Albus stood there, agape, as Snape's expression hardened right after that statement had been said. Apparently the out of character shift in Severus's personality was over. As the dark wizard took in the surprised stares of the others around him (except Dumbledore, who was smiling in an annoying understanding way), "What?" He asked bitterly.

"I always knew you had it in you, Severus." Dumbledore answered, still smiling that smile.

"I had what in me?" Bitterness again.

"Oh, nothing." Came the blissful reply.

"Professor Snape…" Albus mumbled, still surprised, "You were absolutely serious when you answered my question, weren't you?"

That, in turn, made the Slytherin's face whiten considerably. "Explain exactly what you mean by that." He hissed, a tinge of fear in his eyes.

"When you said you loved my father, Harry Potter, you were serious, right?"

It was then that Professor Severus Snape, the great Half-Blood Prince, Master of Potions and lover of Dark Arts, went into another out of character moment, and did the one thing that no one had expected. He fainted.

"It seems," Dumbledore said, "That Severus had somehow had his personality altered."

"I bet it was you who made him do so, you old bat!" Phineas roared, "How dare you do such a thing to harm the pride of Slytherin House!"

"Now, now, what reason would I have to affect Severus in such a way?"

"You just said yourself 'I always knew you had it in you, Severus'."

"Professors…" Albus mumbled feebly, "I'm going to go to bed now." And with that, he wandered out of the headmaster's office and towards the Slytherin Common Room. He paused and looked around. The Common Room held even more elegance than the dorms. The couch well-kept and a beautiful deep, dark green. The fireplace glowing softly with the fading emerald embers. As his gaze continued around the room, he spotted the same second-year he sat next to the first day of school snogging Scorpius Malfoy. Al made a face and tried his best to move silently passed them towards his dorm, but he felt a shiver run down his spine. The snogging had ceased and Malfoy had spotted him.

"Potter," the bitterness in his voice might've equaled that of Severus Snape, if it were much more experienced in concentrating it into a shear sound of pure loathing, that is. Poor Scorpius was inexperienced.

"Malfoy, I do not want any trouble with you. I will not speak of this to anyone." He answered almost instantly, hoping that that was what the blonde had wanted to hear.

"Fine," Scorpius answered, but instead of going back to the second-year, he followed Albus up to their dorm. After the two silently settled down into their respective beds, Malfoy spoke up. "You know… I don't even know her name."

"Well, neither do I." Al replied lamely.

"You weren't with her for five hours… And to be honest, it wasn't all that fun. I can't believe how many older students snog 24/7."

"Maybe you've just fried your hormones."

"Humph, I really doubt that. I feel things other times."

"Like when?"

Silence from the top bunk.

"I see." Al said after a while.

"Shut up. I really do feel stuff! Sometimes…"

"Why are we having this conversation again?"

"Because I can't sleep."

"How thoughtful, Malfoy."

"… Shut up."

"You know, it's fine if you don't feel anything. We're only eleven after all. We really don't have as many hormones raging through our bodies as the older students do."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? I feel stuff!"

"I don't believe you."

"Ugh. Fine. Don't believe me."

Silence.

"You know, Scorpius, I think we should talk like this more."

"Why?"

"Because it gives us a chance to bond without having to look each other in the eye."

"Humph, whatever."

"You're just mad because you've fried your hormones."

"Will you shut up about that?!"

"So you admit it?"

"NO!" Their voices quieted considerably after hearing Goyle, who was in the bed next to them, stir rather noisily, along with a few others.

"It's just…" Scorpius started again, biting his lip the same way he'd seen Albus do so before, "I'm queer."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously."

A very long silence.

"… So, who do you like?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Maybe because it is me?"

"Like hell it is."

Albus got a smile out of that, "Sure."

Silence.

"You know what, Potter?"

"What?"

"I think you were right about talking like this more."

"Thank you, but I always knew I was superior to you in intellect."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"I think I hear Filtch making his rounds, so shut the hell up before I'm tempted to blast your face into oblivion."

"I'm impressed, Malfoy, I didn't even know you knew a word like oblivion."

"Shut up, Potter."

They both fell silent for a while, waiting for Filtch to pass through.

"Sorry, Malfoy, but you're just fun to pick on." Albus had started back up after they were sure the creepy old man had passed.

"And you're a lot more Slytherin-worthy than you let people let on."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're picking on me – Slytherins pick on people."

"You know… I think this is the first time I've been mean to anybody. I mean, for real, you know? With my family, we did pick on each other, but only in a kidding sort of way. I would never do so with the knowledge that I hurt their feelings."

"Well, Potter, it's always nice to learn."

"Thank you for helping me."

"Humph."

"You want a kiss as thanks?"

"I'm going to kill you…" The blonde hissed dangerously.

Al smirked. "Not if I kill you first. Maybe we could try to get some sleep before we both end up falling asleep in Potions?"

"Fine, whatever. Just… don't tell anyone I'm queer or I'll kill you, bring you back and kill you again."

"Fine, whatever."

Albus just couldn't fall asleep though. He'd felt rather out of character himself when speaking to Malfoy. Maybe Snape was wearing off on him? Whatever it was, it felt creepy. He really hoped he wouldn't have to experience something like that again. He had to admit the experience was bonding… in a Slytherin sort of way, but he also felt no more need to be rude to the blonde. Then a thought came to him, what if Severus had suffered the same thing? Though his experience was a bit more… odd. Seeing the old Potions Master smile like that was a bit unnerving.

Maybe the mood swing was contagious?