Re: Al & Severus, reaction to the news "What?" Severus jolted to his feet, but instead of wasting time in crossing the room to take the letter, he simply held out a hand. The letter zipped across the room and slapped into his palm, in response to his mute, reflexive Accio. The dark stare flicked whip-fast across the few lines of writing, and then the parchment fell forgotten from his fingers.
His cloak soared toward him like a Dementor, as he pulled a leather travelling equipment roll from a drawer. He snagged the cloak out of midair and flipped it over his shoulders. The roll in one hand, he held out his free hand to Al. "First I'm going to my labs, to fill this" he lifted the roll "with supplies."
"Then I'm going to go and talk to Harry and Dumbledore, see what I can do." He fixed Al with a determined look. "Do you want me to take you to Alford House?" His expression softened almost imperceptibly, "or do you want to wait here?" He sighed, "I don't know how long I'll be gone: if you stay here you may be stuck for a while."