Dumbledore peered out from over the rim of his half spectacles, stifling a hearty sigh. Running his blue eyes over the tense poise that was the form of his Potion's master, he deliberated. Briefly.

"Why?"

Snape's eyes widened with incredulity as he stared back at the elderly, yet youthful man who was responsible for so much in his life.

"What do you mean why?" he bit out, gesturing at the seated position that was jarring him so.

Dumbledore merely pondered him quietly for a moment, before seeming to come to the correct conclusion about the younger man's reservations.

He let out a small tinkering chuckle despite himself.

"No Severus" he laughed softly, "the days where I am fit enough to haul you across my knee are more than long gone, you'll be glad to hear."

The tense posture instantly dialled it down a notch.

"I merely wish to speak with you without the formality of a desk between us" the older wizard reassured gently, patting the seat beside him with an irritating patience. "I believe the conversation I had with you after your last disagreement with professor Trelawney also stipulated that you would speak to me freely, outside the bounds of headmaster to professor?"

He patted the couch again.

"This is all that this is, although I appreciate how difficult it is for you and I do not take any pleasure in insisting upon it."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes Snape after some deliberation, stiffly stalked towards the couch and sat with an equal stiffness as far away as humanly possible from the man beside him.

Not that he'd show it, but this was much to Albus' amusement.

"So…" he continued conversationally, "what do you suggest we do about this unfortunate situation?"

The rigid posture tightened instantly.

"Why aren't you asking Lupin that as well?" he bit out through a clenched jaw, once again cursing his ridiculous attempt to protect that cursed Potter boy.

This time Dumbledore couldn't repress the instinctual sigh. It was like a merry go round with the deeply complex man beside him. For years it had been a dance between them, a waltz to the tune of one step forwards and two steps backwards.

"I am not enquiring this of Remus because from the recounting of events, however brief, you have shared with me…this would appear to be a situation of your making?"

A tense silence sprung up between the two men, so intense in its presence that it seemed to almost form a brick wall in the centre of the cushioned couch.

"My making?" Snape eventually echoed softly.

Another silence.

"Please don't misunderstand me Severus" murmured Albus in self correction, "I know there is two of you involved in this, I was merely referring to the fact that you laid hands on a colleague. Remus, whatever else his role in this…situation, did not."

Snape relaxed somewhat at the explanation, not that it was visible on the exterior. His unperturbed expression remained resolutely plastered upon his pale face, as he stared adamantly into the distance.

"Like I said headmaster, you have my apologies for the incident. I appreciate it was…unbecoming of me, and I assure you there will be no repeat performance."

He took a breath.

"Now…if you would indulge me, I would very much like to return to my class."

There was no immediate answer. Underneath the mop of silvery hair, a mind was whirring, at an exceptional pace.

There was no question as to the fact that he didn't have enough information to truly press or correct the issue with his protégée of sorts. Whilst he had…utilised more traditional methods of discipline with Severus in the not so distant pass, he was loathe to do so when he didn't have the information required.

He simply would not do it.

He was also apprehensive that any action taken by him now may destabilise the very tentative beginnings of a change in the infamous Potter/Snape relationship. Severus may think him more oblivious than he would care to admit, but he remained adamantly sure that Harry lay at the core of this grievance between his professors.

He came to his decision. He knew Severus was trying to escape his office without any ramifications whatsoever, and whilst he wasn't going to…ensure sitting was an unpleasant feat, this time at least, there were going to be repercussions.

"Very well, very well" Albus eventually muttered quietly, "but…just one thing, before you go back to your…eager I'm sure, students?"

Rolling his eyes at the thinly veiled sarcasm, Snape inclined his head. All the while thanking his lucky stars that nearly strangling the man's pet werewolf hadn't resulted in any more than a tame lecture.

…right?

Wrong.

Dumbledore drew a breath.

This…wasn't going to be pretty.

"I would like for you to chaperone the next month's worth of the trial run of second year visits to Hogsmeade."

A pin could be heard if it had dared to drop in the opulent office.

Snape shook his head slightly, disrupting the curtain of hair that nestled around his ears, certain he had heard incorrectly.

"Come again?" he inquired icily, his black eyes flashing dangerously.

Dumbledore bit his lip to suppress both a hearty chuckle and a firm rebuke for the tone.

"I am not tolerating brawling in my school Severus. If you are so desperate to act as a child, I feel it is only fitting that you should be in their company. Not to worry however, Remus shall be joining you, as he kindly volunteered last week."

Snape gaped in abject horror at the serenely calm wizarding icon beside him.

"You cannot be serious" he eventually manage to spit out, the idea of shepherding a hoard of screeching brats around the village making his very organs shudder.

Albus' benign expression suddenly became somber.

"Oh I am serious Severus" he contradicted quietly, "and I should hope that you do not need a reminder that whilst this office bears my name, the professors of this school shall accept my decisions. Particularly in cases where they would be wise to realise when they are to all intent and purposes looking a gift horse in the mouth."

Snape stared unseeingly.

For a while that was.

Until Dumbledore's gaze shifted directionally to the ornate desk.

The message was clear, and as repulsive as dragging a swarm of over excited twelve year olds around was, being…upended over that desk was even more so.

"Have I made myself understood Severus?" Dumbledore inquired gently, loathing the fact that he was essentially ensuring four weekends worth of misery for his young professor.

He waited patiently as Severus gathered his thoughts, playing idly with his thumbs.

The eventual and thoroughly muted "yes headmaster" was all he needed to hear, and a smile played upon the elder man's face as the words registered in his mind.

He tried, and failed, to resist the urge to quickly reach out and squeeze Snape's shoulder.

It was perhaps a testament to the progress in their relationship that the younger wizard didn't shake it off.

"No more resorting to scuffling in the staff room Severus" he concluded calmly. "You may return to your class now, with my apologies for your lateness."

Standing immediately, Snape gave a curt nod and made for the door.

Resting his hand upon the wrought iron handle, he fought with himself internally before turning back to face a rising Albus.

"A whole month?"

The dancing in the blue eyes was back.

"A whole month."

….

TBC

…

A/N: Next chapter(s) is/are more Harry/Snape-centric. I just wanted to set the tone for the relationship between Dumbledore and Snape in this chapter, as it's going to be needed later on!

Thanks for reading guys, and as this is my first HP fic, I'd appreciate you letting me know what you think, good or bad!

Cheers.