He glared at the Headmaster across the desk, dark eyes flashing and curtain black hair accentuating his obvious smouldering rage. Dumbledore, although well aware of the effect that his vocalizations were causing, carried on regardless; his old blue eyes twinkling almost amusedly behind his half-moon spectacles.

"You see, people are beginning to suspect, Severus. We cannot, as I have repeatedly said before, let people see through our little plan. It's only for a short while, and I'm sure-"

"Little plan?" In his rage Snape cut across Albus' words, his voice no more than a enraged whisper. "This is your life we are discussing. The one that is the most protected across the entirety of the wizarding world. Apart, perhaps, from Potter's, and why he needs the extent of protection he gets remains a mystery. He's never grateful for any of it, thinking he can escape the Dark Lord…"

"Voldemort,"

Snape shrugged irritably, then carried on his rant as if he had not been interrupted. "...Thinking he can escape Voldemort with arrogance alone, thinking he's better than any of the protection he's provided. He's…"

"Severus,"

"…just like his father, strutting around the school thinking he's so special, breaks so many rules that we may as well not have any…"

"Severus,"

"…his magic is completely mediocre, and is less bright than those who are Muggleborn. If you, Sir, cannot defeat the Dark Lord, then I cannot see how…"

"Severus!" Dumbledore's hoarse voice rose to ride over Snape's increasingly angry tirade. For a moment, Snape realised why he was the most loved, yet one of the most feared- apart from the Dark Lord, of course- wizards in the world. For just a few seconds, Dumbledore looked infinite and indestructible; the thought of his future was absurd. Slightly intimidated, Snape shrank back into his chair slightly, allowing his hair to cover his eyes. Still livid, yet too afraid to speak again, he stared at the floor for a few seconds, incredibly talented brain working in overdrive trying to think of a suitable argument. Realising that he could not think of any, he dragged his gaze back up to the headmaster and was surprised to see that Dumbledore's blue stare was soft.

"You are blinded by hate, Severus, and yet you are still blinded by your love."

Snape suddenly felt like screaming. "Not that again!" Dumbledore and he had discussed this subject some months before, when it was decided that if Malfoy failed in his task, Snape would take over. Both he and the Headmaster has talked about Snape's lost love and after the meeting Severus had shed tears that he hoped were never to be seen again. Yet here was he, that decrepit old fool talking in that hateful calm tone about how love and hate were almost the same thing. If Snape had not loved Dumbledore as much as it was possible to love a close friend he would have left his office then and there. He didn't need… he didn't want to talk about this.

"This again," Dumbledore however, refused to be deterred. "If you love Lily as much as you claim to, then your hatred of Harry must come to an end. In order to survive this war, you must do everything I tell you so, and if I tell you to go, then go you must. The other professors are beginning to suspect Severus, and if they fully realise you intend to kill me then you yourself will be killed before you can finish your much deserved existence. You must go."

Snape stared furiously back at the floor, his rage pulsing through his brain like white electricity. Finally, he grasped on the only argument that could help him to stay on at the castle.

"What about Draco? What about me? I made an unbreakable vow! If I leave surely that will break it, and I'll die anyway!"

Suddenly tired, Dumbledore closed his eyes, the lines on his face not only revealing his age, but his exhaustion. "It's all risks, Severus. All risks that you and I must take. Perhaps, by fleeing the school you will not be breaking your vow, and you'll live. You must, of course, kill me. I'll contact you when it comes to the time. And in this case, it'll look more like revenge, rather than… planned."

"It is my duty to watch over Draco! By leaving the school surely that is breaking all the rules! Unlike your wish, Dumbledore, I do not wish to die so early."

The Headmaster still did not open his weary eyes, and his voice became quieter as if laden with sadness and fatigue. "So you shall not. Take Draco with you, and look after him. That way we can make entirely sure that he isn't the one that becomes the murderer. Pretend he's your son, and take as much care as if you were his father."

"Then won't the other professors deduce even more than they do now? Snape sacked, Draco's disappeared. Brilliant plan, Headmaster! Not only will the rest of the school suspect, but it makes it much more likely that the Death Eaters will blow our cover!"

Finally, Dumbledore pulled his eyes open and his voice became much louder with all his frustration. "Then don't take him! Keep your watch by letters! You can still watch over him without him actually being in your sight! And when my time comes, you can come back and save him from doing the deed! It will all work out Severus!"

Snape for a moment was so angry he could hardly contain it. Flinching with rage, he leapt to his feet and began to pace around the office, Dumbledore watching him with exaggerated patience.

"It will all work out? What if I cannot return as quickly as you desire and Draco has to kill you after all? Then what will happen? Draco will have split his soul and all because you seem to think that people are getting suspicious!"

"They are suspicious!" Dumbledore too leapt to his feet, his eyes now a piercing blue, his beard swaying with impatience and the oncoming of temper. "You must believe in Draco more than you do! You've taught the boy, and have been friends with him for six years! Draco, despite what he thinks, is not a killer! You are."

"I most certainly am not!"

"Enough of the procrastination! Severus you are fired!"

"I refuse to believe it! I'll resign!"

At last Dumbledore let out a chuckle and sank back into his chair, his tired old face finally showing true amusement. "You and Mr Potter are more alike than you think. He too, is very stubborn. You are fired Severus, and you know that is the best way. We just have to find a means of making your dismissal clear to the other professors. We'll do it in the morning, publicly. It will all make sense, you'll see."

"In the morning?" Snape's face became not one of anger, but of upset and he half turned away from the Headmaster to hide how much the words affected him. "That… soon?"

"The sooner the better, Severus. The sooner the better." Seeing Snape trying to hold back uncharacteristic tears, Dumbledore emitted a low little titter. "I believe you've become attached to this school, Severus. More than you think. You've done well for yourself after such a bad beginning. But the fates clearly write it across their starry skies, and the moon refuses to glow until the deed is done. Severus Snape, you are fired."

"Fine." With a swirl of his black cloak, Snape turned on his heel and left Dumbledore's office.