My Name's Severus!

Special honorary mention - My four detectives who guessed correctly who the thief was: Ludi, debra, Fleur and Sphinx. Special applause to you.

Chapter 11: Searching for Severus

Albus Dumbledore ran down into the dungeons and burst into the Slytherin common room at full speed. It was empty. No Severus, nobody else.

'They must already have gone to breakfast.' thought Albus glancing at his watch.

He ought to be there, too. To keep an eye at them. But first he had to calm down Severus. Minerva McGonagall would be watching the Slytherins anyway. She was better at dealing with them too, he had to admit.

'I need a new head for Slytherin fast. And a new potions teacher as well.'

Albus ran up the stairs and checked the boy's dorms. Nothing again. He proceeded to quickly check the bathrooms. There he found only Greenie the hedgehog, who blinked at him through the bars of his cage. Normally he would have stopped to say a few friendly words to the little animal, but he had no time for that now. He had to find Greenie's owner.

He decided to try the girl's dormitories and bathrooms as well. Except for enough perfume in the air to prevent breathing he found nothing.

He returned to the common room and took several deep breaths. How did the girls manage not to suffocate in there? And where had Severus gone to? The dungeons were the only home the boy had and therefore Albus had been sure that he'd find him somewhere in Slytherin house.

But Slytherin house wasn't all the dungeons. The potions classroom! Why hadn't he thought of that before?

Albus ran back through the secret door leaving it open in his hurry. He raced through the corridors and soon reached the now familiar classroom. He had never liked the place and was convinced he never would. It was to gloomy for his taste, but it fit Severus perfectly. In fact Severus had chosen this classroom for himself. They could have adapted any of the larger classrooms in the school to suit his needs even though it was an old school tradition to teach potions in the dungeons. Actually he remembered that there had been teachers who had thought potions up in the towers or in the large rooms near the library before. But Severus liked the dark and cold dungeon classroom. It fit his personality.

But once again Severus was not there nor was he in the office next door.

As Albus looked through the office his eyes were drawn to one of the high shelves which was always kept free of potion ingredients. Albus had done so because it was uncomfortably high to reach, Severus because it was his raven's favourite perch.

The raven! Maybe Severus had gone to cry into the soft feathers of his bird! Albus turned on the spot and ran for Filch's office. .

The caretaker of course wasn't there. He was at breakfast with everybody else and the door was locked. Albus didn't even consider going to the great hall and asking Filch for the keys. He opened the office with a quick 'alohomora' spell.

The raven gave a startled squawk as he burst in and hopped away from the stack of papers he had been playing with. Albus grinned when he realised that they were part of the caretaker's files on the Weasley twins. Filch would probably never even realise they were gone if the raven finished them off before the caretaker returned.

He sobered very quickly though. Severus wasn't here and he had run out of places to look.

He'd have to go to the great hall and inform the staff. Maybe they had some suggestions. He sighed heavily when he remembered that he hadn't even informed them that Severus would have to stay a boy yet. It would be quite a shock for most of them.

He had to think of Hagrid, who couldn't continue to play sick until Severus graduated, and of Minerva, who had complained so much about his incompetence in her lessons.

On the other hand he knew that the staff all liked Severus and would feel sorry for him. They would certainly help looking.

And maybe Severus was already up there in the great hall with all the others. Maybe he had already calmed down on his own and rejoined his classmates.

The headmaster entered the great hall immediately looking over to the Slytherin table.

His heart sank at the sight of the empty chair beside Draco. Again Severus obviously wasn't here.

Draco looked at the door behind the headmaster expectantly. Last time he had seen Severus had been when Dumbledore had called him to his office. That had been quite some time ago. The two must have had a very long talk.

He sure hoped Severus wasn't in trouble for one of his little pranks. Maybe they had found a way to turn him back? Maybe that was why he wasn't here? Somehow Draco felt that he'd miss Severus, though he'd be glad to have Snape back. He just felt safer with the sarcastic potions teacher around to protect him.

Draco watched Dumbledore walk over to McGonagall and whisper something into her ear. She followed him to the staff table at the head of the room and sat down in her usual chair. She hadn't done that in a while, Draco realised all of a sudden. She had always stayed close to the Slytherin table to prevent them from fighting ever since Snape had been 'gone'.

Dumbledore must have told McGonagall to come to the table with him. That meant that he must have something important to tell the teachers. Draco watched them closely.

The head table suddenly fell quiet and Dumbledore spoke. Hagrid paled, Filch stared down at his plate, McGonagall pressed her lips tightly together...

Dumbledore fell silent, but he did not eat. He seemed lost in his thoughts. Nor did any of the other teachers resume their meal. Professor Sprout wordlessly put down her spoon, got up and walked out. Some of the teachers turned their heads to watch her leave, but they didn't speak nor made any attempt to stop her. The entire table was completely silent.

After several minutes of staring at Snape's empty chair at the staff table McGonagall got up and returned to her post near the Slytherin table.

Draco looked up at her and met her eyes. For once he did not turn away to break the contact. He wanted to know where Severus was. What was wrong?

McGonagall sighed and motioned for him to return to his meal.

But Draco didn't feel hungry anymore. Maybe Severus was back in the common room. He got up and left the great hall without a word. Gregory, Vincent and Blaise looked up in surprise.

Gregory and Vincent hadn't even noticed the short scene at the teacher's table and they were much to hungry to care anyway.

Blaise however decided better to follow Draco. He wouldn't allow him to start worrying about Severus. He might start to like the little rat and that could not be permitted.

"Hey Draco!" he called after him. "Why're you running off all of a sudden? Wait for me!"

Draco stopped to let Blaise catch up, but didn't reply.

What's wrong with you?" Blaise asked him. "Don't tell me you're worried about Severus. Sometimes one could almost believe that you like the little thief."

"Well, I don't actually like him, but I do think we ought to find out what's going on with him right now." explained Draco. "Did you see how the teacher's reacted when Dumbledore talked to them. And why wasn't Severus at breakfast? He can't still be with Dumbledore, because Dumbledore was there. So where is he?"

"Probably digging around in your trunk looking for some more money to steal." Blaise commented dryly.

"Maybe, but I don't think so." responded Draco. "Still that's one more reason to check on his whereabouts."

But they didn't find anyone in the common room or their dorm. Severus' bag was lying open on his bed as he had left it when he had been called to the headmaster's office.

"Doesn't look like he's even been here at all." Draco stated disappointedly.

"Hey, this is a great chance for revenge!" suggested Blaise. "Let's see if we can't steal something from his bag."

Draco eyed the bag suspiciously.

"No thanks, I don't care about sticking my fingers into mousetraps as much as you do."

That remark sobered Blaise immediately. He cast one last wistful but cautious look at Severus' bag and then walked over to his own bed.

"Maybe I'll just get my books for class, then." he decided.

Draco looked at his watch to see how much time they still had before the first lesson. Most of the school was still at breakfast so there was no reason why Blaise should be in such a hurry all of a sudden. But his watch wasn't there.

'I must have forgotten it in the bathroom.' he decided and ran off to get it.

Indeed there it was. Right on the shelf above the washbasin where he had left it. He grabbed it, put it back on and was about to leave when he noticed the cage in the far corner of the room.

So Severus had been here after all! Draco was sure that he had taken the hedgehog with him when he'd gone of to see Dumbledore. Now the cage was back in it's usual place for the night.

But where had Severus gone to that he'd left his pet behind? The only times he didn't take him along was when he had to see McGonagall. But she had been in the great hall during breakfast. Had he missed Severus only by seconds?

He went over to kneel by the cage for a moment.

"Hi, Greenie."

"Sniff!" greeted the hedgehog.

Draco smiled.

"Where's your owner, Greenie? It isn't like him to leave you behind. Don't you know where he's gone?"

"Sniff?" said Greenie confused.

He was bored and hungry. Nobody had fed him yet today and something told him it was cornflakes-time. Maybe the blond one would give him his own plate again?

But Draco wasn't thinking about feeding hedgehogs at all. He decided that Greenie had no way of telling him where Severus was and that he should tell Blaise what he'd found. Maybe the other boy would have an idea what this might mean.

Draco ran back into the dorm and saw Blaise standing over Severus' bag. He was just pulling something out of his own bag and was about to stuff it into Severus' when Draco suddenly appeared beside him.

Blaise started and dropped the piece of parchment. Draco bent to retrieve it.

"No, don't!" said Blaise a little to quickly.

But Draco already had picked it up.

"Decided to risk the mousetrap, Blaise?" he asked grinning.

But why would Blaise put something into Severus' bag instead of taking something out? And why hadn't he wanted Draco to pick it up?

Blaise lounged for the parchment. Draco quickly stepped back holding it out of Blaise's reach.

What was there on that parchment that Blaise didn't want Draco to see? Draco took one look at it, then stared at Blaise all humour gone from his face.

"That's my transfigurations homework." he stated surprised. "What are you doing with my homework, Blaise?"

"Yours? Is it?" said Blaise quickly. "I didn't know that."

"Oh, really?" asked Draco sarcastically. "Then why didn't you want me to see it? Where did you get my homework, Blaise?"

"Why I found it in Severus' bag of course." replied Blaise calming down. "Ain't that obvious?"

"Don't lie to me, Blaise!" said Draco sharply. "I saw you take it out of your own bag. You were going to put it into Severus' and blame him for stealing it. Right?"

"Alright so it was a little joke." admitted Blaise squirming under Draco's angry look.

"That's not just a little joke." Draco hissed. "You wanted me to take revenge on Severus for something he didn't even do. How many of his other pranks did you stage as well? Why? What do you gain from it?"

"Alright, so I stole your homework. I admit it. But you are too friendly with the little rat. I was just trying to help you see what he's really like." Blaise shouted back at Draco. "You can't make friends with that one Draco. He isn't one of us. He doesn't belong here and we need your help to get rid of him."

Draco said nothing. He'd have to choose sides, but he still didn't know where he stood. Severus most likely didn't care in the least about his choice. But then again he had promised the headmaster to make friends with him. On the other hand Severus couldn't be trusted and if Draco chose his side he'd loose all his other allies.

And what would then happen when Severus got turned back into an adult? Draco would be left all alone. In the situation that Severus was in now. Then again he was really angry with Blaise. How dare he steal his friend's homework just to blame someone else. Which one of them was the traitor here? Draco was no longer sure.

"You're the expert." Blaise continued when Draco didn't react. "You could drive Severus out easily if you only made a real effort. But you're holding back. What's wrong? Are you afraid of what he'll do when he's our teacher again? I don't think he'll do anything. He's asking for trouble. He's been picking fights with us from he first moment. Remember how he attacked Gregory the very first time we met him?"

"Gregory provoked him. He took the challenge." stated Draco calmly. "I don't like Severus either, Blaise, but I kind of like Snape. I don't want to hurt him. That has nothing to do with being afraid. I'm not. But I am grateful for all the little favours he's shown us over the years. We can't just treat him as an enemy all of a sudden. It's not fair of us.

"He's asking for it!" insisted Blaise.

"No, he's not!" Draco screamed back.

He grabbed his bag and the books he would need for this morning's classes and walked out on Blaise slamming the door behind him.

Draco stopped in the common room and took a deep breath to calm himself. He had made an enemy and a dangerous one at that. Blaise was one of his dorm mates and the one most likely to turn the others against him. He'd have to convince his classmates that he was angry at Blaise for stealing his homework and that it had nothing to do with Severus.

Quickly he packed his bag properly and took out his two transfigurations homeworks. Which one should he hand in? The old one was more detailed and better written. He had had time to do the necessary research then. The new one had been scribbled down hastily using Millicent's essay as a concept. (He had returned it to the girl afterwards claiming that he'd found it on the floor in the common room. She must have dropped it.)

The old one was definitely better but he had clutched it so tightly during the confrontation with Blaise that it was all crumpled up. He straightened it out as much as possible.

He'd turn both essays in and explain the situation to McGonagall. And he'd do it in front of the whole class! That would of course mean to incriminate Blaise in front of a teacher, but it would prove to his classmates how angry he was about his stolen homework and it would make it difficult for Blaise to turn the other Slytherins against him. Let the Gryffindors think what they would. They didn't have a very high opinion of Slytherin loyalty anyway.

Professor Binns was probably the only teacher, aside from Trellawney, who hadn't been at breakfast and therefore didn't know about Severus' disappearance.

He was glad to see that the door to his classroom had been left open for him for once and began his lesson in a good mood.

When he read out the register he noticed that Severus was missing, but assumed that he was simply late.

When Severus still hadn't arrived after ten minutes he asked the class where he was, but they didn't seem to know. So he turned back to his lesson.

The pupils were very quiet today. There was no shouting or fighting to disturb his lesson. The kids even whispered less then they usually did.

Binns didn't notice how the pupil's eyes often wandered to the empty chair in the back where Severus usually sat. He was just happy that they were so quiet.

Flittwick reacted very differently. He never even read out the register.

"Do any of you have an idea where Severus is?" he asked instead of his usual greeting.

Draco suddenly felt worried. If Flitwick noticed that Severus was missing without even checking the register, that meant that he had been expecting it. The teachers were obviously worried about Severus. But if even the teachers didn't know where he was ...

When nobody answered Flitwick proceeded to ask each Slytherin individually.

They all insisted that they had no idea where Severus might be and Blaise, Gregory, Pansy and a few others made it clear that they couldn't care less.

Draco noticed that Flitwick seemed almost hurt by their remarks. That was a new point to ponder. He had always assumed that Snape and the other teachers didn't really get along any more then Slytherin did with the other houses, but right now it seemed as if this teacher actually cared about Severus being friendless. Dumbledore had made it clear that he liked Severus and McGonagall had shown him some surprising kindness at some times as well. And then there was Filch who had actually protected him from the other Slytherins at some occasions.

Could it be that Snape wasn't as bad as he seemed on the outside once you got to know him? The Hogwarts staff had known him many years.

But if Snape wasn't as bad as he seemed at first, wouldn't the same be likely to be true for Severus as well? They were the same person after all.

Flitwick even asked a few Ravenclaws, but they had no more an idea where Severus could be then the Slytherins did.

With a sigh he returned to teaching charms, but they could all see that his heart wasn't in it today. The lesson seemed to stretch impossibly long for all participants.

They were already halfway through a rather boring transfigurations lesson with a very nervous seeming Professor McGonagall. Blaise had finished turning his flowerpot into a rabbit and was now trying to get Vincent's attention without attracting McGonagall's as well.

He had spent the last two hours before transfigurations convincing Gregory that Draco was a traitor and needed to be punished. Who would have thought that stupid Gregory would have such stubborn loyalty? Well, Blaise had finally convinced him and now it was Vincent's time.

McGonagall finally stopped pacing the classroom staring at everything and nothing and turned her attention towards their homeworks.

Blaise gently poked Vincent's shoulder with his wand. - No reaction.

Blaise poked harder. - Vincent still didn't seem to feel it.

Blaise hit him over the head. Hard. - Vincent turned.

"What's up?" he asked. "I'm kind of busy. My bunny keeps hopping away."

"Forget the stupid rabbit!" hissed Blaise. "We've got a bigger problem."

"Problem? What kind of problem?"

"Draco and Severus." whispered Blaise.

"Did they fight again?" asked Vincent confused. "I didn't even see the little rat today. Let's just beat him up when he turns up again. OK?"

"They didn't fight, Vince. This is much more serious. Draco has be..."

"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall's voice cut him off suddenly. "Where is your homework?"

"Well, you see, I have to explain that a bit." Draco said getting up and walking towards the teacher's desk with two rolls of parchment in his hands.

"Explain what?" said McGonagall sharply. "I'm listening."

So was the whole class. Several rabbits had hopped away unnoticed. The Gryffindors were smiling with glee thinking that Draco was in trouble. The Slytherins were wondering what was going on and slightly worried. Only Blaise was completely confused. He knew that Draco had written a new essay and that he had his original one back. Why hadn't he just handed one of them in?

Draco smiled innocently at McGonagall. He could look just as cute as Severus when he wanted to. He just hadn't thought it was good for his bad boy image until he had seen how it worked for the other boy.

"Well, you see I had to write it twice, because Blaise stole my first one and I only got it back this morning and now I don't know which one to hand in. The first one was all crumpled up and ugly when I finally got it back, but I had to rush the second without sufficient time for proper research so I think the first is better."

The Slytherins turned to stare at Blaise.

"YOU stole his homework?" asked Vincent incredulously. "I thought it was Severus? What did you want to do with it?"

Blaise stared at Draco. What was he doing? Why was he telling a teacher? He had to know that he'd be branded as a traitor for that.

"Show them to me." McGonagall demanded.

Draco handed her the two parchments. McGonagall eyed the crumpled one dubiously.

"It's all Blaise's fault!" accused Draco trying out Severus' cute pout.

It seemed to work for McGonagall turned her attention towards Blaise.

"Mr. Zabini? Did you steal your friend's homework?"

"We are not friends!" announced Draco. "Not anymore!"

Blaise stared at the floor. He wasn't a very good liar. At least not when he had to come up with a fast lie. He nodded defeatedly. Maybe if he showed sufficient regret...

"And why did you do that? What did you hope to gain from it?" McGonagall clearly didn't understand what anyone might do with somebody else's homework.

"I ... I ..." stuttered Blaise. If he told the truth he'd be in real trouble. It was quite obvious that McGonagall liked Severus and she was worried about him right now.

"I caught him trying to smuggle it into Severus' bag." Draco explained as if he didn't care much about the why. "He was going to blame it on Severus to start another fight between us. Just for fun. And I had to write the whole essay over again!"

"Is that true Mr. Zabini?" asked McGonagall seething. "Did you steal Mr. Malfoy's essay only to blame Severus for it?!"

"N..no." claimed Blaise knowing how obvious his lie was.

"Then why did you steal it?"

Blaise stared at the floor. He needed a plausible explanation fast, but he couldn't think of anything at all.

McGonagall waited for almost a minute for an answer, but none came. The whole class was staring at Blaise in incredulous silence.

"Come to me after class to arrange your detention Mr. Zabini." McGonagall decided picking up one of the runaway bunnies. "Whose rabbit is this? It's feet are still made of clay!"

"Then I think it must be mine, Professor." announced Neville grinning sheepishly. "I wasn't quite done when it hopped away."

McGonagall handed the struggling rabbit over to Neville with a small smile.

"You have five minutes to complete the transformation." she reminded him.

All over the room pupils began frantic searches for lost rabbits. Blaise seemed forgotten, but he knew that was not the case. He could hear Gregory and Vincent argue over Draco's right to betray Blaise after what he had done. The Slytherins were obviously split over that issue, but they all agreed that Blaise had wronged Draco.

With a deep sigh he dropped back into his chair staring blankly ahead for the rest of the lesson. His rabbit had gotten away too, but he didn't care. The other Slytherins would never follow him after this. But who should lead them if Draco turned away from them now?

Finally it was time for lunch break and Draco dashed off towards the great hall. The first lesson after lunch would be flying, which he didn't have to take because he was on the Quiddich team. He'd decided to hurry with lunch and then spend the time until DADA looking for Severus. Maybe he was in the library. That was where he usually went when he had some free time on his hands.

Draco had nearly finished his hasty meal when the headmaster appeared at the Slytherin table unexpectedly. Albus Dumbledore stopped behind Severus' empty chair and looked at the boys curiously.

"I need your help." he said suddenly.

They looked at each other unsure who should speak for the group. Gregory didn't qualify, Vincent knew he wouldn't be accepted by either Draco or Blaise, Blaise knew that after the scene in transfigurations his authority would no doubt be challenged, too and Draco didn't really want to get involved in anything that might keep him from his plan of looking for Severus.

"Help with what?" Draco finally asked when none of the others spoke.

"With finding Severus." began Dumbledore.

That got Draco's interest, but the other three groaned.

"We don't want to find him. We're glad he's not around." explained Blaise.

"Even if he might be in danger?" Dumbledore asked him calmly fixing him with an unusually grave look.

"In danger?" asked Draco. "Why would he be in danger? Where is he?"

"I don't know where he is. That's why I need you to help me." sighed Dumbledore and Draco could see the worry in his eyes. "I had to give him some bad news this morning. He didn't take them too well and ran off. Nobody I've asked so far has seen him since then and I fear he might have run away."

"He's an adult inside, Sir." said Draco gently. "He can take care of himself."

"He hasn't been acting like an adult lately." argued Dumbledore. "We have no way of knowing how that potion influenced his mind, but it most certainly did. Judging from his current behaviour I wonder if I didn't overestimate his age when I put him into fifth year. He is not mature enough to survive out there on his own. Especially not if Voldemort is after him as I suspect he might be."

"Voldemort?" asked Draco surprised. "Why would You-Know-Who be after Severus? He's just a boy."

"Yes, but Voldemort would like to get his fingers on the adult and he isn't likely to let such a little detail as a youth potion stop him." Albus didn't dare tell these kids of his fear that Voldemort might be interested in studding the effects of the potion. They all came from death eater families after all. "I need to know if you've seen him or where he usually goes when he wants to be alone. Any ideas where he might be?"

"He spends a lot of time in the library." said Draco.

"I already checked the library, the potions classroom and office, Mr. Filch's office, all Slytherin dorms and all of the dungeons." Dumbledore informed him at once. "Any other ideas? ... Please?"

"Not really." said Draco feeling very disappointed. He hadn't known himself how sure he had been that he'd find Severus in the library until now. "But we promise to inform you immediately in case he shows up."

"Thank you." Dumbledore said simply, but the smile that accompanied the words told Draco more clearly then words could ever say how much Dumbledore really meant it.

And Draco caught himself smiling back. What was he doing? Trying to reassure the enemy? Why did it suddenly mean so much to him what Dumbledore thought and how he felt? Dumbledore was just an old fool. How could Draco feel that strange urge to make him feel proud?

Draco tried to shake the feeling off, but it returned every time.

Dumbledore walked to the front of the hall and announced to the startled pupils that Severus had disappeared and that there would be no lessons this afternoon to give the teachers time to thoroughly search the castle.

The prefects immediately offered their assistance and most of the other pupils helped as well.

Draco was surprised to see how many Gryffindors volunteered to help. He himself and his gang excepting Blaise helped as well and soon they had searched the entire castle from tower roofs down to the deepest dungeons.

Mr. Filch, Harry Potter and the Weasley twins assured Dumbledore that they had searched every last secret passage as well, but Severus still hadn't been found.

They then proceeded to search the grounds outside and Hagrid was sent to Hogsmede to inform the villagers that a Hogwarts student had gone missing and give them Severus' description.

Still Severus couldn't be found. They had searched the entire grounds and come up empty and as the sun began to set Hagrid returned to report that he had personally talked to every single inhabitant of Hogsmeade and nobody had seen a lonely boy anywhere.

Dumbledore finally sent the kids back to the school to have dinner while he conjured some sandwiches for the teachers and led them off to start searching the forbidden forest.

Draco stared unhappily at his dinner plate. He had been so sure that they'd find Severus somewhere in the castle. Why would he have run away? He had nowhere to go. Hogwarts was the only home he had.

'Severus ought to be sitting here annoying all of us right now.' he thought listlessly shoving around a potato. 'Greenie would love those. If Severus were here the hedgehog would be sitting on his plate right now sniffing and smacking and enjoying the potatoes.'

Had anyone thought to feed Greenie at all? No, he didn't think they had. The poor animal hadn't had anything to eat all day.

Draco quickly rolled some of his potatoes into a napkin, jumped up and headed for the door.

"Hey Draco, where are you going?" Gregory called after him, but Draco didn't react.

Vincent and Blaise looked up from their plates when they heard Gregory's shout and saw Draco leave the great hall without even looking back.

"Aren't you going to go after him?" Vincent asked Blaise surprised when he turned back to his food without comment.

"No."

"Why not?" asked Gregory. "You usually do."

"Because Draco decided he doesn't want to be my friend anymore. He'd rather hang out with Severus." growled Blaise.

"Because he's angry with you for stealing his homework." translated Vincent. "He hates Severus just as much as we do."

"If you're so sure of that, why don't you go after him instead of me?" suggested Blaise grinning nastily.

Vincent looked down at his half full plate, over at the door and then back at his plate. "Cause I'm too hungry." he decided and returned to his meal.

"What about you, Gregory?" Blaise grinned. "Want to go after our little traitor? See what he's up to?"

"Mmhmmph?" Gregory answered through his full mouth still stuffing in more food at the same time.

"I take it that means no." interpreted Blaise happy about his small victory.

Draco might have convinced them of his loyalty for now, but they'd still desert him out of pure laziness and if he played his cards wisely he might be able to turn them against him yet.

Draco arrived in the bathroom slightly out of breath. He had run the entire way from the great hall to the Slytherin common room at top speed as if he could have made up for the hedgehog's two forgotten meals by delivering dinner especially fast.

He dropped onto his knees beside the cage and spread out the napkin in front of Greenie.

"Here, my little friend, I've brought you something to eat." he explained unnecessarily as Greenie was already busily digging in. "I'm so sorry I forgot to feed you before."

Draco sat back trying to catch his breath and watching the hedgehog eat. He ought to return to the great hall and finish his own dinner, but somehow he didn't feel hungry not knowing where Severus was and what might have happened to him. And maybe Greenie was feeling lonely too?

He decided to stay a bit longer and keep the hedgehog company. If he missed dinner he could still eat the rest of his sweets later.

Greenie snarled and sniffed with joy while eating. Draco smiled. What a noisy little fellow.

But wait a minute! Hadn't that last 'sniff' come from somewhere behind him? No he had to be wrong. Greenie was right there in front of him, after all.

But then it came again. A sniffing sound from somewhere behind him.

Draco turned and saw nothing but the shower cabins.

Then he heard the sound again. It didn't even sound like Greenie's curious little sniffs. It sounded more like a sob.

Draco slowly got up. This time he was sure. The sound had come from the last cabin. The one that was no longer used, because there hadn't been any water coming out of it for longer at least then Draco had been at Hogwarts.

Why was the curtain drawn shut now? It was usually left open and ignored.

"Severus?" Draco asked softly.

There was no reply. Draco gently pulled the curtain back a bit and peered in.

"Hey, Severus. Are you all right?"

Severus still didn't answer, but that wasn't really necessary as he was obviously not all right. He was curled up in the back comer of the cabin crying.

Draco stood there for a moment not knowing what to do. He'd never tried to comfort anybody before. Maybe he ought to run and get a teacher? But they were all in the forbidden forest. Well except for Hagrid who had been too tired from his excursion to Hogsmeade and had returned to the castle to watch the children. But could he expect Hagrid to handle this situation? No way.

He could of course go and get the head boy, but the head boy was a Gryffindor. He couldn't let a Gryffindor into the Slytherin common room. Severus wouldn't want that either. And if he did go to get anyone he'd have to leave Severus alone. That somehow didn't seem like a good idea at the moment.

He tried to remember what his parents had done when he had cried. That wasn't easy, because he hadn't cried in front of anybody since he had been very little and even then he hadn't done it very often.

So what had his father done. .... Oh, right, hit him. ... That didn't seem to be a good idea either.

Then he remembered how his mother had once found him crying in his room after his father had hit him. He must have been very, very little then, because he could barely remember it, but his mother had hugged him and told him that everything would be all right and he had clutched his teddy tightly. That had felt good.

But Severus seemed a bit too old to want to be hugged and he didn't even have a teddy. That reminded Draco of the night after their fight when he had taken his teddy to bed with him and Severus had taken Greenie.

That was it! Severus would feel better if he had Greenie in his arms.

Draco quickly turned and grabbed Greenie out of his cage. The hedgehog protested slightly. He wasn't done with the potatoes yet. But Draco ignored him. He slipped into the shower crouched down in front of Severus and gently pushed the hedgehog into his arms.

Severus looked up at him tears running down his face and sniffed. Greenie sniffed too.

Draco dug his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Severus. Then he leaned back against the wall and waited.

Severus blew his nose a few times, then he looked up again.

"Draco?"

"Here, Sir." Draco grinned.

Severus smiled slightly through his tears.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hey, that's our bathroom. I'm allowed in here, you know."

This time the smile was a little bigger and it lasted a moment longer. Draco smiled back.

"Were you looking for me?" Severus asked incredulously.

"Well, actually right now I was feeding Greenie. But yes before that I was looking for you. Together with half the school." Draco tilted his head to one side and gave Severus an appraising look. "Just where were you hiding all this time?"

"I was right here. What do you mean all this time? What time is it?"

"You were here in the shower all the time ever since you talked with Dumbledore?"

"Yes. I needed to be alone for a while and nobody ever comes here. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. We just thought we had searched everywhere. And to answer your earlier question: It's dinnertime. Want some food?"

Severus shook his head.

"I had no idea I'd been in here that long. Guess some people are a little worried. Right?"

"A little? Try worried sick. They're all in the forbidden forest thinking you ran away and were eaten by werewolves."

"It isn't the full moon tonight." remarked Severus drying his tears with his sleeve.

"Well, something ate you anyway." grinned Draco.

Severus smiled back no longer crying.

Somehow that made Draco feel good, as if he'd achieved something really special. Even getting Harry Potter detention didn't feel as good as this.

"I still think we ought to go up there and eat something. And maybe tell them that they can stop looking." he suggested.

Severus nodded slightly, but didn't get up.

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"They can't turn me back."

"What? But that potion ... It was just some stupid accident. How could something Neville concocted be so difficult to repair?"

For a moment it looked as if Severus was going to cry again.

"It's not difficult to throw some ingredients together and get some sort of reaction. It's achieving an exact predefined result that's the problem. And turning me back into an adult is a result they can't get."

"Well, that's great!" exclaimed Draco suddenly surprising even himself.

"It is?" asked Severus so confused he even forgot about starting to cry again.

"Yes, it is! Now, we can grow up together. We're gonna rule this school, be worse then the Weasley twins. We're gonna drive all the teachers mad. And we can draw pictures together. I can teach you how to draw dragons. I'm really good at drawing dragons. And I sometimes write songs too. We could do all kinds of things, have lots of fun."

Severus stood up totally surprised.

"You'd want that?"

"Why of course I want that."

"I thought you didn't like me? You wanted to get rid of me as fast as possible."

"You're confusing me with Blaise. I just played along a bit, because I didn't want to loose my friends."

"But aren't you gonna loose them now?" asked Severus as he followed Draco out of the shower cabin.

"Don't worry about that. They aren't even real friends. We never really fit together. Maybe you could be my real friend."

"You think so?"

"Maybe. Can't hurt to try." smiled Draco.

Severus smiled too.

"OK, in that case I think I do want something to eat now. Let's see if there's any food left up there. Come on!"

"Um ... Severus."

"What is it? Let's go.

"Maybe you'd better wash your face first." suggested Draco grinning widely. "You don't really want everybody to know you've been crying all day."

"Who? Me? I never cry." Severus grinned back, but did return to wash the tearstains off his face.

Still to come: How will Dumbledore react when Severus shows up again? Will the teachers search the forbidden forest all night? How will the Slytherins react to Draco's sudden friendship with Severus? Will Blaise take over? And what use does this fic have for Mary Sue? (No that's not the name of Susan's best friend.)