"Severus!"
Snape turned to see Dumbledore's head sitting in his fireplace and he looked at the clock. It was so late that he had to squint to see the hands pointing to the 3 and 6.
"What is it, Albus? It's 3:30 in the morning!"
"Harry's gone! No one has seen him since Voldemort was killed!"
"I did, he was helping in the –" Severus stopped. He hadn't seen Harry since he had told his friends he loved them. Harry had been saying goodbye to them, but no one had realized it. "He actually did it. Who went with him?"
Dumbledore frowned. "How did you know that someone went?"
"A conversation," Severus said, waving it off. "Who was it?"
"Draco Malfoy."
Severus nodded. "An unlikely pair, I still can't believe Harry pulled Draco to the light side in time."
Albus nodded. "Harry is needed here, Severus. Go bring him back."
Severus blinked in surprise as he looked at the Headmaster. That was a direct order! He never had been ordered to do something. Asked and tricked, yes, but not ordered. Albus knew how he felt about that!
"Sir?"
"You are to go find Harry and bring him back. Stun him and portkey if you must. Your replacement is on his way."
With that said, Albus pulled out of the fireplace, leaving a stunned Potions Master still staring at the flames. Suddenly he snapped out of it and started packing, wondering how he was supposed to find the boys. He himself had taught Harry how to hide, and with Draco beside him… it would be nearly impossible. Then Severus remembered a conversation from only a month or so back.
Severus looked over at the boy sprawled on his back, staring up at the stars twinkling above them. Harry, probably feeling his intense gaze, turned to look at him questioningly.
"What?"
"Precisely what I was wondering. You seem to be thinking pretty hard over there."
Harry chuckled and sat up. "Yeah, I was just wondering what it would be like if I could live my own life the way I want to. To be Harry, not any of this other rubbish I get hounded with. But to do that I would have to leave, and I don't think I could go alone."
"Where would you go?"
"I don't know. Someplace where the reporters can't find me. I've always wanted to visit a beach. I think it would be so beautiful to walk along the beach during the sunrise."
"You are such a romantic," Severus scoffed, though he did admit – to himself – that it did sound nice.
Harry laughed. "I know. But that's just me."
Severus smirked. "Quite."
Snape sighed as he said a silent goodbye to his home as he walked down the hallways. There was only one place that he could think Harry would go and be able to escape the press. America. There were a lot of beaches, but what other choice did he have? Sighing, Severus looked back at the castle right before he Disapparated.
"Florida, here I come."