'Harry Potter' © 1997 to Joanne Kathleen Rowling, all rights reserved. Infringement of copyright acknowledged.
Oderint, dum metuant
Chapter Three
"Have you heard from Severus yet?" Professor Minerva McGonagall asked the headmaster gently.
"No. I haven't." He replied, sounding distant.
"Albus, maybe we ought to start fearing the worst…"
"Minerva, unless we have evidence to suggest that Severus Snape is dead then until that moment he is officially considered alive."
"Aye… Who's going to teach Potions until he… returns?"
"That is a problem I've not really thought about… I suppose, Remus could, but it would be hard on him giving him two classes to teach." Dumbledore looked up. "You've got good Potions qualifications…"
"Out of the question." She said briskly.
"Minerva, it would only be for a month at least."
"But who would take my Transfiguration class? I'm sorry, Albus, it's quite out of the question."
"Minera, you're forgetting that I once was the Transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts, and, after all, it's what my degree is in."
McGonagall could see she was beaten. "Oh all right, Albus. This is just until Severus returns mind you, if he never returns I will not be teaching Potions full time!"
"I doubt anyone could replace Severus' Potions brewing talents." Dumbledore was again distant.
"Albus, you do know that there can't be a chance that he's alive. He's never not reported back before."
"Minerva, Severus is alive."
"Do you truly believe that? In your heart?"
There was a thick silence. "I can't give up hope, Minerva. He can't be dead, at the very most he's injured and needs our help, but I can't believe that he would be dead. He's too clever, too powerful to allow that."
"But in your heart, Albus?"
"I want to keep on thinking he's alive, but I can't… I don't want him to be dead, but I know he can't possibly be alive." Dumbledore hung his head and gave the impression of a man in a great turmoil. The weather outside echoed Dumbledore's mood. Bleak and downcast.
McGonagall placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We can't give up home," Dumbledore continued. "Even if he is dead, we can't just leave his body wherever it is."
"Shush, say no more Albus."
"Am I such an old fool I can't let go?"
"No, the contrary Albus. You're not giving up, and that's good. If he is alive, they'll find him."
"We can't be sure, we can't be sure."