A Promise to Be Better 24
author: Raven Dancer
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes and Beryl. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
summary: Truce?
The rest of Monday teaching went without a hitch. Snape was beginning to suspect he was the detention assignment for the week. Each class period brought a new 6th or 7th year student. Except Brown couldn't have been in trouble, could she? Snape sighed and completed reviewing his lesson plans for the next day. It was getting late and even his stomach was beginning to make polite inquiries about dinner.
A scuffling in the hall announced that his escort had arrived. Lupin peered around the door then came bouncing into the dungeons smiling. The image of Tigger came unbidden to Snape.
Oh, gods, he hadn't though of that creature for possibly decades. Some long lost relation of his parents had visited them and was astounded a young Severus had never heard of Winnie the Pooh. The relative never visited again (they never stopped by twice) but several books had come by post with large, colorful illustrations. The thoughtful relation hand charmed pictures of one so they'd move about a little bit. It was almost a warm memory; his parents had been gone and he'd looked through the books, especially the charmed one, many times before they returned.
The books had been destroyed. Without realizing it Snape had crouched low in his chair, the vision of his angry mother ripping page after page out and throwing it into the fireplace gripped him.
"Severus?" Lupin looked at the cringing figure, eyes blank. The DADA professor moved carefully around the desk and placed one hand on Snape's shoulder. The Potions Master flinched, nearly falling out of his chair, a frightened look flashed momentarily on his face. Then the eyes focused.
"Oh, sorry, Remus. I, uh, I was just recalling an old book I had as a child," Snape offered by way of explanation. Lupin wasn't dumb, he'd seen that same lost look in Black's eyes often enough last year. But Black had never flinched when he was touched. He'd never been physically abused in prison so his body never conditioned to flight response.
Snape, on the other hand, nearly fell out of his chair trying to get away. Lupin simply pushed the hair away from the Potions Master's eyes.
"Think you're ready for some dinner?" Lupin asked gently.
"Yes, my stomach has reminded me I need to feed it," Snape now smiled. "I suppose you lost the toss?" he closed his plan book.
"Dr. Barnes was adamant about keeping an eye on you," Lupin explained. Pushing up Snape pulled on his cloak and joined the DADA professor at the door.
"I thought as much. But Fred Weasley?" Snape asked with a bemused smile. Lupin chuckled.
"Minerva, actually. He and George were caught one too many times last week out of bounds after curfew. She thought it would be good for them to serve their time apart," Lupin told him.
"And who has the honor of supervising George?" he asked as they walked up the stairs.
"Why, you do, Severus, next week. Monday and Wednesday," Lupin smirked.
"Bloody wonderful," Snape grumbled.
Barnes was at the staff table next to the Headmaster watching various dishes appear on the table. Curry. Tuna casserole. Typical food for such a large group. The Healer idly wondered if there was a Mexican night with enchiladas.
They had worked out an uneasy alliance: Barnes would not accuse Black and Dumbledore would put Snape first. When the Potions Master appeared with his current escort the Healer stood and waited for his patient.
"Sit Jeffrey. He'll come up here," Dumbledore murmured quietly. The younger man glanced at the Headmaster then sat down. Lupin and Snape did walk towards the table, although the Potions Master stopped to speak with a student. He watched Lupin pause, turning slightly as if something had brushed against him.
A breath of air set the DADA professor on alert and he moved back next to Snape.
Snape was oblivious to whatever passed near them, but the Lupin knew someone just went by. He put himself between his friend and the disturbed air, his eyes straining for any movement. With all the aromas of food in the air he couldn't smell anyone clearly.
"Come, Severus, let's go sit down," he said quietly, placing a protective hand on the tired man's shoulder. Snape smiled slightly at the Slytherins' student then allowed Lupin to propel him up the aisle to the seat next to the Healer.
"Hello Severus, Remus," Barnes smiled.
"Gentlemen," nodded Dumbledore.
Lupin smiled. Snape simply looked at both before sitting down. He had the feeling these two men had been chatting about him. It did not inspire confidence. But he still sat down and pulled himself to the table. Barnes was unable to contain himself any longer and surreptitiously reached his hand out to touch his patient.
"I'm only tired, doctor," Snape said quietly but did not prevent the Healer from his scan. Curiosity satisfied and not entirely happy about the results, Barnes removed his hand and served himself some casserole before pointedly holding the dish out for the Potions Master to take some.
They ate in silence; Barnes still fuming, Dumbledore studiously ignoring him, Lupin searching for a clue to the invisible visitor and Snape slowly withdrawing into his shell.
Snape finished first much to the other three wizards' dismay. He'd eaten little and wasn't interested in dessert. Alerted to his colleague's silence, Lupin began to discuss potions with him, trying to draw him out. He was moderately successful, gaining some dialogue.
As soon as dessert was done, Snape tried to excuse himself.
"Come up to my rooms, Severus," Dumbledore motioned to the wizard.
"I'm going to my rooms to check on Snuffles. Why don't you join me for a moment, Dr. Barnes," Lupin said quickly. He wanted to speak with the Healer about his suspicions; Dumbledore did not appreciate the speculations.
Separating, Barnes followed Lupin. He first met with the four students that worked with Snape that day. He did not like what he learned: the morning had been disturbed by strange events. He was particularly interested in the strange feeling Fred reported.
"Like someone was breathing on my neck, actually," the young man said.
Then there was Lupin's observations in the great hall. "I could have smelled out who it was if the food hadn't come up already. It's hard to discern scents with curry and other strong aromas in the air," the DADA professor reported to the Healer. Black, who was sitting near the fire during this report, said nothing. He ignored Barnes' quizzical gaze as he reached for a book he was reading.
Finally Barnes returned to the Headmaster's rooms. He was pleased to find his patient showered and curled up on the couch using Dumbledore as a pillow. He smiled as he moved a chair close enough to scan Snape. The Potions Master sleepily regarded the Healer.
"Hullo, Jeffrey," he managed to yawn out, settling down comfortably as the energy flow began. Dumbledore set his book down and gently ran his hand over Snape's hair.
"Looks good, Severus. Now a little potion to help you sleep and I'll be going back to town," Barnes said. He noticed Snape's eyes widened with a bit of concern. The Healer smiled as he moved to get the potion and a glass of juice.
"Albus will be with you tonight. You'll be just fine," Barnes soothed.
"You'll sleep well," said Dumbledore, "between the nice warm bed and that healing draught. It always gives you unremarkable dreams."
"Why didn't they work for me, when I was in my rooms?" Snape asked as Barnes brought the straw to his lips.
"I'm not exactly sure, Severus," Barnes lied. "Something happened to the powder. I made this up fresh this morning at the clinic."
"He'll leave a little more powder with me, Severus, in case you need some later. But I think you'll sleep the night with no problems," Dumbledore added.
Once finished the Healer and Headmaster encouraged Snape to get up and go into the bedroom. They settled him in the elf-warmed bed, the potion all ready making him quite sleepy. Snape smiled drowsily as he looked up at both wizards.
"Just like Mommy and Daddy," he commented, yawning. Neither Barnes or Dumbledore cared for that assessment given what little they knew about Snape's parents. But each chuckled, making sure the nearly asleep wizard was comfortable.
"I'll be to bed later, Severus," Dumbledore said.
"Sleep well, Severus," Barnes added.
The remainder of the week consisted of classes with student 'assistants' and an escort to and from the dungeons to meals. Snape took to staying in his offices in the afternoon allowing a few students to study while he worked. He couldn't bring himself to go up to the Headmaster's office on the off chance Black would come in.
And Black did come in every afternoon. Mostly to report the day's findings. Then to have a cuppa with the Headmaster and chat in the comfortable chairs by the fire. By Friday Dumbledore was very much enjoying the reminiscing and talking with the animagus. He even found himself laughing on occasion when Black would mention some prank or another that had been pulled on Snape.
Then dinner and after Snape would finally come up to his rooms. Barnes would stop by (after checking with the students assigned to work in potions) and visit a bit. He planned to spend several hours with Snape on Saturday for a more lengthy discussion.
This arrangement was fine; until the weekend. Snape had a long talk about his childhood with Barnes that morning. Frankly, it exhausted him and he fell deeply asleep on the couch after eating a light lunch. Barnes had not looked that much better, Dumbledore reflected. The little bit he'd heard when he came in about Snape's mother had chilled him.
He'd thought the closet was bad enough. Imagine the woman sitting outside, listening for any movement or sound so she could pounce on the child and punish him. Dumbledore had always been amazed by how silently the Potions Master moved. He now knew it was a skill honed by necessity.
Black came in after three to see Dumbledore. He'd forgotten, or didn't expect, the Potions Master to be in the room. But there, on the couch, intruding on his personal time with the Headmaster, was the Snape. With a sneer Black recoiled.
"Sirius, it's just Severus! You know he's up in my rooms often," Dumbledore chided the animagus gently.
"Every day?" Black ground out.
"Well, some weeks he is. He has had a very difficult time since Voldemort's begun to gather strength. If he can get some comfort and rest with me, then I'm very glad I can give that to him," the Headmaster said calmly. Black was still not happy, sitting on the edge of the chair and just glaring.
"Can't you send him away for awhile? Down where he belongs?" Black asked. With a long-suffering sigh Dumbledore shook Snape gently.
"Severus? Child? Could you move into the bedroom? I need to talk with Sirius and he's not comfortable with you here," the Headmaster explained. Snape managed to wake and looked slightly confused before managing to sit up.
"I can go to my rooms," Snape offered with a tired sigh, then struggled to stand. The Headmaster was at his side quickly.
"No, Severus, just to my bedroom. You can rest there until we eat, ok?" Dumbledore guided the wizard into his room and made sure he was tucked under the covers. A simple sleeping charm pushed Snape back under.
When he returned to Black the animagus was pacing angrily.
"Why do you have that death eater in here, Albus?" he asked. Dumbledore settled into the chair before he answered.
"Sirius, whether you wish to believe it or not Severus is my best friend. He spied for me up until just a few weeks ago when it became painfully obvious Voldemort was only going to torture him until he ceased being useful. I am not willing to let Severus die. Especially when I put him in that situation!" Dumbledore explained.
Black mulled over several points. He could not get his mind to wrap around the concept of "friend" so the idea of "best friend" was quickly set aside. Also, the notion of Dumbledore having anything to do with Snape's being an active Death Eater was also rejected. The assertion that the git could get killed by Voldemort was ok, though. Black liked that particular idea.
The animagus settled into the opposite chair and accepted a cup of tea. Sipping, he put all that aside and simply enjoyed talking with the Headmaster. At the very least Dumbledore had not insisted bringing him up to date on the world as Lupin and Harry had. No, the Headmaster was content to talk about the old days at Hogwarts.
When 5:30 rolled around Dumbledore excused himself to wake up the Potions Master so they could get ready for dinner. Black chose to leave at that time. Harry would be eating with him in Lupin's rooms with his friends. He bid the Headmaster a good evening and left before having to see Snape again.
Dumbledore found Snape sitting by the window, warmly wrapped in a blanket, watching the evening settle. The sunset was rich in oranges and reds, casting shadows throughout the room. The Potions Master looked old, the Headmaster thought, older than Black in any event. A part of him suddenly realized who actually had gone through the worst hells and who "only" had 12 years stolen.
"Hullo, Severus. Been awake long?" Dumbledore asked quietly, putting a hand on the wizard's shoulder.
"Less than an hour. Just enjoying the sunset," Snape murmured his reply. A second hand was placed on the other shoulder and the Headmaster kneaded gently a moment before leaning over to kiss his friend's head. The younger wizard looked up at his mentor with shy, happy eyes.
"Let's go down and have dinner, Severus," Dumbledore said.
