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Chapter 4: You Explain

Severus Snape returned to Dumbledore's office to find Minerva McGonagall pacing.

"Where's the headmaster?" he asked.

"He went to go take a shower. I told him that I would wait for you down here. But I think we can go up now; I heard him turn off the shower a while ago."

The two professors crept up the stairs. McGonagall knocked softly on the door. "Albus? We're coming in now."

She opened the door noiselessly and the witch and wizard slipped into the room, leaving the door cracked open slightly. The room was dark; the only source of light came from the room the office they had just left. Despite the lack of light, they could both see Dumbledore's thin frame, which was currently leaning against the headboard of the bed, head tilted back. As they approached the bed, McGonagall called the headmaster softly. "Albus? Are you awake?"

"Yes," whispered Dumbledore softly. "Just resting my eyes."

"Headmaster," said Snape softly, "this potion should help your headache. It should also help you to sleep."

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore. Snape felt the goblet slip out of his hands. The headmaster swallowed the extremely bitter potion in a few mouthfuls and set the goblet gently on his bedside table. "I am in your debt."

Snape laughed softly. "Somehow I don't think you are." The Potions Master then did something that most people would have thought very uncharacteristic of him: he sat down on the bed and gently pulled the headmaster into a hug. This action even surprised Dumbledore and McGonagall. "Get well soon, Albus," said Snape. "The wizarding world needs you." He stayed there for a few moments, and the headmaster returned the embrace. He then pulled out of the hug, turned on his heel, and left the room, keeping the door cracked open.

"Well," said McGonagall, "let's get you into bed."

Dumbledore slid over to allow the Transfiguration teacher to pull back the sheets so that he could slip into bed. The headmaster sighed happily as his thin frame was engulfed in warmth. "Thank you, Minerva."

"You don't have to thank me, Albus. Just promise me that you'll rest and get well soon. Because Severus is right, you know; the wizarding world needs you."

"All right, I promise."

McGonagall bent over and kissed Dumbledore on the cheek. "Sweet dreams." Then she too turned on her heel and left, closing the bedroom door behind her with a small snap.

Turning around, she saw that the Potions Master had not left the headmaster's office. McGonagall walked down the steps to meet him.

"Do you have anywhere to go today?" he asked.

"No," answered the witch. "Why?"

"I figured we should stay here and let whoever pops in know that the Headmaster will not be in his office for a while. I overheard many of the Order members talking about dropping in on him today at yesterday's meeting."

My, how very uncharacteristic of Severus. "Oh, that's right. Very well, then; I'll stay here with you."

Snape sat down in a chair next to Dumbledore's desk. "You should sit behind the headmaster's desk, Minerva."

"What? Oh, don't be silly, Severus, I can't do that!"

"Oh, come on now, Minerva. Seeing that the headmaster is unable to fulfill his duties, it is only natural that you, the Deputy Headmistress, should take over."

McGonagall could tell that he was joking with her. Did Severus just crack a joke? Oh well, I best enjoy it while I can. "Very well, then; have it your way." She sat down behind the headmaster's desk and conjured up some tea and cookies, pouring some out for both of them. Handing the Potions Master his tea, she looked out the window; it was raining. "I can't believe Albus never got help before now."

"I can," said Snape, taking a sip of his tea.

McGonagall stared at the Potions Master, her eyebrows raised.

"What? It's not that shocking. The headmaster has always put others before himself. I expect he would have kept going if we hadn't caught him in here this morning. I guess this situation is shocking because the headmaster hardly ever shows any signs of weakness."

"I suppose you're right. Many of us rely on him more than we should. I guess we've all come to believe that Albus is somewhat invincible. Or at least I have."

"I have too."

"Yes, but I doubt that you rely on him as much as I do. You at least can spy for him. I cannot offer him such a useful service."

"I had to make a terrible mistake to offer it. Spying for him is the only way to make up for it."

"Severus, it takes a lot of courage to do what you do. And you've more than made up for your mistake. Albus trusts you, and so do I."

Snape took a long sip of his tea, trying to hide the fact that he was blushing slightly. "Thank you, Minerva."

Just then, the door opened. "Dumbledore, we -- "

Alastor Moody stopped abruptly when he saw Snape and McGonagall. Kingsley stopped when Moody did, but Tonks did not and bumped into the other two. "Oy, Mad-Eye, what gives?"

"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Kingsley.

The Potions Master pick up a cookie, then looked at McGonagall. "You explain," he said.