-Chapter three-
About closing one's mind

"Close your mind, Harry."

Everything was cold and dark around them. Harry could see dark figures getting closer and closer.
"Close your mind."

Snape's voice was strangely distant in Harry's ears.
"Close your mind, there are too many of them..."
So many! Harry was shaking, but he did not close his mind. He was going to fight.
"If there were only Dementors ... we could perhaps manage ... but there are Death Eaters, loads of them, close your mind and everything will be okay."
Death Eaters... Harry heard, among a few others, a voice which was familiar to him... Hate rushed in his soul... he wanted to run up to Bellatrix Lestrange... to hit her, to hurt her...
Snape stopped him.
"Close your mind."
It was too late... he had not, he could not.
"Who is there?" asked Bellatrix Lestrange.
It was lost. She was going to find them and to kill them. But Harry did not care. Nothing mattered...
Snape knew exactly what he was going to do, he had no choice, but more he thought about it, worse he felt. "No..." he said within himself "I won't..." His body was covered with sweat... he stopped thinking and he spoke without listening to what he was saying. He spoke in a tone Harry did not know to him:
"Friends of yours."
"Prove it," said Bellatrix Lestrange.
Snape raised his wand, muttered an incantation and something vast, green, glittering, erupted from the patch of darkness... it was an horrible, colossal skull, composed of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue... The Dark Mark...
Harry was struck with horror... he did not feel pain and hate anymore...Snape's very low voice came to his ears:
"Close your mind, Harry, then creep further... Fawkes will take care of you. Go... now."
Harry closed his mind -- he had had too much -- He could not bear things around him... Bellatrix Lestrange... Dementors... other Death Eaters... He emptied his mind of all emotion because if he had not he would have died of horror, fear, hate and pain. He crawled on the grass. The Dementors could not feel him... no one could have felt there was a human being there. His mind was too tightly shut. He grasped Fawkes long golden tail; they rose in a swirl of colour... Now they were in the forest... out of danger.
"Fawkes..." said Harry. And he knew no more…

When Harry woke up he had a raging fever. He heard Fawkes singing and felt relief, Fawkes's song was so sweet, he liked it so much ... he abandoned himself to his exhaustion -- that was so easy -- and fell asleep again.

"Harry..."
Snape had sat down near to Harry, and Fawkes had perched on his left forearm. When Harry opened his eyes, this sight was quite painful for him. He felt angry with Fawkes. Why did he perch there rather than anywhere else? Why did he like Snape?
"Fawkes saved your life," said Snape coldly.
Harry felt half mad. He did not want Snape to know about what he was thinking, he closed his mind and he felt still worse.
"Do you think you are acting for the best? To retire within yourself is clearly quite painful for you. Unless you wish to suffer you should try to empty your mind."
Harry avoided eye contact with Snape.
"Perhaps you are right, after all. Maybe you must think about yourself by yourself and consider the truth."
Harry did not wish to listen to Snape, but Snape could easily be heard when he meant to.
"You saw cruel things; therefore you found the world cruel. You have three possibilities: to break off from it, to face it, or to suffer. You chose the third one and I am afraid that you will be unhappy, as are many other people in the world."
"But," answered Harry, his voice shivering with dislike, "you don't care, anyway."
"I did everything I could to protect you from them."
Harry knew that without Snape and the diversion he had created, he would probably have been killed.
"I would have preferred to die rather than to be saved by you in that way!"
"I would have preferred to die rather than to be saved by your father in that way!" returned Snape, "but that is not the question. He did it and I did it."
"You saved my life, but you don't care about my being happy or unhappy, you are just giving me stupid advice!"
"I do care about it."
"And why? Because Dumbledore does, don't you? You have no heart, he has one for you!"
"Harry," answered Snape wearily, "you have many things to understand and many things to learn about confidence, friendship and pain."
He looked at Harry. His fever was raging more and more. "That is enough," Snape told him, "That is enough."
That was true, Harry could not stand the situation and Snape disliked it.
"We must go back to Hogwarts," said Snape firmly. Fawkes gave a cheerful sound to the name 'Hogwarts'
"Let us go..." Snape went on. "Coriolan!"
Coriolan, who had browsing nearby for hours, awaiting Snape to call for him, arrived as fast as wind.
"I knew you were there, Coriolan."
Coriolan prickled up his ears with interest.
"Why didn't you come to me earlier? You didn't dare? Did you?"
Coriolan gave him a guilty look.
"You are a disobedient animal. I told you to go back to Hogwarts, and you did not," said Snape in a reproachful tone.
Coriolan groaned sadly.
"It does not matter, we are going back now," Snape added calmly.
Coriolan looked at him and he understood why the place was not dangerous for Snape.
"Such spiritual things," he thought, as gazing at Snape impassive face," so well controlled!" Coriolan knew Snape had a power on himself he had not, but he did not know why Snape was adopting such an expression, he did not know how troubled he was, he just admired him as he had always done.
"Come here, Coriolan, old mate," said Snape more gently. Coriolan did as he was told and Snape patted him on the neck.
"I forgive you, mate."

Then he went up to Harry. Harry got up, he had a temperature and he was shaking.
"Harry," said Snape opening his mind a bit , "promise not to tell anyone..." He looked Harry straight in the eyes. "Promise that you will never tell anyone that I made the Dark Mark appear. Promise it!"

"I promise," said Harry, and he felt, as soon as he did it, the information drowning in the very depths of his soul. Now he was no longer able to say it to anyone.
"Canter, come here," called Snape.
Canter came and stopped to Coriolan's sides.

Harry could hardly remember the travel, but now he was at Hogwarts, Snape was walking swiftly and he was nearly running behind him. He did not know why he was following Snape. Perhaps it would have been too tiring to find something else to do. He did not feel like thinking about whatever it was.
There stood Dumbledore.
"Severus..." he began. He looked happy to see him back with Harry.
"Headmaster," cut Snape in a snappish manner,"you should take Harry to the Hospital Wing. He is not fine, he has a temperature, though he took acetylsalisilic acid. I am afraid he is really ill." Dumbledore meant to say something, but Snape spoke:

"Goodbye then." and he strode off. Dumbledore watched him to go. He was surprised by Snape's behaviour, and perhaps slightly annoyed by it. But when he looked down at Harry, he understood a bit better. The boy was shaking with fever. "Severus must be rather worried," thought Dumbledore.
Perhaps Snape was not, but Dumbledore was.
"Harry?" he said gently
Harry did not answer.

"Headmaster, you should give him some rest; he is more and more ill. "
"No, Poppy, my apologies." Mrs Pomfrey left the room.
"Harry..."
Harry lay on a bed, he was boiling.
"What did happen?"
"We met Bellatrix Lestrange," he said in a breath.
"And?"
"She nearly killed me...but it does not matter..."
"How did you escape?"
"Snape did ... er ... I cannot tell you..."
"Prof
essor Snape, Harry."
"Yeah... him... her..."
Dumbledore knew what Harry was going to say next.
"Sirius," said Harry painfully, "was not saved from her. I was." He felt his temperature growing still higher. He was onthe point to be delirious.
"Harry, we can do nothing about it!"
"There are things which could have been done!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Harry," he began calmly.
"You," interrupted Harry, "you... it is your fault!"
Dumbledore felt confusion, trouble pain and hate in Harry's mind. He gave him a bitter glance.
"Harry, you should be grateful towards Professor Snape," and he swept off.

Dumbledore was not angry with Harry. He would have liked to think Harry was wrong, but he did not really want to. And in the same time, he could not bear to think he was right. He did not feel like approaching Harry anymore, but he did not wish Harry to be alone. He knew what he had to do. He went out.

"Severus ..."
Snape had put off Coriolan's saddle and bridle and he was stroking the horse.
"Good after-noon, Headmaster," he said politely
"Good after-noon," replied Dumbledore.
Snape was preoccupied, but Dumbledore did not guess it because, as soon as he had seen him, Snape had closed his mind.
"Severus, will you, please, pass to the Hospital Wing to speak to Harry?"
"No, I will not," said Snape coldly.
"Why?" asked gently Dumbledore.
"I do not think it is useful."
"It is, Severus, he would die of fever."
"Give him medicines, then," said Snape sharply.
"It does not help him. He is not really ill, but he does not wish to be better. He does not care about his health. He does not care about his life, or rather he does but he is not aware of it. He does not think he wants to die, however. Indeed he would like not to think about death, and he is thinking about it more than ever."
"And why do you think I could help him?"
Snape did not wish to speak to Harry, and he was enjoying refusing Dumbledore what he wanted though he did not know why it was giving him such a pleasure.
"You have a self control he has not. His fever was born of the effort he did to overcome his feelings."
"And what shall I tell him?" He asked the question with a delicate tone which meant: "I'll tell him nothing."
"Tell him whatever you want. You will know what you will have to tell him. Give him a bit of your dynamism and optimism."
Dumbledore did not know that Snape felt neither dynamism nor optimism. Snape was hiding too well his thoughts.
"And if he does not listen to me? What if he does not want to hear my advice?"
"Lecture him or scold him. Do whatever you want. I am sure you can calm him down." Dumbledore was slightly annoyed. Why was not Snape doing as he was told?
"Why can you not speak to him?"
A shade passed on Dumbledore's face, but he closed his mind before Snape could catch what was wrong with Harry. He did not want to let Snape know what he had been told, it would have made him furious at Harry.
"Because ..." said Dumbledore in a slightly hesitant tone "... He does not want to listen to me."
"You may very well be heard when you want to."
For three seconds, Dumbledore felt like saying: "Listen to me then, and do as you are told." but, when his eyes met Snape's ones, he knew it was not the right solution. He surveyed Snape over his half-moon spectacles. He could hardly catch what Snape was thinking about or how he was feeling, and he understood there was something Snape did not want to reveal to him. He remembered Harry's words: 'I cannot tell you...' There was a secret somewhere.
"Severus," Dumbledore said gently, "I pray you ... "
Snape stopped resisting Dumbledore's will. He did not enjoy it anymore.
"I will speak to him, Headmaster, of course, since you want it," he said softly.
"Thank you, Severus," answered Dumbledore gratefully.
Snape turned to go.
"Severus..."
Snape looked back at Dumbledore.
"There are things we shall need to speak about."
Snape nodded. "Yes," he said gazing down at the grass, "of course."
"And about Harry ..."
"Mm?"
"Forgive him, Severus, forgive him. Be patient with him."
"Yes," answered Snape in a breath. He did not know exactly what he had to forgive, but it did not matter. There were many things to forgive melted together. It was not very clear in Snape's mind.

"Harry ..."
Harry was not listening to him. Snape insisted.
"Harry, listen to me."
Harry raised his eyes.
"Sirius was a worthy member of the Order, Harry."
Harry did not answer. He could not.
" ... He was as worthy to live as I am," Snape's voice faltered slightly, but Harry did not mention Snape's past. He was listening. He could not do anything else. Something, in the depths of his insides told him: "Don't do anything. Just listen."
"... But he is gone. I admire the way he fought before." Snape went on calmer, "There are things you must understand," he added quietly, "I would never have accepted to let anyone kill Sirius. Never. I would have done everything to save his life. I disliked him, that is true, but we were members of the same Order, we fought against the same people, I never wanted him dead."
Suddenly Harry found strengths to speak.
"But," he said furiously," why didn't you go to fight to his side?"
"I did not know he would leave the Headquarters."
"You should have, you knew that from the moment you told the members of the Order I had probably left for the Departments of the Mysteries, Sirius could only leave to go to my aid! You knew he would!"
"I hoped to find you in the forest; you could have been still there. I knew Sirius cared more about your life than his own. He preferred hundreds times you to be saved rather than him, but I did everything I had to. I warned the members of the Order, Dumbledore came too. If he could not save him, how could I have? Who could have?"
Harry kept his mouth closed. He felt weaker than ever.
"I know you hate Bellatrix Lestrange," said Snape quietly.
Harry shivered with hatred.
"But think a bit. To kill her or to send her to Azkaban will not put an end to your pain. To take her life will not give back his to Sirius. The pain must not bring you to hurt anyone. Think about fairness. You will be an Auror, Harry, but you will not be an Auror to take revenge on people who made you to suffer. Justice does not work in that way ... And about your pain you are the only one who could put it an end. It is yours; it lives in your soul. You feed it in every instant and it burns your insides. Get rid of it or die."
Harry answered, in spite of himself:
"Stop being right, I hate you!"
Snape looked at Harry and he responded calmly:
"You were not born to hate, Harry."
"How do you know?" shouted Harry. He felt like running to Snape and hurting him. Snape's eyes bored into Harry's ones. Harry tried to get a grip on himself and to hide his thoughts, but in vain.
"You need not to be very clever to see it," said Snape in a smooth voice, "hatred drives you mad, it makes you shake from head to foot, it makes you lose your self control, and I am afraid it will kill you soon."

That was true, and Harry could not deny it. Making a huge effort, he said quietly:
"You weren't born to be right."
Snape did not feel cross with Harry, he answered peacefully:
"Perhaps I was not, but I became, and I bear it very well. Today at least. Tomorrow, perhaps I shall not bear it anymore. I do not know. Perhaps I will stop being right. To be wrong is human though you do not enjoy this idea."
Those words calmed Harry down. When Snape's eyes bored once more into his ones, he did not get angry because now he knew Snape knew he had understood Snape could understand him. And, as he could not utter a sound, he looked up at Snape and smiled. Snape gazed at him an instant, then he smiled back.

Dumbledore entered in the ward. Harry was fast asleep. Dumbledore sat to his bed's sides and listened to Harry's peaceful respiration with happiness.
Now the night had fallen, Dumbledore was looking at the dark blue sky by the window, it was starriest than ever. He heard a very light sound. It was Snape; he came to sit cross-legged on the floor with him.
"Good-evening, Severus," said Dumbledore warmly.
"Good evening, Headmaster," answered Snape quietly.
"I am happy to see you, Severus."
Snape felt happy too. He got rid of the thought which troubled him. He would not think about it for the whole night, and he knew Dumbledore would not mention his travel during these hours.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
They sat still for an instant, then Snape added in a low voice:
"I knew you would be there, Headmaster."
"I knew you would come, Severus," answered Dumbledore kindly.
A few minutes elapsed.
"You will watch over Harry, will not you?" asked Snape in a scarcely audible murmur.
"Yes, I will," muttered back Dumbledore.
"Does it mean you will spend the whole night sit to his bed's sides?" mouthed Snape.
"Yes, it does, Severus."
Snape caught something as a hint of impatience or annoyance in Dumbledore's voice, but there was no good reason him to be really cross with him, that is why he dared to whisper:
"I thought so, Headmaster."
"You thought right, then," answered Dumbledore in a soft voice.
Time passed. Snape was thinking, his head between his hands.
"Have a look at the sky, Severus."
Snape gazed at it by the window.
"How beautiful!" he said at mid-voice.
"Yes," replied Dumbledore, "how beautiful!"
Snape rose went to the window and opened it. A fresh wind entered in the room, Snape liked it, it smelt hay and wood, it smelt as the autumn which was coming with fishing and especially hunting. Then he thought of Coriolan, and he wondered if he did not prefer a ride on his back rather than a hike. He enjoyed the fresh air a couple of minutes then he went back to Dumbledore's side and he squatted down.
"He will not have fever anymore, Headmaster," he said without a glance at Harry.
"Look at him, Severus," answered Dumbledore gently. Snape did as he was told, and when his eyes met Harry's peaceful and innocent face lit by a beam of the moon, he knew he would stay until the morning would come.
Dumbledore gazed at Harry and said in a tender way:
"How meek and mild he seems! ... He did not for long ..."
For a quarter of second, Snape was on the point to express he was agreeing ... He was happy it was dark, so Dumbledore could not see him well and could not know he was moved.
Harry shivered slightly in his sleep. Snape got up and closed the window. When he sat again, he leaned against a bed's leg.
"About Coriolan ..." Dumbledore asked, "Was he a fine horse?"
"Yes, very fine."
"Let us hope he will learn to express his disagreement in an other way than rearing up ..."
"I am sure he will, Headmaster."
"Good."
"I think he is a very good horse, Headmaster."
"Yes, he is; so calm ... so obedient ..." Said Dumbledore with a teasing smile.
"So swift, so beautiful, so young, so clever!"
"I see. Did you enjoy his company?"
"Of course, I did!"
"So he did, Severus, you were patient with him."
"Let us hope I was."
"You like him, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Good. He is yours, then."
"Pardon?"
"I give him to you. I thought you would like him ... But if you see any problem ..."
"No," cut Snape, "there is no problem. Thank you very much, Headmaster." He beamed at Dumbledore.
Hours elapsed. The morning came. Snape, his head on his knees, was dozing.
"Severus..."
"Mm ..." Snape gave a sleepy moan. Dumbledore posed his hand on his shoulder and he raised his head.
"The sun is rising, Severus."
Snape glanced at the window.
"Yes ..." he answered.
"You should go to bed now ... You still have a few free hours in front of you." said Dumbledore gently.
"Yes ... Good-night ... I mean good-morning, Headmaster ..."
"Good morning, Severus."
Snape left the ward, he was tired and he knew Dumbledore wished to be alone with Harry.
Dumbledore leant and put back the blankets on Harry who was still fast asleep, then he said, in a low voice with a very gentle tone:
"Good-morning, son."

Snape went out. He had had a few hours of rest, and he had still half an hour before he began to teach.
"Coriolan!" he called, "Coriolan, come here, you are mine!"
Coriolan did not come. He had walked into the lake and he was drinking. He had water upper than to his knees. He raised his head for a moment to gaze at Snape with a deep and sad expression of misunderstanding.
"Come here, Coriolan."
Coriolan put back his muzzle in the water. Snape felt rather annoyed, Coriolan had to obey him. He was Coriolan's Master. But Coriolan did not seem to know it.
"Silly boy," snarled Snape, "Obey, now!"
Coriolan did not budge.
"All right," muttered Snape angrily, "All right, you leave me no choice, Coriolan." He put off his shoes and entered in the water. It was cold. He waded until he reached Coriolan. There, he waved his wand. "Accio bridle," he murmured. Coriolan's bridle went in his hand.
"Don't move, mate," he said gently.
Coriolan looked at him mischievously. He meant to play. He ran further, splashing Snape with water. Snape shivered.
"It isn't really warm, Coriolan," he said calmly. Coriolan did not seem to care about the water being warm or cold.
"Wait a minute, I am going to catch you!" smiled Snape, "You are really playing silly games, Coriolan!"
Now he had water up to the belt, he was walking rather slowly. He knew what he had to do to be able to catch Coriolan. He flung himself forward the water and he began to swim. Coriolan enjoyed going further every time Snape was on the point to reach him.
Now water was lapping under Coriolan's belly. He did not enjoy it very much, but he could not stand the idea he would lose the game ... Now water was up to his flank, he could not go further. He was going to be caught. He knew he could not run quickly in such deep water. It was impeding him, but it did not impede Snape who swam swiftly up to him. He stayed still; Snape stopped next to him and bridled him. Coriolan let him do docilely.
"You're fair-play, Coriolan."
Snape mounted on Coriolan's back. He felt quite well, his feet dipping in the fresh waves, Coriolan's warm body between his legs. The horse spinal column was not very comfortable to sit on, but Snape adopted an adequate position and it did not bother him.
"I won, Coriolan."
With a gentle pressure of his ankles, he drove him towards the lake's banks. When they were close enough, Snape requested that Coriolan would trot, and so he did, making large sprays of water on his passage.
"I am your master, Coriolan. It means you are mine ..." Snape patted Coriolan's neck, then he commanded:
"Ahead, Coriolan!"
Coriolan, when he felt Snape's hand stroking him, and when he heard him commanding him, understood what 'you are mine' meant. He obeyed, happier than ever. They had a short ride, then Snape looked at Coriolan.
"You're dirty, why did you choose the muddiest place of the lake?" he said sternly.
Coriolan did not answer.
"You must take a shower, mate," he said more gently.
Coriolan gave a sweet grunt to express his agreement.
"Very well. Let us go, then."
They entered in the castle. Coriolan was walking calmly. Professor Dumbledore came from a door in the corridor in which they were advancing.
"Why are you all wet, Severus?" Dumbledore asked with a friendly smile.
"Because I went into the water, Headmaster."
"So thought I. There are not many way to be soaked by such a sunny day ..."
"I could have taken a shower."
"Yes, that is true, I did not think about it. Why did you go in the water?"
"Because Coriolan likes water," said Snape with a slight smile.
"I see ..." said Dumbledore, smiling back, "Coriolan likes water and you go into ..."
"We both went in ... We enjoyed ..."
"I see ..." replied Dumbledore gazing at Coriolan. Drops of water were trickling on his whole body. "What are you going to do now?"
"We shall take a shower."
"I think it is a brilliant idea," said Dumbledore cheerfully.
"Could you ... er ... avoid telling Mr Filch I let enter Coriolan ..."
"I think he would be very pleased to learn it."
"Really?"
"Of course not. Do not worry, I shall not tell him about it. I promise."
"Thanks ..."
"Don't mention it."
Snape nudged Coriolan with his heels.
"Wait a minute," said Dumbledore," your bathroom is a bit narrow ..."
"Narrow! Let us exaggerate nothing."
"Yes ... Narrow is perhaps not the good word. I meant to say mine was better to wash Coriolan ... more comfortable ... Do you accept?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Snape jumped down and followed Dumbledore. Soon they arrived in front of a gargoyle. Dumbledore said the password:
"Liquorice Wand."
The gargoyle jumped aside. They all entered through the gap in the walls. Soon they stopped before an oak polished door. Dumbledore opened it.
"Welcome," he said nicely.
They entered. Snape glance over the floor, the walls and ceiling. He stood motionless.
"So?" asked Dumbledore benignly. He wished to know if Snape liked the room, and he was slightly worried to see him that silent. Snape looked back at him, and he said frankly:
"I can only marvel, Headmaster."
"It is a pity," answered Dumbledore very seriously, "because you've got many other things to do."

When Harry awoke, he felt calm. He heard a slight pace leaving the room, but he was not completely alone though Dumbledore had left the ward. Fawkes and his bride had perched on his bedside table. Harry looked at Fawkes' magnificent scarlet and gold plumage, then at the female's one, which was plainer, tawny with glints of gold, but as beautiful.
"Hello Fawkes, good-morning Miss."
Fawkes blinked peacefully at him, and his bride gave a few polite notes. Harry felt happiness and peace. He did not wish anymore to hurt anyone, and all the pain had vanished from his insides. He was quite well. He knew lessons would begin in half an hour (He had glanced at the clock in front of his bed) so he had all his time to get ready. He looked lazily at his shoes, sat on his bed and laced them. He already wore his glasses, probably because no one had put them off. Fawkes went in his lap and gave him a bit of parchment. Harry took it and stroked him gently, he was no longer angry with Fawkes and he thought he would never be again. He unrolled it and read it. The narrow handwriting was vaguely familiar to him.
I, Professor A. Dumbledore, certify, today 09/30/96 that Mr Harry Potter could not be present at his classes for personal reasons.
Harry got up. He felt healthier than ever, he was going to see again his friends, and he would not even have to justify his absence. He strode across the room, went out and went to take his breakfast with Ron and Hermione.
Hermione ran up to him.
"Harry! You're back! Are you fine?"
"Yes, I am," he answered, and it was true.
Soon he was telling Ron and Hermione about his travel.
"Why did you leave, Harry?" asked Hermione with concern.
Harry remained silent. Why had he done that? Many things had brought him to do that, they were a bit confused in his mind. He had felt pain and hate, and he knew he would meet Bellatrix Lestrange over there. He had wished to go to her and to hurt her ... or rather he did not, but he could not stand the idea to stay at Hogwarts after what she had done to Sirius. And the Order! how he had wished to be one of its members, and still he did wish to join it ... but now he was sensible ... he would know against what he would fight ...
When Harry answered, his voice was shaking slightly:
"Because I was mad." He said, and he was not properly wrong.

Coriolan did as Snape, he gazed at the walls and ceiling. Everything was made of pink granite including what looked like an empty, large swimming pool sunk into the floor. Dumbledore turned on a few taps, and soon Snape asked Coriolan to enter in the water, but Coriolan stayed near the door, bracing himself, refusing to follow his master.
"You told me he liked water, Severus," said Dumbledore.
"He does, but ..." Snape eyed at Coriolan, "he has never seen such a beautiful place before. That is why he cannot go further."
Coriolan was on the point to rear up.
"Don't" Snape hissed in such a low voice that Dumbledore could hear
him, "don't, or ..."
Coriolan lowered his head and Snape knew he would not dare to do what he had been forbidden.
"Good," he said gently, patting him on the neck. He felt Coriolan was going to obey docilely. Dumbledore went closer to Coriolan and rubbed his withers.
"Coriolan," he said quietly but firmly, "you must obey Severus now; he is your Master."
Coriolan did as he was told. He entered in the pool by an inclined plane. He had water up to his belly. It was warm and clean. He liked the white foam and the blue bubbles around him. He stayed still when Snape mounted on his back to brush him and to spread shampoo on his back and flanks. Soon, thanks to Dumbledore and Snape, he was covered with soap from head to foot. He suddenly felt like shaking himself. So he did, sending suds everywhere. Snape who was still on his back did not enjoy it very much; he jumped down, splashing him with warm water light foam.
"Stay still, Coriolan!" said Snape harshly.
Coriolan shivered slightly and took such a sheepish expression that Snape did not add any reproach. Coriolan stood perfectly motionless.
"Good," said Snape, noticing Coriolan had obeyed him, "you're a well-behaved horse." And he rubbed his withers. Usually, when Coriolan was being rubbed his withers, he was stretching his neck with delights, but this time, he dared not to move, he just glanced at Snape gratefully.
"Well," said Dumbledore gently, "now we must rinse off the soap."
"It is already half done," answered Snape with a smile.
Dumbledore turned on a shower just upside Coriolan's head. A few minutes passed. Now Coriolan was cleaner than ever. Snape leant against him. He still dared not to move.
"You must promise you will never tell anyone what you're going to hear, Coriolan," said Snape stroking him gently.
Coriolan bowed his head to mean 'yes', then, remembering he was not allowed to move, he stayed still, as petrified.
"So?" asked Dumbledore quietly. He knew Snape meant to tell him what he had learnt during his travel.

"They were loads of them ..."
Harry was telling Ron and Hermione about his travel.
"What did happen then?" asked Ron urgently.
"Professor Snape arrived ..."
"What did he do?"
"He saved my life."
"How?" queried Ron, amazed.
"He told me to close my mind."
"Did you?"
"I could not first ... Eventually I did. He ... created a diversion ..."
"What did he do?"
"I cannot tell you ..."
"Why did you have to close your mind?"
"Ron, that's obvious," said Hermione with exasperation.

Dumbledore gave Snape a searching look. Snape did not avoid his eyes, but his mind was so closed that Dumbledore could not have an idea of what he was thinking about. He had dropped the information on an indifferent tone. And now he was gazing at him, quite expressionless. Dumbledore was not disappointed by what he had learnt, but afflicted with Snape's behaviour.
"You may go out, Coriolan," Snape said eventually. But Coriolan did not move. In fact he had nearly not moved since he had been told to stay still. He wanted to stand there for always. The water was warm; the walls were nice to his eyes. He thought with pleasure to the moment Snape had leant against him, had stroked him, then had spoken to Dumbledore in a calm, nearly nonchalant voice which overawed him. Everything he desired was Snape to lean again against him. But Snape did not, he just looked at him. When they made an eye-contact, Coriolan knew Snape would not get cross with him, despite his disobedience, so he would enjoy everything Snape would tell him.
Snape looked at Dumbledore.
"What shall we do?" he asked, "he does not feel like getting out." He meant he would not force Coriolan out the water.
"We could put off the water..." suggested Dumbledore.
"Or add some more," said Snape cheerfully.
"It is a brilliant idea."
They came out the pool and turned on many taps. When they had added enough warm water and pink bubbles, Coriolan had to swim.
"He will soon have enough with swimming," said Snape. But Coriolan seemed to enjoy.
Snape gazed at the very bottom of the pool. It was deep. Dumbledore could not resist temptation, or he did not try, he pushed Snape into the water, then he plunged into. Coriolan was happy to have some company. He swam straight to Snape who stroked his muzzle a short instant. Then Snape turned towards Dumbledore.
"Why did you send me into the water?" he asked in a serious and polite tone.
"Oh," answered Dumbledore who seemed to think hard, "Because I thought there were not enough bubbles."

"The bell will ring soon, Severus, you should get out."
Snape swam swiftly, aiming to reach the further edge. Dumbledore swam to his side and Coriolan followed them. Snape was swimming faster and faster, perhaps in order to out distance Dumbledore, but he did not mean to fall behind and he did not. When they were out of the water, Snape called Coriolan. The horse came as soon as he was called, and when Snape stroked his neck, he gave him a slightly bitter look, then he promised himself he would manage to get a bath again.
"I will dry Coriolan's hair for you, Severus."
"Thank you, Headmaster." And Snape swept off.
"Accio shoes," he muttered. They arrived in his hand and he put them, then he went down in the dungeons.
"Good-morning, class," he said darkly.
Several students answered. Some of them were happy to see Snape again, some were not, the rest of them did not care, and Snape did not care about the first-years caring or caring not about his coming back. He had temperature again...
His students were working. Everything Snape wished was them to continue working without a word as well-behaved children, so that he could think... A student was bothering him... Why on earth was he talking?
Snape got up.
"Don't talk, Zabini," he snarled.
William Zabini went pink and held his tongue.
"Well," muttered Snape, and he sat down behind his desk... His temperature was higher and higher. He had acted against his moral concepts... He had betrayed the Order in a way... Why had he done that? He could have avoided it, could he not? He could hardly bear the memory of what he had done... "Shame is a strange thing," he thought, his head between his hands, "very strange indeed... painful and troubling... I could get rid of it, but the worst is that I do not wish it... How strange..."
A student was speaking again. Snape did not wish to be disturbed, he did not know why, but he felt terribly annoyed with the pupil. He rose and went straight to him. William shivered, keeping his eyes on the floor. He knew he had gone too far.
"You," Snape hissed angrily.
Zabini raised his eyes a quarter of second to lower them with fear on his face as soon as they met Snape's ones.
"Detention, Zabini," said Snape sharply.
William Zabini did not answer. He had never been given a detention before.
"I told you not to talk," explained Snape coldly and he went back to his place. When he glanced again at William, he wondered if he had not been a bit unfair; he felt his fever raging more and more.