Chapter 5

Finally realizing two hours had passed in the dress shop, Andraste suggested that they go see the Sainte Chapelle. Severus obliged willingly, saying that it happened to be one of his favorite places in Paris. When they got there Andi walked through the lower chapel, making only a cursory comment about the beautiful architecture, and headed directly upstairs. When she reached the top of the staircase and turned in to the main chapel, she stopped dead in her tracks. Minutes passed as she stood there in amazement. Remembering his first time there, he wordlessly led her to the side, out of the way of anybody else that may want to enter. Two more hours passed as they stood there in silence, watching the sun set behind the stain glass windows and cast colors across the chapel. It was nearing time to be back at Hogwarts, but Severus didn't want to interrupt the trance she seemed to be in. Almost in answer to that thought, she spoke. "Let's go get a drink, then we'll go back." He had forgotten that she can read minds, that she had made a point of saying she can read his. Suddenly, every ounce of peace and comfort he had gained over the afternoon vanished. "Fine, let's go." He stood up and walked back towards the stairs, and she pretended not to notice the sudden change in his behavior.

She led him towards an American bar, the Hard Rock Cafe; and they found seats at a small table right off the bar.

"Do you like Merlot?" he asked, his tone obviously struggling to be civil.

"That would be fine," she responded. So much of her was tempted to search his mind for what was bothering him, but she resisted the urge, not wanting to violate his privacy. The waiter brought back a bottle of wine, and they both drank their first glass in silence. After he poured them each another, setting the empty bottle to the side, she ventured to speak. "Severus..."

"Professor Snape," he corrected. Somehow they had gotten back to that again.

"Professor Snape. Would you like to tell me what's wrong?"

"You're a mind reader, why don't you find out for yourself?" he said, taking a long drink of the wine he had only been sipping up to that point. Just then the waiter walked by and Andraste got his attention.

"I'd like a bottle of this wine to take with me, and the check please." She returned her focus to the man in front of her as she laid more than enough money for the bill and a generous tip on the table. "Had you been listening this morning you would know I don't go poking around in people's heads."

"Are you actually trying to tell me that you weren't listening to my thoughts in the chapel? Are you going to be a liar now, too? Is dressing like a common whore not enough fun for you?"

That was Andraste's breaking point. People were starting to stare, and now she didn't give a damn. "How dare you... you dried-up, life sucking bastard! To think that I have nothing better to do with my time than think about you. I would like to remind you, you stupid creep, that I wanted to come to Paris alone. It is not my fault that we've been stuck together today, but rest assured it will not happen again! You slimy, egotistical jerk! And if you don't like the fact that I dress like I live in the real world, that is your problem, not mine." She seemed to be struggling for more words, but instead picked up her wine glass and threw its contents in his face before he could register what she was going to do. Grabbing the bottle of wine the waiter had left her, she stalked out of the restaurant, leaving an astonished Professor Snape and a silent crowd behind her. Walking to the closest alley, she apparated directly into her room at Hogwarts, sat down, and opened the other bottle of wine.

Back at the bar Severus Snape had barely recovered from the shock of Andraste's outburst when the waiter reappeared. A pile of napkins were put into his hand, along with a double shot of something that smelled suspiciously like muggle Nyquil. The waiter said that it was sent by the men at the end of the bar, with their condolences. Without a thought Snape nodded at the men, and downed the drink. He stood up from his table, walked into the mens room, and took the portkey back to Hogwarts. 'Might as well head to dinner,' he thought to himself – he was going to have to face Dumbledore eventually anyway. Half way down the hall Severus got an unfamiliar feeling, and had to lean against the wall for a moment. It didn't take him long to pull himself together, resolving firmly that no one else would know that he was apparently very drunk. He made it the rest of the way to the Great Hall without further mishap, and strode towards his chair at the head table. He didn't realize that the entire hall had gone quiet until the silence was broken by Remus Lupin laughing. "Long day, Professor Snape?" Remus called out from the other end of the table. "What are you talking about?" he snapped back. It was only as the words left his mouth that he became conscious of the fact that he was still dressed in the4 muggle clothes Andraste had fashioned him, and covered in red wine. He felt his already pale complexion get paler as Dumbledore spoke. "Severus, I suggest that you change your clothing to something more appropriate, find Andraste, and meet me in my office. I will have dinner waiting for you both there."

Without a word, he turned around and walked back out of the Great Hall, wanting to run but refusing to sacrifice any more of his dignity. Professor Snape got angrier the closer to Andraste's room her got. By thte time he was there, he was thoroughly convinced that she had come to Hogwarts with the intention of humiliation him; of destroying the perfect reputation he had built himself. She was going to pay for this.

When he arrived at her door, he considered entering without forewarning, but chose to bang loudly instead. The door opened for him and he was accosted with the overwhelming sound of American music; a girl screaming something about a man named Joey. He yelled 'silencio!" randomly into the air, hoping to stop whatever spell she had cast.

"You actually have to turn it off," she said, pointing to the small stereo system sitting on her desk. He looked at her, confused, and then looked back at the stereo.

"Electronics don't work at Hogwarts."

"Well, if I didn't plug it in, its not quite so much an electronic, is it?"

Not sure what to say to that, he walked past the girl sitting on the floor by the foot of her bed, and turned off the music. "Dumbledore would like to see us, and I would like my clothes back."

She looked up at him, and he was sure if she was going to laugh or cry. "You've seen him already? Like that?"

"Yes," he simply said. There was no way he was going to admit to her that he had forgotten about his appearance.

"Brave man," he heard her whisper as she waved her hand. He looked down to find himself clean, and in his old clothes.

"Let's go." It was a demand on his part, not a request. He watched her stand, swerve a bit, and fall backwards onto her bed. It was then he noticed the bottle of wine that had been sitting beside her on the floor. There was only about a glass left, so he sighed to himself – figuring the damage had been done, and downed the rest in one drink. He watched as Andraste crawled across her bed, thinking that she really was a beautiful woman, that it was a shame she was a moody, aggravating, manipulative little... He let that thought trail off as she handed him one of two identical vials she had pulled form the drawer of her bed stand, and for the second time tonight, he shrugged his shoulders and downed the foreign substance.

Immediately his mental clarity returned to him and his first thought was 'who keeps sobering potion beside their bed?' That was something that warranted further investigation when Dumbledore wasn't waiting to yell at him. "Are you ready?" Andraste questioned; obviously just as sober herself now. He headed out the door and she followed him to the headmaster's office.

They walked up the stairs to where Dumbledore was waiting , and Professor Snape contemplated what he had just seen. A few meters before they reached the statue blocking the entrance, it slid soundlessly out of the way, not even slowing the pace that he and Andraste were walking at.

"Ahhh, I'm so delighted you made it, and you're even clean," Dumbledore said, without even a hint of anger. "How was Paris?" Severus wanted to ask how he knew where they went, but didn't bother; the headmaster always seemed to know.

"It was delightful, Albus; until your potions bastard called me a slut." Andi replied, her voice sugary sweet.

"I did not call her a slut!" Snape corrected.

"Oh, I'm sorry. More specifically he said that I dress like a common whore."

"She was invading my privacy. I was angry."

"He's a paranoid nut case. I did no such thing."

"I may be paranoid, but at least I'm not a lying little..."

"THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH FROM BOTH OF YOU," the Headmaster interrupted. "I will not have two of my professors squabbling like children."

Right then Professor Snape clutched his forearm, a gesture not missed by either of the rooms other occupants. "Go Severus, and return to us safely. We will finish this conversation tomorrow."

Andraste and Dumbledore sat in silence for a few minutes after Snape left; Albus knowing full well that she didn't need to ask where Severus was headed.. Andraste was the first to speak. "I think I'll go flying for a bit, to clear my head if that's alright."

"Perfectly," Albus replied. "Would you like to be notified when Severus returns?"

Andraste hesitated for a moment, contemplating the safety of the potions master. "Please." She turned and left the office, wondering in Severus Snape was the person she was here to save.