"Miss Valance! It's alright dear! What on earth has happened?" Dumbledore soothed, wrapping his arms around the witch. "Severus Snape happened! I tried to be friends with him and he ruined everything." Liliana sobbed into the headmasters light blue robes.

"It's ok dear, we can talk about this. I want to know exactly what happened." Dumbledore smiled.

"I tried being friendly to him, and then he.. I probably shouldn't tell you this... we kissed a few weeks ago and it happened again. I'm sorry." Liliana explained.

"There's no need to apologise, I have noticed that Severus has feelings for you. For obvious reasons though, this must stay between the three of us."

"Hermione already knows, I'm sorry Sir."
Dumbledore chuckled and reassured her that she need not worry about Hermione knowing.

"I could see the turmoil he was in so I agreed to be friends and now, we just had an argument."

"My dear, I can assure you that the problem lies with Severus. You have done nothing wrong, now go and get some rest."

〰〰〰〰

Dumbledore called for Snape to visit him. He wasn't happy seeing a student so upset. As Snape arrived at the headmasters office he seemed broken and distracted. "Severus.. is there something you wish to discuss with me?" He probed, knowing full well that Snape would lie.

"No, I'm quite alright Albus. What is this about?" Snape asked, taking a seat and trying desperately to remain professional. All he really wanted was to take back the things he said to Liliana.

"I know that you are upset Severus.. I conversed with Miss Valance not long before i requested your presence. The girl is absolutely distraught, what on earth happened?" Dumbledore sighed, sometimes he really wanted to slap the potions master across the back of his head with his knitting magazine.

"Albus... I don't know where to start." Snape admitted, the vulnerability and innocence in the potion masters eyes saddening the headmaster greatly.

Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and sat back in his chair, "start from the beginning.. and please refrain from holding anything back."

"At first I thought she was a curse, something sent to torment me. I felt hatred that was uncalled for, I just wanted to get away from her. And then I spoke to her, she was so kind and beautiful, I felt like I had a second chance at happiness..... I don't wish to be presumptuous of my own own worth. Even just a friendship would suffice let alone being blessed with something more. My insecurities took over again and I began to fear her. I had to force myself to reject her.. Albus I didn't want to hurt her.. "

"There, there Severus. All is not lost, I'm sure you can make things right if that's what you really want." Dumbledore soothed, he actually felt sorry for Snape.

"I don't want to make things right! I will only end up hurt again. I need to be hard on myself and stay away, and if that means hurting Liliana and being unable to maintain a friendship than I have no choice... Albus, please. Don't encourage me to love her."
Snape sighed, standing up to take his leave.

"I'm not encouraging anything Severus, it would seem that your heart has decided for itself... you already love her. Sit down again, I haven't finished." The old wizard spat, Snape looked at his superior with a dumbfounded expression. 'Did Albus Dumbledore just shout at me?'

Snape returned to his seat and nodded for Dumbledore to continue.
Something he would probably regret....

The headmaster looked at Snape over his half moon spectacles and took a deep breath...

"There's something I think you ought to know about Liliana Valance...."

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