Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it belongs to JK Rowling, etc, etc. Anyone who thinks I do own Harry Potter is an idiot.
A/N: Life is pretty busy, what with work, and countless other things I want to be doing, be that reading a new book, or playing a new video game, or watching the stupidly high amount of TV shows that I watch every week, which leaves little time for actually writing. And I also have my own original stuff I want to be working on, and maybe I should be, but fan fiction was what got me into writing and I really do enjoy it. My point is, I somehow find the time to write for you guys because I love to hear your feedback. So thanks to all who have reviewed so far, you guys are why I do this. Hope you enjoy this one.
Steps Toward Something
Chapter Eight
Severus Snape endured the winding ride up to Dumbledore's office in silent contemplation. The Headmaster of Hogwarts had been away for the summer, off on some secret mission only he was privy to, or at the very least, one he had not cared to share with Snape. Now the welcoming feast was over, and so, after thinking long and hard about the situation for the whole summer, Snape was going to demand answers. He had taken Potter in, effectively becoming the boy's guardian, and, if his theories proved correct (and he was pretty certain they were) then Dumbledore owed him an explanation.
Snape knocked, and, 'enter,' Dumbledore called.
Snape found the Headmaster sorting through a few books on his desk, but as he entered, the old wizard glanced up past his spectacles to regard him. 'Ah, Severus, how nice to see you.'
'Indeed,' Snape replied, somewhat dryly. He wandered over to his usual seat, but instead of sitting, he simply placed his hands upon the back of the chair and leaned his weight slightly forward. 'Good summer?'
Dumbledore straightened. 'It was quite pleasant, thank you. Yours?'
'Enough pretending.' Snape had no patience for games. 'You and I both know your summer wasn't spent lounging around on some tropical island, so quit lying and tell me the truth.'
'Hmm,' Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. 'I have not lied to you Severus. If you have a specific question, you are free to ask.'
'Where have you been? What have you been doing? Does it have anything to do with Potter or what we learned last year?'
'That Voldermort is still alive, you mean,' Dumbledore spoke the truth out loud.
Snape just looked at him, refusing to rise to the bait.
'I have been many places, to answer your questions. As for what I have been doing, I have been searching and investigating. And yes, it has everything to do with Harry and the knowledge that a piece of Voldemort resided within him all these years.'
'And?'
'Yes?'
'For Merlin's sake, Albus, tell me!' Snape exploded, pushing the chair over in frustration.
'Tell you what?' Dumbledore remained calm.
'Tell me what? Tell me everything! Must I spell everything out for you? What have you learnt?'
Dumbledore sat down slowly, not taking his eyes off Snape the entire time. It was infuriating, and Snape couldn't understand why the old wizard was being so evasive. Did he doubt Snape's allegiance now, all of a sudden?
'You seem to be very interested in all of this, Severus. And I must wonder, why?'
'Why!?' Snape took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. 'Because… you know I have taken the boy in.'
'I do, but I do not understand why.'
Snape practically snarled. 'Why do you think?' The bitterness was not entirely directed just at Dumbledore.
'Is it just that? Your guilt…'
Snape lowered his head so that his hair fell to cover his face. He saw Lily's eyes, dull and lifeless, her body grey and stiff. The guilt was overwhelming, of course it was, but it wasn't just that. Not anymore. Despite himself, he… would not go there.
He turned and faced the wall, stuck for words and angry.
'You cannot even say his name, Severus. You expect me to trust you with Harry, when we both know that your hate for James consumes you? Does he not remind you of your childhood adversary?'
Snape shook his head, a denial. He turned, stone faced, and stared at the wizard that had, despite his crime, forgiven him, and shielded him from persecution. 'How can I trust you with him, Albus? You wanted to kill him last year.'
'Yes, I… may have been mistaken.'
'You may have been?' Snape tried very hard to keep his rage contained.
'The boy does still share a lot of similarities with Tom Riddle.'
'Your wrong,' Snape said, and took a step forward. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in question. 'He doesn't remind me of the Dark Lord, nor of James Potter.'
'No?'
'No,' Snape continued, 'he reminds me… of myself. So much anger, loneliness, and pain. He is full of it. Yet there is hope. Hope that I had, and lost. I will not, will not, let that happen with Lily's son. You can believe whatever else you want about how I feel about him, but you damn sure better believe that. I will not let him make the same mistakes I did. Do you understand, Albus?'
Dumbledore was contemplative for a moment, before he nodded in acceptance. 'Very well. Sit down, Severus. We have a lot to discuss.'
Snape picked up the chair and sat.
(-)
Draco looked for Potter, but could not find him at the welcoming feast. In fact, the other boy wizard was nowhere to be found for the entire night. He kept searching for him, all the way to the Slytherin boy's dormitory, but to no avail. He found Potter's trunk at the bottom of his bed, but the bed was empty, the blankets undisturbed.
'What you doing, Draco?' Crabbe asked stupidly.
'Nothing,' Draco replied absently. 'Anyone seen Potter?'
'Uh.' Goyle had a pained look o his face as he thought. 'Nope.'
'Why?' This was from Crabbe, as he wandered over to Draco's side.
'Forget it,' Draco said dismissively, and walked over to his own bed, pulling the curtains fully around so that none of the other boys could see in. He heard Crabbe and Goyle questioning him, but ignored them as he dug the book out of his trunk.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he opened it, quill in hand, and began to write.
He's not here.
There was a pause before script began to flow magically onto the page. It read, are you certain?
Yes, I looked everywhere. His trunk is here, but he wasn't at the feast, and he hasn't come back to the dormitory. Do you think he might have run away?
I doubt it. Have patience. He will turn up, and when he does, you will get your revenge.
Draco smiled. Yes, he would.
