I think we'll be having a little out of the character here. We'll, they're humans and sometimes, humans do lose control. I'll leave you to your good judgment. Thank you for the reviews and for surviving the first chapter as well.
Review please! Thanks!
"Why do you keep on appearing every time I hell wish you don't? Your existence causes me headache!" said Severus in a very cold voice.
"Believe me, I suffer gravely not just from headache when I see you but also, over the top, high blood! Trust me, I loathe seeing a large-nose greasy bat every single day of my cursed life!" spat Minerva with all the fatal venom she could muster and give.
"How dare you get my nose into this, you witch!" shouted Severus defensively, his hands balling into fists.
"Oh, did I hurt you, Severus? Don't even tell me one like you have a heart because you obviously have none!" Minerva bellowed back.
The trio, who were on their way to the library, heard outbursts of severe anger from, no doubt, the famous mortal rivals of Hogwarts. Unlike any students who ran away for their lives as if just by lurking around the area was a painful suicide, Harry, Ron and Hermione, stayed close to hear their raging teachers out and hid behind the suit of armor, assured that they could be at least safe from any curses that will soon be flying around.
"Wow, they really get on each other's nerves, don't they? They just don't give up bickering!" whispered Harry.
"Yeah, I hope McGonagall will finally kill Snape!" said Ron.
"Ron!" said Hermione incredulously.
"What?"
She frowned at his childish comment, "Don't ever wish that again!"
"I don't understand you, Hermione. How could you wish to let that evil man alive?" said Ron in disbelief.
"I know he's not that kind but there's still goodness hiding inside him somewhere. Plus, it's not pleasant to wish someone dead. I can't believe you think Professor McGonagall could do such a horrid thing!"
"How could you say that? Why can't it just penetrate your mind that he's PURE EVIL? And, McGonagall won't hold back. See her, she's really furious!"
"Furious she is, but Professor McGonagall is a decent woman! I can't believe you, Ron! You're ridiculous!" Hermione spat, her irises burning with determination to make Ron take back his words.
Ron reflected hers with a glint of fire, "Now, Hermione, you've crossed the border –"
"Will both of you shut up? You're sounding like our professors, really!" Harry cut between them impatiently.
"That's it! You've crossed the border, Minerva! You're suggesting I'm an ANIMAL!" roared Severus furiously than before.
"Aren't you, Severus? I'm surprised! You act like one!" She jabbed back at him sarcastically.
"YOU'RE MAKING ME, WOMAN!" shouted Severus at the top of his voice.
"I'M NOT! YOU'RE ALREADY AN ANIMAL SINCE THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!" shouted Minerva, matching the volume of his yips. She could no longer contain her fury and had lost control of her voice.
"YOU'RE A DISGUSTING OLD HAG!"
"YOU'RE A SLIMY BRAIN-ROTTEN BAT!"
"YOU –"
"SILENCE!"
Severus' attempt to retort was drowned by the angry, unusual authoritative voice of the headmaster. The trio and the two professors jumped upon hearing the headmaster so unusually mad and the deafening silence came as the tongues of the shocked and terrified professors curled back inside their throat.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Albus Dumbledore in a voice that made the hairs of their skin stood.
The two just looked down to their feet, unable to speak or to make any sound.
"Minerva? Severus?"
Still, the two merely flinched and stood speechless.
"Report to my office. Both of you. Now."
Dumbledore marched his way with two professors following him, looking like drenched chicks. He waited for Minerva and Severus to settle down who were still not daring to look him in the eye. And the trio, who were lurking around, unnoticed, forgot why they were there in the first place and thought best to just head back to the Gryffindor's common room.
"I – I – I swear I'm not going to break any rules when Dumbledore's around." said Ron, who was quite trembling.
"Yeah, the headmaster was really frightening. I've never seen him quite mad before." said Hermione in a small voice. Harry just nodded.
Meanwhile, at the headmaster's office, Minerva and Severus didn't have to make any move to meet Dumbledore's eyes and see the disappointment and annoyance. They could feel it. They could feel the unfathomable gaze of the headmaster though they were not that sure if it was a glare or simply a gaze.
"Can at least one of you tell me what happened?" asked Dumbledore.
The two didn't utter a single word but after minutes, Minerva, who seemed to recover her lost voice, bravely spoke, "Headmaster, please forgive –"
"I did not ask you to ask for forgiveness, Minerva. I was asking for the details of the recent event." Dumbledore cut in, speaking in a, now, calmer voice.
"I – I, Well, Severus started it."
"I did not! You did!" spat Severus, who miraculously also found his voice, with pure venom.
"I did not, you arrogant bastard!" said Minerva stood up with clenched teeth.
Severus raised to his toes in suit, growling with the hiss of a thousand, provoked vipers, "You were –"
"Enough." Dumbledore broke in before his two teachers could resume insulting and yelling at each other again. With his most I'm-so-done-with-this tone, he asked, "May I ask the both you the roles you have here in Hogwarts?"
"Teachers." The two chorused, blushing in embarrassment.
"Correct. And, may I know your positions here as well?"
Minerva and Severus docilely sat down, as if willing themselves to dissolve as their voices left them once more.
"Correct me if I'm wrong that you, Minerva, is our Transfiguration professor, Head of the Gryffindor House and also Deputy Headmistress while you, Severus, is our Potions Master and Head of the Slytherin House who were highly and equally respected and feared just like Minerva by most students and some of the staff. Am I correct?"
The witch and the wizard only nodded with faces turning into a shameful red of tomatoes.
"Then, can you tell me what was and is expected from both of you?" asked Dumbledore, proceeding to answer his own question, knowing that the two won't at least utter a word. "Proper decorum and self-control. You are role models for the students. Now, how would they behave seeing their heads of houses shouting at each other? Especially the Gryffindor and the Slytherin? Did you know that you looked like spoiled three year olds fighting over a bottle of milk? You acted like children. Loud and spoiled children."
Dumbledore suppressed a smile as he stared at his two closest friends who were moping at their seats like children caught munching on chocolates before bedtime.
"I can't say that I'm not disappointed 'cause I really am." He continued. "And to tell you honestly, I'm already fed up with your constant bickering and my constant pondering why you argue when I just saw you two walking together and talking peacefully the other day."
Silence dawned over the room. Dumbledore eyed his teachers to see their reactions and studied them carefully. He noted that the two blushed even more by the last thought he had said.
"Hmm. Interesting." thought Albus.
"I'm very sorry, Professor Dumbledore. I know I acted completely insolent, not fit to a deputy headmistress and a teacher. I want you to know how shameful I am of myself and how deeply sorry I am that I didn't act accordingly." croaked Minerva in a small but rather clear voice.
"Apology accepted, Minerva." Dumbledore perked up to grin at Minerva who was now looking at him straight in the eye. Minerva returned a weak smile.
"Headmaster." Severus butted in.
"Yes, Severus?"
Albus and Minerva watched him like he was a movie, in which the part now was in suspense. He looked like he was struggling for a silent dilemma and just by speaking it loud could kill him.
"I'm sorry." He finally mumbled in a feeble voice, slightly wincing.
"It's okay, Severus. You're forgiven."
Dumbledore smiled as he watched Severus. He knew the man unusually say the "sorry" word but he was moved finding the sincerity in it though he was not looking at him when he spoke.
"I believe it is not only me who should be hearing the magic word." said Dumbledore.
Severus now glanced at him for the first time and was followed by Minerva, both looking at him questioningly. But after a fraction of a second, Severus transferred his gaze to Minerva, who was looking at Albus wide-eyed, seeming to understand what the headmaster had meant. Before Minerva finally decided to speak first, the two stared at each other with unemotional faces contemplating the bitter thought of swallowing pride.
"I'm sorry, Severus. I'm sorry for shouting at you and insulting you."
Severus nodded. "Me too, I'm... sorry... Minerva."
"This is touching! Wonderful!" exclaimed Albus, watching the two blushed and gazed around a dozen of paintings which appeared to be suddenly interesting. "Everything's fixed then, both of you can go now but I tell you. I'm not going let you off the hook this time. You two deserve some punishment." Albus calmly said with a twinkle in his eye.
Severus stiffened. "Did... Did I hear you right, Albus? Punishment?"
"Yes."
"When did this old man give punishments? He really isn't funny kidding like that. I can't believe he's scaring me now." thought Severus, who was relieved to see Minerva's reaction totally mirrored his.
"Al-Albus. I'm sorry. If you're joking, this is not funny." said Minerva. Severus admitted to himself that he wholeheartedly agree with the witch although he will never ever say that aloud. Ever.
"I am not, Minerva. I'm serious, but you won't be punished now. I have the perfect idea and I'll inform the both of you tomorrow. You may leave now." said Albus with a trace of finality in his voice.
The two didn't move and gawked at him as if he was speaking the foreign "Chinese" just a moment ago.
"Minerva? Severus? You can go now." He slowly said, gesturing to the door.
Minerva and Severus, coming back from the city of shock and doubt, stood and nodded at him rigidly and walked out of his office, robotic. Albus suppressed a laugh seeing both of closest friends in a dazing manner.
Severus, who was the last to go out, closed the door with a force he basically did not intend. He was standing alongside Minerva, who was looking dazed just as him. They stood still for a moment as if by moving a bit, they could worsen the complications of their dreamy reality.
"Did Albus really say punishment?" asked Severus.
"I think I'm having a strange dream with you, Severus." She answered, a wrinkle developing between her eyebrows.
"Do you think," he paused, swallowing tensely before beginning again, "he's serious?"
"I don't really know."
"He's joking." The wizard scoffed, arms crossed but really cradling the other arm just for the false sense of security.
The witch continued to stare at the floor, "I hope so."
"Okay… I'm going,"
"I should be as well."
Then, the two parted ways and went to their respective quarters, wondering what in the world Albus Dumbledore had in stakes for them.