Severus lay curled on a sofa in Dumbledore's office, looking very much like a child. He was so still that Dumbledore might have thought he was sleeping, if it weren't for the large, afraid eyes staring unseeing at the void ahead. 

Albus wasn't sure what to do. The experience he had gained with Severus the first time round was someone else's experience that he would never regain. The boy was clearly traumatised and did not want to say anything, let alone recount his encounter with his father. Albus' only hope was to perform Legilimency, but on a vulnerable Occlumens... It wasn't the first avenue he'd like to pursue. He sighed and caught sight of the hat.

The Sorting Hat was an ancient artefact which had witnessed many things over the course of its duration as a hat, including Godric Gryffindor's lifetime and his altercations with his fellow founders. As such, the Sorting Hat was really much wiser than Albus and, more importantly, perhaps any human being alive, having been endowed with great knowledge and wisdom. So as to not distract Severus from his melancholy trance, Albus picked the hat up and put it on his head so that it could speak directly into his head and he could communicate telepathically back.

"What can I do for you, Headmaster?"

"Tell me what I can do."

The hat hummed in thought.

"Surely you should let him rest."

"I have nearly three hundred students who will be sitting downstairs in a few hours_"

"Surely the boy means more to you than that."

"He does_"

"Then let him rest."

And so Albus did, sitting behind his desk, resting his head on his clasped hands and staring at the unmoving boy. And indeed a few hours had passed by the time Severus finally moved. The boy's face was ghostly pale and the bruising around his eye shone in the soft candlelight.

"Severus, do you want me to heal your face?" Albus asked quietly.

Severus said nothing but nodded slowly. Still, he didn't relax as Albus waved his wand and the black eye and split lip disappeared. Indeed, his bottom lip began to wobble and tears threatened to fall down his face. Tentatively, Albus sat down next to Severus on the sofa. Even more cautiously, he stretched a comforting arm around Severus and the boy leant against it. Both were lost in their own thoughts.

Severus was wondering why such an incident was having such a profound impact on him. He'd been beaten countless times - it was the tragic truth of his life. But somehow, for some reason, he'd thought that by reliving his life he'd be impervious to the horrors of human life. Severus supposed that even he, with all his years of experience, was still as afraid of pain as he'd ever been.

Albus, for his part, did not know what to think. He had no experience of this. He'd had experience of troubled students, namely Tom Riddle, but he only had the memories of Severus' past life. Not the experience he'd gained during it.

"Severus," Albus sighed. "What can I possibly do?"

"Why did you never do anything about it?" Severus wept suddenly, drawing away from Albus.

Something told Albus that the boy's tirade was directed, not at him then, but at his past self. 

"For years I suffered and waited for you to say that I could stay at Hogwarts over the summer holidays but you never did! I depended on you, I relied on you and you disappointed me too many times!"

"Severus," Albus said calmly, appealing to Severus' back as the boy refused to face him, "That will never happen again. If I could atone for that man's mistakes, I would. But I can't change what I don't remember. I can't make it all okay because that wasn't me."

His voice broke.

"You have every right to blame him for everything he did wrong. But he is not me and I am now here to make sure I do everything right by you. You will never have to suffer again. He will never hurt you again. I promise you, Severus."

Silent tears slid down both faces.

"Look at me, Severus," Albus pleaded softly.

Black eyes gradually met with blue but then the black eyes blinked shut, shutting him out as he'd done so many times.

"Please believe me when I say this. That man will never hurt you again while I'm here. You'll never have to spend a summer alone again. Believe me."

Albus' eyes beseeched Severus to open his eyes and face him.

"Severus... please..."

The tired eyes of a boy who'd seen far too much finally reopened.

"I... forgive you. And I'm sorry."

"For what, Severus?"

"For everything."

*****

A.N. So... Erm... Oopsies. It's been a while since I last updated. I thought I'd be alright multitasking Wattpad and real-life but, truth be told, I'm rubbish at staying on top of things. xD

I've also found it quite hard to write this chapter, if I need any more excuses. Severus is traumatised and Dumbledore feels very much like a first-time father learning how to comfort his child.

In addition, there's a sneaky reference included in this chapter. I wonder whether anyone shall get it...

That being said, thank you so much for staying with me on this long journey and please comment! :)