Walk the Shadows

Resigned to not getting answers tonight, however, she settled in with a book her sister had sent her, a Muggle mystery tale about a crime solving cat. Albus roused several times over the next twenty-four hours, but never more than to accept a few sips of tea or lemonade and then fall back to sleep.

Not until early the following evening did he say anything, and then only, 'Ari?'

Minerva moved forward, into his line of vision. His eyes were still fearful, and searching, for this Ari? Albus had a sister named Ariana, she knew, but little more than that, and the girl had died long, long ago. 'No, Albus, it's Minerva. Would you care for more tea?'

Finally, his gaze focused, and he saw her. A sigh escaped his lips. 'Minny.'

She smiled thinly at the nickname she had eschewed before she even graduated from Hogwarts. 'Minerva, Albus. Yes?'

His lips moved for a moment without forming words, then, '. . . my boy?'

'Do you mean Severus? He's in his quarters, I'll--' She trailed off as he shook his head.

'Harry.' The name was but a breath, and he winced as he said it.

'He is with Severus, I believe.' She pursed her lips. 'Will you explain to me what happened between the two of you? Severus was in quite a state when he found you.'

'Tell . . . me.'

'Tell you what, Albus? I do not know how Harry is. But I imagine Severus would have told me if there was anything to worry about. I was,' ordered, '--asked to remain with you. I would appreciate some answers. Now, if you please.'

But Albus had drifted back to sleep, and did not rouse again until the following morning. In the meantime, Severus had come to check on him, but stayed less than five minutes, and was as close mouthed as before, except to say Harry had been sleeping almost the whole time, as well.

When Albus did wake again, his coloring was much better, and his eyes were brighter. She plied him with food and drink and news about Harry's sleeping, then made him talk to her, refusing to be put off any longer.

He was sitting up in bed now, and finished off a muffin with jam before obliging her. 'I met with Harry,' he said quietly. There was a softness to his voice now, something she had not heard in many years.

'Yes, I gathered.'

'I pushed him to talk to me, to tell me how he was dealing with Sirius' death.'

'Oh, Albus, you didn't! Hasn't he been through enough this summer?'

Albus nodded tiredly. 'As he saw fit to remind me. And about a great many other things.'

'What do you mean?'

'Harry . . . has had a horrid time of it. The last few years, yes, but even well before he came to Hogwarts.' He closed his eyes as a shudder ran through him. This sign of weakness in the Headmaster scared Minerva more than anything else the last couple days. 'I failed him so completely. I never knew . . . I never realized how much they . . .' He shook his head and looked Minerva in the eyes. 'I have no idea how he has survived.'

Minerva's eyes narrowed. 'What did he do to you?'

'Nothing I did not earn, Minerva, many times over. I put him there. I never checked, never asked, just assumed that blood would be enough . . .'

'The Muggles.' Her mouth formed a thin line. 'I told you they were the worst sort.'

He sighed, leaning his head back. 'I should have listened.'

'Mm,' she agreed. 'Tell me.'

With a nod, and tears in his eyes, Albus spent the next two hours doing just that, until she was weeping as well, and