Another Chance
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 10 – Behind the Scenes (uploaded 1/07/04)
Arm in arm, Tonks and McGonagall supported Remus as they walked down to the dungeons. They couldn't find Snape in the potions dungeons, so they pulled on the tassel next to the six foot Slytherin coat of arms in the hallway. Inside Snape's chambers, bells chimed softly to alert him of visitors. "Give me a couple of minutes," he was heard to say from behind the wall, "I'm in the shower at the moment." A hiccup escaped from the werewolf. "Oh, it's you," they heard. "Go away, I have not had the time to look into your little problem. I have more pressing matters to attend to."
The three professors walked back toward Lupin's quarters, as he decided to turn in. As they passed through the Great Hall, a realization dawned on Minerva McGonagall and she started chuckling to herself.
"What is it, Minerva?" Tonks asked quietly.
"No, nothing. I shouldn't talk," she answered, trying to regain her composure.
"Ooo, it's juicy, isn't it? Is it about Professor Snape?" Tonks started bouncing around in circles around Minerva and Remus. "Tell me, tell me. I'm an auror, I can keep a secret." Remus kept walking forward, slowly, as his stomach really hurt from all the hiccups. He wasn't interested in their gossip. He concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, supporting himself against the walls, as he left the two ladies giggling in his wake.
Minerva looked around and pulled Tonks into a dark corner. "Okay, I can trust you," the cat animagus whispered, "Besides, I'll simply burst if I hold this in any longer."
"Yes! Do tell," Tonks whispered and took a cursory look around, as well.
"Well, don't you think it odd that Severus was in the shower again this evening?" Minerva whispered.
"I hadn't thought of it, I suppose he did have a long hot shower after Quidditch this afternoon," Tonks answered softly.
"He caught me and Albus in the teacher's wardrobe cupboard this afternoon, and –"
Tonks gasped, "You and Albus?" She squealed and embraced her former transfiguration teacher excitedly, keeping hold of her elbow as they whispered their way back to their quarters in gossip.
Once in Minerva's quarters, she confided, "I must say, we've been very restrained, very proper for many years. Except for a night of comfort after my dear husband passed on, we've always kept our relationship strictly professional. This recent experience of reliving our teen years has broken the barriers we've so properly kept up all this time."
"Anyway, I digress. Severus looked hurt after discovering us together. I know he had a crush on me when he was my student, but it passed as all student crushes do. Tonks, I know he's having the same hormone-driven feelings that it took to bring me and Albus closer, but he has no outlet. Severus already been warned that a relationship with any student is expressly forbidden."
Minerva turned directly to her brightly coiffured confidant and held her hands, "Tonks, I know you had a crush on him when you were a student."
"I was a sixth or seventh year student when he took over the potions curriculum. He was so young and ever the gentleman, despite his temper." Tonks thought back to her student days.
"That's what I'm talking about, dear." Minerva smiled. "Just think about it," she said patting one of Tonks's hands as she lead her guest to the door. "Good night."
~ ~ ~
In Gryffindor tower, Hermione sighed when she saw Harry brooding in front of the dark fireplace. "Harry, care to accompany me as I make my rounds?"
"Rounds, Hermione?" Harry snapped out of his daze, but only enough to operate his mouth. His brain was not yet engaged in the conversation.
"Earth to Harry, I'm head girl. Remember me? I have the 10 o'clock patrol tonight. Come with me and we'll stop in on Remus."
"Yeh, cool. Great idea," Harry's face broke into a smile and his green eyes got a bit brighter. Hermione was glad to able to cheer up her friend.
The hallways were quiet this evening. Anyone who was still awake after 10pm were either studying for their NEWTS, OWLS, or team tryouts. Harry knocked on the door to Professor Lupin's chambers. **HIC** "Harry! Hermione, I'm glad to see you." Remus smiled.
A big smile broke on Harry's face, "I'm really glad to see you back to normal."
"Well, almost normal, anyway," came Remus's reply.
"Almost?" Hermione looked surprised, "Almost, in what way?"
**HIC** "I seem to have discovered a side effect to the antidote or a bad reaction with chocolate." Remus sighed, "I don't think I'm going to get any sleep tonight."
"Have you tried –" Hermione stopped when Remus held his hand up.
"Unless you have a fail proof Muggle way of stopping hiccups, I'll have you know now that I've probably already tried it. **HIC** Pomfrey had me upside down for over 15 minutes. Thanks for checking on me, I really appreciate the thought."
"Enough of me, except for this, **HIC** I had a great day. Is something troubling you, Harry?"
"It's not a big thing, but you know that I was in a group detention this morning sanding the house benches and tables, right?" Harry reached for the pumpkin juice Remus offered. Hermione turned down the refreshments. Remus nodded his acknowledgment. "Well, under a couple coats of paint, I found a heart etched into one of the benches. I think it said L-something plus Severus. It wasn't clear because it looks like someone tried to blast it off with fire."
Harry continued, "Over the years, I've heard rumors that Professor Snape might have dated my mum when they were students here." Lupin coughed, nearly choking on his drink. Harry reached for a pastry and waited for his answer.
"I remember that. **HIC** Yes, that did used to say Lily and Severus. It happened shortly after that memory you saw in Professor Snape's pensieve a couple years ago. James was a bit upset at Lily for interrupting his fun. He etched that into the bench, egged on by Sirius. Lily found out and started yelling at James and Sirius right there in the Great Hall. **HIC** Severus, of course couldn't help but stick his big nose into James's business. He nearly blasted Sirius's arse off when he set the bench on fire upon seeing that heart. Sirius was sitting next to it. Naturally, James, Sirius, and Severus got detentions and Filch covered it up before school let out. That's it, nothing more. **HIC**" Remus looked up from the kitchen counter apprehensively, as if he thought Harry might have expected more.
Harry only smiled back, "Thanks, Remus. You know I always want to learn more about my parents. You're the closest link I have left to them and I'd like to tell my children about their grandparents some day."
"Getting serious **HIC** about someone, then?"
Harry shrugged. "No, I'd kind of like to wait until I finish Auror training. I don't think it's worth starting rumors just yet."
Hermione looked concerned at the substitute professor but took the hint that he wanted to be left alone for the evening, so she and Harry bid their 'good night' and patrolled their way back to their dorms.
Harry waited until they were half-way back to their dorms before speaking. "I've got an idea to cure the hiccups, and I know it's something he hasn't tried."
"But Harry, this is a potion-induced side effect."
"Just listen, if it doesn't work, then no harm done."
"Go on, I'm listening."
"We have to scare him."
"I'm not sure, Harry. How do you scare someone who is considered a monster by the wizarding community? How do you scare someone who is a war veteran, with many battles under his belt? You've seen him keep his head while staring down the face of death. And gosh, Harry, he's the best Defense teacher we've ever had in our seven years here."
"All good points, Hermione. I think we'll need to bring in a couple of red- headed consultants for this."
"No, Harry, not the twins."
"Yup, turn here. Let's go to the owlry."
~ ~ ~
Snape sought out Dumbledore after his shower. He was thankful that nobody spotted him as he stealthily headed to the Headmaster's office. He did see Minerva and Tonks go their separate ways, arm-in-arm, gossiping and giggling as they left their werewolf colleague painfully hiccupping down the hallway. 'Women,' he thought to himself, 'you get two of them together and they revert back to silly giggling girls. Hmm, Tonks has a nice bum and her bright hair color isn't as irritating now as—NO, stop it, you fool! What am I saying? Arrrggghh, damn hormones!'
"Severus, what brings you to my office this late?" Dumbledore inquired, his eyes ever twinkling.
"I need a decision, Headmaster. Mr. Malfoy informed me after dueling class that he wishes to speak to Professor Snape in person. I believe he has important information about his father's activities and he will not tell me by owl."
"I see," Dumbledore sat back behind his desk, looking past his tented fingers. Even though this was typical Dumbledore behavior, somehow it didn't have the same impact coming from a seventeen year old. "Have you thought about your options?"
"So far I have considered meeting him with a mask on or perhaps behind some kind of screen. Either way, he will want confirmation of my identity. I have heard too many comments that my voice, as Alan Marston, sounds just like Professor Snape's."
"Beyond concealment, how about a disguise?" Dumbledore brainstormed.
"Are you saying I should temporarily disfigure my face to something recognizable, yet not my own? What about my hair? What about my body, I'm rather proud of the body I grew into from this skinny twig you see before you now. Draco has known me all his life. He is head boy. He will know something is amiss. Fortunately for me, he usually doesn't care about anything beyond his mirror."
"What else do you have?"
"I bottled some of the potion which helped restore Lupin back to an adult. I would need to calculate the proper dosage to restore me to my proper age."
"I have polyjuice. I could take some of your hair and go in your place," Dumbledore suggested.
"Professor, my hair has been modified. There may be undesired consequences."
"Not your chest hair. Oh wait, have you sprouted any yet," Dumbledore winked.
"Not funny!" Snape scowled.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking. We could use nail clippings."
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 10 – Behind the Scenes (uploaded 1/07/04)
Arm in arm, Tonks and McGonagall supported Remus as they walked down to the dungeons. They couldn't find Snape in the potions dungeons, so they pulled on the tassel next to the six foot Slytherin coat of arms in the hallway. Inside Snape's chambers, bells chimed softly to alert him of visitors. "Give me a couple of minutes," he was heard to say from behind the wall, "I'm in the shower at the moment." A hiccup escaped from the werewolf. "Oh, it's you," they heard. "Go away, I have not had the time to look into your little problem. I have more pressing matters to attend to."
The three professors walked back toward Lupin's quarters, as he decided to turn in. As they passed through the Great Hall, a realization dawned on Minerva McGonagall and she started chuckling to herself.
"What is it, Minerva?" Tonks asked quietly.
"No, nothing. I shouldn't talk," she answered, trying to regain her composure.
"Ooo, it's juicy, isn't it? Is it about Professor Snape?" Tonks started bouncing around in circles around Minerva and Remus. "Tell me, tell me. I'm an auror, I can keep a secret." Remus kept walking forward, slowly, as his stomach really hurt from all the hiccups. He wasn't interested in their gossip. He concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, supporting himself against the walls, as he left the two ladies giggling in his wake.
Minerva looked around and pulled Tonks into a dark corner. "Okay, I can trust you," the cat animagus whispered, "Besides, I'll simply burst if I hold this in any longer."
"Yes! Do tell," Tonks whispered and took a cursory look around, as well.
"Well, don't you think it odd that Severus was in the shower again this evening?" Minerva whispered.
"I hadn't thought of it, I suppose he did have a long hot shower after Quidditch this afternoon," Tonks answered softly.
"He caught me and Albus in the teacher's wardrobe cupboard this afternoon, and –"
Tonks gasped, "You and Albus?" She squealed and embraced her former transfiguration teacher excitedly, keeping hold of her elbow as they whispered their way back to their quarters in gossip.
Once in Minerva's quarters, she confided, "I must say, we've been very restrained, very proper for many years. Except for a night of comfort after my dear husband passed on, we've always kept our relationship strictly professional. This recent experience of reliving our teen years has broken the barriers we've so properly kept up all this time."
"Anyway, I digress. Severus looked hurt after discovering us together. I know he had a crush on me when he was my student, but it passed as all student crushes do. Tonks, I know he's having the same hormone-driven feelings that it took to bring me and Albus closer, but he has no outlet. Severus already been warned that a relationship with any student is expressly forbidden."
Minerva turned directly to her brightly coiffured confidant and held her hands, "Tonks, I know you had a crush on him when you were a student."
"I was a sixth or seventh year student when he took over the potions curriculum. He was so young and ever the gentleman, despite his temper." Tonks thought back to her student days.
"That's what I'm talking about, dear." Minerva smiled. "Just think about it," she said patting one of Tonks's hands as she lead her guest to the door. "Good night."
~ ~ ~
In Gryffindor tower, Hermione sighed when she saw Harry brooding in front of the dark fireplace. "Harry, care to accompany me as I make my rounds?"
"Rounds, Hermione?" Harry snapped out of his daze, but only enough to operate his mouth. His brain was not yet engaged in the conversation.
"Earth to Harry, I'm head girl. Remember me? I have the 10 o'clock patrol tonight. Come with me and we'll stop in on Remus."
"Yeh, cool. Great idea," Harry's face broke into a smile and his green eyes got a bit brighter. Hermione was glad to able to cheer up her friend.
The hallways were quiet this evening. Anyone who was still awake after 10pm were either studying for their NEWTS, OWLS, or team tryouts. Harry knocked on the door to Professor Lupin's chambers. **HIC** "Harry! Hermione, I'm glad to see you." Remus smiled.
A big smile broke on Harry's face, "I'm really glad to see you back to normal."
"Well, almost normal, anyway," came Remus's reply.
"Almost?" Hermione looked surprised, "Almost, in what way?"
**HIC** "I seem to have discovered a side effect to the antidote or a bad reaction with chocolate." Remus sighed, "I don't think I'm going to get any sleep tonight."
"Have you tried –" Hermione stopped when Remus held his hand up.
"Unless you have a fail proof Muggle way of stopping hiccups, I'll have you know now that I've probably already tried it. **HIC** Pomfrey had me upside down for over 15 minutes. Thanks for checking on me, I really appreciate the thought."
"Enough of me, except for this, **HIC** I had a great day. Is something troubling you, Harry?"
"It's not a big thing, but you know that I was in a group detention this morning sanding the house benches and tables, right?" Harry reached for the pumpkin juice Remus offered. Hermione turned down the refreshments. Remus nodded his acknowledgment. "Well, under a couple coats of paint, I found a heart etched into one of the benches. I think it said L-something plus Severus. It wasn't clear because it looks like someone tried to blast it off with fire."
Harry continued, "Over the years, I've heard rumors that Professor Snape might have dated my mum when they were students here." Lupin coughed, nearly choking on his drink. Harry reached for a pastry and waited for his answer.
"I remember that. **HIC** Yes, that did used to say Lily and Severus. It happened shortly after that memory you saw in Professor Snape's pensieve a couple years ago. James was a bit upset at Lily for interrupting his fun. He etched that into the bench, egged on by Sirius. Lily found out and started yelling at James and Sirius right there in the Great Hall. **HIC** Severus, of course couldn't help but stick his big nose into James's business. He nearly blasted Sirius's arse off when he set the bench on fire upon seeing that heart. Sirius was sitting next to it. Naturally, James, Sirius, and Severus got detentions and Filch covered it up before school let out. That's it, nothing more. **HIC**" Remus looked up from the kitchen counter apprehensively, as if he thought Harry might have expected more.
Harry only smiled back, "Thanks, Remus. You know I always want to learn more about my parents. You're the closest link I have left to them and I'd like to tell my children about their grandparents some day."
"Getting serious **HIC** about someone, then?"
Harry shrugged. "No, I'd kind of like to wait until I finish Auror training. I don't think it's worth starting rumors just yet."
Hermione looked concerned at the substitute professor but took the hint that he wanted to be left alone for the evening, so she and Harry bid their 'good night' and patrolled their way back to their dorms.
Harry waited until they were half-way back to their dorms before speaking. "I've got an idea to cure the hiccups, and I know it's something he hasn't tried."
"But Harry, this is a potion-induced side effect."
"Just listen, if it doesn't work, then no harm done."
"Go on, I'm listening."
"We have to scare him."
"I'm not sure, Harry. How do you scare someone who is considered a monster by the wizarding community? How do you scare someone who is a war veteran, with many battles under his belt? You've seen him keep his head while staring down the face of death. And gosh, Harry, he's the best Defense teacher we've ever had in our seven years here."
"All good points, Hermione. I think we'll need to bring in a couple of red- headed consultants for this."
"No, Harry, not the twins."
"Yup, turn here. Let's go to the owlry."
~ ~ ~
Snape sought out Dumbledore after his shower. He was thankful that nobody spotted him as he stealthily headed to the Headmaster's office. He did see Minerva and Tonks go their separate ways, arm-in-arm, gossiping and giggling as they left their werewolf colleague painfully hiccupping down the hallway. 'Women,' he thought to himself, 'you get two of them together and they revert back to silly giggling girls. Hmm, Tonks has a nice bum and her bright hair color isn't as irritating now as—NO, stop it, you fool! What am I saying? Arrrggghh, damn hormones!'
"Severus, what brings you to my office this late?" Dumbledore inquired, his eyes ever twinkling.
"I need a decision, Headmaster. Mr. Malfoy informed me after dueling class that he wishes to speak to Professor Snape in person. I believe he has important information about his father's activities and he will not tell me by owl."
"I see," Dumbledore sat back behind his desk, looking past his tented fingers. Even though this was typical Dumbledore behavior, somehow it didn't have the same impact coming from a seventeen year old. "Have you thought about your options?"
"So far I have considered meeting him with a mask on or perhaps behind some kind of screen. Either way, he will want confirmation of my identity. I have heard too many comments that my voice, as Alan Marston, sounds just like Professor Snape's."
"Beyond concealment, how about a disguise?" Dumbledore brainstormed.
"Are you saying I should temporarily disfigure my face to something recognizable, yet not my own? What about my hair? What about my body, I'm rather proud of the body I grew into from this skinny twig you see before you now. Draco has known me all his life. He is head boy. He will know something is amiss. Fortunately for me, he usually doesn't care about anything beyond his mirror."
"What else do you have?"
"I bottled some of the potion which helped restore Lupin back to an adult. I would need to calculate the proper dosage to restore me to my proper age."
"I have polyjuice. I could take some of your hair and go in your place," Dumbledore suggested.
"Professor, my hair has been modified. There may be undesired consequences."
"Not your chest hair. Oh wait, have you sprouted any yet," Dumbledore winked.
"Not funny!" Snape scowled.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking. We could use nail clippings."