"We need a plan."

"I would think we already have one."

"Love," the word was spat out, "is NOT a plan, in fact there is nothing planned about that over-glorified version of hormones."

"I do wish you do not quite mean that."

"And if I did?"

"It would sadden me," a pause, "and I would not wish to think of that possibility."

"Hardly. You never fail to remind me."

"Do I?" A chuckle, "alright, why do you think this will not work?"

"Firstly, there is no plan," a raised hand to cut off protests, "and secondly, it may be useful on Him, but what of his men?"

"The Order..."

"... Is comprised of powerful, but aging," a pointed look, "people who will no sooner keel over than dash through thickened forests."

A sigh, "I suppose you are right."

"Quick, where is a Creevey when you need one?"

"You needn't behave as if this is the first time I have agreed with you."

"True, but it usually takes at the least, one session of raised voices and tempers."

"Ah ... sometimes it's hard to realise that there is something else underneath that shell." A pause, "humour for instance."

"Au contraire, I find humour in every moment of my classes."

"Tsk Tsk, not that bad, are they?"

"Ask me when I'm drunk after a particularly trying period."

"Fine, fine. Shall we get back to the topic on hand?"

A raised eyebrow, "One might conceive that the distraction was my fault entirely."

"What were you saying before this ... digression?"

"Merely that some death eaters, dare I say, many of them, would not be prone to this half arsed attempt at defence."

"You've already pointed out flaws, now how do you propose to fix them?"

"Training and strategy."

"Indeed. I do hope you can offer beyond the words themselves."

"Witty. In answer to your very annoying self, I would think we could begin by training in the Dark Arts."

"Oh, surely you jest."

"Do I look like a court jester to your Majesty?"

"But..."

"What will you do when they start throwing dark curses? 'Protego' them to death?"

"Of course not, but this is rather drastic!"

"It is the Order members we can trust, have you so little faith in them?"

"You very well know it is more than faith that is at stake here!"

"Yes, but can they not learn?"

"They'd sooner be burned on a stake, I should think."

"Then whom shall we teach? The children?"

"..."

"Oh Great Merlin! Tell me you are not actually considering it!"

"Oh but I am."

"Perhaps I was mistaken after all. Good night."

"Wait! Would you not think it be possible?"

"Anything is possible, if Crabbe Jr. can learn to read. They are children! Do not ask me to be responsible for the corruption of their innocence, limited though it be."

"Hush now, we cannot consider Harry, but Ronald?"

"He is weak. His mind will not resist the lure. Potter is strong, but Dark Magic has a power, and will be assured of returning wholly unchanged?"

"No doubt it leaves none unchanged, but Harry barely fought off Voldemort at the ministry. For a moment, my heart stopped beating. We cannot expect that he will be able to resist after his mind is altered."

"Who would you suggest, oh Omniscient One?"

"Severus..."

"Although Weasley may not be a complete waste of matter in considering strategic planning."

"Why Severus, was that a compliment for the youngest Weasley Boy?"

"Don't try my patience, Albus."

"Quite. And what of Ms. Granger?"

"What of her?"

"Try not to be so difficult. She is admittedly brilliant."

"She is a stubborn Gryffindor know-it-all."

"Not very unlike you when you were a student."

"At least I had some imagination. She is nothing more than an overly adored book worm."

"It is not all that bad, Severus."

"Do not try to convince me otherwise. This from the man who thought 'Love will conquer all' was more than just a clichéd overstatement."

"I will ask you to refrain from abusing your freedom of speech here."

The hard edge on the words served their purpose. "As you wish, Headmaster." The truth always hurts.

"Now, can you please outline your plan, keeping the insults to a minimum?"

"I can try."

The headmaster sighed, "Just as well. Continue."

"If we can induct them over this summer, we can start preparing them to their strengths. You know as well as anyone that the Golden trio will fight together, if at all."

"Yes, there is that. How do you presume to handle this?"

"Lucius is many things, but he is not without love, Albus, and twisted though it is, even Bellatrix loves the Dark Lord. Varied though it be in forms, the essence remains the same. The only person, if you can call him that, who has no inkling of it, is the Dark Lord himself. So, even if Potter does succeed, his followers will not be cowed. They will die trying, except Lucius, who follows no one besides his own agenda," he paused, "He might inflict some damage, in the interest of self preservation."

"I see what you are driving at. I assume you will, by extension, say the same of all the Death Eaters."

"Including this one."

"You are no more a Death Eater than I am."

Snape sneered, and Dumbledore merely looked on serenely.

"Minerva and You can be responsible for Weasley, though it would take considerable effort to deflate his massive head."

"Severus..."

"Alright, alright. I would enjoy trashing him soundly in tests later on."

"You might be surprised."

"I believe I have finished my quota of being surprised."

"And Ms. Granger?"

"I refuse to taint children with this knowledge! It is obscene!"

"And you were no younger when you first learned them."

"Look what that made!"

"Severus, no matter how many times you protest, I refuse to be cowed by your flaunting the Mark."

"You are a fool, then."

"Probably. I always knew foolishness ran in the family."

"Albus..." Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He leaned on the mantle, absently warming his hands against the low fire.

"Try, Severus. Perhaps she deserves more credit than you give. "

Severus swallowed, not quite sure what to say, "She is a child, and more innocent than I ever was."

"I would agree that she is particularly pure, but this is war, Severus, and she has placed herself, knowingly or otherwise, in the thick of it. She is more involved than we could hope against."

"Perhaps."

Albus absently toyed with a quill. "I know it is a terrible thing, but it has to be done, for her own protection as well as for Harry's or Ronald's. Or ours, for that matter."

"It must be done then?"

"I see no other way, Severus, however much it saddens me to say it."

"Potter will train with you and Alastor, Weasley with Minerva, and Ms. Granger with me, unfortunately."

"Quite."

"It occurs to me that neither of the boys would ever be successful in training with me. Potter seems like he would either burst into tears or tear me apart, and Weasley simply looks like he would enjoy causing me pain."

Albus laughed, "I think that applies for most of your students, Severus."

Snape smirked and watched the flames for a while. The headmaster merely waited for him to speak his mind.

"If we had more time, the children could be spared."

"It is later than we think."

"It is that."