Trust Me, I Care
As he walked past the illusion stripping line, Severus didn't know what he had expected. But it was not this.
The boy he had been looking for all this time.
The boy he had missed so dearly.
The boy that was on the run from the Aurors.
The boy that had hidden from him.
What was he doing here?
He would have stumbled, had he not long since learned to mask surprise. Still, he couldn't hold back the parting of lips, the disbelief in his eyes. Relief cocooned him until he felt steady.
"Rigel." It was the eldest Weasley, "Professor Snape is here."
Slowly the boy fully faced him, and as Severus scanned him for any injury, anything that could have made him seek help from the Order, something in him pinched tightly when he saw the look in his eyes.
Fear, yearning, regret.
Not really emotions he was used to from him.
"..." Severus was having trouble speaking. This was not at all how he imagined this particular conversation to go.
"Sir," Rigel's voice choked, "...I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry."
Why are you sorry, you foolish boy?
And why couldn’t Severus say anything? There was a lump in his throat.
"I didn't- didn't mean to hurt you. Or anyone." Rigel was saying, babbling, really.
"Rigel." Severus said. And that word, that one word, seemed to ground him.
Rigel looked at him for a moment, and Severus realised awkwardly that there were tears in his student's eyes. Then Rigel took some shaking steps, and buried himself into Severus' chest. He was quivering.
Why is it always you? Severus wanted to ask, Why do you always get hurt?
Why couldn't they just brew, without the world trying to upset it?
Emotional nonsense, Severus thought. Such hopes were unlike him.
And then there was a wrenching sob from where Rigel had leaned onto him and Severus didn't tell himself to wrap his arms around his student, but he did. He didn't tell himself to stroke his head, but he did, and he was pretty sure he didn't tell himself himself to utter such cliché, comforting words as he had never said in his life, but it was happening regardless, and the hole by his side that had grown over the months seemed to shrink, until Severus didn't feel alone anymore.
People were watching. To hell with them.
Severus didn't know how long he stayed there, Rigel sniffling and uttering apologies, and him trying not to choke and just ease some of the burden on the boy's shoulders.
This was not how he planned their meeting to go at all.
But somehow, Severus thought, he couldn't begrudge the change.
"Albus," Severus said, "We are going to have a talk."
Albus just smiled. Severus shook his head.
But before that… Severus gazed down at Rigel, who had had somewhat of an emotional breakdown and had still hidden his face within the folds of Severus's brewing robes.
...Perhaps he could put off the questioning until later.
Rigel pulled away slowly, and though Severus may not be the most understanding adult, he knew embarrassment when he saw it.
"Sorry." Rigel said, then hesitantly, "Are we fine, Professor Snape? Do you forgive me?"
How could I not, when I know that despite the lies you were true?
Sentimentality, Severus chided himself. He blamed Rigel for it.
"We are fine, Rigel." Severus narrowed his eyes, "So long as you do not pull another such stunt without informing me."
Rigel's eyes widened guiltily. Severus' exasperation was overridden by concern.
Now what?
"The vow..." Rigel said in response to his unspoken question, "Riddle, he—"
"Phrased the awards ceremony as a task." Severus growled. He had considered it briefly, then thought that Rigel would be longer held by the vow. But if he was…
Severus would not lose him again.
"How can I help?"
When Severus saw Rigel sag with relief, he couldn’t help but think:
Once this is all over, I'm going to yank that self-deprecation out of you if it's the last thing I do.