If a Great Wave Shall Fall (Severus Snape & Lily Evans)

Chapter Twenty-Four

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They reappeared with a louder crack than the one they had created when they left, startling the headmaster who was nodding off at his desk. "Severus!" he shouted, jumping up from his desk and rushing around to the other side to stand in front of his apprentice. "What happened?"

"I will explain once Poppy checks on Lily," Severus said, becoming rather hostile towards Albus.

"Yes, of course, I'll Floo her to come up," Albus said, slightly curious as to why Severus was glaring at him.

Severus set Lily's legs down to free his arm so he could conjure a loveseat that they could sit in. When he finished and they were sitting with Severus's protective arm wrapped around her, Poppy, Minerva, Horace, Filius and Pomona all marched through the fireplace in rapid succession; this was normal for Severus, but Lily was a little surprised. She whispered in his ear, "Do you always meet with all of them after you come back from a meeting?"

"And when I come back from anything Death Eater or Order related," he whispered back and then he stood up and greeted the professors and the matron. Poppy and Minerva fussed over him, his bloodshot eyes, his sleep deprived tremour, and overall haggard appearance; it was highly amusing for Lily to watch as Severus tried to defend himself from the two witches.

They reminded her of worried mothers, "Mum..." The fact that her mother was gone hit hard in the stomach. Her eyes glazed over and she drew her knees to her chest, staring at nothing. She felt the couch depress next to her and she felt Severus's arm snake around her shoulders and pull her to him. She buried her face in his robe clad shoulder, finding that she could easily hid in its many folds. There was a tingling sensation that spread across her skin and she soon realized that it was Madam Pomfrey running several diagnostic spells over her.

It stopped after a while and she heard the rustling of parchment and the stern matron said, "Overall, you are fine, Miss Evans, but there are a few things that my spells caught that worry me. None, I think need to be looked at straight away, so I shall attend to them after we're done talking."

Lily nodded her understanding, but didn't really care. An awkward silence fell over the headmaster's office, in which Severus glared daggers at the headmaster on behalf of the girl in his arms. The Heads were looking at the pair on the couch questioningly, they had no idea of her mother's passing and found her behavior odd, and they were wondering what was making him give the headmaster such a ferocious glare.

Poppy broke the uneasy silence, "You, on the other hand Severus, look as if you are about to collapse - Albus, can you not question Severus later, and ask Miss Evans what you want now?"

"No," Severus interjected coldly, radiating authority. "I am not leaving Lily alone with him until he and I have had a little... chat."

"Why is this, Severus?" Albus asked, slightly hurt.

His glower darkened and he sneered, "It'd be easier to ask why it isn't, Albus. I have several bones to pick with you at the moment, which can all be dealt with later."

"I think that they can be dealt with now," the headmaster said looking at Severus over his half-moon spectacles. "Poppy if you would please take Miss Evans down to the Infirmary and if you four would report back to your offices so Severus and I might have this chat in private."

They all looked like they wanted to object, but one look at how the two were staring each other down quelled their opinions momentarily. The Head of Houses left quickly and the matron was wondering how she would get the Head Girl downstairs. Severus looked up at her, his glower fading and he said, "Lily is unable to walk, Poppy, you may need to conjure a stretcher or wheelchair for her."