Disclaimer: Don't own nothing. Please don't sue me.

Author's Note: Yet another story written during a fit of insanity. (Ok, so it's only the second one, but still...) Got the basic idea from a friend while we were riding home from band practice. And in this one, the thing you think will happen actually does! Yay!! ^_^

Snape Needs a Hug!

Professor Severus Snape wended* his way through the late August crowd of parents and students in Diagon Alley. Under normal circumstances, he would never do such a daft thing as visit wizard London just before school started, but Dumbledore seemed to be of the opinion the Potions Master needed to "get out of the castle for a bit" and had sent Snape on an errand.

Luckily, his way was mostly unimpeded. Despite the fact he could not deduct points out of school, the students, both current and former, parted before him.

Suddenly, a shout rang out above the noise of the crowd. "SNAPE NEEDS A HUG!!"

Almost instantaneously the crowd seemed to solidify around the inimical man, halting his progress, and the small mob hugged him. After he was thoroughly embraced, the mass dispersed and Snape found himself once again being given a wide berth by other shoppers.

Snape stood bewildered in the street, shocked after the attack. Once he recovered (mostly), he continued on his errand, attempting to come to terms with what had happened as he went. He came to the conclusion that Dumbledore had set up the whole thing.

After returning to the school, Snape confronted the aging headmaster about the . . . incident.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Severus," replied the old man with a suspiciously surprised expression and that damned twinkle in his eye.

Snape glowered off, muttering to himself about "meddling old fools" as he returned to his underground lair.

THE END

*Yes, wended IS a real word. Here's what dictionary.com said: Wend-v-to proceed on or along; go. Look it up if you don't believe me.