Disclaimer:
All the characters of this story belong to the wonderful J.K.Rowling, I
don't own anything of this, and I don't want to make any profit with it.
After All Those Years
Chapter 1 - Midnight Encounter
Minerva McGonagall stared at the ceiling of her bedroom.
Although it was only half past eleven, she knew that she, again, wouldn't find rest this night. Heavily she got up and put on her tartan dressing gown.
This was getting ridiculous she thought sadly. Always the same thoughts which were completely in vain and she couldn't get them out of her head.
She went over to her desk. Maybe correcting a few essays would chase the thoughts out of her head for this night.
However, after she had tried for a couple of minutes to understand what this child wanted to tell her in her essay, she gave up and decided to wander the castle for a while.
Quietly she passed through the dark corridors. Her sorrows were near suffocating her and she couldn't even walk in her normal stern and rigid manner but she didn't care. Nobody would see her like this. Nobody knew and nobody could help her.
Silently she entered the dimly lit teachers lounge and went over to her favourite armchair in the corner. She fell into it and felt tears streaming down her cheeks that very moment. The last remains of her defensive barrier shattered and sobbing and shivering she sat curled up in the chair and didn't know what to make of the world.
After a while she became still again, but the pain was only increased by this outburst. Suddenly a cold voice spoke out of the shadows. "Well Minerva, I didn't expect a drama at such a late hour, I just came here as a change to my cold dungeons, but expected or not, it was highly amusing, no doubt."
Minerva jumped and cried "Severus, how.how dare you! S.neaking around at n.night without." She stopped as she was on the verge of tears again and could barely control herself. Of all evil in the world, why Snape? That stupid old morose git, how would she stand the humiliation?
"My dear Minerva, I haven't been sneaking around, I merely sat here." The mocking tone of his voice made her wanting to curse him on the spot.
Heatedly she said "Fine Snape, congratulations, you finally got me. There, you've seen me all weak and messed up, are you contented now? Are you already planning of how to profit from your knowledge! Humiliating me in front of the students? That would be quite your style, you seem to live from other people's misfortunes and disgraces. You never miss a chance to make someone's life hell, do you? You aren't even worth to be looked at by any decent person, you are just a morose, old, miserable bat. I never figured why Dumbledore makes such a fuss about you."
Still fuming she broke off and glared into the direction she thought Snape to be sitting. "And as for not making clear that you weren't alone, which is what I think you wanted to accuse me of before you started to.I didn't dare to."
His voice sounded strange, in fact Minerva had never heard him talking like this before. It took her a few seconds to realise that it was real concern in his voice, something she hadn't thought Snape capable of.
Interesting new way of making fun of her, she thought. Aloud she said rather confused "You didn't dare to what, Snape?".
Politely and very qietly he said "To interrupt you in your obvious sorrow. I thought it inappropriate as you were so grieved about something. As for the latter of your assumptions of my way of dealing with this encounter, I am sorry, Minerva."
Something was wrong here, she just knew it. Besides the fact that Snape had witnessed her crying her soul out, that was. His whole behaviour didn't seem right. She felt her anger being pushed by side by curiosity. "I didn't get this, what are you sorry for?"
There was a short pause and then he said in that same polite tone "I am sorry that I gave you a reason to assume that I would use your weakness against you in such a mean way. My behaviour must indeed have been terrible if that is your picture of me."
Puzzled by his unusual openness she said "Well, watching you every day, one gets such an impression of you."
A longer pause followed and then a candle was lit. Snape was sitting on a sofa, wearing a black dressing gown. He looked shrunken and miserable, but not in his usual evil manner. Minerva observed him closely. Despite her anger she had to pity him. He was so downtrodden and his eyes were sad. She had never seen him like this before.
He looked at her, his black eyes almost fearful. "Look Minerva, please let me tell you something. Only listen, despite how much you loathe me. I think I know why you were crying and not finding sleep and. and all this. I think it is because you are in love with someone of whom you think that he doesn't love you, too. Because you don't want to risk your friendship, which is very valuable to you both, you have never shown him your feelings. For decades you haven't said a word, only beause you don't want to lose him."
Minerva's eyes widened at his words which had become softer and livelier the longer he had spoken. Her mind was reeling. How was it possible that he knew? Severus Snape who had always appeared as a piece of rock.
"How.how do you know that? And why do you talk to me about that? That is none of your business and you never care of others."
He had looked to the ground but now he looked into her eyes again.
"That is sort of complicated. I know, because I saw behind your mask now and again. You are aways the stern, impenetrable old Professor McGonagall, you seem proud of your ability of not showing any feelings. But then, I think you are very emotional. It's in your eyes. Sometimes, when you can't conceile it and you think nobody is watching you, you look at your students with such a strong love. And that is how I found out about your other love. It's in your eyes as well. I wonder why he has never seen it, too. It would have been all easier for you two."
Minerva was simply lost for words. Was that Severus Snape who had said this? Suspiciously she asked "I don't think you are in the position to talk to me about feelings and love, as you don't know anything about that yourself. And what do you mean by saying it would have been easier for the two of us. He doesn't love me, and Albus never had a problem in this regard."
Yes, she thought, Albus Dumledore only saw her as a good friend, without knowing how it tormented her.
"I don't know where to start at this. I can tell you one thing even when it might come as a shock for you. Albus loves you. He has loved you for years. He is as miserable and sad as you are. He never told me, he never told anyone I suppose, but he too has it written in his face. The way he treats you and looks at you, so loving and cautious. Why haven't you seen it, it was kind of obvious."
She felt anger erupting in her again, why did he say such things, they were confusing and impossible.
"Stop telling me this ridiculous nonsense. You really can't know about such things. Besides, as I said earlier, they are personal."
"Well, I don't have a choice I suppose. Please Minerva. I only want one thing. I want my two best friends, namely you and Albus, to do what they should have done long ago. I want you to realize that you are meant to be together. Every day I see how desperate you two are, but you both don't realize the love of the other one. When I talk about love, which I do seldom in public, I know what I am talking about as.as.well, ok, as I am married myself to a wife which I love beyond my own life."
Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, and English isn't my motherlanguage, so please understand my mistakes. Please review to tell me what you think of my story, critics are very welcome.
After All Those Years
Chapter 1 - Midnight Encounter
Minerva McGonagall stared at the ceiling of her bedroom.
Although it was only half past eleven, she knew that she, again, wouldn't find rest this night. Heavily she got up and put on her tartan dressing gown.
This was getting ridiculous she thought sadly. Always the same thoughts which were completely in vain and she couldn't get them out of her head.
She went over to her desk. Maybe correcting a few essays would chase the thoughts out of her head for this night.
However, after she had tried for a couple of minutes to understand what this child wanted to tell her in her essay, she gave up and decided to wander the castle for a while.
Quietly she passed through the dark corridors. Her sorrows were near suffocating her and she couldn't even walk in her normal stern and rigid manner but she didn't care. Nobody would see her like this. Nobody knew and nobody could help her.
Silently she entered the dimly lit teachers lounge and went over to her favourite armchair in the corner. She fell into it and felt tears streaming down her cheeks that very moment. The last remains of her defensive barrier shattered and sobbing and shivering she sat curled up in the chair and didn't know what to make of the world.
After a while she became still again, but the pain was only increased by this outburst. Suddenly a cold voice spoke out of the shadows. "Well Minerva, I didn't expect a drama at such a late hour, I just came here as a change to my cold dungeons, but expected or not, it was highly amusing, no doubt."
Minerva jumped and cried "Severus, how.how dare you! S.neaking around at n.night without." She stopped as she was on the verge of tears again and could barely control herself. Of all evil in the world, why Snape? That stupid old morose git, how would she stand the humiliation?
"My dear Minerva, I haven't been sneaking around, I merely sat here." The mocking tone of his voice made her wanting to curse him on the spot.
Heatedly she said "Fine Snape, congratulations, you finally got me. There, you've seen me all weak and messed up, are you contented now? Are you already planning of how to profit from your knowledge! Humiliating me in front of the students? That would be quite your style, you seem to live from other people's misfortunes and disgraces. You never miss a chance to make someone's life hell, do you? You aren't even worth to be looked at by any decent person, you are just a morose, old, miserable bat. I never figured why Dumbledore makes such a fuss about you."
Still fuming she broke off and glared into the direction she thought Snape to be sitting. "And as for not making clear that you weren't alone, which is what I think you wanted to accuse me of before you started to.I didn't dare to."
His voice sounded strange, in fact Minerva had never heard him talking like this before. It took her a few seconds to realise that it was real concern in his voice, something she hadn't thought Snape capable of.
Interesting new way of making fun of her, she thought. Aloud she said rather confused "You didn't dare to what, Snape?".
Politely and very qietly he said "To interrupt you in your obvious sorrow. I thought it inappropriate as you were so grieved about something. As for the latter of your assumptions of my way of dealing with this encounter, I am sorry, Minerva."
Something was wrong here, she just knew it. Besides the fact that Snape had witnessed her crying her soul out, that was. His whole behaviour didn't seem right. She felt her anger being pushed by side by curiosity. "I didn't get this, what are you sorry for?"
There was a short pause and then he said in that same polite tone "I am sorry that I gave you a reason to assume that I would use your weakness against you in such a mean way. My behaviour must indeed have been terrible if that is your picture of me."
Puzzled by his unusual openness she said "Well, watching you every day, one gets such an impression of you."
A longer pause followed and then a candle was lit. Snape was sitting on a sofa, wearing a black dressing gown. He looked shrunken and miserable, but not in his usual evil manner. Minerva observed him closely. Despite her anger she had to pity him. He was so downtrodden and his eyes were sad. She had never seen him like this before.
He looked at her, his black eyes almost fearful. "Look Minerva, please let me tell you something. Only listen, despite how much you loathe me. I think I know why you were crying and not finding sleep and. and all this. I think it is because you are in love with someone of whom you think that he doesn't love you, too. Because you don't want to risk your friendship, which is very valuable to you both, you have never shown him your feelings. For decades you haven't said a word, only beause you don't want to lose him."
Minerva's eyes widened at his words which had become softer and livelier the longer he had spoken. Her mind was reeling. How was it possible that he knew? Severus Snape who had always appeared as a piece of rock.
"How.how do you know that? And why do you talk to me about that? That is none of your business and you never care of others."
He had looked to the ground but now he looked into her eyes again.
"That is sort of complicated. I know, because I saw behind your mask now and again. You are aways the stern, impenetrable old Professor McGonagall, you seem proud of your ability of not showing any feelings. But then, I think you are very emotional. It's in your eyes. Sometimes, when you can't conceile it and you think nobody is watching you, you look at your students with such a strong love. And that is how I found out about your other love. It's in your eyes as well. I wonder why he has never seen it, too. It would have been all easier for you two."
Minerva was simply lost for words. Was that Severus Snape who had said this? Suspiciously she asked "I don't think you are in the position to talk to me about feelings and love, as you don't know anything about that yourself. And what do you mean by saying it would have been easier for the two of us. He doesn't love me, and Albus never had a problem in this regard."
Yes, she thought, Albus Dumledore only saw her as a good friend, without knowing how it tormented her.
"I don't know where to start at this. I can tell you one thing even when it might come as a shock for you. Albus loves you. He has loved you for years. He is as miserable and sad as you are. He never told me, he never told anyone I suppose, but he too has it written in his face. The way he treats you and looks at you, so loving and cautious. Why haven't you seen it, it was kind of obvious."
She felt anger erupting in her again, why did he say such things, they were confusing and impossible.
"Stop telling me this ridiculous nonsense. You really can't know about such things. Besides, as I said earlier, they are personal."
"Well, I don't have a choice I suppose. Please Minerva. I only want one thing. I want my two best friends, namely you and Albus, to do what they should have done long ago. I want you to realize that you are meant to be together. Every day I see how desperate you two are, but you both don't realize the love of the other one. When I talk about love, which I do seldom in public, I know what I am talking about as.as.well, ok, as I am married myself to a wife which I love beyond my own life."
Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, and English isn't my motherlanguage, so please understand my mistakes. Please review to tell me what you think of my story, critics are very welcome.