Assassins and Lovers

Hermione was momentarily startled when she woke up and heard the sound of soft snoring across the room. Then she remembered Sirius's visit the night before and inwardly groaned to remember what had happened. Oh, yes, it had been enjoyable and... oh, yes. There was no denying that, for all his claims of being out of practice, the man knew how to kiss.

But where did that leave their friendship? She wished somehow that he did desire, as she now knew she did, to enter into a deeper friendship. Oh, bloody hell, she might even be in love with the man. But what if he just wanted... physical gratification? And what if she was simply the nearest available warm female body? She had to be careful from now on. Sirius was quickly becoming her best friend at Hogwarts, and it would be so easy to throw that away for something momentarily brilliant.

She quickly dressed before Sirius woke up--best to avoid that awkwardness, anyway. She was zipping up her tall boots when Sirius sat up with a yawn. "Those are some sexy boots," he remarked.

"Thanks," she said, avoiding eye contact.

Sirius laughed grimly and slapped his forehead, saying, "What am I thinking? I'm sorry, 'Mione, you must think I'm some sort of... pervert... after last night..."

She looked up at him with a solemn expression. "No, no. It's all right. I guess... I guess we had just better be careful that it doesn't happen again. Better to make sure no one gets hurt."

Sirius nodded. "I was so afraid I had taken advantage of you."

"Of course not. I... I was just as into it as you were... if you didn't notice," she said shyly.

He sighed. "Then what happened, Hermione?"

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid that you're not looking for the same things I'm looking for," she answered.

"I was looking for you," he answered quietly.

She was stunned. Had she completely miscalculated him?

Sirius was already standing up. "I'm going to go back to my room and get dressed before breakfast," he said.

Before she could answer, he was already out the door.

-----

Minerva and Albus were both among the earliest to arrive at breakfast, according to their usual custom before they had begun playing Assassins. Now that they were eliminated, everything seemed to be going back to normal. Including, to Minerva's slight disappointment, their relationship. The excuses the game had provided her to spend time with him, to be close to him... now were all over. After a whole day out of the game, she was sorry it was over, not because she had lost the game, but because she felt she had lost an opportunity for something to happen with Albus.

It would never happen under normal circumstances, she knew that. And perhaps it was for the best--it would have broken her heart to lose him after having a tiny moment with him, a small, unwise decision. But who was she to imagine that Albus would even be that uncontrolled? He didn't love her and he would never pretend. And she could never let him know.

Albus turned to her and interrupted her thoughts. "I wonder where Severus is," he remarked. "He's usually here even before we are." Minerva didn't reply. "Are you all right, Min? Did you get enough sleep last night?"

"I'm doing fine... now that that blasted game is over."

"Ah, yes. It is nice to return to normal sleep habits, isn't it?"

He didn't miss their late-night game-playing sessions. Not like she did. "It's very nice."

"I think, perhaps, that is the explanation for Severus's absence. I'm delighted to see how he has positively taken to that game. I knew he would do well."

"Severus is a person who knows no moderation in anything," said Sirius Black, who was just arriving at the table. Minerva noticed immediately that he seemed rather paler than usual, his dark eyes even more hollow, with distinct shadows underneath.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Black," said Minerva, who was not in the mood for a discussion of Severus Snape.

Soon enough, Fleur Delacour--bravely enough, unlike Severus--showed up for breakfast, followed by Hermione, Rachel, Bill, and the rest of the professors. When the Great Hall was nearly full, Albus Dumbledore stood up.

Minerva sighed. Who knows what this is going to be...

"I would like to announce," he said, in his loud, but slightly raspy voice, "that two days from now, all classes after 2:00 are cancelled."

Good thing Severus isn't here, she thought. He'll be furious when he finds out.

Dumbledore's statement was immediately greeted with massive applause. He motioned for the students to quiet down. "The reason is that you will have the opportunity to witness a rare treat: The first annual Hogwarts Faculty Quidditch Match!"

The screams of the students could not now be restrained, and easily overpowered the quiet groans and sighs of the majority of the professors. Bill Weasley and Sirius Black, meanwhile, looked absolutely overjoyed.

Dumbledore looked back at the professors with a smile, which most refused to return. "Everyone will, of course, be required to play. Otherwise, we won't have enough to make up two teams!"

Minerva groaned. Even that dear man had his moments of insanity...

-----

After breakfast, Dumbledore went to the dungeons to inform Snape that he would be required to participate in the Faculty Quidditch Match. He found him eating cold mandarin oranges from a can. "Severus, this is..."

"Pathetic? You are the one who started the game."

"Brilliant," he said, moving closer to Severus.

"Don't step any closer. The wards will knock you down."

"That powerful, eh?"

"I don't do things halfway."

"Indeed, you do not," Dumbledore said, then, after a dramatic pause, added, "I have another thing for you to do that I expect you will not do halfway."

"Spit it out."

"In two days, all of the faculty will be participating in a little Quidditch match."

"Is that so?" Severus said, glaring. "I'm afraid I'll be unable. Tests to grade, that sort of thing."

"Oh, but you see, Severus, it's a requirement."

Severus shook his head. "If you went any further, I'd report you to the Department of Labor Abuse..."

"But I never quite cross that line, do it?"

"So who's on my team?"

"We'll have two teams, of course--Gryffinclaw and Slytherpuff."

Severus nearly spit out an orange. "This is insulting!! You're naming the team Slytherpuff? Do you know what that sounds like?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I have no clue. And would you like to know your teammates?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "All right. You want to tell me."

"Miss Fleur Delacour, for one," he said slowly. "We sorted her into Slytherin."

"I'm not surprised."

"And, of course, Professors Sprout, Grubbly-Plank, Hooch, and Trelawney, along with Nelda Grimke."

"The mediwitch?"

"Of course."

"At least Hooch and I have played before."

"And there is another experienced young player on your team--Miss Delacour. I believe she will make a fine Chaser..."

Severus snorted.