TOXIC (Part 2)
Severus waited quietly in the shadows, for Albus to acknowledge he was there. He had been waiting for a good ten minutes now, and it was starting to get the better of him.
Albus looked up for his correspondence, "Severus, why don't you sit down? They should be here soon."
Sit down. Oh, bloody hell this could only mean trouble for Snape. "No, I prefer to stand. But might I ask you why my presence is needed here?"
There was a twinkle in the headmaster's eyes. "Of course, Severus." But he didn't answer his question; instead he went on shuffling papers about his desk.
Why, was it every time he was asked a question he did this. "Well? Why?" Severus had become tired of the guessing games. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. Why not when every day of this double life of his was so uncertain?
"Well, since you can't wait. You, will be taking Miss Granger on this summer." Albus watched for a sign of what he thought was hidden under the surface. But it never came.
"I have never needed help. I prefer to work alone." There was a silence that seemed to last a lifetime.
"It is time Severus." The Professor knew that tone, and knew it wasn't to be questioned. The headmaster had his reasons. Severus knew they weren't to be questioned.
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Moments later the three Gryffindors entered the Headmaster's office. They quickly took in their surroundings and noticed the office appeared empty. Although Hermione thought that she could just make out the outline of someone deep within the shadows in the corner.
He watched her from the shadows, holding his breath as he willed her not to see him. It must have worked because a moment later she turned her attention back to the boys next to her. 'Well what did you expect Severus? Stay inside the shadows too long and you will be lost among them.' The Potions' Master was well cancelled within the shadows, shrouded by his dark robes and his night black hair. Deep within his cowl his face was hidden as well. But that critical little voice in him kept telling him it wasn't healthy.
"Ah, I see I have kept you all waiting." The Headmaster came down from the second landing of his office, a letter held tight within his hand. As he did so he gave the shadows in the corner a knowing smile.
Dumbledore took the seat at his desk, placing the letter face up so it was in plain view. Hermione noticed it was from her parents. But why where they writing to him, was she in some sort of trouble?
She shot Harry a look that could have stopped a clock. 'If he has gotten me into any kind of trouble he is a dead man.' Bad enough Snape was probably thinking she was crazy for her actions in class today.
"Well, as you all know you will be leaving tomorrow. Yet you three will be doing some work for the Order over the holiday." Dumbledore looked at them over his half moon spectacles.
"Harry, Ron, you will be doing some research on The Dark Arts. You can send owls to keep in touch until you, Harry, go to stay at the Borrow."
Severus had to hold back a snort of disgust. If Potter and Weasley were helping the future didn't look too bright. What where they going to do stop the Dark Lord with a couple of crud comments?
Ron just stared open mouthed at Harry for a moment. "What if his aunt and uncle don't let him have any owls?"
"Ron, really I am sure Professor Dumbledore has that taken care of." Things had taken a turn for the better. Hermione had thought they were here to be punished, but instead they were going to work for the Order. In the shadows The Potions Master smiled with pride at her answer.
"You, Miss Granger, will be staying at The Orders' Headquarters. I have already asked your parents, and they have agreed that you would be an asset." His eyes sparkled with pride in the three students that stood before him.
"But Headmaster, that means that I am to spend the whole summer in that big house alone?" Her voice faltered slightly at the thought of being alone for so long.
No one, accept Albus noticed Snape move from his hiding place. He closed the distance between himself and the girl in a matter of moments.
"You won't be alone." The voice was like black velvet in her ear.
Hermione jumped backwards with a start. Only to realize to her dismay, that she had just bumped into a solid wall of chest. That could only belong to Professor Snape.
Turning around to meet his eyes, Hermione quickly realized that was a mistake, and lowered them. "Sorry, Professor." There was just enough time for Severus to catch the blush that crept across her cheeks.
"What do you mean she won't be alone?" Harry couldn't keep the venom out of his voice as he addressed Snape.
"I will be keeping our dear Miss Granger company this summer." There, it was out in the open, and Snape's mind felt a little lighter. And from the look he got from Potter he knew the boy was against it.
'One upped you again, Potter.' Severus was really wishing the little Snape in his head would shut the hell up about now. Hermione on the other hand had a look of pure horror on her face. 'Would you look at her Severus. She is horrified at the notion of spending the summer in your presence.' Damn his conscious for pointing that out to him. And damn him for even caring.
"Miss Granger will be assisting Professor Snape in some potions research. I am sure she is up to the task." At this Albus gave Severus a look that said this is the best for both of you.
"I will not keep you any longer, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley will be leaving on the train tomorrow. Miss. Granger you will notice when you go back to your chambers that your belongings are already gone." Albus stole a quick look at all four of them, to make sure they were paying attention to him. "You will be accompanying Professor Snape this evening to Order's headquarters."
No one said a word, as the three students exited the office. Once the door was shut and the two men were alone together Severus spoke up.
"Do you really think this is necessary, Albus? I mean really she is only a child." He didn't need to look away from the Headmaster when he asked the question. After all if he could fool The Dark Lord, then Albus would be no problem.
Dumbledore gave him one of his all knowing smiles, "Severus, my boy, this is best for you both."
Severus waited quietly in the shadows, for Albus to acknowledge he was there. He had been waiting for a good ten minutes now, and it was starting to get the better of him.
Albus looked up for his correspondence, "Severus, why don't you sit down? They should be here soon."
Sit down. Oh, bloody hell this could only mean trouble for Snape. "No, I prefer to stand. But might I ask you why my presence is needed here?"
There was a twinkle in the headmaster's eyes. "Of course, Severus." But he didn't answer his question; instead he went on shuffling papers about his desk.
Why, was it every time he was asked a question he did this. "Well? Why?" Severus had become tired of the guessing games. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. Why not when every day of this double life of his was so uncertain?
"Well, since you can't wait. You, will be taking Miss Granger on this summer." Albus watched for a sign of what he thought was hidden under the surface. But it never came.
"I have never needed help. I prefer to work alone." There was a silence that seemed to last a lifetime.
"It is time Severus." The Professor knew that tone, and knew it wasn't to be questioned. The headmaster had his reasons. Severus knew they weren't to be questioned.
********************************************************
Moments later the three Gryffindors entered the Headmaster's office. They quickly took in their surroundings and noticed the office appeared empty. Although Hermione thought that she could just make out the outline of someone deep within the shadows in the corner.
He watched her from the shadows, holding his breath as he willed her not to see him. It must have worked because a moment later she turned her attention back to the boys next to her. 'Well what did you expect Severus? Stay inside the shadows too long and you will be lost among them.' The Potions' Master was well cancelled within the shadows, shrouded by his dark robes and his night black hair. Deep within his cowl his face was hidden as well. But that critical little voice in him kept telling him it wasn't healthy.
"Ah, I see I have kept you all waiting." The Headmaster came down from the second landing of his office, a letter held tight within his hand. As he did so he gave the shadows in the corner a knowing smile.
Dumbledore took the seat at his desk, placing the letter face up so it was in plain view. Hermione noticed it was from her parents. But why where they writing to him, was she in some sort of trouble?
She shot Harry a look that could have stopped a clock. 'If he has gotten me into any kind of trouble he is a dead man.' Bad enough Snape was probably thinking she was crazy for her actions in class today.
"Well, as you all know you will be leaving tomorrow. Yet you three will be doing some work for the Order over the holiday." Dumbledore looked at them over his half moon spectacles.
"Harry, Ron, you will be doing some research on The Dark Arts. You can send owls to keep in touch until you, Harry, go to stay at the Borrow."
Severus had to hold back a snort of disgust. If Potter and Weasley were helping the future didn't look too bright. What where they going to do stop the Dark Lord with a couple of crud comments?
Ron just stared open mouthed at Harry for a moment. "What if his aunt and uncle don't let him have any owls?"
"Ron, really I am sure Professor Dumbledore has that taken care of." Things had taken a turn for the better. Hermione had thought they were here to be punished, but instead they were going to work for the Order. In the shadows The Potions Master smiled with pride at her answer.
"You, Miss Granger, will be staying at The Orders' Headquarters. I have already asked your parents, and they have agreed that you would be an asset." His eyes sparkled with pride in the three students that stood before him.
"But Headmaster, that means that I am to spend the whole summer in that big house alone?" Her voice faltered slightly at the thought of being alone for so long.
No one, accept Albus noticed Snape move from his hiding place. He closed the distance between himself and the girl in a matter of moments.
"You won't be alone." The voice was like black velvet in her ear.
Hermione jumped backwards with a start. Only to realize to her dismay, that she had just bumped into a solid wall of chest. That could only belong to Professor Snape.
Turning around to meet his eyes, Hermione quickly realized that was a mistake, and lowered them. "Sorry, Professor." There was just enough time for Severus to catch the blush that crept across her cheeks.
"What do you mean she won't be alone?" Harry couldn't keep the venom out of his voice as he addressed Snape.
"I will be keeping our dear Miss Granger company this summer." There, it was out in the open, and Snape's mind felt a little lighter. And from the look he got from Potter he knew the boy was against it.
'One upped you again, Potter.' Severus was really wishing the little Snape in his head would shut the hell up about now. Hermione on the other hand had a look of pure horror on her face. 'Would you look at her Severus. She is horrified at the notion of spending the summer in your presence.' Damn his conscious for pointing that out to him. And damn him for even caring.
"Miss Granger will be assisting Professor Snape in some potions research. I am sure she is up to the task." At this Albus gave Severus a look that said this is the best for both of you.
"I will not keep you any longer, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley will be leaving on the train tomorrow. Miss. Granger you will notice when you go back to your chambers that your belongings are already gone." Albus stole a quick look at all four of them, to make sure they were paying attention to him. "You will be accompanying Professor Snape this evening to Order's headquarters."
No one said a word, as the three students exited the office. Once the door was shut and the two men were alone together Severus spoke up.
"Do you really think this is necessary, Albus? I mean really she is only a child." He didn't need to look away from the Headmaster when he asked the question. After all if he could fool The Dark Lord, then Albus would be no problem.
Dumbledore gave him one of his all knowing smiles, "Severus, my boy, this is best for you both."