Disclaimer: Nothing in here belongs to me; it all belongs to the talented JKR, and also to WB, Bloomsbury, etc. The titles of my chapters are from I'm a Believer preformed by Smash Mouth in Shrek If I have used something that is yours, and you wish to be acknowledged please let me know and I will do so. If anything I write is familiar to you, it is probably because there are so many fics. out there that some of them are going to sound the same. I did not copy from anyone else's fics, so please don't get angry at me. Atilla is mine. Warning spoilers for all four HP books ahead.
a/n: Please review, I am still very new at this and any constructive criticism is very much appreciated. Also, if I get some British phrases wrong, please bear with me, I am from the US, and though I have lived in the UK a bit, I still tend to write in an American style. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Rachel and Heather for putting up with me and reading these stories for me. I will try to reply to those people who review at the bottom of the chapter. Thank You. Now on to the story.
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"Ah Severus, I'm glad you came, I wanted to give you this." Headmaster Dumbledore smiled widely at Professor Snape, his, eyes twinkling merrily.
"Give me what Albus?" All he saw on the desk that wasn't candy was a small leather bound book. 'Surely the headmaster isn't giving me any sweets.' He thought with a grimace.
"No worries Severus, I am not giving you any lemon sherbets, this is for you." Dumbledore held out the book, smiling at Snape in a way that Severus found a bit disconcerting.
"What exactly is it Professor?" He asked warily. Last time he had seen something like that it had wrecked all sorts of havoc at the school by letting lose a terrible Basilisk and Tom Riddle.
"This," said Albus "is a journal, a journal with which you can write to someone. It will allow you to carry on a conversation with a person in another town, or even country. You can talk to them instantaneously, or through letters. Whatever seems the best for you."
"And why exactly are you giving this to me? Are you insinuating that I need to talk to someone? I am perfectly happy in my dungeons without telling my life to a perfect stranger."
"Oh I know that Severus, but I think you might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome, and besides, it will give you someone to talk to besides the other professors here, unless you wish to carry on long in-depth conversations with Hooch." Snape grimaced. "I thought not. Now Severus, I want you to promise me you will at least try this out, for oh say, a month, if after that time you don't want to carry on, then you can stop. If the first person you talk to does not seem to be quite the right person for you, then you can send an owl to this address, and they will realign the journals so that someone else will talk to you."
Severus sighed, it was no use arguing with the headmaster, and he would know if Severus didn't write in the book, Albus always seemed to know those sorts of things. "Alright Albus, I will try, but I am not going to promise to enjoy it."
"That's the spirit Severus, now here is the journal and the address, go have fun. And don't forget that tomorrow you are going to the Ministry to examine their potions set up and to make sure that their potions master is doing a good job."
Snape took the book and the address, "how could I forget Headmaster, I am not looking forward to it, the idiot they have for a potions master is probably some young child straight out of University who doesn't actually know anything about potions."
Dumbledore smiled, he know exactly who was the Ministry's new potions master, but he certainly wasn't going to tell Severus, "ah Severus, I am think you may be pleasantly surprised, though yes you are correct, the new potions master has just recently finished university."
"I do wish you would tell me who it is Professor, it would certainly help in the critiquing."
"You will find out soon enough, now, go on, I need to talk to Minerva, and you should really try writing in that journal."
"Right," Severus sighed, rolling his eyes. "I will come let you know tomorrow how the Ministry goes. Good night Headmaster."
"Good Night Severus."
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Once down in his own dungeon rooms Severus collapsed into a chair in-front of his fire place. He stared at the dancing flames, massaging his temples trying to get rid of the headache he could feel growing. He was not looking forward to tomorrow, the Ministry people made him want to reach out and touch somebody, mainly by way of an upper cut to someone's chin. He sincerely hoped that the new potions master for the ministry would be at least passable, he wasn't hoping for brilliant as he didn't really think it was possible.
Absently he picked up the journal and flipped through it, blank pages staring up at him. Wait, was that writing? He flipped back to the front of the book again. Yes, there was writing there, he didn't think it had been there are minute ago.
Hello, they wrote, is anyone there?
Severus paused for a moment, then grabbed a quill and wrote back.
Yes.
Oh good, I had hoped I would get to talk to someone right away.
Hmm.
They recommend we use pen names for these at first, so you can call me Aphrodite, I think that is such a sweet name, the goddess of love, don't you think that is a sweet name, what are you going to be called? Oh wait I'll pick a name for you, since we are supposed to be compatible with each other I'll be you would like to be called Cupid. I am sure that name fits you perfectly, do you go around helping people meet their true loves, I am sure you are such a kind and gentle person, who is always helping other. Please tell me all about you.
Severus stared at the words in the journal with a look of mixed disgust and horror. What had Dumbledore involved him in?
I'm umm, not sure that Cupid is quite the correct term for me…
Maybe you are right, someone as wonderful as you should be greater than Cupid, maybe Eros, the first god of love.
Do you know any mythological names that don't have to do with love? I think I might fit in the Hades category better.
Who is Hades? No, I really think that Eros is a good name for you. So Eros, tell me about yourself, what is your favourite colour, flower, poem, song, food, what do you do in your free time, what do you like to talk about, where do you live, can I visit you, what do you do for a living? My favourite colour is pink; it is such a happy cheerful colour. I love roses, especially red ones. I don't have a favourite poem, but I love the story of Cinderella, where she wins the prince even though her step-family is horrid. The best song in the world is My Favourite Things from the Sound Of Music. I love any kind of food; in fact I love to eat. In my free time I read romance novels and write love poetry do you want to read some of it? I adore talking about love, and how to hook people up with their soul mate. I live in Bath, please come visit!! And for a living I write love horoscopes for the local muggle newspaper. Now you, answer the questions.
Hades is the god of the underworld, a secretive, quiet god who does not give a damn about love or other people's problems. I really don't feel like answering those questions as they are none of your business. By the way, have you read the actual Brother's Grimm story of Cinderella? The one where her stepsisters cut off parts of their feet so they can fit in the glass slippers, and the prince almost marries them but sees the blood dripping out of the shoe and is saved. It gets more bloody after that, you may want to read it, I am sure it will open your eyes a bit. As to your other answers, I really don't want to talk about them, and I am going to request a new person to talk to because if I have to read anymore of your sugary sweet writing I am going to be sick. Good Night.
Severus shut the journal with a snap, grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a quick note to the business, (The Wizards of Love?!?). He told them that if he had to put up with something like that again he would come over to their office and hex the lot of them. He gave them one more chance to find him a normal person to talk to and if they didn't he was no longer going to take part in their stupid program.
Feeling much better after having owled them the letter he got ready for bed. After he was under the covers he accioed the copy of Ars Alchemica to him, it always made him feel better, and he needed to calm down after reading the horrid drivel that that woman had written. He fell asleep reading it.
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Thank you for reviewing!
Lea: thanks you are my first review ever, which means a lot to me.
Persephone: Thanks, I will continue, and I'm glad it isn't too common. J
Lupin, Darkfire, life0ca: I will definitely continue my muse won't leave me alone; he isn't even letting me do my school work.
Lady-Willowish: Thank you. I like the name Atilla also, it is my real cat's name and very aptly to. ;-)
February: I'm glad you liked that little twist, I am going to try to put more little surprises in.
Tablynvan: I hope you liked this chapter, Snape gets his journal.