Disclaimer: To be J.K. Rowling, or not to be J.K. Rowling...wait...what kinda question is that? I can't be J.K. Rowling because I don't own Harry Potter!

Comments

bigkihap: Thank you for your wonderful comments! I also loved that "question" Albus asked Minerva. I was sitting in class one day (probably in AP History or Pre-Calculus), and I had this great idea, and then...the scene just came to me!

ADandMM4eva: Poor Severus is right! But yes, you shouldn't yell at the person that's trying to help you!

catgirl89: I'm glad you bumped into my story, and I hope you keep reading!

kyer: Like you said, it may seem that Dumbledore sometimes doesn't care too much about Snape because he favors his Gryffindors like how Snape does his Slytherins. I think Dumbledore really does care for Snape, but he gets caught up in too many things and cannot give Snape enough of his time. I guess that's what it's like to be the greatest wizard of the age!

Quill of Minerva: Yes, and Chapter 12 is here, so look no further!

Rosaleen: It isn't a nice memory!

Lou. McGonagall: Yes, Remus is very sweet :)

Dracosballduster: Well...I think this was the most...er...interesting review I've ever received. But let me tell you, and I don't mean to be rude when I say this, but from reading your review, you sound like you're: A) a psyco, B) a homicidal nutcase, or C) a deep-in drug addict. Yeah, A and B are kind of the same. Oh, and I did not take a whole three minutes out of your life because YOU were the one that decided to click on the link to read my story in the first place! Also, I'm leaning towards answer C because of the random comments about PokeMon. There's no mention of PokeMon in this story, so I have no idea where that came from. You also said, "Don't review to peoples story if you can't come up with ideas half ass good as theirs." That is exactly how you wrote it, and I think you spelt "people's" and "as" wrong and you do not need the "to." I really don't think I've read or reviewed any of your stories (because you're an anonymous reviewer and I've never seen the name "Dracosballduster" in my life), so this is kind of a random thought as well. Most of the reviews I give praise the author for their hard work (I think the "worst" I've said was watch for minor spelling and grammar errors, but I also admitted to not having perfect grammar). You seem to really hate Harry Potter, so why are you even bothering to read any of the Harry Potter fan fiction? This makes me think that you have too much time on your hands and no life whatsoever, so I encourage you to go out and get a life! Oh, and one more thing. I'd appreciate it if you dropped all the blaspheme. Thanks!

Rhiane Raine: Yes, I understand that my chapters do end kinda funny (it's like every three chapters or so is a complete chapter). I'm trying to give the readers almost daily updates, so please exscuse my chapters! Also, yes, Severus is out of character. Once he recovers a bit more, I have him in a more Severus-from-the-series mood. If you want to read a story where Severus is more in character, keep an eye out for my next story (around the end of February or early March, I think), which I am pretty sure I will be calling The Side Effect...

XiaoGui: Yes, you, like many others, have been wondering how Albus and Minerva will react to Severus' memory! You should start to see their reaction in this chapter, but more so in the next (I think)!

Rikki8879: Thanks for your review!

I apologize to all the readers and reviewers for wasting space replying to a review like Dracosballduster's. I also apologize to anyone who is offended by what I said to Dracosballduster. To everyone else who reviewed, thank you very much!

Anyway...this chapter contains Minerva's answer to Albus' question from Chapter 9. Will she say, "Yes, Albus, I love you!", will she reject him, or will she forget what his question was? Find out today in...Chapter 12! Enjoy!

saiyanwizardgurl

Chapter 12: Question Answered

Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall burst through the door to the Potions Master's rooms. The scene before them made their hearts drop. Severus Snape was sitting on his bed, trembling violently. His knees were drawn up and he had his fingers woven through his black hair.

"Oh, Severus," whispered the Transfigurations teacher before rushing over and enveloping Snape in a hug. She was closely followed by the headmaster, who wrapped the two of them in his embrace.

Snape stiffened. "I-I'm sorry," whispered the Potions Master. "I'm making a big deal out of nothing. Don't worry about me; I'm just being stupid."

"No, you're not, Severus," said Dumbledore. "If anyone should be sorry, it's me. I'm the headmaster; it's my job to make sure that all my students are safe. It's my fault that you were treated that way."

"You can't take all the blame, Albus," said Minerva, softly. "It's my fault as well. I didn't try as hard as I should have to keep those boys under control."

"No, really," said the younger wizard, looking up slightly. "It happened a long time ago. It doesn't bother me."

"Yes, it does," said McGonagall as both she and Dumbledore pulled out of the hug to look at Snape.

"No, it doesn't."

"Then why are you shaking?"

"Because – because it's kind of cold in the dungeons when you're not wearing a shirt!"

Dumbledore flicked his wand, and a fire began to roar in the fireplace. "Better?" he asked.

"Yes," said the Potions Master. Despite his response, he wrapped his arms around his torso.

Dumbledore sighed inwardly and pulled the younger wizard into another embrace so that he was resting on the headmaster's chest. "You've been working too hard again."

"Nonsense," mumbled Snape, closing his eyes and leaning his head on Dumbledore.

McGonagall looked at the alarm clock, which read 11:37 am. "Are you hungry, Severus? It's almost lunchtime."

The Potions Master did not answer right away. "A little," he whispered after a while.

"Ah, excellent!" said the headmaster. "Dobby?"

There was a small crack!, and Dobby appeared on the bed. His eyes lit up when he saw the three wizards. "Hello, professors! What can Dobby be doing for yous?"

"We were kind of hungry," said Dumbledore. "Do you think you could bring us some lunch?"

"Oh, yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir! Right away! Dobby will be back soon, sir!" The house-elf disappeared with another small crack!

Snape sighed. "Why must house-elves be so annoying?"

McGonagall laughed. "They're not annoying, just a bit overexcited."

"A bit overexcited? You must be joking. They act like the Creevey boys."

"What's wrong with the Creeveys?" asked the headmaster.

"Oh, nothing," said the Potions Master. "There's just the fact that they scuttle around with wide eyes, they bounce off the walls whenever Potter comes into view, and the older one has that stupid camera permanently attached to his neck."

"Yes, well, they do all of those things. I recall having to tell Mr. Creevey to put his camera away on more than one occasion, especially in his first year." said the Transfigurations teacher.

"That's nothing. Tell me, did he take pictures of everything in your class on the first day?"

"No? Why, did he try to in your class?"

"His camera only stopped flashing when I told him that I was going to turn it into a giant tarantula."

"Dobby is being back, sirs and miss!" Dobby and a dozen house-elves scampered into Snape's rooms bearing a tankard of pumpkin juice, three goblets, and a plate of sandwiches on a fold-out tray. "We is bringing you lunch!"

"Why, thank you, Dobby, that was very fast," said Dumbledore, and the house-elf beamed at him. He flicked his wand and levitated the tray onto the bed.

"Please be calling us if you are needing anything else, Professor Dumbledore, sir! We is being down in the kitchens, sir!"

"All right." And with that, Dobby and the other house-elves marched out of the room.

"Well, Severus," said the headmaster, releasing Snape from his embrace, "you first."

The Potions Master, under the watchful eyes of the witch and wizard, hesitated before picking up a roast beef sandwich and nibbling into it. Dumbledore and McGonagall watched the younger wizard take a few more small bites before reaching over to take a sandwich.

"What day is it?" asked the Potions Master suddenly.

"It's Sunday," said the Transfigurations teacher. "Why?"

"I have papers to grade and lessons to prepare."

"Severus!" exclaimed the witch. "Can't you just take one day off?"

"For your information, Minerva, I've just taken the entire weekend off. That's more time than I can spare right now. And look who's talking. It's not like you take days off!"

"Yes, I do!"

"When was the last time you took a day off?"

"Hmmm…well…I don't know."

"See!"

"But I'm not sick right now!"

"I'm not sick!"

"Yes, you are," said Dumbledore.

"I would hardly say that I am ill, Headmaster," said Snape, taking another bite of his sandwich. "Perhaps I am a little tired, but my health is just fine."

"Yeah, right!" said McGonagall.

"Don't start with me, Minerva!"

"Easy, you two," said the headmaster. "Don't bite each other's heads off!"

"I wasn't," said the Potions Master, finishing his sandwich. "Besides, I'm full anyway."

"You only had one sandwich, Severus," said Dumbledore. "How can you be full?"

"I dunno," said Snape, yawning. "I just am."

"And you said you weren't sick," said McGonagall with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up!"

"Severus!"

"Oh, all right. Be quiet!"

Dumbledore banished the food tray as the Transfigurations teacher helped Snape into bed. "I'll be back in a few hours. Sleep well," said McGonagall, kissing him on the forehead.

"Kay," mumbled the Potions Master, snuggling into his pillows.

"Albus," said the Transfigurations teacher, turning to the headmaster, "could I have a word with you?"

"Certainly, my dear."

Dumbledore followed McGonagall out into the Potions Master's office. The Transfigurations teacher turned to face the headmaster and began to play with the edge of her robes. "Well," she said, "I was thinking about that question you asked me, and…well – "

Suddenly, she threw her arms around Dumbledore's neck and kissed him lovingly. The headmaster was shocked for a second, but soon began to kiss her back. After a few sweet moments they broke apart, and the witch looked into the wizard's eyes. "I love you, Albus Dumbledore." Then she turned around and left the office.

The headmaster stood still for a moment, a smile playing on his face. "I love you, too, Minerva McGonagall."

Please Review!