Have Faith

Part five:

Ginormous, Incredibly Large and Grandiose Amounts of Love

Disclaimer: Really? Is it that confusing to you that I have to put a disclaimer in? I mean, I think you'd know by now that some random girl doing fanfic does NOT own any small part of Harry Potter. If I did, my stories would be in print, and they wouldn't be considered FANFICS now, would they?

When Severus awoke again, the sun was shining brightly through the thin slit of a window, the narrow golden beam landing directly over his unfortunate eyes, so when he woke up, he was temporarily blinded by the sun. He groaned and rolled over, his hand falling on an empty pillow. He paused, then looked to his side. The pale figure that had so recently filled the empty space in his bed, was now gone.

With a shock he sat up, his greasy hair sticking to the back of his neck and his cheek on one side. His right leg was asleep, having fallen off the side of the bed during the night. The left was mercilessly tangled among the sheets, making a sort of cast that ran up to mid-thigh.

After fighting with it for one seemed like an eternity, Severus freed himself from the sheet rather forcefully, his momentum carrying him halfway across the room to land on the still tea-laden table. He rushed to pull on the nearest robes, and in his haste out the door, failed to see the note on the table.

Severus,

Professor flitwick has requested to lunch with me. Well, brunch, as the case may be. I won't be too long, but just incase, don't wait up for me. Sorry I didn't wake you up, but you looked so tired and peaceful and dreamy and...anyway, I'll surely be back before dinner. I hope you can entertain yourself until then...

Ginormous, incredibly large and grandiose amounts of love,

Sylvie

Obviously, the first place Severus thought to go was the quidditch field. Of course it made sense that she would go there. She would probably like to scope it out, maybe take an experimental fly, he didn't know. The word fly, which used with any other human, magic or non magic, had a different effect. When he thought human and fly, he usually thought broomsticks. But with Sylvestra, he had to run that sentence over in his head twice.

Obviously, the first place Severus thought to go was the quidditch field. Of course it made sense that she would go there. She would probably like to scope it out, maybe take an experimental fly, he didn't know. The word , which used with any other human, magic or non magic, had a different effect. When he thought and he usually thought broomsticks. But with Sylvestra, he had to run that sentence over in his head twice.

Suddenly, he had the urge to spread his wings as well. Wings, filled with sorrow as they may be. And even though there was no rain in sight, He was so ready to. So ready to free himself from such conformity as this human body that had brought him so much shame that he was actually halfway there when someone cleared their throat, their voice aged and prim.

"Why Severus," Minerva McGonagall said, quickly shifting from her cat form and adjusting the spectacles on her nose before continuing to speak again, "I'm surprised. Eighteen years? Eighteen years and you never told anyone?"

Severus Snape quickly sucked in the feathers, turning slowly around and trying not to sweat. Well, he supposed if anyone besides Albus was to know about this, it should be an ex-transfiguration teacher and fellow animagus. Still, he felt he couldn't hate anyone any more than McGonagall right then.

"So, What is it?" She asked, her hands clasped firmly behind her back. "That was a bird wasn't it. A raven, or a grackle. No, they're both too small..." Snape cringed. It was like she was taunting him. "maybe a condor, or a cormorant? Something black...or green." Headmistress McGonagall smirked. It was obvious she was having fun, enjoying her newfound perks of being headmistress.

"Or maybe it's a..."

"It's an augurey!" Severus snapped, turning back around and looking at the spotless sky, "I mean, my animagus is an augurey, Madame." Damnit, couldn't there just be a speck of rain?

"I see. So I'm assuming you're..."

"Registered? Yes. And I have been for fifteen years."

"I...see."

"I've been an animagus for twenty-one." He said with a grudging smile.

This smart little comment got him a stern glance from Professor McGonagall. They stood, side by side, his black robes contrasted by her emerald green, and the brighter, lighter green of the fresh-cut stadium grass. Both their hands were locked sternly behind their backs, and it seemed neither was going to look at one another all day. But then a smile, albeit a prickly one, formed from Professor McGonagall's lips.

"I see you took your time filling out the ministry's forms. You are quite an interesting character, Severus. Although I know you had a few quarrels with Potter and his friends in your day," She said, "You are more alike than you realize."

Severus remained silent. There were few people in the wizarding world he liked, and McGonagall was not one of them, but two things kept him from outright loathing her. One, she was the headmistress, and if there was one thing he had learned, being careful around those in higher positions was more often than not a good move. Two, He respected Minerva McGonagall. She was an efficient enforcer of rules, she knew how to keep a classes attention, and was an intelligent spell caster herself, this being a skill that increasingly few carried as time went on. He could count the idiots away on his fingers.

"For instance, you both share, or shared an interest in Professor MacMathan," She continued, once again pulling her lips taught in order to smirk.

"As I understand, Remus and she were somewhat of an...item in his later years, weren't they?"

"...yes, I suppose so." Snape responded through gritted teeth. He wished she hadn't reminded him of that little bit of history.

"I sent for her last night, but she wasn't in her room." The old woman's eyebrows went up. "You don't know where she could've gone, do you Severus?" She inquired, trying to sound as innocent as possible, and failing miserably.

"Not the slightest idea." He retorted, turning to lock in a stare with Minerva, giving his famous penetrating glare. She fired back with a look of triumph. Like it or not, she had guessed where Sylvestra had been, and correctly too. But she didn't have to know that.

"Did you try the Quidditch field?"

"What? Here? Outside?"

"Yes, as I recall she had quite a fancy for the game. And she was the outdoorsy type."

"You know I never thought of that..."

"Wow, I didn't expect you two to be here!"

Both of them whirled to see the bright eyed Sylvestra beaming at them, wearing quidditch boots, black velvet britches with a matching skirt and shirt, a pale blue vest and a cloak of the same color. Her hair was tied back in a tight braid.

"By the way, Sevy, dear," She said. Snape winced, not daring to look anywhere in Minerva's general direction. "This morning I caught sight of a doorknob without a door. It was on your table. Could it be the one from your fourth year?" A smile played at her lips. Her lipstick made them an icy color, just like her cloak and vest.

"Yes, it could." He said hurriedly, as though it pained him. Before she had the opportunity to address the headmistress, he ushered her over to a spot just out of earshot.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing?! Where have you been for the past four hours?"

"Am I crazy?" She frowned. "Look, I can't help it if you get up three hours later than me, but the least you could do is read the notes I leave you. I was at Flitwick's, discussing things."

"Things, things like what?"

"You're getting off the point, Severus! What do you mean what am I doing, I'm talking to you!"

"Professor McGonagall is right there!" Severus hissed, barely resisting the temptation to point dramatically in her direction."

"Oh, I see...that's what it is, isn't it?" Sylvestra said, calming down some.

"Wait, what's what it is?' He realized he would have probably preferred it if she had stayed mad at him.

Sylvestra actually grinned at that point. "You don't want anyone to know how close we are. It'll ruin your reputation as the reclusive little potions master."

"No, that's not it at bloody well all! I just think it's unprofessional to—!"

He had to cut off, because suddenly her lips were on his. His eyes widened helplessly. At that small moment in time, one thought ran through his head: Fuck. Well, we're screwed now, aren't we?

Sylvestra mumbled something through his tongue. He looked confusedly down at her. She seemed frustrated, but broke away quickly to mumble "Put your arms around my waist," Before locking lips again.

Too bewildered to even remember where he was, he obeyed, leaning back heavily on his heels so as not to overbalance. Slowly, he realized this thing they were doing was kissing. As his brain still worked in slow motion when it came to romance, he didn't realize the headmistress was also standing not twenty feet away. His arms wrapped tighter around her and he closed his eyes.

When they finally broke away, she smiled and stepped back, putting her hands on her hips. "Now, don't you go anywhere," Sylvestra said, "I'm going to go and get my broomstick. Be back in a jiff!"

It was only as she was walking away, bouncing on her heels happily and probably humming a tune to herself, did the full magnitude of what just happened wash over Snape. He stood there, horrified, staring at a patch of ground as McGonagall walked up to him with one of those 'Oh really, as you were saying?' expressions on her face. Severus might've shot back with a 'shut your mouth' expression, but he seriously thought he was too horrified to function properly at the moment.

"Quidditch field indeed." She said with barely masked vindication. "Well, Severus, I have lots of work to catch up on. Don't let me keep you and Miss Sylvestra." She turned, walked about ten feet, then turned again and said "By the way, Severus, you have a little blue on the left," Tapping her finger to the corner of her mouth.

"But what I don't understand is why you had to go and do that," Severus sighed, kneading his face with his knuckles to relieve the tension.

Sylvestra ran her fingers gently through his hair, sitting next to him. The sun was setting, so she had decided to finally come in for a rest, and possibly dinner. She had not only gone for a leisurely fly, but went through all her exercises and training routines, so by the time she had landed, she was quite sweaty.

"What? Kiss you? ...Remind me why I wore velvet again?"

"I don't know," He said moodily, sounding a lot like a teenager, "You're the one who picked out your wardrobe."

Sylvestra sighed, putting a hand on Snape's knee and wrapping her arm around his bony shoulders. "Why did I do that? ...Well why not? You certainly couldn't get in trouble; it's not like they'd sack you for kissing another teacher...unless it was McGonagall herself...hold on...your not cheating on me with her are you?" She asked, trying to cheer him up by joking. He had apparently lost his sense of humor, though. Sylvestra grumbled to herself and continued. "Besides, I think it would just make the situation worse to hide it until one day it all gets blown away, and she walks in on us doing it."

"Oh god, ew!" Severus hid his eyes in his hand and cringed. "I don't want to think about that."

She laughed. "Well then, there you go! So we both agree it is better!"

He had to laugh. He hated it because she had a point. "Yea, I guess you're right, but why...?"

She put a finger over his lips, smiling softly. "Why didn't I discuss it with you? Well it's obvious you would've said no either way...and if you vetoed it and I still did it, I knew I'd be in deep shit."

He raised an eyebrow. "And you thought this all out before you kissed me."

"Well...no," She admitted, smiling sheepishly, "But they're good reasons, aren't they?"

Severus shook his head resignedly. "I will never understand you."

"I'm hungry."