Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Vigil

1996

Severus scowled ferociously at a tiny pair of Hufflepuff first years as he stormed his way to the Great Hall just before dinner. The frightened brats scurried quickly out of the Potions Master’s way and Severus wanted to smile at the terrified way they had scrambled away from him. Maybe if hadn’t been in such a foul mood, he would have smiled. Damn Minerva.

The Deputy Headmistress had requested Severus’ presence in her office earlier in the afternoon and had demanded that Severus join the rest of the staff for dinner. “You may not use your discomfort as an excuse any longer, Severus,” the woman had told him pointedly, her eyes fiercer than usual. Severus had not been in the great hall once since Harry had left his office Thursday afternoon. Apparently, his reasons had been overbearingly transparent.

“I have been busy,” Severus had lied stiffly, averting his eyes.

“So I hear,” Minerva had said blandly.

Severus had narrowed his eyes at her tone. How dare Albus share his private affairs with Minerva…or had it perhaps been Lupin? He doubted though that the damned werewolf would have the temerity; Lupin was weak. Incensed at the Headmaster’s audacity, Severus had snapped, “My private affairs are not your concern, Minerva.”

“How you treat children in my House is most certainly my concern,” she had snapped right back. Minerva had been chastising Severus for years about her maltreatment of her Gryffindors, and most especially of Potter. Her complaints however had done her little good as they fell on deaf eyes, not least of all, Severus’. Albus, though he occasionally admonished Severus to be kinder toward the students, didn’t actually do much beyond that to encourage Severus to change his behavior.

Severus hadn’t responded to Minerva’s retort, preferring instead to favor Minerva with a rather cool look. After a few moments of icy silence, Minerva had sighed and told him to be in the Great Hall for dinner, no excuses.

So that was how Severus found himself stalking through the corridors toward the Great Hall, scattering nervous students in his wake. Seating himself at his place at the Head table, after noting the unusual absence of Poppy and Lupin, Severus completely ignored the Gryffindor table as he surveyed the assembled students. Severus noticed a few stragglers among his Slytherins and made a mental note to berate them in their common room before lights out.

Dinner appeared before him a moment later and Severus began eating, taking his time as he listened inconspicuously to the conversations between the other Professors at the table. Most of the inane chatter rolled off his ears until he heard Hagrid’s heavily accented voice asking Minerva, “‘Ow is ‘Arry?”

Severus’ eyes darkened at the implication of the question. He completely forgot his anger though with Minerva’s worried answer, “He’s responding to Poppy’s treatments but slowly, I’m afraid.” Severus’ stomach turned to ice. Treatments? Why would Harry need treatments?

Severus kept his eyes on the plate in front of him and blocked all other mental intrusions to focus completely on Hagrid and Minerva. Hagrid was saying regretfully, “Ach, Professor. Bad blow, that. Bludgers are a nasty business.” Bludgers…so Harry had been hurt playing Quidditch. But the season hadn’t started yet….Had the Gryffindors held tryouts already? Surely not, as Severus would have heard about it from his own Quidditch team.

“Aye, Rubeus. Mr. Potter has a difficult night ahead of him,” Minerva agreed as she shook her head.

Severus finished eating methodically as he considered this. He knew now of course why Poppy was absent from dinner, and decided that Lupin was most likely in the Hospital Wing as well. Of course Lupin was probably sitting next to Potter’s bed, nervously clucking over the boy like an old mother hen, Severus thought with a sneer.