last night around midnight."
Dumbledore sighed, *this will take forever.* "What were you and Harry doing last night when you told him about the potion?"
"Eating pumpkin pie in the kitchen."
"And how did the two of you come to be in the kitchens eating pumpkin pie?" Dumbledore asked with more interest.
"I was patrolling the hallways, when I noticed the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower open and saw no one exiting. I knew Harry was sneaking out under his invisibility cloak. I followed him to the kitchens."
"What were you doing standing at the entryway to the Gryffindor Tower?"
"I was staring at the portrait wishing to see Harry."
Dumbledore smiled at this truly revealing answer. *Now we are truly getting somewhere. But I must hurry, I only have a few minutes left.*
"Why did you want to see Harry, Severus?"
"I was feeling restless and lonely and I was missing Harry."
*Now for the most important questions. I must know what his plans are for himself and what he feels for Harry. I'm sure there must be more to it than either of them are aware of.*
"Severus, you mentioned that you were considering resigning from your position as Potions professor. I assume that you have already made a final decision. Are you leaving Hogwarts?"
*I hope he does resign, for his sake and Harry's. I might tell him otherwise, but leaving and hopefully to be with Harry, would be good for him.*
"Yes, I made my decision to leave Hogwarts yesterday."
Dumbledore was very pleased at this response, *now if only it was because of Harry.*
"Severus, I asked you yesterday if the reason you were leaving had anything to do with Harry also leaving Hogwarts. You said no, that it did not. However, I do not believe this to be true. Does Harry have any bearing for your leaving Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Harry is part of the reason I am leaving."
Dumbledore almost jumped for joy at this answer. He's eyes twinkled more than ever.
"Severus, do you have any plans, after leaving, to be with Harry?"
"Harry asked me to be his roommate, once he found a house for us to share."
*Ah, wonderful. They will be living together. Which means that their friendship can only grow. But what does Severus truly think of Harry. I know he said that he now knew Harry's heart and the person behind it, but could there be more?*
"When you think of Harry, what are your impressions of the young man you now know?"
"Harry is an attractive, intelligent, well-balanced young man who is loyal, courageous, kind and caring of his friends. He is not what I thought him to be. He does not seek the limelight, he does not want to be The-Boy-Who-Lived." Severus blinked once.
*Ah, it is pretty much the same answer as he gave before, only this time, Severus has admitted that he finds Harry attractive. Interesting.*
Dumbledore realized he was running out of time, so he asked one more question. "Severus, I know when we last talked, you considered Harry to be a friend, but are you certain he's not more than that to you?"
Unfortunately, the question came too late. Severus blinked rapidly several more times before his expression went from slack to aware. "Albus? What, what happened?"
"Do you remember anything about the incident dear boy?" Albus resumed his benign, twinkling expression.
Severus' expression went from puzzled to thunderous, as he recalled one of his own students being behind it all. "Mr. Malfoy, I believe was the cause of it all. I caught him in the midst of pulling a prank on Mr. Potter."
"That's what Harry said as well. You should know, he was the one who took charge of the class after the mishap occurred. Told Ms. Granger to come get me, and made everyone else leave the room until I got here. He seemed to be the only one who knew what the other properties of the truth serum where. Curious that." Albus looked inquiringly at Severus, hoping to sidetrack him by asking him questions now, as if he'd not just been asking them prior.
Severus pointedly ignored the question Albus was hinting at. What he did in
his own time was none of the old wizard's concern.
"So, none of the students asked me any questions once I became entranced?
Oh, Merlin! The students! I was supposed to cast the obliviate charm on them
so they wouldn't remember the potion." Severus stood up hurriedly, but
Albus laid a calming hand on his shoulder to still him.
"Yes, Harry mentioned that as well. I cast the charm on them. They do not remember the potion or the accident. You will of course have to talk with Mr. Malfoy about that. In answer to your first question, no, the students did not ask you any questions. Harry made sure of that. I believe he even chastised the others for questioning his actions, having only your well being in mind. Again they will not recall even that happening. Of course, after I cast the memory charm and asked them to leave, only Harry stayed behind to make sure you were truly alright."
Dumbledore once more raised a questioning eye towards Severus. Severus replied with an equally obvious answer of a look -- a glare. The Headmaster chuckled.
"Come now, Severus. I know you admitted to being on friendly terms with
Harry. Are you sure it's not more than that?"
Severus' face took on an anxious look. He was detecting a pattern, Albus was
asking to many pointed questions.
"Albus, you said the students didn't ask any questions. Did you ask me any questions while I was under the serum?"
Albus internally chuckled. *Smart boy, that one! Ah, now to prevaricate.*
"Why, yes dear boy, I did indeed ask you a question or two *or several*, if I remember correctly. Yes, indeed, I did ask you two questions. I asked you if you knew how long the potion would last based on the amount you could assume you ingested."
"Fine, that one I will allow. You said 'two.' What was the other?"
"I asked if you were in any pain. You could have an allergic reaction to the potion, and I just wanted to make sure. With you being under the influence of the potion, I knew you would answer that one, at least truthfully."
"Very well, the questions are innocuous enough and were not prying."
"Certainly dear boy, those questions indeed were not meant to pry," responded Dumbledore. *Though the several questions following the first two were. I am truly a shameful old man, who only wants what is best for my two boys. I love them both like they were my sons. I know they would take exception to my 'meddling.'*
"Well, now that you have recovered. I'm sure you will be wanting to deal with Mr. Malfoy, so I will leave you now."
"Thank you, Albus. For making sure my secrets remained secret."
"Oh, certainly, Severus. I would never tell anyone what went on here,
that you were at any point vulnerable and exposed. I must get back to my office,
who knows what has happened in my absence. Thankfully, I'm sure none of it has
to do with Harry."
With that, Dumbledore turned and left the Potions lab and it's master.
Severus looked around at the mess left from the mass exodus of the students after the incident had happened. He now knew the punishment he would be giving Mr. Malfoy for his little stunt.
*I'm definitely going to let Mr. 'I'm Above-it-All' Malfoy know what he did, even if he doesn't remember. I do, however, and he's going to be cleaning this mess for several hours. However, my next class will be starting soon. I need to bottle the potions that are done and place the rest away for Malfoy to clean.*
Severus sighed and got back to work.
...
On the other side of the school, in the library, Harry had joined up with his friends, who were talking quietly between themselves. They looked up at Harry as he sat down at the table across from them. Harry looked down in the dumps. He knew he shouldn't worry about Severus, but just because Dumbledore says the man is going to fine, doesn't mean that it will be true. *I'll just have to go talk with Severus later.*
"Hey Harry, what's up mate? Why did you stay behind with Professor Dumbledore?" Ron questioned Harry.
"Just making sure it wasn't Neville's fault for the accident to Snape. Even though our memories have been erased, Snape's hasn't, which means Neville could still get punished for causing an accident."
"And was it Neville's fault?" Hermione asked.
"No, this time it wasn't. Malfoy was behind this incident or accident. Dumbledore said that Malfoy slipped when he was bottling his potion and Snape just happened to be in the way when the potion flew out of Malfoy's hand." Somehow, Harry didn't think this was the case, but it wasn't his place to question what did happen.
"So, I wonder what potion it was we were brewing and what some of the effects were?" Hermione was always curious about anything having to do with class. That's what made her such a good student.
Hermione's questions trigged something in Harry's memory. A vague recollection from last night. Harry drew in a sharp breath. He knew what the potion was, because Severus had told him last night. *Since only my memory from class was wiped, it didn't affect the memories prior. Merlin! A truth serum that hypnotized the person. No wonder Dumbledore didn't want any of the students around the professor. Who knows what secrets could be revealed.*
Hermione heard Harry's sharp intake of breath and looked at him curiously. She noticed the expressions passing over his face, from a vague look to a sharp intense understanding. *Hmm, he knows something. Does it have anything to do with class?*
"Harry, what is it? Do you know something about the class that the rest of us don't?"
"Huh, what, Hermione?" Harry had been lost in his thoughts. "Do I know something about the class? No. No more than you do, just that it must be something pretty bad if Dumbledore had to have been called in."
*Hmm, he's lying. But why? Oh, well, I can't push him about it. He'll probably tell us when he's ready.* Hermione looked at Ron, noticing he'd lost interest in the conversation. *Typical Ron, he has his nose buried in a Quidditch book on the Cannon's.*
"Ron and I have been wondering, Harry, about how things are going with Professor Snape. You and he seem to be getting along much better since the trip, what with the civil conversation you two had yesterday in the infirmary. I'd even say you were becoming good friends. Are you?" Ron pulled his nose out of his book when he heard Hermione ask the question he'd been wanting a firm answer to.
"Friends? Um, I guess so. He was pretty decent about my asking for tutoring. It's still fairly early yet. Are you two okay with this, though? My wanting to befriend the 'greasy-git of a potions professor'?" Harry was anxious. He really wanted the support of his best friends in this pursuit. He already knew they weren't putting up too many walls in his way. The fact that they didn't put up too much of a fuss with the poker game from the other night was a testament to that. He knew they were weary of Severus, but he felt given time, they would come to like or at least tolerate the man.
"Ron and I did some talking about that yesterday while you were in the infirmary. I was the one who had pushed you in the first place to get to know the Professor better, encouraged you to spend time with him away from the rest of us. It seems to be working. So I can't complain. Professor Snape does have his good qualities. His fighting for the side of the Light showed that." Hermione smiled encouragingly at Harry.
Harry smiled back; relieved at least one of his friends was on his side in this. Harry turned to Ron, "And you, how do you feel?"
"Well, I'm okay with it, I guess. I don't think I'll ever think of Snape as anything other than the 'greasy-git', but if you can think of him as something other than that, I will support you as well." Harry rolled his eyes a bit when Ron called Severus a 'greasy-git', but smiled.
"Thanks, Ron. That means a lot to me. Really. So how about instead of hanging around here, we go visit Hagrid? It's been a while, and we can tell him about the camping trip and the animals we saw. Plus, I need to ask him about getting food for Sliver."
Hermione and Ron both agreed to the outing and gathered up their books and left the library with Harry to visit Hagrid.
~tbc~