Chapter eight

Severus was in a sour state indeed as he left the headmaster's office. In fact, as he was descending the final flight of stairs to reach his chambers he managed to scare a second year girl completely out of her wits as he barged past her in a flurry of swishing black robes. The dark haired professor was so caught up within his own musings that he took no house points from the girl as he passed her.

'Stupid Potter! I shall never be free of him now. Each time I remove and dispose of an unwanted thought or image of him it is replaced by a new more graphic one. Damn it, Albus! This is somehow your doing, I just know it!'

Before the potions master had realized it he had reached his the door to his chambers. Without hesitation he spoke his password, (Jade), entered and immediately looked for his whiskey. When he did find it, he poured himself a generous helping as he cursed the old man for all he was worth. Once he had downed the first glassful Severus poured himself a second glass. He then dropped unceremoniously into the chair that sat before his fireplace. The former death eater ground his teeth in frustration as once again his drink induced numbness was shattered by visions of a certain green eyed teen aged boy.

'Oh shit Harry I will never admit this to you or anyone else for that matter… I think may have done something unforgivable. I have gone and developed feelings for the saviour of the wizarding world. I damn myself each and every day because I did nothing to stop myself from falling for you.'

As he came out of his mental stupor Severus stared into the fire burning brightly before his eyes. Then with a flick of his wrist he sent his glass careening into the fire, which responded with a great spit of light as the alcohol met the flames. Only when he heard a disapproving trill did Severus take his eyes from the fire.

"Shit Fawkes tell the insufferable old coot that I can't meet with him right now, that I am indisposed."

The ex death eater wasn't sure how but he knew that the letter contained in the birds beak was his superior asking to meet with him about something, probably Potter. And that was a meeting he was not looking forward to in anyway. Snape grunted in anger as he realized the damnable bird was not leaving. He snatched the letter from the phoenix's beak and tearing it open read it quickly. Fawkes, whose job was now done prudently flew out the door which Snape had so carelessly left open. Following on Fawkes' wings was a string of very loud and vulgar curses.

"You can tell Albus if wants me then he can damn well hold his meeting here in my chambers because I am not going ANYWHERE!" Severus bellowed out in the bird's wake.

"SEVERUS SNAPE!" the potions master started as he once again turned to face his fireplace. Held within the flames was none other than the head of an angry Dumbledore.

"You are to come straight up to my office. I will hear no arguments on this, I expect to see flooing into my office within the next sixty seconds!" Dumbledore said in a stern voice that even Severus dared not challenge.

The headmaster stayed in the fireplace until he saw with his own eyes that the potions master had taken a handful of Floo powder into his hands