Disclaimer - see part 1.
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Wizards Honour
Part 18
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"What did you say?" Alastor Moody roared.
"Please, Professor Moody," the Grey Lady floated away from the ex-Auror. "Kindly keep you temper in check."
"Are you telling me that Snape and Sinistra know that I'm running a book on them?" Moody roared. "Are you?"
"That is what I heard in them say in the Astronomy Tower on New Year's Eve." The Grey Lady said, tartly. "They were discussing which bet they were going to try to fool you with next."
"So why did you wait a week to tell me? How long have you known?" Moody yelled.
"Please Professor," Penelope Clearwater's firm but gentle voice broke into the conversation. "Think of your health."
"They know." Alastor roared. "They bloody know!"
"Professor, please, your heart." Penelope glared at the Grey Lady as she tried to calm the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Don't look at me! It's not my fault," the Grey Lady swooped out of the room, muttering about "the deplorable behaviour of teachers this century".
"So that's how it is, is it?" Moody grabbed the glass of water Penelope pressed into his hand and drained it with one gulp. "Those damn Slytherins think they can pull the wool over Alastor Moody's eyes. Well, three can play at that game."
~~~~~~~~~~
Albus Dumbledore looked over the top of his half-moon glasses and pondered the expression of the man seated in front of him. The object of his scrutiny looked harried, frustrated and confused by something. Albus had seen the man in many states before but confused was a rarity.
The Headmaster pondered using a subtle approach to the issue for all of two seconds before he said, "Are you going to tell me what is bothering you, Severus, or do I have to guess?"
"My life is a mess." Snape said morosely.
"Dear me, it must be bad." Albus bit back a smile. "You sound just like Sirius Black."
"No doubt." Snape replied absent-mindedly.
Surprised, Professor Dumbledore blinked and stared at the younger man. It was obvious that Professor Snape was in a terrible state if a comparison to Sirius Black got almost no reaction.
"My dear boy, whatever is the matter?"
After a brief hesitation, Snape began to speak. Dumbledore sat back in his chair and listened to the whole sorry story. Severus told him about the ghosts and how they'd tried to set Sinistra and himself up and about how the two Professors had managed to avoid being alone in the hallways. He told of Alastor Moody's revived betting ring and how Aurora and he had outsmarted it. He explained about the things that the two of them had done to their relatives in revenge for the Wizards Honour contract. And how they'd both tricked Snuffles and the teachers.
"I had noticed something of the sort," Dumbledore said quietly. "But why the sad face, Severus? It strikes me that Aurora Sinistra and yourself have schemed your ways into weeks of entertainment at others expense."
"Yes," muttered Snape.
"And did you enjoy outsmarting all those people?"
"Yes."
Albus sighed. The Hogwarts' Potions Master, Head of Slytherin House and Albus' chief Dark Arts expert and assistant spy-master was sitting in front of the Headmaster looking as depressed as Neville Longbottom the night before his end of year exams. It just wouldn't do. Dumbledore needed Snape to be mature, sane and slightly less depressed if the man was to be of any use to the cause.
"Severus," Albus said as nonchalantly as he could manage, "how long have you been in love with Aurora?"
"How did -?"
"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of Britain's oldest and wisest Wizards." The Headmaster's eyes twinkled and he added, mischievously. "Also, thanks to the thousands of teenagers who have attending this school in my many years here, I can recognise a young man who is truly in love. Doubtless I could do so blindfolded from a distance of two or three miles through a snowstorm, if need be. It was obvious on New Year's Eve that you are seriously smitten."
Snape tried to come up with a clever response then shrugged. "Since before Christmas." He groaned and sat back in his chair. "I have tried to ignore it but the feeling will not go away. It is most inconvenient and annoying."
"And illogical and frustrating," Albus said. Snape nodded.
"And wonderful." Albus added, lightly, then pretended not to notice the way the younger man suddenly moved in his chair. "Why don't you just accept it, Severus?"
"I did! I do!" Snape stood up and began pacing around the Headmaster's office. "But I can't get her to believe that I'm serious!"
"Oh, I see." Albus fought to keep the laughter out of his voice. The last thing Severus Snape needed at that moment was for his mentor to laugh at his embarrassment. "What have you done so far to court her?"
"I consulted an authority on the subject and gave her flowers." Snape looked very embarrassed now, although to someone that did not know him well his expression would seem to be one of mild irritation. "She laughed at them. Thought they were part of the act we were doing for Moody's benefit. So I checked my reference material and then sent her chocolates. She accepted them but told me later it was 'a wonderful joke'."
"And what authority did you consult?" Albus knew he shouldn't enjoy himself at the younger man's expense but he couldn't resist asking.
Snape muttered something and paced away from the Headmaster.
"I beg your pardon?" Albus asked after Severus had turned and started walking towards him.
"'Witches Weekly'." Snape snapped. "I confiscated it from Lavender Brown."
Albus tried to stop himself from laughing and failed miserably. Snape stood in front of the desk and scowled darkly at the chortling Headmaster then threw himself back down onto the chair, which creaked in protest.
"Severus," said Albus, when he had control of himself. "'Witches Weekly' is an excellent reference guide for love-struck young witches and overly romantic housewives however, it is patently inadequate to cope with the love life of, how shall I put it, a mature couple with Dark tendencies."
"Well, I am sorry," snarled Snape sarcastically, "but 'Lord Voldemort's Matchmaking For Beginners' was not in the @#$&!%$ library."
"I think it is time we both had a cup of tea." Albus excused himself and spent more time than necessary making the tea. When he returned, Severus had regained control of his emotions and he quietly apologised for swearing "like Sirius Black after three glasses of Fire Whisky".
"Severus," Dumbledore said as he poured the tea and levitated a biscuit off the plate before him, "you must tell her how you feel and you need to court her in your way."
"My way?" Snape caught the biscuit and the cup of tea that were levitated to him and placed them on the table. "What is my way?"
"That is for you to work out, Severus." Albus picked up a biscuit and nibbled it. "Although, may I suggest," he said solemnly, while his eyes twinkled merrily, "that flowers and chocolates should not be attempted."
~~~~~~~~~~
"You think you're clever, don't you?" Moody hissed in a low threatening tone.
Aurora Sinistra peeked up at him. She had been on her way from lunch, a meal that Snape and Dumbledore had mysteriously missed, to the first of her classes for the day when Moody had stopped her in the hallway. He looked furious.
"No more clever than any of the teachers here." Aurora replied in what she hoped was a gentling tone.
"Oh yes you do, young Miss Astronomer." Moody hissed. "You and that potion stirring friend of yours thought to spoil my fun. Well I'm on to you miss and so help me if you cost me any more money with your games I'll have you locked up in Azkabhan faster than you can say 'Slytherin tart'."
Aurora, who had been threatened by experts for most of her life, waited politely for Moody to finish his rant. She was about to give him a critique of his insult and explain how he could improve it when they were interrupted.
"I say, that was uncalled for and most ungentlemanly." Sir Nicholas' voice wafted down the hallway. Snuffles bounded along behind him.
"You're supposed to be a Gryffindor," growled Moody. "Why are you being nice to a Slytherin?"
"I'm not being 'nice'," Sir Nicholas said, archly. "I am reprimanding a gentleman who should know better than to threaten a lady."
"Peacock!" A guilty expression washed over Moody's features, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. The old man turned on his clawed foot and clomped off down the hall. He stopped and the end of the hall and yelled, "And get rid of that darn dog! It shouldn't be here." Then he clomped on around the corner and out of sight.
"Well," Professor Sinistra sighed, "that's torn it. No more fun." She sighed again and thought, "How depressing. And just when Severus was doing such a good acting job too. He almost had me believing him."
To be continued
Author's Note - Thank you again, everyone, for your encouragement. With all that praise, I'll soon be as egotistical as Mr Hinkypunk-pants Malfoy himself. :)
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Wizards Honour
Part 18
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"What did you say?" Alastor Moody roared.
"Please, Professor Moody," the Grey Lady floated away from the ex-Auror. "Kindly keep you temper in check."
"Are you telling me that Snape and Sinistra know that I'm running a book on them?" Moody roared. "Are you?"
"That is what I heard in them say in the Astronomy Tower on New Year's Eve." The Grey Lady said, tartly. "They were discussing which bet they were going to try to fool you with next."
"So why did you wait a week to tell me? How long have you known?" Moody yelled.
"Please Professor," Penelope Clearwater's firm but gentle voice broke into the conversation. "Think of your health."
"They know." Alastor roared. "They bloody know!"
"Professor, please, your heart." Penelope glared at the Grey Lady as she tried to calm the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Don't look at me! It's not my fault," the Grey Lady swooped out of the room, muttering about "the deplorable behaviour of teachers this century".
"So that's how it is, is it?" Moody grabbed the glass of water Penelope pressed into his hand and drained it with one gulp. "Those damn Slytherins think they can pull the wool over Alastor Moody's eyes. Well, three can play at that game."
~~~~~~~~~~
Albus Dumbledore looked over the top of his half-moon glasses and pondered the expression of the man seated in front of him. The object of his scrutiny looked harried, frustrated and confused by something. Albus had seen the man in many states before but confused was a rarity.
The Headmaster pondered using a subtle approach to the issue for all of two seconds before he said, "Are you going to tell me what is bothering you, Severus, or do I have to guess?"
"My life is a mess." Snape said morosely.
"Dear me, it must be bad." Albus bit back a smile. "You sound just like Sirius Black."
"No doubt." Snape replied absent-mindedly.
Surprised, Professor Dumbledore blinked and stared at the younger man. It was obvious that Professor Snape was in a terrible state if a comparison to Sirius Black got almost no reaction.
"My dear boy, whatever is the matter?"
After a brief hesitation, Snape began to speak. Dumbledore sat back in his chair and listened to the whole sorry story. Severus told him about the ghosts and how they'd tried to set Sinistra and himself up and about how the two Professors had managed to avoid being alone in the hallways. He told of Alastor Moody's revived betting ring and how Aurora and he had outsmarted it. He explained about the things that the two of them had done to their relatives in revenge for the Wizards Honour contract. And how they'd both tricked Snuffles and the teachers.
"I had noticed something of the sort," Dumbledore said quietly. "But why the sad face, Severus? It strikes me that Aurora Sinistra and yourself have schemed your ways into weeks of entertainment at others expense."
"Yes," muttered Snape.
"And did you enjoy outsmarting all those people?"
"Yes."
Albus sighed. The Hogwarts' Potions Master, Head of Slytherin House and Albus' chief Dark Arts expert and assistant spy-master was sitting in front of the Headmaster looking as depressed as Neville Longbottom the night before his end of year exams. It just wouldn't do. Dumbledore needed Snape to be mature, sane and slightly less depressed if the man was to be of any use to the cause.
"Severus," Albus said as nonchalantly as he could manage, "how long have you been in love with Aurora?"
"How did -?"
"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of Britain's oldest and wisest Wizards." The Headmaster's eyes twinkled and he added, mischievously. "Also, thanks to the thousands of teenagers who have attending this school in my many years here, I can recognise a young man who is truly in love. Doubtless I could do so blindfolded from a distance of two or three miles through a snowstorm, if need be. It was obvious on New Year's Eve that you are seriously smitten."
Snape tried to come up with a clever response then shrugged. "Since before Christmas." He groaned and sat back in his chair. "I have tried to ignore it but the feeling will not go away. It is most inconvenient and annoying."
"And illogical and frustrating," Albus said. Snape nodded.
"And wonderful." Albus added, lightly, then pretended not to notice the way the younger man suddenly moved in his chair. "Why don't you just accept it, Severus?"
"I did! I do!" Snape stood up and began pacing around the Headmaster's office. "But I can't get her to believe that I'm serious!"
"Oh, I see." Albus fought to keep the laughter out of his voice. The last thing Severus Snape needed at that moment was for his mentor to laugh at his embarrassment. "What have you done so far to court her?"
"I consulted an authority on the subject and gave her flowers." Snape looked very embarrassed now, although to someone that did not know him well his expression would seem to be one of mild irritation. "She laughed at them. Thought they were part of the act we were doing for Moody's benefit. So I checked my reference material and then sent her chocolates. She accepted them but told me later it was 'a wonderful joke'."
"And what authority did you consult?" Albus knew he shouldn't enjoy himself at the younger man's expense but he couldn't resist asking.
Snape muttered something and paced away from the Headmaster.
"I beg your pardon?" Albus asked after Severus had turned and started walking towards him.
"'Witches Weekly'." Snape snapped. "I confiscated it from Lavender Brown."
Albus tried to stop himself from laughing and failed miserably. Snape stood in front of the desk and scowled darkly at the chortling Headmaster then threw himself back down onto the chair, which creaked in protest.
"Severus," said Albus, when he had control of himself. "'Witches Weekly' is an excellent reference guide for love-struck young witches and overly romantic housewives however, it is patently inadequate to cope with the love life of, how shall I put it, a mature couple with Dark tendencies."
"Well, I am sorry," snarled Snape sarcastically, "but 'Lord Voldemort's Matchmaking For Beginners' was not in the @#$&!%$ library."
"I think it is time we both had a cup of tea." Albus excused himself and spent more time than necessary making the tea. When he returned, Severus had regained control of his emotions and he quietly apologised for swearing "like Sirius Black after three glasses of Fire Whisky".
"Severus," Dumbledore said as he poured the tea and levitated a biscuit off the plate before him, "you must tell her how you feel and you need to court her in your way."
"My way?" Snape caught the biscuit and the cup of tea that were levitated to him and placed them on the table. "What is my way?"
"That is for you to work out, Severus." Albus picked up a biscuit and nibbled it. "Although, may I suggest," he said solemnly, while his eyes twinkled merrily, "that flowers and chocolates should not be attempted."
~~~~~~~~~~
"You think you're clever, don't you?" Moody hissed in a low threatening tone.
Aurora Sinistra peeked up at him. She had been on her way from lunch, a meal that Snape and Dumbledore had mysteriously missed, to the first of her classes for the day when Moody had stopped her in the hallway. He looked furious.
"No more clever than any of the teachers here." Aurora replied in what she hoped was a gentling tone.
"Oh yes you do, young Miss Astronomer." Moody hissed. "You and that potion stirring friend of yours thought to spoil my fun. Well I'm on to you miss and so help me if you cost me any more money with your games I'll have you locked up in Azkabhan faster than you can say 'Slytherin tart'."
Aurora, who had been threatened by experts for most of her life, waited politely for Moody to finish his rant. She was about to give him a critique of his insult and explain how he could improve it when they were interrupted.
"I say, that was uncalled for and most ungentlemanly." Sir Nicholas' voice wafted down the hallway. Snuffles bounded along behind him.
"You're supposed to be a Gryffindor," growled Moody. "Why are you being nice to a Slytherin?"
"I'm not being 'nice'," Sir Nicholas said, archly. "I am reprimanding a gentleman who should know better than to threaten a lady."
"Peacock!" A guilty expression washed over Moody's features, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. The old man turned on his clawed foot and clomped off down the hall. He stopped and the end of the hall and yelled, "And get rid of that darn dog! It shouldn't be here." Then he clomped on around the corner and out of sight.
"Well," Professor Sinistra sighed, "that's torn it. No more fun." She sighed again and thought, "How depressing. And just when Severus was doing such a good acting job too. He almost had me believing him."
To be continued
Author's Note - Thank you again, everyone, for your encouragement. With all that praise, I'll soon be as egotistical as Mr Hinkypunk-pants Malfoy himself. :)