Hang Overs and New Discoveries
A/N: I apologize for how short the last chapter was – I can't say this one will make up for it, but hopefully, how quickly I updated will compensate. I start summer school tomorrow (No, I didn't fail a class, they're dumping so many credits on us, I decided to get ahead) so I can't make any promises as to how soon this or any of my other stories will be updated.
Severus woke up the next day with a pounding headache.
He lifted a slim hand up to touch his temple and winced, retracting his hand at the sudden voltage of pain he felt upon contact.
"Good-morning, Severus."
It seemed as if a jolt of electricity went through his every nerve upon recognizing the Headmaster's voice.
His eyes shot open and he sat up abruptly only to feel a wave of exhaustion pass through him and fall back onto the infirmary bed.
Severus rolled over onto his side, facing away from the Headmaster.
"What happened?" he mumbled, shutting his eyes from the migraine.
"It seems as though you and…Mr. Brewer had an incident yesterday at the ball," Dumbledore began slowly. Although Snape couldn't see it, he strongly suspected the old wizard held humor in his gaze.
Images of silver and green lights buzzed through his head and he pushed the unwanted memories away in agitation.
"Don't make small talk with me, Albus…what happened?"
"Well," the old man started.
"I don't know what happened, exactly, but everyone seemed to see Mr. Brewer lift his wand up at you and –"
Severus rolled over onto his stomach and groaned into the pillow – he didn't need to hear any more.
**Flashback**
"You're not going to keep me from her!! She's mine, you hear me? I don't care what you say!"
The boy was standing, his wand poised out.
Severus had drawn his out as well, more in defense than anything else.
"What are you going to gain from it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Eventually, we're going to have to stop participating in this mad game…then what?"
Charles gripped his free hand by his side fiercely and Severus raised an eyebrow at the red droplets dripping down onto the floor.
"I'm not just another one of your students!" he hissed. "I knew you would do something like this! Well, let me tell you, she's the most wonderful girl I've ever met and YOU'RE not going to take her away from me! Do you hear me?!"
Severus quivered from barely restrained rage.
Of course he knew she was wonderful! Of course he wanted her for himself! But what his hormone-driven self didn't let himself realize was that yes, this project would finish, "Charles Brewer" would go back to Norkten academy, and Severus would be left with himself for another year, sitting behind his desk and teaching this foreign girl who so happened to catch his interest from the day she stepped into class.
A second series of blood drops joined Charles' on the floor.
"Let her go, boy," he whispered. "Do it tonight!"
Charles glowered at him.
"No."
At this point, Severus' heating temper soared up the thermometer and reached boiling point.
He lifted his wand at the same time Charles did and then, the world exploded in a flurry of green and silver light.
**End of Flashback**
Snape winced, pushing away the unwanted memories and gingerly sat up on the stark-white infirmary bed.
"Severus…" the headmaster started and the potion's master snapped his eyes open at the tone of his voice.
"I think that maybe this double role is taking a toll on you," he said in concern.
Severus smirked, feeling a bit of dejavou.
"Especially after your role as a double agent –"
Snape interrupted him.
"Nonsense, Albus. I said I'd do the job, and I intend to finish it."
Dumbledore looked at him and sighed.
"If you say so, Severus."
He stood up and gave him a nod.
"I'll see you at lunch today?" It was phrased as a question rather than a statement.
Severus didn't answer and rolled over onto his side, ducking under the covers.
"Severus," he pressed. "There's something I really must tell you about yesterday's events and why – "
"For Merlin's sake, Albus!" he shot up in bed, the covers still on him.
"Wait until tomorrow! Please!!"
Upon the last word, the headmaster nodded and muttered his understanding.
"I suppose it can wait."
Mad, mad, mad, I've gone stark-raving mad, I have!
Remus had been pacing his chambers for the past half-hour contemplating his feelings for the young Gryffindor.
"Unbelievable. I really am a monster."
He stopped and slid behind his desk, his trembling fingers pulling open the stopper of a bottle of brandy.
He raised the shivering bottle to his lips and took a long drought from it.
"Dumbledore allows me to work at the school, and what do I do? I betray his trust and approach a student. Perhaps Severus was right about me all along…"
He set the bottle down and buried his head in his hands.
"I really am a monster," he repeated to no one in particular.
At a knock upon the door, Remus muttered a feeble, "Come in."
He looked up with mild interest and watched his old Transfiguration professor enter the room in horror.
Oh, gods!! He thought feverishly. She knows! She has to! Why else would she want to see me?
But surprisingly, the woman's voice was kind, rather than rebuking.
"Remus," she greeted with a smile. "May I borrow a few minutes of your time?"
Better save both of us precious time and tell he now.
"Don't bother, I've decided to resign my position."
Or at least, that's what he meant to say. It came out more like, "Donbthr, ivcided tresinemapsition."
"Er…I'm sorry, what was that, Remus?"
He sighed.
"Nothing…Go on, please, Minerva."
"Well…you are aware of what occurred yesterday with Severus and his," she looked around the room as if expecting to see an eavesdropping student lurking behind one of the Gryndylow tanks around the room.
"Teenage self?"
Remus blinked. He had heard rumors about it, of course, but he hadn't taken them seriously. After all, he had left soon after his conflict with "Phillip Lycan" and had missed the end of the ball.
"Erm…yes, yes, of course."
She looked at him carefully from behind her lenses.
"That wasn't the only confrontation that occurred at the ball, was it?"
He shut his eyes in resignation and leaned back against his chair.
Oh, boy…this is it…They're going to sack me for sure…
"Am I correct in saying that the cause behind it was Hermione Granger?"
Oh, dear gods…
He hid his face behind a pair of trembling hands.
She got the message.
What am I going to do now? Surely no one else will hire me. A werewolf with pedophilic tendencies… Not much to put on a résumé, surely…I'm going to spend the rest of my life without a job! All my years and studying at Hogwarts wasted! I should've gone on that escapade into the girls' dormitory with James and Sirius after all; nevermind that they got detention… Well, maybe living a life in the forest won't be too bad… I suppose the other animals might be friendly enough…then again –
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was aware that the head of Gryffindor was still talking, though he hadn't been paying much attention until the lines, "they will both be punished, of course," ran through his ears.
"Er…excuse me, what did you say?"
She blinked at him. "Hermione and Sarah… I said they were going to be punished for that love potion they slipped you and Severus."
He stared at her rather much like a puppy who was going to be rewarded for marking his owner's most treasured garden plant.
"…Love potion?"
"Why, yes." She let out a laugh.
"You didn't think you would really be attracted to Hermione Granger any other way, did you? A student? You have to give yourself more credit, Remus." Her voice had gone from amused to stern in 2.4 seconds flat.
"Ah…no, no, of course not!" he said, his face burning.
"Yes, well…" she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, but soon waved an impatient hand at him.
"Just wanted to let you know that those two will never slip their fellow students, or," she allowed herself a grim smile. "Their professors…another love potion again."
She made a movement as if she was going to rise, but paused and scanned him over with her eyes thoughtfully.
"Though I wonder what they would say if they had known…"
Remus flushed again and she shrugged it off.
"The potion should wear off by tomorrow, if Albus' calculations are correct. Good day, Remus."
She arose and walked out, leaving Remus to digest this new slice of information.