Dark blood- fear itself, just in time

Hey everyone! I know I said I would name and respond and thank personally in this chapter, but I decided it would have to be next chapter because it is 3am and I need to sleep. I promise in the next chapter, I will start out thanking all of you who review, follow or favourite.

Once again Thankyou so much for reading. It won't be very long before Harry finally meets Sev and Albus, or should I say Servine and Alder;)

Anyway, on with the story.( by the way, I'm sorry it's a slightly shorter chapter but each chapter has some specific goals in mind. If I added more to this, it wouldn't flow as well and I would have to replan)

As his feet were planted firmly on the ground, Alder quickly removed the charms placed on him and walked straight towards the hut. It was now nightfall and he had spent too long in Hogwarts, finding the potions and was terrified of what state Severus would be in. Is he alright? Is he still conscious? When Albus looked at the potions, he had realised the poison was probably one of the strongest he had ever seen and was worried even the antidotes wouldn't work at this stage. No, you mustn't think like that. Severus will be ok!

Albus opened the back door and walked into the kitchen.

"Severus. I have returned with the potions, how are you holding up?"

There was silence. Not good!

"Severus?" He quicker his pace and grabbed a cloth on the work surface as he walked into the living room. There on the couch, just as he had been left, was Severus. Only when Albus looked at him, his heart skipped a beat. He was completely pale and was completely drenched in sweat, like he'd been in the rain for too long. His lips were tinged blue and chest didn't seem to be moving. He was also unconscious and his black eyelashes seemed to be the only colour against the stark white of his face.

"Severus!" Albus wasted no time. He quickly grabbed the first potion, which was the strongest antidote he could find and knelt next to Severus. With his other hand, he gently shook the potion master.

"Severus, please you must wake up! Severus?!" It wasn't working as the younger wizard made no movement. Starting to panic, Albus put down the potion and placed his fingers to Severus' neck. There wasn't a pulse. Feeling absolutely terrified , Albus shook Severus with both hands.

"SEVERUS TOBIUS SNAPE , YOU MUST WAKE UP NOW!"

There was silence. Cold harsh, cruel silence.

"Severus...please, child, I-I'm so sorry"

Harry knocked on the door and walked in, with Ron and Hermione right behind him. Headmistress Mcgonigal looked up from her parchment on her desk and smiled.

"What brings you three to my office this evening?"

All three took a seat in front of her looking saddened by something. Minerva put down her quill.

"Is something the matter?"

Hermione looked up and sighed. "We have...well Harry thinks...I feel..."

"Miss Granger, it is very unlike you to be so unsure. Whatever you need to say, please do. You know I will listen"

"We...think the search should be called off. The one regarding...professor Snape"

Ron and Harry nodded in confirmation but Minerva seemed surprised.

"Why?" She looked at Harry specifically. "Why...Mr Potter?"

With a heavy heart, Harry explained his reasons and how more time should be spent on proving Severus' innocence, rather than looking for the body. After he had finished, Minerva spoke quietly.

"I...understand Harry. It was your idea in the first place, and I understand. Even I do not wish to think of Severus in such a way. I will floo-call the others and tell them to stop the search. In the mean time, go back to your dorms. There are only two weeks left before the school opens and as you know you need to be bright eyed and ready to repeat the year. By the way, we now have two new professors coming in to teach defence and potions."

The news seemed to cheer Hermione up. "That's excellent. We really do need all the professors we can get"

"I just hope we actually get somewhere this year, what with all the Horcruxes lying around before"

"I hope so too Mr. Weasly. Merlin knows how much professors are needed. However this is good-we now have defence, transfiguration, herboligy, potions, charms, flying and divination. Enough to run the school with ease, though I am yet to select heads of houses. I should have asked which house the new professors would be in actually"

"When are these new professors coming, headmistress?" Harry was curious.

"Three days prior to the opening of the school. You can be well acquainted with them during then"

"Alright. Maybe some new faces is exactly what Hogwarts and it's students need right now" with that said, the three Gryffindors stood up and headed for their dormitory.

Albus looked down and put his face in his hands as tears rushed down his face. He had been too late. His best friend was dead. His favourite student was dead. The one person he considered his son was dead. Severus Snape was-

"...uh..."

Albus looked up quickly. Severus' dull, glazed eyes were open as be looked at his mentor.

"Al-" He was cut off when Albus put a potion straight onto his lips and coaxed him to swallow.

"Drink Severus, I don't want to hear anything. Quickly now!" Severus obeyed without a word and once he had finished, Albus held another one.

"How many-" He whispered.

"Seven more to go, just keep going"

After ten minutes of just swallowing horrible tasting potions, Albus grabbed Severus' wrist and checked his pulse. It was there and was much stronger than before, but still not quite as it should be. Albus furrowed his brow in confusion, a rare sight.

"It will soon be normal, Albus. It's a delayed reaction from the poison" Even Severus' voice seemed to be better. Albus looked up and scanned the younger wizard. His face was still very pale, but his lips were turning to a more normal hue and his dark eyes were open, focused and staring back at him. He looked more alert and overall looked much better.

"How long ago do you last remember being awake, child?"

Severus looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure. Maybe thirty minutes ago...everything went dark after that..."

Albus silently cursed himself. No wonder the boy hadn't had a pulse. He had spent too long in Hogwarts talking to Minerva and now Severus had paid the price. Had he been only a few more minutes late...

Albus could contain himself no longer. He grabbed Severus' upper body and held him tightly to his chest in a bone crushing hug. Severus himself made no movement against this, probably because he was too shocked.

"Albus, what-"

"Shhhhh. Just stay silent for a moment"

They sat there for what seemed like forever with only Severus' breathing to be heard. Finally Severus began fidgeting and sighed.

"Headmaster, please let me go now. I don't understand what has happened to make you react like this"

Albus let go and gazed at Severus." Child, I feared the worst. I thought I had been too late. I thought you were..." He couldn't continue so Severus finished for him.

"That I was dead."

"Yes. You had no pulse. I was terrified, I am so sorry Severus"

Severus smirked. "You can't get rid of me that easily"

"Nonetheless, I should have been faster and then you wouldn't have fallen unconscious"

"Albus...it's alright. You came in time. You saved my life for which I am grateful"

"But who knows of the consequences which my lateness will bring to you, Severus"

Then Severus became annoyed and huffed.

"Albus, I'm fine! Stop worrying for Merlin's sake!"

At this, Albus wiped his face and chuckled lightly. His son probably was fine if he could retort like that.

"Severus. There is something important I need to discuss with you. Something about Hogwarts"

TBC ;)