A/N: Yep, here he comes, Severus Snape himself. Parts of this I wrote due to multiple requests by a single lady (hiya M, *g*, when will I find your name under the reviewers????) and a lovely AD/MM/SS I read once. This is the first time, I actually try to write Severus, so I don't really know, how it comes out. The same goes for the little fight down there. Thus, I would really appreciate comments from your side – YES! That was me begging for reviews. Lol

As for my reviewers, thank you all. Petriebird, I do agree with you…I'll see, how I can write that in…

So, on we go….

Chapter 6: Encounter of the unpleasant Kind

Melina stealthily crept through the dungeons of Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Inwardly, she shook her head. Her family really had more secrets than she had ever thought. A direct floo connection to the potions classroom from her grandfather's study. It was unbelievable…

Her aunt had only grinned as she gave her the special floo powder, which would cover her journey and told her to use some of her auror tactics to go from the classroom to Severus' chambers.

Severus Snape – she couldn't believe it. Severus Snape – the Slytherin darling, cold, arrogant, silent, royal pain in the butt. That was what he had been during their time in school. Of course, Melina had not really been interested in him. He came to her attention only as the annoying Slytherin, who came into their ways, when she was out for mischief with her cousin James and his friends. Although, they were a year younger than she was, she had been best friends with the Marauders and was usually a part of their pranks. And they had been her partners in crime when she had played cupid for aunt Minerva and Professor Dumbledore…

Melina grinned at the memory, but quickly came back to the present. Snape had been a part of that trick too. Although rather involuntarily. And now she was here to get him to help her aunt. Against Dumbledore…She didn't like this. She didn't like it in the least. But she had promised Minerva to bring him over to the cottage.

Looking at the door before her, Melina recognised it as the door to Snape's chambers…Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for the use of her 'slip in'-charm and, what would be even more trying, the encounter with Severus Snape…

***

Inside, Severus Snape sat at his desk, stared unseeingly at the ceiling and tried to make sense of the day. Which wasn't easy. Dumbledore's speech had shaken the school to its core. About its effect on him, Severus didn't dare to think.

Dumbledore and Voldemort siding with each other – working together – was a nauseating thought. Never before had the news of a peace been taken so negatively. Seeing the two wizards standing together had filled the students and teachers alike with horror. When Dumbledore announced the peace, nobody had cheered. Instead, the Great Hall was filled with a tense silence. And then the old man had dropped the bomb: Voldemort would take over as headmaster.

Since then, the whole school, even the Slytherins, seemed to hold its breath. Tomorrow, the new headmaster would arrive…and what would happen then? Would a long and broad trail of blood cover the grounds, wiping out all signs of half-bloods and Muggle borns? Would everybody, who had opposed the Dark Lord be subjected to his revenge? If so, Snape would find himself on top of that list. Along with Potter and his minions, along with Lupin and McGonagall.

Severus had caught a good look of the trio during the speech. Granger had shaken her head in disbelief throughout the whole show, Weasley seemed ready to throw up (judging from the greenish color of his face) and Potter had looked as if his world was falling apart. He understood, how the boy felt. Severus sneered at himself 'Now that was a first, him understanding Potter and feeling the same way' – but it was true.

And then an owl had flown in, delivering the message that Voldemort would come the next day to assume his new position.

After the show was over, Professor Sprout, with the last shred of control left in her, had send the students off to their dormitories and then released the teachers to prepare for the impending arrival of their new superior.

What would become of the school? One thing was certain, it would not stay they way it was, not the way Dumbledore or McGonagall had handled the school. Severus grinned. Another thing was sure, Minerva would put in one hell of a fight to keep Voldemort from changing anything….If she got a chance, that is.

That thought drew Snape out of his chair and he leaned against the desk with his arms crossed. He shuddered inwardly. Where was McGonagall? Nobody had seen her in the school for three days straight. They had looked everywhere, but had found neither hair nor hide of the Deputy – now acting – Headmistress. It was so unlike her not to be there for her classes and not even leave a message. When it came down to her teaching duty, McGonagall didn't play around.

Snape was worried about the woman. Despite their constant bickering, his respect and admiration for Minerva had grown immensely over the years. Especially, since the second rise of Voldemort she had become an indispensable part of their force. Being second to Dumbledore, basically every detail went through her hands. She was one of their top strategists. She led a small special force (what this squad exactly did, was a secret even to him, but he knew it was a crucial force), trained new members, taught her classes and took over as headmistress, whenever Dumbledore was away, which had become a regularity. And through all of this, she seemed to actually enjoy herself.

Even though his own workload was heavy, Severus didn't know, how she did it. How Minerva could juggle all her tasks and bloom through it, was fascinating and drew him to her. She was a very attractive woman, despite being almost twice his age and Severus had to check himself hard, not to fall for her. She was Albus' woman, after all…

But where was she? Had something happened to her? Was she the first victim of whatever was going on here?

Some stick poking him into his back painfully jolted him out of his musings. He mentally slapped himself for not paying attention to his surroundings. Thus, somebody had been able to sneak in and was now threatening him, for this stick in his back couldn't be anything else than a wand poised to curse him.

Severus mentally plotted his escape, when his attacker hissed: "Don't even think about it, Snape! Hands up! Turn around, slowly! No funny business!"

The potions master did as he was told, raised his hands, turned around and gasped…

"Hello Severus. Long time no see." His attacker said in a cold voice. Snape's breath caught.

The woman in front of him almost looked like Minerva, from the tall shapely figure, over the dark hair, right down to the deep dark eyes that used to look at him with defiance and challenge. Only the voice was different, for this woman put all her disgust with him into it.

"Melina." He acknowledged his tone matching hers. "What gives me the 'pleasure' of your visit?"

The woman bristled. "Don't believe that I am here for utter enjoyment. I'm here on business."

"No, why else should a princess like you come down to the world of a lowly nothing like me." He sneered.

"Nothing? Lowly nothing?" Melina screeched. "That's the way you are treating people. You think, just because you are a Slytherin, you own the world. And everybody, who is not 'worthy' enough to join your temple, is a nothing. You call them – call us – mudbloods, but that's what you are…You …you…" Her temper was near the boiling point.

"I…what, Melina?" he replied coolly.

"Your world? Why I don't come down to your world?" she sneered back "Who would want to be in a snake pit?"

Snape's eyes blazed. Damn Gryffindors. Damn that woman. He had a history with her – and not a pleasant one. Melina McGonagall had been the star of the school in their time. A-student, charms specialist, Quidditch chaser, beauty queen, everybody's darling and – of course – Gryffindor's princess. And, she had been in the Marauder's gang pulling pranks wherever they could. Very often, he had been the butt of their pranks. And he had hated her for it, maybe because of his short-lived secret crush on her. She, of course, had never given a damn and he had put away the mere notion as far as he could.

And now, more than 20 years later, she was here, in his chambers, in the middle of the night, throwing insults at him.

"So, why did you bother?"

"Arrogant bastard! It was certainly not my idea. If it weren't for a good cause, I surely would stay away from you as far as I could."

It was true, she would never come to him without a good reason, Severus knew that. He had heard her cursing him. After the Potters were killed, she had attacked him in a fit of rage with words and her fists. He sighed feeling defeated and too tired to fight with her.

"So what do you want, Melina?" he asked almost gently.

The woman stared at him suspiciously. Was it a trick? Or was he really willing to act civilized? …He seemed to be sincere and therefore, Melina tried to reign in her temper. It wouldn't help her aunt if she ticked off Snape. He was still that arrogant jerk, but he was the one who could help them.

McGonagall took a deep breath. "It's about aunt Minerva."

"Minerva? Is she alright? Did anything happen to her? Where is she?" the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Meli raised her eyebrows in surprise and a frown settled upon her face. This sounded almost as if Snape was worried. Almost like he cared. If yes, good. If not, well, then they had to take the appropriate measures. "Yes, she is alright and well. But I can't tell you were she is. And I won't." She drew in a long breath. "But she needs your help. There is a potion to brew and she believes that you are the right man for it. She also believes you to be trustworthy…" here she paused. "Something, I am not sure, I would agree to. But as she thinks so, alas, I will follow her opinion."

Severus was taken aback. Not by Melina's comments, but by the request itself. Minerva needed him to brew a potion? She trusted him? Internally, he almost grew some inches in pride. He had finally accomplished it.

"What kind of a potion?"

"I can't tell you. Not here." Melina gestured around. "The school is not safe enough for this kind of talk. You have to come with me."

"Where to?" Snape was suspicious.

The woman merely smiled "You'll see."

****

A/N: So, what do you think? Please let me know, for this was a really difficult piece to write and I'm quite uncertain, how it turned out.