"Albus." Cornelius Fudge said walking into
Albus Dumbledore's office, only a week before the new term started.
"Cornelius." Dumbledore replied smiling
and shaking Fudge's outstretched hand. "Sit down! Sit down! This is a pleasure,
and what can I do for you?"
"It's about the Budget."
"Oh." Dumbledore replied slightly confused.
"As you probably know we have to cut back
on the school budget this year." Dumbledore nodded in agreement, it wasn't
just the Muggle government that faced financial problems, it was the Magic
Government as well. "We can't find any area to cut back the budget to."
"And you want me to suggest an area?" Dumbledore
suggested.
"No," Fudge seemed apprehensive about telling
Dumbledore this next part. "We, the school governors, have decided to lay
off a member of your staff."
"What!? You can't lay off a member of my
staff!" Dumbledore was shocked, it was his job to appoint and sack staff
members not the governors.
"I'm afraid we can, the staff member must
be told by you."
"Who is it?"
"Severus Snape." Dumbledore gasped.
"In this kind of case you normally give
an older member of staff early retirement, not sack a young, in fact the
youngest, member of staff!"
"I know, but the mans record is against
him." Fudge defended.
"He hasn't any black marks on his record."
Something was going on.
"Yes well…" Fudge began to sweat and shuffle
nervously. "Circumstances being what they are…I mean we had to let someone
go…and…and…and…Snape was the boards decision."
"What's the real reason?"
"Haven't I just explained?" Fudge asked
irritably.
"No, not the exact reason."
"Well, I am afraid I can't let you into
that, good day to you, and I am sure that you will tell him as soon as
you get chance?"
"Yes." Dumbledore replied miserably, "Goodbye."
Fudge left the office, closing the door softly behind him.
He had never sacked anyone before, he had
hoped he would never have to. This was the Boards decision, not his.
Slowly he took up his quill and wrote to
Severus Snape.
"What?" Snape gasped and sat down heavily
in the chair.
"That's exactly what I said," Dumbledore
agreed.
"No, I mean, why me?"
"That I don't know. They say your records
against you, but you and I both know that's not true."
"There must be some reason."
"Indeed, would you perhaps know of any
reasons why you should be sacked?"
"No…unless…no that can't be it." Snape
stammered slightly
"Can't be what?"
"I've only told Minerva McGonagall, so
be that."
"Told Minerva what?" Dumbledore's patience
was being put to the test.
"That…I'm…" Snape couldn't say it.
"Your what?"
"Gay." There, he finally said it. Dumbledore
stared in amazement.
"Severus Snape! Of all the people! Why
didn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid, because of many of our kinds
attitude towards sexuality you'd sack me." To his astonishment
Dumbledore smiled and gave a small chuckle.
"No, nothing of the sort. I hold no prejudice
against people's choice of lifestyle, no matter how absurd. How would the
governors know?"
"I don't know, only McGonagall knows and
she promised that she wouldn't tell anyone. You know she never goes back
on her word."
"So you think someone else has found out
and informed the governors?" Dumbledore was curious, which cold hearted
individual on the staff; his staff would be prejudice enough to inform
the governors about a certain member of staffs' lifestyle.
"Yes." Snape replied sadly. "Now the governors
want to sack me because my choice is something they hold very strong displeasure
to." Although Severus hardly ever showed any emotion it was clear from
the thickness of his Welch accent that he was upset and perhaps a little
scared.
"Well, we can't be sure. I'll write to
Fudge putting my thought to him and seeing what he says. For now I suggest
you go back to Wales and enjoy the rest of your holiday."
"Thank you." Snape stood up and shook Dumbledore's
hand.
"I'll do everything in my power to get
you justice."
"Goodbye." Snape called as he left the
office.
