A/N: Hello there! So sorry for the awfully short chapters, but school is starting and, well, it's not so easy to write often in high school (And my keyboard is kinda uncooperative so it takes forever to proofread). Anyways, hugs to the devoted Miss Shannon and Daneva Snape for their wonderful reviews! Thank them for such a quick update.

Within moments, Snape was pulling his (black) robes and scanning the room for the pot of Floo powder Albus had given him. Once he had located the little clay pot, he grabbed a pinch of the sparkling green powder and threw it into the fire.

"Headmaster's Office!" he enunciated into the roaring flames. When they turned green, e stepped through and was off.

Meanwhile, Minerva McGonagall, who was holding a welcoming gift for said elusive Slytherin, rapped smartly on the door to her newest colleague's office. When there was no answer, she was going to leave, but a word from Phillip Colby, a famous Potions Master from the 1600's and the portrait guarding the Potion Professor's rooms, stopped her.

"I think you should go and check on him, Minerva." She and Phillip were old friends, as he was also quite adept at Transfiguration and was never opposed to giving his opinion on the latest debate in Transfiguration Weekly. There was also a portrait of him in Minerva's office, as he had persued a Mastery in Transfiguration as well. "I heard an owl, then a bunch of thumps and a fire. Here, I'll let you in. But first, what's our keyword?" At her confused look, he said, "To make sure it's really you."

"Ah. Veriverto." Minerva said, and with a smile, Phillip let her in.

The first thing her brain registered upon entry of the Potion Master's quarters was the unnatural cleanliness. "Figures he would be a neat freak." She muttered, picking her way through the pristine room, being careful not to disturb anything.

The room had emerald green walls ("Typical Slytherin" Minerva said under her breath), a silky black rug on the cold stone floor, plush leather couches by a stone hearth with embers shining in the gloom, and an entire wall of books accompanied by a single black wingback chair. There were torches adorning the green walls, and three doors, one of which was disguised as a bookshelf. McGonagall recognized the false bookshelf at once, as she had one in her own rooms. It would lead to his office. The middle door had a small bronze plaque adorning the black wood, inscribed with a simmering cauldron. She assumed it opened into his private lab. That meant the last door was the door to his bedroom.

"Severus?" she called out softly. There was no response. "Severus Snape." She said, a little louder. Still not another noise, save the crackling of the torches on the walls, disturbed the silence of the rooms.

Thinking of something that would wake him and flush him out of hiding and into the open if he was there, Minerva, at the top of her voice, began to sing.

"99 BOTTLES OF MEAD ON THE WALL, 99 BOTTLES OF MEAD

TAKE ONE DOWN, PASS IT AROUND, 98 BOTTLES OF MEAD ON THE WALL!"

She stopped, and listened. Not a sound.

Warily, she poked her head into Snape's office. The feeling emanating from the décor was positively (Or negatively, if you thought about it, mused the Transfiguration Professor) gloomy. Dead, pickled creatures were stacked on the wooden shelves stuck to the walls. The torches in wall brackets were present here, too. In the middle of the room stood a large mahogany desk, on which stood a single sleek, black quill with inkpots full of red, green, and black ink.

Severus wasn't here, either.

Minerva ventured into the only unsearched room: the bedroom. Here, a large four-poster bed, black, and a tall dresser, also black, took up most of the available space. There was a fireplace ere, too, and when she inhaled through her nose, she could smell Floo powder. Ah. So he was gone.

Placing the wrapped gift (A bottle of her favorite Scottish whisky) on the small bedside table, she noticed a letter on the ground near the bed. Recognizing Dumbledore's loopy, narrow writing, she unfolded it to take a peek. Sure, it was unprofessional to read somebody else's mail, but it was from Albus.

She was curious.

The letter read:

My Dear Severus,

I hope you had a good time at the staff welcoming party last night. Of course, you didn't drink any of that lovely firewhisky Rolanda provided us, despite continuous badgering, but I daresay you downed a class of scotch or two when safely in your quarters.

Now, I noticed you glancing, or should I say staring, at Aurora Sinistra quite a lot. As you might want to know, she is a young lady at 23, and the Astronomy Professor. As a Slytherin, she is currently Head of House, for she was the only Slytherin teacher after Horace retired, but has expressed an interest in passing the title on to you. She is not ambitious for a Slytherin, but has sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. I daresay you two will be crossing swords quite often!

Do try to get out of the dungeons every once in a while? If I know you, and I flatter myself in thinking I do rater well, you will be attempting to hole yourself up for the remainder of the summer holidays. I would love to see you out and about!

PS: If you wish to see me, the password to my office is Fizzing Whizzbee.

Dearest Affection,

Albus

Minerva stared.

And re-read the letter.

There was a moment's pause before she doubled over in laughter, tears leaking down her cheeks. That meddlesome old fool!

"ALBUS!" Snape yelled, face… Well not red, but less pale in his rage.

"Mmm? What is it, my dear boy?" said the Headmaster, blue eyes amusedly twinkling.

" How DARE you infer that I have feelings OTHER than contempt for that… that infuriating.. woman?" the black-clad wizard seethed, nearly incoherent in his anger.

"Why, Sev'rus, you seem to 'ave developed… 'trong feelings 'n regards to Pr'fessor Sin'stra." Dumbledore said, sitting coolly in his chair.

"Albus… How did you come to that absurd conclusion? Is it your age? Perhaps all the candy is affecting your brain?" Snape drew breath as he made to continue his tirade, but stopped short.

"Albus? Why are you talking so stran- Are you floating?!" Snape exclaimed.

"'s the Fizz'ng Wh'zzbees, m'boy. 's the Fizz'ng Wh'zzbees."