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Loyal Heart

Ch 2

Heartbreak By Dusk

"I…I..." Snape stammered almost inaudibly. Thoughts ran through his mind like water as he tried to find words.

I…I what? I've missed you? I hope you're well? I hate you for never letting me know if you were alive or dead for seven years? I, what?

"You…" he managed.

You WHAT!? You've put me through Hell? You've no idea what you've missed? You've just shown up in time to steal my promotion? You lousy…

The internal debate was cut short by the sound of his name, made hazy by the touch of her voice. "Severus," she said sweetly and beamed a greeting smile. She was like the sun. And for the first time in a long while it felt like dawn. But as the sun rose within him, it began to burn. So many memories, painful ones, began to stir. This sort of sunrise never failed to bring heartbreak by dusk. It would not, could not happen again.

Dumbledore broke in shortly, bringing the room back to business. "As you may already know, there are those at the ministry who would find it most convenient if she were dead."

"I had an inkling," said Severus swiftly sinking into the shadows sarcasm. "But until now I could not be sure she wasn't." He fixed her with an icy stare. She looked slightly confused by his reaction but seemed to dismiss it in light of Dumbledore explanation.

"I am afraid her past has been blown very much out of proportion. She and a few other high ranking aurors were framed for the killings in Canterbury some seven years ago during the Auror's Strike. They refused to follow the orders that lead to the deaths. But another party, likely the early Death Eater's, carried them out in their stead.

"I was as aware of the Aurors' Strike then as I am today, Sir. However I don't see why Ms. Grimstone did not return from hiding for a trial and prove her innocence, as surely she is innocent." Snape spat with righteous anger.

"You do know I can hear you? You're talking like I'm not even here, Severus, " Gelladrin said, indignant after his outburst. "I think you of all people should know I'm innocent. You were the one who told me to run. Now you want proof?"

Snape was ready with a biting retort but was halted as Dumbledore continued to explain.

"Gelladrin, please." The old headmaster held up a placating hand. She settled uneasily into silence. "There is no doubt of your innocence in this room, I assure you. Severus, you must consider that certain corrupt members of the Ministers personal cabinet have gone as far as false documentation to build their case against her. And I must say that it is a decently convincing guise. It took me weeks to find its flaws. Luckily, with some questionably legal help from Arthur Weasley and much filibustering on my part, we've managed to throw them off her trail for the time being. However, a momentary victory by is by no means the end of the war. They're watching, Severus. Every boarder. Every crossing. All enchanted to alert them to her presence. There is nowhere else to run. Except perhaps Hogwarts."

Snape began to pace, searching his mind for a point to argue."What do you expect the parents will say to this? They will not be half as welcoming to one whom the Ministry has made out to be a monster," he protested, shooting her another cold sideways glance.

"We do have the advantage of secrecy. It's only recently come to the Ministry's attention that she wasn't as dead as they had hoped. The fact that one woman has managed to elude their best and brightest for seven years is quite embarrassing to them," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "They are keeping the whole matter well under wraps. The public hasn't heard a word, so we shouldn't expect much trouble from the parents."

"And I'll be teaching under my sisters name," Gelladrin chimed in. Her voice was quite like a chime. "Seeing as her death was so long ago, and also perhaps because we've stolen several files that would prove it occurred, it shouldn't be obvious to the Ministry that I'm not who I say I am. Though she said it as optimistically as she could, it did not break the tension in the room. She began to feel the rising tide of doubt.

The moment she had laid eyes on him her heart leaped. And though she knew he never would have shown it, she had hoped to see some trace of the same excitement in him. However, as the moments passed that hope seemed increasingly futile. The initial shock on Severus's face hadn't melted into gladness. Instead he'd turned cold and accusatory. He paced like a caged animal.

They hadn't seen each other in so long, far longer than she had expected. She knew she would miss him; he was a dear friend. But for some reason his memory had given her pause over the years more than that of anyone else she had been forced to leave behind. When she had learned that arrangements had been made for her at Hogwarts the thoughts of him became a sort of gnawing excitement in the pit of her stomach. There were many people that she would now be free to see, but there was something about seeing him again…

It seemed a bit silly now but she had taken extra care that morning to look her best. She hadn't bothered with her usual dulling charms. Being half Veela the only time she ever spent in front of a mirror was to disguise her beauty. It prevented staring and allowed her some camouflage in crowds. But today she had wanted to be noteworthy. Today she had taken extra care to comb her white-gold hair smooth so that the waves hung neatly down her back against her favorite green dress. Stunning. Yet he was clearly upset by her. What was this hostility? How had he become so so bitter? From across the room she could feel icy anger rolling off him like fog of the sea. After all these years, where was her friend?

He's just shocked, she assured herself silently.

He's shocked and doesn't know what to say is all. He never was one for surprises. It's alright. He's still the same man, isn't he? ...Isn't he?

"On the staff roster she will be listed as Gellinia Grimstone," Dumbledore proclaimed.

"This is going too far," Severus argued. "Headmaster, you cannot allow her to stay."

"There is no other option, Severus. No one else will have her."

"And with good reason. She stole Ministry files in order to gain a position that, unbeknownst to me, was already guaranteed to her," he added with a sharp glance in her direction. "Theft of official documents? She's building a case against herself and you suggest we associate ourselves with it. There is only one outcome of such a ridiculous venture. She will be brought down and take Hogwarts with her."

As time progressed, Severus was becoming less and less appreciative of her return. He had laid awake so many nights since she disappeared wondering if she was still breathing, if she was hurt or needed help…if she was happy. She hadn't bothered to clue him in to anything. Now, just as he had been gaining some control over the pangs of loss that still haunted him, she was back, wondrous and beaming. All the pain came rushing back, reminding him just how dark his world had become. And to top it all, she was there to take out from under him in less than a day what he had worked all those lonely years to earn. The Defense Against the Dark Arts post.

The fury must have been seeping from his pores. The old headmaster began to look Severus over curiously. "Ms. Grimstone, may I have a word with Professor Snape alone, please?" "Of course," she answered and courteously slipped from the room to wait in the hall.

Severus did not turn to see her go. Their time to talk would have to come later.

As soon as the door shut behind her, the conversation took a new tone. "Severus," Dumbledore began but was interrupted.

"You can't," Snape said with a tinge of desperation. "You can't do this. Headmaster, many people count on Hogwarts as a stronghold, including Potter. If she is found here, which only becomes more likely with time, the Ministry will close our doors."

"Severus," Dumbledore reiterated firmly.

Snape did not hear over his own voice, which was growing in volume and agitation. He could feel something beginning to boil inside him. Something like panic. He knew that if this interview lasted much longer he would lose control. The only thing that had been keeping his temper in check was his massive effort to maintain a lack of expression, and he was becoming less collected by the second.

"That is, if all of the students are not withdrawn within the first week. If you keep her here we mind as well tie Potter with a bow and hand him to the Dark Lord."

"Severus," The Headmaster stood up from his chair with an heir so commanding that Snape fell silent. "I am sorry but the time for debating the subject has long since passed. I know you are angry with me and I am sure at the moment you do not feel I am deserving of a favor,"

Snape scoffed. That is to say the least an understatement, he thought.

"So I must ask you not to see it as such. See it as a favor to her,"

Snapes fists clenched once again.

"She is an old friend of yours and I am sure she would do the same for you in an instant what it has taken this entire conversation to request of you."

Severus held his stony silence. His brow furrowed.

For me? How foreign the thought would be to her. She couldn't be bothered when a simple word was all I asked. And now I'm to believe she would do the same?

After a tense moment or two, the room relaxed and the headmaster perched easily in his chair once more. "The decision has been made," he said.

"Than why call me here?" Severus snarled suddenly. "You could just as well let me show up to the Dark Arts room in the morning to find it occupied. I would have found it out myself and at a decent hour."

"A woman's life is at stake, Professor." The old wizards' voice filled the entire office, knocking Severus's very words clean out of the air.

"I worry for the lives of the students and the safety of the school!" Severus snapped.

"Is it truly their safety that you worry for Severus? Or is it for the safety of your own heart?"

Snape choked on his next words. He could muster no response to such insight. The blaze in his eyes dimmed to embers and he shifted his gaze away from the headmasters' knowing stare. Seeing he had made his point, Dumbledore continued casually.

"If you would please escort our new professor to her chambers."

Severus didn't even nod. With one smoldering glance to acknowledge the order, he spun on his heel and left in a whirl of black, his robes swirling like tidewater.