A/N: I had half of this chapter already written down so I decided to extend it a little more and post it so you know I'm still here, alive and thinking about my stories, even if I'm not as active as I used to be.

I had this one pretty much abandoned, but after reading it again these last days I think I know how I want it to continue... probably a couple more chapters, maybe three... I hope to have time to write them soon.

Sorry for the delay, and thank you for your patience... I apologize for this not being larger, but it's all I could do.

ENJOY ^_^

1982

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Chapter 10

BE BRAVE

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by Saeshmea

It was a long morning for Severus, unable to think of anything else than Minerva during his classes. They had had breakfast together with the Headmaster in his rooms, and he had left right when Mr. Benson, Dumbledore's lawyer friend, arrived.

After dismissing his last group of students, Severus tidied up quickly, unable to wait anymore to know how she was doing and what the attorney had said.

On his way upstairs he almost crashed with a hurried and upset Ethan.

"Severus, I'm so sorry," the professor apologized.

"Are you alright?" Snape forced himself to say nicely, knowing exactly what was bothering the man but thinking he should restrain his wish to punch his face for the sake of Minerva.

"Not really," Ethan replied, with a calmed voice, "Minerva is gone since yesterday," he explained, "the Headmaster says it's because of some job he asked her, but she isn't back yet and she had two classes this morning."

"I'm sure she's alright," Severus said.

"Well, that's not exactly what worries me," Coen muttered, and then they said their goodbies.

...

Minerva was sitting by the fire, still talking with Mr. Benson over some tea, when Severus entered Dumbledore's office. Quietly, he joined them, sitting right next to her without interrupting the attorney's speech, and Minerva placed a hand on his knee letting him know she'd noticed he was there.

"...Mrs. Coen, I think the best thing you can do in your case is hide until things have calmed down," he was saying.

"I don't have a place to hide, Mr. Benson," she said, "my only home is this school."

"You must have somewhere to go when the school is closed," the lawyer wondered.

"Yes, of course, the house I share with the husband I'm trying to divorce," she said with a sharp voice, "I don't think that would be a clever place to hide."

"What about family or friends?" he asked.

"The only family I have is the one I was trying to build with Mr. Coen," she answered, "and if I haven't involved my friends in this before, I don't see why I would do it now."

"I have a house," Severus suddenly pointed out as a matter-of-factly.

"What?" Minerva turned to look at him.

"I have a little house in London," he said, "you could stay there for as long as it's necessary and I'm sure that Ethan wouldn't come looking for you there."

"Well, that definitely solves a problem," Mr. Benson seemed happier with it than Minerva.

"Severus, things are complicated enough right now, let's not..."

"I met him on my way here," Severus said; a warning tone on his voice, "I think he knows there's something going on."

"Alright," she agreed after a long silence, "let it be your house, then."

...

The Headmaster didn't seem to see much of a trouble on Minerva being gone for a while, he even seemed to fancy the idea of Minerva moving to Severus' old little house in London.

"When are you leaving?" he asked.

"As soon as we can collect Minerva's things from her rooms," Severus explained as Minerva looked absent, probably thinking of the last few hours of her life and the ones that were to come.

"Then, I'm guessing tomorrow morning would be a good time," the Headmaster suggests, "Professor Cohen has two classes in a row and I plan to be attending them."

"Thank you," I muttered, when suddenly a strong knocking on the door disturbed our peace.

"It's him again," Minerva spoke and, somehow, I knew she wasn't wrong.

"Hide," I instructed and she transfigured herself and ran under one of the shelves, her tail disappearing under the shadows right before Ethan Cohen entered the room.

"Good evening, professor," Dumbledore greeted mastering a nonchalant attitude.

"Headmaster, Severus," Cohen saluted bowing his head respectfully; "I hope I'm not disturbing."

"Not at all, we were about to have a drink if you'd like to join us," the Headmaster invited him and Severus didn't understand what he was pretending.

"No, thank you," he answered, looking around the office as if looking for something – maybe he knew Minerva was in the room like she'd known he was behind the door, "I was just wondering if you could tell me the whereabouts of my wife."

"You mean she's not back, yet?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, but you already know that," Cohen said, "if not, you'd be leaving no stone unturned in order to find her," he added, "Where is my wife?"

"If you don't know, why would I?"

"Because I knew she would come to you sooner or later!" the professor yelled, losing his temper, and Dumbledore grinned as if that had been his purpose.

"Why would she need to come to me? Are you having problems in your marriage, Ethan?" the Headmaster asked nicely, but Cohen saw his intentions and calmed down.

"Tell Minerva I will look for her if necessary," he said, "good night," and then left.

As soon as he was gone Dumbledore caught to have Severus' attention and signaled him to follow the other professor. Reluctantly, he did.

…

"Ethan," he said to stop him in the middle of the corridor, "are you alright?" he asked, making use of all the techniques he learned being a Death Eater and later a spy to stay calm, to hide his urge to take out his wand and hex the man right there.

"No, I'm not," he said as they kept walking, "the old man has been putting things into Minerva's mind since we got married. I knew I should have made her stop working here, I knew this was going to happen…"

"What are you talking about?"

"He's jealous. I saw it from the beginning; she was always so willing to please him."

"She's the Deputy," Severus pointed out.

"No, but this level of servitude… He had her at his feet and I took her from him…"

"You mean Dumbledore and Minerva…"

"I'm sure… That's why he's managed to make her leave. But she'll be back… she knows she needs me."

Deciding Ethan was clearly going mad, Severus said good night when they reached his rooms' door and returned to the Headmaster's office, where Minerva was back to her human form.

…

"I just don't understand," the Headmaster was saying when he came in, "you fought besides me in the war, you've dueled the most powerful Death Eaters and been face to face with Voldemort himself; how can you be so frightened of one single man?"

"I don't know," she answered, "but I must go back to him."

"No," Severus said, making it clear that he was back, "he's in rage right now, he knows you're gone for good and thinks Dumbledore is the reason… If you went back right now, he could easily go too far."

"He always goes too far," she said, escaping from Dumbledore's hands and coming towards the door, "it's fine,"

"No," Severus stopped her, "this power you think he has over you, it's not real, Minerva," he said, "he's a predator and you're his victim, he found you in the right moment and made you believe you were weak, you were less than him, you were nothing without him… but all that are lies. You're a strong woman, Minerva, you're smart, clever and the longer you stay away from him, the faster your regain your own power," he released her and stepped away, "but I can't keep stopping you forever, so, if you really think you have to go back, just go," he said, and Dumbledore muttered something at that moment that nobody listened to.

"I don't," she whispered after a tense moment of silence, "I don't want to go back," she repeated, louder and looking at Severus in the eye.

"Good, then you will be leaving tonight," Dumbledore announced, probably not willing to risk any more incidents.

"What about my things? I need my clothes, and my books, and…"

"I'll ask some house elves to collect them and bring them to you in London," he said, "I just don't want you anywhere near him for a single minute more."

"I agree," Severus muttered.

"You'll take a secret passage to Hogsmeade and from there you'll be able to disapparate," he explained, and before Minerva could speak he added, "no arguments, Minerva. This situation has lasted too long and I am partly responsible for that."

…

"I'll be back on the morning, Sir," Severus assured before stepping into the narrow passage behind a large painting hanging in the room of requirements.

"Don't worry, nobody will get suspicious."

"Tell the elves not to forget about my books," Minerva warned, "and behave yourself in class while you teach my students, I don't want any injuries."

"Goodbye my dear, take good care."

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TO BE CONTINUED.