The week had consisted of dealing with issues that Severus had thought were already resolved. However having to go through the process of resolving certain things that stemmed from those issues, his assumption had been proven incorrect. Something that he didn't exactly enjoy, since he was as much a perfectionist as any other if not slightly more. It was however something that he seemed to have to deal with so much more often these day as the new Headmaster of Hogwarts. Obviously not one of the upsides of the new post, but he wasn't going to be brought down by something so trivial. Having been through so much more than what he was dealing with now, he doubted that there was anything that could stump him. Of course there was one thing, something that had been playing over in his dreams night and night again, but he would deal with that when the time came, if the time ever came. Of course if he played his cards right he doubted it ever would, yet he took something from learning that things were never completed when you considered it so, and it was that anything was possible. Even if you planned it differently.

Severus was walking on the upper most part of his office. He was trying to find a book that he knew the deceased Headmaster to have and he was certain that he had watched the old man make his way up here with said book in hand, when he was still alive, and return with nothing in hand. He wasn't naive enough to believe the the Headmaster hadn't sought the book out again and then moved it, but on the chance that he hadn't Severus was going to look for it. If he couldn't find the book there it would mean that he would have to make a plan to find another copy and that book wasn't something that one could come across that easily. Which in turn meant more work, and dealing with the Dark Lord, Death Eaters, Professors, parents, and children going through changes that he really didn't care for, well, it didn't leave much time on his plate. Part of the reason he was up so early in the morning. It seemed the only time he was able to catch up on things, the early morn and the late night.

The only thing that he was grateful for at the moment was the silence. In these moments he had time to contemplate everything that he was doing and see if everything was in deed going according to plan. He had time to look closer at certain plans, look for possible flaws and fix them if that was required. If required he had time to consider offers and ideas that professors and parents had proposed to him and he had asked them for patience as he made his decision. Since it was only the difficult ones that required more time. Severus also had time to go over conversations that he had had with everyone during the day and decipher what was going on during the conversation, look deeper into the meaning of what the person said, if there was any at all. Finally it was a time for him to rest, since it seemed sleep wasn't something he could count on anymore.

Needless to say when the silence and solitude of his office was broke by the unmistakable shrill skrieking of one Bellatrix Lestrange, it was met with annoyance. Though Severus wasn't dumb enough to step forward into her presence with that reflecting in his eyes and manner. He didn't doubt that there would be sparring between the two of them. They hardly got through a conversation without Bellatrix threatening him and Severus scowling at her with the deepest hate reflecting in his eyes, but to start the conversation off on that note wouldn't be the best choice. Placing one of the books that he had pulled out to glance over as he searched for the other, he made his way down the staircase, stopping at the top to look at Bellatrix in his office. It was from this position that he replied.

"I'm certain the castle's housekeeping is done by those that wish to remain invisible," referring of course to the house-elves, as he started making his way down the rest of the staircase.
"Bellatrix, to what do I owe this surprise," his tone reflected nothing, for the moment at least.

His eyes merely followed the woman who's appearance had changed so much, that Severus considered it to well represent her state of her mind. A state of mind that was confused and utterly lost, living under odd delusions. Of course he didn't doubt that having to be in the presence of Dementors for all those years had had some effect on her, but he had seen it coming, her mind had been drifting well before she was sent to Azkaban. It seemed the Dementors had merely made a bad situation worse. Which wasn't a good thing, when it came to Bellatrix Lestrange. The woman had no self control, and in that there was danger. He didn't mind having the danger roaming around the valleys and streets of England, but he wasn't prepared to have a loose canon roaming around the Hogwarts grounds. The Carrow siblings were enough to deal with at the moment.

Looking at her over his hooked nose with distinct distaste now, he merely smirked at what she had to say. It was too early to play games with this woman. Why she was up so early so early in the morning in the first place was anyone's guess. However it was apparent that her attention had been shifted to him, sometime during her sleep and waking up. And had thus shoved herself on him, just like the nuisance he considered her to be. Surely she would know that he would not stand for her following him around the entire day. Even in her madness, she was able to calculate and manipulate. So there was no doubt that she knew exactly how he felt. However it was always like Bellatrix to undermined his capabilities and his own strength. It was her shortfall, at least he considered it so. Always seeing herself as the better person, duelist, what ever it was related to, she was the best. She wasn't capable of seeing the other person's capabilities. At least that was how he had always seen it.

"I'm not certain he replied," in his nonchalant tone, stepping away from her, certain not to touch her as he passed. Almost making a statement of it, as if she were unworthy to touch him. He pulled out his chair by his desk, however he did not seat himself on it. Severus merely rested his hand there then turned to gaze at the mad woman that know held presence in his office.

"What time is it that the house-elves serve breakfast at your estate?" The last three words words were emphasized, though he was quite aware that his statement would not fall on deaf ears. He didn't say anything, and he held his position for a moment or two before he seated himself on his chair, similar to the way one might think the king may take his seat on his throne. Then his voice broke the momentary silence once more.

"You will not set foot anywhere beyond the walls of this office Bellatrix." His tone had a finality to it. His statement was to be considered the last, though he doubted it to be, he wouldn't allow it to reflect anywhere else but his mind, and his mind was utterly secure from any unwanted guests.

In normal circumstances he would have loved to endure for as long as he could, whatever the woman had to throw at him. However it was a known fact that circumstances were no longer normal. Her presence in this school, in this office, was among the greatest acts to show how things had changed. That and the classing of children in the school. Dark wizards looking into their history for a line of magical blood and hoping not to find a trace. The use of the cruciatus curse in public, in the grounds of the school, and practiced on those that were deemed unwanted. Those that had come to the school searching for some truth as to how they were capable to do what they did. Those merely seeking to fit into another world because they no longer fitted into their own. Those trying to seek knowledge on how to better themselves and their capabilities, and even those who merely came because they had been sent. The students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was no secret to those students that their new Headmaster didn't care as to what happened to them. This was how he appeared to them as he payed no attention to their cries for help, to their outbursts against the new institution. However even Severus would not wish Bellatrix Lestrange on them. He would not wish her on his own worst enemy, especially since she had already got rid of one of them.

He took careful note of her reply look. He took careful note of her movement of her every action, but most importantly he took careful note to the words that came from her mouth. Severus wanted this over as soon as possible. Hogwarts didn't require a sadistic and immoral person roaming its corridors. There were enough to fill all of those empty space already. No, there was a reason Bellatrix was not at Hogwarts already and that was simply because she was a danger. Even if she was incapable of seeing it, the Dark Lord had not been and that was were she fell short once again. He listened as the crazed woman harped on about how he owed them for his position. Severus listened even more intently as she went on to say that she owed them his life. He couldn't help but allow his eyebrow to raise at her as he took in everything she had to say, especially the last bit as he kept her unblinking gaze.

If this were another time he would have laughed in her face. If this were another time he would have told her to take out her wand and do her worst. Her constant taunting was becoming unbearable. Though he was not going to be allowed to be taken for an idiotic fool. He had not managed to rise in the Dark Lord's ranks, because he was incapable. He had not managed to play both sides of the field, so well for years and killed Albus Dumbledore to be taken so lightly by the criminally insane. Perhaps she had become used to merely torturing those who were idiotic enough not to fight back. Those remarkably simple folk who didn't know when to keep still and when to attack. Those with no capabilities. If she believed him the sort than she was truly out of her depths, because the fact remains that Severus Snape is no bodies fool.

Careful to keep in most of the emotion, he allowed merely his annoyance and disdain to reflect in his tone as he spoke.
"I know fully well that the Dark Lord giveth and the Dark Lord taketh away. I am also fully aware that I owe only him." Severus once again emphasized the last words before he continued.
"I owe you nothing," he spat out the word you. "Although somewhere in your deluded mind you seem to have come to this conclusion. My capabilities are my own. This position is mine, because I took the required steps. You were not by my side Bellatrix and neither was your supposed husband.
The Death Eaters do not belong to you, they belong to him and you would do well to remember your place before I accidentally happen to mention what you have dared to let slip from your mouth, to the Dark Lord himself."

Gazing at her he did just as she had done before and kept her gaze without so much as a single blink, before he leaned back in his chair again and resumed speaking.
"So I suggest that you go back to your estate and order your elves to do as you will, because you will not find that same reaction here."

[[Thank you. I'm a great fan of compliments and Snape being my favourite character it means a lot when someone says I play him well. You are really good yourself.]]

The fact that somehow she had come to the conclusion that their was some sort of a tangible relationship between herself and the Dark Lord was an indication of how far gone her mind was. Severus knew better than to believe that the Dark Lord was capable of love, trust and devotion. The emotions that seemed to go hand in hand when it came to how Bellatrix felt toward him. She had formed some sort of an odd fascination with a man that merely used and abused her. For the other Death Eaters it was easy to believe that she held the highest position with regards to the Dark Lord, but in all reality no one did. The man was a cruel an calculated form of a person if one could call him that. He placed the person who he could get the most out of in his highest position at that time. The way he had done with Lucius, the way he had done with worm-tail in his effort to obtain a body and the way he used Severus now to control what went on in the Hogwarts castle. Death Eaters were the easily manipulative kind, most of them so dimwitted that they were incapable of telling their mother from their father. That was were Severus differentiated from them. His mind was his own, always. He was able to look at a situation and see it for what it truly was, not for what every one else wanted him to believe. He was nobody's fool and he wished Bellatrix would stop taking him for one.

He got to his feet loosing his temper for the shortest amount of time as his fists came down upon the face of the table in a thud in an attempt to order quiet.
"I don't owe you a damned thing Lestrange. You or your damned family."
He took a deep breadth before he continued.
"Just because I wasn't as dumb as you to go and get myself locked up in Azkaban, doesn't make me any less of a Death Eater. In fact it makes me so than any of you ignorant fools. Simply because I had the initiative to lie and deceive so that the the Dark Lord's sworn enemy took me into in arms with open arms and told me everything and informed me of everyone. I put myself into a position so that when the dark lord returned he could use me as a tool to complete his greatest task. Tell me Bellatrix what can you complete as a deranged psychopath besides scare little itty bitty muggleborns."
He smirked satisfied that he had at last been able to say what he had kept in for so long.
"Allow me to answer that for you Bellatrix...Absolutely nothing."

Stepping out and around his desk he made his way over to her, his cloak billowing behind him as he came to stand right behind the seat she occupied, looming over her, still holding the position of superiority.
"You have something against me Bellatrix. You think me a traitor. You want to know the real reason behind that belief of yours. It is simply because I'm not like the rest of the Death Eaters. I don't do your will, I don't submit myself to you. The reason being is because you don't frighten me like you do them. I'm no at weak minded as they and you are. So take your bag of tricks over to the next house that may not see right through it, because I won't be taken as your or any body else's fool and as for Greyback bring him here if you must. I wasn't afraid to use the killing curse on Dumbledore and I'm definitely not afraid to use it on some rabid little dog."

He placed his right hand on her shoulder. It was a gentle movement. It was his last attempt at making peace with an old, demented fool. Though he was well aware that she would see it as a threat. At the moment he didn't care. He was enjoying the moment.


[Sorry it sucks, but I did mention I'm muse-less at the moment.]