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Severus stormed towards the Headmasters office, his face like thunder as he finishing doing his collar buttons and shirt sleeves.
Severus could not believe he had been summoned to the Headmaster's office at 4am! 4am!
He was disgusted that the headmaster seemed to believe that everyone would be up at this time just because the old goat survived on an hour's rest a night.
He was having a lovely dream, only to be disrupted by Albus shouting from the fireplace in his living room that he was needed in his office immediately. He mentioned something about Potter's dreams becoming reality.
Of course it would be about Potter. The boy had decided to lose his marbles at long last but the inconsiderate blighter had decided to do it at this unreasonable hour. He could have least gone off his rocker during Minerva's class so he wouldn't need to get involved.
He was unsure why he had to be involved now to be honest. Albus had mentioned training the boy in Occlumency but surely he wouldn't want to do that now. Both the boy and himself would be tired so there would be no chance of Potter being able to construct his shields. And it was very likely that he would only lash out. His temperament only became more acerbated with lack of sleep.
He was only thankful that the Dark Lord wasn't likely to summon him until the weekend due to his teaching commitments so he could recover from this little drama.
It was as he drew nearer to the Headmaster's office that he discovered he had forgotten his teaching gown. He still looked daunting as ever in his teaching clothes- tied in and showing no weakness but his stiff spine but he still felt slightly naked without it. It hid his body's reactions better. He still had a slight shake from the Cruciatus he had been 'rewarded' with from the previous weekend.
He didn't regret not giving the Dark Lord what he wanted. The pain would mean that Hermione was safe for a while longer. The Dark Lord was desperate for the Prophecy and had asked Severus to get it for him.
He hadn't passed on any information, saddening his master apparently so he had become the sport of his fellow death eaters. He still couldn't conceive what went through his 18 year old head to imagine that joining the Dark lord was a good idea.
"Banana Tot." He murmured as he reached the Gargoyle, waiting for a few moments for the stairs to wind upwards before sweeping forward towards the office.
Knocking the once he walked in, surprised to see the crowd that was in there. Of course there was Potter but there was also the Four Weasleys and Minerva.
"You called for me Headmaster?" He asked as politely as he could in company. He stood straight and proud, unwilling to show the exhaustion he felt at being summoned so early.
"Ah thank you for coming Severus" Albus said with a genial smile as he looked over to the man who entered his office.
Severus simply dipped his head slightly at the man while his head was hissing, 'Old goat! Waking me up because of some Gryffindor drama!'
Albus looked over towards Harry who was shaking beside Minerva and Severus frowned, it seemed the boy was sweating profusely. What exactly had happened?
"I believe its time for Harry to be Trained in what we discussed Severus." The Headmaster said with a small frown, his tone of voice showing there was nothing to be discussed.
"Well Potter can come after dinner tom-" Severus said with a frown, his brow pushed down as he looked towards the headmaster. His muscles stiff as though waiting for battle.
"No Severus. Time is of the essence. The five Weasley's will be going to St. Mungos-" He completely ignored Severus's enquiring look and anger at being interrupted. "Harry will come with you to start training."
"May I get Miss Granger also? This training could be import-"Severus growled as the headmaster cut him up once again. His fists were clenched as he tried to rein in his anger. All he wanted to do was finish a sentence! The old man had woken him up at 4am, wasn't he at least allowed to finish a sentence.
"Miss Granger is of no consequence in these circumstances and will only distract you from Harry. She will not be allowed to join these sessions. Am I understood?" Albus said, his eyes as hard as steel though his small genial smile seemed to be the complete opposite to the warning in his eyes.
Severus looked quickly around the room, his eyes taking in the frowns of confusion and slight anger from the Weasley's and Potter. He supposed they didn't like their friend being crowned as of no consequence. Understandable really seeing as Hermione's intelligence had allowed them to survive many of their adventures.
Severus reluctantly nodded his agreement, though it seemed hard to agree with the consequences. Shouldn't Hermione be allowed to develop her shields against outside forces? If she was to live with him, it is likely she will see things that many should not be privy to. She was the friend of Harry bleedin' Potter, her mind is full of his secrets so why wasn't she allowed to learn.
"Is anyone going to tell Hermione what's going on?" Harry said with a slight tremor to his voice. Severus didn't know if it was the shock of the events he still hadn't been told or the shock of seeing a different side to the Headmaster. It was always a jolt the first time you saw the 'war master' Albus instead of the twinkling headmaster.
"Not tonight Harry but soon she will." Albus said turning back to harry and thus his twinkling personality.
Severus growled to himself, he hated seeing the headmaster so blatantly trying to manipulate those around him. He tried to show himself as a bumbling old man instead of the harden war leader.
Severus might be hated but he was himself. He couldn't say he was hiding away differing personalities, waiting to be brought out when he wanted to manipulate someone into forgetting a friend or to get his own way. He only hoped Potter didn't forget his friend when it came to this.
He had heard that Hermione and Potter had made up after his hateful comment. She came to his office to escape his bumbling apologies which had been going on for 3 days; that at one point he was either pestering her with chocolates or on his knees, eyes wide asking for forgiveness.
She apparently forgave him so she wouldn't end up the size of a house.
Teenagers. Ridiculous.
"Come Potter." He said with a snap as he turned around and headed for the door, not waiting for him to follow.
He turned his head slightly to see if Potter was indeed keeping up, only to see that he was stumbling, almost tripping over in exhaustion. How can Albus truly believe that Potter could start his training tonight.
He grabbed Harry by the collar of his t shirt before continuing towards the dungeons, seemingly holding the boy up as he kept stumbling.
As they finally reached his office, he pushed Harry on to the sofa in the corner and moved towards a door on the left, leaving Harry by himself looking confused by the turn of events.
Severus returned quickly and pushed a vial of Dreamless sleep into Harry's hand.
"I assume you know what it is Potter?" Severus said with a raised eyebrow.
Harry slowly nodded, looking at the bottle in his hand. "But the Headmaster said something about training?" confusion clearly showing in his tone.
"Indeed he did Potter but there is no point starting now. Its half 4 in the morning so its pointless starting now with your exhaustion but you will not mention this to the Headmaster do you understand me? Now go to sleep Potter. I will wake you with enough time to get back to your dorms." He looked at the boy as though an idiot before snapping, "What are you waiting for?"
Harry threw the contents of the vial down the back of his throat before lying down upon the sofa, his eyes drifting close for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Severus moved away from the boy and sat behind his desk. There was no point going to sleep now, there weren't enough hours left to make it worth it. He imagined he was going to be a beast in today's lessons. A small evil smirk moved onto his lips as he thought about it- He was going to have fun with the Gryffindor's.
He looked over briefly to the sleeping figure on the opposite side of the room and sighed. Granger must be making him soft because he couldn't imagine allowing the spawn of Potter to sleep in his office last year. He could try and tell himself that it was because of his own exhaustion that stopped him from starting the Occlumency lessons today with Potter but to be honest he knew he was lying.
Hermione was going to be part of his life for decades now…If he had his way anyway and the boy was an important part of her life. Attached to the hip it felt like sometimes.
He paused in his thoughts as a horrible image popped into his head. God he hoped they wouldn't be attached the hip that way! He couldn't deal with Potter being…like that with his…
With his what exactly. She would always see him as her Godfather. The stern, evil, nasty bat of the dungeons godfather.
Dawn had wanted to tell her the truth just after the attack but he couldn't do that to the girl. She couldn't lose everything- her parents and the basis of her childhood so they just told her that she was his godchild. It was the basic truth to be fair.
He rubbed his hands over his face as he tried to organise his thoughts once more. Anyway he hoped Hermione and Potter wouldn't procreate anyway, he didn't think he had it in him to watch that occur. If it did he could always slip some slow acting poison into his pumpkin juice. Accidently of course he thought to himself as he looked over to the boy once more. His venomous glare causing Harry to shift in his sleep.
Severus whispered into the air for Dobby to bring him a cup of tea, smiling slightly to himself as a tray appeared on the desk in front of him, plate of biscuits as well. He poured himself a large cup, milk with one sugar before leaning back against his chair.
His thoughts went back to what had occurred in the office several floors above him. He was still unsure what had occurred to bring all those Gryffindor's together but it couldn't be good by the looks on the Weasley's faces.
His brow furrowed as he remembered what Albus had said about Hermione. Albus must have been worried to have slipped up so badly in front of all her friends; it could have been a fatal blunder if their trust in the old man was shaken. He tried to be seen as the infallible, friendly headmaster who loved all those under his care but in front of them he had pushed the girl aside as unimportant.
He knew most of those in the office cared for her. The day she had the argument with Potter a few weeks ago, he had been surprised to see one of the Weasley twins come to see him to see if he had seen Hermione. Most shocking really as he didn't know the twins even cared for Hermione but the look in his eyes showed he was worried for the girl.
Didn't the old man need the unshakeable trust of those in the office? So why ruin it with a few words?
He brought his fingers up to his temples and rubbed small circles to relieve the pressure that as building behind his eyes. God he couldn't take the stress of three teenagers and their social problems, a demented master and a manipulating son of a mother. All seem hell bent on applying pressures and problems onto his shoulders.
No one had told Hermione about the prophecy. She was going to hate him for keeping it a secret but it was the right thing to do.
He paused for a moment. It was wasn't it? She's only a child so she can't that that kind of responsibility on her shoulders. As her guardian he believed it was the right thing to do…So why did he have a niggling doubt at the back of his mind.
He softly growled to himself, grabbing a quill and set about marking some sixth year homework.
He was thinking too much.
Can't have that now can we?
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