Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. "Mr. Brightside" belongs to The Killers.
A/N: May songfic challenge at the Hideaway. Post HBP.
He watched her intently from his table in the corner. It was not a particularly busy night at the pub, but then, mid-week things were never very busy especially during winter. She had come in with him again. Officially they were not a couple, not even close to it. They were the best of friends, nothing more. Unofficially, he knew better. He was hers and there was nothing to be done about it. But it still nagged him. She would forever be the one who got away and she would never even know that he even thought of her that way. He had respected her intelligence and fiery attitude for as long as he remembered. She was graceful but fierce when she needed to be. He let out a soft sigh, chugged the rest of his Ogden's and clomped out of the pub, making sure to catch her attention for a second on his way out. She gave him a friendly smile and wave to which he just nodded and then left.
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
Thinking back, he knew when exactly it was that he started thinking of her in a different way. It was the moment he saw her with him and he became jealous. It had only been months ago, but since then he desired nothing more than her. Sure, he was not exactly the type to settle down, being more the wandering type than anything, but he desired to settle down with her for some reason. He hated the cliché but she made him want to be a better man, but he had the feeling that he also felt the same. . . that was the problem after all. She belonged to someone else. "Bloody Severus Snape," he snarled under his breath as he removed his false leg. As he settled in bed he replayed the moment in his mind over and over. It only put him in a worse mood than when he left the pub and prevented him from getting a decent night's rest.
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Snape always considered Minerva a good friend. While they did not always see eye to eye on everything, they respected each other and refrained from openly quarrelling. He had always been in awe of how she handled herself. Minerva McGonagall was a true Gryffindor. Courageous but incredibly frightening if you pushed the wrong buttons. He knew he would never really understand what it was that she saw in him, but he was not really in a position to complain. Officially, they were the best of friends despite their differences of opinion. Unofficially, they were a bit like friends with benefits but not really. They shared the occasional kiss in private, but things never really progressed into something more intimate in nature. If one of them had a particularly rough day, there may be some cuddling involved, but nothing more. He never knew why that was exactly, but he did not care. Severus Snape had no plans to settle down for good. He was content being a bachelor. Sure, he occasionally wanted something more but he never considered Minerva for that purpose. She did make him a better person, but he usually argued it was through her constant chiding. Only on one occasion did they ever slip in public, but there were very few people who noticed. That slip very nearly led to something more intimate in nature, but they caught themselves and she promptly left him to himself.
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
Minerva loved Severus in the way that she loved her closest friends. The fact that she constantly had to hide some things from him was hard on her. She very nearly told him on several occasions, but he would always say something that reminded her why she could not tell him. Life was not easy on Severus Snape so Minerva was glad to provide whatever comfort she could. Besides, the man was an ace cuddler despite what other people might think of him. He had his sensitive side, and she was about the only person privy to it. Once, Dumbledore had known, but not so much now, not after . . . She still could not bring herself to think about it. It was the one moment that wrenched her heart more than anything else. Severus had shown his remorse to her, bared his soul for her shortly after, but she could do nothing but wait for his final mission to come to an end. When that happened, she was more than glad to be there for him, and that was the night they almost slipped. Someone had seen them, she was sure.
But she's touch his—chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, let me go
Moody had watched them from his place in the corner. He could not help it. She mesmerized him that night, with her smile the brightest he had ever seen. It was like the weight of the world had been removed from her shoulders, and, in a way, it had. But it was when Snape arrived that things went sour for him. She immediately went to him and they shared a brief kiss in the corner. It made Moody's blood boil. While Snape had been cleared as a traitor, he still never trusted the man and that she would place that much trust in him was downright scandalous. He subdued the urge to waltz over to the pair the best he could and deck Snape then and there. In the end, he just left knowing that he would get a better opportunity if he waited.
And I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Chocking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside
For his part, Snape had not expected Minerva to so openly greet him. His instinct was to run but she pulled him away from the crowd and then the kiss just happened. It was not his intention to do it, but instinct kicked in and there it was. He did not feel guilty so much as a bit worried someone would say something. The last thing he needed was for everyone to start throwing around rumors that they were an item. He really did not want any more publicity after all that he received for his part in the war against Voldemort. Being a war hero was enough. If anyone were to ask him what he wanted, he would tell them that he wanted some piece and quiet but after everything, he knew his part. He had to do the whole publicity circuit and he did not want the complication of Minerva being 'attached' to him as it were.
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
Things became complicated once the war finished. Certain truths were starting to come to light and Minerva knew there was one in particular that could not stay hidden for very long. It was hard enough keeping it from Severus and Hogwarts when she was put in charge, but she had not faltered in her promise. However, after much deliberation, she knew she would have to come forward with the truth soon before someone actually discovered it. She would be criticized for keeping such a secret, but it was safer for all involved. Lives depended on it, and that is not an exaggeration. Minerva knew the score; she knew how things worked. Everything would be told soon and she just hoped the backlash would be manageable.
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
He had long since been the one. Though they never really admitted it to one another she knew all along that it was him. He loved her whole heartedly, but the job stood in the way. They could never really be together until one or both of them changed jobs or retired. So when all the pieces of the plan fell into place, she knew it was finally their chance to be together. She did not like the plan but she agreed it. Under the circumstances, there was nothing else to be done. Everything had to happen like he said or they would fail not only themselves, but Harry Potter and the rest of the magical world. So she let it happen and hoped for the best, grieving in silence on the outside: putting on a show for the rest of the world.
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
He always knew that one day all their conflicts would come to a head. He just never knew that he would not be there to witness it. He could only wait on the sidelines for the moment when he could join the game again. He needed the break, but he did not plan for it to go like it had. But when Severus came to him, there was nothing more to be done. Everything needed to appear as if Snape really did it. It would affirm his place within the Dark Lord's mind and allow their side to finally get some leverage in an already difficult situation. So he went through with it, regretting that he had to leave Minerva behind for the time being. She put on a brave face but he always knew that deep down inside she was falling apart. The promise had always been there, but the moment that they were given a chance at it, it was taken from them. Now, though, they had the opportunity to finally come forward with everything. He wanted nothing but to tell the truth for what it was instead of witnessing everything from the outside like he had been doing.
But she's touching his—chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, let me go
Everyone who was anyone was in attendance. When Minerva McGonagall had something to say, everyone listened, especially when she was backed by Severus Snape and Mad-Eye Moody. Had anyone looked closely enough at the two men, they would have noticed a slight jealous gleam in their eyes when they looked at each other. But everyone had their eyes on McGonagall who looked like she was about to burst with whatever was inside her. In a rush of words everything came out; the whole plan about Dumbledore faking his death to Snape's official role in the end of the war. It was all there and no one was more surprised than Snape and Moody with McGonagall's last statement.
Cause I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside
"Yes, that is correct, Albus Dumbledore is alive and well and we are to be married," McGonagall announced loudly and clearly. Had Minerva announced engagement to anyone else, one of the two men standing behind her would likely have punched or cursed that person. But, being that it was Dumbledore, a man they both respected immensely, they did no such thing other than gawk in an undignified manner. Dumbledore, for his part, revealed himself to everyone and then went to meet his fiancée where they very publicly showed their affection for one another. Snape and Moody could only stand and watch, thinking half finished thoughts as they realized the truth of the situation.
I never …
I never …
I never …
I never …
The End