It took some bribing, which included a few bottles of Ogden's Finest and a box of Cockroach clusters but Severus finally let me into his chambers to see what's going on. It took a remarkably short time, hehe. I was ready to post this update two days ago but it wouldn't let me upload, durr. Oh well it's up and ready now.
Thank you to those who are reviewing they're useful, really.
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To say Severus was upset was like saying a niffler being sat upon by a troll was experiencing minor back pains. He would not leave his room even for meals and when he did eat the house elves drew straws to decide who would be forced to deliver the meal. The days passed yet no one had dared to visit him in such a foul mood, using the continued requests for food as evidence to guarantee his well being.
By the 23rd the Headmistress had had enough of his self pity and prepared to enter the serpents lair and do battle if necessary. She knocked politely upon his door once, twice, three times and receiving no response, she pounded harshly on the door.
"Open up Severus!" She called at the door, again she received no response. Minerva counted to ten then began taking down his wards. Half way through the process the door unlocked itself and the remaining wards fell. Cautiously she entered the room, her balance shaken by what seemed to be Severus' cooperation.
"Severus?" she called out into the dark room. "Lumos," as her wand tip lit the room she looked about the sitting room for Severus. While the man himself was not present the room was littered with the waste of a few days, books and parchment scattered, pots of ink left on their side to spill out over the carpet, and remnants of food and drink left on nearly every flat surface. Minerva walked to the door she knew to be Severus' bed chamber and knocked, pushing the door open in the process. In this room it was equally as dark save for a lone candle on the bedside table, the light of the candle shone on Severus' unmoving body casting a death-like shadow over his face. Minerva rushed to his side wondering if he was ill. "Severus, can you hear me?"
"Of course I can hear you." His voice croaked from disuse. He slowly sat up looking weary.
"What in the name of Merlin happened, Severus? For the past three days I haven't seen you nor Miss Granger and Mr. Potter and no one will tell me what is going on. I want answers." She demanded. Her eyes met Severus' and she was struck by the amount of pain in his eyes, she'd only seen that level of pain twice before. "Oh dear, Severus…"
"I love her but she won't have me," his voice was thick with emotion. "Not only would she not have me but she used my affections to mock me."
"Miss Granger? Hermione? Sweet little bookworm Hermione?" Minerva was amazed.
"The very same," They sat silently for a few moments as she processed the information. "I had thought that for once I would have had a chance at happiness but once again I sabotaged myself."
Upon Minerva's look of confusion, he proceeded to tell her the whole truth from the night of the final battle to the present date. Minerva listened like an understanding mother to a child, resting her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. At any other time this situation would have been horribly uncomfortable for the both of them, but it appeared to be what Severus needed so she humored him.
"Well Severus, I can't say that I would fault Hermione for being upset with you, but I just don't believe that she would do something like that." Severus scoffed.
"Of course, your precious little lioness wouldn't harm a life let alone break an old man's heart."
"Severus if you're old then I am positively ancient. Listen, I think you have been wallowing in your self pity for too long, come now get up." Severus looked at her as if she was crazy. "Up up up."
Severus refused to be moved, but with a few short flicks of her wand all the candles in the room were lit and Severus was out of his bed, cleansed and dressed.
"Insufferable wench," Severus growled.
"That's more like the Severus we know and love." Minerva smirked. "Come along, it's Christmas Eve and I want you in the Great Hall for dinner."
"Bloody annoying…" Severus grumbled, reluctantly following Minerva from his bed chamber.
"No need to thank me Severus it's my pleasure to help you." Minerva had a distinct twinkle in her eye.
'Sweet Circes is that woman channeling Albus?' He thought, following Minerva out of his chambers and up through the dungeons to the Great Hall. The room was decorated extravagantly but Severus hardly took notice, his eyes were drawn to Hermione. She was dressed in lovely green and burgundy dress that skimmed over the lines of her body making her look every bit the woman she had grown to be. But as the eyes traveled to her face her eyes looked dead and her face gaunt as they had been when she arrived at Hogwarts.
She stood with Fred and George smiling half-heartedly at their attempts to amuse her. Though her behavior seemed out of sorts, Severus ignored it and moved to the fireplace to hide from her eyes. 'I hope she feels bad, vile witch.'
Severus had sat by the fireplace for about a half hour when the Headmistress stood and addressed the guests which included a number of governors, ministry employees, and personal friends of Minerva.
"Welcome everyone and thank you for joining me and the staff of Hogwarts in celebrating another holiday season. I hope you all enjoy yourselves as we dine on a meal exquisitely prepared by our house elves, and drink up because there will be dancing and I expect to see you all on the floor." Minerva gave Severus a particularly meaningful look at that. "If you would all be seated where your place card is we may begin."
Severus scowled; he knew Minerva would be up to no good. 'She probably already knew what happened she just wanted me to tell her in person.' He thought. He slowly made his way to the tables, looking with no interest at the names on the bits of parchment.
"Hey Snape, your seats over here," Fred or George called from across the hall. Severus sneered and Hermione looked like her puppy had been killed as it became apparent that there was only one seat at the table and it was beside one Hermione Granger.
"May I sit here, Miss Granger?"
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I must end here cause I have some other stuff to do. I'm trying to write as much as possible while I have the time and the ideas. It sure mkes my wrists hurt to type so much.
PLEASE review, I want opinions on where to take this.