Tearmann

TITLE: Tearmann

AUTHOR: Taran

PAIRING: SS/HP

RATING: Mild R for angst

FEEDBACK: Yes Please!!! taran_swann@yahoo.ca

DISCLAIMER: *sigh* Not mine. Some nasty, ugly, brilliant woman by the name of J.K. Rowling owns the whole Harry Potter universe. I\'m just borrowing for a while, and then I\'ll send it all back the way I found it.

SUMMARY: Snape has a bad day and it just gets worse. Lots of angst.

NOTES: Part of the Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest (Scenario: An accident occurs in the dungeons.) Tearmann is the Gaelic word for sanctuary.

Thanks to my betas, Autumn Carrot, Toft, and R, Just R! I took all your advice to heart. Thanks a bunch for the help and constructive criticism. I never could have done it on my own. :D

ARCHIVING: The Severus Snape Fuh-Q Fest Archive until the end of the fest, then anywhere asked.

Tearmann by Taran Swann

Severus Snape was in an unusual mood. He wasn\'t angry or frustrated or just down right malicious. He was more than he\'d ever been in his life. Nothing seemed to be going his way at all. Today for example....

He awoke early to an insistent scratching at his door. Not knowing what was causing the sounds, Severus rose, pulled on his dressing robes and taking a deep breath, opened the door prepared to blast which ever child dared to disturb him at such an hour. He was instead greeted to a yowl and only just managed to look down in time to see the cat dart into his chambers, obviously deciding she needed to hide in his dungeon sanctuary. Severus rubbed his sleepy face as he closed the door and turned to see just where the nasty feline had gone.

The living room was very dim with the only light coming from two small torches set into the wall on either side of the fireplace. The dungeons, of course, had no windows. Severus spotted the red-eyed cat on his work counter along the far side of the room. Severus growled at Mrs. Norris.

Severus stalked toward the cat waving his hands and hissing. In his haste to chase Mrs. Norris away from precious and dangerous potions bottles, the Potions master of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry forgot about the cauldron of cooling Dreamless Sleep Draught left sitting on the floor in front of the counter. He kicked it hard and sent it rolling, splashing its contents everywhere.

\"Bloody hell! Stupid feline monster!\" he swore at the retreating cat as it knocked several delicate bottles off the shelf, which came crashing down to mix with the Sleep Draught. \"Oh, bloody hell!\" Severus muttered as a cloud of pink smoke started to rise. A quick scan around the room found the cowering cat in the soft chair in front of the cold fireplace. Snatching up the feisty feline in one hand, calling his wand into the other hand, he dashed out the door trying not to inhale too deep, just as the pink cloud was grew to engulf the entire living room.

\"God damn!\" He swore at the world in general. Severus Snape\'s morning started badly and proceeded to become a total disaster. Mrs. Norris, in her fright and anger, reached out with claws bared and tore down Severus\' face and neck, leaving dark bloody stripes. Throwing the cat down, he screamed his loudest, most menacing cry. Severus took a deep breath and bent forward resting his hands on his knees. \"Save the little beast and get mauled for my troubles. How bloody typical. Story of my life.\"

He began coughing hard and slowly sank himself down to the floor. As his breathing came back to normal, Severus pulled his knees to his chest and bent his head down to rest a moment before beginning the work of clearing out his living quarters.

\"Severus?\"

\"Hmm...\" Severus slowly raised his head and blinked in the dim light. \"Albus?\"

The tall silver haired twinkly-eyed headmaster knelt in front of his youngest staff member, concern bright in his eyes. \"Severus, are you alright?\"

\"Yes, I must have fallen asleep,\" he said sleepily.

\"Yes, I suppose you did, but why are you out in the hall in your robes?\"

\"Filch\'s little monster caused an accident, which nearly destroyed my chambers.\" Severus rose unsteadily to his feet and swayed briefly until Dumbledore rested a hand on his shoulder. He rubbed his sore red eyes and yawned. \"What time is it?\"

\"It\'s nearly 8:30. You weren\'t at breakfast so I got worried. Are you sure you\'re alright?\"

\"Does it matter?\" he responded curtly and turned to his door, muttering spells as he opened it. Behind him, Dumbledore gave a soft sigh, a deep look of concern crossing his face. Potion master Snape never saw it, as he stepped into his rooms and closed the door behind him.