The Potions Master and the Ravenclaw

2 May, 1998

A/N: Hi, everyone! So sorry it has been so
long since I've updated. Life is still extra wild at the moment. I promise not to be so long in posting the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!

...

Severus Snape gazed thoughtfully out of the window of the headmaster's office.  The March wind was blowing the branches of the trees on the Hogwarts grounds and their leaves danced in the breeze like mischievous little pixies.  The setting spring sun was warm and glowing as it gradually began its descent beneath the horizon, but Snape's expression was as icy as ever.

His eyes narrowed as his gaze was drawn to the figure of a pure white owl soaring toward him in the distance.  He opened the window, and the owl flew onto the sill, holding out its leg to offer the scroll of parchment attached to it.  Snape hurriedly untied it.

"It's from Lucius." He scanned the letter, his brow furrowing.

"What is it?" Dumbledore's portrait asked urgently.

"Merciful gods," he breathed. "Potter and his friends were captured by snatchers and brought to Malfoy Manor."

"No!"

"Yes, but they've escaped. Bellatrix did her worst, but Lucius managed to interfere.  He says he put on quite a believable performance.  No one's the wiser, including Bella and the Dark Lord."

"Thank the gods for that."

"Mmm."

"It won't be long now, Severus."

"No.  No, I suppose it won't."

...

Days had passed since the golden trio escaped from Malfoy Manor.

Snape was sat at his desk, a glass of fire whiskey half empty in front of him.  He took a long drink and stared at the amber liquid as if it held all the answers he sought.

"Easy, Severus," admonished Dumbledore's portrait.

"I'll not be judged by you, Albus."

Dumbledore smiled knowingly.  "Of course not.  I wouldn't dream of it."

"He's got the Elder wand now, you know," Snape mused quietly.  A cold chill slithered down his spine at the memory of the Dark Lord opening the tomb to extract the most powerful wand in existence, prying it out of Dumbledore's cold, dead, stiff fingers.

Dumbledore's portrait sighed wearily.  "I know. I meant for you to have it, Severus."

Snape's head whipped around to face him, shocked.  "Me? You meant for me to have the elder wand?"

"Indeed," replied Dumbledore sadly.  "I knew it would be safe in your hands.  I knew you would not abuse its magic.  Unlike Lord Voldemort, you put no great store in magical relics, and - though you possess the ambition of the greatest of Slytherins - you are not mad with the desire for power. I knew you would respect it, and that you would never use it for ill purposes."

"Well.  That didn't work out, did it?" Snape replied bitterly, turning back to stare into his glass once more.  "Yet another consequence of your insistence upon withholding the truth from me." 

Dumbledore's portrait chuckled softly.  "I have my reasons, Severus.  You'll have the information you need in due time."

Snape scoffed, then said, "There's been no news regarding Potter's whereabouts."

"We've taught him well."

Snape huffed derisively through his long nose. "Perhaps."

There was a soft tapping at the door and Madline entered the office.