Whelp

He and his new employer were going to have serious words on this issue, and if the Headmaster's answers were unsatisfactory . . . well. He would decide what to do at that juncture, but his relationship with Dumbledore would be severely impacted, at the least.

The boy had not asked where he was and had expressed little interest in his surroundings at all, beyond what cup or glass was offered to him, and Dappin's sudden appearance. Such apathy worried him, if he were to be perfectly honest. Was the boy still in shock? Or were his reactions symptomatic of scarring, more severe than Severus would be able to handle?

He was out of his depth, either way.

Now that the worst of Harry's injuries were healed, he should move the boy to Hogwarts, assuming his conversation with Dumbledore went at all well. Then Madam Pomfrey could deal with him, and the Headmaster could offer his sage advice, if any, and Severus could get back to work setting up for his first term as a professor.

Perhaps.

After instructing Dappin to keep an eye on the boy, Severus cast a charm to alert him in case Harry woke, and headed downstairs to the sitting room to floo call Albus.

----

TBC

A/N: Happy Book Seven Release, y'all! The next chapter of 'Whelp' will be a few days in the making, while I indulge myself in reading Deathly Hallows. Have a great weekend, and thank you to everyone who reads and reviews! We're almost at a hundred, which is very, very cool.

*Chapter 7*: Chapter 7

Whelp -- Chapter 7

By jharad17

A/N: Wow, we hit 100 reviews! Way cool! I guess you guys deserve another chapter, like really quick, huh? Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews; you make this all worthwhile.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I make no money from this. The characters belong to J. K. Rowling. I only borrow them for a brief while.

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'Albus! A word!' Severus yelled through the green firelight in his hearth. He rose and paced before the fireplace, impatient and growing more irritated by the second. The minute or so before the Headmaster responded crawled by. He was about to shout again when Dumbledore's head appeared in the flames.

'Severus? I had not realized you were at home.'

'I hadn't planned on the trip.' Severus paused, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared. 'I went on your little job.'

'Ah.' The wrinkles in Dumbledore's face deepened as he frowned. 'Was there a problem?'

Severus clenched his jaw. 'You might say that.'

'Shall I come through?'

'Yes, do. You recall the password, I assume?'

'Of course.'

Severus stepped back and waited for Dumbledore to exit the grate. A few moments later, the Headmaster emerged wearing lurid purple robes festooned with green moons and stars that sparkled brightly. Severus was almost certain he heard the faint twinkle of music emanating from them, and he was certain that the Headmaster wore mismatched socks. He'd have to get some for the old codger for Christmas. If they were still on speaking terms.

After wandlessly waving away the little soot that clung to his robes, Albus looked Severus up and down. 'You have blood on your clothes,' he said, his tone rather subdued.

'Indeed.' With effort, Severus unclenched his jaw. 'It's not mine, but the boy's.'

Albus stared at him, then sighed softly and sank into one of the two comfortable chairs in front of the hearth. Severus' eyes narrowed. Until that moment, he hadn't been sure. But now . . . Dumbledore had known. At the thought, his stomach twisted. He hadn't wanted to believe it, hadn't wanted to think Albus would leave the golden boy, the Boy Who Lived, in such straits. This was like a stab in the heart--

'It's not what you think,' Albus said, cutting through his recriminations, as if he'd read Severus' mind. But he could, of course, have done so. He was a powerful Legilimens.

Taking a slow breath, Severus counted to ten. Then, 'Why don't you tell me, Headmaster, how often your watchers report to you.'

'We're back to being formal, are we?' Albus peered at him over the half moons of his spectacles. Then he sighed. 'Very well. They report as often as necessary.'

'Which means?'

'Just that. I hear if there is a problem, or anything out of the ordinary--'

In one quick movement, Severus yanked the chain link collar out of his pocket and thrust it in the Headmaster's face. It was covered with blood and pus and tissue, some old, and some quite new, from when Severus had torn it from the boy's throat. 'Tell me, then, Headmaster, would this be considered out of the ordinary, or perfectly normal behavior on the part of those Muggles?'