The Calm Before the Storm
The day of the award ceremony dawned with a strange sort of grimness in the air, as if nature itself disapproved of Riddle's dirty tricks.
Or maybe that was just Severus.
He stared at his hands for a while, so pale they almost camouflaged with the walls save for the occasional brewing knife nick.
Riddle.
Never had Severus felt such disgust for another.
There was nothing more for it. He'd just have to get Harry back home safe, if things went to hell today. No, who was he kidding? This was Harry, things would go to hell.
There was no question of if, only the matter of protecting her.
Severus took a deep breath, and apparated out to the front of her flat door.
He knocked.
A moment later, a breathless Harriet Potter opened the door, and Severus didn't even need to have his magical sensing on to know her magic was on edge. It wanted an outlet.
Since when did you start to believe in its supposed sentience? Or was it semi-sentience? Is that even a word?
"Oh. It's just you," She said, relaxing a little.
"Is it, Miss Potter?" Snape said dryly, "You haven't asked me a security question yet."
They had not, in fact, planned anything of the sort. This snark… was just his way of coping.
Harry shook her head with a smile before opening the door wider so he could come in.
"Who were you expecting?" Severus asked her as he took a seat.
She fidgeted ever so slightly, "I don't really know…"
Harry looked away and out the window, "I just… since Jame—Dad and Mum know, I thought they'd want to… I just didn't want to see their reactions to me leaving. They know about it anyway, so… I woke up early and came here to avoid talking."
She ducked her head.
Severus didn't really know what to say. He wasn't the right person to give emotional support for this. He didn't know how to.
So he just said, "I find life is often easier when we take it one step at a time. Just today, Harry. Get through today first. Everything else will work out." The corners of his lips twitched, "You have a knack for making it."
She looked up at him gratefully.
There was some companionable silence.
"So." Harry said to him, tilting her head curiously, "How come you're here, Professor?"
Severus was momentarily stumped.
Wait. Why am I here?
What had he been thinking, to come here so early? He didn't really need to say anything to her.
And then he realised.
He hadn't been thinking, it was just…
"Come here," He told her quietly.
She blinked, before rising from her chair and walking the few steps that separated them.
Severus squeezed her shoulders gently, and felt something drain from them.
"If—" He swallowed, "If things do not seem to be going well, or something delays your escape plan—"
"Professor—"
" Listen, child!" He pressed, "There may— no, there will be containment wards, I'm sure of it. Riddle knows you are uncomfortable with them. He will try to use your every weakness against you. If something bad happens, and you need help, you need only gesture to me. I will be in the crowd since I play a part in your planned escape as well, but should we need to throw it, give me a sign and I'll still do whatever is required to get you out of there."
He gave her the slightest of shakes to make her understand this.
Severus would not tolerate it if the idiot girl thought she was being noble by sparing him the difficulties that came with publicly helping her should it be truly needed.
"Is that understood?"
"I—" Harry protested, voice fighting to remain steady, "You don't understand, I can't see you in Azkaban! And definitely not for a stupid mess I got myself entangled in! You—"
"You think I can?" He asked her, "You think I can see you in Azkaban because you were too noble to ask me for help? Think again." He stood up.
Harry blinked back some moisture.
Really, it was ridiculous that it had become instinct at this point, but it had.
He gently tugged her into a hug.
"I'm scared," She said finally. Quietly.
He'd never thought he'd hear that from her. He almost thought he imagined it.
So he said something he never thought he'd say either, "I am, too. And that's fine. You'll do just fine."
When had he ever admitted to being vulnerable?
Severus decided it didn't matter.
All he could think as the seconds stretched into minutes and the only movement was that of their breathing was that they were living in a strange utopia anyway.
He just hoped it wouldn't crash.