Honorable and Trustworthy?

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I had to locate a new beta reader. I hope the wait wasnt too long.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter Thirteen: Honorable and Trustworthy?

Severus's back was to the door as he sat quietly, contemplating what had just happened. He barely heard the door open and soft footsteps cross the carpeted floor. In his peripheral vision, he saw Albus' seemingly frail figure sink into his deep red velvet chair with an audible sigh of contentment.

Albus sank into his chair, noticing that his action did nothing to stir up the man before him. The lines of contemplation and confusion were deeply engraved on the younger man's face. He looked sad and disenchanted and he now knew why.

"You love her." It was not a question.

Snape's head jerked up, and his eyes caught the look in the old man's eye. He knew there was no real reason to lie now. Soon everyone would know what he had done and why Hermione had fled and he doubted anyone would believe that he did love her.

"I do."

"What do you plan on doing now?"

Severus shuffled in his seat and leaned forward resting his arms on his thighs, lacing his fingers to keep from flexing them in agitation. "Woo her, I suppose."

Albus chuckled and pulled out a small flask from his desk and two thimbles which he deftly transfigured into two crystal glasses. He unstopped the flask and poured two glasses of the amber colored liquid, handing one over to Severus. "That is a very old expression. To woo her. How are you going to accomplish it?"

Snape sighed, staring down into the liquid that was swirling around in his goblet. "Not one damned clue. I've never had the need to woo anyone before."

Albus chuckled again, watching the other man over his rim of his own glass of brandy as he sipped. "Does she love you?"

Severus shook his head and placed his glass onto the desk without taking a sip. "No."

"Perhaps not yet."

"Perhaps not ever."

Albus frowned at that and set his own glass down as well. He leaned forward and folded his hands together, leaning on his forearms on the desk, giving Severus a curious look. "Are you willing to do anything possible to help her fall in love with you?"

Severus frowned at that but raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What are you on about old man? I don't want her to force herself into something that she doesn't want. That's happened already."

Albus merely smiled in his own way that caused Severus's skin to crawl. He hated that all-knowing grin. It caused nothing but trouble. The elder wizard reached into a drawer, pulled out another item from his desk, and placed it before Severus.

"What is this?" Severus asked picking up the cylindrical object and observed its milky white appearance.

"It's a candle... "

Snape sighed loudly and gave him an impatient look. He really didn't have time for fun and games. "I am quite aware that it's a candle, Albus. What exactly are its properties?"

Albus leaned back into his chair and grinned knowingly. "Nothing, other than the normal properties of a simple white candle, my boy. Magic, however, is not the point of this candle." He plucked the candle from the other man's hand and held it up before the other's dark eyes. "For example, if you put a vast amount of candles, similar to this one, together, it can make up for a very romantic... atmosphere." Albus lowered his head and looked at the man over his spectacles. "Do you get my drift?"

Severus let his mouth drop in surprise. He had never expected to get love advice from the old man. "Albus... "

Albus laughed lightly and tossed the candle back onto the desk. The look on Severus's face was priceless. "Now, now, my boy, I know I may be old, but I do remember romance. And I do remember the first time I had such a romantic dinner. It was the most fantastic night in my life."

Severus snorted at the thought of Albus and anyone together romantically. "Don't go there, Albus... I do not need that kind of mental imaging."

Albus grinned and looked back at his friend, perching on the edge of the desk. "Be it as it may. You need to show Hermione that you mean it when you tell her these things. Don't just tell her that you love her. Show her."

Snape rose to his feet and started to pace the floor. "It's not that simple, Albus. In case you have forgotten, I raped her."

Albus sighed at the turn of emotions in his young friend. "From what I gathered, your body did, son, not your mind and spirit. You can not fault yourself for another's actions."

"I'm afraid... "

Albus rose from his perch, approached the taller, younger man, and placed a comforting arm across his shoulders. "Love can indeed be frightening, but love can also be the greatest cure of all. Don't give up simply because another man chose to try to take it away from you."

Severus shook his head sadly. "You should be firing me, not being my friend."

"No. None of this was your fault, as none of this is Hermione's. There is no reason to punish you more than you seem to be punishing yourself."

"She's still a student."

"True, although she is of age. You two will have to practice discretion however."

"I cannot have relations with a student."

"I don't think you have to worry about that now. I don't think it could get physical for some time yet. You both have much to work out together."

"True. I don't think she would let me touch her at all. Not that I blame her."

"Give her time. As they say, time heals all wounds."

Severus gave him a glare and shook his head. "This wound will just continue to get older and will eventually go to school here."

"I don't think Sebastian is a wound, he could be the cure."

"Perhaps."

"You're a father, Severus, rejoice in that. A child is a precious gift. Don't go throwing it away."

Severus's brow furled as he looked up at the elder man. "I wouldn't do that. I love him, he's my son."

"I know you wouldn't, you are a man of honor."

A snort of laughter sounded from him. "Honor... "

"Don't, Severus, you are a man of honor even if you don't believe yourself to be."

"I don't feel honorable."

Albus cocked his head, studying his young friend. "Perhaps you are not allowing yourself that particular emotion."

"I have nothing to feel honorable about. My life is uncertain, it can be forfeited with one word from the Dark Lord. And it could happen soon when he learns of my child. A child that he will think I kept from him intentionally. Sebastian may yet become fatherless."

"I don't think so. I think Voldemort will want you to bring your son into his circle. He would expect you to pass on your darkness to your child."

"Great, wouldn't Hermione be proud." He scoffed.

"I wouldn't worry about it for now. Right now you have to concern yourself with Lucius Malfoy. He will no doubt know that Hermione has returned, with a child, once term starts. I expect young Mr. Malfoy will relate the information to him."

Severus's teeth ground in anger thinking about his ex-friend's betrayal to him. "I just don't understand Lucius. Why did he do this to us?"

Albus' face dropped as he let a small sigh escape. "I don't know, Severus. I don't know what causes a man to do such horrible things to another. I can't even begin to understand it."

Severus glared into the distance. "I used to be like him. I guess I still am to an extent."

"No, my son. You are an honorable and trustworthy man. I know Hermione thinks so."

"I still work for Voldemort, for the dark side."

Albus shook his head, took up the brandy snifters once more, and passed one over to him. "You don't and you know it. Don't try to make it worse. You are trying to make it better."

Severus examined the glass in his hands thoughtfully. "I want to make him pay. I want Malfoy to suffer excruciating pain for the pain he caused her."

Albus nodded and indicated for the other to sit down once more. "And how do you mean to do this? Without Voldemort's knowledge?"

Snape lowered his eyes to the floor in thought. That would be the big question. How to get revenge without invoking the Dark Lord's wrath.

"There's one thing that bothers me." Severus looked up once more at his mentor and friend. "Why hasn't Malfoy thrown this up in my face these last nine months? He's had plenty of times to bring the subject up."

Albus pondered the question for a bit before answering. "Perhaps he knew that you didn't remember. Perhaps he didn't want to bring it up in fear of his own health at your hands. I cannot fathom why he would want to remind you of that particular time. Mr. Malfoy is particularly adept as saving his own neck. He is more than likely living by the old phrase. 'Let sleeping dogs lie'."

Severus downed the remaining brandy and placed the empty glass onto the desk. "I still want revenge."

"I know, and I'm sure you and Hermione will come up with the perfect solution."

Severus walked to the door and glanced back at him with a worried look. "Do you think I should have gone and looked for her?"

Albus leaned back and laced his fingers together, just below his chin. "Why didn't you?"

Severus looked to the ground unable to meet his eyes. "I don't know. I should have. I should have tracked her down and brought her back home."

"Do you think she would have come back then?"

"Not with what I did still fresh in her mind."

"Then no, you did the best thing by leaving her alone to work out her feelings on the matter."

"She had a very rough time during that point."

"And you are here now to help her get over that."

"If she will let me."

"She will... "

Severus opened the door and looked out, pausing, before turning and striding back to the desk. The white candle now safely placed into his cloak.

"Just in case..."