After the war

The kitchens seemed deserted when they got there, but as soon as they started opening the cupboards, looking to see if there was anything edible available, there was a familiar pop, and Dobby stood before them.

"Master Snape, Master Harry Potter. Can Dobby help you with something?"

"We're just looking for something to eat at the moment Dobby. Where are the other house elves?" Harry asked.

"All hiding where Professor Dumbledore sent them to keep them safe Harry Potter Sir. Dobby was keeping watch on the kitchens, knew you would come back, I did. Dobby will bring you food."

"Very well. We will be in my quarters." Severus said to the little elf.

"Yes Professor Snape sir. Dobby will be bringing you food there very soon."

"Thanks Dobby." Harry said, and both he and Severus left the kitchen again.

Dobby was as good as his word, popping up in the potion master's quarters about ten minutes later. He carried a massive tray with two bowls of soup, two plates full of sandwiches, a big jug of pumpkin juice and two goblets precariously balanced on it.
He put it down on the table in front of the fire.

"Is this sufficient, sirs?"

"Oh, it's brilliant Dobby." Harry said, his stomach rumbling.

"Yes, thank you." Severus said, as he and Harry moved to sit down, Harry in 'his' chair and Severus on the sofa.

"Can Dobby do anything else for sirs now?" He asked.

Severus was about do say no, when a thought occured to him.

"Dobby, have you been anywhere near Diagon Alley or Hogsmead, since the end of the last battle."

"No Sir, Dobby has been watching over the others until we are called home, and watching over Hogwarts, for anyone else to come home."

"Can you go, without being seen, and see what the mood is like, what people are talking about."

"Of course, Professor Snape sir. Dobby will not be seen."

"Good. Also, see if you can find out if Rita Skeeter is around."

"She is Professor sir, there was the first Prophet since the days before the battle today. She had headline 'Where is Harry Potter'."

"Huh, I wonder if Fudge will bother mentioning to anyone he has seen me, before this memorial he was talking about." Harry muttered.

"Unlikely, he will probably want to produce you at the service, and claim credit for your safe appearance." Severus said with a sneer. He turned his attention back to Dobby, who was patiently waiting.

"Will you take a message to Rita Skeeter?"

"Of course. Dobby lives to serve." He said.

Severus hurried to his desk, and grabbed a quill and a clean sheet of parchment. He wrote quickly, making sure his writing looked nothing like normal, incase anyone else got hold of the message. It was short and to the point.

IF YOU WANT THE BIGGEST EXCLUSIVE
OF YOUR CAREER. COME ALONE TO THE
SHRIEKING SHACK TOMORROW AT 7AM.

He was aware of Harry looking over his shoulder as he finished the note and put it in an envelope before handing it to Dobby.

"Are you sure that's safe?" Harry asked after Dobby had gone about the assigned tasks.

"It should be. I have no intention of us being in the open at the shack tomorrow. Dobby can keep watch down there. If she comes alone, he can bring her here. If she doesn't come alone, or anyone else comes in her place, Dobby can come and warn us, so that we can make sure they find nothing, other than an untimely death and relocation of thier bodies."

"That works for me." Harry said with a shrug, going back over to the low table and tucking into his food again.

They finished thier meal, and both sat back, staring at the flames of the fire in contemplative but companiable silence.

They were both half drowsing, and therefore jumped with shock at the noise as Dobby popped back in some time later.

"Dobby has done as you asked, sirs." He said.

"How did it go Dobby?" Harry asked, yawning, and stretching.

"Rita Skeeter received your note Professor Snape sir. Dobby delivered it without being seen, but watched her open it. She seemed interested sirs."

"And the mood of the people around the towns?" Severus asked.

"Strange sirs. The people seem pleased that he who shall not be named is destroyed, but they seem restless too. They want to know where Harry Potter sir is, and seem displeased that the ministery was absent from the last big battle."

"So, people are already losing faith in him. Good, then there should be little resistance to our evidence. You should be cautious though Harry, he will be desperate to get you on side now, to shore up his flagging reputation."

"No bloody chance." Harry snorted.

"I know you are not going to endorse him willingly, but be cautious about any dealings with him. He is supposed to be sending you the time and date of the memorial, and port keys come in all forms."

"I promise, I won't touch anything without checking it for threats." Harry said.

"Glad to hear it. I would hate to lose you now." Severus said, earning himself a grin from Harry. Feeling a swell of unacustomed emotions at the sight of that smile, he took refuge in his usual snarky behavior.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself, I would just hate to have wasted all that time training you." He said, but they both knew it for the lie it was.

"We should sleep now. We have an early start tomorrow, and I have a feeling it will be a long day." Severus sighed, rolling his eyes. He stood up and looked at Harry for a long moment.

"Come on, you can share my bed. Nothing improper, I would just rather you not be alone tonight. Now that you are not so exhausted, you may have nightmares." Severus said quietly.

"Thank you." Harry said, equally quietly, and he joined Severus heading into the bedroom.

*********************************************************

I am so sorry it took so long to update, but I just discovered a huge amount of brilliant Torchwood fanfiction, and my attention has been focused on greedily absorbing as much of that as I can. Nothing much going on yet, I know, the fun really starts in the next chapter. Enter Rita 'ethics' Skeeter.