An: I apologise to all who are reading this. RL has become mentally draining and I have gotten to the point where I don't want to look at computer screens. That said, I'm on break for a bit, so I am going to do my best to have this completed - maybe not posted - but finished writing (yes, I broke my own cardinal rule of not posting before it was finished being roughed out.).
That said, Yen had finished her once through and was waiting on me for the second go-round and now that we have finished that, I figured you all would accept chapter 5 without a title. I don't know what to call it ... I'll take chapter title suggestion if you want to offer them. ^-^ Thanks for understanding.
ed: Thank you to both Yen and KitElizaKing for the title. And many thanks to everyone who offered one.
True Colours and Painful Obligations
The blackness released Severus quickly as it always did when he woke up. The last thing he remembered was the fading light, the seeping of blood into his clothes, and running footsteps vibrating on the floor. Cloth pressed against his cheek, his nose almost squashed into a pillow. An indrawn breath let him know where he was. 'I'm in the Infirmary, but how did I get here?'
Tension in his back and the shortness of his breath stopped him from rolling over. He opened his eyes, seeing a section of his pillow and sheet, hoping to see Poppy who could tell him how bad things were and how he got there. 'Dinner. I need to be at dinner tonight.' Not seeing her, he closed them again.
He contemplated getting up. He didn't want to, he had a feeling he was going to hurt even more. 'I deserve this. I should have died after all I've done.'
Depression settled over him like a cloak and he laid still under its weight.
Voices made him open his eyes again. Shifting his head a bit and swallowing a groan, he spotted Weasley and Granger sitting at Harry's bedside.
"I can't believe that he was hurt here, at Hogwarts," Weasley said softly.
"McGonagall said it was students who were hiding," Granger replied, "We don't know what it was like here in the school. He couldn't let anyone know he was helping us."
Weasley nodded, "But it still isn't fair – without him, this war would still be raging. They'd still be in danger. I mean, he locked the school down – he killed Nagini without even knowing that the Dark Lord was going to die."
Severus took as deep a breath as possible – which wasn't much - and said, "Life isn't fair, Mr Weasley, but I am glad that some of my fairness went to Mr Potter, helping his extraordinary luck, and the two of you, helping keep you safe."
That little speech was enough to exhaust him. The two of them rushed over to him, relieved smiles spreading on their faces.
"Professor!" Granger touched the bed near his shoulder. "Thank goodness."
Severus looked between her and Weasley, hoping one of them could tell him how he ended up in here as Poppy was still missing.
Granger, as adept at reading facial expressions as ever, glanced towards her office door, "Professor McGonagall brought you in about two hours ago. Madam Pomfrey and she were speaking softly, but I heard… well, broken ribs and bad cuts."
"What's happening during dinner tonight, sir?" Weasley asked.
'They should know just in case something happens.' Quietly, he told them the plan. "So, I must attend dinner tonight. You two are to stay here. I do not want your presence to be known until Madam Pomfrey releases you two to join the rest of the school. Do you know where she is?"
Granger sank down to his eye height, "She was called down to Slytherin, sir."
Icy fear ran through him as he worried about what happened.
"She should be back soon," Weasley added, "She asked us to keep an eye on Harry."
With difficulty, Severus moved his head towards the other occupied bed, judging the stiffness and pain that came from that slight movement, "Then you should do so. What time is it?"
Granger looked at the Infirmary clock that was just out of his field of view. "About an hour till dinner time."
They moved back to Harry's bed, though they both careful to sit in a way they could see him as well.
'An hour. I have an hour to pull myself together enough to make it to dinner. I also need to confirm that Bathsheba and Septima were able to set their array. So, less than an hour.' Severus pushed himself up carefully, keeping his back straight and his pained grunts in. Once on his knees, he shuffled sideways, sank onto his heels and put a foot on the floor.
Footsteps rushed towards him and a hand – Weasley's by the look of it – appeared near his, silently offering support. Thoughts of pride ran through Severus' mind, accompanied by thoughts of rejecting the offered help. But Weasley had offered and Severus needed the help.
Grabbing Weasley's hand, he kept his back straight as he rested his weight on his foot. He shuffled the other leg until he could get that foot on the ground as well. Weasley's other hand was there to take his, and Severus let him pull him to his feet. He clenched his jaw hard, refusing to give voice to the blinding pain radiating up his back to his head and zinging down to his knees.
"I've got a shirt in my bag we could resize to fit you if you don't want to alert the elves that you're moving." Releasing one hand, Weasley reached into a pocket, worried blue eyes watching Severus.
"That won't be necessary, but thank you, Mr Weasley," Severus sat on the edge of the bed, relying on Weasley's supporting hand more than he cared to admit. He let it go once he was positive he wouldn't fall.
Weasley nodded and sat across from him. He was obviously prepared to catch him if needed but his head was turned slightly towards Harry, granting Severus a semblance of privacy.
"Tiffy," Severus said quietly. He continued when she appeared, "I need a new shirt, waistcoat, coat, and robe. I also need to know what happened in Slytherin."
The elf glanced at the others in the room before turning to directly face Severus, "There was a fight. Spells and books were flying. Professor Slughorn handled it, but it was a few minutes before he could arrive."
"Are there many hurt?"
She shook her head, "Madam Pomfrey should be back in a minute. Tiffy will bring you new clothes, but Headmaster should lay back down."
She disappeared.
Severus wanted to lay back down to sleep but knew if he did, he wouldn't be able to move again until morning at the earliest. 'I've obligations. I – more than anyone else – must be at dinner tonight.'
Weasley hadn't left the bed near him, and Severus was positive he wouldn't move until Poppy arrived. Even then it might take her ordering Weasley to move to do so. The radiating pain felt like needles stabbing into him, stitching trails of tiny burning, aching threads across his body, wrapping his head and his chest with every slight movement caused by his breathing. Luckily the trails only went down the back of his legs, stopping around his knees. Occluding, hoping to block it from his mind, he continued to wait. Tiffy should be back before Poppy made it.
A pop resounded a long minute later and the elf frowned at him but left his clothes on the bed near him before popping back away.
Moving slowly, and under the not quite well-hidden watchful gazes of both Granger and Weasley, he dressed. Weasley's fingers twitched a couple of time when Severus had been unable to hide a wince but didn't do anything other than that.
He carefully stood to put on his robe and closed it over his untucked shirt. Poppy returned just after he sat down.
"Headmaster," she scolded as she crossed the room to him, "why are you sitting up?"
"Because I need to be at dinner," he replied, watching as Weasley crossed the room back to Harry's side.
She narrowed her eyes at him and he could see all the scolds she was refusing to give voice to in front of the students. "I need to check you before you can leave, and you must be back here tonight. I've not started you on the Skele-Gro."
Severus tipped his head in acknowledgement – regretting it instantly, "Which is why I waited for you. How are the Slytherins?"
It was a relief that none came in with her, but he still needed to know.
"They'll be fine. Nothing I couldn't take care of there. Now, stop talking," She flicked her wand towards him.
Severus waited silently. She summoned over a pain potion and then flicked her wand at his chest. He felt invisible bandages wrap him, the pressure already helping the pain from the bones, but irritating the cuts on his back. He would talk to her tonight to find out why they weren't completely healed yet.
"You may go down to dinner, but only because you need to be there. Normally, I wouldn't let you off this bed, much less out of the Infirmary. Merci and Grace will follow you and they will escort you back here after dinner." She offered her arm to help him off the bed, "I'll be down at the beginning of dinner and then will report back here."
"Thank you, Madam," he squeezed her arm slightly before letting it go and then slowly walked to the Great Hall. Merci and Grace walked near him, each ready to act if needed.
§§§§§
When Minerva's touch woke him up, Severus had to remember where he was. 'I made it to the Great Hall, checked in with Septima and Bathsheba – they both said it was ready. There was still fifteen minutes until dinner, so I sat in my chair at the High Table and closed my eyes.'
"She let you out, did she?" Minerva sat next to him.
Filius took the seat on his other side, "You made it."
"She did," Severus answered Minerva before turning – grateful for the pain killer – to Filius, "Of course, I did."
Knowing eyes narrowed, Filius spoke softly, "Minerva informed us of what happened earlier. You being here was not guaranteed."
Of course, Minerva did. "I am going back to see Poppy right after dinner."
Filius and Minerva relaxed. They all watched as every person in the castle joined them with the exception of the three in the Infirmary.
Severus stood up to address the school, feeling the pressure of Poppy's gaze even as the pain echoed under the effects of the potion she'd given him. "Welcome to the entire student body. I am pleased you were able to make it to dinner. Tonight, and only tonight, the staff shall declare our stance on political matters. Professors Babbling and Vector will explain their array in a moment. First," he waited for the general hubbub to die down, "you need to know that the school is currently closed to the outside world. Nothing and no one can enter or leave school grounds – this includes owls, elves, worms, pollen – nothing. We shall remain in this condition until the Heads of House and myself are alerted to and agree on the safety outside these grounds."
He watched as some jumped to the similar conclusion Horace had earlier while others appeared shell-shocked, "The staff does not believe that all will be safe in time for the train, so no one shall be leaving for Holiday. If you have ideas for entertainment or activities for the school during that time, please submit them to your Head of House. And now Professors Vector and Babbling."
He gestured to Septima and Bathsheba, then sat down. Minerva and Filius relaxed slightly once he was truly settled into the seat. Hidden from view by the table, Filius tapped his chair lightly, and the cushions conformed to his body, helping to gently stabilize him.
Septima addressed the room, "Professor Babbling and I have worked together to create an array that will determine if you are telling the truth." She looked at the staff, "You will need to stand up and state if you were for or against Voldemort in this war. If you are telling the truth, you will be bathed in a white light, if you are not, you will be bathed in a shadow."
Bathsheba stood, "To show the colours, I will tell a lie and then a truth." She turned to address the hall, "I am the professor for Ancient Runes." A white light glowed around her. "I am the potions professor." The air seemed to darken, cloaking her from sight. A chuckle emitted for the darkness, "I'm not that good at potions." The air lightened into a grey colour. "There, done. Now, I will start. I was against Voldemort."
The white glow returned and then slowly faded away.
"I was against Voldemort," Septima stated clearly. A white light shone around her.
They went down the High Table and when they reached Severus the entire room fell silent. Severus stood up slowly, looked over them all, and stated clearly, "I was and am against Voldemort."
Gasps of disbelief filled the room as the white light shone around him.
Under the table, Minerva's wand was pointed at him, and he felt the air thicken, helping to support him as he sat back down. Once he was settled back into Filius' charmed cushions, she stood up.
After the High Table was done, Severus looked around the dining room. "If you wish to, and you are not required to, you may step onto the dais and declare your stance. If your stance has changed, you may state that so that the school will know."
Minerva gave him a tight smile and stood to give directions, "Come forward when I call your house if you wish to. Gryffindors."
A few came up.
"Hufflepuff," she said.
A few more.
"Ravenclaw."
A couple more.
"Slytherin."
All eyes turned to the table and their eyes sought out Severus and Horace. Both nodded slightly. En masse the table stood up and joined the others.
Minerva gestured for the Gryffindors to start.
Severus watched as some students' faces reflected disbelief and others relief as the Slytherins declared they wanted nothing to do with Voldemort or his ways of doing things and each was bathed in a white light – though some were brighter than others.
Once the declarations were done, Severus started to signal for dinner to be served, but Minerva stopped him.
"Earlier this afternoon, our Headmaster went to let those who were persecuted the hardest and were in hiding know that all was over," Minerva looked over the tables, making eye contact with many of those students. "He went alone as a show of good faith, trusting these students. His faith and trust were misplaced." She glared at them, "I found Professor Snape unconscious and bleeding on the sixth floor. If I hadn't arrived shortly after the students rushed past me, he would not be with us now.
"There will be an investigation into what happened, who did it, and then appropriate discipline shall be decided on."
She sat down.
Holding in a sigh, Severus addressed the school again, "As we shall all be tired and wish to rest after this meal, I will take a moment to award each House two hundred points for your fortitude during the last term. Curricular changes, replacement professors, and reviews for Muggle Studies and Defence Against Dark Arts will be announced at the end of the Holidays. Now," he touched his fork, "let us eat."
Food appears and the volume rose to its levels from previous years. Severus watched as Poppy slipped out the door, a plate in hand.
He didn't remember much about the meal and at the end, as he stood, Filius turned to him with a concerned look on his face.
"Let's get you back to Poppy," he murmured, "Minerva and the others are making sure the students return to their dorms."
"Thanks, Filius," Severus stepped away from the table and was surprised that he was floating just above the ground.
"Just keep moving like you are walking," Filius murmured.
And Severus did.
§§§§§
Waking up was strange. Harry wiggled his fingers and toes; touched the sheets covering him; turned his head side to side. Finally, he opened his eyes and took in a sight that was now expected. Waking up in this room at least once a year made him familiar with it smell, feel of the sheets, and just the sense of the room around him.
'Not dead. Dumbledore gave me a choice to return, to finish things … are they done? Or is the battle still raging outside of here?'
A shifting in another bed just across the way caught his attention. Sitting up, he squinted at the moonlit beds. 'I'm glad mine is on the dark side of the Infirmary. Maybe that is why they shifted? Light too bright?'
"Mr Potter," Snape's voice came from the other, "I'm glad to see you both alive and awake. Now, you should lay down and get some sleep."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "I just woke up." He sobered up, "Sir, did he die? Is Boss Tommy gone?"
Snape sat up, and even without his glasses, Harry could see how stiff he was moving. Flinging the covers off, he rushed across the room, sinking onto the edge of the man's bed and offering a hand to help.
Black eyes narrowed and Snape said, "You're supposed to be resting, recovering from the Killing Curse." His lips twisted up showing he knew the irony of that statement. "I can sit up at least. Skele-Gro is painful but bearable."
"Do you want to move to the other side, out of the moonlight? I'll help you if you want."
Snape shook his head slowly, "I prefer it over here."
Harry wondered about that but left it alone. "How were you -"
"Ah!" Snape cut him off, "you asked about … Boss Tommy?"
Harry nodded giving up on learning how Snape was injured, "We couldn't call him Voldemort."
Snape chuckled and Harry couldn't help but to feel warm from it. It was a disused sound, but a happy one. And he was the cause of it. 'A bit of what I owe him paid, maybe.'
"Boss Tommy died," Snape's lips twisted into a small but honest smile, "Mr Weasley finished him off as soon as I alerted them that Nagini was dead. Mr Weasley and Miss Granger brought you to the school right afterwards."
Harry slumped down like a weight had been removed from his shoulders, "It's done."
"Yes, that part is, Mr Potter."
Harry shook his head, "Could you call me Harry, sir? I mean, we've gone through this together and I feel like … I want … please, at least when we're alone could you call me Harry?"
Snape studied him, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes and washing out his skin. "I could, Harry, and I ask that you call me Severus – but, as you stated when we're alone. You did repay your debt to me."
Harry blinked and then smiled. Yes, he had – and not just part of it as he thought earlier. He had helped to put an end to the war. "It's done then? Things are back to normal?" He could hear his disbelief colouring his words.
"Things are changing still, Harry. Boss Tommy is dead, but his followers – his fanatical followers – are still at large as far as I know." Snape said and then proceeded to explain what had happened since the battle including the attack on him and the events at dinner.
§§§§§
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were glad to escape the Infirmary the next morning. Snape was sleeping – at least Harry thought he was – when they left. 'It's the best way to get through Skel-gro time.'
At the Fat Lady's portrait, Ron stopped them and dug into a pocket, "Mate, here, take this back." He held out the compact. "Just in case you need to reach him again."
Harry gratefully slid the compact into his pocket, his fingers rubbing it gently as he settled it in its place. "Thanks," he glanced at the two, "are you ready?"
They nodded, and Hermione told the Fat Lady the password that Madam Pomfrey told them. The portrait smiled at them and then swung open. A quick glance filled with reassurance to the others and Harry walked in. Ron and Hermione were both close by his side.
The noise in the common room faded as all eyes turned towards them. Then a squeal was heard just before Ginny tackled Ron. It was the trigger that started the questions and advice while the three of them – four counting Ginny – were pushed onto a sofa.
Neville beamed at them as he took the seat across from the sofa, "You're okay. We've been really worried."
Harry smiled slightly, "Yeah, we succeeded in hiding where the Death Eaters couldn't find us."
"Watch out for Snape," someone chimed in from the back, "No matter how much he says he wasn't for You-Know-Who, I don't believe him."
Someone else added, "And he's always had it out for you anyways."
"Believe him," Harry, Ron, and Hermione all said together.
Neville frowned and Ginny searched their faces.
Harry smiled at her, "Snape is the one who made sure I made it to your house this summer." He looked at everyone else, "He is also the one who kept us from being found by the Death Eaters and helped us end Voldemort. He told us where to find him, destroyed two artefacts that Voldemort was using to help keep himself alive, and then he only partially locked down the school until he let us in the gates."
The room went silent and the ones that were in the Room of Requirements made furtive glances at each other.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Yeah, we saw him in the Infirmary after he was attacked. He shouldn't have left it for dinner."
"He looked fine there," Neville said, "As good as he normally does."
Hermione shook her head, "Yeah, I'm sure he did. This is Snape after all – he doesn't want you to see him at a disadvantage."
"So, what's wrong with him?" came another voice in the back.
Ron glared around the room, "You don't know? Some of you cast the spells at him. We won't tell. It's Headmaster Snape's place to do so."
Neville sighed, "Setting that aside, are you rejoining the school as students or are you just here for protection?"
"Students. Professor McGonagall is supposed to tell us some time today what our classes are." Harry nodded towards the stairwells, "Now, we're going to go put our stuff in the dorms and head down for breakfast."
The three rushed away, all glad for a meal they hadn't cooked themselves.
The Gryffindor House escorted them to breakfast and pretty much shielded their arrival from the rest of the school until breakfast was started. Whispers ran riot through the Great Hall, ending when Professor McGonagall stood up.
"As the Headmaster is unable to attend breakfast this morning, I shall extend our welcome to the three who are joining us today." She looked at them and patiently waited for the cheering and loud clapping to finish before she continued, "Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger see me before you leave for your schedule."
They nodded.
"Defence Against Dark Arts class will be reinstated next term as will Muggle Studies. At this moment – as neither have a teacher – those classes shall be a study hall. Essays and book work shall be assigned in hopes of catching you up on some of the material you have missed due to the poor quality of teachers that Voldemort provided to the school. Any student who has missed a substantial section of a class should discuss a method to catch up with the professor." She sent a stern look to everyone, "Be sure you report to your classes."
Hermione sighed as McGonagall sat back down. "We are going to be so busy."
Harry couldn't help the relieved laughter that escaped him. It was good that school work was all they had to worry about right now.
§§§§§
It was almost lunchtime before Poppy let Severus out of the Infirmary and that was only with Merci and Tiffy's promise to watch him closely. 'At least they aren't always visible.' Severus gingerly sank into his desk chair. Everything still ached. The cuts on his back were still healing – Poppy wasn't sure exactly what the students did wrong when they cast them, but they weren't healing easily. 'I have to go back for her to check them this evening.'
Pinching his lips together, he shifted his attention to the parchment sitting in the centre of his desk. He knew that something would appear to alert him to every attempted contact from the outside world, but he'd hoped it would be different lists. 'No, of course not.' He scanned the list. It showed every elf, owl, or person that attempted to enter school grounds. Interspersed with those was the all the floo calls, mirror communications, and things he'd never thought to use as a communication device. 'Who in their right mind would charm their shoes for two way communication?' Fleeting images from an old American sitcom his dad used to watch flitted through his head. 'None of them is Maxwell Smart, and I was the secret agent, so I should have been the one with one. Secret agents are supposed to get the gadgets and the girls – not that I want the girls.' Fighting back a chuckle – it hurt last night, and he was afraid it would now – he looked back at the list.
Hoping that the wizards of old who created this spell appreciated organization, he touched the parchment with both his fingers and his wand while he thought, 'Arrange by type of communication.'
To his relief, the parchment expanded and made multiple columns. Times of contact then appeared next to each entry.
Scanning the floo calls, he noted a number from both Kingsley and Moody, a few from Tonks, and ones from hundreds of parents. A glance at the owls and elves list showed that they weren't registering who they were for or from, just that they were turned away. He leant back in his chair, carefully putting pressure on his back before closing his eyes. 'I will ask Minerva if we should talk to Kingsley or Moody. I need to contact Tonks to find out if she is having issues with the Carrows. Minerva should be present for that one too.' He took as deep of a breath as he could and let it out. There was something else that he was supposed to do the evening of the lockdown, something he'd forgotten. Searching his mind, he jumped to his feet when he remembered.
Clutching the back of the chair, he rode out the pain. 'It shouldn't be the bones still healing, what hurts so much?' Setting the thought aside to think about later, he returned to the reason he moved quickly in the first place. 'Nothing in or out … nothing. Does that mean Oxygen and Carbon dioxide? Is there enough plants here to support the population?' He let go of the chair and crossed to the window. 'I need to implement the Concentration Notification charm now. It should have been done last night, but everyone seems to be okay still, so this level should be fine.'
A flick of his wand had two small tubes appear and stick themselves to the outside of the window. 'I should put up a set in the Great Hall and in the Dungeons – near the Hufflepuff dorms. They'll let me know if the concentration falls below this level.'
Knowing he would be followed, he went to cast the charms. He met Hagrid near the front door, reminding him of another thing left undone.
"Professor Hagrid," Severus called out.
Hagrid stopped and cast him a slight smile. "Professor Snape, wha' can I do fer you?"
"As the school is locked down, I wanted to offer you a room in the castle."
Hagrid glanced towards his hut before looking back at Severus, "The spell gonna cause meh problems?"
Severus tipped his head slightly, "I don't know. The move would be a precaution."
"Then, I'll stay," Hagrid walked towards the Great Hall, "I need ter take care of the garden and make sure no one goes into the Forest."
"It will be available if you need it," Severus said as he fell in step with him.
"Thank yeh, " Hagrid muttered as he opened the doors and gestured for him to go first.
Severus mustered up his implacable mask, one that would hide his discomfort, and strode through. Students stared as him as he headed for the High Table. Hagrid matched him step for step. Once there, he asked Minerva to meet with him afterwards. He then discreetly cast the Concentration Notification charm. The two tubes clung to the wall nearest them.
§§§§§
Harry was surprised when the Ravenclaw prefect came to his Charms class and asked for him. He was shot back to his fourth year when Professor Flitwick's expression reminded him of Snape's the time he'd been pulled out for an interview. 'Maybe all professors don't like their class time being disturbed.'
Gathering his things quickly, he rushed out the door. The prefect led him to a small room on the ground floor and left after knocking on it.
Professor McGonagall opened the door and waved him in.
"Here he is, Shacklebolt," Snape said as he stepped to the side. Harry noted Snape was moving better than he did at dinner last night. 'Maybe Madam Pomfrey figured out how to help better?'
Harry focused on the man in the floo and smiled, "Nice to know you survived, sir."
Shock flew across the man's face, "The reports were that You-Know-Who killed you."
Harry nodded, "Yes, he tried to do so again."
"How are you alive?"
Harry glanced at the room's occupants before answering, "Professor Snape. He told me that Dumbledore wanted me to walk to my death, but gave me the option to run. I chose to stay, and then he got us – Hermione and Ron and me – into Hogwarts once we made it to the gates. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey is the reason I'm still here after that."
Shacklebolt shot an incredulous look at Snape, "You told him to do what?"
"To run if he wanted to," Snape turned slightly, his back presented just slightly more to the rest of the room except Harry. "The boy had to be allowed a choice."
Shacklebolt looked back at him, "Snape helped you?" The 'and you trusted him' was left unsaid.
Harry nodded, "He's helped me since the summer. He made sure I knew where the Death Eaters and Voldemort were, helped to get rid of the artefacts that were keeping Voldemort alive, and made sure there was help when I went to confront him."
Silence stretched in the room as Shacklebolt studied him and Snape. Finally, the man spoke, "The school is in lockdown?"
McGonagall and Snape even as the Headmaster's narrowed his eyes, "And Potter's presence doesn't need to be discussed. We shall remain like this until I and the Heads of House agree that the situation is safe enough."
"Severus, parents are about to riot out here," Shacklebolt sighed and rubbed his forehead, "They're worried – rightfully so."
"Tell them that no one was injured," Minerva said stepping up beside Snape. "And we refuse to let that change."
"The Board of Governors..." he trailed off as both of them shook their heads.
"Minerva and Potter need to get to class, and I am positive there is some paperwork waiting for me," Snape said, "Keep in touch."
With a gesture, the floo call ended and Snape was sending him back to class.
'At least I won't be late – Professor McGonagall knows what kept me.' Grinning, he followed his professor to class.
§§§§§
It was a habit Harry knew he should break, but he couldn't find it in himself to do so. As the sun warmed the windows to the Gryffindor tower, but not yet the ground, he pressed the ring on the compact.
It was just chatting about simple things: how good eating three meals a day were, especially not cooking them; the feel of the bed in the dorm compared to the tent's; the comfort of solid stone walls around him; how ordinary it felt to attend classes and stick to a schedule. That was after the first day. The second one was telling Severus a synopsis of the classes and how the students were still distrustful of Headmaster Snape.
Today he'd had a specific question to ask. Last night he, Ron, and Hermione had a long talk together and decided to attempt to take their NEWTs with everyone else at the end of the school year. They knew it was going to be a lot of work, but they thought it might be worth a shot.
'I'll keep it short and to the point.' With that in mind, he flipped the compact open and sent his message to Snape.
No, to Severus.