Chapter 5

Severus strode into Dumbledore's office without knocking, robes billowing dramatically, and had the satisfaction of seeing the startled look on the Headmaster's face.

"Severus?" questioned Albus a little weakly

"What the HELL were you thinking Albus? He's a fifteen year old boy who just lost his godfather, for Merlin's sakes! Did you decide on the spur of the moment that he had magically matured ten years in the space of ten minutes? Or maybe you thought the golden boy would just soldier on because that's what all heroes do? Well let me remind you, Albus, that heroes are also human. That means, that they have emotions, and feelings, and it also generally means that when a person close to them DIES, they tend to become very upset, emotional and depressed!"

Albus stared shocked, and admittedly, a little confused at his potions professor, who was ranting as he paced in from of the desk in an uncharacteristic loss of self-control.

"…and you sent him back to that place, where he has no friends, no counsellors, not even any kind of emotional support, and you expect him to be SANE? Albus, for crying out loud, the boy was still in shock over Black's death before you sent him away, let alone grieving for the man! And then, you wonder why the boy is hiding letters from you – don't give me that innocent look, I know perfectly well that you wanted to know what that letter said…"

Dawning realisation brought with it guilt, and moreover, a fear that he had pushed Harry away from him for good.

"Severus?" interrupted Albus

The man turned to face the Headmaster, stopping mid-rant as he took in the remorseful expression on the old man's face.

"I failed everyone," Albus pronounced harshly. "I failed Tom Riddle, you and now Harry."

Severus sighed. "That self-judgement is a little too harsh I think," he said dryly. "Three people do not constitute the world; although I'm flattered you included me. What is more important is that you help Harry, like you helped me. So stop moping. Please. It's utterly insufferable."

The response seemed to jerk Albus out of his daze. The Headmaster cleared his throat, and visibly pulled himself together.

"So Severus, how is Harry?"

"Headmaster, I will not divulge any information, but I suggest you get him out of there within the next week."

Dumbledore sagged in the chair.

"It's that bad?" he whispered.

Severus nodded.

"However, I have no doubt that Harry will forgive you, although I suggest that you treat him as a teenager, and not an adult. I trust you now realise that Harry needs some adult support in his life, and I know that previously to this summer, he has considered you to be like a grandfather. Don't hurt him again," he warned.

Hope lit Albus' eyes.

"I should contact him, maybe bring him to Hogwarts. It must be arranged with the Order, and be kept quiet from the press and Voldemort. Severus, will he be alright for another three days?"

"I have formed a mental bond with him, and will be checking in on him frequently," assured Severus.

That damnable twinkle had returned to Albus' eyes.

"A mental bond? How…unexpected, Severus."

Refusing to respond to such an obviously inane comment, Severus left for his private quarters.

The next morning, Severus was setting up his cauldron when he felt a 'knock' on the mental bond.

'Professor Snape? Are you busy?' asked Harry.

'No, and I told you to call me Severus, I think,' he replied.

'Uh, I'm in a bit of trouble here Severus…' Harry sounded a little sheepish.

'What! What's wrong? What happened?' Severus was already starting to stride towards the door.

'Um, I'm kinda…stuck in the air.'

Severus paused at the doorway.

'Stuck in the air?' he repeated a little incredulously.

'Uh…yeah. I'm floating in the air and I can't figure out how to get down. I don't have my wand in reach, and I've tried…uh…other methods, but nothing's working.'

There was a faint edge of panic in his mind voice.

Severus smiled, recognising the situation for what is was.

'Harry, I know what's wrong, don't panic. I'm coming over in a few moments, and I would like to bring the Headmaster too. Are you agreeable? He truly does understand this better than I do.'

There was a slight pause.

'Okay.'

The Headmaster was looking through the window, trying to figure out how to regain Harry's trust, when Severus rushed into his office.

"Severus?" he asked, mildly annoyed that the potions master had managed to surprise him yet again.

"Harry's having a magic spike. He's floating in the air."

Albus' eyes widened slightly.

"He must be confused. Let's go Severus."

The Headmaster tapped a sheet of parchment, making a portkey. Together, the men placed a finger on it, and disappeared.

Harry was bored. Floating, he wasn't even able to propel himself around in the air, which could have been amusing. Waving his arms fruitlessly in the air, he groaned. He was, quite simply, stuck. And so, when he recognised the voices of Severus and the Headmaster, he was very glad to see them.

"Good morning Harry," said Dumbledore. "I gather you must be a little confused."

Harry's forehead creased slightly. Dumbledore almost seemed…apologetic? Twisting his head, Harry could clearly see the remorse in the twinkling blue eyes. He closed his eyes momentarily. Professor Dumbledore wanted to make amends, and Harry...would let him, he promised himself silently. Feeling ignored by the Headmaster had hurt more than being told the prophecy.

"Yes Professor," replied Harry politely. "Do you know how to get me down?"

"Yes," said Severus. "I think that any talk can wait until Harry down again."

Albus chuckled.

"Harry, this is being caused by a magic spike. This means that your magical core are expanded out of your body, and created a…what is it the muggles call it? A force field?"

Harry nodded.

"So this force field of magic is surrounding you, and has changed the way the gravity affects you. You need to pull your magic into your body and back under your control."

"How do I do that Professor?" asked Harry, relieved that Dumbledore seemed to know what was happening.

"Alas, for each person it is different. Most people try a mental pull of some kind, to tug the magic back. It will be easier if you meditate and try to feel the magic."

Albus conjured a comfortable sofa in the corner, where both he and Severus sat, observing Harry's attempts to rein in his magic.

Harry sank into a meditative trance, searching for his magical core. A guiding voice in his mind directed his attention inwards, where a vision of coiled threads lay.

'That is your magic child' whispered the voice.

Harry stared at his magical core in awe. Cocoon shaped, it seemed to be made up of thick glittering ropes of magic that pulsed and glowed. There were cords leading out of the core to beyond his vision.

Opening his eyes, he gasped as he surveyed the tangled mass of thread that surrounded him for almost half a metre in all directions. He was vaguely aware of Dumbledore's instructions.

"Well done Harry. Now try to draw your magic back into your core."

He reached out with mental fingers towards the tangle, only for the threads to slip through his grasp. The threads were too tangled to draw them in one by one. The voice in his mind suggested another approach.

Prodding his magical core, Harry started it spinning, the cocoon whirling faster as the threads were drawn into his core. Tangles collapsed as the magic in the threads was sucked into the glowing vortex of magic. As the last bit of magic was pulled in, Harry found himself in a freefall, which was quickly halted by a spell from Severus. He was gently lowered onto his bed, and was immediately being checked over by a concerned Severus.

"Severus I'm fine, really!" protested Harry, a little embarrassed by the way he was being fussed over. He obediently drank the potion that had been handed to him, which seemed to be a strengthening draught, although it didn't taste like the usual potion.

A pointed cough drew his attention back towards Dumbledore.

"So Harry, I'm sure you have some questions."

"Yes Headmaster."

Harry frowned. He could see a deep silver glow around Severus, and a pale gold glow around Dumbledore. Looking at his own hands, they seemed to be veined in bright silver, almost white, threads of magic.

"Professor, my hands are glowing…"

"When you opened yourself to your magic core Harry, you allowed yourself to use a magical sight, as opposed to your normal vision. Did you see your magical core?"

Harry nodded.

"And you would have seen your magic that had escaped you as well. Seeing magic is only possible when using your magic sight. Every person's magic has a different look, or aura. I assume that you can see Professor Snape's aura?"

"Yes Professor, its silver."

"Which reflects Professor Snape's house loyalty in my opinion," added Dumbledore jokingly. "To stop seeing magic, you need to return to your normal vision. Draw out your awareness of your magical core."

The colours seemed to fade out as Harry withdrew his magical vision, leaving the room looking dull. He sighed in disappointment and lay down, suddenly feeling very tired. He absently shifted closer to Severus, who had sat down on the bed beside him.

"What caused the magic spike?" he asked tiredly. "And please tell me it's not another freakish incident."

Albus looked sad. Harry was obviously feeling the burden of responsibility that had been thrust upon him by his actions.

"First Harry, let me tell you how sorry I am for ignoring you last school year. I honestly thought that I could save you from some of the pain by protecting your innocence, but Severus has made me realise that it was the worst thing I could have possibly done. I never wanted to hurt you Harry – never." Tears glistened in his eyes, mirrored in Harry's emerald eyes.

"Do you know how much it hurt -" croaked Harry, "feeling as though nobody cared about me? Feeling as though I was only good for defeating a maniacal Dark Lord? Like I was being used – as though I was some kind of backup plan?"

He reached out towards Dumbledore tearfully, who immediately enfolded him in a warm embrace.

"I love you like a grandson Harry," whispered Albus, rocking the emotional teen. "I promise you – I'll always be there for you from now on."

As he rested against Albus' chest, Harry felt some part of him relax with the instinctive knowledge that everything would someday be alright.

A/N: I finally updated! This was a difficult chapter to write. I'm having a bit of a writer's block in this section of the story – it doesn't always flow the way I would like it to, but hopefully after the next chapter it will be smooth sailing. I'm trying to update regularly, and I appreciate all of your reviews! Thank you to everyone who reviewed!!!

Also, I'm thinking about finding a beta for this story – would anyone like to volunteer?