„He doesn't even make an effort", Snape sneered, pacing in front of the Headmasters desk. „He's lazy, he's bathing in his friend's attention rather than putting up his defenses."
„I never expected him to put up a fight", Dumbledore said quietly over his glasses. "After all, you're his teacher. More experienced, and, if I may say, not completely unwilling to … challenge the boy, he's probably putting in as much as he can." Resting in his armchair, he looked calm as ever, if only on first sight. The Thanateymus Curse took its toll on him: Right hand dried, wrinkled up and already dead, he would not been able to stand, even if he wished.
"It's not enough", Snape stated, undeterred. "My skills never saw eye to eye with those of the Dark Lord, and he'll pose an easy prey, if his emotions stay rattled and confused like this."
"Do you consider it likely that Voldemort – you should be used to the name by now, Severus – will use their connection any time soon?"
"Not that I am aware of, no", the Potions Master admitted reluctantly.
"Then shouldn't we consider opening the boys mind to you a necessary risk? As long as it provides him with a chance to learn how to withstand the Dark Lord's interference?"
A short pause followed, as usual, when the younger saw no further reason to argue, but still disagreed.
"We're fighting like an old couple, Severus. Quarreling about issues we've long settled as the basis for our relationship."
"Nothing could be further from me", Snape muffled under his breath.
"I know", Dumbledore said. But beneath your robes, you are a man, his voice echoed in Snapes mind, who found it hard to determine whether Dumbledore was performing elaborate Legilimency on him – the headmaster seemed rather interested in his shoes, suddenly - or if he was projecting inadequate wishes onto him.
Considering his most recent session with the boy, another idea appeared in the most remote part of his mind. "Sir", he began, slowly and calm, weighing his words carefully, "Is there any other reason why you wish me to teach him those lessons?"
Dumbledore looked up, and him directly in the eye. "Such as?"
"Such as not wishing to pry into the boys thoughts and mislead ides about his role here", Snape voiced carefully, "But, more importantly, much less in his wishes. His dreams."
"Dreams", Dumbledore followed suit, "That would be to say, his fantasies."
Seldom had Snape felt so uncertain whether he had crossed a line. "Yes."
"You seem to have established an adequately intimate insight into his state of mind", Dumbledore commented, focusing the professional nature of their conversation. "For an Occlumency trainer, that is."
Snape had long learned not fall for such decoys. "Occlumency does weaken the subconscious barrier to parts of us we don't usually show. Not in public, and sometimes not to ourselves."
"Occlumency, yes, among other … influences." This time, Snape was certain Dumbledore used his Legilimency upon him, as a certain memory rose before his eyes. The Granger girl, face blank, eyes open, his hands in her hair. The hunger she kissed him with.
"That was different", he said quickly, "I didn't mean to – I wasn't -"
"Don't bother, Severus", the headmaster waved his stutters away. "You both weren't in your right mind. Otherwise, Miss Granger has nothing impress you with, as a teenager, has she."
An admirable way to deliver his point of view, Snape admitted to himself, subtle, painless, empathetic. But wrong. "I wasn't trying to insinuate you might cross any other line with the boys than mental ones", he stated. At least he'll know I came to my senses after that … slip, he went on, in his head, uncertain how much Dumbledore witnessed of the process. Not too much, he found himself hoping a second later. Hermiones picture had risen again, in his mind, and so had the memory of his longing in their embrace. A recall. It belongs to the memory, he told himself.
"I didn't think you weren't", the headmaster pulled him out of the mental abyss, "Harry is growing to a man, yet he is not a man. My concerns are, that in a grasp of Voldemorts fury, his instability might develop into permanent damage. To the Order, to our cause, and not at least to him."
"Does he possess the boy?", Snape inquired, unable to restrain himself.
"Your knowledge of the Dark Arts is beyond such superficial theories", Dumbledore denied, "But I can't tell you how their connection works, Severus."
"You can't", Snape replied, "or rather you won't tell me?"
They were back at their usual controversy, personal and intense, but still, Snape felt they as if they had just exited much more dangerous waters.
"I rather won't", Dumbledore said, in his usual warm, patient manner. "Come to me if there's anything else bothering you."
