A/N: Sorry for the wait. It just wasn't coming to me and I really didn't want to try and force out a chapter that was sub-par (as it is I'm not sure about this one). The only reason I was able to get this one out was because I finally jumped one of the major hurdles before graduation. Which, by the way, I finally got my graduation letter (I know no one cares but me, but I thought I'd share to good news). So in celebration of that momentous event here you go…chapter 12. I do have to warn you that I don't know when the net chapter will be out. Sorry.

A/N 2: Thanks to: Qihotex (thanks for setting my fears at ease and for the review, and I wanted to say that I'm a huge fan of Bond Girls. It's one that I keep rereading. I think I reviewed it on TtH. I should probably go and check that to be sure), godessa39 (Yeah, Yeah, I know. I'm getting back on the horse, but short/mutters/ Slave driver. Thanks for the review, it made me laugh), EverAfter-01, Vld, General Mac (congratulations, you are the 100th reviewer. Go you! You earned yourself a cookie. Enjoy), Sukera, Sarah (I have to admit that I still have not read it yet…however I do own a copy and it is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, I swear I have no time), granddancer, Toniboo, el, and Kastia.

xoxox

England, February 2014.

He sank into his cushioned chair with a heavy sigh feeling every one of his years. It was times like these that he wondered how he managed to get out of bed. His office was quiet with the exception of the fluttering of newborn wings and the quiet murmuring coming from the portraits. Little sounds that he found comforting and relaxing when he felt the stress built up as it had been doing in the past year.

The animated timepiece on the mantel read 8:23 but it felt much later and he knew it would be some time before he could retire for the evening. Things were not looking good for the wizarding world and he didn't know how much longer he could keep things together before they all fell apart.

He should have known better than to hope that most of his problems would have been vanquished with the death of Grindelwald. How naive to think there was ever an end to problems. The cycle seemed to be repeating itself as it always had. Voldemort had stepped up to fill the evil wizard's place and it seemed that the wizarding world had not seen the last of him. How he had hoped…but hope for something like that was for fools. And he was wise enough to know better.

A sharp tapping on the windowpane broke him out of his dark thoughts. He looked up at the disturbance, a small grin breaking out across his aged features. If he was surprised by the phoenix's presence he didn't let it show as he moved to open the closed window.

"My dear, please come in."

The creature moved smoothly into the room and took up the perch Fawkes would have normally inhabited had he not been more than a few hours old. The larger, more magnificent bird cocked its head at the squalling infant in bemusement before giving the old man a questioning look.

"Just count yourself lucky I am not required to see to you in that state," he said with a smile before moving back to his chair. "Am I to assume that you bring news or is this a social call?"

The animal shook its head before freezing and glancing towards the door. Dumbledore followed its gaze expectantly. It was several more moments before he could hear the noise that had alerted the creature.

"If you would pardon me for a moment while I see to this?" he inquired.

The phoenix looked to the window questioningly, but he shook his head, "That will be unnecessary. Just make yourself at home while I take care of this."

The bird bobbed its head again and settled down for a wait. It wasn't long before the loud slamming noise of the door bouncing off the wall heralded the arrival of Professor Snape.

He moved into the room quickly, wasting no time in crossing over to the headmaster's desk and taking one of the seats in front of it. "This has gone on long enough Albus! For three years I have said nothing about your preferential treatment. I have sat by silently, holding my peace, because I knew your feelings on the matter," his nostrils flared in anger and he sat up even straighter in his chair, "No more will I be silent."

It was clearly a struggle but Dumbledore could not resist the smile that stole across his features, "Good evening Severus, can I get you some tea?"

"I do not want tea. I want action! I want something to be done about the menace!"

"Surely you exaggerate, Severus. I am positive that whatever was done was without malicious intent-"

But the potions master was hearing none of it, "If you do nothing I will be forced to take matters into my own hands. Drastic steps will be taken. And I cannot assure you that they will be completely painless."

Albus' blue eyes twinkled as he examined the irate man in front of him. This day had been a long time in coming. He was actually somewhat surprised that the man had held out as long as he had. "Severus, I do not think-"

He was interrupted once again by a firm knock on the door before it was pushed open to reveal Minerva McGonagall.

"Albus, if you have a moment we need to talk," she began as she entered the office before halting abruptly as she noticed the presence of the potions master.

"I apologize. I did not realize that you were in a meeting. This can wait a few minutes."

She began backing out of the room only to be stopped by Dumbledore's clear voice, "Nonsense, have a seat. If I am not mistaken I believe you and Severus are here with a common goal in mind."

At that statement both professors' eyes darted to each other in surprise and suspicion while Albus looked on in amusement. Yes, this was an interesting turn.

"I do not think that is possible Albus," she said before hesitantly moving into the room.

"Of course it is Minerva, please take a seat."

She took the proffered seat and adjusted her spectacles before shooting him a stern glare. There was a long moment of silence while all parties watched each other. It was Dumbledore who broke the tense silence, well tense on the parts of his colleagues. He just tended to feel amusement at the situation.

"Would you like to begin Minerva? What is troubling you?"

"You know perfectly well what this is about. Something needs to be done."

A small smile flittered at the corners of his lips but other that that small sign of amusement he gave no other outward reaction to her words. "Since it has driven you here may I assume that you have some suggestions to change the state of things?"

If anything she grew even angrier at his clam inquiry and forgot about the other professor in the room, "Albus! You coddle those children too much. Now I can understand that you derive a certain amount of amusement from this situation but this is unacceptable."

A sharp snort of derision sounded from the man seated next to her and she turned her glare to him expectantly. "Do you have anything to add Severus? I believe the headmaster said that you were having similar problems."

"Of course I am Minerva. However I cannot contain my surprise at the fact that it bothers you so much that you would forget who it is you were speaking to." His smirk grew, "I never thought I would see the day when you would call your own students 'coddled.' I do believe that this is one of the most interesting days I have had since I began teaching here."

A soft blush spread across her features, "Obviously things have gotten out of hand, and obviously you agree, or you would never have come here in the first place."

Albus cleared his throat, bringing their attention back to him, "Indeed, Severus had just informed me that he was prepared to take measures into his own hands when you arrived. I was about to warn him against maiming the students when-"

"What!" a look of shock suffused her features, "Severus, I know things are bad but don't you think you are taking things a bit far?"

The potions master gave a long suffering sigh before answering, "Nothing permanent will be done to your precious Gryffindors, Minerva. I was simply stating that the menace needs to be taken care of. And certain members of this faculty seem to be resistant to action," he finished with a sharp glare in the headmaster's direction.

Minerva waited a moment to let his statement sink in before coming to a decision. She gave him a sharp nod in agreement. He was right. The rule of tyranny needed to come to an end. Too long had they cowered in silence. It was time for action. Something swift and decisive.

Severus acknowledged her decision with a nod before he turned back to the headmaster, "The complaint is not just coming from us. Filius recently told me he was at the end of his rope. Filius said that! We have policies in place that are supposed to keep this type of thing from happening, yet nothing is being done. They flagrantly abuse this fact because they are aware of it. Albus, you cannot allow this to continue."

"For once I am in complete agreement with you Severus," Minerva inserted. "Too long have we kept quiet. It is time for action, and as the person charged with making and keeping the rules it falls to you, Albus, to ensure they are enforced.

It was times like these that he remembered why he wanted to be a teacher so badly. It seemed that this situation could be the bridge that he was looking for. However, he was wise enough not tomention that to the irate professors looking at him expectantly and reveal his amusement, "I am not sure what it is you want of me?"

Severus slammed his fist down on the desk in front of him, the dark look on his face promising retribution, "Something needs to be done about the Wesley twins! If I walk into my classroom one more time to find it rearranged and my ingredients mislabeled I will not be held responsible for my actions!"

Slight choking noises sounded from behind the headmaster and for the first time the attention of the inhabitants of the large room were drawn past the headmaster's shoulder to the creature perched behind him.

The phoenix froze when it realized it was under scrutiny but soon relaxed to see what would happen.

Minerva quickly lost interest and turned her attention back to the headmaster waiting expectantly for a response.

Severus, however, studied the bird a bit longer before sitting back in his chair, his glower growing, "What happened to Fawkes Albus?"

His question once again drew the transfiguration mistress' attention. She looked closer at the bird an registered the subtle differences she had overlooked and then turned to the potions master,"How did you-"

"Its plumage is different."

"Fawkes is fine Severus, thank you for asking. He is, however, slightly infantile at the moment. Give him a few weeks and he will be back in form I assure you." He turned slightly so that he could see the creature as well.

It was looking back and forth between them all in interest, "Her name is Anne."

At his statement the phoenix let out a soft trill and settled on her perch to continue watching.

The noise seemed to calm the inhabitants of the room and settle tempers. Severus sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Every ward I have erected to keep them out, even the ones that were designed specifically attuned to them have failed. I can think of nothing else but to take drastic steps." He looked up to meet the headmaster's eyes, "And I will."

The lethal promise hung in the air for a few moments while Albus attempted to control the twitching of his lips, "Now Severus, how can you be certain that they are the culprits? How do you know it isn't Peeves?"

It was Minerva who answered his question. "Because Peeves likes to take credit for his work," she said bitterly. "He would have revealed something over the years if it was him. He would not be able to contain himself."

"But do you have any proof," Albus prodded gently.

"Why do you pretend that they are not guilty of this? Everyone knows that it is them!"

Severus nodded his head in agreement while Albus looked on with a smile. "Perhaps if you altered the wards-"

"I told you I've tried that. They're like rats. They get around everything," the potions master thundered.

Albus continued as if uninterrupted, "-to identify, instead of keeping out you would have the proof and steps could be taken."

It was all he could do to keep from laughing out loud at their stunned, frozen expressions. The heads of Slytherin and Gryffindor exchanged identical looks of disbelief. Surely it was more complicated than that.

Minerva rubbed at her temples to stave off the migraine forming, "All these years…"

Severus stood, "Headmaster I have something to do. I will return and speak with you later," his tone turned menacing, "with proof."

Minerva nodded in agreement, stood, and followed Severus out of the room. The door closed with a reverberating thud and for a few moments there was silence.

For about three seconds until resounding feminine laughter could be heard by anyone why passed the gargoyle in the passageway.

Albus gave her several minutes to get it out of her system as he chuckled along with her.

"The Weasley twins," she sputtered between breaths, "I thought it was something serious. Oh my God, I was waiting for a portent of Armageddon or something with the way they were carrying on. Seriously, do they know what they sounded like?"

He gave her a mischievous smile, "My dear, I believe they would deny this encounter to their dying days if they could."

She moved around the desk to sit in Minerva's abandoned chair and wiped at the tears caused by her laughter, "I never thought I'd see the day. It looks like that was a first step for inter-house unity right there."

"I am pleased you thought so as well," he said with a smile. "Can I get you anything?"

"No I'm good." Her tone changed immediately and became more serious, "Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. The reason I came without sending a message."

He took note of her tone and gestured for her to continue, "For the past week I've been noticing something in the forest. I wouldn't normally mention anything but this is noteworthy." She sighed, "There's something out there I haven't been able to find. I'm not sure what it is but it's smart. Smart enough to avoid me."

She tapped her fingers against the arm rest and revealed the most disturbing aspect, "And it's hunting unicorns."

A dark look crossed his features, "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"This is not good."

"Tell me about it."

He sighed deeply and sunk lower in the chair once again feeling the weight of his years. She watched as he aged before her eyes. She knew that feeling. She was familiar with it. Her shoulders had carried the weight of the world for so long it was easy to see the signs in another. They were kindred in that way.

"Hey," she said softly, "get some sleep, old man. It can wait 'till morning."

He gave her a tired smile, "Buffy, I do not need you to take care of me."

She nodded, un-offended by the statement, "Yeah, but I'll do it anyways. Everyone needs someone to worry about them. Even you. I can do that."

She stood and placed a small hand over his wrinkled clasped ones and squeezed, giving him a small measure of comfort before moving to the open window, "Get some sleep. I mean it. If I fly by here later and see the light on there'll be serious words." The grin on her face belied the stern tone she used and he couldn't help but smile back. She quickly transformed and flew off into the night.

And once again he was back to being an old, tired man. However, he was an old, tired man who was cared for...and for that his heart felt lighter.

Tbc…