The Ultimate Problem.

Hello. I don\'t own any of the characters & I\'m not making any money from this. Also for those who are reading \'Trapped\' Don\'t worry I haven\'t abandoned it. It will b eupdated soon ;)

The Ultimate Problem.

Snape sat alone in his office. It was now mid-way through the summer holidays and he was busy researching into a potion that was merely a myth. The only other staff member in Hogwarts, to Snape\'s knowledge, was the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. He was once again holding interviews for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. However for the first time in years Snape had not even bothered trying for it. There wasn\'t much point. Though he was curious as to who would get the job, or more to the point, who would be daft enough to even want to take it.

As it was curiosity led Snape to take a wander up to where Dumbledore was holding these interviews. He wasn\'t going to go in and make his presence known. He was just merely going to take a peek. When he reached his destination he saw that the door, in which the applicants were behind, was slightly ajar. This was his perfect opportunity to have a look. Silently sneaking up to the door, he peered through the small gap. There were three or four people seated. He saw a young woman, petite in size. She was seated furthest away. Over on her left he saw a haggard old woman, she was very harsh on the eye. Seated across from the two women, he glanced over and saw two men, both fairly younger then Snape. He was going to turn back to the young woman for a second glance but the door on the other side of the room opened. Snape groaned with disbelief as Gilderoy Lockhart came bounding out the small room, with Albus Dumbledore beaming behind him. Snape glanced at Lockhart; surely Dumbledore couldn\'t risk that idiot again?

\'Ah Come in Severus!\' Came the cheerful tone of Dumbledore. Snape jumped. He didn\'t think any one knew he was outside. He slowly entered the room and stared at Dumbledore. Who in returned smiled broadly at his Potions Master.

\'Come to apply again have we Severus?\' Asked Lockhart, winking. Snape glared at him. The glare was one of his best and upon seeing what one of his possible colleagues looked like, one of the applicants made his excuses and left. Dumbledore gave Snape a sharp look. Lockhart also took his leave, leaving the second man, the haggard woman and the younger woman in his wake.

\'Severus wait here whilst I finish with these, then you and I will have a chat\' Dumbledore said in a final sort of tone. Snape nodded and sat down. One by the on the applicants were seen, they came and went. There was only one left. It was the young woman. Snape stared at her, trying to figure out why a young woman would want such a cursed job. She glanced in his direction and raised her eyebrows at him. Snape wondered if she could read thoughts as well as he could.

Both Snape and the woman’s thoughts were cut short, when the door near them opened. Out walked Dumbledore and the haggard old woman. Everyone stood up to face Dumbledore. The haggard woman walked over to Snape and eyed him cautiously. Snape looked down his long nose at her and gave her a look that plainly said she was uneasy on the eye.

‘My you are an arrogant one’ She whispered. Snape looked at her and laughed. She held up her wand and she appeared to scan his body with her wand. A light purple vapour came out the tip of her wand. The purple vapour swirled up into the air. All four people in the room looked up at the vapour. The purple vapour took the shape of a beautiful rose. The young woman sighed at the beauty of it, Snape looked at her and snorted with laughter. She turned to Snape and fixed him with a stern glare. She then gasped as the rose started to wilt and turned into a dark grey colour. The wilted rose appeared to dry up and then shatter into a thousand pieces. Each of the small pieces started to fall like snow all over Snape. As they fell he tried to swat them away but they just kept falling. Dumbledore started to hum quietly.

Everyone turned around to face the Haggard old lady. She just smiled back with a crooked smile. Dumbledore was the first to speak.

‘Would you mind, Leticia, explaining what all this means. I do believe Miss Winward and Professor Snape are somewhat confused.’ The haggard old lady smiled again and began to speak.

‘Certainly Albus, It was a full soul examination. I see nothing in you eyes’ She said looking directly at Snape ‘you appear heartless and arrogant. I merely wondered if it was true’

Snape looked furious and stepped forward, raising his wand.

‘With out my permission? Why you evil little wench-‘

‘However, Mr Snape, You are a fraud. You are not entirely arrogant and heartless. The rose showed that. There is help for you. I intend to make it so’ Snape glared at her.

‘You raised your wand at me. I take that as a threat.’ The haggard lady raised her wand and muttered an incantation in an angry hushed voice. Snape found himself feeling drowsy.

‘What did you do to me?’ He hissed venomously.

‘I cursed you’ She whispered quietly. Dumbledore looked at her questioningly. The young woman held her breath in suspense and shock.

‘You did what?!’ Snape yelled.

‘You shall become a mere shadow in a years time. Unless you can find someone to love and gain their love in return.’

Dumbledore looked at her with a stern expression, she looked back at him and shrugged. She walked towards the window and opened it. With a small incantation, she reformed into a black butterfly and flew off.

The remaining three in the room, exchanged glances. The silence was broken when Dumbledore spoke.

‘Welcome Miss Winward, I shall see you now. Severus wait here, I will speak with you afterwards’