Safe Haven

Under A Rock

The rain poured down around them, thundering and sputtering. Severus placed a shield around the edge of the rock to keep out errant splashes as they watched the deluge from their place beside the warm and crackling fire. Severus sat quietly, unfazed by the silence. He had pulled out a book from his bag and was reading through the different species of plant life native to the Galloway region. Sam was drawing on a small sketch pad that he pulled from one of his pockets, left hand gliding across the paper in confident strokes. Severus couldn't see what he was drawing, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. 

"When did you start drawing?" he asked nonchalantly, turning the page on local lichen and moss

"I've always drawn. I had a crayon in my hand since I could hold one. It's a good hobby to have when you're out at sea for months at a time with nothing but your own thoughts" Sam told him with a small smile 

"Were you a sailor?" Severus asked before he could stop himself, Sam's easy countenance always caught him unguarded 

"Started out that way, when I was young. I had a bit of wanderlust when I left secondary school. I knew that I didn't want to go to university. My dad had a bit of meltdown over that, being as academic as he is. I'm not an academic myself, prefer to work with my hands and be out and about. There's learning to be done that way too" Sam smiled, stretching his arms above his head

Sam and Hazel couldn't have been more opposite. He being social and casual, experiencing the world through his senses and actions. Hazel, full of intellect and wit; not necessarily one for people pleasing and always ready to put up a fight. 

"You're right. Perhaps there's more to be learned outside of a classroom than in it..." Severus agreed, surprising himself 

"Whoa now, coming from a professor that sounds a bit like sacrilege" Sam teased lightheartedly

Severus attempted to smile "My life has been nothing but academia. I learned copious amounts of book knowledge, but nothing prepared me for how to deal with life. How to handle emotions besides pretending they didn't exist. How to make connections. I don't know how to do those things and it's only hindered me. Academia can only get you so far" 

"I think you're doing as well as can be expected. At least from what Hazel explained to me. Your world seems entirely bat shit crazy to me. Was there really a war? You were a spy?" Sam questioned, not bothering to look up from his paper 

Taking a deep breath, Severus decided to play one of his cards, so to speak

"Yes. It was the second war of its kind. The first happened while I was a teenager. I was involved then as well. I had a lot of troubles then, and I wanted respect. I searched for it in the wrong places, as one does. The leader supposedly died, and I began my career as a professor. But, he wasn't dead, just hiding in a way. The second war started seven years ago. It's done now, for good. We lost a lot of good people" 

Sam nodded, taking in the information 

"It's never easy to lose people, especially if they didn't deserve it" 

Before Severus could respond and ask him a reciprocal question, Sam nodded at the rain 

"Looks like it's nearly done. Would you like to head back to the cafe? I didn't expect to be out here for hours, I'm starving" 

Not really, Severus thought before he could police his own thoughts. That was confusing. He was enjoying the calm and seclusion. But he couldn't very well say that, so he stood up and kicked some dirt onto the fire to extinguish it and followed Sam to the edge of the overhang. 

Sam tore off the sheet of paper that he had been drawing on and handed it to Severus as he made his way down the hill into the forest. 

He stared at the paper, an odd feeling creeping into his gut. 

It was him. 

Sam had drawn him. In every little detail. His straight bridge nose, slightly fuller cheekbones, keen and perceptive eyes, black hair pulled back low, expression curious and cautious. Generally, he would view his features as too sharp and defiant but Sam had drawn him in the best light. He had given him a kindness that in his own mind, wasn't there. Was that how Sam viewed him? Or was he simply drawing in a way that showed his own worldview? Were there social implications to this? Or did Sam just want to give him what he had drawn because he saw him trying to catch a look? 

"I see more mushroom Severus! Move it along!" Sam yelled from the bottom of the hill, pointing toward a grove of downed tree trunks with a huge grin on his face

Whatever was happening, he could figure it out.