Authors note: Firstly, I don't own. Otherwise I wouldn't have so much student debt. Second, sorry it's taking me so lon to upload, but I've had some really bad family crisis'. Reviews make me want to write more often, though. Also, I tend to touch on tough subjects, and I will add warning labels for those chapters if they happen to come up again (which they probably will).
Italics are thoughts!
Al groaned, stirring and opening his eyes. For a brief moment he did not know where he was, and then it clicked. "Professor?" He called weakly, wincing as he tried to sit up. A strong hand gently pushed him back down. "Lie still, Albus. Your body has taken some damage." Severus remarked soothingly, watching the boy with concern. "How am I here?" Severus hesitated before sighing. The truth was best. "I do not know. In your realm, you must have taken some serious harm to yourself. You are still alive, but just. I assume your unconscious mind decided to wander here. Although time works differently between places, you have been out for a while. What on earth did you manage to get yourself into boy?" Al started down at his hands, muttering under his breath. "Look at me, Albus."
Albus sighed, lifting his eyes to meet Severus'. "It was just a slight disagreement, Professor." He shrugged and then winced. Severus frowned, handing the boy a potion. I might be dead, but I am not an idiot. The boy should realize that he cannot lie to me by now. Al sniffed the potion, his brow furrowing. It was not something that he had brewed or taken before. "What is this?" He asked, curiously probing it with his magic. "It's a healing potion. Now drink." Severus sneered. He smirked at the boy's expression as he downed the potion. "It sucks that sugar ruins most potions." Al muttered. Severus bit back a chuckle, he had often though the same when he was younger. "Language, Potter." He raised in eyebrow, and Al shrugged. "Better?" "Yes sir, thank you." Al muttered, gazing off toward a bubbling cauldron. "Do not even think about it." Severus warned. "Also, you will stop this foolish lying."
Al sighed, turning to glare at the wall. He wanted to know how Scorpius was, not to be stuck here. But he could not seem to get his mind to leave this place just yet. He glanced at the Potions Master and grimaced. "You are stuck here for the time being, Albus. You will stay in that bed until I say otherwise, your body is not in the best condition. You do not have to tell me what happened Albus, but I cannot help you without knowing the truth." Severus remarked quietly, the bite gone from his tone. That's the understatement of a life time! I feel like an elephant stepped on me and then a lion ate me. Al shook his head at his thoughts, grimacing with the effort. "I'm not sure I can explain sir. It happened so fast." Al muttered finally, staring at his pale hands. "Were you attacked? Or did you, perhaps, attack someone?" Came the dry response. "I..it...They were hurting him! What else was I suppose to do? They could have killed him!" Albus exploded, clenching his fist tight and trying, desperately to get up but a strong hand gently pushed him back onto his bed. "Do not make me put a sticking charm on you. Now, deep breaths. Who was hurting Scorpius?" Severus frowned at the younger man, his mind slowly putting the pieces together. "These...boys. They were...calling him names. And one of them decided to hit him with a hex when he tried to walk away. So I threw a curse at him and then, well..." Albus trailed off, looking anywhere but at his professor. "Look at me, Albus." Severus ordered quietly. Albus looked up at him and then away. "He started to curse me back and one of his friends joined in. The rest of the group left, they never mean any harm, but they never stop him! Stupid idiots!" He muttered to his pillow. "You started a fight with bullies." It was not a question. Albus continued to find his pillow very fascinating. "Albus." It was a soft warning, an order. Albus looked up and those green eyes met Onyx. "They were hurting him!" Albus snapped. "Has this happened before?" Albus grimaced, looking down.
Severus sighed, watching the boy. Thank the gods that time does not work the same here. It might take a while to get an honest answer for the boy. How am I suppose to help him if he will not trust me? "Yes sir." Came the quiet whisper, so quiet he almost missed it. "I take it that you have told someone about this?" This time a true question. He watched the boy for a moment. What is so fascinating about his sheets! "Albus." The boy shook his head, not daring to look up. "May I ask why not?" Severus sighed. "We can handle it." Albus muttered. "Clearly." The sarcasm dripped in that single word, but Severus was beyond caring. Foolish boy! He's going to get himself killed. He watched the boy for a moment with a scowl. Albus was still staring at his sheets, but his eyes drooped and he bit back a yawn. He looked exhausted. Something is wrong. He should not be exhausted here. I will get to the bottom of this but it will have to wait. There is no reason he cannot- "Sleep, Mr. Potter. You are exhausted." He remarked quietly. "I'm fine,sir. Really." Albus muttered, finally looking up at him./ His eyes showed otherwise. "Either go to sleep or I will give you a sleeping draught." Severus warned quietly. Albus groaned but settled down and closed his eyes. Within minutes he was sound asleep. Severus stood quietly and headed into his office, as he had come to think of it, with the goal of searching the shelves for anything that might be helpful. Finding the book he wanted, he returned to Albus' side and settled down to wait once more.