Sweet Soul Music

Disclaimer – The places and characters you recognise are JK Rowlings

Chapter Twenty.

The headmaster stood outside the door and knocked twice, although he wasn’t going to interfere he still needed to know what was happening, being concerned didn’t count as meddling. Cat opened the door wearing an oversize jumper and a pair of jeans, her face washed clean of make up and her eyes red-rimmed and wet with tears.
“I wondered when you’d turn up” was all that she could say. He could hear the mellow voice of Nick Cave in the background. Gently putting his arms around her he gave her a fatherly hug.
“What did he do?” He soothed as she laid her head on his shoulder. If Nick Cave was playing then it was definitely a mans fault.

Albus sat in silence as the emotional witch unburdened herself. Good gods, Severus had excelled himself this time, he knew him well enough and was painfully aware how harsh he could be but this was past his usual standards. Cat obviously wasn’t telling him the whole story but she had told him enough to make him angry with the wizard. So much for not interfering, this time he had overstepped the mark and words would have to be had. Nobody upset his little girl that way. Sensing his thoughts she looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Please, don’t go after him with all guns blazing. Just try and find out why for me, that’s the bit I can’t figure out”
“Very well” he gave in, he always found it difficult to say no to her. “It’s too late tonight but tomorrow is another day. Please try and sleep for me, precious, you need it” and he hugged her again. He called her by the same endearment that her father always used knowing that it always made her feel a bit better.
“Thanks for being here” she smiled as she wiped her cheeks.
“Always will be, you know that. Goodnight” and he showed himself out.

The next morning Cat went to the great hall for breakfast, she had been in his company once already and could do it again, damn it, he wasn’t going to win. She took her seat and acknowledged her colleagues closest to her. Minnerva studied the witch carefully.
“How are you this morning?”
“Not too bad, thank you.” she replied half smiling “better than yesterday anyway.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.” and in a lower voice added “the offer still stands though”
Cat just smiled back and nodded.

Severus watched out of the corner of his eye. The headmaster had been watching him like a hawk all morning and he would bet any amount of money that the two witches further down the table were talking about him. Wonderful, this was all he needed. Leaving the remainder of his food he stood up and stormed out of the hall, a scowl plastered across his face.
“Professor Snape” a voice echoed after him as he marched down the corridor. Turning round he faced the headmaster, making his face as unreadable as he could. “My office please, now”
He followed in silence as the older wizard led the way.
“Would you care to tell me what in Merlin’s name is going on?” Dumbledore was barely hiding the anger in his voice.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you are referring to, headmaster”
“You know full well, now explain yourself.”
“I have not got the time to discuss things at the moment, excuse me”
“SEVERUS SNAPE.” the old wizards patience was wearing thin “You are not leaving this room until I have a satisfactory explanation for your actions towards Miss McEwan”
“With all respect, headmaster, what happened between me and Miss McEwan is none of your concern and….”
“Anything that happens within the walls of my school is of my concern.”
“Well then it isn’t your concern because it didn’t happen within the school” Severus snapped back instantly without thinking.
“What would that be then?” Dumbledore’s voice became quiet. “Tell me please, I would prefer to know both sides of the story”
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, he would have to tell him what happened on Saturday or he would never get any peace. Taking a deep breath he mumbled “very well, headmaster”

The two wizards sat at opposite sides of the desk as Severus explained his side of things. It was not his nature to be trusting in at the best of times and he had become suspicious at her quick refusal. As his suspicions deepened he had decided to observe her movements, partly hoping he would be proved wrong, and then he described what he had seen in the nightclub. His outburst on the Sunday had been harsh and with hindsight he did regret the things he said but his pride had been wounded by her actions.
“Did you stay at the nightclub after you had seen them together?” there was a trace of humour in Albus’ voice which made him even more defensive of his actions.
“No I did not. I fail to see why any of this could possibly be amusing.” annoyance rising in his words.
“My dear boy” the headmaster smiled at him “the person you saw with her was Stuart.”
“So, you knew all along she had this other man?” the old goat was insufferable, how could he condone this type of behaviour. Dumbledore waved his hand to silence him and started smiling.
“The two of them have been close for many years now, but simply as friends. Catherine is not his type at all, wrong gender for starters.”

Severus blanched; he had judged her too quickly and jumped to his own conclusions, why did he always have to see the worst in everything? Looking back at that nights events he could see it from a different perspective now. Yes she had kissed that man, but it had been brief and warm not passionate like the way she had kissed him in her rooms. Their unashamed flirting was light hearted and playful, there was no meaning behind it. The realisation that it was him, Severus Snape, which held the woman’s affections, was like a blow to the gut. Any chance they could have had together had been obliterated after the way he acted on Sunday. Damn his paranoia.

Authors Note - To all that have left reviews, thank you. I'm glad that so many people seem to like this. I'm sad to hear that some people do not but that is a matter of taste.

gdagg- I have to say we disagree on this one, I am under the impression that the books are set very much in modern times and that's the setting for my story, but thanks for taking the time to leave the comment.