The anger radiating off of Severus was nearly tangible as he paced the length of the sitting room in his chambers. It was well past the time Harry was supposed to arrive and Elizabeth had volunteered to go look for him while Severus stayed behind to wait and see if he arrived. Though something didn't seem right and the uneasy feeling he had blooming in the middle of his chest that only put him on edge even more.
Severus exhaled through his nose, telling himself that the anger that was boiling under his skin was not his children's fault. No, instead it was his replacement for worry, because it was easier for him to be upset over this rather than admitting he was worried at the fact Harry was two hours late.
The Potion's Master turned on his heel as he heard the door to his chambers creek open, though instead of being greeted by the sight of two teenagers, he only found a rather disappointed Elizabeth. She was quiet as she stepped over the threshold, her eyes downcast slightly as she got in far enough to close the door behind her.
"I looked everywhere I thought he would be." She said after a moment, looking up at him as she stood by the door. "But there was no sign of him."
The uneasiness in his chest began to spread through his chest and down his spine as she spoke.
"Then I decided to ask the portraits around the seventh floor, but they said they haven't seen him in hours. He left empty handed before dinner and never returned." Elizabeth continued as she moved away from the door to the chair by the fire. "I thought maybe he couldn't wait for dinner, but the house elves in the kitchen haven't seen him in about a year. The Gryffindor locker room was empty with the exception of a few nasty jumpers, the astronomy tower was vacant as well and there was no one around the lake because I walked most of its perimeter, and I doubt the giant squid ate him because it only seems to like toast. He isn't here, Dad. At least not where I looked."
Severus stood still for a moment as silence fell between them. His anger had dissipated and he finally allowed the worry he had been avoiding wash over him.
He knew that occasionally Harry ran late for a class, but that wasn't something he made a habit of, and he was always prompt to detentions, though that was more out of necessity than out of anything else. It was odd and unnerving that he had just vanished out of thin air, unless someone had a hand in his disappearance.
Albus had always interfered with his life at some point since he had begun to work there, and it was no secret between them that Albus was trying to make it more difficult, even impossible, for him to gain custody of the boy. Though the question was if Albus did meddle in his affairs like so many times before where did he send his son?
Severus turned to his attention to Elizabeth as she stood by the bookshelf by the hearth, her eyes dancing over the novels and volumes that adorned the shelves.
"Our belongings have already been sent to the house, perhaps it would be a good idea for you to join them." It was a suggestion of sorts. Severus wished to speak to the headmaster and with all honesty he wanted his daughter no where near the castle when he did there were too many things that could go wrong and the last thing he wanted was to lose her too.
Elizabeth turned her attention from the books to him, her fingers resting slightly against the spine of a leather bound novel whose title she had not read on the spine.
She wasn't that pleased to hear the suggestion he was making, she rather would have gone with him to make sure Harry was alright. But there must have been a reason. She didn't argue, it wouldn't have solved anything except taking away time that was needed to find her brother.
"Bring him back." She said at last. "You have to promise that, you have to promise that you won't come back without him."
The sound of his boots hitting the tile echoed in the corridor as Severus made his way towards the headmaster's office, his cloak billowing behind him as usual. His usual scowl plastered on his face while his hands were curled into fists with anger.
He was silently hoping that for once Albus had not meddled in his affairs, that maybe Harry had just wandered off into the forest for some time to think. However as much as he hoped that was just the case he knew that it wasn't true. harry had been rather excited at the idea of going away with them for the holiday, of going to be with his family, and of course Albus couldn't see that happen.
The gargoyle that guarded the staircase to the headmaster's office did not wait for him to mutter the password, instead it moved out of the way and began to spiral upward on its own accord.
Severus took two steps at a time as he bounded up towards the headmaster's office, and he didn't even bother to knock as he swung open the door, causing it to bang against the wall, waking the portraits hanging above him. The previous headmasters and headmistresses gave him looks of annoyance s he woke them from their slumber, thought he didn't particularly care. He was here for Albus, even if the man wasn't at his desk.
His eyes scanned the room, from the group of sitting chairs near the fire to the Telescope and observation deck just above the desk, but there seemed to be no sign of the old man, and his patiences was wearing thin. He had already sent his daughter home and he needed to find his son.
"ALBUS." He yelled at last, his voice echoing through the empty space, earning him more glares from the portraits and even a few swears and a few 'Shut Up, we're trying to sleeps' which he ignored.
A few moments later the door behind the headmaster's chair opened with a creak and Albus slowly popped his head out of his quarters, A small smile growing on his face as he saw Severus standing in the middle of his office with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a rather murderous look painted upon his face.
"Ahh, Severus, to what do I owe this pleasure and at this time of night, I thought you would be gone by now" He greeted rather cheerfully as he stepped out into his office, his tone causing Severus' blood to boil even more.
"Where's Harry?" He asked, his voice calm, cold as he spoke. He didn't have time for pleasantries, there were other, more pressing issues to get to at the moment.
Albus gave him a questioning look as he sank into his chair, his hands lying upon the desk neatly, which did nothing but infuriate Severus further, and he knew it. The headmaster had a knack for pushing his buttons and he certainly was going to try tonight.
"What do you mean where's Harry, Severus?" Albus asked innocently.
"I mean exactly what I asked Albus. Where. Is. Harry?"
"Harry is where he should be, Severus. With those who can offer him protection and watch after him without being hindered."
"No, he isn't Albus."
"Severus, dear boy, I wasn't talking about him being with you, I was talking about him being with his Aunt and Uncle."
His anger bubbled over as he glared at Albus, his hands tucked under his arms curling into fists. How could Albus do that? How could he send his boy back to the monsters that abused him for so many years? He was at a loss for words.
"You have enough to worry about as it is Severus, Your potions, Your daughter-"
"You leave my job and my daughter out of this, you know just as well as I do that I am more than capable of sorting out my priorities, so don't tell me this is because of what I do or who I have raised, this is all about you Albus and we damn well know it." Severus hissed before turning on his heel and headed towards the open door. He could feel Albus' eyes on his back as he left, but he didn't pause to see if there was anything more to be said.
As soon as his feet touched the corridor floor he broke out into a sprint, his feet slapping the stones in a rhythmic pattern as he ran, taking the quickest route he knew to the entrance hall. The entire castle was silent as he made his way down the last few steps down into the Entrance hall before heading straight for the doors. No one would notice he was missing anyway, By this time tomorrow the entire castle would be all but empty except for the few people that were staying and he would be no where to be found, at least not until term started and if he had his way, his children wouldn't be either.