Disclaimer: Harry Potter's like something really expensive that us common folk cannot afford to buy. We want to own it, but we can't!

Comments

MoroTheWolfGod: You love it? Yay!

Rosaleen: Yeah, goats are okay, but I wouldn't wanna talk to one!

TartanLioness: Thanks for your review! I'll have to check out Stargate SG1 (Walks away from the computer to go check it out).

grungster: Thanks for your wonderful comments! I'm glad to see that people are accepting my kinda sorta out of character characters! You've read it three times? Wow, I'm so honored!

Rikki8879: (Stephenie pats Severus on the head. "How dare you!" says Severus. "Ahhhhhh!" says me as the hexes come flying.)

zafaran: Yeah, Severus has got it rough! But he's a man; he'll make it ("Won't you, child?" says Dumbledore, giving Snape's shoulder a reassuring squeeze).

Sorry this update took so long (schoolwork...Ahhhhhh!).

Unfortunately, there's only a few chapters left in this story (probably 1 or 2 after this one. Awww!). But there's good news for all you ADMM shippers out there! I'm coming out with a story called The Burdens of a Lioness. Keep an eye out for it, please!

As a warning, Sirius Black and Severus Snape are out of character. Sorry if that's bad!

I hope you all enjoy this one!

saiyanwizardgurl

Chapter 19: Unexpected Help and Sleeping Arrangements

An exhausted Severus Snape pushed open the heavy front door of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Instantly, he heard the earsplitting shrieks that always erupted from Mrs. Black's portrait. "HOW DARE YOU ENTER INTO THE MOST NOBLE AND ANTIENT HOUSE OF – "

"Shut up, woman!" shouted Snape, quickly shutting the door and leaning heavily against it.

At the same time, the door leading down to the kitchen flew open and slammed against the wall. "That's it! I've had it with you, you old hag! Just shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT, YOU UNGRATEFUL – "

"Just SHUT UP!" yelled both men in unison.

Sirius Black continued to struggle with the black curtains that covered the screaming portrait. When he had finally hidden the painting from view, he turned to the front door to see who had come in. The usual feeling of loathing that surged through him whenever he saw the Potions Master vanished, however, when he saw that Snape had collapsed and was lying on his back, which seemed to cause him much pain. "Hey, are you okay?" asked the Animagus.

"Oh, yes, Black," said the Potions Master, sarcastically, "I was just admiring your floor. Argh!"

Seeing that being on the floor was not helping the other man's condition, Black knelt down and helped a reluctant Snape into a sitting position. "Want me to get Dumbledore?" asked the Animagus.

"No, I'll just go down to the meeting!" said Snape impatiently, flicking his sopping wet hair out of his eyes and pushing himself up. He took three steps before he nearly fell on his face.

Black caught him around the waist before he met the floor. "Or not," he said. "I think it'll be better if I go get Dumbledore. Hmmm…you just stay here for a second," said the Animagus, sitting the Potions Master back on the floor and walking down into the kitchen.

Snape glared at the retreating figure, but dropped his expression when the door shut. Merlin, he was exhausted. And cold. He had not realized that he was shivering in his soaked robes. Cold water from his hair was dripping down his face.

The Potions Master looked up as the door leading to the kitchen opened again. "Dumbledore told me to take you upstairs. He said he'd come up to see you after."

"All right."

Seeing that Snape was in no state to move, the Animagus strode over to the other man and picked him up. The Potions Master tensed up, completely shocked. "What are you doing, Black!" he hissed as the other man began carrying him up the stairs.

"Taking you upstairs."

"What! Put me down!"

"No."

"Put me down now, Black!"

"Oh, shut up!" said the Animagus, rolling his eyes.

"What did you just say to me!"

"Shut up."

"How dare you! I demand that you put me down this instant!"

"Stop your complaining."

"I don't need you to carry me around!"

"Would you prefer to crash into the floor?"

"I'm fine, Black! Put me down!"

"Do I have to Stun you?"

Snape blinked. "What?"

"Do I have to Stun you? I'll do it if you don't cooperate."

"Are you threatening me!"

"Yes."

The Potions Master opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it and said nothing. Besides, he did have the energy to put up much of a fight. He was looking forward to a soft bed, one that would be good for his back.

Black carried Snape to one of the spare bedrooms with ease, noticing how light the man was. Opening the door, he walked in and gently sat the Potions Master on the edge of the bed. "I'm sure you can handle it from here?"

"Of course!" he snapped.

The Animagus turned on his heel and made to walk out of the room. "Black?" The wizard in question, who had reached the door, turned his head to look at Snape. "Thanks," muttered the Potions Master with much less bitterness than usual. Snape was not looking at him.

Black let the smallest of smiles play across his face. "Sure," he said, shutting the door with a small snap!

The Potions Master quickly stripped off his rain-drenched cloak, robes, and shirt until he had nothing on but pants, which he charmed dry. Snape staggered into the bathroom and hung up his wet clothes. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, a raven-haired man with a tall thin frame was staring at him with dark eyes surrounded by dark rings. Scowling at his reflection, he stumbled haphazardly into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. He did not even get under the covers, but rather fell asleep in seconds.

…………………

The Potions Master drifted back to consciousness when he was gently shaken awake by the headmaster. "Severus? Wake up, child."

Snape opened his eyes wearily and saw that both Dumbledore and McGonagall were seated on the bed. "What time is it?" he mumbled, rolling onto his side.

The headmaster consulted his watch. "It's 10:15pm." The Potions Master groaned and put a hand over his eyes. Seeing that he was still very tired, the Transfigurations teacher began stroking the younger wizard's hair. "I'm sorry, Severus," said Dumbledore, "but I need your report."

Snape sighed before starting. "He wanted to know if I had started on another batch of the Caponis Concoction. He was pleased when he found out I had. Apparently, some of the other Death Eaters are having trouble fulfilling their assignments."

"Like who?" asked the headmaster.

"Malfoy and Nott. They're working on spying within the Ministry. I'm not sure who Nott is after; probably a low-ranking Ministry worker. I can find out more on that, but Malfoy's after the second in command of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. No idea why. They were both severely punished."

"I see," said Dumbledore "Anything else?"

"No, tonight was rather uneventful."

"Well, no news is usually good news, I guess."

"We'd better let you get back to sleep," said McGonagall. She placed a kiss on his forehead. "Sweet dreams."

"We'll be here if you need us, Severus," said the headmaster, giving Snape's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Call us if you need anything."

"All right. Goodnight," mumbled the Potions Master, sleepily. With a flick of Dumbledore's wand, the dark sheets wiggled out from underneath the younger wizard and fell over him. Another flick and the blankets were warmed. The Potions Master sighed happily. "Thanks," he mumbled.

"Goodnight," whispered McGonagall and Dumbledore in unison as they walked out of the bedroom and into the one across the hall.

"There's only one other room left," said the headmaster.

"Yes, but we can make the bed bigger to fit us both if need be," said the Transfigurations teacher, smiling.

He looked at her, smiling. "And you're okay with that?" he asked.

"Of course."

Ten minutes later, the witch and wizard had changed into their pajamas and gotten into bed. Dumbledore kissed the witch tenderly. "Did I ever tell you that you have beautiful eyes?" he asked.

McGonagall was grateful for the darkness as it hid the slight blush that rose in her cheeks. Your eyes are gorgeous too, Albus. "You've mentioned it before," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Smiling, the headmaster kissed her again. "I love you, Minerva."

"I love you too, Albus."

"Goodnight."

"'Night."

Their eyes fluttered as they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

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