Chapter 27

Unfortunately, Minerva never got around to telling Remus or Severus anything. With the sudden increase of work, to prepare for the OWLs and NEWTs on top of preparing exams for the remaining students, Minerva just couldn't find the time. Even in the company of the two men, her mind was so preoccupied with other matters that she would forget. Too bad, if she had made the time, spared the extra minutes, this chapter would've probably been much shorter.

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In the dungeons

Severus was running out of ideas how to make his potion exams difficult. He felt as if he had thrown them all the questions in the book and also out of it, he didn't have anything left. Slightly frustrated, he got up and walked to the bookshelf behind him. He stood in front of the row that held his copy of Advance Potions and wondered if he should take some questions from there and put in the second year's final exam. Then he shook his head. Not difficult enough. He continued browsing around his shelf, picking up a book, leafing through it then putting it back, dissatisfied. He was so engrossed in his task that he didn't even realize the entrance of another teacher. Professor Sinistra, definitely not his favorite person. In his list of dislikes, she was right up there with Black. So you can only imagine how miffed he was to turn and find her there, already sitting comfortable on a chair in front of his desk.

"What do you want?" he growled at her, not even bothering with hospitality or even an attempt to be polite. But she was used to his rudeness and just smiled at him.

"Wonderful to see you too, Severus. And how are you?" she asked, her tone pleasant, but Severus physically felt the sharp tips of daggers laced with the words.

"Considering that now you're here, I feel miserable," he said scathingly.

"Glad to have made your day," she said, maintaining her sweetness. Severus dropped his book on the table and growled harder. Most definitely there was no love loss between the two.

"What do you want?" he repeated again, returning to the book on his table. Her expression turned a little sour.

"I'm here to collect your rough draft of the exam sheet," she said. Severus looked up, visibly startled. That was usually Minerva's job. And he was hoping to see her, both their busy schedule didn't allow much socializing time.

"Isn't that Minerva's job?" he asked, trying not to sound like he cared or disappointed for that matter. But Sinistra was too wrapped up in her displeasure to notice his sudden shift of tone.

"It was, until she decided to act like some love sick teenage witch," she said bitterly. Severus dropped the quill he was holding.

"What?"

"I know it sick isn't it? A woman that age, walking around school with a man half her age? And not even bothering to keep it a secret!" she spat, looking very unhappy.

"What?"

"Severus, hello! ANYBODY HOME?! Where have you been? Is all over school about Minerva and Remus, and their little love affair," she said. Severus felt as if she had thrown a bucket of ice over him.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he said, his icy tone caused the temperature to drop even lower. He refused to believe it. Just like his loathing for Sinistra was no secret, so was Sinistra's failed attempts to get Remus to notice her.

"Really? Ask Sprout. She was with me when we saw the love birds cuddling outside green house 3," she said. His insides became numb. Sinistra maybe, but Sprout? She was the last person to ever start a rumor.

"Get out. I'll send the sheets to Minerva tonight," he said, his calm voice belying the anger, the hurt inside him.

"Fine, up to you. Though I'd advise you to knock first, just in case," she said and her words made it clear to what she was implying.

"Just get out," he hissed. She shrugged and walked out. Once he heard the door close he rammed his fist through a nearby cauldron. It went flying across the room and slammed into the wall before falling to the stone floor with a satisfying thud. Severus leaned over his table, the throbbing in his knuckles paled to the throbbing of his heart. She wouldn't do that to him. She wouldn't go behind his back. She may not love him, but she honored their wedding vows. She does… does she?

"Damn Sinistra!" he shouted, his eyes blazing. He wanted to strangle the bitch's scrawny neck for coming in and telling him all this. Another rush of pain gripped his pounding heart and he was forced to sit down.

"Severus, get a grip," he said out loud and inhaled deeply. He was going to see Minerva this minute and clear things with her. And when she snorts at him tells him that he's being ridiculous, he's going to laugh at his stupidity and then take her out for dinner in Hogsmeade.

Straightening his robes, and making sure to cover his red knuckles with his robe sleeves he left the dungeon.

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Somewhere else

Minerva sighed as she leaned against the windowpane, relishing the coolness on her hot and throbbing head. What a time to get a headache, though she wasn't really surprised. She had spent almost the whole night trying to sooth a teething baby, and when she got into bed, she remembered she hadn't completed her exam questions, and by then it was time to get up and get ready for class. So she had to spend the entire afternoon trying to finish the exam sheets AND console her daughter who was still crying in pain. Every bone in her body hurt and she was so tired that the walk from her room to the staff room was draining her energy. So she was thankful for the empty corridor, allowing her the rare moment where she could rest her head on a cold windowpane and just shut her eyes. Solitude. Silence.

"Minerva!"

And gone in a flash.

Recognizing the voice, Minerva took her time to lift her head of the soothing window and open her eyes. When she had fully opened them, she was looking straight into the brown eyes of Remus Lupin.

"Hello, Remus," she said tiredly at her friend.

"Minerva you look awful," he said.

"Thank you, I needed to hear that," she said wryly and he laughed. She couldn't help but smile too.

"I spent almost the entire night with Athena, and when she finally went to sleep, it was time for me to get up, and on top of that, I'm nowhere near completing the exam rough drafts," she sighed. Remus was horrified.

"Minerva McGonagall not completed the exam papers?! The students will be devastated!" he cried out. Miner slapped him softly on the arm.

"Shut up, Remus. If you wish to trade banter go find Severus, I'm too tired to think of anything acerbic. I'm also worried, I had stupidly asked Sinistra to help collect the papers from the other Professor… I just hope she's done it," she said. He looked at her, his brow furrowed.

"I have the perfect remedy for you," he said, his face clearing. She looked at him, hopeful. She could definitely use some remedy.

"A night of wild sex with Severus. Poppy and I will be honored to look after Athena in the meantime," he said. Minerva was thankful they were the only one's in the corridor.

"Remus! Stop being such a … dunderhead," she said blushing furiously, and slapping him hard on the arm. She was content to see him wince.

"Maybe not," he groaned slightly. They stood in silence for a while, staring out the window. Most of the students were out side, making the best of the warm spell, which would explain the deserted corridors. She sighed.

"It's really straining you isn't it?" he said softly. She knew what he was talking about. Hadn't he been listening to all her problems these weeks?

"But, weird as it sounds, I wouldn't change anything," she said, her tired tone rang with honesty. Remus smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders pulling her near for a hug.

"It's not weird at all," he said, squeezing her shoulders.

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Around the corner

She wasn't in her room, and she wasn't in her office. Severus was stumped. He had been looking for her for almost an hour and couldn't find her anywhere. Maybe the staff room. He thought. Since he never went there a lot, it didn't cross his mind that she would be there too.

"No harm looking," he muttered to himself. The halls were quiet with the absence of students and Severus found it comforting. He had always been a lone ranger and welcomed stillness like a long lost friend. He rounded the corner that would take him to the staff room and froze. He blinked, once, twice, three times, but the scene remained unchanged.

His hand reached out for support as his legs weakened from the pain. The pain of his heart breaking. So it was true what Sinistra was saying. Suddenly his pain changed to anger, red hot boiling anger, and he wanted to lash out to someone, hurt them the way he was hurting. This gave him strength and he pushed himself off the wall and marched up to the two, who were so comfortable in each other's arm, staring into the space before them.

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Oh-uh……

It happened really fast. One minute she was watching the students playing outside and the next she was yanked away and Remus was slouched against the wall holding a bloody nose. Towering over him, panting hard with his expression dark as night and eyes full of hatred and anger was Severus. She was too shocked, she couldn't say anything.

"Don't you ever touch my wife again or I will kill you!" he hissed at Remus. With one last look at the fallen man in front of him, he turned at the same time yanking Minerva with him.

A/N: I must add quickly that I LOVE the new ff.net look!!! It's fantabulous!! And this is it guys, ONE LAST CHAPTER to go... ;-)