Disclaimer and Notes: JKR owns it all. No money made, but lots of time wasted. I am converting from serial drabble format for this fic, welcome to my first attempts at long fic. I have no beta, all mistakes are mine, all mine. Not slash.

Title: Toasting Life

The two wizards walked in silence until reaching the stony shores of the loch protecting the north side of the castle, the waters smooth and dark as obsidian glass reflecting the night sky.

"Well we are finally here," stated Albus breaking the solemn moment by abruptly setting his basket of toast on the ground. "You will need to grab a slice Severus, I am sure the squid is quite hungry," he announced lightly.

Severus numbly complied, snatching a pale piece of stale bread as Albus reached into his pile pulling a nicely browned slice.

"Toast is an interesting food is it not?" Albus commented more than questioned as he flung the bread upon the waters watching it skip twice then float upon the surface of the lake.

Severus frowned answering the inane announcement disdainfully, "it is an adequate sustenance, cheap, plentiful, and by the accounts of these baskets a waste since its usefulness is rather short."

"Correct on all accounts but one," retorted Dumbledore cheerfully. "It is not a waste, see for yourself," he spoke as a tentacle rose above the water snatching the food.

Snape fingered his toast slightly flinging it so it too skipped across the waters.

"Excellent throw!" exclaimed Albus merrily, "I do believe you have the knack for this."

Albus reached low into the basket, pulling out an almost white slice. "It is interesting, toast that is. It reminds me of alchemy in many ways."

Snape reached into his basket pulling out several burned pieces of bread, anything to hurry the task along feeling his patience tested due to the weariness of the night's events. He began aggressively flinging the toast in rapid succession.

"Yes! That's the way. You are a natural if I say so myself!" Albus proclaimed to the lake.

"Where was I, forgive me Severus, oh yes Alchemy. I remember long ago that a magical fire could temper materials and alter them, change them for better or worse. It is not unlike the oven that tempers the bread, caramelizing the starches to form the toast. Would you agree?" enquired Albus gesturing with a slice of toast twiddling between his ancient fingers.

Severus glared toward an uncaring lake biting back a nasty retort. "I fully understand the principles of Alchemy and have for some time. Hermione loved discussing-" and he heaved another slice of hardened bread onto the lake trying to bury another memory.

Albus voice lowered a bit. "Of course, of course," he muttered sincerely while glancing at the bitter grimace of his companion slinging toast. Reaching into his robe Albus retrieved a citron and popped it into his mouth knowing Severus would never stop grieving for Hermione but perhaps the young wizard could adjust and live with the memories constructively; he feared his companion might be tempted to embark on another drastic unthinkable step.

The elder continued twirling the barely toasted slice of bread in his hands, as Snape's attention focused on the intense concentration Albus directed towards it.

Blue concerned eyes rose to meet black ones guarding an inner sadness. "This slice of toast," Albus commented evenly, "is quite pale because it never had the opportunity to be exposed to enough heat to achieve perfect balance as toast."

Albus bent over rummaging though the basket; upon finding one fully carbonized he held it up for inspection. "This unfortunate slice was over exposed to the ravages of the oven, rending it inconsumable. It's a pity really; it could have been salvaged if caught early enough."

Severus already gathered his fourth stack from his basket when Albus snatched perfectly tanned slice away from his hands and waved the slice under Severus' large hooked nose. "Ah now this slice is perfection, forged to enhance its flavor into a rich yet crunchy texture. Yet for all its perfection, the goal of being breakfast for a hungry student is gone forever. Probably because its perfection was never seen and that's the true loss for this toast."

Severus' dark eyes glittered grabbing the toast from the elder and promptly tossing the bread over his shoulder into the lake, the action causing the headmaster to cock an amused silvery eyebrow at him.

"Severus, Severus," sighed Albus, "always to the point," he continued warmly as he gathered and armload of bread and turned to face the squid now eagerly sculling close to the surface near the shoreline.

The old man's shaking hand flicked several slices at the squid, its tentacles reaching out catching pieces as they splashed against the surface.

"I am feeling very old Severus," stated Dumbledore softly. "How many people have crossed our paths these many years that represent the contents of these baskets? I would classify Tom Riddle as burnt toast. I often wonder if there was anything I could have done to prevent his decent into evil. So damaged are they that they cannot see the light of life. Their souls and hearts turning their lives and those around them into bitter lumps, hardened like black carbonized bread."

Snape instantly retorted his voice low but firm, "you were not responsible, I saw what he was."

Albus waved his hand dismissively, "I am fortunate you are so forgiving, Severus."

"Headmaster-" interjected Snape.

"Perhaps a conversation at another time," responded Albus a bit quickly the subtle brittleness exposed by the higher pitch of his voice.

"So many others, too many I daresay never live the fulfilling lives they should. They cling to the status quo fearing the possibility of profound success or failure. If only they would face the fire of life for just a moment, they would transform the pale slices of their existence into something wonderful and golden. It is every person you see lacking vitality, stuck in a routine they cannot escape from, merely existing."

Severus stopped his actions, observing the elder dropping his head to the ground only to lift it to gaze upon the stars, searching for answers or absolution.

Albus sucked in a deep breath, speaking slowly and gently with a voice sporadically cracking from emotion. "You and Hermione gave each other a full life, despite the short time she was here. She…she once told me…how happy she was with you…the depths of the love you shared. She would not want you to throw that life, that love away. She said when you shared your heart your soul would shine bringing out the best of who you are." Albus paused. "Even this simple sharing of life with the squid reaps rewards for the soul by lovingly connecting us to others within our influence."

The sounds of dry bread plopping gently onto moist earth were all Albus heard in reply. Severus turned to face the lake, eyes closed as tears coursed freely down his face. A slight breeze lifted the fine strands of his hair as the familiar feminine voice within his mind spoke resolutely, "it is all true Severus, and it has always been true."

Severus' body shook slightly as the grief contained within his heart finally broke free, pouring forth unbounded and uncontrolled like any substance held under pressure for far too long a time.

The indeterminable minutes stretched for Albus also lost in renewed grief for both his potions master and Hermione. His ancient hand clasping tightly around Severus' heavily cloaked shoulder, its touch acknowledged only by a nod for the discussion was now beyond spoken words.

Severus felt drained but oddly comforted, a sensation not felt in many years. The hand on his shoulder slipped away but returned urging toast into his open hand. Snape looked down upon the slice; he did not need to question it anymore and lightly flipped it towards the waiting squid.