Part Eight
A/n: Okay, at one part this fic becomes rather soap-operay at one point (and I KNOW that's not a word!) and I may change it in the future. But I've already re-written the ending once, and if you ask anyone who's read it the way it was before, they'll tell you just how awful it was. So bear that in mind while you're reading it, and remember, it COULD be worse! (Actually, I'm beginning to rather like this series, and I think the next part is really quite good for me, as I normally can't stand anything I've written! I'll try and get that up in a few days)
By the time Saturday morning rolled around, Minerva McGonagall's head was aching from all the thinking she had been doing. Tomorrow would bring the one month possible cut off point of her 'relationship' with Severus Snape and they had agreed to talk about their future, if they even had one, that evening.
Minerva had spent most of the week trying to work out what she wanted to do. Which was hard because she didn't have a clue. She had become very preoccupied all of a sudden, and, so as not to raise suspicion, she claimed to be worried about the fact that, come that afternoon, Gryfinndor would be playing in the first Quidditch match of the year, against Slytherin, with out a team captain. Which quite frankly did worry her, but not as much as what the future held for her and Severus.
Whereas with the Quidditch team, she could merely turn around and choose a captain for them if they didn't get their acts together, she doubted somehow that the same method would work if applied to their relationship.
'This would be a lot easier she thought if I know how Severus felt. She wondered if he felt as confused as she did. 'Or maybe,' she mused, he knows how he feels. This one month thing was his idea to start with, maybe he never intended to carry on past that point. When she thought about it, that actually made alot of sense. During the weekend they'd spent together in Cornwall, he hadn't seemed to have a whole lot on his mind aside from the one thing she wouldn't agree to. And why would he want to risk carrying on past a month? Sooner or later, people were bound to find out, and he wouldn't want to risk loosing his reputation as a cold hearted monster would he? Afterall, he took great pride in the fact he was able to terrify all his pupils. But then what if he did want to-? She shook her head in frustration. She'd been going over and over the same points all weeks and she knew she wouldn't be able to come to a decision until she knew how he felt.
But still, she felt that she ought to have a rough idea of what she wanted to do. But she really didn't mind any which way! If he wanted to call it a day, then that was okay. Afterall, they didn't even like each other that much, and there was only so far you could go with a relationship based on pure attraction. But then if he wanted to carry on, she was quite willing. Afterall, she was undeniably attracted to him (though she still wasn't sure why) and it would be interesting to see just where they could go. There was an equal amount of pros and cons!"
'Suddenly, an idea struck her. What if she left it up to fate? Well, not so much fate as his reaction to the result of the forthcoming Quidditch match, but it was pretty much the same thing. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. Whatever the outcome of the match, if he was courteous, she would carry on seeing him. However if he sulked, she'd finish with him. It was the perfect solution, though mainly because it didn't mean she had to come up with a 'proper' solution.
Her mind was set. Now all she had to do was wait for the outcome of the Quidditch match.
The afternoon brought a sea of red and green banners. The pitch stands were so full, they looked as if they were about to split at the seams. It was unusually hot for October, and as she took a seat in the commentary box next to Lee Jordan, McGonagall fanned herself with a paper fan she had made shoot out the end of her wand. Lee was bouncing up and down in his seat, and as she sat, her turned and gave her a grin as wide as a cheshire cats.
"We've got a captain Professor! This morning, the team were arguing again, when I suggested they put all their names in a hat and pull one out!" She raised her eyebrows.
"That was very, uh, democratic of you Lee. So who's name came out?"
"Alicia's. And it wasn't just by chance Professor. We put the names in the Sorting Hat. Professor Dumbledore let us. If we'd have used a normal hat, anyone's name could have came out," (I know this wouldn't work, but let's just pretend, okay?) he said cheekily, as if talking to someone exceptionally slow. She made towards him with her paper fan, but he ducked out of the way. There came several loud shouts from outside, and, turning to the front of the box quickly, McGonagall saw the players mounting their brooms down on the ground. Flicking on his mike, Lee spoke smoothly to the crowd.
"Good afternoon folks, and what a scorcher it's becoming. let's hope the game is just as good!" As the teams rose into the air, the crowd gave a round of applause and Lee continued. "As if today's weather wasn't enough, we have a new player as well! Let's all give a warm welcome to the new Gryfinndor keeper Craig Matthews!"(Just don't ask, I needed a replacement for Wood, so I made a name up!) The Gryfinndor's cheered for their new 5th year star, the Slytherin's hissed. "Well now, it's Gryfinndor in possesion and Spinnet's already off like a shot, tearing down towards the Gryfinndor goalposts!" Lee cried as play started on Madame Hooche's whistle. "A nice pass to Bell, over to Johnson, back to Spinnet, and she's going for goal, she shoots, and-ohhhh, intercepted by the Slytherin keeper at the last minute." letting her eyes flicker over to the Slytherin stands, Minerva couldn't help but notice the look of delight on Severus's face as Gryfinndor failed to score.
"And now it's Slytherin in possesion, they're working their way down the pitch, surely they're not going to-? Yes! And the Quaffle is taken by Spinnet and is back in Gryfinndor's possesion! There's just no stopping that girl today! She passes to Bell, back to Spinnet, over to Johnson, ohhh, nearly knocked off her broom by a low flying Bludger, she steadies, she shoots, and-YESSSS! She scores! Gryfinndor ten, Slytherin zero!" A chorus of angry cries came from the Slytherin stands, one of which, Minerva observed, came from Severus's lips.
"And as play resumes, it's Gryfinndor" 'once more in possesion. Bell has the Quaffle and- wait, what's that up there? Could it be the Snitch? Everyone turned their eyes skywards, and saw just watch Lee had done-a flash of gold, streaking through the sky. Evidently, both Harry and Draco had seen it too, because both at once went careening after it at break neck speed. As they went into a dive, both were neck and neck, but Harry's broom wasn't known as one of the fastest types in the world for no reason. He pulled ahead of Malfoy, reached out a hand to grab the tiny gold ball, faster, closer, closer and faster, when all of a sudden, the Snitch changed direction, and hurtled up towards the clouds. Noticing just in time to stop himself diving straight into the ground, Harry followed suit and flew upwards, but unfortunatly, Draco wasn't quite as quick, and, with a sickening splat, his body hit the ground, just as Harry grabbed the Snitch.
The Gryfinndors in the stands went mad, tears of mirth rolling down all of their faces as Malfoy picked himself up off the ground. There were several cries of: "Unfair!" from the Slytherins, but Minerva was too busy attempting to control Lee, who was presently dancing around the commentary box, to care.
When she had finally convinced Lee that jeering at the Slytherin's through the mike wasn't a good idea, she cast her eyes once more to the seat Severus had occupied, only to find that he, well, wasn't in it any more. Sighing, she realised he must have skulked off, so as to avoid a confrontation. And if that didn't count as sulking, she didn't know what did.
So that was that. It was over. At least in her mind anyway. She supposed that whatever Severus had to say that evening may be of some relevance, but, well, she'd left it up to fate, and fate had decided that they weren't meant to be together. She almost laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of that thought. God, next thing she knew, she'd be asking Sybill Trelawny if her tea leaves thought they should be together or not! But still, at least this meant she wouldn't be completely opinionless at their meeting that evening. Standing up and stretching her legs, she decided to go and curl up in her bedroom for a few hours with a good book.
Pushing open her bedroom door, Minerva screamed and recoiled in fright, as she realised there was someone else in her room. Then she realised it was Severus.
"Oh God, what the hell are you playing at? You scared me half to death!" she exclaimed. Standing up (for he had been sat on the end of her bed) Severus merely beckoned her over to him with a nod of his head. Walking over obligingly, she found herself being pulled into a tight hug, as he kissed her neck gently.
"I realised that this evening wasn't exactly going to be fun, so I thought we'd eat out first." Before she had time to question what he meant, he had taken her hand in his and placed it on her desk lamp. A little unnerved, she was about to ask what he was playing at, when she felt a sharp tug below her navel and found herself being pulled backwards and spun around.
When the spinning stopped, she opened one eye gingerly. Realising that she and Severus had just been taken god knew where by a port key, she opened the other.
"That's funny," she mused, the earth still spinning before her eyes as she took a couple of dizzy steps. "I don't remember my desk lamp being a port key.........." He laughed, and pulled her towards him gently.
"I guess I should have told you what I was doing. It's never nice to be pulled through a port key when you're not expecting it. Sorry," he whispered softly into her ear. As she steadied herself, Minerva wondered for the first time, just where she was. Looking around, all she could see was grass. They appeared to be stood on a hill in the middle fo no-where. Looking at him questioningly, he took her hand once more and led her a few steps backwards. Turning around, she looked down. Hundreds of feet below them, she could make out tiny little pavements and boats. 'Boats?' she wondered. Looking closer, she realised that, where the roads should have been between the pavements, there was water.
"Venice," he murmered, kissing her softly on the cheek.
"Oh bloody hell, you don't do things by halves do you?" she laughed, not quite sure what to make of the situation. (Don't ask! This is the bit I said was kindof soap-operay)
"Come on," he instructed, as he led her towards a road that led them down into the town. He took her to a restraunt, and they ate. Afterwards, she vaguely remembered enjoying the meal, but when she allowed herself to be quite honest, she hadn't been paying that much attention to the food.
The entire situation had thrown her into turmoil. Where-as an hour or so ago she had been certain their relationship had no future, now she was beginning to have second thoughts. If he had gone to all the trouble of setting up the port key and taking her to Venice, Venice, for God's sake! Then surely, surely he wasn't about to put an end to their relationship?
The same thoughts were still running through her head two hours later, as he led her back up the hill, to the place where her desk lamp lay. When she found herself back in her room, she wasn't feeling quite as dizzy as last time, this time she had been prepared for what was coming at least.
As they both sat down on the end of her bed, he ran his index finger over the back of her hand and sighed.
"I guess we have to talk about the serious stuff now, right?" She nodded.
"I guess so." A silence fell. He coughed nervously.
"So, uh, what do you want to do?" he asked.
"I don't mind, what about you?" she replied, quickly. He looked amused.
"So, neither of us mind one way or the other whether we keep seeing each other or not?"
"I guess not." She laughed. "Kind of stupid isn't it? We must sound like kids!"
"Just a bit. So you really have no preference?"
"Nope."
"So if I were to say 'I'd like to keep on seeing you', that would be fine?"
"Yep."
"And if I were to say 'I still think you're a snotty bitch and personally, I never want to talk to you again', then that would be fine too?"
"Well, I may have to slap you, but yep."
"Well now this is awkward."
"Just a bit. So, what shall we do?" He was silent for several minutes, deliberating over what to say.
"I must say, I would be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued as to just where this could go" he mused. "The past month has been quite an experiance, I must say."
"Well I agree with you on that. It's been.....different."
"You're speaking in the past tense." he observed. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"No!" she exclaimed, but was shocked to realise she had just felt a compelling urge to tell him that she was willing to carry on. And by the look on his face, she knew he felt the same. And she could tell that he wasn't about to admit it. As silence spread across the room, as she deliberated over whether to say anything or not. Then finally, she laughed: "Do you want to flip a coin?" He looked incredibly relieved. She felt it. Now she didn't have to say anything or risk making a fool of herself.
"Okay, so, uh, heads we carry on, tails we don't?" he asked, pulling a muggle coin from the pocket of his robes. She guessed it was change from dinner.
"Okay. Flip." and he flipped. The coin landed on the floor, and they could both plainly see that it had landed on heads. As she bent to pick it up, blushing slightly, Minerva couldn't help but notice that there appeared to be a head on the other side of the coin as well; he had used a doubled headed coin.
She blushed and giggled a little as he refused to meet her eyes. "Well, uh, thanks for dinner," she smiled.
"Oh, uh, yeah, I thought it would be, well, different." he said, embarrassed. "Anyway, I should be going."
"Oh, okay. You don't have to go you know."
"Huh? It's getting late, I should really be getting off." She smiled.
"Well, I was just thinking, dinner was so nice tonight, and with everything, well, how abouts breakfast is on me tomorrow?" A smile flickered over his face.
"I'm guessing you don't mean for me to come back at seven in the morning do you?"
"Nope," she laughed. "Though you can do if you really want!" And with that, he kissed her gently, as, lying down, they sealed the start of their relationship.
2nd A/n: Ick! I hate the ending! If anyone can come up with a better ending paragraph, please let me know!