Friendship and Beyond 47/?

Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.

Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.

Accusations and Their Aftereffects

Harry entered the Great Hall a mere half an hour from when he left only to be beset upon by the Headmaster immediately as he sat down at the Slytherin table to eat. He was hard-pressed to ignore all the whispering and pointing that his classmates were doing, while Ron and Hermione had their heads together and were seemingly discussing something very seriously, if their expressions were anything to go by. Harry was therefore startled when Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder, so deep in thought was he that he did not notice the aged Headmaster's approach.

"Mister Potter, if I could speak to you in my office." Dumbledore ordered, exceedingly serious for once, almost to the point of being grim. He held the Daily Profit article in his left hand. When Harry looked up at the teacher's table for Severus he was nowhere to be found. "Professor Snape is already waiting in my office."

"Of course." Harry answered dejectedly, standing up under Dumbledore's heavy disapproving gaze. Before he could leave the table completely however, Harry noticed Ron and Hermione standing as well, looking resolved as they spoke up before Dumbledore ushered Harry from the Hall.

"We are coming too, Headmaster." Hermione told the Headmaster rather coolly, not waiting for an answer before they walked around the table to meet us. "This has to do with us as well."

Dumbledore said nothing at that merely raised a confused eyebrow over his spectacles before continuing silently on his way. The trio followed behind him cautiously as they walked up the stairs towards his office. Ron and Hermione refused to look in Harry's direction as he glanced at them curiously a few times on their walk. Just before the door to Dumbledore's office opened however, Hermione gave his hand a comforting squeeze before walking inside. Ron did likewise, following his girlfriend leaving Harry to take up the rear. The door closed behind them with a resounding thud causing all three to jump nervously.

Harry noticed Severus immediately after he entered the office. He was sitting rigidly in the high-backed chair opposite the Headmaster's desk. His fingers were intertwined. He looked perfectly at ease, relaxed even. His years as spy served him in good stead, only Harry noticed the tightening of his fingers causing them to whiten, or the barely-there slump of the proud man's shoulders, otherwise he was perfectly in control of his reactions.

Dumbledore sat heavily in his chair opening his candy dish slowly, allowing the silence to become uncomfortable. Without speaking he offered a lemon drop to the others, all of who declined.

"Very well then. I assume all of you have gotten the chance to read the article in today's Daily Profit?" Dumbledore began softly, but no less authoritatively for the lack of volume. Without waiting for the obvious reply he continued. "I believe we already discussed this Severus. Now would one of you care to explain this?"

As he finished speaking he practically threw the newspaper on his desk in unbridled frustration. Before either Harry or Severus could incriminate themselves Ron spoke up quietly.

"This article is poppycock. Hell the only thing they got halfway right was that Harry visited Professor Snape's quarters nightly." Ron told the headmaster animatedly, looking quickly at Hermione who nodded slightly for him to continue, grabbing his hand tightly. "And even then, all three of us were there having private tutoring. Harry had been staying with Professor Snape the first few nights to regulate the sleeping potion, since this bloody idiot here took too much, but other than that he's been with us."

"Indeed?" Dumbledore questioned calmly looking at Harry and Severus who were looking at Ron and Hermione in astonishment. "Is this true Severus? And if so why wasn't I informed of this?"

"It's true, Albus." Severus agreed impassively. "As to why you weren't informed… you were under the impression that I was being a help to Potter. Your guilt was clouding your judgment and if this charade was necessary to relieve your guilt, so be it."

"Why is it that the Slytherin's have commented on all of your absences at night in the dormitory then?" Albus questioned further.

"There is a perfectly good explanation for that." Hermione interjected blushing to the roots of her hair. She hurriedly continued when the headmaster looked skeptical. "We've been sneaking out at night- all three of us."

"To do what exactly? I have seen you researching at all hours during the day so it couldn't be that." Dumbledore extrapolated before they could use that very excuse, looking them intensely in the eye.

"Um, you know I assume that Hermione and I are a couple?" Ron asked hesitantly, sliding a quick glance in Harry direction.

"How does that have anything to do with Mister Potter?" Dumbledore asked in confusion.

"Well you see, after we got back from V-Voldemort we were all a bit jumpy." Ron stopped suddenly as his ears got red. Hermione quickly picked up where he stopped.

"We ended up, er, sleeping together for comfort. We weren't comfortable in the dorms so we began sleeping in the Room of Requirements. It was perfectly innocent at first." Hermione explained softly doing her best to look embarrassed. "Anyway, one thing led to another, and well, you know…"

As Hermione trailed off it was all Harry could do to not burst out laughing. Both Ron and Hermione looked mortified, and Harry himself was beet red. Professor Dumbledore even had a bit of color to his cheeks. He cleared his throat rather noisily.

"Be that as it may, er, if I may ask… why have you been… excluding Harry publicly?" Dumbledore asked hesitantly.

"For just this bloody reason." Ron growled 'furiously.' "None of us wanted Harry to be ridiculed. He's got enough to worry about as it is. After all he's Harry bloody Potter. Not every one would approve of our relationship. We were trying to keep it secret until after we graduated. It's still in the beginning stages after all. We didn't need any outside interference, especially my mum. Could you just imagine what she'd say?"

"This is true?" Dumbledore asked Harry.

"Yes." Harry squeaked in a high-pitched voice, looking at his shoes in genuine embarrassment.

"Well then." Dumbledore grinned, clapping his hands together, causing Harry to jump in surprise from his vantage point staring at the floor. "I am glad that has been sorted out. I will have a talk with Miss Skeeter about her article."

"Um, no need." Harry told him reluctantly. "I've already taken care of it. There should be a retraction in tomorrow's paper."

"Good then. Let us get back to dinner." Dumbledore agreed, slapping Harry on the back and giving Severus' shoulder a light squeeze, his eyes twinkling merrily once again.