Severus generally gave Albus the cold shoulder after a punishment but it seemed that the intensity of his avoidance kept increasing with time. Albus knew that this was just the way Severus processed his feelings and teenagers generally carry around anger at the world and that Severus did that for five teenagers, but it still hurt. He really wanted to hold his son and have a pleasant conversation. The Saturday detention had been as awful as he had expected it to be. With Severus crying and being angry, he was feeling quite lost. And Severus hadn't as much as made eye contact for the week since. Albus had tried giving him the space he wanted but he really hoped that the award ceremony would provide a way for them to bridge this.

Severus got a note from Albus to come up to his office for breakfast so that they can floo to the event. A part of Severus was still angry at Albus and strangely wanted him to suffer as much as he had made Severus suffer but another part of him was looking forward to the award ceremony. Validation always felt good but there were many ace potions masters who were going to be there who Severus was really looking forward to meeting. And by now the pain in his backside from the whole debacle was almost gone. But he wouldn't let Albus know that, he needed the sympathy to wheedle out of some of his grounding restrictions.

He went to the gargoyle and gave the password. Albus was dressed in gorgeous green and gold robes, not quite slytherin colors but Severus could see that the man had made great effort to please him. "Good morning, headmaster."

"Oh, hello, Sev, lemon drop?"

"No thank you sir."

"Alright, don't mind if I do, I'm actually a little nervous. Anything else you need before we leave?"

"No sir."

"Then, shall we?"

As they arrived there, Severus' eyes looked like they would bulge out of their sockets. Albus felt grateful to be able to witness this moment of pure joy on his child's face. Then the joy change to apprehension. Albus said, without looking at the boy, "Sev, you have earned this. You deserve to be here and so much more. I'm proud of you and I love you." Albus didn't turn to look at the small smile that came up on Severus' face but he knew it was there.

Severus felt like a celebrity because even though there were many accomplished potions masters there, everybody was intrigued to meet the winner of the young potions master award and he was sought out for conversations. A couple of them even offered him apprentice positions. Albus trailed around and he made it a point to introduce him as his headmaster and not his guardian. He noticed how his dad's face fell when he said it and thought ,'serves you right'.

During the ceremony, when Severus' name was announced he didn't accept Albus' hug and Albus just patted his back. In his brief speech, he thanked the school in general and promised many more new solutions. Albus tried to tell himself that it was okay Severus didn't mention him as he didn't mention his potions professor either.

After the ceremony, everyone mingled and networked but Severus's eyes were glued to Ivan Illich, the elusive Russian potions master, the absolute best in the world and Severus' hero. When Albus saw Severus glance at Ivan furtively quite a few times, he decided to intervene. "Sev, I have actually met Mr Ilan before through another acquaintance and can introduce you if you like?" Severus wanted to scoff and say no but he swallowed his anger for a bit and said ,"Yes, pelase." Albus beamed and led his son to Mr Ilan.

"Hello there, Mr Ilan, I'm Albus Dumbledore. We met at the swearing in ceremony of the minister of magic."

"Of course I remember you, Mr Dumbledore. How do you do?"

"Oh call me Albus, please. And I'm very well. How are you doing?"

"As well as one can hope. There is so much to be done. How are you managing the school?"

"Eh, as well as I can," Albus shrugged.

"Another potions master joined the conversation and said, "Oh don't be modest Mr Dumbledore, not only is Hogwarts the best school for witchcraft and wizardry in the whole world, you have a freaking Chocolate Frog card after you and your legal and ministry experience is legendary."

Albus laughed. Severus looked at his dad with new eyes, feeling proud.

Mr Ilan commented, "Wow, I'm rather impressed, Albus. Not just with your achievements but with how gracefully you carry all these responsibilities."

"Actually the achievement I am the proudest of is my son here, Severus. He is the winner of the Young Potion Master Award."

"Oh right, Severus, hello there. Congratulations, young man."

"Thank you sir." Severus shook the proffered hand.

"Quite a neat piece of work there with using water to use the moon's gravity against itself."

"I am rather proud of that idea," Severus beamed and having found some courage, asked, "Mr Ilan, would you happen to have any positions open for an apprentice?"

"Oh. Yes, for a young man of your talent, I'll open new positions." After a pause, "But I need to know something first."

"Yes sir?"

"Necromancy is considered a dark condition and someone your age shouldn't have been able to access any of those texts. Your insights for the potion wouldn't be possible without those texts. How did you do it?"

Severus felt flustered. There was no logical way to answer the question except for the truth. After a moment's hesitation he confessed, "I forged a professor's signature to obtain it."

"I thought so. That's atrocious. How dare you? If you don't even have that much respect for rules and discipline in you I simply don't see you succeeding as my apprentice or even a potions master. That's pathetic. If I had any authority over you, you would be soundly thrashed and then some!"

The other potions master joined, "That's a really dangerous path to go down. The dark arts seem very enticing especially at this age, but they are really dangerous. I had a really bad phase of life because of some poor choices I made in my youth. I wish I had someone to correct me then."

Ivan again, "He has Albus freaking Dumbledore to raise him and he still behaves so poorly. I don't think he has it in him to make something of himself."

The generally calm, proud, indifferent Severus was brought to tears by the sudden, intense rebuke. Albus couldn't take it.

"That is quite enough, Mr Ilan. You know nothing about my boy and so have no right to judge him. Yes he made a mistake but he was punished for it and it is in the past. Everyone makes mistakes growing up. It is absolutely natural. WHat matters is how you learn and grow from them. And your comments have only displayed your utter incapability of being a mentor so I will certainly not allow Severus to apprentice with you, at least till he is of age and I have a say. Now we shall take your leave but bear my warning Mr Ilan, if you ever speak to my son or another under age wizard like that again and I hear of it, you will hear from the ministry about the appropriate treatment of apprentices. Good day you all." And with that Albus gently led Severus away.

He found a washroom that nobody seemed to be using and locked it for some privacy.

"You're okay son, I'm sorry you had to hear that. That man was completely out of line."

Severus was already shaken by the encounter and seeing Albus being so kind to him after he had given him nothing but attitude and hurt for the last week broke him. He sobbed and clung to Albus. Albus patted his back and said, "Let it out, child. Let it all out." When Severus seemed to have finished, Albus said, "A little better? Why don't you wash your face?"

As father and son walked out, Albus said as casually as he could, "I know you said no before but the perfect cure for getting over encounters with nasty people is ice cream. What do you think?"

"Is the whole plan still on the table?"

"You mean lunch, ice cream, bookstore and apothecary? Sure thing?"

"Whatever lunch I want? As much as I want?"

Albus laughed, "Yes."

"And as much ice cream as I want?"

"You're sixteen, not six. I trust you won't make yourself sick so sure."

"And as many books as I want?" Severus tried to pull his best puppy dog face.

"I wish I was that rich, son. But how about ten?" That was very generous and Severus' face showed his elation. "And before you ask, let's do fifty dollars worth of potions ingredients."

Severus hygge dhim again, really tight.

Albus knew that he was spoiling the kid but right now, it felt just right.

And just like that father and son had a beautiful evening out in still came back to a situation where Severus was grounded for another three weeks and had another caning coming, but he understood his father's reasons a lot better and a part of his was happy that he had his kind father enforcing the rules and not Mr Ilan. But another part of him obviously wished that he would never get spanked!

Coming out of the Severus, Albus smiled softly and asked, "So Sev, what seems to be the problem with Draco?"