Disclaimer: I own nothing dealing with Harry Potter and all that! It, of course, belongs to the talented J.K. Rowling. Le sigh!

A/N: Wow, thank you very much to those of you who reviewed to my story so far. That is an amazing thing. I know I wrote replies to your reviews in the last story I wrote, but I can't this time because I do not have the time. Sorry. I do love you all, though. I will, however, say thank you right now by mentioning my reviewers. Thank you to: GothicAnn87, girl from Iceland, TartanLioness, miss mcGonagle, Quill of Minerva, Lenora, Eilisan, Mollisk, MMrulz4eva, Angelodust-aka-Evilwoman, and La Belle Coeur. Your reviews all mean a lot to me.

Chapter Two: Seeking Help…

Albus made his way, rather awkwardly, up to the castle. He wasn't so drunk that he couldn't think clearly, but he was drunk enough so that he swayed rather mercilessly. He had thought about what he was going to do, but somewhere along the way, he had lost all nerve to follow through with his plan. When he entered through the large double doors, which were the entrance to the castle, he stumbled slightly, almost falling to the floor. Luckily, someone was there to catch him.

"Headmaster, what has happened?" Albus looked up to see Severus Snape there, looking at him worriedly. Albus just glared at the Potions Master and set off towards his rooms.

"Headmaster?" said Severus, catching up with his boss. "Whatever is the matter?" Albus stopped and looked at the younger man in front of him.

"Nothing is wrong," he lied. Severus eyed him warily.

"Have you been drinking?" he asked.

"No, I haven't," said Albus. He didn't know why he had to lie, but he felt he just had to. It would not be seemly if the Headmaster of the most esteemed wizarding school in the world showed up on a Friday night, drunker than a sailor. Severus sniffed the air.

"You're lying," he said. "I can smell the whiskey on your breath." Albus looked down, ashamed. Severus placed a hand on Albus' shoulder. "This is about Minerva's engagement, isn't it?" Albus glared at him.

"What if it is?" he asked. Severus sighed.

"What did you expect, Headmaster? If you never told her how you felt, then do you really expect her to wait around for you forever?" Albus looked at him, confused. Severus nodded. "Yes, Headmaster, I've been aware of your feelings for Minerva for some time now. So has the rest of the staff, only we never said anything. It is not our place. And we know that Minerva, for a long time, has felt the same for you." Albus guffawed at his last comment.

"I don't believe it, Severus," he grumbled. They were now right outside his office door and he muttered the password. They ascended the staircase and entered his office, Severus shutting the door behind him.

"Well, you can believe what you like, but I would bet my life on the fact that she loves you just as much as you love her." Severus collapsed into an overstuffed chair near the fireplace.

"Severus, I do not take part in fantasies which I know will never come true," frowned Albus as he sat behind his desk. This in itself was not true, for he had fantasized many times telling her exactly how he felt for her. And, on a number of occasions, came extremely close to telling her just what his feelings were. But he always managed to lose his nerve. "She doesn't love me as anything more than a friend, as it should be, I'm afraid."

"It should be you two together," corrected Severus. Albus rubbed his head.

"Severus, I am an old man, and eighty years her senior. It would be wrong of me to expect her to return my feelings." He gazed solemnly into space for a few moments before coming back to the present. He looked at the potions master. "I sometimes find myself amazed at how you ever managed to work up the courage to admit to having feelings for Rolanda. Not only did you manage to admit it to yourself, but you found the courage to tell her." Severus smiled.

"I tell you, it wasn't easy," admitted Severus, getting up and walking over to Albus. "The best thing you could do is get Minerva back from this marriage."

"So, do you think I should just go up to her and tell her?" he asked. Severus shook his head.

"No, no. You could never do that. Especially once you've told her that you are happy for her and her intended. If you did that, then she would just become confused and be unsure as to what your true feelings are. She will think you are toying with her, and then become angry." Albus frowned.

"Then, what shall I do?" he asked. It felt rather odd that he should be asking advice from a man so much younger than himself. But it was on this matter that he took comfort in the fact that he was the one receiving it rather than giving it. For, even though he had accomplished many things in his lifetime, he had never been able to master the art of love. Somehow, that matter had somehow eluded his learning. Severus smiled.

"I am glad you asked," he said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "What we shall do is woo her mercilessly. That shall remind her just what she is missing out on by marrying that brute of a man, Dameon Spragg." Albus cringed at the sound of the name. "I know, even the name is an unpleasant one. But never fear, we shall win fair lady's heart back from him." Albus smiled, stood up, and hugged the younger man. This definitely renewed his endeavor to get Minerva back. He stepped back and beamed at Severus.

"Thank you, Severus," he said. "This was exactly the talk I needed."

"You're welcome, Headmaster," Severus replied. He bowed, bid Albus a good night, and left.

When Albus entered his private quarters, he was exhausted. With all that had happened that day, he felt drained of all his energy. He glanced over at the clock which hung on his wall. It was nearing one o' clock in the morning. He shook his head. How did he manage to stay out so late without even realizing it?

Without even bothering to change into his nightwear, Albus collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep, dreaming of Minerva. Images of her face danced before his mind's eye, presenting him with a restless sleep. All night, he tossed and turned, searching for comfort within the walls of darkness which now engulfed him. However, the images of the one he loved came to him as both a comfort and a curse. Several times, images of her betrothed came to stand beside her, always with a cloak covering his appearance. All save his horrid smirk was covered up as he wrapped his wretched arms around her. Albus shivered when he looked at him. There was just something about him that he did not like.

Albus shot straight up in his bed, that last image having jolted him awake. Cold sweat beaded down his face as he looked blurry eyed around his room, his eyes finally resting upon his clock. As he cleared his eyes from the final drops of his watery sleep, he groaned when he saw that it was seven o' clock. Saturday already, he thought with a sigh. Today was the day he was to meet Minerva and Dameon for lunch. Oh how could he go through with this when he knew that every moment in the presence of the new blissful couple would just tear apart what remained of his already shattered heart?

Oh well. He knew that he wouldn't be able to avoid the subject forever. The sooner he faced the sight of them together, the sooner he would become comfortable with it. He sighed as he put on his robes for the day. He supposed he would never be totally comfortable with the situation. And as the thought of the two together, happily holding each other, crossed his mind for the millionth time in the past twenty- four hours or so, a wave of emotions came crashing upon him. He felt everything from anger to guilt, and sadness to sickness. He couldn't let her go, not after all those years of tormenting himself with silence.

Yes, he would tell her, and he would not let Dameon Spragg in the way. He would do as Severus said. He would romance Minerva, rather subtly, and win back her heart. At least, he hoped he would be up for the challenge. With a fake smile on his face, he headed out for the Great Hall for breakfast…

To Be Continued…

A/N2: Sorry this took so long, but my muse has left me for the week. You see, Minerva goes away one week out of the year with Albus, and leaves me with Jareth. But all he's done is fluff his hair. LOL! I hope you liked this chapter, although it is not exactly me at my best. Love you lots for reviewing! Always Hopeful