Sunday Afternoon Tea Time - Hogwarts
Deputy Headmistress Professor Minerva McGonagall swept into the headmaster's office. "I swear Severus has more mood swings than a pendulum on a grandfather clock. Sprout is horribly upset. She declares she will never forgive you, Albus."
"What else could I do?" Dumbledore offered her a lemon drop. "I couldn't very well let him keep using house elves for target practice, could I? Besides, the infirmary was filling up. A few plants were expendable."
So high was her level of aggravation that Minerva popped the drop into her mouth. "Did you have to lock him inside the experimental greenhouse along with the expensive exotics last night?"
"All the greenhouses look alike to me. I thought that one had the carnivorous plants in it. They at least would have had a fighting chance." Albus shook his head ruefully. "How did it all go wrong?"
"I wish I knew." Minerva collapsed dramatically on to the sofa. "From what Miranda has told me and what I've gotten out of Severus, the whole thing smacks of … of melodrama. Something from an episode of Hemlock Street. Miscommunication. Misunderstanding. Pride. Stubbornness. A vortex of … of emotional chaos!"
"Where is Severus now?"
"Miranda did all she could to cheer him up during their shopping trip earlier today. I'm afraid Severus has now settled into the Stygian depths of brooding in his quarters."
Albus sighed. "Into every relationship, some rain must fall."
"Deluge, in some cases," said Minerva. "I suppose you're right. Let's see how it goes from here. One of them will come to their senses. How long can they stay upset with each other?"
Sunday Evening - DiagonAlley Owl Post Center
With a hood covering her head and a cloak over her shoulders, Hermione took her place in the queue. She carried a large box.
Cried out and exhausted, she had made the decision last night. Her time with Severus was at an end. The best thing to do was a complete break. No contact. No communication. Nada. Zip.
As she waited in line, however, she was having second thoughts. This always happened when she gave herself a few minutes of inactivity. In queue, what else could one do but think. Maybe we could part as friends? Platonic friends. That wouldn't be so bad. He's so alone. People's needs change. That doesn't mean that our friendship has to be over, too.
Hermione was about to step out of line so she could write a letter of friendship to Snape when she glanced at the witch standing behind her in line. The witch was reading the Daily Prophet and chatting with another witch beside her.
On the front page under the byline of Rita Skeeter was a moving picture of Miranda Ross standing very close to one identified as Professor Severus Snape. The pair seemed intimate and loving. Above the picture, the headline read, "Miranda In Love & Engaged." Inside the paper was the exclusive story of their "weekend of love and discovery" complete with pictures of the happy couple at Lucrezia's, at the theater and doing some shopping in Diagon Alley just this afternoon.
With every picture seared into memory, her resolve hardened. She seethed like a volcano five minutes before eruption. One date to the theater is one thing but TWO DAYS TOGETHER? That is it!
A complete break was the only solution to her broken heart. It would take time but she would move from this fiasco. There was only one thing left to do.
Near Midnight - Headmaster's Office
Albus emerged from his fireplace and knew something was not right. Minerva was waiting for him. She was pacing. Her tight, immaculate bun was no more. Her hair was long and loose about her shoulders. Small trinkets around his office seemed to change as she got close and then change back when she moved further away. He had never seen her this upset.
Albus shrugged off his traveling cloak and tossed it on the settee. "My dear Minerva, what's happened? What's wrong?"
"That!" She pointed at the Daily Prophet lying flat on his desk. "Have you read it?"
"I glanced through it in between Ministry meetings. Unfortunate timing. How did Severus react? Badly, I take it?"
"The evening edition was delivered at dinner. It took both Hagrid and Filch to drag him out of the Great Hall on my orders. A house elf witnessed my attempts to calm Severus in the staff room. He was literally foaming at the mouth. The elf took one look at his manic eyes and fled to the kitchens. There followed a helter-skelter exodus to the forest led by Dobby no less."
"Any luck luring them back?" Albus picked up the paper and began to read.
"None. The staff and students cleared the tables," said Minerva. "It could do the students some good to have to make beds, do laundry, light fires and cook meals on their own for a while."
"Ah, the silver lining in every cloud. Has anyone contacted Hermione? Those two need to talk this out."
"She's gone from her flat. The provost has given her a week to return. If she's not back within the week, she'll lose her place. If I wasn't so sorry for him, I would kill Severus for ruining her future like this."
Dumbledore threw the paper down in disgust. "He had help."
"I've owled Harry to act as negotiator with the elves. He's in Paris on business but will be here in a few days. Hagrid has piled mountains of hay near the forest for the elves to sleep in. Poppy has emptied the infirmary closets of blankets for them, too," said Minerva. "I'm telling you, Albus, my nerves cannot take any more. I take my share of the blame. I should have put a stop to things as soon as Severus confirmed their game. But I have changed my mind about their suitability for each other. I've seen how changed Severus is. Now, what can be done?"
"Nothing. They both need time and peace," said Albus. "Let us give them that. I will talk to Severus in the morning. I hate to see you like this. Would you like a little bit of the Draught of Peace, my dear?"
"Maybe a little," said Minerva weakly.
"I doubt that things can get any worse between Severus and Hermione. If they are meant to be, they will find their way back to each other." Albus went to a locked cabinet and extracted a small ornate silver jug. He poured some of the liquid into a short glass. Offering it to Minerva, he said, "You have done all you can. I want you to have a good night's sleep. Things will look better in the morning."
Albus escorted Minerva back to her quarters. The whole situation was stressful. He detoured to the kitchens to make himself some cocoa.
On Severus' desk lay Hermione's pillow. A small dagger protruded from its middle. No note had been included inside the delivery box. No note was needed. Her meaning was clear enough.
The potions master lay sprawled on his bed. The room stank of whisky.
Gent: Well, that's final. Quite.
Wolf: There are other fish in the sea. Let's try for someone low maintenance.
Prat: I have to win her back.
Gent: Our posts have been returned undelivered.
Gent: The bird has flown the coop.
Prat: I am not losing the best thing that ever happened to me! I won't!
Gent: What do you propose to do to fix the situation?
Prat: I'll think of something. I must!
