Bring Me to Life

Chapter 5- Couples' Therapy

Severus and Hermione dared not stare at one another as they walked up the hall towards Dumbledore's office. In fact, they were also careful not to let so much as a sleeve touch one another.

When they came to the gargoyle, they said the password in unison and clambered up the revolving stair. Before either could knock, the door opened.

"How the bloody hell does he do that?" Snape muttered. Hermione shrugged.

Dumbledore sat on the other side of his desk, smiling serenely at them. He lifted his hands and gestured for them to sit. They did, and the door closed.

And they both began to speak at once.

"Please, please!" Dumbledore said, quieting them. "I can do many things, but deciphering garbled speech, I'm sorry to say, is not one of them! Although, I thought about taking a class this coming summer..."

"Headmaster," Snape said at once, "we have decided to court one another."

"Splendid! But, why bother telling me?" Dumbledore said.

"Well, you see, sir, we're having a bit of a problem," Hermione said timidly.

"And what's that, Miss Granger?"

Hermione blushed and seemed unable to answer. Snape nodded to urge her on, but she shook her head.

"Severus?" Dumbledore inquired.

Snape sighed.

"We are having a trouble...controlling our more...primitive urges, sir," Snape said as delicately as he could.

Dumbledore lifted an eyebrow, seemingly in confusion. However, after a moment's time, he realized what was meant by this statement.

"Ah, and...you came to see me for advice on what you should do now?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, sir, should we continue our relationship?" Hermione asked.

"Miss Granger! One does not give up on love just because one has problems arrive! But...this is a problem that must be dealt with, otherwise you two and I both might get into some serious trouble, regarding the school rules and all...Let's see. What to do, what to do..."

Dumbledore stood and walked over to his window. He began to tap at his chin with his long index finger, humming slightly to himself. Finally, he turned back to them.

"Aha! I have it!" he said.

He picked up a quill and dipped it into some ink. He then began to scribble what looked like instructions onto a piece of parchment. He soon replaced the quill and handed the paper to Snape.

"Follow those instructions there, and the two of you should be fine," Dumbledore said, smiling.

Snape read them with Hermione doing the same from over his shoulder.

Room 261 above the Hog's Head bar. 9 o'clock on Thursday and Friday nights. Madame Femini's couples' therapy.

Snape looked up at the Headmaster.

"Are you serious? Couples' therapy?" he asked.

Hermione looked dubious too. Dumbledore's smile merely widened.

"You'd be amazed on what the subject range is. I think, if you do this every Thursday and Friday night from now until Miss Granger's graduation, it'll do wonders. Now, is that all?"

Hermione and Snape exchanged glances and then nodded to the Headmaster. They stood and left his office. Out in the hall, they looked at one another.

"Until Thursday?" Snape said.

"Until Monday," Hermione answered.

"Monday?"

"Potions Class?"

"Oh, yes. Right. Well, until Monday."

And they were both off to bed.