Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chapter 2: Scar Starters

Snape sighed loudly as he nursed a gash that ran from his temple to just under his left eye. Like most head wounds, this one had looked horrendous when the initial wound was inflicted, but he had managed to at least stop the bleeding. Satisfied that he could now make it up to the infirmary to allow Poppy to mend the wound without the students noticing, he stored his broken Death Eater mask and cloak safely in his closet and turned to leave the room.

"Severus," The head of Albus Dumbledore appeared in the fireplace in Snape's study.

Snape closed his eyes, suppressing another sigh, and turned to the fireplace. "Yes, Headmaster?"

"We have company. Join us in my office."

"Headmaster, could this matter possibly wait? I have some…business to attend to."

"Nonesense, Severus. I promise that it won't take but a few minutes. Dr. Granger can't be kept waiting too long. Important business, you know." Albus' head disappeared as quickly as it had come.

'I wonder if it's too late to ask for the Dementor's kiss,' Snape thought as he stormed out the door. Several students scurried out of the Potion master's way as he ascended the stairs. "Exploding Snaps."

"Oh, it was simply dreadful! There must have been at least twelve of them jumping up and down yelling for fudge," Hermione finished some story that she, Albus, and Tonks were laughing about just as Severus made his appearance. Severus crossed his arms in front of chest and held his position near the doorway.

"Have a seat, Severus…My dear boy, what happened to your face?"

"I could fix that for you. It wouldn't take but a second," Hermione interjected.

"You'll do no such thing," Snape growled as Hermione reached to touch the cut. "What is it that you wished to discuss? You are not the only one with things to do, Miss Granger."

Hermione frowned at his sour disposition. "Do I threaten you, Professor Snape? Is that the reason you're always so rude to me?"

"Severus, perhaps you should just let"

"No," Severus interrupted the headmaster.

"Alright," Albus conceded, knowing full well that Severus was not going to budge. He nodded for them to all have a seat. "We simply need to go over plans for the added security at Hogsmeade this weekend."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "And that required my presence? I was under the impression that Hogsmeade was already covered this weekend." Hermione, Tonks, and Maelynn had been doing security detail for the students' trips into Hogsmeade for at least the last year. It was at that moment that Severus realized just how little he had seen of Maelynn in the last few months.

"We've just been making a few adjustments to the schedule," Tonks supplied. "We decided that we needed to train some of the new members in tactical op's, and Hogsmeade is the idea place to begin."

"So, we have a list of volunteers from the last meeting, and we'll need another professor from the Order to take a trainee," Hermione added. "I'll have Watkins with me, Tonks is taking Shaffer, and Remus has Smith. We need one more trained person to take Towers."

"Since you haven't served a Hogsmeade weekend in quite some time, and since you could use an excuse to get out of the castle for a while, I figured you were the best candidate," Albus chimed.

"I have no desire to traipse around Hogsmeade with the façade of playing chaperone. Besides, Maelynn usually accompanies you, so she shouldn't have a problem doing so now."

Hermione and Tonks exchanged quick glances. It may have seemed like nothing to the headmaster, but it was meaningful enough for Severus.

"I'm sure that she has more important things to do than hang around us for the day, Professor. Besides, she deserves some time off, don't you think?"

Not at all satisfied with the answer and run around he was receiving, Severus continued to press. "I thought that the three of you were inseparable. Surely individuals such as yourselves wouldn't be turning your backs on someone who has shown such great loyalty to you." Severus maintained a look of genuine curiosity. "Or perhaps, MISS Granger, you are beginning to feel threatened by the level of discipline and attention that Maelynn has obtained."

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. "Please," she waved her hand in the air, dismissing the statement, "Don't be so ridiculous, Professor Snape. Maelynn has simply grown too attached, and I don't want to lead her astray."

Snape snorted and shook his head. Albus looked slightly confused. "Is there something that you three would like to share with an old headmaster?"

Tonks sighed. "Not at all, Sir. Hermione and I have just been so busy the last few months. We simply don't have time to spend working with her anymore."

Snape had definitely heard it all. "If you'll excuse me. I'll trust you to fix the schedule. I will not be able to aid you in your search for a replacement." He placed his hand over the darkmark on his left arm. "Since I have far higher obligations than babysitting children who believe themselves to be war veterans." With a flourish of his cloak, Snape had descended the stairs leaving two seething witches and one oblivious wizard in his wake.