Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. IfI did, I would be rich and not the poor pathetic person that I really am.

A/N: Hey everyone. As promised, a new update within days...I do hope you will like it. I know it is a little sort but it seemed logical to put the break here. So don't flame me for it being too short. I know, lol. But no worries, I promise the next chapter will be long enough for you...

Anyway, big thanks to everyone who reviewed! You were all great! You are part of the reason that this is updated so quickly so, if you want the next chapter fairly soon...review again please! Thats all Iask! Thanks!

Special thanks go to my beta-reader gahhMinerva! You Rock!

Chapter 2

Of Long Walks and Memories

Once Albus had refreshed himself with a nice cool shower and selected a thin summer robe to wear, he was off in search of his deputy's room once again, knowing that he was a little early. Minerva never seemed to mind. At any rate, she seemed to welcome it, no matter what her mood. Albus knew he had been forgiven for his earlier antics when Minerva let him carry her books to her rooms. Beyond the stern exterior of his deputy, Albus knew that Minerva was laughing on the inside at the incident, despite what she led people to think. His idle thoughts seemed to have distracted him so much as Albus suddenly found himself standing outside the portrait of Godric Gryffindor once again.

"Good gracious!" he chuckled as he gazed around the small opening. Shaking his head, Albus took a quick glance at his moon-shaped watch and noted that he was three quarters of an hour early. It seemed that his feet had not needed the help of his mind to guide him in the right direction, they had just naturally just lead the way without their owner having half a thought of where he was really going, and let him concentrate on the woman that often occupied his thoughts. Albus had taken this path more times than he had taken to the pub that his brother owned in the village. Partly because he had once owned these particular quarters and partly because of his deputy who had taken up residence once he had appointed her some thirty odd years back.

"Are you going to come in?" an amused voice called in the distance and Albus withdrew out of his thoughts, "Or would you prefer to stand outside until I have finished getting ready?"

"I am sorry, Minerva. I was in the land of daydreams and memories," Albus chuckled again and shook his head. "I hope you do not mind if I am a little early?"

Minerva smiled at him standing in the doorway and motioned for him to take a seat.

"Not at all, Albus. I am almost ready," she replied, adding a little perfume to her neck. It had seemed Minerva had had the same idea as Albus, and chose to wear a light blue robe. Her hair was slightly twisted to one side as a plait made its way down to her chest. Picking up a light shawl, Minerva walked over to pick up a blue handbag, which Albus had almost sat on.

"Oh dear, I'm not doing very well am I?" Albus smiled good-naturedly. "I'm afraid hot weather mixed with old age does not bode well for an eccentric fool such as I."

"Eccentric, perhaps, but fool? Certainly not," Minerva smiled as Albus stood up and offered her his right arm.

"You look wonderful, my dear." Albus commented as they headed towards the door. Minerva blushed and muttered a quick 'thank you'. They walked along the cool corridors effortlessly until they came to the entrance hall, where they met a few of the staff waiting for various members to turn up.

"Hello, we did not expect to find you here!" greeted Filius Flitwick as he waved to another two teachers who had just joined the group.

"No indeed, Minerva decided it would be a good day to walk to Hogsmeade," Albus answered the cheerful professor. "It seems we are not the only ones deciding to take that route."

"Indeed not, it seems such a waste to floo there when the sun is shinning," agreed Pomona Sprout, walking over to join the conversation.

"Who are we waiting for now?" Filius asked Pomona excitedly.

"Oh, Severus. You know what he is like, he loves to make us wait on his word," Pomona smiled in resignation. "I think Poppy has just gone to dig him out of those dungeons."

"Oh, that will make him hurry," Minerva laughed at the image of the mediwitch hurrying the potions master. "She will insist on giving him a check up if he doesn't rush!"

"Ah, speak of the devil," Albus commented as he spotted an irate looking potions master being chased up the stairs, which lead to the dungeons, by a fussing mediwitch.

"Let's go before I go insane," Severus snarled and walked double the pace he normally walked to stalk the halls of Hogwarts to get to the pub.

"What did you do to him Poppy?" Rolanda asked as she linked arms with Marcus Jenkins, the muggle studies professor.

"I just fussed over him as a mother would," she giggled as she re-joined the group of laughing teachers.

"Congratulations. Had it been anyone else, they would be dead." Minerva commented dryly.

"Oh, I don't know, Min, I reckon you could give Poppy a run for her money," Rolanda added as they walked across the lawns of Hogwarts. Minerva watched Severus with amusement, as he was almost at the hills, which lead down to Hogsmeade. His brusque stalk ahead of everyone had been lost on him, as he did not have his usual black cloak to swoop out beneath him. Minerva could not help but let a little giggle escape as she suspected that Poppy might have had something to do with his robes also. This went unnoticed by everyone, except Albus who was always so attentive and observant.

"Perhaps," the older witch commented eventually.

The company moved swiftly down the old tracks and in to Hogsmeade where Severus was waiting on a bench just out side of the village. A small breeze floated through the air, cooling the professors as they walked down the dusty path. The summer sun was giving off the last few hours of heat before it drifted behind the mountains and off to bed before the dawn of a new day. Moving towards the potions professor, they saw the look of contentment on his face as he took in the last moments of heat from the sun, which surprised them, as Severus never seemed to be the one to enjoy any sunlight.

"Well, this is a turn up for the Quidditch books!" Rolanda commented softly, before placing herself directly next to him. "You are full of surprises today!"

Opening an eye slightly, taking in Rolanda's soft smile and bright glistening yellow eyes, he studied her for a split second before answering her.

"Must you always relate something back to Quidditch?" he replied silkily, gently raising an eyebrow.

"Must you always relate something back to the Dark Arts?" she challenged him. Severus chose to ignore her and chose a different angle to start the light banter with.

"What is so surprising to you, then?"

"You are not wearing your black robes. I have to admit, you do look so much better with just a shirt and trousers."

"Well I am happy that I have your approval. Thank you, you have made my day," Severus replied sarcastically as the rest of the teachers walked over to them. Rolanda poked her tongue out at him, which he smirked at, and then resumed to walk with Marcus once again. With his smirk fixed firmly in place, Severus stood up and walked alongside the headmaster, until they reached the old wooden sign of 'The Three Broomsticks'.

Let the drinking commence, he thought with an amused smirk.

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