Chapter 4-Questions

This was not a good day. It was days like this that made him wish he hadn't even woken up that morning. He took off his spectacle and laid them on his desk. He leaned back and absently rubbed the bridge of his nose. He felt all of his years weighing on him more every day. Hogwarts was no longer safe for the children and this war seemed to have no end in sight. He sighed heavily. His works, his lifeblood appeared to be all for not. He had made so many mistakes. He vowed from the end of Harry's fifth year to not hide things from those who he trusted. But it was harder not having information or not being able to receive information in time. He had failed Miss Granger in that respect. Even though she didn't blame him, he still blamed himself. Her family had been the first attack and the other muggleborns' parents were taken to safety in time. Their secret-keepers were Order members handpicked by Dumbledore.

It was a perfect day for brooding privately. He and Severus agreed on that today. That was not something that occurred often enough to suit Dumbledore.

Severus and those in his age group had been forced to grow up too soon. Just as the students now attending Hogwarts. All because of one Dark wizard. Dumbledore sighed heavily. It was ironic how both Tom and Harry did not have a family who cared for them. Both had suffered at the hands of those raising them. He should have never sent Harry back to the Dursley's after his fifth year. Luckily for an old man, Mrs. Weasley firmly informed him that Harry belonged with his 'real' family. He was much happier now that he spent his holidays with people who cared about him and was infinitely safer. No wizard in his right mind would dare to challenge Molly when it came to someone in her 'brood,' at least, not at the moment.

Today for a change, Harry's safety was not foremost in his mind. The safety of three others weighed heavily on his mind. Severus, Draco, Hermione. They were brilliant, each in their own right. How would it be possible to keep all of his 'children' secure? They couldn't just vanish. Their roles in this war were far too important. And more than likely, they would be found either way. It was simpler to keep them in plain sight.

Draco was fully capable of protecting himself, thanks to Severus, and his position of high favor with Voldemort was proving to be invaluable as well as him being able to keep a close eye on his father Lucius. The main problem Severus had was not allowing anyone to help him after returning from those meetings. Severus needed to have a friend and not just Draco, but an actual friend. Wait a moment. Where is that letter? Dumbledore picked up his spectacles and placed back them on his nose. It would be hard to find the letter if one could not see it.

Ah, yes. There it was, hidden under his largest sneakoscope. A letter from Hermione asking if he could coerce Severus into accepting her as an apprentice at the end of the year. Dumbledore chuckled and rubbed his hands together. Miss Granger had just solved another problem! Dumbledore quickly composed a letter to Severus and had Fawkes deliver it to the dungeons. Fawkes nipped his finger affectionately as Dumbledore placed the letter in his talons and flew off.

It was a fine feeling to have resolved some issues. Now he could relax just a bit.

The door to his office almost exploded open. Dumbledore jumped to his feet. So much for relaxing.

"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione gasped out. "Lucius Malfoy is here. Professor Snape is bringing him in."

"Miss Granger, do you have any ideas on why Lucius is here?" This was not good news. Far from it.

"No, Professor. I won't know until Draco gets back. Do you think he's alright?"

"I hope so, Miss Granger." Dumbledore sank wearily down into his chair. "Miss Granger, please stand next to Fawkes. He just happens to be invisible to someone who does not share my loyalties or who are not loyal to me. It would not do well if Lucius saw you here."

"Yes, Professor." Her knees seemed to give out as soon as she made it to Fawkes' perch and she dropped to the floor ungracefully.

At that moment, the door to Dumbledore's slide open. "Ah, Severus. So nice of you to stop by. Lucius, I trust you have a good reason to visit Hogwarts without proper warning. I do apologize for the unpleasant way Severus had to bring you in, safety precautions, you understand. Severus, please allow Mr. Malfoy to take a seat."

Severus shot a glance toward Hermione as he laid her cloak on a chair beside the Headmaster's desk. He had noticed where she sat the moment he had come in, and nodded slightly toward her.

Hermione nodded back, pointed her wand at Lucius, and softly whispered Finite. Lucius fell into the chair right behind him.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I would have thought a powerful wizard like yourself would be able to figure that out. As it so happens, I am looking for my son. Do you know if he's here? He didn't make it to the Manor today. His absence worried me." Lucius said, a false look of puzzlement marred only by the way his eyes glittered queerly.

Dumbledore shot Severus a quick look and raised one eyebrow. Almost as if to say, didn't he use your fireplace to go directly to Lucius' study. Severus' eyes simply narrowed, signaling that yes, he had seen Draco off safely himself. Lucius was obviously lying, not like that was something new.

"No, unfortunately, I don't have any idea where Draco is. I was under the impression that he had already left for the Malfoy Manor a few hours ago. I'm dreadfully sorry you wasted all this time to come and fetch him. When he makes his presence known, I will make sure he owls you. Now, I believe that this concludes this meeting. Until next time, Lucius." Dumbledore merely inclined toward Severus.

Severus helped Lucius up and escorted him out of the castle.

"Miss Granger, is there something you wish to tell me?" His twinkling blue eyes now directed fully at Hermione, full of apprehension.

She gulped. It was unnerving to be the sole focus of those eyes. "Y-Yes, Professor," she began shakily. "Lucius was here because of me. That much is clear. As to the reasons, I am unsure. He tried to sneak up on me while I was down at the lake. He was obviously unsuccessful. However, I don't know if he was acting on his own or if he had orders to apprehend me." Her voice had steadied, but she decided to remain seated. After an unexpected encounter with the likes of Lucius she was still a little jittery.

"Severus, what did you see?"

Hermione flinched, she hadn't seen, heard, or felt him come back in.

"What Miss Granger stated complies with the events I saw unfold. She did however, leave out the part where she almost stunned me." Severus had a smirk plastered on his face. "We are fortunate," he continued, "that Miss Granger has fast reflexes and exquisite control." Hermione's eyes widened at this comment. Severus noticed and rolled his eyes mentally. Damn chit was now trying to freeze him with her eyes…she was doing a good job of it to. It took quite a bit of self-control not to shiver. "Of course, she had no business being out there by herself. Unless she truly wishes to be captured." Hermione's eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, Severus thought, chuckling inwardly. She really does have beautiful eyes. Whoa, shit! Bad Severus! Very bad Severus! Think about the task at hand; oops, rephrase: the situation currently facing them. There, that was to some extent a little more professional.

Hermione stopped trying to kill Severus with her eyes and took on a faraway look. She gasped. Dumbledore and Severus glanced at her. "Draco. He's on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, beside Hagrid's hut. Oh my God. He's hurt. Badly." She stood up and ran from the room as fast as she could.

"Albus, please get Poppy. I'll go get Draco." And with that, Snape swept past the Headmaster and swiftly exited the room.

The same questions were running through the Headmaster and Snape's brain. "They were bonded? How? When? Why?"