Severus Dumbledore
"I must apologize Professor Sprout, for keeping Severus from his lesson." Professor Dumbledore said as he and Severus entered the greenhouse that was currently being shared by the Slytherin and Ravenclaw fifth years. "I needed to borrow him, to ask about his future academic plans."
"Not at all, Headmaster." Sprout waved away and turning to Severus, she instructed, "In today's lesson we are gathering cactus spines from the golden barrel cacti we keep in the back, do you know which plant I'm talking about?"
"Yes, Professor." Severus nodded.
"You have your gloves?" Sprout prompted.
"Yes, Professor." Severus once again nodded.
"Off you go then." Sprout smiled and Severus turned and began walking towards the heated backroom of the greenhouse.
"A word in your ear, Pomona?" Dumbledore said quietly, leaning closer to the Herbology teacher.
Severus had wanted to hang around, maybe pretend to tie his worn shoelaces as he knew they would be discussing him. But fighting the urge to eavesdrop on their conversation, Severus entered the backroom and pulled on his dragonhide gloves.
Finding an unoccupied golden barrel cactus, he deliberately pressed his left hand to the plant. And, just as he had hoped, when he pulled his hand away the spines in that area had come away with it. Giving his tweezers a quick click, he started the methodical process of plucking each spine from the glove.
"So, what's going on with you and Dumbledore?" a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.
"Hello Avery, nice to see you, too." Severus replied dryly as he continued his work.
"Cut the crap, Snape." Avery challenged as he folded his arms and leaned against the neighboring cabinet. "Was that really Dumbledore's pet phoenix you were cuddling up to?"
"And what would you have rather me do?" Severus said, looking round at the other Slytherin, "I suppose you'd have me throttle the bird instead, would you? It's not everyday you see a phoenix, you know."
"Don't act dumb, Snape." Avery rolled his eyes. "You're not good at it."
"Thank you." Severus nodded, once again pressing his glove against the cactus.
"You're hiding something." the other boy surmised and Severus did his best to concentrate on the task at hand. "What did Dumbledore want to talk you in private about?"
"Mr Avery, I don't see much work going on over there." came Professor Sprouts voice from the other room and, Severus had never felt more grateful in that moment.
"Just informing Severus about your lecture from the beginning of class, Professor." Avery lied, unfolding his arms with a small smile.
"Very good, now please return to your own work, Mr Avery?" Sprout said.
"Yes, Professor." Avery said coolly and with one last look at Severus, he walked away, allowing Severus to sigh with relief.
He knew it was only a matter of time until everyone found out about his apprenticeship to Dumbledore but, he wanted just a little bit longer to quietly reflect himself and become more used to the idea itself.
Once they were done for the day, Severus removed his gloves and placing them in his book bag, he picked up his small tray of cacti spines. "Good work today, everyone." Sprout appraised her students' as one by one they dropped off their collections before leaving the greenhouse. Severus had deliberately waited at the back of the queue as he knew Avery had Divination for his next class and if he didn't want to be late, he couldn't wait around for Severus.
"Goodness me, you have enough their to make a porcupine look bald in comparison." Sprout said as she carefully took Severus' tray. "Excellent work today Mr Dumbledore, I'll give you five points for your efforts. Does that seem fair to you?"
Severus froze for a moment before managing to say, "Yes, Professor, thank you."
"Five points to Slytherin, it is then." Sprout nodded and then with a gentle smile and meeting Severus gaze she said, "Professor Dumbledore told me that you accepted his offer of apprenticeship. So, I just want to tell you: Remember to only work as hard as you can and not as hard as you think you need to."
"Professor?"
"It's so easy for all of us to overwork ourselves because we feel we have expectations just out of our reach." Sprout explained as she set about tidying the workbench, ready for her next class. "But I have found that general, consistent hard work often shines through the brightest."
Severus nodded, "Yes, Professor."
"Good." Sprout said. "Well, I shan't keep any longer and make you late arriving to your next lesson."
"See you Wednesday, Professor." Severus stated, drumming his fingers along the greenhouse door frame.
"Goodbye, Mr Dumbledore." Sprout replied. "And congratulations."
Severus jogged up the path towards the Ancient Runes classroom, slowing down to a gentle pace as he spotted that his other classmates were still lined up outside the door. So, casually joining them, he caught his breath. It was then that a Hufflepuff girl, who Severus recalled was named Sharon Rigby, turned around and spotting Severus, she nudged her Gryffindor friend. The two exchanged glances and excitably whispered to one another. Then the two made their way over to Severus.
"You're that boy who got to touch the phoenix that flew into the Great Hall, aren't you?" Rigby asked enthusiastically.
"Um, yes that was me." Severus answered awkwardly, unsure exactly what the Hufflepuff wanted.
"Okay, this is very important. " she stated in a serious tone. "Do you know what it's name is?"
"Oh, his name is Fawkes." Severus shrugged as the girl's eyes lit up.
"Emily." Rigby stressed, looking to her friend with eager eyes.
"Yes Sharon, it's a cute name but you can't have a pet phoenix." the Gryffindor acknowledged, folding her arms. "It would probably get eaten by one of your... how many cats you're planning on having? Sixteen?"
"Nineteen and I wouldn't have a pet Phoenix, I'd adopt an orange cat and call him Fawkes instead." Rigby corrected.
"Right, right." Emily nodded. "Along with: Bloomers, Timmy Tom Cat, Rocky Road, Mr Morningstar, Miss Pumpkin Patch-"
"Alright everyone, take your seats, please." Professor Thimblewood announced as he stood besides the door frame. "And I hope you all remembered to bring back your summer homework as we'll be going over it before we start on our next unit."
Taking his usual seat in the middle row, Severus retrieved his runes homework as well as his copy of Spellman's Syllabary, crinkling his nose at ink splotch on the first page.
"Settle down." Thimblewood spoke as he picked up the class register, quill in hand. "Albany?"
"Here."
"Clark?"
"Here, sir."
Thimblewood stopped and squinted at the register as if it had suddenly been translated into a foreign dialect. "Dumbledore?"
Severus' face turned pink as the rest of the class creaked in their chairs to look over at the closed door, expecting for the Headmaster to enter at any moment. Slowly raising his hand, Severus answered "Here, sir."
Thimblewood blinked and then looked back down at his list and, clearing his throat he continued, "Dunn?"
Severus could feel his ears turning red as he heard frenzied and confused whispers. In that moment Severus would have given anything for a dragon to swoop down and swallow him whole. This was going to be a long day.