A Bond for the Ages

Chapter 6

Severus sat at the dining table contemplatively as he awaited Potter and Malfoy for dinner. He would have to address their fighting and their magic, but especially Potter's guilt. It was astonishing that the boy seemed to have any care about the Muggles dying, but he understood. His relatives were his only home, good or bad, and now he was being told they were dead because of him and he was to be sent away. He cursed Dumbledore for being so callous.

He watched as Malfoy entered the room, head bowed as he slid into his usual seat to Severus' left. He frowned when, after a couple minutes, Potter did not appear.

"Mr. Malfoy, do you know where Mr. Potter is?" he asked casually despite being irritated that the Gryffindor seemed to be ignoring him.

"In his room, I think," Malfoy said.

Severus nodded and tapped the table, making the dinner items appear. "Help yourself, Mr. Malfoy. I will be back momentarily."

He left the dining room and swept upstairs, feeling his annoyance grow. He understood the boy had just received tragic news, but that was no excuse to ignore Severus' instructions. He knocked on Potter's door, but opened it without waiting for an answer. He stepped in and walked to the side of the bed, staring down at Potter with his arms crossed.

"Were my instructions unclear?" Severus said, watching Potter's angry green eyes move to him.

"No, sir," Potter said shortly.

"Then I do not recall making dinner optional," Severus said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not hungry," Potter said dully.

Severus rolled his eyes, sighing as he realized what Potter was doing. "You cannot hide in here forever."

Potter glared. "I'm not hiding and watch me. It's what you want anyway, isn't it?"

Severus scowled as the boy threw his own words back at him in a fashion. He grabbed the desk chair and pulled it over to sit. Apparently they were dealing with this now.

"Potter, their deaths are not your fault," Severus said.

"Sure it is. Dumbledore said—"

"I know what he said, but I also know wards," Severus said. "Wards take time to get their strength back. Even if you'd gone back, they would not have strengthened in time."

"I shouldn't have left in the first place," Potter said, his volume dropping. "Shouldn't have said it wasn't home."

"But that is the truth, is it not?" Severus said pointedly. Potter glanced at him, but said nothing. "Do you honestly care that they are dead, the people who abused you?"

Potter's eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. "I'm not heartless. I don't want anyone to die. And that's not what it was."

Severus raised an eyebrow again. "No? What would you call it?"

Potter shrugged a shoulder. "Punishment."

"For what exactly?"

"Just...whenever I was bad. You've seen the things I do."

"I have seen a reckless child act like rules don't apply to him and could use more discipline at school, but I have never seen anything that would justify what they did to you," Severus said, gesturing at the broken leg.

"Why do you care? You said you didn't," Potter said snappishly.

"I do not condone child abuse and I will not allow you to feel guilty over them after what they did to you," Severus said. He refused to allow the boy to diminish what was done to him or blame himself.