Haunted Memories

-Chapter Sixteen-

Faced With Decisions

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K Rowling's story.

Severus Snape scowled as the fireplace flared back to life. He didn't know if Hermione had a bag of the special floo powder, enabling the user to floo to any of the rooms in the castle, but he didn't want an unwelcome visitor. Standing off into the corner, well hidden in shadows, Severus pointed his wand at the flaring blue fire. When he had come into his chambers, he was immediately surprised to see the fireplace roaring with a blue fire. Supposedly a blue bell fire. But it had alarmed him, thinking that an enemy had crossed into his threshold. Somehow gaining the information that they could come straight into his chambers, surpassing all the traps that he had set. Only two people in Hogwarts knew of the special floo powder's existence. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall.

As he readied himself, he was once again surprised to see two figures emerge from the flames. 'That stupid girl couldn't possibly keep her mouth shut.' Severus thought as he set his eyes on the two women before him. The bushy haired girl seemed to have been able to hear his thoughts for instantly her eyes traveled into the hidden shadows and found his own. Severus looked at her sharply, mentally berating her for telling the headmistress when he had expressedly told her not to. 'Can't follow instructions, I see.' Shifting slightly, he turned to get a better view of the Headmistress. He was surprised to see the tired look cross her face. There were more wrinkles around her eyes and silver hair started to sprout around her temples. The woman's dark black hair had turned into a dull grey mass. However, her eyes were shining with incredible strength and her body was straight as a rod. Severus saw dignity and pride in the way that the elder woman held herself, even if she was covered from head to toe in ashes.

"Severus…I would appreciate it if you didn't hold your wand at us." Calmly brushing the ashes off of her shoulders, Minerva McGonagall looked around the room and surveyed his chambers. It was after all the first time that she had crossed the threshold.

He narrowed his eyes and lowered his wand. "I wouldn't have thought you would come here Minerva."

An unspoken word crossed the two professors as they stared at each other. The tension in the air was thick and suffocating. Finally Hermione stood up and stomped around loudly, startling the two. The ashes flew from her clothing, littering the floor and surrounding areas. Severus turned in her direction and glared. Hermione fumbled around in her pocket until she found her wand. A soft mumble later, her clothes were freed of the offending ashes and dust. Minerva chuckled a bit before she too took out her wand.

"Might I ask what the two of you are doing here?"

He glared at the younger woman as if to say, 'Didn't I warn you not to tell anyone?' She didn't say a word and didn't meet his gaze. 'At least she had the decency to blush.' Thought Severus. He stood straighter and waited for either one to answer his question. Finally, Minerva cleared her throat and gestured towards the armchair. "Honestly Severus, you should think about offering a seat to your guests."

Hermione looked at the Potions master and thought, 'Does he ever have guests? Surely no one would dare enter this place…except for a certain busy body which happens to have read his journal.' Hermione blushed harder as the man turned to look her in the eye. The expression that he had on his face caused her to blush harder and break eye contact. Her heart beat erratically and she wondered if he had read her mind.

Severus Snape turned from staring at the younger woman and faced Minerva. "It isn't everyday that I receive so many guests, Minerva."

With a wave of his wand, the armchair configured into a black soft leather couch. "Better?"

Hermione watched as her headmistress studied the couch with distaste. Walking up to the couch, she sat down for a moment before standing back up. Looking at the couch again, the headmistress waved her wand over it and in a moment, the couch transfigured into a larger sandy color and coffee colour cushions appeared at both corners. Hermione giggled as the headmistress sat back down on the left side of the couch and nodded. "Much better." Minerva concluded.

Severus raged as he watched the woman scrutinize his couch and furthermore transfigure it into something else. Sure he hadn't transfigured anything for quite a while, but it couldn't have been that bad.

Hermione walked tentatively towards the couch and sat down next to Minerva. There was room enough for at least two more people to sit down but she was appalled when she realized that there was no other place in the room for the Potions master to sit. Luckily, he seemed inclined to stand.

Minerva studied the look which fleeted across Hermione's face and smiled broadly at the brooding man standing in front of the fireplace. "Sit, Severus. You're making me uncomfortable just watching you."

Hermione snapped her head towards the elder woman and stared. 'She's scheming something. Honestly I think she's becoming more and more like Professor Dumbledore each day.' However, Snape crossed his arms and sneered. "I feel much more comfortable standing, Minerva. Now please tell me what you two are doing here."

Minerva sighed. She pointed towards the spot next to Hermione and motioned her hand at him. He continued to stare. Minerva just nodded and then conjured up a tea set and table. She then started to pour out tea for the two other people in the room. Severus growled and finally sat down indignantly beside Hermione, shifting as far as possibly away from the two women. Hermione noticed his movement and sat rigidly. Minerva offered her the tea and another set which she was to pass onto the Potions Master.

Sighing, Hermione held onto the cup and looked at the man. He had leaned back against the couch and was watching the flames dance in the fireplace. "Professor…"

He turned towards her and his eyes seemed to gather her whole concentration as they reflected the fire's orange glow. They stared at each other for a while before he took the cup and nodded his thanks. Sipping slowly he closed his eyes and lowered his head, allowing a curtain of hair to fall across his face.

"Severus, we have to talk about what you are to do now."

He narrowed his eyes as he swallowed deeply and watched the Headmistress. "What do you mean, Minerva?"

The Headmistress turned towards him and smiled tiredly, "I've been thinking Severus, about what Albus has told me all these years." She nodded as Severus' eyes grew a little wider. "If all that he says is true, then you will be in danger. Even more so now that you are a convict."

Severus turned away, his eyes suddenly burning. He couldn't stand looking into the familiar woman's eyes any longer. There was something there that reminded him too much of Albus...and having done what he did, he could not face Albus without a discomfort. He noticed Hermione shift uncomfortably and was surprised to feel her leg bump into his. He looked at her face and couldn't help but smirk when he saw the horror in her eyes.

Hermione caught him looking at her and she hurriedly gulped down the remainder of her tea, scalding her throat and burning her tongue. She coughed and felt the Headmistress' hands comforting her and helping her to swallow. Severus looked away and bit hard on his tongue to keep from laughing. It was funny to see the Gryffindor so scared of him now. As his student, she was always challenging him, showing off her knowledge. But here she was, a grown woman with many accomplishments. She had furthermore faced down the many horrors of war and the Dark Lord's deeds. How she would be afraid of him, he did not know.

He cleared his throat and looked at Minerva again, realizing that he had yet to answer her. "I do not need your help, Minerva."

The Headmistress laughed. She looked at the younger man and shook her head. "Then what are you doing back at Hogwarts, Severus? Do you not seek safety and comfort behind these walls?"

He stared as the woman sipped calmly from her tea. "Severus, I do not mean to pry, but what have you been doing these past five years? What happened during that time? Why are you here now?"

A/N: Thanks again for reading, I know that this is more of a filler but I haven't been able to update as often as I wanted and I guess I needed something to connect the next chapter in which you will know more about the last five years. So please be patient. Also, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed. I smile everytime I read your comments. You are absolutely wonderful people! I am however sad to see that I'm getting less and less hits to my chapters? Is the story not entertaining enough? Please leave comments on how you feel this story is leading to and where you want it to be. Thanks.

Reminder: This is a K+ rated story, I wanted everyone of all ages to be able to read it. I know most fans of the story would rather read something more mature…romance wise, but please bear with me, it is a slow building but soon there will be something…hopefully.

Akiko-chan.