#Apparently Firenze was still teaching during DH

[snapeaddict]

Snapetober Day 6 - Mushroom

He deserved better AU - post-war

"I want a knife like you."

"No, Severus, knives are for grown-ups. You get the scissors, they will work just as good. Trust me."

The boy looked disappointed, but he did not protest – he never protested. But Albus felt proud, for after all these months, Severus had finally started to voice his opinion on certain matters. Him saying “no” to anything was a big step forward, and when the headmaster had denied his request, the boy had simply moved on, not expecting his demand to be met with any sort of violent outburst.

It had happened so many times before. A movement too sudden, a tone a little colder, or lower, or drier than usual… so little could put the child in a state of alert. 

But he was happier, now. Truly, finally happier. 

"How do you know we can eat them?" Severus asked, pointing at the patches of brown mushrooms in front of them. 

There were many of them, dozens at least, perhaps a hundred: more than enough to make a tasty meal. Albus handed him a small basket. 

"I could tell you that I have studied herbology and know my way around fungi and plants, my boy... but truthfully I trust Pomona here. And we do not have the right to have toxic mushrooms on school grounds, so by law, everything here is safe. And delicious."

He watched as Severus darted off towards the patch, using his childproof scissors to cut the bottom of the mycelium, as he had been taught. He marveled at the child's precise, gentle movement as he cut the mushrooms and deposited them in his basket - the elegant and skillful manners would stick with him in adulthood. 

With some difficulty, Albus knelt next to Severus, watching him work for a few more minutes before starting his own harvest. He was a terrible cook, of course; that was well-known. But he would entrust their booty to Minerva who knew her way around the kitchen, though she, too, was not as gifted as Severus had been. The boy had many talents, but his culinary prowesses certainly stood amongst his best-hidden skills. That and candle-making, but that was another story entirely.

"So, Severus", he said, picking up one of the mushrooms from his basket, "this is the mushroom's cap, this is its gills, and this is the ring. They are very complex things, you know. Not animals, and not plants either."

"But more like plants, or animals?"

"Animals. But they aren't either."

As Albus spoke, a cool breeze blew over his hand, lifting Severus' raven air and the branches of the trees all around them. A ray of autumnal sunlight, low and almost orange, illuminated half of the child's face. With his rosy cheeks and sparking eyes, he looked radiant.

So these were the moments one wishes to have frozen in time, Albus thought: those moments so vivid and beautiful that they immediately recall to the watcher the passing of time, and how they would quickly pass by them by.

But they had so much time in front of them now. Not stolen time, not borrowed time: just time, time for Severus to be a child and for Albus to do better.

He tucked some loose dark hair behind the boy's ear with a tenderness that almost made his hand tremble. 

Behind his back, a baritone voice rose in the midst of the forest's chatter.

"Albus Dumbledore."

Severus was startled, and he took a step back. The headmaster took his small hand in his, pressing it reassuringly. He got up with some difficulty, his other hand leaning on the nearest tree for support.

"Firenze, my friend", he exclaimed warmly, turning back as the centaur approached. "I am very glad to see you here."

He felt Severus retreat behind him, and tilting his head, he added in a softer voice: "I am not alone, as you see. This is... but you know who this is, of course."

Firenze nodded, his blond braid hanging so low that it almost touched the ground when his head moved.

"Severus Snape", he told to the half-hidden child, bowing respectfully. "It is an honour to meet you again."

Severus looked at the centaur, then at Albus, seeking reassurance - the headmaster pulled him up, hugging him tightly. Though Dumbledore was tall, a centaur still remained highly impressive for a child so small, even in his arms. Albus stroked his hair affectionately. 

"Do not worry, my boy. This is Firenze, a very good friend of mine. He teaches Divination to the older students at Hogwarts. He is a centaur - I suppose you have never seen one before."

"No", Severus whispered, his eyes resting on Firenze's waist, where the body of the man and that of the horse met. He looked up again, smiling timidly at the creature's very human face. "Hello."

The centaur bowed his head again. He peered at the child for a few seconds, a solemn expression on his face.

Then, his gaze reverted to the headmaster, and he simply said:

"It was written in the stars that Severus Snape would get to rest, but none of us had predicted this fate, for the sky too was elusive. We are glad, very glad indeed to watch his beautiful soul finally bloom: he is the man who puzzled the stars."

Behind them, the sun was setting, and the whole forest was flooded with shimmering light, each of its leaves projecting nuances of orange, crimson and gold.

Slowly, Albus put Severus down on the ground, and the little boy picked up his basket. Firenze extended a hand to him. After a moment of hesitation, the boy took it: the centaur pressed it warmly in his huge palm. 

"Be happy, Severus Snape", he said cordially.

Then, nodding in Albus' direction, he turned on his heel and disappeared behind a tall pine tree, as silently as he had arrived.