Disclaimer: Oh, no you don't, laddie! You don't own Potter! That Rowling lady does!

Comments

duj: Yeah, Severus is kinda sorta very out of character, but that's how it goes...

Selena: I thank you for your correction, but I would like to tell you that it is wrong. According to page 529 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry saw Snape's worst memory in Dumbledore's Pensieve ("Harry recognized it at once – Dumbledore's Pensieve.").

theravenwaits: Thanks for your very nice review! I also like these family-like stories with Minerva and Severus fighting and Albus and Minerva getting together.

excessivelyperky: There isn't too much happening in school now because it's the Easter holidays, which means no classes, some students may have gone home (maybe), etc. But I will try to put in some of the "outside" world (there'll be some in the next chapter). Thanks for the suggestion!

Rosaleen: Nice to hear from you again! Thanks for your review! Not too much ADMM in this chapter, but more will come later!

MoroTheWolfGod: Yeah, Severus so had a right to act the way he did (I would even draw that conclusion if I was in that situation.)!

Rikki8879: Yeah, Severus is getting a lot of shocks in this story!

Thanks to all who reviewed! Sorry it took so long for me to update; I thought I would actually have a spring break (I have to practice math for the Math Bowl and film my school project)! I'll try to put in another update this week, though. This one's kinda short, but I hope you enjoy it!

saiyanwizardgurl

Chapter 17: Discussions

Minerva McGonagall looked up from her book when she heard a knock on her office door. "Come in."

The smooth oak door swung open to reveal the thin frame of Severus Snape. He was dressed in his usual black robes. The Potions Master still looked tired, and the Transfiguration teacher could see him leaning forward slightly. "Severus! What are you doing here?"

"We need to discuss some things for next term," said the wizard, casually.

"But it's late! You should be in bed! Surely you could have waited for me to come down tomorrow? Here, sit down," she said, gesturing to the couch across from her, "your back must still be bothering you."

"Minerva, it's only five-thirty. And what make's you think my back is bothering me?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

"You're leaning forward."

Snape glared at her for a brief moment. "Point taken," he muttered as he sank into the comfy sofa.

"So, what would you like to discuss, Severus?"

The Potions Master tried to lean forward, but winced. Instead, he whispered so that he was almost inaudible, "Is the headmaster going to be staying here at the castle when the students return?"

"Hmmm. I've been meaning to ask him – "

"Because I don't think it would be very wise. Dolores walked into my office on Monday when he was staying in my rooms. He could have been seen."

"Yes, he had a close call with me yesterday. I suppose he concealed himself from Dolores long before she caught a glimpse of him, but he still scared me."

"Who scared you, my dear?"

At that moment, Albus Dumbledore walked into McGonagall's office, a politely confused expression playing across his face.

"You did!" said the Transfigurations teacher.

"Yu? Who is Yu?" asked the headmaster.

"Not 'Yu,' 'you!'" said Snape, gesturing towards the older wizard.

"Severus! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Why must you both insist upon treating me like this? Headmaster, I am not a child!"

"Of course you're not, Severus," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling as he sat down next to Snape.

"But you think I am," grumbled the Potions Master.

"Now when did I say that?"

"You always call me that!"

"Well…I suppose I do. It's a habit."

Snape sighed. "Of all the things in the world that had to be habit-forming, you had to pick chocolate, those blasted lemon things, and the word 'child.'"

"Lemon drops."

"What?"

"They're called lemon drops, Severus. Speaking of which, would either of you care for one?" asked the headmaster, pulling out a bag stuffed with the sugary sweets.

"No, thank you," said McGonagall (politely) and Snape (with disgust) in unison.

"You two don't know what you're missing!" said Dumbledore, tossing a lemon drop into the air and catching it in his mouth.

"I'm glad," muttered the Potions Master.

"There's an Order meeting tomorrow night," said the headmaster, sucking on his lemon drop. "We need to inform the other members of your potion, Severus, in case any unfortunately come across it."

"When?" asked Snape, closing his eyes and tilting his head back onto the couch.

"Seven-thirty."

"All right, Albus," said McGonagall. "Now, on a more serious note."

Hmm, wonder what I did, thought Dumbledore.

"We don't think you should be wandering the castle once the Easter holidays are over," said the witch.

"But why not?"

"Why not!" exclaimed Snape. "Because there's a no-good, backstabbing, wretched, good-for-nothing, dunderheaded, midget frog-woman roaming the castle, that's why!"

My, Severus has really thought this out. "Come now, Severus," said the headmaster with a smile, "I don't think that Dolores is all of those things!"

"Believe me, Headmaster, she is," said the Potions Master. "She works for Fudge, so she's no-good. She's rather fickle and untrustworthy, which makes her a backstabber. She's on a mission to screw us all, so she's wretched. She's good-for-nothing because…well, she's no-good. She can't keep the students in line or hold the staff's loyalty, so she's a dunderhead. She is a midget, no explanation needed. And she's a toad, also self-defined."

The other two laughed. "You always have to be so thorough in your explanations, don't you, Severus?" asked McGonagall.

"No, I've just had a lot of free time because some people would like nothing more than to keep me locked in my rooms and chained to my bed, never to get up again!"

"Come now, Severus! That's rather harsh!" scolded Dumbledore.

"And yet you make no move to contradict me," said the younger wizard.

"Oh, Severus," said the Transfigurations teacher. "We're not trying to keep you chained up for the rest of your life!"

"Just for the holidays," said the headmaster, his eyes twinkling brilliantly.

"I knew it!"

"Albus!"

"What? Oh, all right. We're not trying to keep you chained up; we just want you to rest," said Dumbledore, putting his hand on the younger wizard's shoulder.

"I know. But I swear you two act like you're my parents!" muttered Snape to himself.

Dumbledore and McGonagall smiled at each other. "I must be off," said the headmaster, standing up. "I have to meet with Arthur Weasley in half an hour. I'll be back later."

"And I guess I'll go back to my rooms like a good little boy," said the Potions Master, rolling his eyes. He leaned forward, but winced. Giving up on getting up the 'normal way', he attempted to push himself up with one of the couch's arms, but winced again and only succeeded in toppling himself over onto the floor.

The other two tried not to laugh. "Here, Severus, let me help you," said Dumbledore, scooping the skinny Potions Master off the floor into his arms. The headmaster began walking towards the door, but did not get out before an outburst from the younger wizard.

"Headmaster, what are you doing? Put me down!"

"And let you strain your back walking down to the dungeons?"

"I'll be fine! Just put me down, or I'll – "

"Or you'll what, Severus?" said Dumbledore in a mock-threatening voice.

"Or I'll take away your lemon drops!"

"Nonsense, Severus," said the older wizard, putting Snape gently back on his feet. "I would hex you long before you get my bag of lemon drops!"

A/N: I know the Yu "joke" was retarded, but I like the name Yu (like Yu Watase, the creator of Fushigi Yugi). Also, that "joke" was in Rush Hour 2.

Please Review!