A/N- I still do not own. Sorry it took so long to update. Life has been trying lately and writing has not been the first thing on my mind. Also, I would like to mention something. This has a hint of slash in it, yes. As in, Al is gay (As is his namesake, or at least one of them). There is very little, if any, on scene slash, except for general talk about bullying and being gay, and a few other tough subjects. Any triggering chapters, or chapters that involve self injury or reference to self harm will more than likely be marked. Anyway, enjoy.
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Albus woke up slowly, feeling stiff and sore. He blinked his eyes open and his green eyes gazed briefly around, disoriented. He blinked again, suddenly realizing where he was. His eyes found the professor, who was focusing intently on his brewing and had yet to notice the awake boy. He wanted to go back to his body, to his world, but he couldn't. He was stuck and he didn't understand why. His research into dreamscapes had told him little but he knew that he should have the ability to leave the dreamscape at any time. Al sat up slowly, trying his hardest not to groan. He winced, pulling himself up. Of all the stupid fights he had been in this year, this had to have been the worse, of that he was sure. He slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed, gritting his teeth. "Do not even think about it." Severus scolded, not bothering to look up from his potion. Al grumbled, but settled slowly back onto the cot. He was too tired and too sore to be rebellious. But, amazingly enough, he was not in much pain. His body felt like it had taken a beating but nothing else. "I'm fine sir, really." He muttered, glancing back at Severus. " Indeed. You are still here, are you not? You are far from fine Albus. However, your physical body must be starting to heal. At least you are no longer in danger of dying." Severus responded dryly, taking his potion off of the heat and bottling it. Al grimaced but said nothing, staring down at his torn jeans.
"I understand that you do not want to tell me what happened, Mr. Potter, but I do not believe that you will be able to leave here until you do. I would also like to continue teaching you, however I will not do so if I feel that you are dishonest with me." Severus finished the vials and put them away, before stalking back to the boy and sitting down in his chair. The boy sighed, staring down at his hands. "Look at me, Albus." Those green eyes glanced up to meet concerned onyx ones. Albus shifted uncomfortably but remained silent. Severus sighed, reaching for a potions magazine when the boy finally spoke. "They hate Scorpius, some of the older boys do. It's not even his fault! He didn't choose his grandfather! So they tease him and try to force him to lose his temper. But the one boy, he likes to hurt people. Scorpius says that as long as the boy is hexing him, he won't hurt any of the younger students. But he goes too far. He won't attack Scorpius in front of our year mates, or even most of our house, but he likes to attack him in front of me. James says he's just trying to goad my temper and make me fight back, so I should ignore him, but James has never heard Scorpius scream in pain." Albus shuddered, trying to push that last thought furthest from his mind. "They do not like your friend because of his family?Is the boy also a Slytherin? " Severus asked quietly, raising an eyebrow. "No sir. Slytherins almost always stick together. He's a Hufflepuff." Albus shrugged. Severus blinked. Hufflepuff? Hufflepuffs are loyal and fair. They do not bully, usually. The bullies are mostly Gryffindors and Slytherins. "I apologize, but I could have sworn you said he was a Hufflepuff." Albus laughed, fighting desperately to keep his mask in place. He was still working on it, so it was not as good as some of his fellow Slytherins. "Yes sir. He is a Hufflepuff. His dad doesn't like my dad or Scorpius' dad, and Smith decided that his dad was right, the git." Al shrugged, glancing up at his professor before returning his attention to his hands. What is so fascinating about his hands? Teenagers! Severus bit back a sharp retort.
"We can handle him professor. He'll be gone at the end of the year, anyway." Al shifted restlessly. He really just wanted to brew. "He's a seventh year? And he's attacking fifth years? " Severus roared suddenly. Albus flinched, shrinking back. Severus froze, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down. "Sorry." Al whispered, staring at his lap. "For? You cannot control the actions of others, Mr. Potter." Severus replied calmly, though his temper was still fighting to rise. Damn. And there I go scaring the boy. But he reactions like...No. Potter would never hurt his children. Perhaps someone else, then? Hm. That will be interesting to find out. Perhaps- "Better us than second years Professor." Albus said suddenly, drawing Severus out of his thoughts and back to the boy in front of him. "Does he bully second years often?" Severus asked, dangerously quiet. "Only those who are too scared to tell. He leaves anyone who might tell the Headmistress or the Heads of House alone." Albus shrugged. "Scorpius tried to protect the little Slytherins, so he gets beat up by Smith and his posse more often than if he just stayed out of their way. He is not good at self preservation, for a Slytherin at least." Severus sneered, wishing for the first time that he was still teaching at Hogwarts. What he would give to teach that bully a lesson..or two. "That's what happened professor. Smith. Him and his friend cursed and beat Scorpius and myself. We're not weak! But Smith is bigger. Plus, even adult wizards buckle under the Cruciatus." Albus looked up at Severus and grimaced. Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say to Professor Snape. He looked livid. "The Cruciatus curse is not something students should have to experience. Nor should it be allowed to be used at Hogwarts. The wards are suppose to pick up on the use of unforgivables within the castle!" Severus scowled, standing and stalking toward the storeroom. I never thought I would have to give another student this potion! That boy should be expelled! "He always shoves us into hallways and rooms that are hard to find, Professor. It could be worse."Al sighed, watching the man pace and bang open drawers. Severus spun around, glaring fiercely at the boy. "Worse? How could it be worse?" "Well professor, he could just kill us." Albus replied softly.
Severus froze. The boy was right, of course. Damn him. Well, he did say he wanted to learn potions. Although this was not my first choice of potion, this will have to do. "Is Madam Price still at Hogwarts?" He asked suddenly. Albus looked taken back but nodded. "Yes sir, she works in the library still." "Good. When you return and are well enough, go ask her for my potions journals. They were willed to the library and should be in the archives. I will teach you how to make this potion, but it is not something that you can memorize." Severus replied, much calmer than before. He picked up the journal he had earlier, one of his that he had found in his office, and opened in to a certain page, beckoning the boy to him. Albus bounded out of his bed at once and over to his professor. He picked up a caldron and set it to heat, while Severus set out the ingredients. "I do not want you making this on your own until it is perfected and until you understand the theory behind it. We will make a batch now, I fear that you might need it." Severus remarked softly, handing the boy a knife and picking up one of his own. "Professor...what exactly are we brewing?" Albus asked, frowning at the instructions, hand written instructions of the like that he had never seen before. "It looks...vastly complicated." "It is. It took me several years to brew this Albus. My only request is that when you are capable of brewing it on your own, and that will not be for a long time, that you have it patented . This is a Cruciatus counter potion. It will help with damage caused by the Cruciatus curse. Now, shall we brew?" Severus replied, looking at the boy with a small bit of fondness. Dammit. I'm becoming attached to the Potter boy. The boy in question nodded, covering a grin and stepped up to help his professor chop.