Viridian

~ Chapter 5 ~

Severus had sent his letter to Narcissa at around 10am. He had gotten a response at 7pm.
     By that time, classes were over and everyone in the castle was in the Great Hall for dinner. Severus had taken his regular seat near the end of the teachers table. He very quickly noticed that Minerva wasn't there, but didn't think much about it.
     For most of dinner that night, Severus sat and ate in silence. He had far to much to deal with. He didn't have time for useless conversation with the other teachers. He had to plan his weekend.
     Severus knew that he wanted to get Harry around 10-11pm on Friday night. He just needed to figure out how he was going to get Harry out, without alerting anyone.

For a while Severus sat to try and come up with a plan. He had figured out how he was going to collect the boy and where he would keep the boy for the weekend. He was just about how he was going to explain the situation to Narcissa, when a disheveled looking Minerva walked into the great hall and took a seat to the left of Severus. She gave a small smile before turning to her plate and pouring a cup of tea.

Although Severus was just itching to ask Minerva where she was, he could see the look on her face and new now was not the time for it. She had a solemn look on her face and her hands trembled slightly while she sipped her tea. Severus knew she would talk when she was ready.

Minerva sipped her tea quietly for about 10 minutes before clearing her throat slightly and looking towards the dark haired male. She looked for a moment while listening to the sound of cutlery and laughed that filled the large room, poking a fork at the food she had placed on her plate just minutes before.

"It happened again." She spoke quietly to Severus, with tears forming in her eyes. The man need exactly what she meant with no explanation. It was a Thursday so only one day of classes before he went and got the boy from that horrid place he was in now. Harry just had to make it one more day and then he would never have to see those pathetic excuses of humans again.

No matter how much Severus had despised James in their schools years, He knew he wouldn't want his child going through this if he had suffered the same fate James had. He knew he would have wanted someone to care for the child as much as he would have if not more. This was a risky thing to do but it was a risk he was willing to take.

Severus finished his dinner in silence before bidding Minerva 'Good night' and heading to his living quarters.

Stepping through the portrait hole and looking around, Severus saw many safety hazards for children and knew he had quite a few preparations to do before bringing a child into his home. There were potion ingredients strewn across tables and alcohol where it shouldn't be so he knew that needed to go first. He also needed stuff for Harry to use for the couple days he was to be in Severus' Quarters.

His living area consisted of 3 different rooms. The main room, from when you first walk in, held 3 areas around it. A sitting room placed to the left of the painting entrance, A kitchenette on the far wall across from the entrance, and potions making set up opposite of the sitting area. To the left of the potions table was a small hall the held 2 doors. The first door was a small washroom-A toilet, sink, and small bathtub. And the door at the very end held Severus' bedroom, with just a bed, a wardrobe, and a large chair.

Standing in the door way, Severus decided to start cleaning in there. With a quick wave of his wand he had cleared all the alcohol away into a high up cabinet in his kitchen where he new the small boy wouldn't be able to reach it. Another wave of his wand had sent any potions materials into a cupboard above his desk and placed a sealing charm over it just incase. And lastly he finished the area off by making sure the place had been cleared of any dust and grime before heading into the bathroom.