As the rumors around the school grew, the subjects of these rumors knew it wouldn't be long before the baseless suspicions became real news. A week after Valentines, their prediction came true. Plastered across the front page of the Daily Prophet was a scandalous article, with the even more scandalous headline Schoolyard Seduction.

The article, whose appearance alone seemed to solidify suspicion as fact in the minds of Hogwarts' populace, made wild suppositions that fell just short of an outright accusation. Both sides of the coin recognized with fury that there were details about their relationship which could only have been gathered from those they thought themselves closest to. Namely, Harry's night spent in Severus' quarters at the start of the year, and then Severus' continued support over 'chess' (quoted as if the author meant something else entirely) in stolen weekend moments that 'claim to be spent in the former Death Eater's office'. With each detail, the infamous gossip Rita Skeeter seemed to put into words a solicitous wink that suggested something wholly indecent was happening under the noses of Hogwarts' Board of Governors.

Skeeter, with her talented quill, made the friendship between Harry and Severus out to be a lascivious indulgence in pedophilia. Throughout the article, she continually referred to the Potions Master as a 'former Death Eater', reminding her readers of his dark past while skating easily over his involvement which had helped end the second war. Alongside this staunch reminder, she referred to Harry multiple times as a 'poor urchin, led astray', making him out to sound 12, instead of the legal adult wizard he was. Even still, she maintained that, though rumors persisted in the seedy underbelly of the school, she would never herself accuse two wizards of such good-standing of anything so lecherous as what the aforementioned rumors insisted was going on.

Harry Potter and Severus Snape each fled from their respective tables in the Great Hall, under the accusing stares of everyone around them. Each yearned for the comfort of the other, but neither was brave enough to seek it out, and so went, cold and alone, to the relative privacy of their homes within the castle. Hogwarts herself seemed to balk at the crescendo of whispered words amongst the staff and students. No cruelty was spared as each man suffered in stoic silence against the flood of letters from 'concerned citizens' throughout the Wizarding World.

Within days, the Board of Governors was incited into action, lest they be buried under their own accusations of deliberate ignorance. Albus Dumbledore was informed forthwith of what would soon come to pass. Out of respect to the war heroes within the school, they were given a week's warning.

-Break-

"Severus, please sit down," Albus invited, the twinkle gone from his vibrant blue eyes. The Potions Master remained where he was in the center of the room. With a sigh, the Headmaster steepled his fingers on his desk. "There's to be an official inquiry."

Severus remained impassive even as his heart clenched with fear and betrayal. "I had assumed there would be." He said evenly.

"I am sorry, Severus."

"Do not be, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this," The Potions Master replied, still impassive.

"Damn it, Severus, this could mean your job! Can you say nothing in your own defense?!" The Headmaster ordered crossly.

"What would you have me say, Albus?" Severus asked calmly. "You and everyone else have already assumed the worst of me. I have heard the whispers around the school, have seen the stares from even my own Slytherins. Nothing I can say will change your opinions, no matter how false I believe them to be."

"So you maintain that you have done nothing to warrant this investigation?"

"Of course."

"But you will not fight it?"

"There would be little point. It will happen, whether I protest or not."

"Don't you care at all?!" Albus demanded.

Severus allowed himself to glower, still holding a tight rein on his anger. "You know that I do," He seethed. "My position within the school, has, until recently, been the only good thing in a life brimming over with the darkness in peoples' hearts! Potter, however, has proven in the last several months that I have a greater purpose, outside the definition of my role here. And rather than being supportive of a closeness you yourself encouraged in the past, you had rather accuse me of immoral self-indulgence! So, no, Headmaster, I can say nothing in my own defense, because there is nothing of me to defend in the face of your betrayal! We have both of us made our beds, and must both now lie in them, for better or for worse!"

"Severus, I have never believed the accusations lain against you, surely you know that," Albus pleaded.

Severus scoffed. "You were the first to throw mud, Albus, do not feign innocence, or pretend otherwise. On the morning following my discovery of just how broken you had left your precious Golden Boy, it was you who reminded me of Potter's age and status as my student. It was you who first sowed the seed of suspicion. Do not balk now at the weed that has grown of your own distrust."

Albus sighed, and pointedly avoided meeting Severus' accusatory gaze. "All right, I understand your point. I am sorry, Severus, for what that is worth. As it is, you are correct that there is nothing either of us can do to forestall the inquiry," He looked up with a steely, hard-heartedness few would suspect him of having. "In the meantime, I am ordering you to stay away from Harry Potter."

Severus drew a deep breath in through his nose, crossing his arms over his chest. "No."

"Severus, see reason! You cannot-"

"I said 'no', Albus, and my decision stands," Severus snarled. "My friendship with Potter was borne of his need for someone to understand him, his need for me. As long as that need remains, I will continue to do right by him. Right now, he feels betrayed by the puling children he thinks of as family, and he needs me almost more than he did when this whole torrid thing began."

"Severus, the Board-"

"He is my friend!" Severus roared angrily. "I will not abandon Potter in his time of need just because you're uncomfortable with the politics, Albus!"

Without waiting for a response, Severus stormed from the Headmaster's office, slamming the door behind him with a satisfying crash. He did not ever stop to question why it was this…this dangerous thing brewing under the surface…for which he fought so strongly. It was nothing to do with his guilt-laden, growing attraction, and everything to do with that crimson streak of stubborn that he secretly harbored. Let nothing ever come of his other feelings, he would maintain his friendship with Potter, even if it meant the world would come crashing down around his ears. And it well might, sooner than he'd like.