Walk the Shadows

eyes. 'It's not. Your. Fault.'

After drawing a slow breath of his own, Severus murmured, 'All right.'

Harry nodded sharply, and it was obvious he considered the matter closed. Severus knew it would come up again, as Harry dealt with this latest trauma, at least. But for now, he could let it go.

'What would you like for breakfast?' Severus asked him.

'Not real . . . hungry.'

'Not eating is not an option, I'm afraid.' Severus smiled. 'For one thing, you have a good deal of weight still to put on.'

Something seemed to occur to Harry then, and he sucked in a breath. 'Ron. How's Ron?'

Severus frowned, and then he remembered some of what he had read in Albus' mind while figuring out what Harry had done. It was to Severus' eternal shame that he had not detected the depth of the man's machinations. He swore he would not let such a thing happen again. 'The Headmaster, when he was . . . not himself, told us many things that were lies, Harry. That Ron was in trouble with the Ministry was one of them. That you were in trouble with the Ministry was another.'

'I . . . what?'

'Ah, see, apparently that was a special hell he devised just for me, and for Lupin. That Lucius had filed charges against you for nearly using an Unforgivable on him in Diagon Alley, and for defending yourself when you were kidnapped from Privet Drive.'

'Oh, god.'

'Indeed.' Severus rose, and stretched out his back. He had transfigured the straight backed chair to a more comfortable one when he'd realized he might be in for a good wait, but he was still not used to sitting still for so long. 'But, as I said, you are not actually in any danger, and neither is your red-headed friend.'

Harry's breath left him in what sounded almost like a sob. 'I thought . . . I thought . . .'

'I know,' Severus said softly. 'But it's all right now. You're safe here.'

'Till next time . . . he gets in.'

Unfortunately, Severus could not claim there would be no next time. They both knew it would be a lie. Instead he said, 'We will train even harder, once school starts, and you will learn all you can so you'll be prepared for that eventuality. And I will protect you, the best I can.'

'I . . .' Harry looked up at him, with that same determined look, and nodded. 'Thanks.'

Severus gave him a small nod in return. 'Now, what would you like to eat?'

With a put-upon sigh, Harry acquiesced. 'Toast?'

'And?'

'Juice.'

'And?'

'No more and.'

Severus smirked. 'You're leaving an awful lot up to my discretion,' he said by way of warning, before he left the room briefly, so he could order up the toast and juice, as well as bacon, eggs, pancakes, a grapefruit half and a bowl of sliced fruit.

Harry eyed the tray Severus returned with, and rolled his eyes. 'What part of . . . not hungry didn't . . . you understand?'