Fire and Ice

An Unusual Tone

Ginny breathed out forcefully when she realised where they were heading.

The corridor. That corridor. Their corridor.

Ginny outwardly gasped at a red smudge on the floor, exactly at the same time Dumbledore noticed it. Is that... my blood? she mused. He raised a quizzical brow at the mark and failed to comment on it. While listening to Snape, his sapphire eyes darted towards every door in the hallway, settling on the one furthest to the right. The abandoned classroom, Ginny realised, which contained an unconscious Gryffindor and a bewildered Slytherin.

"... but the trio, their mission, Soshry-"

"Their mission will continue as such." Dumbledore interrupted suddenly. "There is no reason for them to stop. They are excellent students, and are tremendous aid to ourselves, the Order, and of course, to Harry. They will not be affected by this. The inheritants, however... I believe you have them for Potions?"

"No. Absolutely not. I will not be accounted for their.. get together. It is unnatural. A Gryffindor and Slytherin cannot..." his voice slowed as his eyes shut.

"Severus," Dumbledore began heavily. "This has to be done. Try separating them, warning them away from each other once you are sure they have a connection. They are tenacious students - it will only strengthen their bond. Please put aside your differences and experiences, and think of the future. Think of the future generations. This is the only way."

Snape continued walking silently, until they were a few paces from the inhabited classroom.

"Severus, you need to understand-"

"No, Headmaster."

Blinking at the unusual tone of disrespect, Ginny edged closer to the "empty" classroom. If she could look through the partition in the window, she might be able to see-

"Severus, look at me."

Ginny and Severus turned.

"Severus, you will do this for me."

Swallowing heavily, Snape's dark tunnels met Dumbledore's oceans with a pleading scream.

"Headmaster..."

"Severus?"

Dumbledore's frowned deepened as his eyes closed. With an exhale, Snape unwillingly opened his mind to Dumbledore. Ginny waited, anticipating the next words. Draco is just behind that door, he is listening to the entire conversation, if I could just-

"It could ruin everything." Snape's defeated voice broke the silence.

"It could make everything right, Severus."

"But it might not. It won't. It won't work." Snape's greasy hair shivered as he shook his head. Suddenly, he froze, as Dumbledore dove deeper into his mind with his magic. Ginny watched as Snape flinched at memories she couldn't see, and sighed with happiness at memories she'll never know. Snape opened his eyes, and almost smirked at Dumbledore, who beamed.

"Oh Severus. You've always been so pessimistic. When a man feels the touch of an invisible hand, he could hope it were a Thestral, or a Dementor. You just need more faith in Death!" Dumbledore winked and bounced away.

Suddenly, a quiet, distinctively female groan echoed from the classroom nearest to Snape. So quickly that Ginny almost missed it, Dumbledore whipped out his wand and muttered something, pointing at Snape, then at the door. Ginny's jaw dropped when she heard the delay-lock curse come from Dumbledore's lips, instead of Snape's, who stormed through the door. As Snape turned to close it, Dumbledore was gone. Snape muttered "Colloportus,", a simple locking charm, and strode away, in the opposite direction of Dumbledore.

"It was Dumbledore the entire time." Ginny whispered.

"Alas, it was," a tired voice said, behind her. The real-life Dumbledore gently placed a withered hand on her shaking arm, and said two words before they flew up, back the his office.