Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Olivia McGonagall, Ferris Longbottom and Eudora are mine.

Chapter 2: More games and beguilement.

"Well, it seems the game is mine again. You really should learn to guard your queen instead of attacking with her all the time," Severus gloated.

Minerva shook her index finger at him. "My queen does a fine job; she just has too many enemies. If I keep her guarded all the time, she isn't useful."

He shrugged. "Still, I should think that playing against me for the sixth time over the last two weeks, you would have figured out my strategy by now."

Her brow furrowed with irritation. "Do you know that you are infuriating at times? I haven't figured out your bloomin' strategy yet because you keep changing it!"

He grinned. "Surprising your opponent is part of the fun," he paused to check the oak clock hanging above the mantle and then yawned. "It's almost midnight again. Are you certain you're up for another game? After all, tomorrow is still a school day."

She leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on her hands, supported by her elbows, giving her a feline appearance. "As long as I have a chance at beating you, I am most certainly game to play again. The question is whether or not you are awake enough to pose a challenge to me," she stated with a triumphant smile.

Chuckling, he watched as the pieces reset themselves. "Minerva, I do believe smugness has become contagious," he told her, laughing sardonically.

The game lasted until the early hours of the morning. Minerva has paid close attention to the game and found an effective strategy this time. When it was her turn again, she jumped up and shouted, "Checkmate! I've got you now!" For her queen, her knight, and her rook held his king in the dreaded deadlock.

She glanced up at the clock, which read 2:30. Then she wondered why Severus had not responded to her victory call. Noticing his head was down facing the board, she walked over to him. She almost giggled when she heard a strange, yet recognizable motor-like sound. He was sound asleep in the chair, and snoring.

He woke feeling a light tap on his shoulder and opened his eyes to find Minerva's face centimeters away from his. "It's 2:30, I beat you, and I'm leaving now. Goodnight, or good morning," she stated, departing quickly.

After the chess board was put away, instead of heading to bed, he made himself a cup of tea and scolded himself for falling asleep in front of her.

The following week a staff meeting was called for the late afternoon. Severus and Minerva were the first to arrive. They entered the staffroom and took chairs adjacent to each other. Minerva drummed her fingers against the arm of the chair as she waited for someone else to enter. Finally she turned to Severus.

"I didn't know we were early," she stated.

He leaned toward her and they talked in quiet tones. "Either that, or we missed an owl and are the only staff members who don't know that the meeting has been canceled."

She raised an eyebrow. "You really don't like these meetings, do you?"

"I would rather stick my head in a dragon's mouth," he answered flatly, causing her to laugh.

After a pause, she glanced at the title of a book sitting on one of the tables in the room. It was a guide book to Quidditch strategies. "I wonder who will win the cup when spring comes," she began.

He smiled proudly. "Slytherin, of course. We have a new beater who is quite good from what the team captain says."

She shook her head. "No, I believe Gryffindor will win. Our seeker is still faster than yours."

"Our team captain has a new strategy," he countered.

"Our team has been practicing for extra hours," she retorted.

He chuckled. "This could go on forever, you and I debating which of the teams will win. Why don't we just make things interesting and bet on our assumed victor?" he suggested.

"Fine. I'll put five galleons on Gryffindor," she declared.

"Then I'll put five on Slytherin," he added.

She laughed softly and examined her hands for a moment. "I wonder if we'll even remember this bet when spring comes," she expressed.

He nodded. "I'm certain one of us will remember, and that one will either raise or lower the wager depending on which side wins, of course." The statement caused them both to laugh.

Minerva looked away and noticed Eudora sitting in the room. The small blonde witch nearly disappeared into the floral-patterned arm chair she had selected. Slowly the other professors began to trickle in. Minerva wondered what Eudora was grinning at, but kept the thought to herself as Albus strode into the room, taking his seat next to Eudora. Minerva noted that the two exchanged warm smiles.

"Attention everyone! As you know, it is time to plan for the next two holidays: Halloween and Christmas. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding Halloween, aside from the usual Halloween feast?" Albus asked.

Eudora placed a hand lightly on his arm. Minerva inhaled sharply, having accidentally bitten her tongue. This will just take some getting used to, she told herself. "I know, we should have a costume party! The staff could dress up too, and there could be dancing, and refreshments, and it'll be great!" Eudora said exuberantly in her usual American accent, her amber eyes almost glowing.

Severus leaned toward Minerva and lightly touched her arm. "If they decide to do that, I'm going as the Headless Horseman." Somehow he had managed to lighten her mood again.

Minerva muffled a snicker. "You do that and I'll join you as the Bride of Frankenstein."

"At least then we'd have a legitimate excuse to terrify the students," he whispered. She put her hand over her mouth and looked down to conceal her laughter.

"Does anyone have any further ideas or suggestions?" Albus inquired. No one moved to counter Eudora's idea. He turned back to her with a smile. "Well, I suppose it is settled then. If you would like to organize it, we shall have a costume party. Now, on to the next order of business…" he continued.

When the staff meeting was finished, Eudora grabbed Minerva by the elbow before she could leave. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"

Minerva nodded and smiled at her friend. "Certainly," she replied. She spoke first after the others had left. "I keep thinking back to our Auror days, when you first came here from America, wanting to do your part to help the rest of us over here. I have neglected to tell you that I am happy for you, managing to enchant Albus," she told the other woman with a smile.

Eudora blushed lightly and adjusted the bun at the nape of her neck. "Thank you. In fact, my planning to marry Albus is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Are you sure you don't mind?"

"I'm fine, really," Minerva stated.

As much as she tried to hide her reluctance, in saying she was "fine," Eudora saw past the small wall she had attempted to construct. "I've known you a long time, Minerva, and I need to know if this arrangement bothers you. I want the truth, and you know I won't settle for less," she requested.

Minerva looked down at her shoes for a moment, as if to collect her thoughts. "I care about him, and I suppose I always will. We've been friends for forty years and we trust each other implicitly," she paused and released a sigh. "I have seen how he looks at you, with so much admiration. In all the years I've known him, he's never looked at me that way. I will just have to get used to seeing the two of you together."

"You sound like you're giving up," Eudora pointed out.

Minerva's nerve came back. "I most certainly am not! I don't give up, I- I just know when to move on. He and I make a good pair of friends, but that is all and I'm embarrassed that it's taken me this long to figure it out," she admitted.

The other woman stared into her eyes for an intolerably long amount of time, studying her. "Something tells me you've done a better job of moving on than you think. Now on to the other matter I'm curious about: why didn't you tell me?" Eudora questioned.

"What are you talking about?" Minerva inquired.

"Why didn't you tell me about him?" Eudora emphasized.

Minerva held her hands up in confusion. "Him who?"

Eudora shook her head and laughed. "I mean the pessimistic professor you sat next to! You know, the one you were flirting with!" she explained.

"I was not flirting with him!" Minerva declared with her hands on her hips.

"Then what were you talking about?" Minerva realized that Eudora was enjoying this interrogation in much the same way a younger sister would probe an older sister after a first date.

"We were talking about Quidditch, and we may have made a few jokes about the plans for Halloween. I would not consider that flirting," Minerva responded hastily.

"Well? What's the name of the professor you weren't flirting with?" Eudora asked.

Minerva sighed again. "He is Severus Snape, the Potions Master."

Eudora nodded, and then Minerva observed a mischievous grin spread across her face. "If you weren't flirting, then what are you doing tonight after dinner?"

Thinking for a moment, Minerva replied, "I have yesterday's quizzes to grade for one of my classes, along with a few reports. Then I'm playing chess with Severus," she paused and glanced at Eudora, who was still grinning. Then she slapped her hand over her mouth when she recalled the last thing she had said.

Eudora could not stop laughing. "Minerva, that was worse than a Freudian slip! Go on and play chess. I promise not to pry anymore." Minerva simply shook her head and was about to leave when she remembered something else.

"I have a question, have you played chess with Albus yet?"

"Of course I have. Is there any particular reason?" Eudora inquired.

"I am just trying to figure out if he let me win for forty years, or if he's just a terrible chess player," Minerva remarked.

Eudora laughed again. "Albus is just a horrible chess player. We played eight straight games in a row and I don't think anyone would let me win all eight! Now that I think of it, I have one more question for you: why haven't you been playing chess with Albus?"

"It wouldn't be proper for an engaged wizard to be playing chess with an unattached witch. You are both my friends and I would rather not make either of you uncomfortable. And, he's been losing to me for forty years. He deserves a chance or two to lose to you now," Minerva added with a smile.

Eudora eyed her for a long moment and then smiled. "I think I actually understand you. Have fun playing chess with Severus," she chirped. Minerva chuckled and at last headed out of the staffroom.

Halfway through the evening's chess game, Severus noticed that Minerva's mind seemed elsewhere. "Minerva, what's so distracting this evening?"

She actually blushed. "Eudora wanted to talk to me after the staff meeting. Aside from questioning me on whether or not I approved of her seeing Albus, she thought that you and I were flirting."

He chuckled heartily. "The day I'm caught flirting is the day I'm wearing red and gold with lions instead of black!"

She laughed with him. "The day I'm caught flirting is the day I decorate my classroom with green banners bearing snakes!"

"That sounds like a good bet for the loser of our Quidditch discussion. Be that as it may, I cannot believe what your friend has proposed to torture us with for Halloween this year. Bishop to d5," Severus remarked.

Minerva glared at the board as her pawn sitting on d5 was demolished. "I was going to use that pawn," she commented dryly.

"I believe eliminating minor threats is the point," he pointed out, leaning forward slightly.

She glared at him like a wounded lioness. "Honestly Severus, must you be such a vulture at this game?"

He laughed darkly. "The game requires a certain degree of aggression."

She scrutinized the board before responding and realized that her knight was close enough to cause trouble. A hairpin popped out from her bun, unnoticed. "You're lecturing the wrong person about playing chess aggressively. Knight to d5."

He sat back as he watched the knight he had forgotten about hack away at his bishop. "And now the game becomes interesting. Rook to e5. Check."

"A bold move. Knight to e3," she countered.

"Rook to h5. Not quite as bold as your friend's suggestion regarding the Halloween festivities this year. Is there any way we can get out of it?" he mused.

She shook her head. "Hardly. Though if you were the Headless Horseman, that idea would be almost as good as not being there because no one would recognize you. Queen to e2."

"And just what are you planning? I recall you saying something about being the Bride of Frankenstein," he reminded. "Rook to g5."

She smirked. "My hair comes down to the middle of my back. I thought it might be amusing to add a bit more gray to what is already there, along with some white, and use a charm to make it stand straight up. Pawn to h4."

He chuckled. "I think I'll come just to see if your plan works. Rook to g6."

She leaned over the table, staring intently at the pieces, calculating the possible moves. Another hairpin slipped out and hit the floor. "Retreating, are you? I suppose I ought to fix that. Rook to h3."

"You'll soon see what I am doing. Rook to e6," he said casually.

She shivered as the usual draft swept through the sitting room. "Would you mind terribly if I made a pot of tea after the game? Pawn to h5."

"That would be fine. There is a matter I think you've been sidestepping. I couldn't help noticing that you accidentally bit your tongue during the meeting. Bishop to c5."

She stared down at her hands for a moment. "I just have to get used to seeing them behave as a couple. I was caught off my guard, nothing more. Queen to c2."

"Might I ask why you have continued to endure chess games with me?" he pressed. "You once admitted to playing chess with me because you couldn't play chess with Albus. Bishop to e3."

She had forgotten about her knight and sighed heavily as the bishop stabbed it. "Eudora asked me about that too. I will not play chess against Albus again because it would not be proper of me to accept. In truth, you provide much more of a challenge, and whether or not you choose to believe me, I like your company. It would seem as though the rules were an eye for an eye in this game. Rook to e3."

He looked away for a moment and laughed darkly. "I think you're showing early signs of senility. My company couldn't be more detestable. No one in his or her right mind likes my company. Rook to e3. Check."

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Queen to e2," she pointed out.

"You should take your own advice once in a while," he prodded. "Rook to g3."

She sighed, mildly irritated. "I suppose you are correct. Talking with you helps me see what I often miss. Queen to f2."

He continued to scrutinize the board. "You give me too much credit. Rook to g5."

She brushed a loose strand of hair out of her way. "You don't give yourself enough credit. There is much more to all of us than meets the eye. Queen to f5."

Part of him hesitated, but then he remembered that chess was an aggressive game. "Though that is true, how much do people really want to know? Knight to f5."

Her shoulders drooped as she sighed, watching the knight annihilate her queen. "Severus, there are times when you are an impossible man to understand. It would appear that I have nothing left but a few pawns to fight you with. Pawn to b3."

"This has been a game well-played, I just laid a few traps you had not anticipated. Queen to e7. Check," he mentioned.

After skirting around the board with pawns, Minerva found herself in checkmate and left the table to make tea. The game had put itself away and Severus had decided to light his fireplace by the time she returned with two cups of a nameless spice tea she had found. Minerva joined him on the sofa with the tea and stared into the slowly crackling fire.

"So you do have ways of heating the cave you call your rooms," she teased.

He took a sip of his tea. "Of course I do. I just wasn't cold enough yet to employ the fireplace until now."

Finally warm, she leaned back into the sofa. "Honestly, if you don't try to keep things a wee bit warmer, you're going to wake up one morning and be frozen to death."

Turning to face her, he chuckled. "I hope you realize how impossible that is."

She laughed. "I suppose you're right. However, for the sake of your own health, you should keep this place warmer." She gazed into the fire, watching the sparks dance.

"Why should you care about what happens to me? No one else ever did," he jabbed.

She glared at him. "When you would like to accept the rope I am offering you out of your well of self-pity, you'll understand that there are people here who do care what happens to you."

He studied her for a moment, noticing that her usually tight bun had fallen slightly and grayish ebony strands slipped out around her face. Something of the stern composure of hers he had always known was present, but she also appeared relaxed. His brown eyes met her green eyes and he realized she had spoken not as a teacher to a student, but as one friend to another. He reached toward her and pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.

"I apologize. You're right: I have been wallowing in self-pity," he genuinely smiled at her. "I'm glad you are here to give me a good kick in the pants and put me in my place once in a while," he added humorously.

"I think in that way we are even. You help me remember what I've overlooked," she paused to glance at the clock. "I suppose I should be going now, seeing as it is 12:30."

She rose and walked over to the door, but before she could grasp the handle, he took her hand. Wheeling around, she faced him with a raised eyebrow. "Would you like me to walk you to your rooms?" he offered again.

"No, but thank you," she responded kindly. He politely kissed her hand again, but then she turned back to surprise him. Quickly and almost noiselessly, she placed a hand on his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek. Then whispered, "Goodnight" before darting out of the room.

"That woman's an absolute puzzle," Snape said to himself as he cleaned up the teacups.

How on earth did I convince myself to do that? I must have been out of my mind, she reasoned with herself upon entering her rooms. She spent most of the night staring up at the swirling ceiling over her bed, worrying about the outcome of her actions.

(my thanks to Aurinko and excessivelyperky for reviewing  )