Purpose

Toby silently walked through the opened doors to the hospital wing. Therapy. He caught several students' looks when he walked past, but he said nothing to them. What was there to say after all? He knocked against Pomfrey's office door and waited, shifting his weight slightly.

The door opened a moment later to reveal Harry standing on the other side. Toby forced himself not to react when he saw the Gryffindor. They stared at one another, eye-to-eye, before Harry silently walked past him and left.

"Well, you're early tonight, Mr. Brooks," Madam Pomfrey cheerfully stated. "Come in."

Shutting the door behind him, he walked to his usual chair and sat down. He watched her finish writing something down and waited as patiently as he could. She pushed the parchment away a moment later with a faint smile.

"So, how have you been doing this week, Severus?"

He shrugged. "As well as to be expected, I suppose."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I haven't hurt anyone, lost my temper, had any suicidal thoughts, or anything else of the like this past week," he stated coldly. "Not to mention that I'm alive. Something that I would not have thought possible had I been asked a year ago." He then folded his hands neatly in his lap. "In other words, you could say I'm just peachy, Madam."

"I see." She sighed, writing something. "And your assignment? Were you successful with it?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"What would you like me to say exactly?" he replied with clenched teeth, feeling his anger rise once again. "That I exploded into my hand?"

"Did you?"

He growled, glancing upwards at the ceiling. He knew he shouldn't have come today. "Yes."

"That's a good sign, Severus."

"I'll be sure to inform my wife of that when she wishes to be intimate with me," he snidely responded. His mood was getting worse with each moment he was there.

"It unsettles you, doesn't it? That Harry knows about you now?"

He felt slightly off-kilter with her question. "What?"

"You seemed to be in a good mood before you saw him."

"I don't have good moods."

She sighed. "Fine. You're right. However, you seemed less irritated before you saw him."

He sighed, the anger leaving him quickly now. "He wishes for answers that I don't have."

"I would imagine he's not the only one."

"What do you mean?" He frowned, glancing at her.

"There was an Auror here earlier wishing to speak with you."

"Concerning?"

"Likely wanting to know how you and Albus pulled it off, I would imagine. You two had convinced the entire world that he was dead."

"Then, they should merely ask the headmaster."

"He was here as well, you know? Albus?"

"Oh?" He felt like leaning his head back in his chair. "And what did he want?"

"To know how you were. Since he was Obliviated to ensure Aurora's success, he truly believes that you are on extended medical leave. He's worried about you."

"How lovely."

"Orin is as well. More so about Aurora of course."

"I'm quite well, Madam, as you can see."

"What about the other night with Mr. Weasley? How were you after that?"

"What do you mean?"

"How are you processing that?" She sighed when he didn't say anything. "I admit that I've heard from others that you and he brawled. I'm merely wondering about how you're doing now as a result of the various issues it brought up."

"I'm fine." He shrugged. "Aurora and I spoke about it at lengths the other night."

"Oh?"

"I finally apologized for my actions that night. She, of course, let me off the hook once more."

"That's a good step, though."

"Indeed."

"And how did it feel dealing with that?"

He sighed, thinking for a moment. "Better, I suppose. We had been pushing it aside for months. I had thought I could perhaps use it to get her to speak with me, but I had no such luck."

"Give her time."

"Has she spoken with you, though?" he asked, glancing at her. "I mean, I understand there's doctor-patient privilege there. But I thought she perhaps was like me and waiving it so we'd know about each other's sessions."

"She agreed to the sharing as we do with you. However, I'm afraid there's nothing I can tell you. She barely speaks during our sessions. She wants to, though, but I believe she's still holding back to protect herself and likely to remain strong for you."

"There's no need for her to do that, though."

"Perhaps, but the mind is a powerful thing."

He sighed, fiddling with his hands slightly as he glanced down at the floor. "Did you examine her at all, physically I mean?"

"I hadn't yet. Why?" She leaned forward. "Do you believe she's hiding injuries again?"

"No." He shook his head. "She's been ill the past week. It's off and on, but it's causing her to miss many of her classes."

"I see. Well, perhaps she caught a bug. There are a few of those going around. When did you first notice it?"

"Wednesday, I suppose. I'm not certain. She had seemed fine when we woke up together, but a few of her housemates stated that she was sick before she came to Potions."

"When we woke up together?" the matron repeated quietly. "She's been staying in your dorm room nightly, I take it?"

"Yes. Except for the first night."

"I see. Are you two being intimate with one another again, then?"

"No. It's not like that. I just hold her while she sleeps." He noticed her faint smile.

"I was merely asking. You know as well as I that sometimes hormones and adolescents don't always mix well with sleepovers."

He felt his cheeks redden slightly. "We've snogged a few times," he admitted quietly, "but we stop before we go too far."

"Aurora accepts this?"

"What do you mean?"

"You stated before that sometimes when you tell her no when she's in an amorous mood, she gets rather upset with you."

"She doesn't really seem to be interested in that anymore, I guess." He shrugged slightly, glancing down at his hands again as he rubbed his ring finger.

"Severus?"

"Yes?" He glanced at her instantly.

"What do you think Aurora is ill with?"

"I haven't a clue."

"I believe you rubbing your finger like that shows you do, Severus. Tell me."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had a possibility in his mind, but it wasn't one he wanted to share of course. So, he remained silent and just stared at the matron.

"You think she's pregnant, don't you? And you're worried."

"As I said, I haven't a clue."

"I think you do, and I think it's perfectly natural to be worried."

"Is it?" He stood up and paced in front of her window. "I wasn't like this when we thought she was pregnant the first time. I was calm and collected."

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You've both been through traumatic events this past year. There are bound to be worries about this, and they're all perfectly natural."

"I've asked her to come see you. To find out what's wrong. She refuses."

"Likely because, like you, she thinks pregnancy could be a possibility."

"We're not ready for it. We're still healing."

"I know."

"A pregnancy now would be the worst thing, wouldn't it?"

"Perhaps. It's not usually recommended, of course, but it typically happens after miscarriages." She gave him an apologetic look. "In fact, I was sort of expecting it to occur with you and Aurora."

"Why?"

"I was there when she found out that she was finally pregnant after years of trying. I remember the looks on your faces, the happiness and joy. You two were ready to be parents." She sighed. "And we both know that this wasn't Aurora's first miscarriage. She frankly wants a child more than anything, and it continues to elude her. She would likely kill for one at this point."

"We're not ready now, though."

"You're both healing. You're just further along than she is. Am I saying it would be easy if she's pregnant now? No. It'll bring up a whole new set of issues we will have to work through. But it happens, Severus, and I know as long as she has you that she'll be fine."

He nodded slowly. He supposed that was true. He rubbed his ring unconsciously before he realized he was doing it again and stopped. Glancing at Madam Pomfrey, he noticed her watching him closely. He merely sighed. The slow dissection of his feelings was sure to continue.

~Rising~

A few hours later, Toby found himself walking past the statue guarding the Headmaster's office. He paused instantly when he heard the statue wordlessly move to the side without him having given the password. His eyes narrowed. Waiting for a few moments, he watched the staircase, expecting to see Dumbledore emerge. However, no one appeared.

"Strange," he said under his breath, moving to turn away. However, his curiosity won the better of him. He turned back and headed up the spiraled stairs to the heavy oak door. He knocked sharply, paused, and then pushed open the door to find the office empty.

"Ah, there you are, Headmaster," a nasally voice called out as Toby walked further into the room. The portrait of the late Phineas Nigellus chuckled as he stroked his short beard. "You've gotten younger, I see. Good for you."

"I'm sorry?" Toby replied, noticing all of the portraits of the late headmasters and headmistress eyeing him. He caught several of them inwardly smiling.

"Now, now, Severus. You may be cunning, my young Slytherin, but you can't fool us. We know all," Phineas stated with another soft chuckle.

He sighed instantly and hung his head. This was turning out to be the worst kept secret in the history of Hogwarts. He couldn't believe it.

"Does everyone know at this point?" he groaned, glancing at the late Slytherin headmaster.

"About you and my great-great granddaughter making yourselves younger?"

"No. About Sprout and Flitwick," he snidely replied. "Of course about Aurora and me."

"Well, there's no need to get snarky. I was merely asking a question." Phineas shrugged slightly. "We portraits know. The ghosts, too. Don't worry, though. We understand our orders. Our lips are sealed."

He groaned and closed his eyes. This was getting ridiculous now.

"It's not as if a headmaster can really hide from us after all," Phineas added quietly.

"I'm not the headmaster anymore. I resigned from that post."

"We remember. However, the castle and its inhabitants refused it."

"Impossible. The Board is the only one with the authority to accept or refuse. You're not them."

"Oh, honestly, boy," snapped a stern-looking witch from a few portraits down. "We can do whatever the hell we want. We're a part of Hogwarts now."

"I refuse the post." He turned to leave when the door to the office suddenly slammed shut. "What now? You're going to threaten me?"

"We can make your life hell, Severus Snape," a portrait stated.

"And don't think we won't either," another portrait called out.

"You see, we've decided," Phineas explained. "You are our headmaster. Not Albus. Quite honestly, his time has passed as I'm sure you're aware. We need you."

"I refuse."

"Stubborn, but ultimately you will accept. We know it."

"I performed my duties as per Albus's request. Now, I'm done," he replied. "I don't know what this is all about, but I don't care. I'm content being the Defense professor. Understand?" He frowned when he heard several of the portraits whisper amongst themselves. "I don't want the bloody headmaster position. I did my part."

"Yes, but your part is not over with. We need you as headmaster."

"Unless you're all blind now being portraits, I'm currently fifteen. I can't help you."

"Actually, Headmaster, you can," argued Sir Nicholas kindly as he floated into the office. More familiar ghosts soon followed and floated about the room.

"How? What could I possibly do like this?"

"Hogwarts was poisoned by the events of last year," spoke the Gray Lady softly. She hovered close to the Bloody Baron. "Darkness descended upon her, took away everything that was good and tainted it with evilness."

"Yes, I'm aware. That's why there are trained Mind Healers here this year. To help the students." At the rattle of the Baron's chains, he glanced at the Slytherin ghost. "I can't help you."

"As Headmaster of Hogwarts, you are connected directly with the castle," explained the Baron. "As you heal, so does Hogwarts: the castle, the portraits, the ghosts, everything. We understand that you want to be left alone. That you want to enjoy your second chance."

"And that's fine by us," the Friar continued. "In fact, we're all quite happy to see you dashing about the castle with no responsibilities for once. It's refreshing to us."

"I don't understand."

"Death and destruction tore her apart," murmured the Gray Lady somberly.

"Life and love will mend her together," the Baron stated quietly.

"I'm not the man you need for this. Dumbledore—"

"No, Severus. He can't help us this time," Sir Nicholas sighed. "It has to be you."

"Hogwarts needs a leader who has had a second chance given to him. That's you. Not Dumbledore," the Friar shrugged.

"How do you expect me to mend a castle back together when I'm barely mending my own life back together after last May?"

"Your suspicions about Aurora are correct. We can sense the life in her."

He tensed instantly, feeling as if someone had punched him in the gut. He glanced at the portraits and the ghosts. They could sense things like that? Dumbledore had certainly left that detail out.

"Then, you understand that I have bigger things on my mind?"

"Yes." The portraits and other ghosts nodded with the Gray Lady. "We understand. However, after a phoenix burns and dies, a new life is born from its ashes."

He sighed, feeling a headache form behind his eyes. "So? What? You wish to celebrate her supposed pregnancy, then?" He heard their laughter instantly.

"Well, it has been quite some time since a headmaster or headmistress's child was born here. Several centuries at least." The ghosts and portraits smiled kindly. "You will restore Hogwarts to its state, better than ever, because frankly you are doing the same with yourself and Aurora currently. We believe in you, Severus. And we stand behind you. All of us."