"She what!?" Remus exclaimed. Lily giggled. "You mean she just waltzed right up to the door, knocked, he opened and they." he repeated, skeptically.

"Yup." Sirius replied, leaning across the table conspiratorially, "Saw it with my own eyes, sort of." They couldn't very well talk out loud about the map, after all; even if it did make for some - interesting - conversations.

"Just like that?" Remus asked.

"Just like that." James replied, a devilish gleam marking his otherwise deadpan face.

"what are you up to now, Potter?" Severus Snape asked, looking up from the Potions book he was reading. "You don't really think that anyone will believe your story about a heated romance between McGonnagal and Dumbledore do you?" he whispered, so as not to disturb the other students in the library, as well as to prevent them from noticing that he was deigning to talk to James Potter. "That's revolting. Who wants to think about teachers doing that?" he shuddered. "You have a sick mind, Potter."

"You shouldn't be eavesdropping Severus!" Peter scowled. Snape rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"I wonder what McGonnagal would say if she found out that her own house was talking this way."

"You can't tell!" Lily exclaimed.

"It wouldn't be right to tattle on James, Snape." Remus added, "After all he did."

"All right! Enough!" Severus exclaimed, not caring who heard. He never wanted to hear another word about how Potter saved his life. "I won't say anything."

"Is that a promise?" Peter asked, suspiciously.

"Of course it's a promise!" Snape snapped. "Unless someone directly asks me, I won't bring it up!"

"That's nice." Remus shrugged. "I still can't believe it though. Of all the." The five Gryffindors resumed their conversation. Severus turned away, aghast. He stormed out of the library. Maybe he could finish studying in Slytherin's common room. On his way he came to the open door of Professor McGonnagal's room. Ordinarily, he would have just walked by, but something made him stop. He peeked in, unnoticed by the occupants of the room. McGonnagal and Dumbledore stood near her desk, much to close for ordinary conversation.

"Thank you for that, Albus," the Transfiguration Professor said, coiling a finger in his beard.

"You're perfectly welcome, my dear." The headmaster replied fondly. Severus made a conscious effort not to gag.

So it was true! Potter and his friends had seen them somehow. He scowled and quickly walked towards Slytherin's common room. Things were bound to be quiet down there. Nothing really interesting had happened since Lucius Malfoy had graduated five years ago. Severus tossed his book on the table and turned toward the wall to read a newspaper clipping posted there. It was a wedding announcement for Lucius Malfoy. There was an arrogant sneer on his newspaper face as he put an arm around his bride. She smiled back at him, then turned to sneer at Severus as well.

He turned away in disgust. So far this year had been full of nothing but lovebirds. He was so sick of seeing pathetically happy couples prancing around the wizarding world. Didn't they have anything better to do?

He didn't know how soon they would all be longing for it to be this year again.

**(*)**