The Headmaster

Chapter 17 The Headmaster

Adam and Remus left a wearied Severus sleeping. A house elf escorted the two men to the kitchen of the manor. The elf busily fixed the two men a pot of tea and some scones while they talked.

“I thought once we got Severus home I would be able to stop worrying about him but this attitude is not like Severus. I’ve never seen him seem so defeated.” He sipped on his sickeningly sweet tea.

“You must remember the time he spent in solitary must have changed him, at least temporarily. It wouldn’t hurt for him to talk to someone about his feelings.”

“A therapist for Severus? You have no idea what you’re saying. Stoic comes to mind when I speak of him. For his whole life he was been taught to suffer in silence. It what has kept him alive for so long.” Remus shook his head sadly. “I don’t see him changing now.”

“It was just a suggestion. Being a therapist, I pretty much think everyone should see one.”

“Even me?” Remus smiled at his friend.

“Especially you.”

“What?” Remus eyes went wide in shock.

“Have you ever expressed your feelings about being a werewolf? Have you ever talked about the night you were changed? You are a good man Remus. I know you would never deliberately hurt another human being but what if you did, how would you handle it?”

“Needless to say, not well. I have, in my fashion, learned to handle my infliction. I always thought I was pretty well adjusted.”

“Seeing a therapist does not mean one is not adjusted, all it means is there are feelings that need to be dealt with. You have never really dealt with being a werewolf.”

Remus’ eyes flashed amber. “Then, what the fuck, have I’ve been doing for the last thirty-some-odd years if not dealing with it.”

“Surviving! You asked and I answered you, now let us get back the reason I am here, Harry and Severus.”

“I’m sorry Adam, I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You were dredging up memories that I rather have forgotten. You may be right, but like Severus and Harry, I’m not ready to admit it as of yet.” Remus cocked his head at his friend. “We okay?”

“Always, and I apologize for being a bit pushy.”

“A bit?” questioned Remus.

“Yeah, a bit.” Adam smiled back at Remus. No one that fought in a war was unscarred. They were all suffering, most would live their lives with their private pain. Some, like Harry and Severus, had enough people concerned to force it on them, others, like Remus, would acknowledge they need help and find it for themselves.

“Give Severus a few weeks to adjust to his surroundings. I’ll start coming by and chatting with him about Harry. You would be surprised at how much one can learn by listening to what people say about another. What you hate most in others, is usually what you hate most about yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind when we have our ‘friendly chat’ at dinner.”

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Minerva sat next to Severus’ bed reading ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, a story of love and sacrifice, something the young man on the bed would appreciate.

“You do realize Minerva that I am trying to sleep,” snarled a closed eyed Severus, once his friend had finished reading.

“Don’t give me that malarkey young man, you’ve been awake for the last hour listening to me read.” She sat the book down on the end table before lightly brushing Severus’ short hair off his forehead. “I do think I like your hair shorter. Not in this hack job, but styled a bit around the ear. You have lovely shaped ears.”

Severus snorted. “The good lord above gave me ‘lovely shaped ears’ how generous of him.”

“Severus!” Minerva scolded lightly.

“I mean it, Minerva, at least I don’t have ugly ears to go with the rest of me.”

“You’re a fine looking man… once we get a tad more weight on you.”

“I’ve known you since I was eleven and up until now you have never lied to me. Am I in so bad of shape that you feel obligated to flatter me?”

With a harrumph Minerva continued. “That, young man is the reason I have never said anything before about how truly handsome you are. I knew you would never believe me.” Before Severus could call her a liar again she continued. “Not a classically handsome, but intriguing. The dark, moody, silent types that have made women swoon for centuries. You are what romantic novels are written about.”

“I hope you are not offended if I don’t believe you.”

“Not at all. I would have been shocked if you did believe me.”

“Would you mind helping a bloke prop himself up on his pillow?”

After a small struggle Severus was propped up on numerous pillows. It was maddening to him how much help he needed. He wanted to snap and bitch but not to Minerva, at least not much.

“How is Albus doing?” he asked after settling back down.

“Better, at least that’s what the Healers say. I sit with him daily reading to him, much like I do with you. They tell me that he can hear me but I’m not sure he does.” Minerva shook her head sadly. “I really thought that he would be back from his adventure by now.”

“I would like to see him. I need to apologize for my behavior at the leaving feast. I will forever be angry about what happened but I can forgive him, especially after he came to me all of those nights in Azkaban. Without his warmth and soothing words I would surely be dead or worse, insane.”

“If you eat all of your lunch, I will see to it that you visit the Headmaster this afternoon. Agreed?”

“I will only agree to your extortion if I am served something I ‘like’ to eat, no more soup or porridge.”

“Fine, I’ll raid the refrigerator and see what I can find.”

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

She came back with, at least to Severus, a banquet, a small portion of fish and chips, sliver of chocolate cake, and a glass of cold milk.

“You do comprehend that everything on this plate is destined to upset my digestive system?”

“If you don’t want it, all you had to do was say so.” Minerva reached for the plate of food only to have it snatched out of her hands by the ex-Professor.

“We won’t want it to go to waste now, do we?” He ate slowly, savoring each mouthful. It had been months, no years, since anything tasted so good to him. Minerva sat smiling as she watched Severus leisurely devour his meal.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Draco had come in after lunch and cleaned him inside and out. Minerva stepped from the room as the young man helped Severus put on his robes. The older wizard refused to see the Headmaster in his grey nightshirt.

Draco sat his godfather into the wizard chair and helped him maneuver it through the hall of his father’s manor. On Luna’s insistence Draco had put Dumbledore into his father’s old bedroom, redecorated by Luna to suit the Headmaster’s rather colorful tastes. The room was no longer as grandiose as Lucius had decorated it, but more flamboyant, to suit Dumbledore’s taste.

Severus looked around at the changes Draco had made to the room. “I like the changes. I always felt uncomfortable in this room.” Draco had heard rumors for years about his father and Snape. He had no doubt, by the way Severus killed Lucius in the final battle, that their ‘affair’ was not consensual. He remembered that day with terror. Draco, knew that when he had raised his arm to throw the killing curse at his father, that there was enough hate for the man, to be effective. Severus stepped in front of him, sparing him the trauma of killing Lucius. Draco would be forever thankful to his godfather for his assistance but will silently curse him for taking away the privilege of killing the monster, he called father.

“Would you like to be alone?” Draco asked as he pushed the chair next to the comatose Dumbledore.

“Yes please. Check back in fifteen minutes, if you would.”

With a friendly pat on Severus’ shoulder Draco left the room.

“You are the most exasperating old man,” Severus complained. “You couldn’t even let me have a good snit, could you? I would have forgiven you… eventually. Never could stay mad at you and I had plenty, over the years, to be angry at.”

Severus moved his chair even closer. “I may have been difficult to deal with. At times I was bloody awful but you never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. Conniving, meddlesome old coot, thank you, you saved my life.” Severus reached over and squeezed the Headmaster’s hand.

“I have forgiven you, it time for you to return to us once more. We all miss you. I miss you. We both have long roads to recovery and I think it would be best that we had each other to lean on. Don’t you, Albus? Aww, I know what you’re up to. You’re dashing about the countryside checking up on your former students. If I know you, and I do, you are being a bit of a voyeur. When you get back, you must regale to me whom is doing whom. Dirty old fart.” Severus would insist that he saw a small smile on Albus’ face.

“I would stay longer but I find myself tiring so easily these days. I won’t be about for a few days. I am to go under the knife tomorrow. Wish you were here. Don’t repeat this but I’m rather nervous about tomorrow. Silly isn’t it? With everything I’ve been through in my life and I’m afraid of a little surgery. I must leave Headmaster. I expect you waiting for me once I return from surgery. A good game of chess should get our little grey cells working, don’t you think?”

Draco was standing at the door entrance when Severus turned his chair around to leave.

His eyes narrowed, as they bore into his godson. “How much did you hear?”

With a huge grin, Draco answered, “I just got here. I heard nothing.”

Severus moved his chair passed Draco and down the hall. “Liar,” Severus grumbled as he went to his room.

A/N This is the last chapter I have finished writing. Don’t expect anything for a week to ten days…Sorry.