A/N

Well, here's the second part of the previous scene. I was wondering, hmm…does anyone think that I should make sure that these scenes stay in one chapter? I got the feeling that I would really have liked this to be added in – directly – with the previous chapter, but it would have been much longer than the usual length of the other chapters. Just let me know what you think, alright?

excessivelyperky: I hope you like this scene - the previous chapter and this one too!

Enjoy!

Recap:

Snape had pulled himself into a seated position now, lowering his sleeve back to its proper place.

"Don't worry, I will be able to serve my purpose to the Order, since that is what you are indirectly asking," he hissed, masking a slight twinge of…hurt behind a sneer.

He earned a swift, sharp slap for that, and found himself staring up at an irate witch, unable to keep the shock from his face.

Chapter Seven: Once a student, Always a student

"I was asking so that I could be sure that you will not be tortured once more, should he call for you and you do not answer his summons," she said slowly, fury laced into her voice. "But, by all means, continue to see the negative side of all people. I suppose it is too late to teach an old dog new tricks, I suppose."

As the two stared at each other; one in anger and the other in surprise; McGonagall noticed how quickly her colleague's pale skin had turned red where she had slapped him.

And just like that, guilt hit her. She had never, never, in all her thirty eight years of teaching, raised a hand to a student.

Never.

There had never once been a moment in her entire career when she had felt the desire to physically hurt a student.

Oh Merlin, she thought, horrified, what have I done?

"Severus – I – Merlin, my boy, I did not – oh – I am sorry, I do not know what came over me and –" The Potions' Master raised a hand, silencing her – which he should not have been capable of doing, for no one silence her like that, not unless they wanted to incur her temper.

"It's quite alright," he said, tiredly. "I…supposed I deserved it."

Now it was McGonagall's turn to gape at him.

Did he just-? No, she thought, shaking her head ever so slightly, no, I am just hearing things. She stared at the younger man. Good heavens. He did say-?

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed he was still quivering. Reaching out for the vials she had summoned, she handed one to the Potions' Master, who looked at it questioningly.

"It will help. With the…body pains," she said, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "I have at least three decades worth of experience more than you do, Severus. I know what the after effects of prolonged and repeated exposure to the Cruciatus curse are."

A dark flush crept across the dark-haired man's face and neck, made all the more evident by the paleness of his skin. McGonagall felt her lips twitch upward as he refused to meet her eyes.

Kids, she thought to herself, amusedly, before she handed him another potion, daring him to question her at risk to his own persona. He downed the potion without a complaint, which was the same thing he did for the third one.

Of course, he would have known that she had given him something to fight whatever infection might have been caused by the…attack on his Dark Mark, and that the last potion he had been given was a Sleeping Draft.

But he didn't say a word as she banished the remnants of the bandages and stoked the fire once more. Even though it was summer, this area of the castle was always quite chilly.

"You said you were looking for me? Was there any particular reason…?" he asked, softly, as he sank back into the couch.

McGonagall nodded, surprised that she had almost forgotten.

"Yes, I –" She paused. "Albus…he told me about it all. About…Si-Black." She almost regretted mentioning it when the closed expression found itself back on the boy – on the young man's face.

"I see. I am sorry to disappoint you, Minerva, but I will not apologize for my behavior concerning-"

"-I just wanted to…apologize, on…my House's behalf, for that foolish, dangerous stunt that he pulled in your fifth year," interrupted McGonagall. "If I had known about it at the time, I – "

"-You mean you…didn't know about it then?"

"Of course I didn't. Do you think I would have allowed Black to…remain relatively unscathed after endangering the lives of three of my students?"

"He was your favorite little lion cub. Why else was he allowed to stay in school, even after all his pranks and…with his arrogant behavior?"

"He was not – he was a very bright student, and, as you already know, I value them. Oh yes, I do value all of my students, but particularly the highly skilled ones, as all teachers are wont to do."

"Admit it; you favored him over the rest."

"I did not."

"You did. Did you think no one noticed? Did you think no one noticed how you put Hagrid in charge of a generous quarter of his detentions? Hagrid, who took him on exploration missions into the Forbidden Forest, chatting jovially on the way, instead of making him clean up after flobberworms?"

"…Severus-"

"-It is alright to have a favorite student, Minerva. I have one myself, as I am sure you have heard. Draco Malfoy."

"No, Severus, that is not favoritism, that is intimidation by name – something which the senior Malfoys are all quite good at. I did not favor Si – Black." There was a pause. "As the Head of Gryffindor House, it was my responsibility to ensure the well-being – both mental and physical – of my Gryffindors."

"Ah. So he was a tortured soul?"

McGonagall glared at him, unconsciously noting how his eyelids kept on drooping down with sleep, before he forced them open again.

"You are not the only one who…had problems with family."

"Problems with family? He was a Black for-"

"-And that was the main cause of his problems. But I will not discuss this with you. You are tired. Go to sleep, Severus."

"I – what? I am most certainly not tired-"

"-I will Stun you and levitate you to your room if I have to, Severus. I am not beneath doing that."

The two glared at each other for a moment, before the Potions' Master got to his feet, wobbling as he stood.

"You are a menace."

"Why, thank you, Severus. I love you too," answered McGonagall, dryly, as she watched the younger man shuffle his way to his room.

"G'night Professor," he mumbled softly, his voice slurred with the potion-induced sleep that was just about ready to overcome him.

McGonagall sent him an almost affectionate glance. Almost.

"Goodnight, my boy." She waited for a few minutes after he had closed the door to his room, and, with a sigh, headed towards the portrait hole. Honestly, that boy's stubbornness was going to get him killed one day.

She smirked as an amusing thought entered her mind. And to think that he thinks that only Gryffindors can be quite so stubborn. Perhaps I should ask him tomorrow why exactly he shares this…very Gryffindor quality?

Ignoring the rude comment that the portrait of the dark-haired wizard gave her – having, quite evidently, not forgotten how she had gotten him to open the entrance – she had only taken two steps down the corridor, when a familiar voice spoke out.

"Well done, Minerva. Very well done."

"Albus." The wizard's eyes were twinkling.

"Minerva."

"Albus…?"

"Minerva…?"

It took the Deputy Headmistress a moment to realize that she was being played with. And she scowled.

"Albus Dumbledore," she started, her hands on her hips when she suddenly paused. "Why in Merlin's name do you have a…badger on your head?"

Dumbledore merely smiled as he raised his hand to pet the soft, very much alive, black lump that rested on his favorite hat.

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot about him," he said, jovially. "I found this little fellow in the forest and gave him a lolly or two. It seems that the little fellow has taken a liking to me…"

The dark-haired Witch could only gape at him, unsure of what she should say. "Of course, there is also the possibility that he just wants more lollies…" He smiled. "I think I will indulge him in that and then take him back to the Forest. Would you like to come-?"

"…No," said McGonagall, managing to regain her composure. "No. It – I think I will retire for the night."

"Oh very well. If you insist. Good night my dear." With a smile and a wave – and a strange sound from the badger – her superior walked cheerily away from her, almost seeming to take the light with him when he left.

Merlin. If I didn't know that man, I would find it very, very hard to believe that he had defeated Grindelwald. And that he is the only one the Dark Lord fears.

Shaking her troubled head, she headed towards her private quarters, greeting the portrait of Godric Gryffindor with a weary smile.

A/N

Alright, that's the end of that scene. Hehe, I hope you enjoyed it. I am beginning to realize that I quite like writing bits with Dumbledore in them. I didn't use to before, but…I apparently do now.

Well, see ya next time!

Siriusgirl1