A/N- Sorry for the humongous wait for this chapter, I had not realized that I had not updated in… Well forever really. I know this isn't very long, but I promise that I will not wait nearly as long for the next chapter.

Disclaimer- I claim Severus Snape and he will be my love-bunny. Snape gives me a very long glare WHAT?! I didn't say that I owned you… Really…

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Chapter 9- The Headmaster Must be Crazy

A plan? Albus and 'plan' never usually worked in stride together in anything that was 'simple' by any means. It also gave me light satisfaction. I had been right, he was being two faced. I narrowed my eyes at him. "I knew you would."

He chuckled a moment before giving me a look that oddly resembled a smirk. There were times I wondered if this man was not truly meant to be a Slytherin. "As I was saying, I am going to do something for you. I am going to give you a two-year leave… Well by the time you leave due to the circumstances it will be closer to a three year leave, actually, but I see no other way for this to play out."

I crossed my arms. "What in the name of Merlin are you rambling on about?"

"I am simply giving you the chance to attend those classes at VAMI that you are always talking about." The classes? He was going to let me attend Vestrian? Surely this was too good to be true. Much to my shock and horror, I felt the sudden strange joy I felt to this news spread across my face into a big toothy grin, which I would assume to be an interesting sight had I only a mirror, though I probably would have screamed at the image. Or broke the mirror…

"Surely there must be a catch?" As the realization dawned on me, I asked the question, with Albus there was almost always a catch… A condition of terms if you will, to each and every favor he allotted those 'fortunate' enough to receive such thoughtless, helpful things. This occasion, I feared, would be no different than any other, for this man's sadistic humor was one of those 'little things' that people always forgot to mention when speaking of him.

"A catch?" His eyes sparkled with innocence. I knew it- there WAS a catch. "I wouldn't phrase it as a catch, necessarily, but more of an opportunity, if you will."

I schooled my expression into a sneer, and raised my brow. "Opportunity, headmaster?" I kept my tone as close as I could towards that of being bored. I wonder if he noticed.

He ignored the question though and instead continued to rattle on. "Or perhaps you might find it to be more of a second chance, a return to-" Return to? What in the bloody hell was he blabbering on about? "A return to yourself, a chance to get away from your normal duties as the head of Slytherin." He trailed off and I once again attempted to question the crazy man.

"What exactly are the terms you are speaking of?"

My voice brought his attention back to the present. He smiled and then held out his hand, which was conspicuously closed around something. "Lemon drop?"

Bloody, insufferable, miserable… He then opened his hand to reveal a very small, yet lumpy sack that more than likely held said candies. Did the man NEVER leave those stupid things behind? Honestly… I groaned and gave him a pointed stare, hoping that he could see the loathing coming from my eyes. "Would you happen to have one that would explode inside of my mouth? If your answer happens to be no, which is the most likely of cases, then I shall have to decline your rather… gracious offer." I spoke low with a slight hiss to my voice, which I have been told, produces and acid timbre to it.

He sighed as he retracted the small bag, changing his expression to one that was more somber. He sat back into the chair, closing his hands around each other. "It would seem that on such notice we weren't able to get a good replacement for you, else I would say for you to spend the remainder of the year in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. But alas, it would seem that the only person willing with some sort of credibility, is not yet available until next year." He paused, so I took the opportunity to voice my thoughts.

"I do not see how this is a problem, Albus, I could finish out the year here, and then-" He held up his hand, and I stopped.

"Excuse my distress Severus, but I cannot allow you to teach in your current condition. It may not be so very wise to reveal to young sources the disposition of the rose." He looked over his glasses and I decided I better figure out his hidden meaning… Then… Oh…

"I see." Albus had sometimes used the word 'rose' to refer to my being a spy. It was something that he found similar, beautiful and seemingly serine, but very painful if one looked closer. I was the 'perfect' servant of the master, yet I had a part in killing him. A thorn if one will. Of course I couldn't teach like this, if the children of the left over deatheaters found out of my exploits to remove the mark… It was not precisely a thought I wished to dwell upon. "What is it that you suggest then? For me to spend the entire year hiding in my rooms?"

Just as I finished with my 'trademark' sneer, he smiled; and not just 'smiled', he SMILED- that damned unnerving smile of his, that he every so often donned. I involuntarily shuddered. There were times that I swear that Albus inspired fear more quickly then the Voldemort ever had, and that smile was usually the root of them. It meant he was about to do something 'amusing'. And when I say 'amusing', I mean his amusing, not my own, for the things that he came up with is usually purely at my own expense, yet entirely fun for him. I hated that look. Two prime examples: When he had me tutor 'the boy wonder' two years ago, and then again when he had Lupin return. Oh yes, this must not be good…

"The answer is simple, my dear Severus, as you already look the part. I plan for you to simply masquerade as a seventh year student."