Disclaimer: Again, as always, we own nothing and it all belongs to JKR.
A/N: We would like to take this moment to thank all the reviewers. You guys rock and keep us going! We hope you enjoy reading the next chapter,
as much as we enjoyed plotting and writing it.
"Everything that you've done for me, oh, everything that you do,
It makes me wonder why you still try through all the things I've done to you.
But still you try, still I cry
I know its wrong, make this right.
With your stupid colors and pretty lies."
~On The Edge: Amy Doucette www.amydoucette.com ~
~*~
Severus sat quietly, untouched tea in hand, gazing intently at his feet. Albus was seated opposite him, taking quite a while to fish around in his large desk for his box of lemon drops.
"They're in the drawer on the left." Severus said lackadaisically, annoyed with Albus' incisive rummaging.
"Ah!" Albus exclaimed, producing the box from said drawer, "So they are!" He popped one into his mouth, sucking intently and waiting for Severus
to explain the reason for the sudden meeting.
Shifting uncomfortably in the plush leather chair, Severus shifted his gaze from the floor to that of his colleague. Not knowing exactly where to start, he let silence reign for a short period of time; marveling at Albus' patience.
"If you had called me in for a meeting and kept silent this long, I would have blown up long ago." Severus joked lightly, winning a warm smile.
"I trust you have good reason for this meeting, and that your words will come to you when they are ready. Until they are, I'm content to sit here
quietly with my tea and lemon drops." Albus' tone was soft and reassuring. As he popped another lemon drop into his mouth, he pushed the box over
to Severus. "Lemon drop?" Severus shook his head, declining; returning to the problem at hand, as Albus placed the box in the right drawer. Severus shook his head.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy got in a row today..." he started; causing Albus to chuckle lightly in remembrance of the two for mentioned Professor's
school days.
"Well surely you don't expect me to expel them, or take away house points?" Severus rolled his eyes at Albus' attempt at humor.
"I won't dignify that response with an answer." he snapped. The subject to be discussed was rather serious, and Albus wasn't making things easier
with all of his jokes; unconsciously forgetting that he was the one who started with the joking.
"I see though Mrs. Snape seems to have broken away at your rough exterior, she didn't manage to help your sense of humor any."
Rolling his eyes, Severus changed the topic.
"As I was saying, there was something different about this particular fight." Albus nodded, prompting him on. "Mr. Malfoy, in a fit of anger, grabbed
Mr. Potter's wrist in a rather tight grasp." he paused, not quite sure how to continue.
"Well, that's rather odd...I can't help wondering why he reverted to physical tactics and not magical." Eyes furrowed in confusion, Albus looked to
Severus for explanations.
"Mr. Potter had gained possession of Malfoy's wand."
"Ah!"
"The thing that bothers me; however, is the fact that when Malfoy's skin came into contact with Potters, it seemed to burn him...harshly."
"Oh!"
"And the burn...it wasn't red or an angry pink even. It was black, very black; and smoking." Severus expression was anguished as he finished and
looked to Albus.
"Strange," Albus murmured in thought, "Very strange indeed." Glancing up at the man before him, he continued. "What do you suppose caused it?"
"I truly don't know." Severus shook his head dejectedly, "But one thing is for sure, it's very powerful dark magic." he paused, "And Mr. Malfoy..."
pausing once again, his gaze returned to his shifting feet. "One might suggest..." he was unable to finish; however, Albus having cut him off abruptly.
"Yes, one might suggest..." he trailed off, "Best we keep an eye on him."
"I should think so." Severus nodded. He removed himself from the seat, standing, ready to leave.
"And I trust you to see to Mr. Potters wound." Albus stood, moving towards the door, and opening it for the younger man.
"Of course." And with that, Severus left.
~*~
Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Ginny had returned to the nursery with the two children; leaving Hermione and Harry to discuss the recent happenings.
"There's something he's leaving out." Hermione spoke out of nowhere, pacing back and forth before Harry.
"Who's leaving out what?" Harry raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"The old goat! I can't believe he'd do that! To his own wife no less!" she exclaimed, "I mean, I can understand if he'd done that to you." shooting an apologetic glance at Harry, she added in a quiet, "No offense."
"None taken...I think." Harry assured. "So, I take it we're talking about Severus?" Hermione nodded in confirmation. "What did he do...or, not do?"
"Harry! Are you completely blind or just mentally incapable of noting Severus' strange behavior today?" she snapped, falling heavily into a nearby chair.
"Snape being strange sounds normal to me."
"Harry James Potter! How dare you talk about my husband in that manner." she shouted. "Honestly!"
"And yet you can go on an outrageous rampage and call your own husband a goat?" he grinned maliciously.
"I didn't call him a goat!" she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "I called him an old goat. There's a difference. And yes I can, because I'm his wife." she smirked, slyly. "We're drifting off topic."
"That's nice." Harry yawned, stretching his arms and wincing in pain as the burn pulled. Hermione ignored him.
"Out of everything you've done for me, and everything that you do; it's still a wonder why you still try after all the things I've done to you." she spoke softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Hey!" he grinned, "What are friends for?" Once again forgetting about the burn, he patted her hand and winced in pain.
"Harry, you're hand is bloody hot!" she exclaimed, pulling back from the touch.
"Oh, that's not all that's hot." he winked. Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust. "It bloody hurts as well!"
"Well, go see Severus. I'm sure he has those potions ready for you by now."
"Do I have to?" Harry whined, earning a swift slap across the head.
"Honestly. I don't know how Ginny puts up with you!" she laughed, shoving him out the door before her.
A/N: We would like to take this moment to thank all the reviewers. You guys rock and keep us going! We hope you enjoy reading the next chapter,
as much as we enjoyed plotting and writing it.
"Everything that you've done for me, oh, everything that you do,
It makes me wonder why you still try through all the things I've done to you.
But still you try, still I cry
I know its wrong, make this right.
With your stupid colors and pretty lies."
~On The Edge: Amy Doucette www.amydoucette.com ~
~*~
Severus sat quietly, untouched tea in hand, gazing intently at his feet. Albus was seated opposite him, taking quite a while to fish around in his large desk for his box of lemon drops.
"They're in the drawer on the left." Severus said lackadaisically, annoyed with Albus' incisive rummaging.
"Ah!" Albus exclaimed, producing the box from said drawer, "So they are!" He popped one into his mouth, sucking intently and waiting for Severus
to explain the reason for the sudden meeting.
Shifting uncomfortably in the plush leather chair, Severus shifted his gaze from the floor to that of his colleague. Not knowing exactly where to start, he let silence reign for a short period of time; marveling at Albus' patience.
"If you had called me in for a meeting and kept silent this long, I would have blown up long ago." Severus joked lightly, winning a warm smile.
"I trust you have good reason for this meeting, and that your words will come to you when they are ready. Until they are, I'm content to sit here
quietly with my tea and lemon drops." Albus' tone was soft and reassuring. As he popped another lemon drop into his mouth, he pushed the box over
to Severus. "Lemon drop?" Severus shook his head, declining; returning to the problem at hand, as Albus placed the box in the right drawer. Severus shook his head.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy got in a row today..." he started; causing Albus to chuckle lightly in remembrance of the two for mentioned Professor's
school days.
"Well surely you don't expect me to expel them, or take away house points?" Severus rolled his eyes at Albus' attempt at humor.
"I won't dignify that response with an answer." he snapped. The subject to be discussed was rather serious, and Albus wasn't making things easier
with all of his jokes; unconsciously forgetting that he was the one who started with the joking.
"I see though Mrs. Snape seems to have broken away at your rough exterior, she didn't manage to help your sense of humor any."
Rolling his eyes, Severus changed the topic.
"As I was saying, there was something different about this particular fight." Albus nodded, prompting him on. "Mr. Malfoy, in a fit of anger, grabbed
Mr. Potter's wrist in a rather tight grasp." he paused, not quite sure how to continue.
"Well, that's rather odd...I can't help wondering why he reverted to physical tactics and not magical." Eyes furrowed in confusion, Albus looked to
Severus for explanations.
"Mr. Potter had gained possession of Malfoy's wand."
"Ah!"
"The thing that bothers me; however, is the fact that when Malfoy's skin came into contact with Potters, it seemed to burn him...harshly."
"Oh!"
"And the burn...it wasn't red or an angry pink even. It was black, very black; and smoking." Severus expression was anguished as he finished and
looked to Albus.
"Strange," Albus murmured in thought, "Very strange indeed." Glancing up at the man before him, he continued. "What do you suppose caused it?"
"I truly don't know." Severus shook his head dejectedly, "But one thing is for sure, it's very powerful dark magic." he paused, "And Mr. Malfoy..."
pausing once again, his gaze returned to his shifting feet. "One might suggest..." he was unable to finish; however, Albus having cut him off abruptly.
"Yes, one might suggest..." he trailed off, "Best we keep an eye on him."
"I should think so." Severus nodded. He removed himself from the seat, standing, ready to leave.
"And I trust you to see to Mr. Potters wound." Albus stood, moving towards the door, and opening it for the younger man.
"Of course." And with that, Severus left.
~*~
Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Ginny had returned to the nursery with the two children; leaving Hermione and Harry to discuss the recent happenings.
"There's something he's leaving out." Hermione spoke out of nowhere, pacing back and forth before Harry.
"Who's leaving out what?" Harry raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"The old goat! I can't believe he'd do that! To his own wife no less!" she exclaimed, "I mean, I can understand if he'd done that to you." shooting an apologetic glance at Harry, she added in a quiet, "No offense."
"None taken...I think." Harry assured. "So, I take it we're talking about Severus?" Hermione nodded in confirmation. "What did he do...or, not do?"
"Harry! Are you completely blind or just mentally incapable of noting Severus' strange behavior today?" she snapped, falling heavily into a nearby chair.
"Snape being strange sounds normal to me."
"Harry James Potter! How dare you talk about my husband in that manner." she shouted. "Honestly!"
"And yet you can go on an outrageous rampage and call your own husband a goat?" he grinned maliciously.
"I didn't call him a goat!" she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "I called him an old goat. There's a difference. And yes I can, because I'm his wife." she smirked, slyly. "We're drifting off topic."
"That's nice." Harry yawned, stretching his arms and wincing in pain as the burn pulled. Hermione ignored him.
"Out of everything you've done for me, and everything that you do; it's still a wonder why you still try after all the things I've done to you." she spoke softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Hey!" he grinned, "What are friends for?" Once again forgetting about the burn, he patted her hand and winced in pain.
"Harry, you're hand is bloody hot!" she exclaimed, pulling back from the touch.
"Oh, that's not all that's hot." he winked. Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust. "It bloody hurts as well!"
"Well, go see Severus. I'm sure he has those potions ready for you by now."
"Do I have to?" Harry whined, earning a swift slap across the head.
"Honestly. I don't know how Ginny puts up with you!" she laughed, shoving him out the door before her.