L'Enfant Préoccupé Chapter Three Thinking of Thoughts
The rest of the day passed slowly for both men. Whenever they passed each other in the halls they would send each other secret glances, and then wonder if the other had seen it. Severus had decided to cancel the rest of his classes under the excuse of, 'Tending to my bruises.' In reality, all he wanted to do was get himself drunk so the nagging thoughts of Harry would leave him.
Harry had been only half-aware of what his teachers were saying to him. Mostly, he was trying to fall asleep and forget things for awhile. Alas, with Hermione at his side, sleep was not an option. By the end of the day, Harry was ready to punch the next person that said anything to him. Unfortunately, the next person to see him was Ron. Harry was only just able to stop his moving fist. Ron caught the action, but thought nothing of it.
"Hey, Harry! I just was going to tell you that Snape cancelled Potions today! A whole ninety minutes of freedom!"
"Oh, that's great. I'll meet you back in the common room, I'm just going to go nick some food from the house-elves." He lied; Harry really just wanted to get away from everyone.
When Harry had finally convinced Ron that he would be back again shortly, he began wondering the halls. He found himself outside by the lake. He really didn't wonder how he had gotten there, he just accepted it. Harry sank down on the riverbank, and stared up at the sky. He watched the clouds pass by, and wondered what it would be like to be a cloud. Clouds didn't have to worry about anything, they just floated by aimlessly, and it would probably be funny soaking people caught out in the rain.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a sweet voice, Harry recognized it easily, but still pretended not to notice, the voice repeated it's comments, "Harry, are you coming to diner?" Cho Chang was standing over the currently laying down Harry. Her eyes were not merely questioning, but full of worry.
"Yeah, Cho, thanks for telling me."
"Harry, are you alright? You seemed very distant at meals today."
"No, I'm fine really." Harry hoped she would leave it at that, and she did, although, Harry saw in her eyes that she wanted to find out what was really bothering Harry. Unlike Ron, Cho would probably figure it out given enough time.
They made their way down to the Great Hall in silence, each separating to their own house tables when they arrived. Dinner started just as Harry sat down; it was almost as if it had been waiting for him. Harry ate in silence. He once again didn't notice anything, except that Snape was not at dinner.
Harry normally wouldn't have minded a whole afternoon of not seeing Snape at all, but today was different. It was almost eating away at him not knowing what Snape thought about the whole situation. Harry, his Gryffindor bravery coming through, decided that he would just have to go and talk to Snape after dinner. He didn't really care what the consequences were, he just had to fine out what Snape was thinking.
Harry walked slowly down the halls towards the dungeons. Normally, he would have thought himself out of his mind. Tonight was different. Harry didn't care if Snape gave him detention into the next century. He had to know. He just had to know!
Harry knocked three times on the dungeon door. No one answered; Harry just couldn't resist the temptation to through the slightly opened door. There was no one inside, but Harry saw yet another door that he guessed led into Snape's private quarters. All reasoning aside, Harry strode quickly into the adjoining room and saw his potions master slumped in a chair, and spilled glass of liquor on the floor beside him.
The rest of the day passed slowly for both men. Whenever they passed each other in the halls they would send each other secret glances, and then wonder if the other had seen it. Severus had decided to cancel the rest of his classes under the excuse of, 'Tending to my bruises.' In reality, all he wanted to do was get himself drunk so the nagging thoughts of Harry would leave him.
Harry had been only half-aware of what his teachers were saying to him. Mostly, he was trying to fall asleep and forget things for awhile. Alas, with Hermione at his side, sleep was not an option. By the end of the day, Harry was ready to punch the next person that said anything to him. Unfortunately, the next person to see him was Ron. Harry was only just able to stop his moving fist. Ron caught the action, but thought nothing of it.
"Hey, Harry! I just was going to tell you that Snape cancelled Potions today! A whole ninety minutes of freedom!"
"Oh, that's great. I'll meet you back in the common room, I'm just going to go nick some food from the house-elves." He lied; Harry really just wanted to get away from everyone.
When Harry had finally convinced Ron that he would be back again shortly, he began wondering the halls. He found himself outside by the lake. He really didn't wonder how he had gotten there, he just accepted it. Harry sank down on the riverbank, and stared up at the sky. He watched the clouds pass by, and wondered what it would be like to be a cloud. Clouds didn't have to worry about anything, they just floated by aimlessly, and it would probably be funny soaking people caught out in the rain.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a sweet voice, Harry recognized it easily, but still pretended not to notice, the voice repeated it's comments, "Harry, are you coming to diner?" Cho Chang was standing over the currently laying down Harry. Her eyes were not merely questioning, but full of worry.
"Yeah, Cho, thanks for telling me."
"Harry, are you alright? You seemed very distant at meals today."
"No, I'm fine really." Harry hoped she would leave it at that, and she did, although, Harry saw in her eyes that she wanted to find out what was really bothering Harry. Unlike Ron, Cho would probably figure it out given enough time.
They made their way down to the Great Hall in silence, each separating to their own house tables when they arrived. Dinner started just as Harry sat down; it was almost as if it had been waiting for him. Harry ate in silence. He once again didn't notice anything, except that Snape was not at dinner.
Harry normally wouldn't have minded a whole afternoon of not seeing Snape at all, but today was different. It was almost eating away at him not knowing what Snape thought about the whole situation. Harry, his Gryffindor bravery coming through, decided that he would just have to go and talk to Snape after dinner. He didn't really care what the consequences were, he just had to fine out what Snape was thinking.
Harry walked slowly down the halls towards the dungeons. Normally, he would have thought himself out of his mind. Tonight was different. Harry didn't care if Snape gave him detention into the next century. He had to know. He just had to know!
Harry knocked three times on the dungeon door. No one answered; Harry just couldn't resist the temptation to through the slightly opened door. There was no one inside, but Harry saw yet another door that he guessed led into Snape's private quarters. All reasoning aside, Harry strode quickly into the adjoining room and saw his potions master slumped in a chair, and spilled glass of liquor on the floor beside him.