L'Enfant Préoccupé Chapter Six - Breaking Rules By RoseRed
Harry didn't know what he had been expecting to happen when Severus regained his composure long enough to get out of the bath tub. He had been silently going over all of the possibilities of the embarrassing confrontation that was sure to take place between himself and the older man.
One thought was Severus becoming so angry with Harry that he refused to ever speak with him again, and ask him to leave his rooms with more force then necessary.
A second possibility would be Severus becoming so embarrassed that he refused to ever speak to Harry again and ask him to leave his rooms with more force then necessary.
The last, and strangest, thought Harry had was one of Severus sweeping out of the bathroom and pulling Harry into his arms and telling him that the rest of their lives would be okay. The rest of their lives would contain no pain, no suffering and no more death.
Harry wasn't sure why this thought had suddenly occurred to him. It was the last thought he had had, and he was sure it was the thought he would be pondering until the actual event took place.
Harry didn't have time to ponder his situation for very long. As he was about to knock on the large, oak door leading to the bathroom, Albus Dumbledore's head was seen poking through the silent fire.
"Harry?" he asked questioningly, "What are you doing here?" Harry could barely contain his shock at the sight of his headmaster being shocked by anything. Noticing the absence of the usual twinkle in the old man's eyes, Harry remained straight-faced.
"I had been in Professor Snape's room waiting to speak with him when he arrived back by floo powder. I was going to leave after I saw his condition, but he asked me to stay and help him into the bath. I'm sorry, Sir, but I couldn't leave him like that." Harry explained while watching the bewildered headmaster's expressions change from worry, to grievous fear.
"Ahh, I see." Dumbledore said, choosing not to prod the issue any farther. "Has he been in there long?"
"I was just getting out." a cold, almost dead voice stated before Harry could reply, "and young Mr. Potter here was just leaving." Severus finished.
Harry saw that 'situation two' had occurred. Although he was trying very hard not to show it, Harry could see a slight embarrassment on Severus' face.
"Right. Harry, if you could please go wait for me in my office. The password is 'red rose petals.' Dumbledore spoke to Harry while watching Severus. Harry knew that Dumbledore could also see the mixed emotions on Severus' face.
Without saying a goodbye to either of the professors, Harry made his way out of Severus' inner rooms, through his classroom and out into the cold hallway in front of the dungeons.
---
When Harry finally made it to Dumbledore's office, he sat down in one of the headmaster's comfy chairs and began to absentmindedly stroke Fawke's feathers. While he was thinking he began to drift slowly off to sleep.
"Harry. Harry, wake up." Harry woke to the gentle voice of the headmaster. He looked up and saw Dumbledore take the seat behind his desk. Harry also noticed the portraits were once again faking their sleep. He could see the occasional peek being taken by one of the previous Hogwart's headmasters.
"Harry, I have no doubt that you know where Professor Snape has been tonight. I also know you know what he has suffered, as you yourself have suffered from it. Once you receive that curse, you never forget it." Dumbledore stated while Harry played nervously with his shirt bottom.
"Yes, Headmaster." Harry replied slowly and carefully. He hoped that Dumbledore wouldn't ask him what he had been waiting to discuss with Severus.
"Harry, if I may ask, what were you going to discuss with Professor Snape?" Harry blanched. At that moment he had more contempt then he had ever felt towards the headmaster. Harry couldn't think of anything to say. The only thing he could do was mumble and stutter something about a missing paper.
Harry knew that the excuse wouldn't explain what he was doing in Severus' private rooms after school hours.
Being as smart as he was, Dumbledore knew not to push the issue any farther. "Alright, Harry. If you need to talk, please come to me." The warm, fatherly look he gave Harry was enough to let him forget his earlier discontentment towards the old man.
Harry stood slowly, and knowing he should go back to his dorm for some restless sleep, he began making his way slowly back towards the dungeons.
Harry didn't know what he had been expecting to happen when Severus regained his composure long enough to get out of the bath tub. He had been silently going over all of the possibilities of the embarrassing confrontation that was sure to take place between himself and the older man.
One thought was Severus becoming so angry with Harry that he refused to ever speak with him again, and ask him to leave his rooms with more force then necessary.
A second possibility would be Severus becoming so embarrassed that he refused to ever speak to Harry again and ask him to leave his rooms with more force then necessary.
The last, and strangest, thought Harry had was one of Severus sweeping out of the bathroom and pulling Harry into his arms and telling him that the rest of their lives would be okay. The rest of their lives would contain no pain, no suffering and no more death.
Harry wasn't sure why this thought had suddenly occurred to him. It was the last thought he had had, and he was sure it was the thought he would be pondering until the actual event took place.
Harry didn't have time to ponder his situation for very long. As he was about to knock on the large, oak door leading to the bathroom, Albus Dumbledore's head was seen poking through the silent fire.
"Harry?" he asked questioningly, "What are you doing here?" Harry could barely contain his shock at the sight of his headmaster being shocked by anything. Noticing the absence of the usual twinkle in the old man's eyes, Harry remained straight-faced.
"I had been in Professor Snape's room waiting to speak with him when he arrived back by floo powder. I was going to leave after I saw his condition, but he asked me to stay and help him into the bath. I'm sorry, Sir, but I couldn't leave him like that." Harry explained while watching the bewildered headmaster's expressions change from worry, to grievous fear.
"Ahh, I see." Dumbledore said, choosing not to prod the issue any farther. "Has he been in there long?"
"I was just getting out." a cold, almost dead voice stated before Harry could reply, "and young Mr. Potter here was just leaving." Severus finished.
Harry saw that 'situation two' had occurred. Although he was trying very hard not to show it, Harry could see a slight embarrassment on Severus' face.
"Right. Harry, if you could please go wait for me in my office. The password is 'red rose petals.' Dumbledore spoke to Harry while watching Severus. Harry knew that Dumbledore could also see the mixed emotions on Severus' face.
Without saying a goodbye to either of the professors, Harry made his way out of Severus' inner rooms, through his classroom and out into the cold hallway in front of the dungeons.
---
When Harry finally made it to Dumbledore's office, he sat down in one of the headmaster's comfy chairs and began to absentmindedly stroke Fawke's feathers. While he was thinking he began to drift slowly off to sleep.
"Harry. Harry, wake up." Harry woke to the gentle voice of the headmaster. He looked up and saw Dumbledore take the seat behind his desk. Harry also noticed the portraits were once again faking their sleep. He could see the occasional peek being taken by one of the previous Hogwart's headmasters.
"Harry, I have no doubt that you know where Professor Snape has been tonight. I also know you know what he has suffered, as you yourself have suffered from it. Once you receive that curse, you never forget it." Dumbledore stated while Harry played nervously with his shirt bottom.
"Yes, Headmaster." Harry replied slowly and carefully. He hoped that Dumbledore wouldn't ask him what he had been waiting to discuss with Severus.
"Harry, if I may ask, what were you going to discuss with Professor Snape?" Harry blanched. At that moment he had more contempt then he had ever felt towards the headmaster. Harry couldn't think of anything to say. The only thing he could do was mumble and stutter something about a missing paper.
Harry knew that the excuse wouldn't explain what he was doing in Severus' private rooms after school hours.
Being as smart as he was, Dumbledore knew not to push the issue any farther. "Alright, Harry. If you need to talk, please come to me." The warm, fatherly look he gave Harry was enough to let him forget his earlier discontentment towards the old man.
Harry stood slowly, and knowing he should go back to his dorm for some restless sleep, he began making his way slowly back towards the dungeons.