Professor McGonagall halted at the stone gargoyle that led to Dumbledore�s office. Echoes of their footsteps could still be heard in the hallway behind them. Karina shivered slightly from the cold. Snape wrapped his arm around her as they waited for the gargoyle to admit them. As soon as the large, stone creature moved out of its way Professor McGonagall turned to face the guilty party.
�Remove your arm from her at once Severus,� she demanded.
�Oh shut it you old wench,� Karina spat angrily.
McGonagall turned on her heel, set her jaw and proceeded up the spiral staircase. Once at the top, she knocked hurriedly on the tall, wooden door. Moments later Dumbledore appeared, looking rather confused.
�Minerva, don�t you have a class?� he inquired.
�Yes headmaster I do but there are more pressing matters at hand,� she responded.
�I see. Do come in,� the elderly headmaster said invitingly.
The three of them followed him in and took seats in the large plush chairs in his office. In the corner, Fawkes, Dumbledore�s pet phoenix, sat gazing intently at the newcomers.
�Now what is of such pressing business that you would leave your class unattended Minerva?� Albus asked.
She smoothed her robes and looked from the headmaster to Snape to Karina and back.
�I found them�together,� she said, pointing an accusatory finger.
�I�m afraid I don�t quite understand,� he continued.
�They were engaging in illegal activities that not only violate school policy but national law,� she answered, beginning to shake with rage.
�Severus is this true?� Albus questioned.
Snape avoided the elderly man�s gaze. He and Karina were still holding hands.
�Severus,� Dumbledore repeated.
�Oh Albus isn�t it obvious that it happened. Look at them,� McGonagall urged.
�Albus I have never meddled in your personal life so I don�t think it wise to meddle in mine,� Snape said, choosing his words carefully.
�That does not---� Minerva began.
�Oh would you just shut up!� Snape snapped.
Karina began to feel uncomfortable. She shifted in her chair, moving as close to Snape as she could without McGonagall lodging her cane between them.
�I will stay here all day if that is what it takes,� Dumbledore stated calmly.
�Yes. Alright we kissed,� Severus snarled.
�Is that so wrong?� He added.
�Ye��Minerva interjected.
�Minerva you are not helping,� Dumbledore said, cutting her off.
�I think I need to speak with them alone,� he added, locking eyes with McGonagall.
�Fine,� she said. She stood and briskly left the room.
Immediately Karina and Snape relaxed. Dumbledore took a seat behind his desk and placed the tips of his slender fingers together.
�How long?� he asked simply.
�Three years,� Severus responded.
�How old are you Karina?� Dumbledore addressed the girl for the first time since they had entered.
�17. I�ll be 18 in two weeks,� Karina said enthusiastically.
�That may be so but at the start of this relationship you were 14 and that is unacceptable,� Dumbledore answered.
�Albus that is in the past. What�s done is done!� Snape said, beginning to sound desperate.
�Look. You can kick me out for all I care but I refuse to let him go!� Karina shouted.
�Miss Clark please sit down,� the headmaster said evenly.
�NO! Don�t tell me what to do you old prick!� she continued.
�Karina, I�m not going anywhere so calm down,� Snape said with pleading eyes.
�Promise?� she asked, wiping tears from her already liquid-like eyes.
�Promise,� he repeated and she sat back down.
�I�d be infringing upon national law if I were to allow this to continue,� Dumbledore began.
�Albus frankly this is none of your business,� Snape retorted.
�Severus, I�m sorry but this must end,� the headmaster said pointedly.
�No. I refuse to let you tear us apart. We have done nothing wrong,� Snape said, standing abruptly.
�If you continue this and I find out, I will have to fire you Severus,� Dumbledore said sadly.
�There�s a brilliant idea. Oh yes that is like saying to the Dark Lord �here�s Potter on a silver platter�.� Snape spat maliciously at him.
�Sever�� the headmaster began.
�Go shove it up your wrinkled ass old man!� Karina seethed.
With that the two lovers exited the room in a flourish of robes. Dumbledore sat at his desk shaking his head.
�Severus you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into,� he whispered quietly to no one in particular. The portraits lining the walls stared solemnly off into the space as an unsettling silence enveloped the room.