Snape slammed the door hard behind him as he stormed into Albus Dumbledore's office, his face even stormier than his actions and angry stride. Dumbledore sat by the fire reading a newspaper, which entirely concealed his face and upper body. He did not move nor wince at the sound of the door slamming, nor at the quick, purposeful footsteps across the floor of his study. He continued to read calmly.

"This does not happen Albus." Snape's voice was low and quiet, but the anger and emotion in it was more than noticeable. He stopped a few feet away and stood still, and Dumbledore could just see around the edge of his paper that the professor's fists were clenched tightly by his sides. Letting the top half of the newspaper flop down to reveal his face, he looked up at him carefully. He had expected this kind of reaction from Snape, and he was not unprepared.

"Severus, calm yourself."

The other man kept quiet for a moment, but visibly flinched. Dumbledore knew that it was not probable that Snape would do as he'd said, but he knew the man well enough to know that however tense or angry he was, he would never show it properly in front of another. He had not, however, seen him this angry before. Every muscle in his body seemed to be tensed, and he stood awkwardly as if he did not want to keep still. If Dumbledore did not know him so well, he would have expected Snape to lash out, if not at a person at least at the wall. He seemed to be extremely harassed. Looking him in the eyes, he saw that he was right. Snape's eyes were usually cold and unemotional, but this evening Dumbledore saw turmoil there. Deep, desperate turmoil.

"Headmaster," he almost whispered. Dumbledore sighed and stood up slowly, looking away from him. It was difficult to look him in the eyes when he looked like that.

"It is decided Severus," he said quietly, walking to the window. He looked out at the parts of the castle visible below. "She must go."

"She can't," Snape said, his voice a little louder than before. He moved forward as he spoke and Dumbledore looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Don't you see? If they find out they will kill her! She will be dead within seconds, and that's if she's lucky!" The turmoil in his eyes had extended to his voice.

"Severus, there is always that risk with any of us that bravely choose to play the part in Voldemort's army for the sake of our own." He turned to face him, his hands clasped behind his back.

"You yourself have faced it, and continue to."

Snape shook his head.

"Yes, but I am older, more experienced. I know what I am doing!"

"And you doubt that she does?" Dumbledore fired back at him, catching him off guard. "Do not underestimate her, Severus."

Snape's eyes flickered and he turned away sharply, looking out of the window himself.

"Headmaster, I beg you. Do not send her into a trap." He spoke very softly, but with obvious desperation to be heard. "I know what they are like- I know their cruelty has no limits and their desire to kill and cause pain has no end. I know their ways- she does not. She is young and innocent, and she does not deserve this fate."

Dumbledore laughed softly.

"Severus, you speak as if her fate is already determined. Do you not think it possible that she might come back alive with useful information?"

Snape swung around violently and glared at the old man for a few moments.

"Useful... information?" he almost spat, his voice barely a whisper. "Is that all she is good for? Is she your next Potter? Are you home-growing her the way you have him, to die at the correct time and for the correct reason after she has been 'useful' to you?"

Dumbledore did not flinch nor speak, but merely looked at Snape calmly. Then, sitting down slowly in his chair once more, he looked up at Snape, who was almost shaking with rage.

"You are fond of the girl, Severus," he said softly. Snape's jaw tightened and he shifted his weight onto the other leg. He said nothing, but to Dumbledore he did not need to. He had observed Snape's behaviour over the past few months, and the man's feelings he was sure of. He did not need them to be openly displayed to know that they existed.

"She's a student," Dumbledore continued, sounding a little absentminded.

"Don't you think I know that?" Snape hissed. "I am reminded of the fact every single day when she enters my classroom."

Dumbledore blinked.

"Just..." Snape sighed and leaned against the windowsill, his back to Dumbledore and his head bowed.

"Headmaster, promise me you will keep her safe."

Dumbledore looked at the fire in the fireplace, watching the flames flicker and dance within the grate.

"Severus..."

"Please," Snape said through clenched teeth, not moving. "Please headmaster. Give me your word."

A few moments passed in silence, and Dumbledore cleared his throat, sitting forward in his chair.

"Severus, I can promise you no such thing. I can however, offer you an alternative."

Snape stood up and turned around slowly.

"What?" he said slowly, his eyes narrowed.

Dumbledore looked at him carefully. Severus Snape had always been a very cold man, but his loyalty was unquestionable. He trusted the man with his life and with that of every student under his protection, and though he could not give him the reassurance he asked for, he knew he could trust him with what he was about to offer- if not for his loyalty, for his obvious love for her and desperation to keep the girl safe.

"The Order think it, as you do, unwise to send her into the lion's den, as it were, alone. They want to see her accompanied by a stronger, more experienced member, and one which the Dark Lord especially trusts."

Snape stared at him for a moment, before understanding dawned.

"I will go," he said immediately. "He trusts me completely, as does Madame Lestrange. I will go with her, and that way I can see that she remains unharmed."

Dumbledore looked over his half moon spectacles at the man before him, his expression soft. He was what you might call the most 'unconventional' headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen, and where he saw love he encouraged it. It might not be what most would approve of, but he knew that Snape would not overstep any boundaries out of turn or time.

"Severus," he said slowly, resenting not for the first time the difficult part of his job and his role in the war.

"You realize that if her cover is blown, you would reveal where your loyalty truly lies by trying to save her?"

Snape sighed and closed his eyes, leaning against the wall.

"I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the importance of your work, to the hundreds and thousands depending on us to win this war. Their lives are also in your hands. You are valuable- to lose you would be dangerous to us all."

Snape turned to him and glared. Storming across the room he slammed his fist down on the desk.

" Damn it, Dumbledore," he hissed. "I may be valuable to you all, but she is valuable to me. I will not watch her die!"

Dumbledore looked up at him calmly, not phased at all by his outburst.

"Then see that she doesn't, professor," he said softly. "See that she plays her part as well as you have- let her learn from the best."

Snape's eyes flashed angrily, and he turned his back on Dumbledore.

"I cannot change your mind then, Headmaster."

"No," Dumbledore said. "It is done."

Snape sighed.

"Then be assured that I will do all that I can to see that she makes it through this alive and unscathed."

He turned halfway back to Dumbledore.

"And I trust I have your word that you will do all that is in your power to achieve the very same."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Of course, Severus."