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 scatteredlogic for her cherished friendship and all her invaluable help.

Chapter Nine: Protective Coloring

Severus Snape paced restlessly around in front of his fireplace trying to ignore the dull ache that spread down through his injured leg and probably indicated that he was pushing himself a bit too hard again. Yet he simply couldn't make himself stay still for long. It just wasn't in his nature. When his mind was restless, his body tended to follow suit, and his mind was highly agitated at the moment.

When he'd walked into the Great Hall last night to find Minerva locked in that embrace with her ex-husband, he'd been angry, and that had confused him. Why should he care whom she kissed? She was nothing more than a colleague to him…an often annoying colleague at that. Yes, they did have a relationship that extended beyond the usual professional relationship, but there wasn't anything personal in it. It was a matter of convenience, nothing more; so why had he felt so…betrayed…when he'd seen her kissing Ian Standish so passionately in front of the whole school?

It had taken him all day, and half of last night, to finally figure it out, though it certainly shouldn't have taken that long. The answer should've been obvious. She'd lied to him, and that was something that never sat well under any circumstances. She'd pretended that seeing her ex-husband again was the very last thing that she wanted when obviously it was nothing of the sort.

If she'd lie about something like that, what else might she be lying about? Then there was the simple fact that no matter how she might really feel about the man, it wasn't safe for her to become involved with him. They'd established that he was a tool of the Dark Lord. One would think that that would matter to her, she always professed that it did, but apparently it didn't matter that much if it got in the way of her romantic feelings.

Sleeping with the enemy was never a safe thing to do…not for Minerva…and definitely not for him. She knew far too much that could potentially put his own life in danger if it was revealed to the wrong person, and if he couldn't trust her to keep silent then somehow she'd have to be kept away from the man. Somehow, she had to be persuaded that her involvement with Ian Standish was simply unacceptable.

He paused and stared down into the fire as he absently rubbed at his aching leg with the palm of his hand. Minerva was usually much more sensible than this, more pragmatic and dependable. She'd never impressed him as a foolish woman, but she was certainly behaving foolishly now.

His expression darkened. All women tended to be foolish when they were in love, though. That hideous emotion seemed to unhinge their brains, to divorce their reason and intellect from their actions and feelings. Sentimentality was a dangerous thing to allow purchase on your soul. He'd never be so foolish, he was quite certain of that.

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Slowly, Minerva walked down the dimly lit dungeon corridor heading for Snape's rooms. She hadn't spoken to him since dinner last night, an uncomfortable experience for all of them. This evening he hadn't said so much as one word to her. He'd never even glanced in her direction; as far as she could tell without turning and staring openly at him. When you're straining to see something out of the corner of your eye, it certainly might be possible for what you were looking for to be missed, but somehow she didn't think so.

He'd stomped in to dinner this evening holding that cane like he was just waiting for an excuse to beat someone over the head with it, sat down in his place, scowled at anyone who dared to look at him and then left again as soon as he'd consumed a bare minimum of the meal placed in front of him. He'd somehow managed to shake Poppy off his tail because she came in separately and ate in her usual place. Although, she certainly shot several nervous looks in his direction during the meal, she hadn't physically gone within ten feet of him during the entire time they were in the same room.

Now, as Minerva came into sight of his door, she hesitated. Perhaps coming down here hadn't been a good idea after all, but really they couldn't avoid each other forever. She'd avoided him last night because she hadn't been up to the lecture she could just see him waiting to deliver, and he'd avoided her today because…well, who knows why. Maybe he avoided her simply because he was annoyed that she'd avoided being lectured last night. If they kept this up, they'd end up avoiding each other for the entire school year, and how productive would that be?

Granted, the thought of a totally Snape free year had its attractive points, but she'd certainly miss the challenge of dealing with him, and if she was honest, she knew that she'd simply miss him. So, someone needed to make the first move here, and obviously it was going to have to be her. Also, coming here to play chess had allowed her to escape from Ian for the evening, too, a welcome respite.

Ian had made it clear that he wanted to spend more time with her tonight, and she knew that she probably should have accepted his invitation to go for a walk, but she just couldn't make herself do it. Even though she was sure that she could feel Dumbledore's disapproving gaze on her back when she'd turned him down, turn him down she did. Albus was simply going to have to understand that if she was going to be forced into Ian's company, it would have to be when she was mentally prepared for it, and tonight she simply wasn't.

When she'd protested that she had a prior engagement, Poppy had stepped in and asked Ian if he wouldn't like to inspect the infirmary instead. By the gleam in her eyes, Minerva had the idea that Poppy was hoping that more than the infirmary would get inspected, but that would at least have the virtue of keeping the man thoroughly occupied and out of her hair for the evening, so she hadn't objected in the slightest. Poppy was a big girl after all, she could certainly take care of herself, even with a greasy weasel like Ian.

Shivering at the thought of Ian personally inspecting anything or anyone, she took a deep breath and tried to banish the man from her mind. Tonight she needed to concentrate on the Potions master. She couldn't afford to be overly distracted by unpleasant thoughts of her ex-husband. He was someone else's problem for the evening. Just let it go and be thankful. Determinedly, she stepped forward and knocked firmly on Snape's door.

There was a brief moment of waiting and then Snape opened the door. When his eyes fell on her, they narrowed slightly and his features settled into one of his less spectacular frowns. "Minerva…this is a surprise. Has Ian somehow developed the ability to entertain himself this evening or are you looking for something to pass the time until you have to go and meet him?"

Minerva raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "I came to play chess, as has been my custom for some time. However, if you'd rather I not stay, I'm sure that I can find something else to do with my time. I do have some student essays that certainly won't grade themselves." Without waiting for an answer, she turned away from him and started to take a step back up the corridor.

Immediately, Snape reached out and grasped her arm in a firm grip, then he hauled her inside and closed the door firmly behind her.

"I think I'd prefer to have this conversation in private if you don't mind," he stated softly.

Her lips tightened, and she pulled her arm roughly out of his grip. "Fine. Do you want to play chess or am I wasting my time?"

"I take it your head is much better this evening. No more headache?" he asked with an edge of mockery to his tone.

"Since the headache relief potion that I took was likely made by yourself, I should hardly need to tell you that it was quite effective. I'm perfectly fit. Shall we play or not?" She pushed past him and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't try to hold her. Then she walked over to her usual place and sat down in front of the currently empty chessboard.

"Where are the pieces?" she asked, raising her eyes to his curiously.

He stared assessingly at her for a moment; then he walked over to the nearest bookcase and removed a wooden box from one of the shelves. Slowly, he walked over to his chair across from her and sank down into it, depositing the box on the table as he did so. She noticed that he was limping ever so slightly but not using his cane. In fact, she glanced around and didn't see the cane anywhere and suddenly found herself wondering if it might not have met its end in the brightly burning fire.

Silently, she took up the box and opened it. Then she carefully began to remove the pieces and set them in their proper places on the board. After the silence swelled to an uncomfortable size, she ventured a comment. "I see you've decided to put the cane aside. Do you think that's wise so soon?"

He'd been sitting sunken into his chair with his fingers steepled in front of him as he'd watched her set up the board with sharp eyes. At her words, he raised an eyebrow and lowered his hands. "If I didn't think it wise…I wouldn't have done it. I'm not in the habit of making foolish decisions, unlike some others I could name. By the way, how was your evening with Ian last night, anyway?"

Stiffening abruptly at his rather accusing words and tone, she paused with the final chess piece clutched tightly in her hand. "I didn't spend the evening with Ian last night. I took him to his room, then I went to mine and took the headache reliever potion, as I told you I would. I did have a little chat with Albus, though."

"Oh? What about?" he asked smoothly, ignoring, for the moment, what he assumed was a lie about her not spending much time with Standish.

"He still hasn't been able to figure out exactly why Ian has come, and he's decided that it's to be my job to discover just what he's up to." Minerva's eyes slid away from Snape's as she talked. Why did she suddenly feel so nervous? Angry she could understand, after all she'd been maneuvered into a tight and uncomfortable box by someone she looked to for support but nervous? That made no sense.

Snape sat up abruptly. "How convenient for you," he said softly, his eyes glittering darkly in the firelight.

"Convenient? I don't want anything to do with the man, as you well know. I haven't exactly hidden my feelings from you about this. I hoped that when he came here I could maintain a distant professional relationship with him. Nothing more. The very last thing I ever wanted was to be forced to spend any amount of time with him. That choice seems to have been taken out of my hands, though."

Her eyes flashed in anger. "I'd hoped to keep our past association a secret, as well. I didn't appreciate you telling Poppy the truth as soon as Ian's name came up in conversation," she snapped primly.

He raised an eyebrow and sneered at her. "I rather think that you were the one who gave it away…not me. Once you'd kissed the man in front of the entire school, I imagine only the most intellectually challenged of the staff and students could have failed to realize that you had some sort of intimate prior relationship with him, so don't go blaming me for things that are manifestly your own fault, Minerva."

Minerva could feel the heat flush across her face at his words. "That kiss was not my idea. What was I supposed to do once he'd kissed me? Slap him and further increase the drama of the moment? I had no choice but to go along with it. That doesn't change the fact that it wasn't your place to spread my personal business around to the rest of the staff." She rose to her feet abruptly and turned towards the door. "I don't think I wish to stay and play after all, Severus."

Just as she'd reached the door, he was upon her, grasping her arm tightly in his hand and spinning her back into his arms. His lips descended onto hers like some ravening beast seeking its next meal. Every inch of her being throbbed with the strength of the desire that flooded through her in an instant. Suddenly, she wanted him so desperately that her every nerve felt stripped raw, and her mouth sought his with matching intensity. Her hands clutched at him possessively.

Severus slammed her body back against the wall next to the door and pressed himself tightly against her, deepening their kiss even further and pushing his hands firmly into her hair, holding her head tightly against his own. As she felt herself pinned down, panic suddenly burst upon her like cold water from a tap washing away her desire in an instant. The hands holding her seemed larger…the lips on hers, broader…the hungry mouth pressed against hers smothered instead of enticed. Ian's angry image flooded through her brain, and she began to struggle against Severus irrationally. She couldn't think…she couldn't breathe…she couldn't escape…and she needed to desperately.

With all the strength she had, she shoved him off of her with a gasp. "No…no…" She breathed in huge gulps of air. He, too, was breathing hard as he stood there and watched her with narrowed eyes. "Not tonight…" her voice trailed off awkwardly as her panic faded into embarrassment and confusion.

A dangerous air hovered tightly around the dark wizard like a second skin, and his voice was deceptively calm when he spoke. "Not tonight…not last night…then when, Minerva? Do you suddenly have another headache?" Scorn bubbled up in his tone and overflowed like acid.

Unable to answer him in any way that made sense, she shook her head helplessly. "I'm sorry," she whispered faintly. "Not tonight. I…I have to go." Without waiting to see how he might react, she turned and wrenched open the door, then she ran away down the dim hall as quickly as she could.

As she came up out of the dungeon into the main part of the castle, she forcibly slowed her footsteps and tried to regain her composure. That had certainly been a disaster. What had happened to her orderly life all of a sudden? When Severus had kissed her, all she'd wanted was to have him take her, right there against the wall…on the floor…it hadn't mattered to her in the slightest. She'd wanted him desperately. In fact, she couldn't remember ever experiencing a rush of desire more intense than that she'd just experienced when his lips had touched hers, so why had she panicked like that? Pulled away and run like a skittish colt?

Her footsteps stilled, and she paused halfway up the main staircase thinking hard. Maybe she should go back. Those feelings of desire were coming back strongly now and, locked in their enticing grip, she started to turn around and take a step back down towards Severus, and what he did to her. Then the expression on his face as she'd run out on him came vividly back to mind once more holding her in place. No. How could she explain running out like that? If she went back and knocked once more on his door, he'd slam it in her face once he saw that it was her, and she could hardly blame him. What the hell was wrong with her? This sort of dithering behavior was so unlike her. Why, whenever Severus touched her lately, did she suddenly think of Ian?

Full of confused feelings, she grasped the railing beside her firmly in her hand and began to make her way up the stairs towards her rooms. She needed to be alone for awhile. She needed to think.

There was one more obstacle to overcome before she'd get that chance, however. As she turned down the corridor that led to her room, she saw Irma Pince standing in front of her door having apparently just knocked.

Minerva stopped dead in the corridor and actually thought of turning and trying to hide in a nearby empty room until Irma went away, but rejected that idea as cowardly and silly. Besides, while she was standing there wondering about her next move, Irma had turned around and spotted her and was now heading down the corridor towards her. No escape was possible anymore.

"Oh, there you are, Minerva," called Irma brightly.

Minerva forced a smile onto her face as her friend approached. "Good evening, Irma," she said pleasantly.

Irma's smile faded as she got closer and got a better look at the Deputy Headmistress. "Minerva. Are you okay? Your hair is all disarrayed. Did something happen to you?"

Minerva quickly raised a hand to her hair and was dismayed to feel some of the thick strands hanging loosely around her shoulders. What could she say? Severus wasn't particularly careful when he grabbed me and kissed me?

Suddenly, she felt incredibly tired, and far older than she'd felt mere moments ago. It was all just too much to bear. Not able to think of a thing to say, she just stared helplessly at her friend who was really becoming concerned now and stepped closer and touched her arm gently.

"Minerva?" her voice begged for some sort of reassurance. "Are you all right? What happened to you?"

Her friend's touch brought her back to herself. "I'm fine, Irma. I know this must look strange to you, but really, I am all right. Please, believe me, and don't ask me any more questions tonight. I just can't… I'm really very tired. Could we please talk tomorrow instead? We'll have tea. It's finally the weekend. We'll have tea tomorrow afternoon as we usually do. All right?"

Slowly, Irma nodded her head. If Minerva wished to wait until tomorrow then wait she would, though she certainly didn't want to. Not for a moment. "All right. Come to my rooms tomorrow at the usual time. We'll have tea. I think we're a bit overdue for a nice long chat."

Minerva nodded, so grateful not to have to go into any explanations at the moment that she couldn't possible formulate with her mind in its current state, that she tried not to worry about what she'd say tomorrow. Hopefully, she could come up with something to satisfy her friend before then. With a quick smile, she turned and hurried off to her door leaving a very worried librarian behind her.