Author's Note: Chapter one 3.0, woot! I promise, soon there will actually be NEW things.

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Alternate Universe (where Sirius still lives...) and slash.

Disclaimers: I do not own...

Summary: They say love is blind... Well, so is Snape. And only his worst enemy is capable of snapping him out of his downward spiral into self-destruction.

Love is Blind

Chapter One: In Which Severus Hates Sweets

Severus Snape growled, "Sugar Quills," and stomped bad temperedly into McGonagall's office, muttering under his breath about stupid passwords.

"Ah, Severus. Punctual as usual. Tea?"

"What do you want, Minerva?"

She sighed. "Have a seat, Severus. The chair's-"

"I know bloody well where the chair is!" he hissed at her, dropping down into the aforementioned chair. "What is this all about?"

"In his last..." She paused, and swallowed at the lump in her throat. "Dumbledore suggested that you would make a good Deputy Headmaster."

Severus raised his eyebrows. "I find that hard to believe," he replied in an icy voice and she sighed again.

"Believe it. And I'm inclined to agree with him." Minerva tensed slightly. Severus was tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair; never a good sign. "I need you, Severus. I need you to be my devil's advocate, and argue with me, help me see the other side of the matter. You know the others aren't capable of that."

The tapping stopped. "Are you joking, Minerva? You would force upon this school a blind Deputy Headmaster?"

"You are still perfectly capable--"

"Then you are blinder than I am." The Potions Master's sneer was just as effective as it had been before he lost the use of his eyes. "If there is nothing else, then I shall take my leave." He stood, robes sweeping around him.

Minerva pursed her thin lips. If Severus was going to be obstinate-- well, she could afford to wait. "Before you go, what is your opinion on who should take the places of those we've lost?" There. See if he could resist having a say in the school's employment.

Severus stopped at the door and slowly turned back, as if in spite of himself. She mentally applauded her choice of lure. "Charles Weasley should be for Flying Coach," he answered with seeming reluctance. "It may be difficult to drag him away from his Dragons, but he will give in."

She quickly wrote that down. "And for Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

There was a long pause. Finally, he said, "Remus Lupin."

"Oh?"

"Don't raise your eyebrows at me, Minerva." She quickly lowered them, a little embarrassed that he knew her so well. "The Wolfsbane potion is past the experimental stage, so the students won't be in danger." Snape grimaced. "And as much as I would like to prefer otherwise, there is no one else either willing or capable for the job. His new reputation as a war hero should be enough to override most of the parent's complaints. In any case, the twits should be too busy mourning to notice for a few years yet."

She gave a one-sided smile. "Anything you say, Severus. And who to take my place as Transfiguration Professor?"

To Be Continued

Sorry for no more li'l Sev and Siri bickering at the end of each chapter, but frankly, I've outgrown it. That bit at the end of the prologue was my last gasp.

It took up too much space, anyway.

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