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Deathsong Balladeer	By : TheLadyFeylene Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3018 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Disclaimer: Harry, Severus and Dumbledore are not mine. I'm just borrowing them.

Dedication: To everyone who waits patiently for me to update. And to those who have been with this series since the beginning. If it weren�t for you, I wouldn�t write.

Author's Note: I'm sorry that this chapter is a bit short, but I felt that any more would have been out of place. I don't want to be repetitive. I was actually surprised to find I could finish this today. There's actually nothing bad in here, unless you count slash or a teacher/student relationship bad. This is a light chapter, which I think we could use.

Disturbing Revelations

The piece of parchment had remained blank for nearly an hour. Severus Snape stared down at it, quill poised, frowning. What in Merlin's name was he going to say to Lucius? //How do I get myself into these positions?// He wondered when he had been named champion of the downtrodden. First Harry, now Draco. He half wished they'd just sort their own lives out, and leave him out of it.
//I am not their protector.// But he knew that was not true. He had found himself in this strange position of guardian. Both boys needed him, in some inexplicable way. And in all honesty, he did not regret it as much as he told himself. A small, selfish part of him insisted that Harry would stay with him, as long as he needed him. And he wanted Harry to stay with him...
"What are you writing?"
Severus glanced up He hadn't even heard the door open. He frowned, setting down his quill and rubbing his forehead. He could feel a headache coming on. He had more and more of those as the time went on. It seemed a day didn't go by without some sort of ache or pain.
"Nothing, actually." //Potter is still here.// It amazed him. After everything that had happened, Harry still came back. Every evening, without fail. Severus had been certain that after what had happened last week, there would be no more visits from young Mr. Potter. //Which would be best.// He sighed, keeping his face calm and blank. "What do you want, Harry?"
"Bad day?" Harry asked, leaning against the doorframe of the office.
"Not particularly. Why?"
"You're snappier than usual." Harry sighed, hands in his pockets as he crossed the room to where Snape was sitting. The Potions master wished he would go away. He didn't want to see Harry, not now.
"Yes, well, you've come during working hours so I am not going to treat you any differently than any other student. How may I help you Mr. Potter?" Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry, who shook his head and sighed.
"I was bored. Ron had detention with Professor McGonagall, and Hermione's studying. I thought I'd come by and see how you were."
"How kind. I'm quite busy." //Why do you push him away so? Would you make up your mind about the boy?//
"Oh." Harry sighed, sinking into the chair across from Severus, just watching. His scrutiny was unnerving to the Potions master, especially after his last meeting with Dumbledore. It had left him weak kneed and his nerves frayed. He could still remember the feeling of dread that had settled over him...
***
"Oh, nonsense Severus!" Dumbledore exclaimed, at the Pns mns master's insistence he go out of his way to make sure he took different routes everyday. "Simply tell them I'll be somewhere I'm not. I can assure you, it won't take much for me to have a million 'sudden' meetings, and 'surprise' catastrophes I have to deal with." The headmaster grinned warmly.
"Headmaster..." Severus tried again, taking a deep breath. Why did Dumbledore never seem to see the seriousness of a situation?
"I have made my decision, Severus. I will be fine, you should know that by now." He smiled kindly at Severus, his face crinkling as he did, giving him the appearance of a kindly grandfather. "Now, I'd like to talk to you about Mr. Potter..."
Severus froze, every part of his brain devoted to keeping calm. But he felt a muscle in his face twitch, a nerve jump, surely some flicker of something had crossed over his face. His fingers longed to clench into a fist, and his jaw was screaming to clamp down tightly, but he did nothing. He kept his face as calm as he always did, only raised a polite eyebrow in inquiry.
"Potter, sir?" He asked mildly, his heart struggling in his throat. Had they been discovered? Was Dumbledore going to tell him to leave the boy be, to stop this twisted perversion, to....
"Yes, Harry." Dumbledore broke into Severus' thoughts. "I was under the impression you had finished your sessions with him?" Nothing but polite curiosity. Severus breathed a bit easier, feeling some of the tension leaving his shoulders and neck. He nodded, careful not to let any of that relief show.
"That is correct."
"Then...may I inquire as to what exactly it is you've been doing with him every night?"
Severus' throat closed. He had faced Voldemort, lied to the Dark Lord's face with hardly a tremble, fed Lucius Malfoy more lies and falsehoods then truths, and yet in the face of Dumbledore's innocent inquiry, he could do nothing but gape. How had the headmaster discovered the affair? He gonegone out of his way to keep things quiet. He had given no sign, nothing. The only others who knew were the Malfoys; and neither the younger nor the senior would bother letting it slip. Lucius didn't care, and Draco wouldn't jeopardize his chances of savior.
"Oh, do relax Severus." Dumbledore said, still smiling warmly. "Though, I would have appreciated you telling me, rather than keeping it a secret."
"Yes, headmaster." Severus was still on edge. What did the headmaster mean? Surely he couldn't be so accepting of the situation, so calm?
"If you are wondering how I found out, it was simple deduction on my part. Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger came to speak to me on Harry's behalf. It seems they are worried about all of this 'training' he's been doing. Ron informed me it wasn't right, Harry not even sleeping in the dorm any more. It didn't take all that much for me to figure out what was most likely going on, especially considering your own actions when you informed me of his completion in training. I told them they were quite good friends to look out for Harry that way, but not to worry, this was all Harry's own choice. Which, I am certain, it is." There was no hint of accusation in Dumbledore's voice, just calm conviction, but Severus nodded anyway. By now his hands were tight fists in his lap. This meeting reminded him in a way of the meeting that had first started this entire situation. Sitting across from Dumbledore, forced to admit to things he did not want to...
"I will be perfectly honest with you. I do not endorse this." Dumbledore's voice was stern now. "Harry is of a young age, you understand. Not to mention you are his professor."
"I am sorry, Headmaster..." Severus hung his head. He knew that he would not be allowed out of the office until he had assured Dumbledore the affair was over. He felt a weight settling in his stomach, and it surprised and frightened him. He hadn't realized how deeply his feelings ran for Harry. The thought that tonight he would have to tell him not to come back, that they would no longer be whatever they were to each other, pained him. He was not used to these forms of emotion, not so deep.
"Not that sorry Severus, or you would not be doing what you are."
The words were spoken simply, but they made Severus flinch. He swallowed hard, feeling-as he always did when chastised by Dumbledore-like a child who has upset a favorite grandparent. Small and ashamed.
"As I am being perfectly honest with you, I am a bit disappointed in you."
"Yes, headmaster." He didn't like this. These feelings that were inside of him. He had lived his life cold and aloof for so long, that he had barely noticed the crumbling of his inner walls until they were in detritus around his feet.
"But..." Dumbledore continued. "I do not feel you are taking advantage of Harry in any way."
"Yes, headmaster." It was the only response Severus had. He wasn't going to defend himself, he did not have the words. He could hardly justify what he was doing to himself, let alone to Albus Dumbledore.
"Harry is a rather special boy. And I do not mean that because of what he has done. He is not a truly a child, not in his mind. He may not realize this, but I have, and I am assuming you have as well. And he is not one to let a situation he is not pleased with continue."
It was as if Dumbledore was leading up to something. What, Severus had no idea at this point. He simply sat, hands clenched tightly in his lap, eyes downcast to the desk between them.
"Regardless of the legal ramifications, I am inclined to let this continue."
"Headmaster?" Severus looked up, shocked.
"From what I have seen, it has benefited you both." Dumbledore said. "I will ask you to be discreet, of course."
"Yes, headmaster." Severus did not have the words for what he felt at that admission. But the heavy weight in his stomach lifted, and a sense of feeling flooded back into him. He breathed much easier, and his hands unclenched from their tight fists.
"And keep an eye on him." Dumbledore said, smiling. "Now, I must speak with Minerva on a few matters. I will see you tomorrow, I trust?"
"Yes, headmaster." Severus rose, and was gently ushered out, head still swimming and legs not quite working.
***
"Are you done yet?"
Harry's voice snapped Severus out of his reverie. He realized he'd been sitting, quill poised, for a good five minutes. He shook his head, to clear it.
"Yes, I think I am." He put down his quill, rubbing his hand over his eyes in a tired gesture. How had he gotten so tired? Was he really that old? He was only in his late thirties. He was old in spirit far more than he was old in body. What in the name of all the gods did Harry want with him? See in him? He didn't understand where this fear of abandonment was coming from. He had never cared before. But now...
"You look awful." Harry said, rather bluntly. Severus glared up at him, lips curling.
"Thank you for that astute observation."
"No, I mean it." Harry said, concern in his voice. "You haven't been sleeping well, have you?"
"I have been sleeping fine, Harry, as I am sure you would realize."
"Actually no." He shook his head. "I'm a heavy sleeper."
"Ah." Severus nodded. "No, I sleep fine. I simply have a large amount on my mind."
"Draco?"
"Mr. Malfoy is not far from my thoughts." Was all Severus would admit. He had come up with nothing. No way to exercise his power on the boy's behalf. Nothing short of endangering himself. And he was not ready to do that yet. It had nothing to do with any sense of self preservation. He didn't care what happened to him. But he was still needed. And, lately, he had found himself entertaining ideas of what life after the war would be like. Life with Harry.
//You should not be feeling these things. kno know what they are the beginnings of.// His inner voice warned him, dark and unsettling. Yes, he was well aware of what these feelings were the start of. And he did what he could to crush them. Or so he told himself.
"You'll think of something." Harry said, and Severus had to smile inwardly at such trusting and innocent conviction.
"I believe I am done here." He capped his ink bottle and set his quill aside, putting away the blank parchment. "I will continue again tomorrow."
"Want to call it an early night?" Harry asked, reaching over the desk to place his hand over Severus'. "You look like you could use a backrub."
"Harry." Severus squeezed his young lover's hand, allowing the corners of his lips to curve slightly as he stood. He put all fears and worries and warnings aside. "You practically read my mind."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Deathsong Balladeer