Severus breathed deeply the entire walk to Dumbledore's office. Inhale. He breathed the air into his lungs. Exhale. He sighed the air out of his lungs. The Potions Master felt much less tense when he arrived.

"Severus..." Dumbledore greeted the black clad man. "Would you care for a lemon drop?"

"No. Thank you, Headmaster." Severus refused, sighing. He would never accept one of those.

"Shall we get down to business then, my boy?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Yes, we shall. My relationship with Miss Wainwright is that of a professional nature...or it was until yesterday. She saved my life. I was walking along the Black Lake yesterday morning and a noise startled me. I lost my balance and fell. She jumped in after me. She said I was dead at the time." He sighed. "And now all of a sudden, I feel something I cannot explain. I love Miss Wainwright, Headmaster."

Dumbledore gave the dark wizard a extremely grave look. "And she feels the same as you, Severus?"

Severus crossed his arms. "Yes...she claims to, and very much."

The Headmaster sighed. "You deserve happiness, Severus. If ever I saw someone who needs love in their life, it is you. You will not find it alone."

The professor exhaled. "Why of all of the men at Hogwarts did she press her lips to mine after swimming down to the bottom of the Black Lake and give me the kiss of life?"

"Because Severus, you're the one who needed saving." Dumbledore replied wisely.