Disclaimer/Author Note/Rating: Please see Chapter 1 for full disclaimers, legal info, etc.

Go raibh maith agaibh:

Thank you to all of my regular reviewers. As always I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what you have to say. I appreciate those of you who have looked at both versions of Chapter 14. I know by the time you read it, you were probably let down a bit – I think my own personal angst about writing it made it sound like more than it was. Nevertheless, I am eager to hear your thoughts on it.

Special thank you to Rushumble for this chapter… You didn't know it until now but your rumor comment got me thinking and this chapter is what came out of it. Thank you for being an unanticipated muse!

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Chapter 15: A Not-So-Secret Secret

 The next morning, Severus woke to the sound of a wren singing, and then he sat up with a start, realizing he wasn't in his own bed. Next to him, Serena blinked her eyes open and pushed her hair away from her face.

Last night wasn't a dream… He was close to amazed.

"Good morning," she said with a smile.

He leaned down and kissed her. "Good morning." Then he looked around, suddenly unsure as he realized how bright the sun was.

"Go," said Serena with a laugh. "I know you need to check in on Slytherin House."

"I don't want to run…" His cheeks actually colored a little. "I wasn't expecting to stay the whole night…"

"Its fine, Severus. I'm not insulted. Really. Later, I'm going to Diagon Alley to pick up a few things. Would you care to join me?"

"Yes. I could use a few extra things for next week's potions classes."

"Then go!" She shooed him away with her hand. "The sooner you check on your little angels, the sooner we can leave. Shall we say 11:00? I'll meet you by the gate."

Severus dressed quickly and used his fingers to briefly comb back his disheveled hair. Serena, who had thrown on a t-shirt and her pajama bottoms followed him into the kitchen and walked him to the door and out onto the flagstone patio in front of her cottage. She folded her arms. It was cold; no time of year to be outside dressed the way she was. Before he turned to go, Serena gave him a kiss that made his knees grow weak. "Thank you for a lovely evening," she said.

What neither of them saw was – from the other direction – Oliver Wood on his early morning run. He slowed his pace when he saw Professor Snape.

What the bloody hell is he doing up so early on the weekend? thought Wood. He stopped in his tracks when Serena kissed Severus. Fred and George Weasley, who were sprinting, came flying around the corner and nearly ran Wood down where he was standing in the middle of the path.

"You're daft!" said George. "Why'd you…"

The twins only saw the end of the kiss, but they saw enough to understand what Wood was staring at.

Snape hurried down the path away from the cottage – and away from the them – and back towards the main part of the school. Serena stood outside for a minute, watching his retreating figure despite the cold, and then hurried back inside.

"What in the bloody blue blazes is going on?" said Wood.

"Wood, man, it's obvious…" said Fred.

"You're going to have to come to terms with it," said George. "Face it, Wood. Snape shagged her."

"Aw, don't say that!" Wood was horrified.

"You're joking, man. I only saw part of that kiss and that was just-been-shagged kiss," said Fred.

"As if you would know," snapped Wood.

"He would, Wood," said George.

"Doesn't say much for her taste in men," said Fred with a shake of his head.

"I cannot wait to get to breakfast now," said George.

"You really think she shagged him?" said Wood. "I would have done it…"

"Shagged Snape?!" gasped George.

"No, you idiot! Oh, never mind…"

"Come on." Fred started off at a dead run and the other two came close on his heels. They didn't stop running until they got to the Great Hall, which was starting to fill with students. Today was a day to go into Hogsmeade, so a large portion of the Gryffindor group was there. Fred and George nearly hurled themselves into their seats. Wood sat and promptly put his head down on the table.

"What's the matter with him?" asked Ginny.

"Shock," said Fred.

"He'll get over it," said George. "You'll NEVER guess what we saw!" He looked around the group. Ron and Harry shrugged, waiting for an answer. Hermione was looking at Wood.

"Well," said Hermione. "It must have something to do with Professor Castleton-Black. Wood only behaves like this because of her."

"What's going on?" Seamus Finnegan edged closer to Neville Longbottom so he could hear better. "What's got your knickers twisted?"

"We were running…" said Fred.

"And part of our weekend run takes us down by the teachers' cottages," finished George. "And we saw Professor Snape."

"So what?" said Ron. "He's always lurking around somewhere."

"Who'd he got to see at this hour? It's the weekend," said Seamus.

"He wasn't GOING to see anyone," snickered Fred. "He was going HOME…"

"He was leaving Professor Castleton-Black's cottage."

"No!" gasped Ron.

"That doesn't necessarily mean something," said Harry.

"They kissed." The groaning voice came from Wood and there was instant silence at the table.

"They what?" Several voices – all incredulous – asked the same question.

"They kissed! Didn't you hear me the first time?" Wood picked his head up and rested his head in his hands.

"And it wasn't a peck-on-the-cheek-thanks-for-everything kiss," said Fred. "It was most definitely a just-been-shagged-kiss."

"I told you they liked each other," sighed Hermione. She looked at Ginny with a knowing expression and the younger girl nodded.

"I'm telling you," said George. "All three of us saw it. They kissed… and Snape was leaving her cottage."

A few students from other Houses who were sitting close enough to hear started whispering amongst themselves and the story began to take wing.

The Gryffindor students were still stunned, and then the Weasley twins outdid themselves.

"And even better?" said George. "When she was outside and she kissed him? She was just wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt."

"And it was cold," said Fred. "Definitely cold."

Wood's head came up off the table. "Aye," he said, his cheeks coloring slightly. "It was a wee bit nippy out."

"You're disgusting," snorted Hermione, knowing exactly what they were referring to. "Is that all you ever look at..."

"Shhh! Shhh!" said Ginny. "Shut up!"

The table went silent as Professor Snape walked past them but they couldn't contain themselves. The giggling started before he'd taken five steps past where they were sitting. He stopped, his back stiff, and turn towards them, raking an icy glance across the table.

"That would be an awful funny prank, George," said Ginny, thinking quickly. "Wouldn't it, Hermione?" She kicked Hermione under the table.

"Yes," said Hermione, forcing herself to giggle again. "It would!"

The whole table caught their meaning and all complimented George on his imaginary prank. Professor Snape watched them for a few more moments before he continued on his way. As he left, Neville Longbottom watched him go, and a sad expression crossed his face before he turned back to his group of friends.

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Let me know what you think… and I know some of you will ask so I'll answer with a preemptive strike… Next chapter has more Malificus, and hopefully a little something to surprise you. Please, read/review!