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Chapter Ten
A Bad Day for Everyone
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Severus Snape was in a very bad mood. His day had even started off bad. His first class had been first year Gryffindors and Slytherins. They were a horrible class, three cauldrons exploded and none of them could answer a single question he asked. His day didn't get any better.
Lunch was horrible; Lupin kept talking to him when he clearly wanted to be left alone. After lunch, he had to deal with more dunderheads, namely Collin Creevy. The boy was almost as bad at Longbottom.
Then to make his day even better he got into a row with his assistant. He wasn't quite sure where or why his assistant was so angry that he was a Death Eater. Practically everyone knew he was one, they were just too scared to bring it up to him. As it should be, he thought to himself.
Once his ex-assistant fled his classroom, he flooed directly to the headmaster's office. He was extremely pissed at that point, barging into the room in a whirl of fury.
The headmaster was seated in front of the fire relaxing when Severus came through. It had been a long time since he had seen him so disheveled and angry. He got to his feet and reached out to steady Severus. "What has gotten into you, Severus?"
Severus glared at the headmaster, "Albus I am not in the mood."
Sitting down, Albus grew serious. He knew when to joke with his son-in-law and when to talk business. "What happened?"
"As if this day wasn't bad enough already," Severus was pacing in front of the fire as he talked, "Alex comes barging into my classroom asking if I was there the day his school was attacked."
"What did you tell him?" Albus asked, still not showing any signs of worry.
"No! Of course I wasn't there. But, he knows I am a Death Eater and he is upset about it." At this point Severus stopped and stared at the headmaster. "You are not going to like this. I didn't handle it very well. You know how I get when people assume why I joined," he waited until Albus nodded before continuing, "I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the wall."
When Albus heard that, he jumped to his feet. "You what! Severus this is not good. If he tells a teacher this will have to be brought to the Governors attention."
"I know!" Severus finally fell into a chair and sagged into it defeated. "I'll get sacked, I know it," he said in a weak voice.
"No, you won't. Hopefully your friendship with Lucius will be of some use to you. But, if Mr. Barneo does not say anything then no one needs to find out."
Severus nodded his head and hoped the boy didn't tell anyone. "You need to apologize to him you know." Severus's head shot up quickly. "Oh no, Albus. I will not! I refuse to! I will not tolerate anyone speaking to me the way that boy spoke to me. He…."
"He what Severus? Deserved what he got? I highly doubt that." Albus knew Severus rarely apologized for anything but he felt that Severus needed to this time. Over the past weeks he realized Severus came to respect the boy. He didn't want to let that be thrown away by one incident. "He lost his mother because of Death Eaters Severus. You know how it feels to lose a loved one to them. He was hurting and I'm sure it didn't help him to find out his mentor belonged to the group that was responsible for his mother's death." Albus was hoping this was getting through to Severus, but one could never be too sure. Severus was sometimes his own worst enemy when it came to things such as these.
"Mentor?" Severus questioned.
"Yes Severus, mentor!"
Severus furrowed his brow, thinking about what the headmaster had just said. "What?"
Albus rolled his eyes; Severus was usually never this dense. He walked over to Severus, grabbed him by the elbow helping him up. "You heard what I said. Now, go back to your rooms and think about what I said." Albus all but pushed him into the fire; he even threw the floo powdered and called for Severus Snape's Quarters. In a flash Severus was flooed back to his rooms. He landed in a heap on his rug. "What the bloody hell was that!" he said as he brushed himself off. He needed a stiff drink, and fast.
XXX
Albus didn't want to throw Severus out but he needed to. He knew that Mr. Barneo and Miss Granger were on their way. He really didn't want to witness another row between the two, so he pushed Severus out as soon as he could. Looking at Fawkes he shook his head, "This has been a long evening Fawkes." Fawkes just looked at the headmaster and squawked.
He settled down behind his desk and waited for the two fifth years to arrive. In a matter of minutes he heard a knock at his door. "Enter," he said as he popped a lemon drop in his mouth.
Albus watched as Hermione led a shaking Alex into the office and into one of the comfy chairs in front of his desk. "What can I do for you two?"
"P-professor Snape and I got into an argument," Alex said nervously.
"Mmm hmm," Albus said motioning him to continue.
"Sir, did you know he was a Death Eater?" Alex couldn't look up at the headmaster so he busied himself by wringing his hands.
"Yes," Alex looked up in disbelief at the headmaster, "However, there is more to Professor Snape than what you think."
"Hermione told me he is a spy for you." Alex hoped the headmaster would be honest with him.
"Yes, he is. Why he became one is his story. If you need to know that information in order to get over this then you must ask him."
"Yes, sir."
"Know this; I do not put my trust in people easily. They have to gain it. Professor Snape has proven his trust ten fold. I will let you think on that," he ended harshly.
Feeling completely chastised and miserable Alex excused himself from the headmaster's office. Albus watched him leave and then turned his gaze to Hermione. "The next time you feel the need to disclose Professor Snape's other activities, I would advise you not to. That information should be kept between a few people."
Hermione stared at the headmaster a few minutes before she left as well. She had never seen nor heard him vouch for Snape, let alone anyone, so emotionally.
Alex was sitting on his bed thinking. The conversation he had with the headmaster was enlightening, to say the least. Looking back he knew he shouldn't have reacted the way he did. He only hoped his professor would give him the chance to apologize.
XXX
The following morning began with double Potions. It was the worst class to date. Professor Snape was relentless and demanding. He took fifty points from Tituba and Gryffindor, each, for nothing. The first thing they were greeted with was an unexpected test. It was difficult; they hadn't gone over three-quarters of the material on the exam. He took fifty more points off Merlin and Gryffindor just for kicks. They were all assigned a potion that was usually only discussed in 7th year. The whole time they were brewing Snape goaded Alex like he usually goaded Harry.
Alex tried to ignore as much as he could but Snape finally got to him. He was feeling bad enough about last night but now he felt worthless. Never had he felt so hated before in his life. It hurt even more that it was coming from someone he had started to care for.
At the end of class, everyone was relieved, even the Slytherins. Draco gave Alex a sympathetic look as he left the classroom. Alex was the last one to turn in his potion. He felt he at least had to try to apologize to the man. As he set his potion down on the desk he looked at Professor Snape, who was blatantly ignoring him.
"Sir, I-"
Severus turned his head sharply and cut him off. "Do not speak to me boy! Get out! Our sessions are over. I never want to see or hear you again you ungrateful brat. If you were smart you would go back to Amercia and rid us of your presence!" he spat hatefully.
Alex looked at him in shock. It was as if someone had pulled a gun on him and shot him. His eyes were full of unshed tears and he nodded his head sharply and left quickly.
Severus watched Alex leave. He was still angry with him. He didn't know if he could ever forgive him. It wasn't in his nature to be forgiving. The look Alex had given him almost made him feel bad, almost. He knew he shouldn't have said those things to him, but when Severus was angry he would use every hurtful word he could use to try and break someone.
XXX
Severus didn't know it immediately, but he had broken the boy. Alex didn't go to lunch after he had been yelled at and Michael had to drag him to his remaining classes.
Minerva noticed something was wrong immediately. Alex was usually so attentive in class, like Hermione, but today he just looked defeated. He didn't pay attention to anything she said and he gave a half-hearted attempt at the transfiguration he was supposed to do.
It had been a week since Snape yelled at him. Alex barely ate anything at meals, it was worrying his friends, but most of all Hermione. He had lost a considerable amount of weight, but one could only tell unless had his shirt off or was being hugged. The staff noticed as well, he barely ever paid attention in class and if he did his homework, it was the bare minimum. He had stopped going to Potions all together. A point that Albus had no idea about because Severus forgot to mention it.
Draco was incredibly worried about his friend so he decided to go talk to his Godfather to see what happened between them. He was a bit worried about upsetting him but he needed Severus to understand what was happening to Alex. He timidly knocked on the classroom door and waited until he heard "Enter" before he opened the door.
He found his Godfather grading essays. By the looks of it he had gone through more red ink than Draco thought was possible. Severus looked up when Draco was standing right in front of his desk. Draco was shocked to see bags under Severus's eyes. "What is it Draco?" he said tiredly.
"Sir, I know it's not really my business but what happened between you and Alex?" Draco tried not to sound nervous, but he didn't succeed.
Severus narrowed his eyes at his Godson and set his quill down disgustedly. "You are right; it is none of your business."
"No, I think it is my business. Alex is my friend and whatever happened between you two is tearing him up. Literally!" Draco was fuming now.
"That is none of my concern," Severus said as he pretended to look for more ink.
"I hope you know he hasn't eaten. But knowing you, you have already noticed. He doesn't even come to Potions anymore! You can't be blind enough to not notice that! I've seen you rip into people before but this is just insane!" Draco had his fists clenched by the time he was done yelling.
Snape leaned back in his chair looking at his Godson. He had never heard Draco speak so passionately about one of his friends. Severus was concerned that his best student had not shown up to class, but, he certainly wasn't going to seek the boy out and demand answers. He looked once more at his Godson, "Draco, you should leave well enough alone. Like you said it is none of your business."
"You are such a bastard! I have always loved you but right now I don't know why I ever did! If you opened your eyes you would see he cared about you. Being treated like that from anybody hurts! I know! Father treats me like shit all the time! That's why I have a better relationship with you than I do with him. Now I see you are just like him and I want nothing to do with you!" Draco suddenly turned around and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Severus sat in shock as Draco left. Being compared to Lucius did not sit well with him. He had always hoped that he would be able to save Draco from being just like Lucius and he had succeeded mostly. But, now his Godson had made a great point, he acted just like Lucius. Damnit! Lucius was the last person he ever wanted to be like, and now he had gone and done it.
Draco was right, he had noticed the fall in Alex. He watched him at meals sometimes and he would only push his food around his plate. Alex was usually happy and boisterous, but now, he was sluggish and broken. He usually walked with his head held high but now he walked with his head down, like an outcast.
In all honesty he didn't know what to do about it. It almost scared him to think that he could damage someone so easily. It was what he had set out to do but he really didn't think he would have killed the boy's spirit. There was only one person he could talk to; and that person was Albus. He prayed the headmaster wouldn't kill him this time as he grabbed some floo power and headed to for the headmaster's office.
