Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe including any of the lovely characters within it. I am not making money off of the fanfiction.
Authors Note: Thank you my wonderful Beta Reader AydanFox, any improvement in my grammar this chapter can all be attributed to her help
The next morning I climb out of bed and ponder how in the world I'm going to get through the next few weeks. When I finish getting ready I find that Severus is already dressed and ready to go.
"I think we should take breakfast in the Great Hall it has been awhile since you have eaten there."
"Ok, sure," I say, turning into a mongoose. Having me in a form not capable of speech is one way to avoid talking, I suppose.
Much to my dismay, I did spend the entire day in my mongoose form. After classes we go straight to the Great Hall to eat. I start to wonder how he is going to manage to keep avoiding me after dinner. When we make it back to our quarters he goes to the desk, pulling out a flask of Polyjuice.
"This is the original formula. Since the altered batch seems to have…quirks, we should stick to brewing more of the original, to be on the safe side." He holds the flask out and I shuffle into the bedroom to change. I come back out a few minutes later feeling rather glum.
"So, is this how it's going to be?"
"Until I can figure out something else, yes. I have another first year class for you to teach tomorrow followed by a second year class. Then I'll take over the afternoon classes, since I have advanced level. Tomorrow I'll let you take over the entire days' worth, since I don't have any classes above fifth years. I'm hoping by next week you will be able to comfortably take over all the classes."
I nod, "I suppose that will do, and then we will meet with Dumbledore tomorrow evening?"
"Correct. I'm going to get started on the potions feel free to follow at your convenience." He says, leaving the room. I wait a few minutes before following him out. The rest of the night follows uneventfully. We make potions, and then I crash out on my cot with a book, while Severus hides in his bedroom. The next morning is more of the same I can hardly muster the desire to teach so the classes drag on. Apparently gloomy helps me to portray Severus better, because no one looks at me oddly all morning. When we switch places I start grading papers and it takes up most of the afternoon. I wish I could visit Tonks again to help cheer me up, but I don't want to bother Severus with letting me out. After another dinner in the great hall we go up to Dumbledore's office.
"Excellent, I am glad to see you! Chloe, feel free to take your natural form, no one should be disturbing us."
I change and give him a weak smile, "Thank you, Headmaster."
" I have no reports of Severus acting strange, so I'm guessing things are going well
"Yes, Headmaster, she has taken on several of my classes. One of my students managed to explode a potion on her Monday, but other than that things have been uneventful. In fact, I see no problem with me leaving a week ahead of schedule. Chloe is qualified enough to continue brewing the potion on her own and I see no issue with her taking over the rest of my duties."
"Well, I must say I'm impressed, Chloe. That is quite a compliment coming from Severus. Do you feel that you are ready to completely take over next week?"
"Yes, sir, I suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Severus, would you mind if Chloe and I have a chat in private? I'll send her along after you shortly."
"Yes, Headmaster," Severus says, bowing his head slightly and then leaving the room.
"Now, Chloe, I feel there is something bothering you. Is there something you would like to tell me?"
"No offense, but not particularly. It's not about the mission so much as…"
"Severus?"
"Well, yes."
"I know he can be a difficult man to get to know and you have been trapped in the same room with him for nearly a week. Has he been too hard on you?"
"Oh no, Headmaster that's not the problem at all. He has been very considerate of me."
"I've been wondering if my gesture has been, let's say misplaced. I got a feeling from the two of you when I saw you at the game that ….there was something more going on."
"I won't lie; your efforts were considerably preemptive…."
"I'm sorry if that has made things more difficult, but I had rather hoped enough time had passed that a woman would be good in his life. I suppose him being your former professor made my suggestion a bit awkward for your working relationship."
"I think you misunderstand. He is the one that has turned me down." I say. Damn the old man for being such an information weasel.
"Oh, well that is surprising. I could have sworn that he fancied you. I wonder…." He says, trailing off.
"Wonder what? You can't stop there!"
"Well, it's not really my place to say."
"Has that seriously ever stopped you before?"
He sighs and cleans his spectacles on the corner of his robe. "He was in love with a woman many years ago."
"The one that died, right? He told me that much."
"I'm surprised he did actually, but yes, Lily Evans. He gave up everything to try to save her but she still died."
"He told me her death was his fault. Was that misplaced guilt or…"
"No, her death was the direct results of his actions to be sure. But he did try to rectify it after the fact. From what I understand he loved her before they even started school here however it was completely unrequited. She ended up marrying James Potter, one of Severus worst enemies, and that was that."
Things start falling together in my brain. "Harry's parents, which were murdered by Voldemort because of some prophecy or something or other."
"Yes, the prophecy that Severus gave Voldemort."
"Ah, well that explains a lot about him. But I don't see how this affects me and him now."
"I'm not sure that he isn't still in love with Lily."
"It's been like nearly fifteen years though…" I say thoughtfully.
"Yes, so if he is able to it would be wonderful if he can let someone else in his life. Otherwise I fear he will die a very lonely man. Believe me, I know."
"Do you have one that got away headmaster?" I ask curiously.
"Yes, sadly I had to send him to Nurmengard Prison. Try to avoid falling in love with people bent on muggle domination. It never goes well…"
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Well, it is getting late. I'll let you out but if you would like to talk my office is always open, unless it's closed."
I change and scurry out the door. I'm not sure if that was a helpful conversation or not. Poor Severus, I hope he really hasn't spent the last decade mooning over a dead girl he never had a chance with. I run along and scratch on the door when I reach our quarters. After a minute Severus opens the door to let me in.
"Dare I ask what that was about?" Severus asks.
"I'm pretty sure you don't want to know. Hey, did you that Dumbledore likes men?"
"Well yes, but if the conversation was of a personal nature your right, I probably do not want to know."
"We were talking about you mostly." I say, trying to bait him.
"Really…."
"Yup."
"Then I definitely do not want to know." He says, sitting on the couch.
I go sit next to him. "Dumbledore thinks you might still be in love with Lily."
"Bloody hell that old man sticks his nose in everyone's business." Severus hisses.
"Well?"
"Well bloody what?" He replies angrily.
"Are you? I mean is that why…" I ask tentatively.
"If I say yes will you leave it at that?"
"No, of course not." I say.
"Slytherin woman are so pushy." He says irritated.
"No, we just know what we want and will do whatever it takes to get it. You should be glad that in my case it doesn't include murder or torture."
"I'm pretty sure this counts as torture."
"No, I'm just saying. Severus, I'm not going to beat a dead horse here. I have more pride than that. If you tell me that you are in no way interested in me because of my own graces then fine, we will not talk about it ever again. But, if you are saying if it wasn't for some girl you knew forever ago you would probably fancy me, I'm not going to let it go. It is not like I'm offering to go elope with you, Severus. Is one date really so much to ask?"
"Fine, on one bloody condition. Since you like picking at me at every given opportunity you have to answer me why?"
"Why what?"
"Why me, of course. I use to be your professor, I'm significantly older than you and I'm not a terribly nice person. So why are you so bent on this?"
"Well, now you are just fishing for compliments," I say blushing. He gives me a hard stare. "Fine, fine, well you are intelligent and, when you want to be, rather fun. You're so easy to mess with its hilarious. Plus, I find you physically attractive. I think that is sufficient reasons to find out if there could be more. I don't have to have deep undying love for you to want to shag or date you. Not to mention, you aren't that much older than me, you are only what thirty-five or thirty-six? You just like mucking around like an old man."
"Which still puts me twelve years older than you; but still you seem to exhaust a lot of effort over nothing."
"You shouldn't discount the power of lust." I say matter of fact.
"Should I strip now or would you like a date first." He says dryly.
"A date first. I'm not that kind of girl." I say smiling.
"Fine, after the tournament this weekend everyone will be too busy to notice we are missing so we can go then."
"You're so romantic," I say sarcastically.
"You have no idea what I am."
"Well, I suppose we will see then."
"By the way, you have the cot tonight. I have given up my bed several nights in a row and I don't plan on giving it up again."
I laugh, "Nice of you to hold out so long. Well I'm exhausted, Severus, so goodnight." I say standing.
"Goodnight," he says looking up at me.
"Oh, and before I forget," I say and then lean over and kiss him softly. He doesn't jerk away so I straighten up smiling.
"What was that for?" He asks softly.
"Oh, just a preview." I say merrily, walking to the bedroom to change. When I come back out Severus stands to trade rooms with me. I think for the first time in awhile I might actually have pleasant dreams.
The next morning I wake up and remember I'm teaching classes all day so I have to hurry and get dressed. Today it is significantly more difficult to keep from smiling and I have to keep thinking random unpleasant things to keep scowling. It was much more interesting teaching some of the older students. I couldn't wait to try teaching an advanced class. At lunch I go to the Great Hall by myself and continue the charade for the rest of the day. I just make sure to take some potion at regular intervals. Since I prove to be competent, Severus lets me have the classes from then on out. Secretly I think he is glad to be rid of them for a bit. I felt like the entire week was nothing but a long interval waiting for Saturday.