Severus, Safe at Last
Using Snape's own wand, Dumbledore used it to apparate them both to the part of the forest that lay closest to the Castle.
Albus picked up the injured boy in his arms, and enfolded him the best he could in his warm wool robes. Severus was silent, so stunned was he with the sense of safety he now enjoyed. Much of his panic had left, replaced by a small unfamiliar feeling of peace and belonging.
"How did you find me?" Snape asked at last. "Did you hear me scream when I broke my ankle?"
"Why, no. I believe that you sang to me, didn't you?" the wizard replied.
"But I only whispered the song! It would have been impossible for you to have heard me!"
Dumbledore smiled gently at the dark child in his arms. "But I did hear you. The word 'impossible' isn't found in the dictionary we use at Hogwarts, Severus," he replied with a smile. "Now, look ahead of us!"
Severus turned his head and saw a stream of lights coming from the Castle. A large group of people had been waiting for them. Severus could see most of his teachers and many of his fellow Slytherin House mates.
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As the two approached, the improvised welcoming party surrounded them and patted Severus' head, his arm, his shoulder. The boy flinched, but did not struggle to get away.
Snape almost began to cry again when he saw Hagrid's good and honest smile. "I'm so sorry," he said to the big man. "I wasn't right in my mind."
"I know that, laddie," Hagrid said. "Not to worry."
His Head of House tousled his hair and said he was glad to see him.
Standing right beside him was Professor Sartoris, concern etched in the lines of his face, who put his strong hand on the boy's shoulder, giving it a comforting pat. Not flinching this time, Severus gave them a shy smile in return.
"Broken ankle – quite unfortunate," said Professor McGonagall, who smiled into his dirty and tired face. "Let's get you up to Poppy. Albus, can you manage?"
At this, Dumbledore looked down at the boy in his arms and saw just a hint of the innocence that had once shown from his dark eyes before betrayal and hurt and fear had nearly destroyed it.
"Why, Minerva!" he said with a smile. "No burden is heavy if the heart is light!" Severus gave a small chuckle at this, which did their respective hearts good.
All three walked into the Castle.
They were home at last.
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Albus hadn't shared his second observation of the evening with McGonagall. It was a secret for his and for Severus' souls alone.
An unlikely father and son had found one another, as sure is sure, in spite of the pain and rage and confusion of this long and upsetting day.
It had been -- just like magic.
END
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