"You are going to have the decency to warn them that the whole school heard them carousing out there, aren't you Albus?" McGonagall asked Dumbedore.

"Now, now Minerva. It wasn't that bad."

"It certainly kept me awake."

"You didn't find it charming?"

"Severus Snape cavorting outside my window in the middle of the night could never, ever possibly be charming."

"You really should be a little easier on him, Minerva."

"Why?"

"Because we both know, you, correctly, think that he's a decent fellow --"

"Under that attitude," she said somewhat sulkily.

"And no, I'm not going to warn them. They're adults, if their actions have consequences beyond your wrath, I'm sure they can handle it. But I also presume the rest of the school was asleep."

"What is going on with them anyway?" She asked with a bit of a gleam in her eye.

"Something that's probably less obvious to them than it is to us."

"Don't be so sure about that, Albus."

He chuckled and then followed McGonogall's gaze with his own as Allosia strode into the hall with obvious enthusiasm.

"She certainly seems more, awake, than usual," he said.

McGonogall just nodded.



"So, what are you doing with Hemrand?" Draco Malfoy asked, sidling up to Snape as they walked down the hall.

Snape stopped. "Has it ever occurred to you, for even a moment, that you are a student here and that I, and the other professors all deserve some degree of respect and courtesy, even if," he dropped his voice before continuing, "some of them aren't up to any wizarding standard either of us would approve of?"

"Sorry, sir, it's just, well I saw you two last night,"

"What do you think you saw, Draco?" Snape's voice was getting deadlier.

"Outside, flying around, hell, flirting with each other, I can only presume what happened later."

Snape grabbed Draco by the shoulders and pushed him into a wall. "First, you will make no such presumptions. Second, would you do us all a favour and think for a change? I've known Hemrand since I was 15, she's an auror," he paused to let it sink in. "Think!"

Draco made a big show of his sudden comprehension. "You're making her trust you, for purposes not obvious or beneficial to her cause?"

"Very good. Now don't mention this again. Not to me, not to her, and not to your little cronies. If it comes up with anyone else, I'll deal with it. You, need to watch and learn. You're a Malfoy, for Merlin's sake, start acting like one."

Draco swallowed. "Of course, Sir."

"Now get out of my sight."

Snape let out an audible sigh as Draco ran away. Breakfast. Allosia was not going to be happy about this.



Severus Snape stalked into the hall with an impressive fury. McGonogall gave Dumbledore an "I told you so" look while everyone else just studiously ignored him.

He sat down noisily and leaned over to Allosia, whispering, "Draco saw us last night."

Allosia, startled whipped her head around so fast that her face collided with Snape's. She squeaked and jumped back, covering her mouth with her hand; he just snarled.

"You need to get your reflexes under control," he said.

She lowered her hand and reached for her tea.

"I've dealt with it, but if anyone mentions it to you tell them it was an illusion and threaten the pranksters. Act like you suspect the Weasley's."

"They're not that talented."

"Just do as I say, and the problem will go away, alright?"

She nodded.

"And no, I am not angry with you," he said with great hostility.

He turned to the table then and they finished the meal in silence.