Why had he touched her? Why had he laid even a hand on her? Why had he lost his temper, lost control of his emotions? The memory of the way she cowered beneath him still lingered unpleasantly in his mind. Along with other similar, less recent, memories. The flash of fear in her eyes and her helpless pleas were all too familiar to Severus. He punched the stone wall in front of him with all his strength, but then held the hand that he had used tightly, as it was stinging rather painfully, and went to sit down behind his desk again.

"You're going to have to stop doing that, Severus," he told himself. "You won't have Miss Granger around to mend your cuts and scrapes any longer. Hell, after this, you'll be lucky to still have a job."

That was when it occurred to him: He could lose his position at Hogwarts for this. Of course he would. What girl in her right mind wouldn't go to the Headmaster and report what Severus had done to her? He rubbed his eyes wearily and stood. Then he walked to the cabinet on the opposite side of the room, leaned down, and muttered a few select words under his breath to temporarily remove the magical lock he had placed on it. He opened the cabinet and peered inside. A large bottle of brandy, half-empty, and a glass goblet sat in front of him. Slytherin-green stones were embedded into the cup. Severus picked up the chalice and fingered it contemplatively, hesitant to use it. It had been his father's after all, but tonight, he felt that it was warranted, so he quickly removed it and the bottle from the cabinet and sat down at his desk.

He poured the brandy into the goblet, filling it to the rim, and took a drink. Gods, that felt good. He closed his eyes and let the liquor warm his stomach and allowed the heat to wash over his entire body. Another drink. That same magnificent feeling. After he had drained the first cup, he refilled it immediately. When he was halfway through with that glass, there was a knock at his door.

Can't a man simply sit at his desk any longer without being bothered every two seconds by a rapping at his door!, Severus thought furiously, setting the glass down on the desk.

The person knocked again, this time more forcibly. This sharp rap was just a short step away from an irate hammering.

"Coming!" Severus called furiously.

He opened the door and there stood a very bad-tempered Minerva McGonagall. She had her hands crossed over her chest and her lips were almost nonexistent.

"Yes, Minerva?"

"Hermione Granger was just seen looking terribly upset. Have you any idea as to why?"

"Perhaps," he said, not sure exactly how much Hermione had told her. He certainly did not want to reveal more than he had to.

"And what might that be?" she asked him irritably.

"I don't keep tabs on the girl's activities, Minerva."

"Severus Snape, you are not too old for a good lecture from me. Now, tell me what it is that you know," she said sternly, walking over to his desk and leaning against it. She glanced down at the top of it and saw the goblet. She picked it up and sniffed it, and then looked to the Potions Master. "Severus, have you been drinking?"

"What do you think?" he retorted, pinching the bridge of his nose and shutting his eyes.

"Severus, what could possibly have driven you to feel that alcohol was necessary?"

He glared at her, but said nothing.

"How much of this have you had?" she asked cautiously.

"Why? Do I look completely drunk to you?" he asked her angrily.

"No; I was merely curious."

"Only one goblet-full," he replied.

"And half of this one," she said, holding up the chalice.

Minerva sighed, placed the cup back onto the desk, and then sat down in his chair behind it. Severus frowned at her, but remained silent. She was the only person in this school (besides Dumbledore, of course) that he would allow to do such a thing, invading his privacy and taking control over his personal belongings like this, and not remove her immediately from his office.

"Severus…" she began, but seemed not to know quite how to continue. After a minute of thought, she resumed, "Why are you acting this way towards poor Hermione Granger?"

"Excuse me?"

"She has done nothing but be civil and sweet and kind to you since she arrived here, and she really is a very nice girl. Asking you to the Yule Ball. I must admit, even I was quite surprised at that one. Before you dismiss her so quickly, give her a chance, won't you?"

If you only knew, he thought.

"She cares for you, Severus. Honestly. Everyone can see it but you," she said.

Severus had to suppress the tiniest of smiles from crossing his face when she said this. He thought again, If you only knew, Minerva, really.

"In fact, at times, I suspect that she may have stronger feelings for you than just friendship," she said. Gods, she was killing him. He bit back a laugh and managed to keep his face straight.

"Have you forgotten about the significant age difference between us? That would be like… like you and me…" They both shuddered at this thought.

"No, of course I haven't forgotten. However, it's only about twenty year's difference."

"Two decades, Minerva."

"Well, then it wouldn't be exactly like you and I were… After all, there are three decades between us. When you attended school here-"

Severus rolled his eyes and cross his arms over his chest.

With a slightly agitated glance at him, Minerva continued, "When you began school here, I was a mere forty-years-old."

"Mere? That is how old I am now. Nearly."

"I am quite aware, thank you. Anyway, Severus, this is not my point. I came here to ask you a question, which you still have not answered. Why is Hermione Granger so upset?"

"I don't know, Minerva," he shrugged.

"You had better get your story straight."

He shook his head. "I let her get in too far," he muttered.

"What?" she asked, leaning forward in the chair.

"For twenty-five years, I have been steadily building a wall to keep people out, too keep them from coming too close," he said.

"So we've noticed."

"But she has managed to break it down in a matter of weeks. She has tried to become my friend, but I wouldn't let her. I cannot allow myself to grow too close to her. To anyone."

"But why, Severus?"

"In the end, someone will get hurt. I find it is simply easier to keep myself at a distance. Pushing people away makes my life so much easier. Or it used to."

"Is that what happened?"

He stared at her. How did she manage this, every single time? Each time they talked alone together, he ended up spilling his guts to her.

"Yes," he answered minimally.

"Is that why Hermione is so upset?"

"Yes."

"Do you care about her?"

"No," he said instantly.

"Won't you let yourself care about her?"

"No."

She sighed and rose from the chair. "All right," she wearily, and headed toward the door. "You know, Severus, you say that pushing people away makes your life easier, but letting them in would make it so much happier."

"I am perfectly content with the way that I am now," he replied.

"Somehow, Severus, I don't think you truly mean that." Minerva opened the door, and Severus quickly walked over to his desk and drained the last of the brandy left in his goblet. Minerva then shut the door again, returning to his desk and picking up the bottle of brandy.

"Don't have too much more of this, Severus," she said gently, lightly touching his shoulder.

"What, you don't think that I am able to control myself?"

"Well, I-"

"As much as you may like to think so, Minerva, I am no longer your irresponsible sixteen-year-old student. Therefore, I will do what I like." To reinforce his point, he grabbed the bottle of brandy from out of her hands and filled the goblet once more. Then he took a long drink from it, slopping a bit of brandy onto his shirt.

Minerva sighed. "Just be careful." At that, she turned and opened the door once more to leave.

However, again, she stopped suddenly when she heard a clink of glasses from behind her as Severus refilled his cup a third time.

"Minerva," he said. She turned around and looked at him sadly. "Tell her I'm sorry."

She nodded. "Of course. Anything else?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing more." He took another deep drink. "Only that I apologize."

Minerva's eyes narrowed. "For what?"

Severus shook his head again and unsteadily took another drink.

Minerva pursed her lips, but remained silent. He had drained his fourth cup in a matter of seconds, and then went to refill his goblet. His hand holding the bottle was trembling, and he ended up spilling nearly half of the liquor onto the desk.

"Oh, why don't you just swig it straight from the bottle?" she asked irritably, but he simply glared at her over the rim of the cup.

She sighed and began walking toward him, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"No. No, I'm fine, Minerva," he said, almost slurred, as he tried to sit down in his seat, but tripped and ended up collapsing clumsily into the chair.

She could not just leave him like this, so she pried the presently quarter-full goblet from his hands and set it down on a far counter. Then she helped him up from the chair and, one arm around his waist to support him, she led him to his bed as he stumbled alongside her. He lay down without having to be told, and Minerva spread his quilt evenly over his thin body.

"You can drink, Severus, but you can't hold your liquor," she said to him sternly.

She heard him mutter softly under his breath as he lay in bed, "Like father, like son."

Suddenly struck with a thought, Minerva asked him again, "Severus, do you know why Professor Granger was so upset tonight?"

His head on his pillow and eyes closed, he nodded slowly.

"Would you care to inform me as to why?" Minerva felt guilty for questioning him while he was so obviously drunk, but she had to find out what had happened. However, he simply shook his head and scowled at her.

"Ask her, if you must," he mumbled, slurring his words fully now.

"Very well, Severus. Good night."

He groaned in response and rolled over, and so, seeing that he would be falling asleep in no time, she left his chambers, shutting the door softly behind her.

In the next chapter, it's where Minerva talks with Hermione, right after this. I'm not very proud of this particular chapter, but here it is, anyways.

Thanks for your reviews, again, so much! I love you all so much!

OMG! I was so afraid that everyone would hate me for my previous chapter that I posted, Chapter 14! I was so afraid that nobody would like it, but I am relieved that I have received some very nice, pleasant reviews about it, so thanks to everybody!

PhantomPhluter- No, I wasn't. Surprisingly, there is also someone who reads my story called PhantomPirate (who I mention below)! Lol. Cool, huh? Thank you so much for all the nice things you said in your review!

rosie- Awww. Thank you!

The Real Mrs. Kaiba- No offense or anything, but if you hate Snape, then why are you even here? Just to say that you hate him? That is totally pointless, anyway, and not to mention just mean. And this is for everyone: Please only leave constructive criticism.

olivialynlee- Oh, I'm so hurt. Just kidding! Thank you! Lol to your review!

sass1234- Yes, I have read a couple of Hermione/Snape fan fictions where there are no conflicts. It is just eternal bliss, and I didn't want my story to be that way. I knew that there had to be conflicts in here somewhere, so that is where Chapter 14 first came from. Thank you.

PhantomPirate- Of course she isn't going to give up. She's Hermione Granger: when she sets her mind to something, a goal, she is entirely determined to reach it. Hehe. Thank you so much!

SeverusSnape'sLove- Yes, I know. It is sad, but it serves a purpose. It actually kind of upset me just a little too, even though I am the one who wrote it. Weird.

Chapter 16, like I said, will include Minerva's next conversation with Hermione (the same night). Chapter 16 should be up by tomorrow or the day after. So expect it sometime Saturday or Sunday.

Disclaimer- I own nothing in the Harry Potter wizarding world. J.K. Rowling handles all of that. I don't own the characters or anything to do with the wizarding world.

Remember: Review, please! Even if you don't like my story, tell me what you dislike and I will try to work on it. Thanks! (Only constructive criticism, please. Thank you.)