Ch. 19: Masks and Mudbloods

Though the office door Severus was sitting down with Dumbledore having a cup of tea by the fire. He had been a bit annoyed when he was first summoned to see the old wizard first thing this morning. Severus had wanted to start this day with Tabatha. It was after all because of her that this was the first Christmas in what felt like forever that he was actually looking forward to. However Severus understood that he had other duties and promises to keep as well, and he was bound to take care of all his responsibilities. With that he retired to the fact that he would spend this Christmas Eve morning with his Headmaster and not the very lovely girl waiting for him; though that wasn't going to stop him from trying to get over as quickly as possible. With that Severus gave his report.

After hearing Severus talk for a long time, the old wizard took a moment to think then finally responded.

"Thank you for that information about our problem in third floor corridor," Dumbledore smiled at Severus nodding, "That information is going be to extremely useful, the mirror of Erised you say, brilliant."

Severus gave a curt smile to his Headmaster, "thank you sir"; he spoke dryly taking another slip of tea

"You really are a valuable asset to us you know." Dumbledore continued, "I hope that having to be saddled with our newest witch hasn't been too much of burden."

Severus sat up quickly and choked back a bit on his tea. "M..my Ta…B..burden… Saddled? Tabatha? No of course not!" Severus spat, more hostile then he wanted to be.

Dumbledore shifted a bit in his chair and folded his hands under his chin.

"You seem to have grown attached to your ward Severus?" He playfully mused.

Severus hardened his face, he despised her being addressed as his ward, she was so much more than that to him now. However not wanting to reveal much of his true feelings he forced his mind back.

Straighten his overcoat his sat up tall and stiff again, coolly he let the words flow from his mouth.

"She is a brilliant witch skilled in potions, and you know Headmaster how much I can admire a brilliant mind, though I don't come across one often". Severus knew that much was true. He also knew that he was leaving out that he admired about every other part of her as well.

"Ah yes my boy I am well aware of how you value the mind" Dumbledore gave a small chuckle, "Just remember there are other things to value as well."

Severus cocked his eye and looked at the old wizard sideways, "Playing Matchmaker, are we sir?"

"No not at all Severus, I just feel that Tabatha would have many other traits to offer." Pausing he took another sip of tea and thought for a moment and continued.

"However it might prove wise to not become attached to her, with all that is happening and will happen in the future it could complicate things further." Dumbledore gave a curt smile.

In the chair across from him Severus was sitting there calmly but inside he was raging. "I will be attached to, care for, even love, anyone I damn please!" He thought to himself.

Taking a swallow of air Severus finished his tea and stood up. Looking down at the still sitting Dumbledore he pressed his lips hard together then finally spoke.

"I will keep your Suggestion in mind. Now I believe you have a certain brilliant witch waiting for you so I will not be rude in keeping you from here any longer" Severus nodded his head down politely and started to walk towards the door.

As Severus left the office he have a loud huff, "Of all the nerve" he said under his breath.

"Penny for your thoughts" A sweet warm voice broke through the air.

Severus turned around and saw Tabatha sitting there smiling warmly at him, in his anger he had forgotten she was waiting outside the door. Seeing her sitting there smiling at him, made it hard for him to even remember feeling so enraged, her smile always made him feel good.

He gave her a small smile "Sorry I forgot you were sitting out here" he said a bit sheepishly.

Tabatha stood up and walked over to Severus, "I'm that forgettable?" She teased as she slowly used her finger to pull a stray piece of fluff from off his shoulder.

Severus eye's searched her face as she looked at his shoulder, licking his lips he spoke his voice horse and almost a whisper.

"N..no, I could never forget you"

Tabatha brought her eyes to his, they were so soft.

"I could never forget you either" she let the words drip off the end of her tongue.

For a second they just stood their holding each other's glance when from behind them they heard a noise.

"McFee! I said to stop!" Prefect Percy Weasley called out sternly.

A figure came running from around the corner followed by the older boy. Severus stiffened up and quickly resumed the character of his mask as he watched the Slytherin boy run from the Gryffindor Prefect.

"What is going on here?" He spat as the boys came to halt in front of him. "Prefect Weasley what's the meaning of this?" His words were cold as ice.

Tabatha help her lips tight, it was almost comical how he could switch back and forth so fast.

"McFee, was overheard calling another student a …" Percy looked around cautiously "a M-U-D-B-L-O-O-D sir."

Severus eyed the Prefect and then eyed the member of his own house, finally he spoke.

"Thank you Prefect Weasley, I will handle it from here." His monotone was flawless

"But Sir!" Percy interjected

"I said I would handle it from here!" Severus spat

Tabatha shuttered a bit from his tone, then she opened the door to Dumbledore's office walked through closing it behind her, however she left the door open a crack so she could still listen. Ease dropping was a terribly wrong thing to do but she could hardly help herself.

Back in the corridor Percy glared at Severus but finally conceded. "Yes of course Sir" he gave a curt nod and stormed off down the corridor.

The young Slytherin boy chuckled under his breath in celebration, until he heard a loud sigh coming from the direction of his Head of House.

"Something amusing?" he queried "I hope you find as much pleasure when you're scrubbing the Slytherin bathrooms with a toothbrush for the next three weeks."

The boy glared at him, then finally spoke up.

"Sir, you're going to punish me for calling some prat a mudblood?"

Severus clenched his jaw tight; the term for the first time in years was making his blood boil.

Finally he spoke, "seeing that you just admitted what you've done you leave me no choice, fifty points from Slytherin, and another two weeks for you in the loo!" with that he stormed down the corridor leaving the boy completely taken aback.

Tabatha was also a bit taken back, whatever that word was it really got to Sev. "Wow' she said under her breath as she took a step back to let the door close. As she did she stepped right back into Dumbledore, who evidently was also watching the interaction transpire from behind her.

Spinning around fast, Tabatha saw who it was and blushed with embracement. "Oh sir I'm sorry, I didn't see, and I know I shouldn't have been listening in…"

"No need Ms. Rewolf, No need." The Headmaster cut her off with a chuckle. "It would seem at that we all have a need to know the unknown around here."

Tabatha smiled warmly at the old Wizard as he led her into his seating area near the fire. He handed her a cup of tea and a scone and then sat down across from her.

"So my dear," Dumbledore chimed, "how are you fairing at our little school?"

"I'm really having a wonderful time" Tabatha smiled "and Severus has shown me so many things about magic, he's a great teacher."

"You're quite fond of our potions master it would seem." Dumbledore continued.

Tabatha blushed again and shook her head yes.

"Well that is quite good seeing how fond he is of you as well." The old wizard smirked.

Tabatha was taken back; she knew Severus wore his mask around everyone all the time.

"H. do you know sir?"

Dumbledore smiled and stood up walking over to his desk. "I have known Severus Snape for over twenty years now, I can tell a few things. Plus that behavior in the hall tells a great deal as well."

Opening the candy dish Dumbledore reached in and took a piece out and gestured it over to Tabatha. "Lemon Sherbet my dear?"

"No thank you" she shook her head no got up and joined Dumbledore at his desk, "what do you mean his behavior?"

Popping the candy in his own mouth he continued.

"Severus got upset over that word because of you my dear".

"What word? Mudblood?" Tabatha looked confused. "What does that even mean?"

"Sometimes a magical person will be born into a family of non-magic, no one is sure of the reason why it happens but it does, Mudblood is a horribly nasty term used to describe a witch or wizard that does not come from a wizarding family themselves." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "It's the highest insult you can give someone who was born in a muggle family."

Tabatha's eyes widened "Then I must be the biggest Mudblood around, seeing I was not only born into a muggle family I was a muggle myself."

"Severus is right you are brilliant," Dumbledore smiled. "Yes sadly you would very likely be thought of as an even lower standard then a Muggle-born or even a muggle altogether. When McFee used that term for someone else Severus felt it was also a slap in the face to you."

Tabatha smiled a bit, that name meant nothing to her really, it was only a name. However what did mean something to her is that Severus had defended her, even if it was vicariously.

"Severus is a good man" Tabatha smiled to herself.

"I am so glad you think so, which is way I must ask you something. In fact it's the reason I summoned you to my office in the first place." Dumbledore looked at her kindly. "I cannot reveal much to you, I am truly sorry for that, but I must tell you that Severus cannot allow his persona to change at this time. You bring out the best in him, and that is wonderful, but right now it is not something the world should see."

Tabatha felt her chest tighten like someone just hit her in the stomach. "W. are you asking me? Do you want me to stop being around him?" Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her eye flushed with tears.

Dumbledore stood up and walked over to her quickly putting his arm around her. "No, no not at all my dear. I think you're doing Severus a world of good right now."

Tabatha looked into the old wizards kind eyes and sniffed back a tear. "Then what was it sir?" she asked softly.

"Well I know you got Severus a gift for Christmas," Dumbledore walked back to his desk "told you how things are around here, but I have an idea for another gift."

Lifting a piece of parchment off the desk he walked back over to Tabatha.

"Here we go" He handed it over to Tabatha who looked it over.

"Is this what I think it is?" Tabatha was intrigued.

"Yes! Yes! And a brilliant one if you ask me!" Dumbledore beamed "I should know I made it myself"

Tabatha read over the instructions and looking up beamed up at the old wizard. "Yes I would have to agree, extremely brilliant."

Tabatha looked over at the clock and saw it was half past ten.

"Sir!, I've lost track of the time this morning! I'm sorry but I must go." Tabatha walked over to the door.

"Ah yes", Dumbledore mused, "Cookies at eleven correct?"

Tabatha looked back, "How did you..."

"Told you about this place" he cut in smiling "though remember when you're done the old headmaster does have a sweet tooth!"

Smiling back at Dumbledore Tabatha shook her head "Yes of course I will make sure you get them while there still warm." And with that she walked through the door and headed to the Great Hall to get her partners in cookie making.