AN: Okey dokey…this one will pick right up where the last little chapter-and yes, I know it was verrrrry little, left off. Hopefully we'll get some closure here! Let's see if Severus can have some sense knocked into him by a certain feisty Gryffindor woman, hmmmm? This might be a bit…OOC? Sorry. Sort of.

The usual disclaimers apply! Please don't sue me, because with my money problems I can't afford to lose another Knut! JK is the proud owner.

Reviews are always appreciated and welcomed! Please enjoy. :)

SS

Chapter 6: A Meeting of Minds

Severus Snape did not exactly have a reputation as a sweetheart. He didn't smile, never made jokes (unless you counted the sarcastic ones that most other people didn't find amusing,) …and he most certainly didn't laugh. All in all it was not an unusual sight to see the fearsome potions master stalking his way down the hallway, but for one reason or another Severus Snape caught the eye of Headmaster Dumbledore whose piercing blue eyes looked out on his kingdom from behind those half-moon glasses-ever in search of anything amiss. Seeing one of his very favorite former students and current favorite teachers in what appeared to be distress, Albus Dumbledore began to glide over to the aforementioned man who was currently on his way towards the dungeons.

Severus Snape was really angry. No, more than angry. He was fuming mad. It had been years since he had let himself open up to anyone, over a decade since he'd let anyone past the great, stony exterior that he had so carefully cultivated in order to remain alive. In order for others to remain alive. Severus Snape did not give out his heart easily. That morning, awaking from such a decadent slumber the likes in which he rarely indulged, Severus was more than a little shocked when the bed beside him was empty. Immediately his defenses went up. He had closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders forward. He told himself that he should have expected this, that it had really been too good to be true. Good women like Hermione Granger did not happen to fancy men like Severus Snape. He had tried to close himself off behind all his walls, steel himself. And then she'd waltzed in the room. He knew that she was going to kick him to the curb. And so he'd left, trying to tell himself that he wasn't hurt, that it hadn't been painful…and that he hadn't just walked away from one of the most beautiful nights of his life. He saw Dumbledore approaching and felt his heart speed up. Severus groaned and wondered briefly, if he had a second to change his course, but realized with a muttered curse that it was really too late as….

"Severus, my boy!" The voice of the headmaster was light as air, yet heavy with foresight as the older wizard came up beside Severus. Severus' rolled his eyes skyward and paused in his walking, crossing his arms stiffly over his chest. His heart felt rather heavy and there was a stinging sensation occurring behind his eyes. And he knew he couldn't hide anything from Dumbledore. He tried to think of an ironic comment…but there was none to be had. In fact…with horror, Severus Snape realized that the stinging sensation that was so unfamiliar was the onset of tears. Severus Snape was about to cry.

Dumbledore's expression quickly turned from one of casual curiosity to one of great concern as he watched his younger companion begin to crumple in front of him. "Now, now, Severus. Let's take this to my office…shall we?" Then noticing Severus' panicked look at having to walk through the halls in such a state, he shook his head. "A stroll around the lake then?" Severus nodded shortly, and swiftly made his way to the front entranceway, Dumbledore following quickly behind.

…

Hermione was standing stock still in the doorway to her bedroom, the tray of food long forgotten. Her brain was working a mile a minute to process what exactly had just happened. Then all at once her posture changed. Her shoulders rose slowly, along with her head. Suddenly her shoulders were squared and her eyes were bright and hard looking. Hermione was mad. Quick as she could she dressed herself and marched out of her quarters in search of one stubborn man. His name was Severus.

…

TBC….

Ugh, sorry for the short updates. Right now it seems to be the best I can do. For some reason my muse is suffering from a short attention span and I'm ready to tear my hair out! Any suggestions, fellow writers? In the meantime, any feedback would be great, and I'd also like to say thanks to my loyal readers who have returned to this story after it was stagnant for so long.

SS