Author's Note: Hello All!, I'm back! After a semester that was far more chaotic than I expected it to be, and what I am sorry to say a fair amount of writer's block, I am happy to finally have a new chapter to post. I hope you enjoy this latest installment, and I sincerely hope to have the next chapter up soon! I will try and keep the Facebook page up to date with more information on this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the other characters, they all belong to JK Rowling.
Somewhere off in the distance a wolf was howling. The sun was just beginning to make its ascent into the sky and the world was starting to bask in its pink glow. It was this first light that Severus awoke howling of the wolf seemed to be but a distant dream to him, perhaps it was. In this haze he was in, he knew not.
Blinking he tried to take in his surroundings, for he was not in his own room, instead he found that he was not even in a building at all. Rather he was in the woods. What was more he was not alone. There was a head resting on his chest, Minerva's head to be precise. Her hair had escaped from its binding and was spread out around her sleeping form. A warm feeling spread through Severus as he observed her, she looked so peaceful, so at ease.
Absentmindedly he laid his head back down on the ground. He knew he should have been getting back to the school, but this moment of silence was quite serene. He did not remember the last time he had felt so calm. He knew it was crazy, these were dangerous times they were living in. He was not even entirely sure where he was, yet something about this moment made him want to stay here. For once he felt totally at ease.
Unfortunately he knew that he was being irrational and taking a risk. He had promised the Headmaster that he would see that they both made it safely back to Hogwarts. They probably should have been back hours ago. Professor Dumbledore was likely quite worried about Minerva's wellbeing. Severus knew that the Headmaster had a soft spot for the transfiguration professor. The two of them were like father and daughter, a dynamic they had maintained since Minerva had been his student.
He knew this assignment had been a test because of this. The Headmaster had placed a certain amount of trust in Severus having Minerva go on an assignment with him. It meant that the Headmaster believed that he could bring her back safely. If he did not, he knew there would be consequences. Very great consequences indeed. She was safe though; laying here with him, his arm wrapped around her protectively.
Suddenly rational thought began to hit him and the questions began to flood his mind. What had happened last night? Was the mission successful? Why were they in a forest? Perhaps the most pressing question on his mind at the moment was how had he and Minerva ended up in this particular predicament? Some details were there but they were quite fuzzy in his mind, almost as if they had been intentionally covered by a curtain of sorts.
Minerva might know more of what was going on, he was contemplating waking her when she began to stir. She stretched out and her eyelids began to flutter. All rational thought was telling Severus that he should have removed his arm from around her waist, but he could not bring himself to do that. He just stayed as he was while she woke up.
Upon gaining consciousness Minerva appeared to be just as dazed and confused as he was."Good morning." He said hoping to forgo any tension there might be.
"Good morning." She replied turning slightly to look at him.
"I trust you slept well? Severus asked trying to keep the tone light. Truth be told he had never been in a situation like this one before, and he was not entirely sure what the protocol was for waking up in the middle of the woods with your coworker.
"Quite well I think." She replied. "How did you sleep?"
Until that point he had not given much thought to it. "Considering the circumstances very well I should think." He said.
"Good." She replied matter of factly. This gave way to a few moments of silence.
"Erm, Minerva." Severus asked after over a minute of silence.
"Yes Severus?"
"I was wondering, if you might know something of where we are, and how we came to be here." Severus finally asked.
"You mean you do not remember?" Minerva asked somewhat surprised.
"I am seeing flashes of things, but for some reason everything is quite fuzzy." Severus said sheepishly.
"How much do you remember?" She asked curiously.
"Not much at all to be quite honest. I remember leaving the castle, and that we had a rather heated discussion of sorts. Then I remember arriving at the party. We talked for awhile, and after that things become fuzzy." He said somewhat embarrassed. "Would you mind filling me in on what exactly transpired?"
"I would be glad to." She replied. "However before I do I think we should be getting back to the castle."
"Quite, the Headmaster will be expecting our report of last night's activities." Severus said sitting up. "We should be on our way now."
"We really should be getting back, but we need not worry on the Headmaster's account. Albus owled us last night saying that he had urgent business to attend to and that he would not be returning for the next few days." Minerva said brushing some twigs out of her hair.
Severus inwardly sighed with relief. He had no idea what he would have told the Headmaster had they gone straight to his office. With his memories as muddled as they were he would have a difficult time proving to the Headmaster that he was competent. This was incredibly embarrassing, it would be even harder for him to explain the situation he found himself in upon waking up. He really was wondering what had happened the night before.
"Minerva, why are we waiting until we get back to the castle before we discuss the events of last night?" Severus asked as they started walking out of the forest.
"For one thing I would like to shower and change into something a little more comfortable." Minerva said gesturing to her hair and the gown she was still wearing from the previous evening. "Additionally if you really are hazy about the memories of last night I would rather not rush things, we could talk about this over a cup of tea and some breakfast. I am sure you must be famished, I know I am."
Until that moment Severus had not realized just how hungry he was to begin with. The mere mention of breakfast made his stomach growl with hunger. "That is a sensible plan." Severus remarked. "If I may ask one more question though, where exactly are we?"
"To be quite honest with you Severus, I am not entirely sure of that myself. After we left the party last night things were quite frantic. Actually, you brought us here through side along apparition. Why don't we get out into the open and you can tell us where it is that we are."
The pair walked through the brush until they made it out into the open. There was green as far as the eye could see, and the fresh smell of sea air. Severus looked around absolutely stunned. He was more baffled than ever now.
"What is it Severus, is something wrong?"Minerva asked, noting the expression on his face. "Do you recognize this place?"
"Yes, I do." Severus began. "We're in County Derry."
"You mean to tell me that we are in Ireland?" Minerva asked in shock.
"Northern Ireland to be precise, but yes." Severus replied.
"Ireland?" Minerva repeated again, somewhat dazed. "What are we doing in Ireland?"
"While at the precise moment my reasons for coming here are quite hazy, I think I might have some idea as to why I would come here." He said slowly. "We should be getting back to the castle. Are you comfortable apparating to Hogwarts from here, or would you prefer side along apparition? I am comfortable either way."
"If it's all the same with you, if much rather use side along apparition. I've never actually apparated such a large distance before." Minerva said bashfully.
"My apologies Minerva." Severus said quickly. "'Of course, side along apparition it is."
"Alright." Minerva said. "How would you like to go about doing this"
"If you are not opposed to it I would like to minimize the risk of splinching." Severus said. "If you would allow me to..."
"Of course." Minerva said. "Whatever is safest in your opinion."
Severus slipped his arm around her waist and held her firmly. Apparition over great distances could be quite tricky and required a great deal of concentration. The possibility of splinching was particularly high, especially if one factored side along apparition into the equation.
"Okay, do you feel secure?" Severus asked.
"Yes." Minerva said, wrapping her arms around his neck for good measure.
"Alright, hold on tight." Severus said, and with that a whooshing sound filled his ears and then they were on solid ground again, in Hogsmeade village.
Once they had made it to their destination they stood in place for a moment until both could fully regain their footing. Minerva looked a little bit pale, but nonetheless relatively unscathed from the journey.
"Are you quite alright?" He asked her after a moment, concern in his voice. "No splinching, motion sickness?"
"I think I am completely intact." She said. "Maybe a little unsteady though."
"Would you like to sit down for awhile and take a break before heading up to the castle?" He asked her.
"No, I think I will be fine, we should be getting back to the school though. I am sure I can manage the walk."
"Let me help you then." Severus said offering her his arm again. She really did look quite pale still. "I insist."
"Thank you." Minerva said gratefully taking his arm.
"Apparating such a distance can have a profound effect on a person. It gets better, I promise." Severus said as they walked out of Hogsmeade village and towards the rest of the walk was a quiet one, and by the time they had made it to the school Minerva was looking much better.
"Alright." Minerva said "I do need to shower, and change now, and I suppose that you need to do the same. Why don't we meet up in about half an hour?"
"We could meet in my office." Severus said.
Minerva nodded her ascent and the two of them went their separate ways. When Severus had made it to his rooms he quickly showered and changed clothes. His dress robes from the previous day were not too much the worse for wear after having spent the night in the forest, however they would definitely need a good cleaning.
It was a short walk from his rooms to his office, everything was just as he had left it the day before. His memories of the previous evening were still quite foggy. The situation was becoming stranger and stranger to him, the more he tried to access his memories from the previous day's, the more and more they seemed harder to reach. They were there, just beneath the surface. He could feel them, but they were just out of reach.
It might help him if he were able to extract the memories, a look in the Pensieve might be just what he needed. He kept his Pensieve in a small cupboard behind his desk. Opening the doors to the cupboard the stone Pensieve floated out and landed on top of his desk. He had kept a Pensieve for years, but he found it to be especially helpful now. Sometimes it was difficult for him to keep all of his thoughts straight.
He was looking into the surface of the Pensieve when there was a knock at the door. "Come in." he said. Not lifting his gaze from the swirling surface of the pensive.
"I thought you might be hungry." Minerva said. "I brought some rolls and muffins from the Great Hall."
"Thank you Minerva." Severus said gratefully looking up from his desk. "I am quite famished."
"Is that a Pensieve?" Minerva asked intrigued. Walking over to his desk.
"Yes, it is. I thought it might be of some use in deciphering my memories from last night." Severus said taking a muffin from Minerva.
"I'm sure it will be helpful." she said cautiously looking at the object.
"It will be helpful in allowing us to look through my memories more closely." Severus said giving a nod to the basin on top of his desk.
"Certainly." Minerva said still inspecting the Pensieve while Severus finished off his muffin.
Taking out his wand Severus placed the tip of it to his temple and began to draw out the memories. He then placed the swirling strand into the stone basin on his desk. Images began to swirl around in a blur, this was quite odd.
"Minerva." He finally asked after looking into the Pensieve for about five minutes. "Can you make any of this out."
She promptly joined him and began looking into the Pensieve as well. "Do the memories normally go by in a blur like this one?" She asked him
"No, generally they are quite clear." He replied. "That is what is so strange about this. It looks like me will have to dive right in then. Ladies first."
"Are you sure Severus. Memories are a deeply personal thing, I would not want to invade your privacy." Minerva said eyeing the swirling memories hesitantly.
"I trust you implicitly, even more than that I value your help and assistance in this matter." Severus said seriously.
"Very well." Minerva said. "If you are sure."
"I am." Severus said firmly. "Why don't you go in first."
"Actually, I would rather you did. I have never used a Pensieve before." She replied sheepishly.
"My apologies Minerva." Severus said. "I had just assumed, I'm sorry. Yes I will go first."
He was slightly embarrassed at just assuming Minerva was familiar with pensieves; he must have come off as quite the snob to her. Assuming things always served to cause problems. Hiding his blush of shame he looked down into the Pensieve and took the plunge. In an instant the room they were in was gone and he found himself spiraling downwards before landing on the ground in a soft thud. He was followed a moment later by Minerva.
"Are you quite alright?" he asked her once she had landed next to him.
"Fine." She replied. "This is definitely a different experience."
"I do not think one ever really gets used to diving into a Pensieve so to speak, but now that we are here we should see what it is we can find." Severus replied.
All around him things were not as they normally would appear. Instead of everything being clear and crisp it was all blurry, cloudy even, as if they were lost in the fog. This was quite curious indeed. He could make out figures and outlines, but even the voices of the figures around them were muffled. Everything was spinning.
"I think it best if we leave the Pensieve for now Minerva." Severus said putting a hand to his forehead. "If anything this is just making things more confusing than before." He grabbed her arm and a moment later they were standing in his office again. This time he was the one feeling a little ill.
"Severus, I am assuming that is not how memories normally appear in the Pensieve. Would you be terribly offended if I asked you a personal question?" she asked him cautiously.
"Not at all." He replied. "At this point I would be quite thankful for any solution to the problem at hand."
"Were you perchance drinking anything last night?" she asked him gently.
"Minerva, are you insinuating that I was inebriated last night?" Severus asked her carefully turning to look at her.
"Perhaps not quite drunk, but it is always possible that you may have had clouded thoughts and memories to due consumption of alcohol." she replied, equally as careful.
Severus sighed deeply before replying to her. "Minerva, in any of the times we have spent together have you ever seen me drink? On any occasion?" he asked her.
She thought for a moment, "No, I have not, but I knew before we left that you were rather upset about the whole event so it is not out of the realm of possibility."
Severus shook his head for a moment. "Do you honestly think I would let my guard down so much that I would risk showing up to a potentially explosive situation inebriated?" he asked her incredulously.
"When you put it that way, it sounds ridiculous that I would even think that." Minerva replied somewhat ashamed. "With a job like yours though, no one would blame you for seeking some relief, some sense of escape."
"In alcohol though?" He asked her. "Is that what the other members of the staff think I do in my spare time? Drink away my sorrows and pain?" He was getting frustrated at this point.
"That is not what I meant at all." she replied hastily. "I did not mean to imply that. I was just saying that it would be understandable considering the stress of your job. I did not mean to offend you."
He took a deep breath and finally made a reply. "I apologize Minerva, I overreacted. Your hypothesis on the cause of my muddled memories is understandable, if not plausible at any time. You see as a rule I abstain from alcohol. I should have just explained that in the beginning rather than get worked up over it."
"Severus, I did not know." Minerva replied placing a hand on his arm.
"You did not know." he replied. "At any rate I really wish I knew what went on last night. I am even more baffled by the situation now that I cannot even make out my memories in a Pensieve. This has never happened to me before."
"Why don't we look at my memories in the Pensieve?" Minerva asked. "I know they will not be quite the same as yours, but they could give you an idea of what happened and it might help you to fill in some of the blanks."
Severus was surprised at her offer, memories were intensely personal and private things. She was willing to trust him with memories of the previous evening. "Are you quite certain?" he asked her.
"Yes." she replied firmly. "I want to help you and this seems to be the best way of doing so. Aside from that perhaps you can explain some of the things that happened last night."
"What do you mean, explain a few things?" Severus asked suspiciously.
"Oh you know, some of the people we met last night, that sort of thing." Minerva said.
Severus let out a breath he did not know he was holding. Not having his memories from the night before made him worry about what exactly he had been doing. Rather than say any more about that the two proceeded to the Pensieve again, this time to view Minerva's memories. Soon they began to swirl around them and they had a clear view of the night before.