1 Painful News

Disclaimer: I wish I owned the Greasy One, but I don't. I don't own any of the others either, except for Patricia.

AN: Thanks to Star, I have now found a new direction for this story! I've been staring at my screen for the past three days trying to figure out what I'm going to do with it, but now I know! Thanks a bunch!!!



When she reached the gate she stopped to catch her breath. She bent over, resting her hands on her knees, when she heard his voice.

"My, now isn't that an inviting position?" Patricia snapped her head up, and was suddenly overcome by shyness. She looked at the young man in front of her, and realized how much she had actually missed him. She took in his messy brown hair and light blue eyes, which had a strangely haunted look in them. but that didn't matter right then. Overcoming her shyness, she ran into his waiting arms and proceeded to cover his face with kisses. Their lips met, and both of the young professors were transported into another world.

"Oh Jason, I've missed you so much!" she said when they finally broke apart.

"Well if I had known that I was going to get such an exuberant welcome in broad daylight, I would have come back tonight, instead of today," he said laughingly. He then proceeded to tell her, both verbally and non-verbally, how much he had missed her.

In the distance, an eagle cried out, and the two walked back through the settling afternoon towards the impressive castle that was Hogwarts. They were greeted at the doors by a very enthusiastic Albus Dumbledore, and an equally subdued and cynical looking Severus Snape. Patricia quickly looked away when she saw the pain and longing in his eyes when he looked at her. She didn't look away quickly enough to miss the look of pure venom he shot Jason though.

"Severus, would you be so kind as to explain to Patricia what's happening this year?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, Headmaster, I would love to," he replied sarcastically. "As you have given me no other choice in the matter."

"Excellent!" Dumbledore said, seemingly oblivious to the tension that had settled between the three younger professors.

"Headmaster, I." Patricia began.

"No, Pat, it's okay," Jason said softly. "I'll see you at the feast." He kissed Patricia on the forehead, shot a look of supreme smugness at Severus, and followed Dumbledore into the school. The tension in the air seemed to thicken as Severus and Patricia avoided looking at each other.

"Oh this is so stupid!" Patricia exclaimed at the same time that Severus said,

"Come. You will need a place you can vent when you hear this." And with that, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the school, leaving Patricia staring thoughtfully after him.

She caught up with him at the Astronomy tower, a favourite place of both. He climbed the stairs, and sat on the nearest available crate, leaning against the wall.

"I'm going to sit," he said. "This is going to be a scene that I don't want to miss." Patricia looked at him quizzically, a seed of doubt growing in the pit of her stomach.

"We're co-Heading Slytherin House again this year," he announced. Patricia stared at him. He had to be kidding. He wasn't serious. was he? The clearly unhappy look on his face convinced her that he *was* serious.

He watched her throw curses out the window and yell profanities at the top of her voice with an amused smirk on his lips. He loved it when she lost her temper. She was so. wild and. *violent*. So beautiful.

"Very well done," he said when she finally quieted and turned to him, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Now I understand why Albus has such a hard time not laughing when *I'm* angry. That was the funniest thing I've seen in years! Oh come here, you silly girl!" he said when he saw her eyes flash dangerously.

Patricia threw herself into his arms and started to sob.

"Why??? He knows what there is between us! He *knows* I love you and Jason equally! Why is Albus doing this?"

Severus sat comforting Patricia for a few minutes before tipping her tear-streaked face up so he could look at her.

"I don't know why he's doing this. He has a reason, though, and more than likely we won't understand it until later."

"Severus, you know as well as I do that whenever *he* does something, nobody *ever* understands it!"

Patricia laid her head on his shoulder and he encircled her with his arms. They stayed that way, neither speaking, reliving the sweet memories they both had, until they heard the Hogwarts Express in the distance. They pulled apart and looked at each other, steeling themselves for the painful year ahead.

"I love you Patricia," Severus said quietly.

"And I love you, Severus," she replied. He touched her jaw softly, and pulled her to him for one last loving, passionate and sorrow-filled kiss.