Author's Note: Hello all! I am back again, after a few very busy weeks back at school. Thank you so much to everyone who has been taking the time to read this story, I really appreciate it. For those who are interested I have started a Facebook page to keep people up to date on my writing, information on when I will be updating, new ideas, and some fun stuff. The link is on my profile page.
Thefanwhowrites: In response to your question I will only say that all will be revealed in due time. I would not want to spoil the story for you. An author never reveals her secrets. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe, it belongs to the fabulous JK Rowling.
"Alright, it is time to answer my question now." Minerva said sitting down to tea with Severus the next day.
That woman was far too curious about things, especially things she did not need to know. One day her curiosity might be her downfall, that was something that he did not want to see happen to anyone, least of all her.
"The situation is fairly self-explanatory Minerva. I was injured." Severus replied calmly. He knew she probably would not accept this as an answer, but he did not want to reveal the entire story. That was information that she did not need to know.
"Severus, I expect a full explanation of what happened to you. The matter certainly does not seem so simple as an injury." She said giving him what he came to acknowledge as her signature stare. He could imagine that she was quite the formidable professor, most assuredly someone students did not want to cross.
"There is nothing more that you need to know about this situation. For all intents and purposes my injuries are the result of an accident. As you can see I am perfectly fine now, there is no need to worry." Severus said trying to brush things aside.
"I was not born yesterday Severus, your injuries were not the result of a simple accident. Are you going to tell me that you accidentally managed to curse yourself? A slip of the wand and you hit yourself with the cruciatus curse?" She replied. "I would not be able to believe something like that for a second, you are far too skilled a wizard to do anything like that. I want the truth from you."
Severus was silent for a few moments, unsure of just how much he should tell her. He decided to attempt to dissuade her from her quest for answers just one more time. "It was an accident Minerva, that is all I can say right now. Fortunately the injuries were not too debilitating and I am fully recovered once again." He said.
Minerva set down her teacup and saucer, stood up,and walked towards the door. "Where are you going?" Severus asked her standing up as well.
"To the hospital wing." she replied curtly.
"Whatever for, are you ill?" he asked her concerned.
"I am perfectly fine, it is you I am going on behalf of. You are injured and unwell, Poppy will need to give you an examination." she replied. "It should not take too long, she may only keep you in the hospital wing for a day or two."
"What is the meaning of his Minerva?" He asked trying to find some way to keep her talking so she would not carry out this plan.
"Obviously you must be ill and disillusioned with fever if you believe for an instant that I will accept that your injuries are the result of a simple accident. This must be tended to posthaste, now if you will excuse me I must get to the hospital wing." Minerva replied.
"You would not, you have no grounds to do such a thing." Severus replied. "Obviously I am not riddled with fever."
"I have every right Severus. I know you are injured, I saw your wounds." She said. "I know that Poppy would be only too happy to tend to you, especially with an empty hospital wing."
"Minerva, I assure you that I am fine, those injuries no longer bother me. Everything has been taken care of." He replied.
"I know they have been treated, but they have not been taken care of enough. Had I not stumbled upon you last night, and been willing to patch you up these injuries would have been far worse." she said.
"Thank you for that, but I would have been fine on my own. I have patched myself up in the past, and I was fully capable of doing so last night." he said. "I did not ask you for your help."
"Be that as it may, I did provide the help that was completely necessary. As such I believe that I am only doing my duty as a professor at this school by going to Poppy and informing her that a member of the staff is in need of care." she replied. "I would not be able to have a clean conscience if I did not inform her of this pressing issue."
"Fine, do that. Poppy will examine me and find that I am indeed fine, better in fact. I feel excellent." he said taking a step forward. "Go on then."
"You're bluffing." Minerva replied. "There is pain on your face, you might be able to conceal that from most of the staff but I can guarantee that it will not escape the notice of Poppy. I will be on my way now."
"Minerva, don't do this to me. I cannot be confined to the hospital wing, I have so much to do." He pleaded with her.
"I will remain here and I will not tell Poppy about your illnesses, if you tell me what happened to you. Otherwise consider yourself booked in the hospital wing." she said willing him to cross her.
Severus sighed. "Curiosity killed the cat Minerva."
"Indeed Severus." she replied. "I assume we have reached an agreement then?"
"Please, have a seat." Severus said gesturing to the chair across from him."
"Thank you." she replied sitting down again.
"Before I give you the explanation I just want to make a few things clear." Severus said. "Firstly, this discussion will not leave this room. Second, I cannot tell you everything, some details must be left out. This is for both of our safety. Certain things could be potentially dangerous to both of us. Do you agree to those terms?"
"I can accept your terms." Minerva replied. "Please continue."
"I was not lying when I told you that these injuries were the result of an accident, perhaps misunderstanding would be a better term to use. To explain things more clearly I was on assignment last night. I was called to a gathering last evening with the death eaters. It started out fairly peacefully, this one was just a social gathering with some of the prominent families. Those are normally far less stressful as the risk of getting killed at one of those is slightly lower than at other events."
"What do you mean the risk of getting killed is only slightly lower? What on earth could happen at a social gathering?" she asked curiously.
"I won't go into too much detail, but amongst the death eaters there can be a great deal of infighting. Mostly this stems from jealousy, but there are other reasons as well. Occasionally a duel will occur, or someone's food will be poisoned. If one is prepared and takes the proper precautions they should be fine." He said.
"What possesses anyone to go to one of these events?" she asked curiously.
"The possibility of moving up a few rungs on the social ladder, perhaps moving to an inner circle within the organization. There is also the risk of losing favor if you fail to attend an event." Severus replied. "All in all, you are probably better off if you do attend the events."
"Alright, I shall take your word for it. Please continue with your explanation."
"As I was saying the event itself was rather peaceful, until the Aurors showed up in a surprise raid." Severus replied. "Some of the families are just a bit too open about their loyalties, and they do not posses terribly good security. As the muggle saying goes loose lips sink ships."
"Once the Aurors arrived everything was thrown into utter chaos. Spells and curses were being bandied about on all sides of the event. To maintain my cover I had to fight on the side of the death eaters, I did my best to avoid harming any of the Aurors." He said.
"Did you get caught up in the crossfire? Did one of the Death Eaters notice and attack you?" she asked.
"No, one of the Aurors recognized me and seemed to make quite the deliberate attack. He was quite aggressive with spells, and at one point he even resorted to attacking with his fists. I used some spells purely for defensive purposes, but there was not much I could do. I did not want to harm any of the Aurors, but I did not want my true loyalties to be revealed. It was such utter madness last night. As soon as I could get free I managed to leave the premises and apparate back to Hogsmeade, from there I made my way back to the castle. You know the rest of the story."
"This was done to you by an Auror?" Minerva asked in amazement. "I thought this would have been from the death eaters."
"That is not an unlikely scenario, however yes, this time it was an auror." Severus replied.
"You said you were injured in an accident, from your explanation of the events, and the injuries you sustained I find that impossible to believe." She said. "You were attacked deliberately."
"I consider it to be in the realm of an accident as they were unaware of which side I was on. Given the situation they had every right to act as they did." Severus replied
"I cannot say that I agree with that." Minerva replied.
"That is only because you know more than they do." he replied. "You would not say the same if it was someone else. I know you would want a criminal to be punished. I cannot say I would disagree with that."
"There is no excuse for the way you were treated though." she replied looking him squarely in the eyes. "You only cast defensive spells, no curses."
"You are so quick to defend me Minerva, how can you be so certain that I am to be trusted?" he asked her seriously. "I remember but a few weeks ago you were not even willing to speak with me. Come to think of it, you never told me what it was that brought about this change of heart."
"Didn't I?" she asked him. "It is not that important."
"I would like to know though, why don't you humor me?" he asked her.
"Very well, I suppose I just came to realize that if Albus was was willing to hire you, that he must trust you. Obviously he must have known about your previous affiliations, he always seems to know everything that is going on around here, both with members of the staff, and with the students." She said. "If he found you to be trustworthy enough to work with our students in the confines of this school, then I should be able to trust you."
"Fair enough." Severus replied. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"
"About last night?" she asked. "Just one more thing. Who was it that did this to you? Which Auror was it?"
"That is one question which I cannot answer Minerva, and I hope you can accept that. I will not budge on this issue. " He replied. "No matter how many times you threaten me with trips to the Hospital Wing."
"I can agree with that." she replied. "I do have one more question though, it does pertain to last night, but it has nothing to do with the attack we have been discussing."
"Please, by all means." Severus said, gesturing for her to continue.
"I could not help but notice that you have a lovely piano in your rooms. Do you play?" she asked him.
The question caught him off guard, but he supposed it would not do any harm for him to tell her. It was not as if this needed to be kept a secret. "Yes Minerva, I do play. I have played ever since I was young My mother insisted that from the time I was four I take lessons on the instrument. I continued through my time at Hogwarts working with one of the former professors here. It became a passion of mine, playing can be very soothing when one is under a lot of stress."
"I know the feeling. I had no idea that you played an instrument." she said. "Why did you never tell me about this."
"It never came up in conversation." He replied.
"Could you possibly play for me at some point in time?" she asked him. "I would love to hear it."
"I am not sure whether you want to hear me to size up my playing, or whether you honestly want to hear me play." He said jokingly.
"I am genuinely interested in hearing you play." she replied.
"Perhaps something can be arranged." He said. "Under one condition."
"What might that be?" she asked him.
"You have spent the afternoon asking me questions, why don't you answer a question for me?" he asked her by way of a reply.
"Alright, that sounds reasonable." she replied. "What is it that you would like to know?"
"I am curious as to whether or not you really would have gone to Poppy and told her everything." Severus asked. "Where you bluffing, or did you actually intend to go straight find Poppy?"
Minerva had a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I suppose we will never know. It is best to keep some things a mystery, or else they will lose their value." she replied.
"I shall accept that answer. Not least of all because that twinkle in your eye is rather reminiscent of our illustrious Headmaster." he said a half smile on his face. "Perhaps I should heed my own advice on curiosity."
"Perhaps, but you have to remember there is a second part to that old saying as well." she replied with a smile. "Curiosity may have killed that cat, but satisfaction brought her back."