Disclaimer: None of the recognizable characters and settings belong to me. They are all the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing around with them for the fun of it…no monetary gain is sought.
This story is dedicated to scattered logic for her cherished friendship and all her invaluable help.
Chapter Seven: Deceptive AppearancesMinerva McGonagall headed down to dinner with a huge knot in her stomach. Would Ian be there? He was supposed to have arrived in time to have tea with the Headmaster, but she didn't know for sure whether or not he had. No message had come alerting her to his presence, and she'd managed to stay very busy all afternoon in order not to waste time dwelling on it. Yet, now, as she moved closer to the dining hall, she couldn't avoid thinking about it…about him. It had been almost twelve years since the last time she'd seen him. At that time, she'd been lucky enough not to actually speak to him. Too bad she couldn't make it to thirteen…
Now, here she was standing in front of the entrance to the Great Hall like a nervous schoolgirl, twisting her hands together and smoothing imaginary wrinkles from her robe. This had to stop! She was Deputy Headmistress of this school. She had a reputation and an image to uphold. When she saw him, she'd simply smile politely and shake hands, and that would be that. No one needed to know that there had ever been any more to their relationship than that. Indeed, if she was lucky, no one who didn't already know the sorry truth would ever even suspect that there had been any prior relationship at all.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the Hall and paused to look up at the head table. There he was, seated next to the Headmaster, making small talk. She frowned. Really, Albus could have at least placed him at his other hand so that Flitwick would get the honor of conversing with the man instead of her. That would've been the considerate thing to do, after all, but probably not the most interesting to watch. So, naturally, he didn't do it. She truly loved Albus. He was a kind and helpful friend most of the time, but his streak of mischievousness did tend to get in the way occasionally.
Thoughtfully, she considered her ex-husband. He looked as if he'd put on a little weight with age, though his frame was well able to handle it. Ian had always been a physically imposing man. His once gingery hair was now an unruly iron gray, though he hadn't lost any of it certainly, and his arrogant face supported a neatly trimmed moustache and goatee. In fact, he looked quite fit, which was a pity. She'd been hoping that he'd be a frail and wasted creature by now…balding and sickly looking. Apparently, that was too much to hope for. Oh well, might as well get this over with.
With determined steps and a noncommittal expression, she began to make her way up the side of the room, heading for her usual place as quickly as she could, without attracting an undue amount of attention. As she reached the edge of the table, her heart sank as Ian glanced up and saw her coming towards him. A wide smile crossed his face, and immediately, he rose to his feet. So much for slipping into her chair unnoticed. As butterflies stirred restlessly in her stomach, she slowly walked down the length of the table to stand before him. She forced a smile to her lips and extended her hand. "Hello, Ian. Welcome to Hogwarts," she said politely.
"Minerva! It's so good to see you again. You look as lovely as ever," he answered with a pleasant lilt to his rather gruff voice. Then he reached out as if to take her hand, but instead, he pulled her into an intimate embrace. To her shock and horror, before she knew what was happening, Minerva found herself being enfolded in unyielding arms and kissed quite passionately in front of the entire school.
Her first impulse was to struggle against this outrage, but then she realized that if she struggled, it would only look worse to everyone. So, instead, to the accompaniment of an excited chorus of young voices, she raised her arms to grasp his elbows tightly, dug her fingers as deeply into the muscles of his arms as she could without making it too obvious, and allowed the kiss to run its course without any particular participation from her. If he'd wanted to wrong foot her from the start, he was doing a spectacular job so far.
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Poppy and Snape made their way slowly towards the Great Hall for dinner. Although she'd approved his returning to the hall for meals, she'd insisted on accompanying him on his first trip. Not that there was any need of it, other than her pitiful desire to keep control of him and his movements, Snape was quite sure of that.
As they left the staircase and crossed the entrance hall, Poppy kept grabbing hold of his arm, and he kept shaking her off.
"There is no need for you to be hanging off of me like some sort of clinging house plant, Poppy!" he hissed in annoyance, as he once more detached her supportive grasp. "I am absolutely fine and well able to move about under my own power. That's why I have the damn cane, after all."
"I'll be the judge of that, Severus. I can still order you back to the infirmary, you know, if I'm not satisfied that you can manage properly on your own." She grabbed his elbow tightly once more.
"How the hell will you know whether or not I'm capable of managing on my own if you won't let me try to walk unassisted for more than thirty seconds at a time?" he exclaimed in exasperation as he shoved her away from him yet again.
She glared angrily at him in return as she grabbed his arm tightly once more just as they reached the doorway to the Great Hall, already full of those eagerly awaiting dinner.
"I'm trying to prevent you from ending up on the floor in front of your students. I'd think you could show a little gratitude," she huffed.
"Gratitude!" He opened his mouth to argue further when he happened to glance through the doorway, up towards the head table, and stopped abruptly, with his chastising words dying on his lips. His face darkened swiftly, and his expression shifted from one of annoyance to one of anger.
Poppy turned to see what he was staring at so intently, and her mouth fell open in surprise. "Oh my," she whispered hoarsely with a touch of envy in her tone. "Who is that absolutely striking man who's kissing Minerva so passionately?"
Snape's eyes narrowed and never moved from the figures on the dais who were so intimately entwined. "I believe that must be Ian Standish from the Board of Governors. Minerva's ex-husband." His voice was very cold, and much harsher than he'd intended.
"Her ex-husband? He's certainly not acting like an ex. How fascinating." Poppy blushed as she watched the extraordinary sight continue on in front of everyone. "They should probably find a more private place to be doing that, though," she murmured softly.
Snape's lips tightened at the thought. Then he frowned with a touch of annoyance at himself. Why the hell was this bothering him? He ought to find it amusing, but he didn't. Not at all.
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When Minerva was finally able to pull back from Ian's kiss, it took all of her strength not to haul off and slap him hard, especially as she noted the huge glint of amusement in his eyes. No doubt he only did that to put her on the defensive immediately, so that he could enjoy her discomfort and begin their latest forced association from a position of power. He had to know that if she made a public scene after that, that she'd be the one who'd end up looking bad. Bastard!
Ian smiled at the silently fuming witch and shrugged apologetically. "I'm sorry, Minerva. I know this isn't exactly the place for a greeting like that, but I'm afraid I was a bit carried away at seeing you again. Can you forgive me?"
Minerva bit back her true feelings, cleared her throat, and smoothed down her gown nervously in order to regain a modicum of her composure. With a sweet smile on her lips, that didn't reach her eyes, she hissed softly, "Don't think I don't know why you really kissed me, Ian. You always have to have the upper hand, don't you, and you thought it would be amusing to embarrass me in front of my students."
His smile deepened, but the amusement in his eyes died away. "Nonsense. I was simply very happy to see you. However, I don't think you need concern yourself with the students. It appears that they've already forgotten us. Something else seems to have attracted their attention." He nodded towards the figures in the doorway, towards which, everyone in the hall now seemed to be looking.
Minerva lifted her gaze to follow his, and her heart sank to see Severus standing there with Poppy at his elbow, both of them staring straight at her. Poppy looked as if she couldn't decide whether to be titillated or scandalized, but Severus looked angry. Very angry. As her dismayed eyes met his, he turned abruptly away from her and wiped his face blank. Then he and Poppy began to make their way slowly towards the head table to the accompaniment of much muttered speculation.
"Who is that anyway?" inquired Ian in a politely curious tone.
"That's Severus Snape and Poppy Pomfrey," she answered automatically. "Severus is our Potions master. He was badly injured a little more than a month ago and hasn't been able to teach until today. Poppy is our nurse. This is the first time that Severus has been able to join us in the dining hall since his injury. So, naturally, everyone is very interested and pleased to see him back."
Ian scanned the faces of the students as they watched Snape and Pomfrey traverse the hall. "Doesn't look to me as if most of them are all that glad to see him back. He must not be a very popular teacher." Then he turned back to her and added softly, "You look pleased to see him, though."
To her horror, she felt her face growing slightly warm at his comment. Damn the man. They hadn't spent more than five minutes together yet, and he'd already managed to make her incredibly uncomfortable twice. She turned and frowned deliberately up at him. "Of course, I'm pleased. Severus has been through a very rough and painful ordeal. I'm glad to see that he's improved so much. It'll be nice to have the entire faculty together again."
Her eyes slid away from her ex-husband and focused on the, no doubt listening, figure of the Headmaster sitting just beyond. "Won't it, Albus?" It was about time that the man helped her out here instead of merely sitting there and observing everything without comment. Sometimes Albus' wait and see attitude annoyed her no end.
Taking the cue she thrust at him, Dumbledore stood up and moved away from his place at the table, nodding in agreement. "Oh, absolutely. Having Severus laid up has been quite a trial. It's nice to see that everything will shortly be getting back to normal around here." He smiled happily at Ian. "This will make it easier for you to see the school the way it normally functions, too, Ian. With everyone in their proper place."
Minerva noted that Albus didn't say why or to whom having Severus laid up was a trial. Probably just as well.
By this time, Poppy and Snape had made their way down the full length of the hall and were stepping up onto the dais. Instead of stopping at his usual place, though, Snape continued up the table past Irma Pince and Professor Vector to join their little group gathered around the center of the long table, with Poppy now trailing along behind, her face a mask of exasperation.
Snape's dark eyes snapped with suppressed emotion as he came to a stop before Minerva. Before he could open his mouth and actually say anything though, Dumbledore intervened. "Severus, my boy, it's so good to see you up and around. So nice that you could join us for dinner, too."
Snape's eyes raked over the small group of people who were all currently staring at him and seemed to rethink whatever he'd been going to say. "Thank you, Albus. It's good to be back. However, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd call off your watchdog. I am perfectly fine, and I'm quite capable of moving about under my own power without being fussed over every step of the way." He shot a glare at Poppy, who was once again hovering at his elbow watching him carefully.
At the disparaging tone of his words, the nurse colored deeply and expelled a sharp breath. "I'm just doing my job, Severus," she protested fiercely.
Once more, Dumbledore intervened to stop Snape's snarling reply before he could utter it. "Yes, yes, I'm sure that you are, Poppy, but Severus is right. He does need to be given a bit more space to see what he can do on his own. If he has any problem, I'm sure that he'll summon you at once."
"When hell freezes over," Snape muttered softly.
Poppy turned and glared at him, but he merely cocked his head and glared back.
"Yes…well…in the meantime, I'd like for the two of you to meet Ian Standish from the Board of Governors," Dumbledore continued. "He's here to perform an evaluation of the school."
Ian smiled pleasantly. "Oh, not really an evaluation, Albus. Merely a thorough looking around to see just how we on the governing board can be the most useful to you and your professors. It's more of a fact finding mission that anything else, I assure you."
Dumbledore nodded happily. "I'm pleased to hear it." He then extended his hand to indicate both Poppy and Snape. "Ian, this is Poppy Pomfrey, our nurse. The sole responsibility of keeping us all healthy and vigorous around here rests on her very capable shoulders."
Ian took Poppy's hand in his and smiled warmly into her eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam Pomfrey. I look forward to having a chance to speak with you at length about your needs here at the school."
Poppy blushed and was a bit slow to remove her hand from his. "I'm looking forward to talking to you as well, Mr. Standish." Minerva had to consciously stop herself from rolling her eyes at Poppy's rather school girlish tone.
When the smitten nurse did finally withdraw her hand and step back, Dumbledore continued with his introductions. "And this is Professor Severus Snape, our Potions master."
A slight tension seemed to permeate the air between the two men as they came face to face, as if somewhere, someone was holding their breath in expectation. Ian smiled a carefully polite smile, nodded pleasantly, and extended his hand. "I'm glad to meet you, Professor Snape. I look forward to visiting one of your classes."
Snape hesitated fractionally before taking the proffered hand in his for the briefest amount of time allowed by societal politeness. Coolly, he nodded his head. "Mr. Standish. I've heard a lot about you. Welcome to Hogwarts." Something flickered deep within his eyes as they caught and held the older man's.
"Thank you, Professor Snape. My welcome so far has been quite warm." There was an answering flicker in Standish's gaze then Ian smiled and deliberately turned his eyes once more to Minerva. "Quite warm indeed," he added softly.
Minerva felt highly uncomfortable as Ian's too familiar gaze was accompanied by Snape's dry murmur, "Yes…apparently so." To cover this sudden feeling of unease, she turned away from both men and took her seat at the table to begin her meal. Taking their cue from her, everyone else took their seats as well, and the meal got under way.
The house elves had outdone themselves and, if possible, the number of choices and courses seemed even more elaborate than on most days. Thus the meal seemed to drag on and on forever…at least to Minerva. Ian tried his best to draw her into reminiscences of the past. Did she remember this person or that event…whatever happened to so and so…etc…etc. The more he talked, the more fiercely her head throbbed, so that by the time the desserts were cleared away and the coffee and tea poured, she felt as if even the slightest movement would take the top of her head clean off.
Finally, they all got up from the table to leave, and she thought that at last she'd be free to make her escape when Albus turned to her as she was edging away and asked, "Would you please see that Mr. Standish finds his way back to his rooms all right, Minerva? I'm afraid that I have a meeting with Professor Flitwick that I simply must attend to right away."
Dismay flowed through her veins like ice water. Why was he doing this to her? He had to know that she didn't want to have to spend any more time with Ian than necessary. "Oh, Albus, Ian has been to Hogwarts before. He went here to school, after all. I'm sure that he knows the way back to his rooms as well as I do."
"Actually, Minerva, I'd appreciate having the guidance. It's been a very long time since I've been here, and things have changed quite a lot. Albus is right; I got quite turned around on my way down here for dinner. I'd be grateful if you'd see that I was able to find my way back to my rooms without any trouble." Ian smiled ingratiatingly down at her, his warm eyes burrowing into hers.
Well, it had been worth a try, though she hadn't held out a lot of hope that she could get away that easily. She glanced down the table towards where Snape was once again trying to shake Poppy off his sleeve. "All right," she forced a pleasant expression onto her features with difficulty. "Come with me." Then she turned away abruptly and started down the table as Ian was saying his final goodnight to Dumbledore.
As she walked past Snape, the man suddenly reached out and grasped her arm tightly. She looked up at him in surprise to see him frowning darkly down at her. "Can I expect to see you later, Minerva?" he asked in a soft, vaguely threatening tone.
As Ian had now joined them and was watching their exchange with interested eyes, she shook her head briefly. "Not tonight, I think. Once I take Mr. Standish to his rooms, I intend to seek my own for the night. I have rather a bad headache."
Snape dropped her arm abruptly and raised an eyebrow. "Sorry to hear it. I hope you'll feel better soon." As she gazed into his eyes, she realized that he didn't really believe her and thought that she was just making excuses, but, at the moment, she didn't really care. All she wanted right now was to escape from all of them and find a little peace and quiet…somewhere she could be completely alone.
Poppy turned and looked at her with concern. "Do you need something to take for the headache, Minerva?"
"No, Poppy. Thank you, but I have something in my rooms. I'll be fine."
Poppy nodded and turned to Ian with a big smile. "It was so nice to meet you, Mr. Standish. I hope you enjoy your first evening at Hogwarts."
Ian nodded pleasantly. "Oh, I'm sure that I shall, Madam Pomfrey." His eyes slid quickly away from the nurse's, though, to focus warmly on those of his former wife. "I'm sure that I shall," he stated softly once more.
Without another word, Snape abruptly straightened up and began to move away from them all, heading up through the Great Hall as quickly as he could. With an exasperated sigh, Poppy gave a final bob of her head to their visitor and rushed off after the fleeing Potions master, leaving Minerva and Ian to make their way out of the Hall together…and alone.
