"No."
"It is the only logical option, Severus." Dumbledore spoke calmly as ever, pale blue eyes gently bearing down on the sallow-skinned man standing next to the window of the office. Snape's teeth were clenched, his hands tensed in fury.
"Is he not in possession of a house?" he spat. "The very house that we have been using as headquarters for the Order?" His voice had risen to a hoarse shout, though he looked sheepish when one of Dumbledore's eyebrows twitched upwards.
"Sirius is indeed in possession of a house. However, as it has been abandoned for the past ten years it will take more than a few meetings in the kitchen to make it habitable."
"But—" he spluttered "Can't he just—do whatever it was he's been doing since he escaped? I'm sure he'll be much more satisfied with such arrangements."
This time the silvery eyebrow did more than twitch, though there was a twinkle of amusement in the blue eyes behind the half-moon spectacles.
"Hide in the caves behind the castle catching rats? It is true, he is not thrilled with the idea of staying with you, Severus, but I cannot, in good conscience, send him back there. You are not a stranger to sacrifice, and this one is not so great as others in the past."
Severus clenched his fist on the windowsill and glowered out the window at the school grounds. There was the lake, iron grey and placid as ever, save for occasional stirrings of the Giant Squid. There was the forest, shadowed and dangerous. The Whomping Willow. The Herbology classrooms. The scenes and sets of his childhood.
"Look at Snivellus with his head in that library book!"
"Better not get too close, or you'll get grease all over it!"
It all returned to him as his eyes followed the small dark shapes of students going about their business on the grass. All the laughter returned, all the pain and humiliation. And that face, framed by dark hair as long as his own but somehow always windswept and attractive, contorted with mirth. How many times had he lain, dusty and bruised, as he stared up at that face? How many times had he been hexed or taunted in the hallways? It had been twenty years ago, yes, but it still stung.
"I hate him." He hissed, half to himself and half to the wizard who regarded him thoughtfully from the desk across the room. "And the feeling is quite mutual."
"All I ask is that you keep him until Grimmauld place is in order."
The request sounded so reasonable from his lips, even though it was far from it. Severus also noticed that the headmaster did not make any mention of when he would be able to get rid of the loathsome man. The headmaster sighed with the slightest hint of exasperation, then added with suspicious cheeriness.
"If it makes you feel any better, he will be in disguise as Snuffles for safety purposes."
"Snuffles?" Severus repeated with extreme incredulity, turning to stare at Dumbledore in disbelief.
"Yes." Dumbledore replied lightly, taking out a quill and ink as he closed the conversation.
"Think of him as a therapy dog. Having pets does wonders for stress relief."
From his perch near Dumbledore's desk, Fawkes trilled. Dumbledore smiled as Severus stormed out of the office, wondering gloomily how he always ended up in these situations.