Chapter Four.
Disclaimer-all characters herein are the property of J K Rowling, as is Hogwarts.
Thank you once more to my reviewers. Please do keep them coming in, even if it is only one word. It is all fuel for the fire of my authorship.
Severus panted heavily as he once more made his way to the Headmaster's office, Remus trailing behind him, deep in thought. Having left 4, Privet Drive, they had apparated to the Hogwarts gates, having little other choice since Harry was in no fit state to walk and the Dursleys had no fireplace. As they neared the Gargoyle, Severus reflected that in spite of his disturbingly diminutive weight, carrying Potter halfway through the school was no easy task. It was fortunate he was stronger than most would have taken him to be; the voluminous robes and his less than well-built figure deceived a great many people.
The Headmaster awaited them at the top of the stairs, his face creased with concern as he glanced down at the boy held in Severus' arms. Waving his arm, he invited the two men to follow him, seating himself behind his desk as Harry was laid on a rich red hued couch to the side of the room. Pale blue eyes studied the scratched face of his Potions Master, as though searching for some untold answer lying within.
'Sadly, I see I was not incorrect in my assessment of Harry's condition. What happened Severus?', he asked, lacing his frail fingers together beneath his chin.
Severus brushed a pale hand through his oily hair nervously, as he kept one eye on the unconscious boy, avoiding direct eye contact with his mentor,
'Lupin had to stun him, Headmaster. Potter decided he had had enough of our company and tried to run. Naturally, I stepped in and the boy attacked me. I will tell you this, Albus; unless Potter gets these absurd emotions of his under tight control, he is going to be a danger not only to himself, but also to others. In your position, I would be extremely tempted to place him in St Mungos for the duration. I see little else you can do with him at this current time, considering circumstances within the Order.'
At these words, Remus, who had to this point remained deeply lost in thought, his eyebrows knitted in concentration, turned sharply in his chair to direct a disbelieving look at his neighbour,
'Are you insane, Snape? Harry needs to be with people he knows. What good would it do to send him into the midst of a ward of people worse off than he is? We all know what is causing this. Albus? Surely there is somewhere other than that hospital.someone Harry could remain with for the rest of Summer?', Lupin finished speaking, turning to face the Headmaster.
Albus listened to the words of the two men carefully, though the slight light in his eyes revealed that he already had the answers. If there was one thing Albus Dumbledore could not be accused of, it was of being slow on the uptake. He had already spent a considerable amount of time thinking through his options, prior to the return of the three persons present and had come to only one conclusion. Harry would have to stay with Severus. The idea was going to be vehemently refused by both parties, of that he was sure, but he was also certain that the only one who might feasibly be able to care for the child was the one least likely in the eyes of others. Contrary to popular belief, although Severus projected himself as a cold, uncaring individual, there was a heart within him somewhere. It had simply become a little brittle and slightly dusty over the years of his service to Voldemort. Removing himself from his reverie, Albus raised his head slightly and directed a watery blue gaze, intensely steady in it's observation, towards the dark eyes watching him across the desk, before he spoke.
'There is one option that would avoid having to have Harry admitted to St Mungos. However, I have no doubt that it will not be met with smiles and willing acceptance. Severus, I believe you still have a heavily warded manor house in the wilds of Yorkshire?'
Severus' eyes widened and he flung his head back and laughed, an unpleasant sound of disbelief mingled with fury, at the other's words. This could not be happening. There was absolutely no way in this lifetime that he would allow himself to be saddled with the Golden Boy. Was it not enough that he had been doing penance for the last twenty years, playing Master and Servant to Voldemort, and on occasion, almost the same with Albus? Grinding his teeth, he gathered his composure, ignoring the slightly disconcerted glances coming from Lupin, as he placed his hands flat on the desk and leant forwards slightly,
'Albus, you cannot be serious. How can you even contemplate such a solution? I am not equipped to deal with any student in this condition, least of all Harry bloody Potter. It would be a disaster from the start, not to mention the fact I still have my duties to consider. Who would care for Potter whilst I was busy kissing the Dark Lord's feet? No, I am sorry Albus, but you ask too much of me on this occasion.'. The words were spoken in his usual cold tones, but the underlying sense of panic was decipherable to one who had known Severus long enough to recognise it.
Surprisingly, Remus displayed no objections to the Headmaster's suggestion, though he knew Sirius would be turning in his grave to hear it. Whatever kept Harry out of St Mungos, he would accept, even if Snape was a cold bastard. He was not so blind as to believe there was nothing more to the man, though he would, if this came to be, ensure he kept a close eyes on Harry's progress.if there was any. As he looked over at the still stunned boy, he could not help but feel he had somehow failed both Harry and Sirius. He was drawn out of his melancholy thoughts as Albus cleared his throat and once more spoke, in his usual calm and collected manner, albeit with a stern glow in his eyes.
'Severus, there is no other option and you know this. I know you and young Harry are not exactly the best of friends, but this is one of your responsibilities as a teacher at this school and as one with whom the child will eventually have to stand in war. Please, Severus, I ask that you take Harry to the safety of your home and help him as best you can. You might have forgotten, but I recall not so many years ago, a young man in a similar state, having been privy to his first glimpse of death. I have the utmost trust in you Severus, and I know you can help him. Now, I believe it might be time to awaken the subject of our meeting.'
Severus glared at the Headmaster, but he knew that he had little choice in this, given his precarious position. Also, seeing the barely visible pleading within the other's eyes appealed to his conscience more than anything else ever could. He could help Potter, but it would not be pleasant and there was no possibility of his becoming a mollycoddling fool, treating the boy with kid gloves. Nodding stiffly, he stood and wandered to the couch where the Boy Who Lived currently reclined in all his glory. Sneering, Severus raised his wand and muttered 'Enervate', standing prepared should the brat attempt another escapade.
All eyes fell upon the emaciated boy as his eyes slowly opened to observe his surroundings. As the realisation hit him, he shot upright and glared at Severus, his eyes burning with loathing.
'I thought I told you that I was fine. I do not need your help. I want to go back. Take me back, please'
Severus returned the glare, though he could not bring himself to conjure the right level of loathing before the Headmaster.
'You are not returning anywhere, Potter and I suggest you get used to the idea or things might be somewhat difficult for the both of us', he spat with slight distaste.
Harry rose to his feet unsteadily, before turning to his headmaster, who remained seated and emanated his usual sense of calm.
'What does he mean 'both of us'? Please, Professor Dumbledore, I am fine, really. Let me return home'. The words were deceptively quiet as the familiar wrath rose up within him like some wild horse, shooting flames through his heart.
Albus merely gazed upon Harry above his half moon spectacles, his eyes slightly sharp, in contrast to his gentle tone of voice.
'I am sorry, Harry. I cannot do that. You have proven yourself unable to care for yourself properly at this time and I have no wish to lose you. As such, you will be spending the remainder of the Summer holidays with Professor Snape at his home. It is for the best, child, though you might not see that at this moment'
Harry burned inside as he stood shaking spasmodically, his fist bunched and his eyes darting between the three adults in the room. Without warning several ornaments in the room smashed, sending shards of ceramic colour to the floor even as a shelf of books collapsed with a loud crash. He ran for the door, but Severus, being one step ahead, stepped in front, arms crossed defensively. He felt trapped, totally trapped and without a voice, and as such, he did the only thing he could. He sank to the floor, opened his mouth and started screaming at the top of his voice, as though a madman under restraint.
'NO! NO! NO!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME. PLEASE, LET ME GO BACK. LEAVE ME ALONE'.
The desolate corridors of the school rang with the harsh screams as Severus flued to his quarters to retrieve a calming potion, leaving Remus and Albus to regain control of the situation. One thought ran through both minds- would Severus be able to help Harry or was he lost already.
'
Disclaimer-all characters herein are the property of J K Rowling, as is Hogwarts.
Thank you once more to my reviewers. Please do keep them coming in, even if it is only one word. It is all fuel for the fire of my authorship.
Severus panted heavily as he once more made his way to the Headmaster's office, Remus trailing behind him, deep in thought. Having left 4, Privet Drive, they had apparated to the Hogwarts gates, having little other choice since Harry was in no fit state to walk and the Dursleys had no fireplace. As they neared the Gargoyle, Severus reflected that in spite of his disturbingly diminutive weight, carrying Potter halfway through the school was no easy task. It was fortunate he was stronger than most would have taken him to be; the voluminous robes and his less than well-built figure deceived a great many people.
The Headmaster awaited them at the top of the stairs, his face creased with concern as he glanced down at the boy held in Severus' arms. Waving his arm, he invited the two men to follow him, seating himself behind his desk as Harry was laid on a rich red hued couch to the side of the room. Pale blue eyes studied the scratched face of his Potions Master, as though searching for some untold answer lying within.
'Sadly, I see I was not incorrect in my assessment of Harry's condition. What happened Severus?', he asked, lacing his frail fingers together beneath his chin.
Severus brushed a pale hand through his oily hair nervously, as he kept one eye on the unconscious boy, avoiding direct eye contact with his mentor,
'Lupin had to stun him, Headmaster. Potter decided he had had enough of our company and tried to run. Naturally, I stepped in and the boy attacked me. I will tell you this, Albus; unless Potter gets these absurd emotions of his under tight control, he is going to be a danger not only to himself, but also to others. In your position, I would be extremely tempted to place him in St Mungos for the duration. I see little else you can do with him at this current time, considering circumstances within the Order.'
At these words, Remus, who had to this point remained deeply lost in thought, his eyebrows knitted in concentration, turned sharply in his chair to direct a disbelieving look at his neighbour,
'Are you insane, Snape? Harry needs to be with people he knows. What good would it do to send him into the midst of a ward of people worse off than he is? We all know what is causing this. Albus? Surely there is somewhere other than that hospital.someone Harry could remain with for the rest of Summer?', Lupin finished speaking, turning to face the Headmaster.
Albus listened to the words of the two men carefully, though the slight light in his eyes revealed that he already had the answers. If there was one thing Albus Dumbledore could not be accused of, it was of being slow on the uptake. He had already spent a considerable amount of time thinking through his options, prior to the return of the three persons present and had come to only one conclusion. Harry would have to stay with Severus. The idea was going to be vehemently refused by both parties, of that he was sure, but he was also certain that the only one who might feasibly be able to care for the child was the one least likely in the eyes of others. Contrary to popular belief, although Severus projected himself as a cold, uncaring individual, there was a heart within him somewhere. It had simply become a little brittle and slightly dusty over the years of his service to Voldemort. Removing himself from his reverie, Albus raised his head slightly and directed a watery blue gaze, intensely steady in it's observation, towards the dark eyes watching him across the desk, before he spoke.
'There is one option that would avoid having to have Harry admitted to St Mungos. However, I have no doubt that it will not be met with smiles and willing acceptance. Severus, I believe you still have a heavily warded manor house in the wilds of Yorkshire?'
Severus' eyes widened and he flung his head back and laughed, an unpleasant sound of disbelief mingled with fury, at the other's words. This could not be happening. There was absolutely no way in this lifetime that he would allow himself to be saddled with the Golden Boy. Was it not enough that he had been doing penance for the last twenty years, playing Master and Servant to Voldemort, and on occasion, almost the same with Albus? Grinding his teeth, he gathered his composure, ignoring the slightly disconcerted glances coming from Lupin, as he placed his hands flat on the desk and leant forwards slightly,
'Albus, you cannot be serious. How can you even contemplate such a solution? I am not equipped to deal with any student in this condition, least of all Harry bloody Potter. It would be a disaster from the start, not to mention the fact I still have my duties to consider. Who would care for Potter whilst I was busy kissing the Dark Lord's feet? No, I am sorry Albus, but you ask too much of me on this occasion.'. The words were spoken in his usual cold tones, but the underlying sense of panic was decipherable to one who had known Severus long enough to recognise it.
Surprisingly, Remus displayed no objections to the Headmaster's suggestion, though he knew Sirius would be turning in his grave to hear it. Whatever kept Harry out of St Mungos, he would accept, even if Snape was a cold bastard. He was not so blind as to believe there was nothing more to the man, though he would, if this came to be, ensure he kept a close eyes on Harry's progress.if there was any. As he looked over at the still stunned boy, he could not help but feel he had somehow failed both Harry and Sirius. He was drawn out of his melancholy thoughts as Albus cleared his throat and once more spoke, in his usual calm and collected manner, albeit with a stern glow in his eyes.
'Severus, there is no other option and you know this. I know you and young Harry are not exactly the best of friends, but this is one of your responsibilities as a teacher at this school and as one with whom the child will eventually have to stand in war. Please, Severus, I ask that you take Harry to the safety of your home and help him as best you can. You might have forgotten, but I recall not so many years ago, a young man in a similar state, having been privy to his first glimpse of death. I have the utmost trust in you Severus, and I know you can help him. Now, I believe it might be time to awaken the subject of our meeting.'
Severus glared at the Headmaster, but he knew that he had little choice in this, given his precarious position. Also, seeing the barely visible pleading within the other's eyes appealed to his conscience more than anything else ever could. He could help Potter, but it would not be pleasant and there was no possibility of his becoming a mollycoddling fool, treating the boy with kid gloves. Nodding stiffly, he stood and wandered to the couch where the Boy Who Lived currently reclined in all his glory. Sneering, Severus raised his wand and muttered 'Enervate', standing prepared should the brat attempt another escapade.
All eyes fell upon the emaciated boy as his eyes slowly opened to observe his surroundings. As the realisation hit him, he shot upright and glared at Severus, his eyes burning with loathing.
'I thought I told you that I was fine. I do not need your help. I want to go back. Take me back, please'
Severus returned the glare, though he could not bring himself to conjure the right level of loathing before the Headmaster.
'You are not returning anywhere, Potter and I suggest you get used to the idea or things might be somewhat difficult for the both of us', he spat with slight distaste.
Harry rose to his feet unsteadily, before turning to his headmaster, who remained seated and emanated his usual sense of calm.
'What does he mean 'both of us'? Please, Professor Dumbledore, I am fine, really. Let me return home'. The words were deceptively quiet as the familiar wrath rose up within him like some wild horse, shooting flames through his heart.
Albus merely gazed upon Harry above his half moon spectacles, his eyes slightly sharp, in contrast to his gentle tone of voice.
'I am sorry, Harry. I cannot do that. You have proven yourself unable to care for yourself properly at this time and I have no wish to lose you. As such, you will be spending the remainder of the Summer holidays with Professor Snape at his home. It is for the best, child, though you might not see that at this moment'
Harry burned inside as he stood shaking spasmodically, his fist bunched and his eyes darting between the three adults in the room. Without warning several ornaments in the room smashed, sending shards of ceramic colour to the floor even as a shelf of books collapsed with a loud crash. He ran for the door, but Severus, being one step ahead, stepped in front, arms crossed defensively. He felt trapped, totally trapped and without a voice, and as such, he did the only thing he could. He sank to the floor, opened his mouth and started screaming at the top of his voice, as though a madman under restraint.
'NO! NO! NO!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME. PLEASE, LET ME GO BACK. LEAVE ME ALONE'.
The desolate corridors of the school rang with the harsh screams as Severus flued to his quarters to retrieve a calming potion, leaving Remus and Albus to regain control of the situation. One thought ran through both minds- would Severus be able to help Harry or was he lost already.
'
