A/N: Ok, I was feeling generous and posted two chapters today. I have the third written, but I think I'll save it for later.
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Finally, he thought, a little solace from the menaces that haunt me for 9 months out of the year. With the other schools gone and things restored to something that approached normal, Severus Snape could finally get a moment's rest. He had just locked his ingredients cabinet when he heard a knock on the door.
"Yes," he allowed admittance, but didn't hide the annoyance in his voice. He looked up to see Albus Dumbledore enter his classroom.
"Locking up for the summer, Severus?"
"Am I that obvious?" he sneered. At the Headmaster's look, his glare softened. "I'm sorry Albus; it's been a long year."
"Indeed, and I'm afraid it is about to get longer." He motioned for someone to enter the classroom, and Snape erupted when Remus Lupin entered his dungeons.
"What is he doing here! I thought he was dismissed from this school?"
"Yes, you made sure of that didn't you Severus?" Lupin countered.
"Settle down, both of you. This is more important than your schoolyard grudge," Albus was only this serious where two things were concerned: Voldemort or Potter. Snape assumed this had something to do with the latter, and scowled. Sitting down at his desk and pulling out parchment and ink, he began to work on a rather complicated potion of his own design.
Lupin strolled over to the desk and leaned over him. Snape responded by standing and glaring menacingly. It seemed as if neither was going to back down, and Dumbledore realized that this was probably not the best of his ideas.
"Severus, Remus has brought a rather, er, disturbing fact to light, and as there is no one else more qualified, I am asking a favor of you." Snape groaned inwardly. Here it comes, he thought. Breaking his locked glare with Lupin, he turned to the Headmaster.
"If it has anything to do with a student, no. I am rid of those insufferable children for a blessed two months and no one will ruin that." He sat back down, dipped his black quill in the ink, and concentrated on his parchment.
Albus sighed, "Remus, leave us please. I will make him see reason, though it proves to be a difficult task. I believe you have business to which to attend?" Remus nodded reluctantly, pleaded the Headmaster with his eyes to do something about an obviously grievous matter, and exited the castle. Albus turned back to the potions master, who was reveling in Lupin's departure.
"Severus, I will ask you to hear me out before you say anything. Silencio," Snape opened his mouth to protest, but nothing came out. He scowled at the Headmaster and sat back, fuming. "Now, Lupin tells me that Mr. Potter is not happy with his relatives." At the mention of the name, Severus scowl became deeper and his eyes flashed with rage. "Remus told me that he cornered Mr. Potter and drilled him on his strange behavior, and Harry told him how the Dursleys used him for years and mistreat him. And before you tell me that Mr. Potter is simply trying to get attention, don't. Not that you could, eh?" His eyes twinkled, and Severus narrowed his eyes into slits.
"Now, his family is currently on a camping trip here," he summoned a map of Surrey and the surrounding area, and pointed to a wooded area. "Now, these woods are not known to hold any werewolves or large dogs, so we couldn't send Remus or Sirius, not to mention they are both on errands for me. It is, however, known to hold many other dangerous creatures. The only other teacher here for the summer holidays is Trelawney." At this, he waved his hand, and Snape could speak again. He rolled his eyes at the other professor's name.
"She is about as subtle as a herd of rampaging hippogriffs," he sighed, "Albus, there are many things I do for you that I despise, and I suppose you will not take no as an answer." The Headmaster shook his head, smiling, knowing he had won. Steeling himself for a horrid night, he placed his parchment, ink, and quill back into his desk and tidied up the area a little more.
"I knew I could count on you, Severus. Please hurry and report back to me." Severus nodded and the Headmaster left. Severus growled audibly and retrieved his black velvet cloak, fastening it with a silver serpent clasp, and plucked his Nimbus 2001 from the closet. Once outside the castle, he cast an invisibility charm on the broom and himself, mounted, and took off. An hour later, he found himself a mile from the area Dumbledore had indicated. He dismounted and revealed his broom, transfiguring it into a silver chain. He pulled it over his head and settled it under his robes. Better get this over with, he thought. He slunk through the forest, slipping into the shadows. Soon his human form was replaced with that of a black panther, slinking stealthily across the forest floor.