Chapter 22
"I m sorry I reacted badly" Sirius said the next day as Harry arrived for his lessons, "It sort of seemed like you werenˋt my Harry any more when you looked so much like Severus. It was a bit like loosing what was left of James, silly I know…"
Harry edged towards the stairs looking unsure, and Severus could see he had tears in his eyes that he was frantically repressing. Sirius looking apologetic reached out and tousled Harryˋs hair, "I love you Harry, and your looks or name wonˋt change that. It just came as a bit of a shock to see you yesterday."
Looking a bit relieved Harry turned and bounded up the stairs, while Severus scowled darkly at Sirius before flooing back to Hogwarts preparing to attack the mountain of paperwork that was slowly overtaking his desk. But as soon as he arrived Fawkes flashed in bearing a message from Aberforth Dumbledore
Headmaster Prince
My brother has some things he says you need to see, could you come by as soon as possible?
Yours
Ab Dumbledore
Severus took a long look at the papers stacked on his desk, and felt a bit guilty but relieved not to have to deal with them right now. In stead he took a bit of floo powder, yelled "the Hogˋs head" and stuck his head into the flames.
"Is this a good time to see Albus" he asked Aberforth as the other came to greet him, "Yes, thank you for coming so quickly. Albus works himself up easily at the time, and I worry that he might have a relapse. I tell him to relax, but you know my brother, he is relentless as soon as he gets an idea. I must warn you though, in some ways his mind is wandering a bit, and in others he is clearer than ever. Do try not to upset him please"?
Severus withdrew his head, and stepped fully into the floo and as he arrived the older man held out his hand to greet him. "Albus is in the attic suite, Iˋll show you the way".
As they arrived Albus looked up smiling broadly "Severus, my dear boy! Iˋm so glad you came to visit, but I do think you visit too seldom".
"I am a bit busy with being Headmaster Albus" Severus told his old boss gently and the other looked confused a moment and muttered "Headmaster you say..." before he brightened again "of course you are Headmaster, I had forgotten... the medications I am taking are making me a bit muddled here and there".
Keeping his face void of any emotions Severus sat in a chair and asked "you needed to see me"?
Albus indicated a cupboard saying "fetch the pensieve please" and as Severus took it out and carried it towards the small tabel beside the chairs Albus explained "as I have had nothing else to do except moaning about being sick, I have been pondering on the Horcruxes, I have been gathering memories and making observations that may assist you in searching". He then took out a thick book from beside his chair and gave it to Severus "here are my notes, Iˋm afraid i had to use a magic quill as my hands donˋt work too well. This means there are some extra notes in there, but just ignore what does not appear to deal with Voldemort."
Graciously Severus thanked him, and sat with him for a bit before taking his leave "do come to visit your old father again soon my boy" Albus said as he took his leave. Feeling disturbed Severus went to see Aberforth before returning to Hogwarts. "Albus seems to think I am his son" he told the other man. "Yes I have noticed, please just let him think that, I have tried dispelling some of his notions, and he just becomes very upset. It is safer just to let him have his small illusions."
Resigned Severus flooed back to his own office at Hogwarts, so now he`d aquired a nèw `father, Severus mused. He had to admit that Albus was a better father figure than his biological father had ever been even with his machinations.
