A/N: and here it is- part two of Valentine's Day. So we all know what Minerva's day was like, and this chapter will cover Severus, Albus, and Rolanda. And thanks to all you who reviewed, they're what keep me going.
Disclaimer: If I owned it, I would insist that the movies be better.
Chapter 7- V-Day part 2
Severus was livid. If Rolanda's stupid plan didn't work soon, they'd have to find another Lockhart. What had Gilderoy thinking when he organized this? But then again, Severus reminded himself, that was the problem—Lockhart didn't think. How he was the dream guy of so many women Severus would never know…
He gasped. Women.
He hadn't sent Rolanda's card thing yet.
He hurriedly left the table and was headed towards the doors when Lockhart accosted him.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Professor!" Honestly, how he could show all those teeth at the same time?
"I trust you are enjoying yourself? Marvelous, marvelous…" He continued, oblivious to Snape's obvious loathing.
Snape took several deep breaths. He silently walked away from an unfazed Lockhart, turning back at the doors to the entranceway just long enough to send a particularly nasty jinx back to the unsuspecting idiot. That'd teach him to turn his back on Severus Snape.
He left the hall shaking the dratted pink confetti from his hair and trying to decide on the best poison. That one that made the drinker's blood boil had its merits…
He proceeded to the dungeons and hastily sent off Rolanda's valentine with the first owl he could find. It was an elderly barn owl and Severus found himself hoping that it would hold off on dying long enough to deliver and leave Rolanda's presence. As the bird flew away, the bell rang, signaling his first class. They had better not ask about love potions…
But apparently, the students all knew better than provoke him. If only the dwarfs were the same…The first dwarf that tried to enter his classroom was stunned. The second was hit with a nasty jelly legs jinx and a silencio charm. By the seventh and eighth, he had stopped going for variety. He hit the rest of them with the same toenail growth hex that Lockhart had gotten earlier that morning. He suspected the dwarfs had warned their fellows, because his class was not interrupted again.
He ate dinner by himself, not wanting to return to the Great Hall. He'd be finding heart-shaped confetti for weeks as it was. No, he'd wait and confront Albus tonight in the staff room.
Albus Dumbledore hummed merrily to himself as he strolled down the corridors of Hogwarts. He had just put the finishing touches on his gift for Minerva and was now on his way to the staff room.
Suddenly, he sensed someone watching him. He kept walking, and humming, but more alert than before.
There was a thump from behind him and he spun around to find not death-eaters, but Fred and George Weasley. He was perhaps the one of four people who could tell them apart at a glance living at Hogwarts.
They gulped at the same time and Albus chuckled. He supposed he must look rather frightening—wand out, eyes blazing, and hair flying everywhere.
"What may I do for you two gentlemen?" He asked kindly, lowering his wand, "You know curfew was 20 minutes ago. It's dangerous being out this late these days."
George was the first to recover. "Well, you see sir, we have some information that might be of use to you."
"Oh? And how much will this information cost me?" He inquired.
"Not much, professor," said Fred, "Just the excuse for being late tonight—"
George picked up where he left off. "—And two get-out-of-detention-free-cards each."
Dumbledore gave a low whistle. "I'm not sure it's worth it. You know, the last time I let you two out of detention my lemon drops went missing for a week and a half."
"Trust us," said the twins in unison, "It's worth it."
"Well," Albus took his time considering it. " How about I let the curfew thing slide, and you get one get-out-of-detention each and three lemon drops?"
The twins looked at each other. "Three each?" asked Fred.
"Yes."
"Done."
"So what is this important information I must know?"
"Lockhart is totally mackin' on your woman!" exclaimed Fred.
"He's doing what to what woman?!"
"Macking, sir."
"And what, pray tell, is macking?"
"He's hitting on McGonagall!" clarified George.
Albus was outraged. "He hit her?! How dare he?! Is she all right? Merlin, he actually hit Minerva McGonagall?! Wait, is he all right? Because he definitely won't be when I'm finished, that's a promise! Thank you for telling me boys, now off to bed. Hit Minerva, I swear…" He turned and began stalking down the hallway.
"WAIT!" cried the Weasleys.
Dumbledore turned. "There's more?"
"You've got it wrong," said George.
"Yeah, we said hitting on McGonagall, not hitting her!" continued Fred.
"What's the difference?"
The twins palm-faced.
"A lot actually," said Fred.
"Fred, we need to explain this in terms that he can understand."
"Got it."
"Ok sir, pay close attention. Fred is Professor McG, and I'm Lockhart…Ew."
"La la la la, I love transfiguration, la la la la." Fred sang in a falsetto voice. "Why hello there, Professor Lockhart. You are very, very annoying and I do not like you at all, in fact, I would like to hex/jinx you, but I am going to hide my loathing because it's the polite thing to do. I do hope you don't interpret my feelings incorrectly."
"Good afternoon, Professor McGonagall. I have decided that because you are civil to me, you must be in love with me. Well, who wouldn't be? I think that's just splendid. I'm going to follow you around until you admit your undying love for me and then we shall live happily ever after, ok? Marvelous. Tra la la la."
"You mean Lockhart is trying to court Professor McGonagall?" Albus was surprised. "But, but he can't do that! That's my job!"
Fred and George were startled by this sudden revelation and the whiney voice in which it had been delivered. They were baking away slowly from the forlorn headmaster when George suddenly remembered the main reason they had come.
"Oh, and professor?"
Albus looked about wearily. "Yes, George?"
"He wrote her bad poetry too."
"Yeah," agreed Fred, "really bad."
"Well, thank you. You both shall be receiving your lemon drops in the morning and the next detention you get, I will take care of personally. Hurry back to your dormitories now. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Professor." Chorused the twins.
And so Albus continued his trek to the staff room, no longer with a spring in his step or humming happily, but thinking. He definitely needed to be updated on the students slang.
Rolanda was dozing in an armchair by the fire when the door slamming woke her.
"Wha…?" she asked groggily.
There stood a glowering Minerva and a frightened-looking Emily Vector.
"AUGH!" yelled Minerva and Rolanda fell out of her chair with a thump.
"Minerva! Calm down! What's wrong?" asked Rolanda rubbing her backside.
"Me…teaching… and—AUGH…bloody dwarf…poem…Lockhart…must…die…" She paused breathing heavily.
"Wow," said Emily, "I still have no idea what's going on."
The door opened once more and in ran Sarah Sinstra. "What's happening? Why is Minerva yelling? Did she figure it out?"
"Figure what out, Sarah?" asked Minerva dangerously.
"Umm, nothing?" she squeaked.
Rolanda took pity on her. "What were you saying about a poem?"
"Augh! Lockhart…poem…fourth years…no respect…bloody dwarf!"
"Honestly, Minerva. However do you expect us to sympathize with you if you can't calm down enough to tell us what happened?"
Minerva just glared at her. Unfazed, Rolanda continued to speak.
"Come on now, Minerva. We're all friends here! Shall I whip out the pensieve?"
After the memory had been played there was a very awkward silence. Then Rolanda snickered and soon enough everyone but Minerva was pretty much rolling around on the floor laughing their heads off.
"Well, what of it then?" asked Emily, "Are you going to take him up on the offer? He is a—what was it? Oh yes—magnificent lover."
They all cracked up again.
"I doubt you would think it as funny if it was your class the bloody dwarf had interrupted and you who received that—shudder—poem." Sniffed Minerva.
"Did you see the looks on the Weasley twins' faces?" said Rolanda, wiping a tear away. "Merlin, Minerva I do not envy you."
"Exactly!" came the frustrated reply. "It'll be all over the school by, well it's probably already all over the school. And now I'll have no control in my classroom and no one will ever respect me again!"
"It's not that bad Minerva, really it isn't." insisted Sarah. "You're the most respected teacher in this school. One little incident like this won't change that."
"It will!" Minerva was sounding slightly hysterical by now, as she flopped down on the couch. "I know it will! There'll be whispers about how cranky old McGonagall only got one Valentine and it was from the teacher who doesn't even have a brain!"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the one you did get is from a guy who pretty much every witch past puberty wants."
Minerva gave Emily a weak smile. "They only want him until they meet him. I never wanted him and he chooses me of all people! Me!" She shook her head. "Maybe I should just take what I can get…"
"What?!" roared Rolanda, "Who are you and what have you done with Minerva McGonagall? She would never ever act this way. If you love Lockhart, then by all means, go to him. But you don't love him. You know it; I know it, Hell, everyone except Lockhart and Dumbledore can see that it's true. You are Minerva McGonagall the Scottish Storm. You get what you want, never second best. And what's more, you deserve it. You deserve only the best Minerva."
Emily and Sarah nodded in agreement.
"It's true."
"Only the best."
Minerva smiled a true smile this time. "Thank you guys. You always know what to say."
Rolanda grinned. "That's what we're here for!"
They laughed and talked and made up the most painful ways to disposes of Lockhart until the rest of the staff arrived.
Dumbledore was the last one to enter. His eyes seemed to linger on Minerva for longer with loving concern, as if checking her over for injuries. Rolanda smiled to herself.
He quickly did a head count. "Where are Poppy and Gilderoy?"
"They're still in the hospital wing." Piped up Filius, "She can't find the counter-jinx."
Rolanda saw Severus smirk. She would have to ask him about that later.
"Alright. So without further ado, I would like any complaints you have to be written down for later review. Thank y—"
But the door being slammed once again interrupted Dumbledore. Rolanda inwardly marveled at that door. Honestly, how many doors could stand being slammed like that every day for the past thousand years? She barely registered that it was Sybil Trelawny who had entered.
"Why Sybil, this is a pleasant surprise."
"Indeed, headmaster."
But instead of heading towards the empty seat, she walked to Rolanda's left, or more precisely, to where Severus sat.
"Hello Sevvy." She purred. Rolanda was amazed that she was actually purring. That must take practice. But all thoughts of purring divination teachers were pushed out of her head as Sybil leaned down and crashed her lips against Severus'. Rolanda stood abruptly and left before anyone realized what was happening.
Minerva was still in shock as Severus pushed Sybil from his lap.
"What do you think you are doing?!" he spat, clearly livid.
"Well," said Trelawny, "you sent me that Valentine. And while I do appreciate the sunflowers Sev, they aren't really my thing. I much prefer daffodils, you know, for future reference." She winked. Severus gaped.
"Tho—those weren't for you. They were for—" He glanced to his right to find Rolanda's seat empty. "Damn."
Minerva got up from her chair gracefully. "I shall see to it that she is all right, Severus."
Snape looked up from his hands. "Thank you Minerva. Could you tell her what happened?"
"Of course."
She raced to Rolanda's rooms, fully aware that it was way too late to be doing so.
"Rolanda?" she called as she went. "Rolanda are you there?"
When at last she reached the door, she found only a small note attached.
Dear Minerva, for there is no doubt in my mind that it'll be you who finds this,
I'm off to my house for a few days to recuperate. I know it's last minute, and I know tomorrow, I'll probably get a howler from you telling me that Gryffindors don't run from their problems and that I'm acting like a teenager. Well, I'm not running, honestly. I just need a little vacation. And don't worry. There are no Quidditch matches this week and my lesson plans are all done up. Tell Albus I'm sorry and I'll be back soon. You, Emily and Sarah know where to find me if there is an emergency.
I'll see you soon, I promise,
Rolanda
AUGH. Why couldn't Rolanda have sulked here? It'd be so much easier to get her back to normal that way.
She slowly took the note back to the staff room. Albus was the only one who remained.
"She's gone isn't she?"
"How did you know?"
"Just a feeling my dear." He read the note. "Well, that seems to be in order. I trust you, Professor Sinstra, and Professor Victor will be making a house call tomorrow?"
Minerva nodded. "I'll tell them in the morning, and we'll leave as soon as classes are finished. But while we're gone, I hope you'll talk to Severus?"
"It will be done. Shall I walk you to your rooms?"
"That would be nice."
The two friends walked in silence until they reached her door.
"Goodnight Albus." Said Minerva quietly.
"Goodnight, my dear Minerva." He kissed her hand gently. "Sweet dreams."
He turned and strode away, leaving Minerva to enter her rooms, extremely aware that she was alone.
When she crawled into bed, minutes later, she was still thinking about Albus.
She sighed. Wishing things did not make them reality. She turned over and tried to push him out of her mind. But her cheek did not touch smooth pillow, like it should have.
Instead she found a piece of parchment and a single white rose.
Goodnight, and sweet dreams Minerva. Happy Valentine's Day.
-A.D.
She smiled. Suddenly, her day wasn't all that bad.
A/N: Aww, I love Albus! Please review, guys. Reviews are what keep me writing.