Reasons 2

Author blinks not sure what to think of some of the reactions to the last chapter. [sarcasm They'll love Dumbledore in this chapter [/sarcasm

For those of you who enjoyed it, here is some more. Well I suppose there's more for the ones who didn't like it too. Technically.

When I started writing this, I was under the impression that the James saving Severus incident came after the hanging upside-down incident. D'oh! My brain hadn't caught up with the fact yet. I was writing this more for how it feels than facts.

What I had in my head is not quite coming out on paper with this chapter. Hope it doesn't suck.

Chapter 2 Severus

Snape sat silent and brooding until he could take the examining stare of Dumbledore no more. "Sir," he addressed. "Going to tell me to play nice, like you probably told Potter?"

"No, no Severus." Dumbledore kept his tone light. "You're right, I figuratively told James to play nice. The reason you're here seems a bit trivial after today. I meant to talk to you about it before this. Professor Slughorn was worried about you. Something has been getting worse throughout this year."

Snape looked confused. "My grades haven't been getting worse."

"Have a seat." Dumbledore indicated the chair opposite him. Snape complied promptly crossing arms and one lanky leg over the other. "Not your grades. What I want to talk to you about is that mouth of yours."

If silent could become quieter, it did.

"A slip of a word or two here and there, I can overlook. What I heard wafting across the campus a little while ago, though it did bring my attention to your situation, not acceptable."

Snape uncrossed himself and leaned forward to confront, "And what Potter did, was that acceptable?"

"You know it was not. That matter is being dealt with. Quite a few of the professors have noticed that your language has been getting steadily worse this year."

Narrowing eyes burned at Dumbledore. "My language? Humm what's happened this year? Let me think now, Oh I remember Sirius Black tried to get me killed. And now Potter, Potter - - "

"Potter why with you is it always Potter? He calls you Snivellus and you call him a Prick. I can't here the lower years hearing that. Nor that other unfortunate word you called Miss. Evens."

Snape shot back. "I didn't mean that. I was angry."

"Understandably." Dumbledore could see Severus tapping his fingers nervously against the side of his leg. "That's a bad habit, gives people the impression you're nervous." The young man stopped cold. "I think this increased spillage of anger started well before anything our resident bullies supplied."

"Meaning?"

"Getting close to the end of the year." Snape made no indication that the statement meant anything to him. "Heard from home lately?"

"No Sir." Only Dumbledore could have seen the sliver of fear cross Severus' narrowing eyes.

"How do you suppose things are there?"

"Sir, don't ask me about that, please."

"Only two more years and you can do what ever you want."

"Meaning?" Severus wondered if Dumbledore had heard the rumors. After all some of them were true.

"You are one of out brightest students here at Hogwarts."

'That and twenty-five p. will get me a bag of chips,' Snape thought sarcastically.

"I'd rather hoped, if you could control that mouth, you'd consider something," the headmaster continued.

"Consider what?"

"Professor Slughorn has spoken of retiring in a few years."

"Oh no." A hand was waving in front of Severus' face. "No offence but - - "

"Go ahead, offend away. I won't mind."

"I've spent all of my life either at home, or here." Then Snape's face seemed to brighten. "When I graduate, I intend to see something of the world. Do something. Something big."

"Working here would not preclude that."

"You are barking up the wrong tree, Sir."

"I'd still like you to think about it."

Snape's face looked as if he were going to say, 'think about staying here, are you crazy?'

"In the mean time," Dumbledore seemed to change the subject. "I am going to ask a favor of you."

Severus looked blank. Dumbledore added, "It will earn Slytherin House fifty points."

That perked Snape up. "Fifty points?" He wondered, "It's not cleaning out the owlry, is it?"

"No," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "You might enjoy this task. I'd like you to tutor someone in potions, next week."

"Tutoring is going to earn fifty points?" Snape was suspicions.

"It's James Potter, I want him to do something constructive during his detention,"

"You have got to be kidding me. I thought he was the one being punished."

"If you can teach him you can teach anyone."

"Absolutely not. I told you I don't want to teach."

"How do you know until you try?" There was no answer to this question. "I don't think your fellow Slytherin would look too kindly on you turning your back on fifty points."

Snape gritted his teeth. He knew Dumbledore was right about that. "I can't."

"Oh I see. You're going to prove Potter and his pals that they are right about you by - - " Dumbledore almost didn't want to say it. " - - Snivel off." The old man knew how to manipulate the younger one. "Or will you prove them wrong by being the bigger man?"

It angered Snape that Dumbledore seemed to know how to push the 'do the right thing' button on his conscious. It was a trick. He knew it was a trick. Dumbledore was trying to trick him into changing his mind about Potter and about teaching. Snivel off, never. "All next week?" Dumbledore nodded. "Fifty points?" The headmaster nodded again. "Then in the name of Slytherin House. I'll take your challenge." Maybe he could even get back at Potter.

tbc