Disclaimer: I no own, I no infringe, you no tell, I no get sued.
A/N: If my flamers are again reading this, I suppose they'll be more comments like this is crap, there's no point or plot, it sucks etc. I just have one thing to say to flamers. I can take CRITICISM. But I will not take you yellow-bellied-motherfucking-two-faced ignoramuses telling me shit about my stories when I bet you couldn't write any fucking better. One of you couldn't even spell the fricking word PLANNED! Two n's not one, you dumbassed freak. And if you feel inclined to flame me again, you know what? I won't even remove them cuz HEY! You make my story look better with an extra few reviews so take that you little shits! #does thedouble middlefingersalute#
Oblivion
Chapter 13
Harry shifted awkwardly under the stares of the two men. "I think time will heal everything. Thanks for offering to help Professor but I don't really think there's anything you can do."
"You need to talk about it." The Potions Master said neutrally looking away from Harry. "I would like to talk about it."
Harry glanced from the man to Albus. "I don't really think I need counseling or anything like that. I mean, I just don't want this to have to be…publicize. Professor Dumbledore, really, I won't say I'm at ease in Professor Snape's presence," Harry gave the man a brief apologetic look. "That will take time, but I don't…blame him for what happened as if he set out meaning to hurt me. Can't we just…resolve this between ourselves? Please?"
"Harry let's not get into this now…" Albus started.
"No! We should! He doesn't know the Prophecy does he?" Harry gestured to Snape, waiting for Albus' affirmation. "But he must know that Voldemort will be on the move this year. Now is no time to be…bringing up something like this to the wizarding world. And as the person the incident happened to what about my right to privacy?"
"It affects others also." Albus said quietly. "The protection of the students is at stake…"
"Headmaster, if you honestly believed Professor Snape would hurt a child in this school he wouldn't have been hired."
Albus shut his eyes. "But what he did to you!"
Harry made a noise of impatience. "As if you've never hurt me!"
Severus was looking back and forth interestedly and saw Albus' flinch at the boy's words. Score.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm begging you…don't persecute him for this. If I think I can forgive him…"
"Then I should be able to also. But I need time. I am giving Severus a chance also as you do still see him here. But Harry I am not at all at peace with what happened." Albus' gaze pierced Harry. "Even if I don't publicize this I may still remove him from his position."
Harry looked at Albus sadly. "Do I have to beg?"
"Potter," Severus picked now to intervene. "As much as I appreciate your…defense of me, why?"
"Because. It truly was an accident. You did not set out to hurt me. You're…you may not be the most agreeable of persons but you wouldn't hurt anyone without cause." Harry's voice hitched, "You wouldn't…purposefully, drug a student," He shook his head firmly, suddenly. "Yourself, to aid in committing rape." Harry tried to lighten the mood with a faked laugh. "In fact if you cleaned that potions stuff out of your hair and didn't scowl so much and fixed yourself up, you could even get a date willingly."
Severus' eyes narrowed.
Albus' eyes too were on Harry. "Is there anything you want to tell us Harry?"
The boy blinked and seemed to startle. "No!" There was a pause. "I mean…no, I…don't think so…umm, well maybe." Harry fidgeted with his shirt. "I never did really apologize to you Professor even though that's why I came to your chambers. I'm sorry that I looked into your pensieve last year."
Severus put on an impassive mask and nodded barely. "Apology accepted."
Albus sighed. "Harry, keep the meetings in mind. Maybe you need time. You may not want to talk about it now but…"
Harry bit his lip nervously, flicking eyes to Severus. "I'll, I'll do them. As long as you have him occupied you can't just fire him." Harry raised his head stubbornly."
Severus arched an eyebrow in askance as Albus smiled slightly, showing slight mirth. "I promised you Harry that I would think about it." He looked to Severus. "I would, like to be able to trust you again. But as Harry said, it will take time."
Harry had left, looking a lot better than he had when he'd come in.
"You were right." Albus said emotionlessly.
Severus inclined his head. "I have seen…such signs with different cases. Perhaps, I was too blind with it being Potter to notice he was in pain. Strange it may seem, he already seems to be…accepting what happened with us even if he is not 'okay with it' or to the forgiving stage yet, but he still has closure problems with whatever happened to him before."
"I just can't believe it happened twice. To Harry. Harry! Who should be the most protected!" Albus took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily. "Do you have any idea when or who…?"
"Both. I think it was his second year. Lockhart. But I'm not sure. And with what we know about Lockhart and the way he's taking it as if it too was fresh…I suspect he may have been Obliviated and has only just remembered."
Albus' eyes turned hard and for the first time in two days it wasn't for him. "It is fortuitous for him, he can't remember anything and is pretty much mindless."
"You'd have him thrown in Azkaban." Severus said softly.
Albus turned eyes to him. "If you hurt him I'll have you thrown in Azkaban."
"I never thought I'd be asking this." The Professor let out a heavy sigh. "What is so special about him?"
Albus smiled sadly. "It's what you've never understood. It's not because he survived Voldemort. It's not because he will fight Voldemort. It's not because he's the Boy-Who-Lived. It's because of Harry. You could never see past James Potter to see the Lily in him, and what is solely Harry. He has Lily's temperament and his own character. The bravery of a Gryffindor yes, recklessness you might say, but it's Harry's heart that makes him care for people so. It's what makes him defend you. It's what will make him try to forgive instead of alienating you. And it's where you may never have a place if it's too late. If what you did is too much. And it's your loss." Albus sighed. "My loss too if I am no longer there."
"He means a lot to you." Severus said standing.
"He's like a grandson to me." Albus smiled sadly. "It's…terrible he has been in so much pain under my care."
"I'll try to do what I can to…fix what I did. Maybe one day I'll even see what you do." Severus walked to the door.
AN: Ahh...now that's off my chest. Enjoy!#grins#Oh and no Runespoor tonight. Sorry.