A/N: English is neither my first nor my second language. Proceed at your own risk.
...YEARS AND SIX MONTHS
August
1.
"Snape, can I come in?"
"Not only you can, you apparently have."
"Fuck, forgot about this one."
"Language, Potter."
"Right." Smiles. "Drink?"
"No, I am good." Swirls the glass.
Pours a drink. Sits. Takes a sip. "What? No reprimand about not knocking?"
"I am saving my breath."
"Ah." Takes another sip. Pauses to savor it. "You weren't at dinner…"
Stares at the fireplace. "Missed me, Potter?"
"Well, everyone was there."
"I'm sure."
For a while there are only sounds of wood cracking.
"So, how was your summer?"
"Blissfully quite." A long pause. "Yours?"
"Good, good." Puts the glass down. Stretches. "Went to Egypt. Spent two fantastic months there."
"Yes, the Prophet regularly apprised all of us, the lesser wizards and witches, of every detail of the Savior's vacation."
Blushes. "Every detail?"
"Enough."
Chuckles nervously. "But you don't read the Prophet."
"Unfortunately, most people do, and the worst of it is they like to discuss it afterwards."
"Crap."
"Isn't it?"
"Yeah." Gets up and goes to pour another drink. "Refill?"
"No. And I'd rather you also do not overindulge in my best scotch."
""I'll bring you more."
"With your appalling taste in…spirits, don't bother."
Indignant, "My taste isn't appalling!"
Raises an eyebrow.
"All right, may be a little. But I am working on it."
Smirks. Swirls the drink in his glass.
"What? You're no winner of Witch Weekly's Most Sophisticated Wizard Award either." Waves a hand vaguely over Snape's suddenly taut form.
Long fingers delicately run over a frayed edge of the sleeve before stilling mid-motion. Scowls. "I believe, this conversation is over, Mr. Potter."
"Oh, come on Snape. You know I don't care about any of it. It's just…"
The scowl remains.
"All right. All right. So."
"So."
For a while there are again only sounds of wood cracking in the fireplace.
"Bill asked me to thank you. Again."
Sneers.
"Yeah, I know. Still, he is very grateful for your potion."
"No need to increase the bloody werewolf population, is there?"
Smiles. "The boys are perfect. As far as the kids go, I suppose."
Shrugs.
"Fleur sends her best."
Sneers.
"Right. They were sorry you couldn't come."
"Hope you didn't give any implausible excuses."
"Of course not. Just told them you couldn't stand them, didn't I?"
"Truth works."
Smiles. "You're right. So, I said that traveling with a gay Savior, who attracts more reporters than a pile of rotten rubbish flies, is not your idea of enjoyable vacation."
Looks into his glass.
"Ah, almost forgot. I brought you something. Here."
"What is this?"
"A souvenir. A souvenir from Egypt."
"A souvenir?"
"Yeah. Come on, open it."
Rips the wrapping of. "Potter…"
"Do you like it?"
"Potter, this…"
"Yes!" Laughs happily. "This is the box you told me about when we went to Forbidden Forest to pick your mushrooms and stuff at the end of school year. Remember, it started to rain, and we had to go back, because half of the herbs we collected got wet, and I tried to cast the drying charm, and you gave me a whole lecture about…"
"Potter…"
"What? You like it? I asked this guy in Cairo to find me the biggest one. I figured it's better than go back and force, like we always do, when you run out of something. Isn't this thing great - you put in whatever you collect, and it goes to its own compartment with the right temperature, and…"
"Potter, I know how it works."
"So you like it?"
"It is adequate. But," opens and closes the box, "I can't accept it."
"Why not?"
"Because, even after applying your Boy-Who-Saved-Us-All discount, this thing is worth at least…"
"Snape, stop it."
Proffers the box. "Here."
"Shit, Snape, you can't do that."
"Language, Potter, and I just did."
"What am I going to do with it? I bought it for you."
"The obvious solution is to return it."
"I spent so much bloody time looking for it."
"You can always give it to that boy in Egypt."
"No, he just casts cauldron." Stops, looks up. "Wait. How do you know… Ah, the Prophet." Turns the box in his hands. "I kind of thought this would fare better than my other gifts."
Raises an eyebrow.
"Those bookends I brought you from Australia last year?" Snorts. "You said that only a dunderhead would waste a bookshelf's space this way."
Shrugs.
"Then there was that little painting of ancient potions' room I brought from France. You said the wizard on it had no clue how to stir, and poor guy began hiding every time you looked at him."
"He was an idiot."
"Still, it was a good painting."
"Potter, I have no use for paintings."
"But you can use this box."
"Potter."
"Snape, I am running out of ideas."
"That sounds promising."
Sighs. "Right."
The fire in the hearth flares up, and a head appears there.
"Severus, ah, Harry, you are here too."
"Minerva."
"Headmistress."
"Severus, I just popped in to remind you about the staff's Hogsmeade lunch tomorrow. It's, as usual, at Rosmerta's at 12. And I refuse to hear any excuses."
Frowns.
"I'll see you there, gentlemen. Good night." Disappears.
"That should be fun."
"Fun?"
"Come on, Snape, even you have to get out of this dungeon sometimes."
Swirls his drink.
Gets up. "Right. It's been a long day. I'd better get going. Good night, Snape."
"Good night."
"Think about the box." Leaves.
Several minutes later gets up and walks to the recently vacated armchair. Picks up a forgotten glass and carefully touches the brim.
2.
"Snape, are you here?"
Takes several roots to the chopping board. Without looking, "What do you want, Potter?"
"You forgot the bottle you bought at 'The World of Spirits'." Puts the wine on the desk. Peeks into the boiling cauldron. "You left rather abruptly."
"My leg." Begins cutting.
"Yeah, I thought your limping got worse. Is this your medicine? Shouldn't you have some on hand?"
"I ran out," growls dangerously.
"Right. Anyway, how do you like the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher? Isn't he a nice chap? I don't remember him, but he said he was a couple of years ahead of me in school. Was on Hufflepuff's Quidditch team. Looks pretty good, doesn't he? Bet, he still flies once in a while."
"In case it escaped your notice, I am trying to work."
"Right, I'd better go."
"You do that."
The sound of door being open and closed.
Cuts the next piece, and swears – the knife hit too hard, and the chopped off piece is completely smeared.
3.
"…my fifth attempt. I am sorry to say, Severus, but I don't have the sufficient influence on the Board."
"I see. No change then."
"I am afraid not." Rolls out the parchment. "…teach sixth and seventh years…no more than eight hours per week of paid instruction…"
"Shit."
"They also declined my request to allow you to brew for our infirmary." Sighs. "Poor Poppy, she hates sneaking in your potions."
Stiffly, "I can always discontinue my charity work."
"No, no. She hates using Professor Laurie's concoctions even more. I, for one, wouldn't drink anything that came out of his cauldron even if my life depended on it."
Sarcastically, "And here I thought the time for hiring for political reasons in this school has past."
Purses her lips and rolls the parchment.
"I apologies, Minerva."
Nods slightly and hides the parchment in her robes. "What about your appeal to the Ministry?"
"Refused."
Shakes her head. "This is despicable. How do they expect you to survive, if you can't earn your living?"
"I am still a convicted Death Eater."
"Nonsense. It's been proven…"
"Minerva, they could've put me in Azkaban. I should be grateful for this."
"For this?! Severus, you are as good as shackled to Hogwarts."
Suddenly angry, "I know!"
After a long pause, "Listen, may be we should try a different tactic?"
Raises an eyebrow.
"I do not have enough influence, you… Well, what I am trying to say is may be the time has come to bring into play others."
"No. Absolutely not. I do not want my…situation become a topic of idle chit-chat."
"I understand. Still, there are people, who might be of help."
"Who?"
The door opens. "Snape, Cain and I are going to Diagon Alley in the afternoon. Want to join us?" Stops. "Oh. Headmistress. I am sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You didn't. Minerva was leaving."
"Yes I am, Harry." Walks to the door. Turns. "And Severus, to answer your question - I think you know just the right person."
