[Chapter 15 - The Touchy Subject]

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After leaving the Great Hall, Minerva couldn't help but be suspicious of Albus' actions, he didn't have the best track record of master plans working well. Rather conveniently, Minerva happened to stumble along a letter on his desk while she was dropping off her term reports. Picking it up, Minerva sighed in exasperation.

"Of course he has to meddle in things that don't concern him." she thought, placing the parchment back on his desk just as he entered.

"Minerva, what a pleasant surprise, please sit down." Professor Dumbledore gestured towards the leather-bound armchair in front of his desks.

"I'm afraid I must get going, the term reports are on your desk." she pointed out to the stack of papers.

Albus' eyes widened for a brief moment when she mentioned his desk, promptly casting away the look with a false smile.

"Good, good...you didn't see anything did you?" he questioned, making his way over to his desk

"No, nothing... Unless you want to tell me something?" Minerva tested, her well-known 'teacher' look evident on her features.

"No, everything is good, jolly good, just owling a letter." Trying to fix the pieces of parchment scattered around his desk, Albus quickly snatched the letter in question.

Minerva made a swift reply, playing her own game," Well, I was just about to head to the owlery, I could send it off for you." His reaction was priceless, confirming all her previous suspicions.

"No no, I'll do it myself. A man my age needs his daily excise."

Trying to find a flaw in his facade, Minerva sent her goodbyes and left the office. As she headed down the corridor, she couldn't help but smirk.

"Sneaky old bat"

After around an hour when she finally finished her patrol, Minerva made her way down to the older part of the castle, turning her nose up at the awful smell. Turning around another corner, she squealed slightly as a rat ran past her foot.

"Unbelievable." she thought, using her wand to light up the darkened passage.

This part of the castle used to be the potions corridor, but after an unfortunate accident, the area has been unused since. Dampness ran through each wall, creating a cold, eerie vacuum.

As she ventured further down, the sound of whimpering echoed against the stone walls. Growing in strength, Minerva rushed down the hallway, reaching a halt when she stumbled upon Genevieve.

"Genevieve my dear, are you all right?" she asked, sitting down on the step beside her.

"Oh Professor, I've ruined everything." Genevieve sobbed, using her sleeve to wipe away the burning tears streaming down her face.

"Now stop with the professor nonsense, you can call me Minerva, and I'm sure you are exaggerating," Minerva reassured her, transfiguring an old price of parchment she had in her pocket into a handkerchief.

After Genevieve dabbed away more tears, she calmed down for a moment, " Anything we had is gone... All because of me." Unable to hold them in, the flood gates opened up again.

Minerva instantly engaged in her motherly side, "We? Is someone harassing you?" she asked, appalled that someone would even think of harming a professor.

"Oh Merlin no, Severus and I got into an argument, and now it's over, I've driven him away."

More tears fell, reminding Minerva of her own heartbreak. She sat with Genevieve, holding her close as she wept, rubbing her and telling her everything would be alright. Especially after she had dealt with a certain Headmaster.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Weeks and weeks passed since the heated argument between Genevieve and Severus. At every breakfast, Severus murderously glares down to Genvieve, killing her with guilt. She had tried to talk to him, yet all her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Severus' humour turned cold and sour. Genevieve had broken his heart and he wasn't going to let that happen again. After another week of the couple not on speaking terms, Minerva had had enough, if Albus wasn't going to fix his mess, she would.

Genevieve shrugged off her shoes by the armchair by the fire in her living room, curling up into a ball. For a while, Genevive had lost her joyous aura, instead beating herself up for destroying one of the only positive relationships she had.

Stifling back her tears, Genevive was essentially busying herself with school work and other hobbies so she wouldn't have to deal with the emotional pain. A light tapping borough Genevieve out of her thoughts, looking over to see one of the school owls resting on the window sill.

Opening the window, she smiled as the owl rested on her arm, using her other hand to brush through its feathers.

"Here you go, " Genevive cooed, giving the bird a small biscuit as a treat.

Genevieve made her way back to her armchair, carelessly opening the envelope and skimming through contents, " A staff meeting at, " she quickly checked her grandfather clock, " quarter past ten? Couldn't it have waited until morning?"

She begrudgingly put back on her heels and a light cardigan, snatching her wand off the side table. Genevive thought it strange that the meeting would be held in Professors McGonagall's office but didn't question it any further, heading down the grand staircase to her room.

Once she had reached the transfiguration room, she was surprised to see she was the only one there.

"Perhaps, I'm simply early." Genevive thought to herself, looking around at the many diagrams and charts hung in the walls.

It wasn't long before another professor arrived, stirring up mixed emotions. They locked eyes, immediately releasing their inner predator.

"Well if it isn't the bain of my existence." Severus sneered, walking out of the shadows.

Genevive was about to speak, but Severus cut her off, " Knowing you, this was a just a set up to humiliate me further, another scheme to stab me in the back." His words burrowed their way into her heart, slowly and excruciatingly ripping the seams.

"I didn't come here to be put down, especially not by you." Genevive huffed, marching towards the door.

"Oh yes, run away from your problems like you always do, look at how that worked out in the past." Severus retorted as she was stood next to the door.

Whipping around in a flash, Genevieve stood tall, her voice unwavering and cold, "You can degrade me with your words, crush my spirits, but don't even begin to lecture me about my life." She was furious that he would even think to bring her grandmama into this.

Amidst their argument, a faint "click" caught their attention. It sounded like a door locking. Genevive dashed over to see if her suspicions were correct, only to find the door had indeed been locked.

"Great, bloody brilliant, " she huffed, leaning her back against it.

"If you want to resolve this problem, you've got to talk to each other."

"Professor McGonagall, is that you?" Genevieve asked, leaning on her ear against the door.

"Don't worry about me, now talk!" Minerva called out, only the tap of her shoes against the time floors audible as she walked away.

Sliding down, Genevive held her head in her hands, sighing.

"Talk about Deja Vu." she groaned, lifting up her head, surveying the room.

No one spoke for what felt like hours until Genevive had had enough of their childish behaviour.

"Look, Severus, I apologise. I didn't mean what I said, you're the best possible thing that has ever happened to me and I'm sorry that I've betrayed your trust the way I did." What started off as strong, slowly became lost by sobs, Genevive hanging her head to hide her tear-stained eyes.

"You hurt me, Genevieve, you left me, like a used toy." Severus ran his hand through his hair, pacing up and down.

"I know and I'm sorry, alright, I'm sorry!" Genevive balled out, curling up against the door for support.

Severus stopped pacing, gazing down at Genevive who was crying her heart out. Each sob tore at his heart, battling in his bead what he should do. Reaching a decision, he walked over to the distressed woman, sitting down beside her.

"I truly am sorry Severus, I've ruined everything just like you said." Genevive sobbed softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Severus instantaneously wrapped his arm around her, holding her close and whispering sweet nothings into her ear, " Vi, Vi, listen to me, " he cupped her face between his hands, wiping away a stray tear, " you could never ruin anything even if you tried. I'm sorry for the way I've treated you, it was very rude and inconsiderate of me."

Genevive laughed lightly through her cries, embracing the touch she so wanted, "I've missed you, Sev, "

"And I've missed you, Vi."

The hugged for an eternity, time standing still as they clung on to the other as if they would disappear once let go.

"What you say, to doing this properly, " Severus suggest the idea shyly, not sure if it the wise thing to ask in the current situation.

"As in what, dating?" Genevieve answered back, turning to face him.

"Yes, if you're open to the idea?"

Placing a quick peck on his lips, Genevive smirked as she answered, " I would love to."

Behind the door, Minerva made a quick getaway, knowing that she'd unlocked the door hours ago only made her success more fruit full. Only one thought circulated through her head, making her way to the Headmaster's office.

"Be ready to pay up old man."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Holy cow! That's one long chapter, 1583 words!! Agh, sorry for making it so long but I had to get the couple back together, it was killing me to see them fight.

*The_lost_flower*