Aiden sighed and propped his feet up on the coffee table in front of his chair. He was currently sitting in his first morning staff meeting. He yawned widely, receiving a glare from McGonagall, who was speaking about.something. He couldn't believe how early teachers got up, and the students wouldn't even be arriving till tonight! He glanced around at the other teachers. Draco was inspecting the hem of his shirt, Severus and Hermione were arguing about some potion or another in hushed tones, Sirius was sitting on the floor, leaning against Remus legs. Remus was sitting stiffly, he still had bandages covering his silver burns, but his amber eyes had a far away look in them. His eyes drifted to Madame Hooch, who had charmed a toothpick to zoom around her chair. His eyes followed its progress, his head growing heavy. Twenty minutes later, Draco was poking his shoulder. "Aiden." He blinked sleepily. "Wassit?" Draco smirked. "Meetings over. You fell asleep." Aiden stood and stretched, Minerva, from where she was talking to Albus, was glaring. "Right. I am going to go run then. Care to join me?"

Draco nodded. The two of them had taken to running around the lake every morning as part of their training. Together, the exited the staffroom, heading for the Entrance Hall.

"Mr.Applin."

Aiden turned. "Professor Snape?"

Severus crossed his arms. "I am no longer your Professor. If you will please go back to calling me Severus."

"Severus?"

"Did the potion help?"

Aiden frowned for a minute before he remembered. "Yes. Quite well, thank you." Severus nodded, and turned to walk away. Aiden glanced at Draco. "You mind if I go talk to him for awhile? I'll see you later."

Draco nodded as he watched Aiden jog to catch up with the Potions Master.

"Severus!" Aiden called. Severus turned. "Mr. Applin?"

"Can I talk to you?"

Severus sighed. "You are now."

"I mean.like, somewhere else. Um, will you come to my quarters?"

Severus grimaced, then replied. "I suppose." He followed Aiden down to the dungeons, stopping at a portrait of a man leaning on a tree, a snake wrapped around his torso. Aiden hissed something to it, and the snake started to move, and it hissed something back, before the portrait swung open. Aiden turned to Severus. "Have a seat. Tea?"

Severus sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace. "No, thank you. What was it you needed to talk to me about?"

Aiden sat down in the other chair, suddenly feeling awkward. "A few weeks ago." He began, "While I was out in the Hospital Wing."

Severus leaned back. "Ah. I see. I was not sure if you remembered that or not."

Aiden nodded. "I do. All of it. What you said to me, and.the other."

Severus just looked at him coolly. "Well? What about it?"

Aiden shifted. "Ever since then.I don't know. I am not sure."

"Then why did you ask to talk to me?"

Aiden closed his eyes. "Fine. Remember when the two Death Eaters had you under the Cruciatus? I was at least twenty feet away, but I knew you were in danger."

Severus shrugged. "That was the Connection Potion."

Aiden shook his head. "I don't think so. It was different from when Sirius Draco or Ginny were in trouble. I was furious, so I.I just killed them, without even thinking about what I was doing."

Severus sighed. "Don't feel guilty about killing them. They were a threat to one of your comrades, you would have done it for anybody."

Aiden stared down at the floor. "I don't feel guilty for killing them. Not even a little bit. When I saw their blood on my knives.I was happy. I am still glad I did it. I would do it again. But I am not sure if I would have done it for anybody."

Severus shook his head and stood. "You are reading to much into this. I must go, we both have things to do to get ready for the student's arrival."

Aiden leaned back as the man exited the portrait hole. He sighed. He had thought.well, he honestly he didn't know what he had wanted to get out of that conversation. He would have to talk to Draco later.

Severus threw himself down on his couch. So, Aiden had felt the protective urges as well? He closed his eyes, letting the silence surround him. It must be something to do with being inside his mind. Ginny had said that Aiden had to trust him a lot to allow him to stay in his subconscience without a fight, maybe that had something to do with it. A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts. The door opened, Hermione stepping in.

"Severus?"

"What do you need Miss. Granger?"

Hermione frowned. "Just to.talk I guess."

"I am busy." He rubbed his forehead.

Hermione sighed. "All right. She walked over and kissed the top of his head. "I'll see you at the feast."