A Conversation
31 August 1993
Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry
The scent of aged parchment paper and neatly printed ink inside of each book’s pages fill the small flat. The waves of freshly brewed tea roll down his shoulders in effortless shivers, allowing the old dusty chamber to have a scent other than old decrepit dusk. The herbalnes of the tea are aromatic in all the right ways.
Finally, the professor had unpacked and settled into the familiar walls, sofas, and drapes that adorned his bed chambers in the Slytherin dungeons. The familiarity of the green provides a boyish comfort despite the bullying he endured during his years at Hogwarts. Truthfully, this seemed to be the only place Severus could truly enjoy any of his time, where he was truly able to make the place his own.
Currently, a saucer was being delicately lifted to the curve of his lips as he drank the dark warm liquid from it tenderly. The only belongings brought from his family home, besides clothes, was the small worn leather-bound book he was fond of.
The pages spelled to flick forward in front of his eyesight. Deep in thought, he paid the outside world no mind. Keeping his peace and solidarity in the warm and small sitting room, he thoroughly scoured the pages for valuable lessons to apply to this term.
Had it not been for the sudden noise of the floo network activating in the marble fireplace, he could have remained there for hours. Although, once the man’s eyes focused in on his visitor, his previously tense shoulders eased slightly from their position.
“Minerva, and to what do I owe this visit?” He asked in his signature drawl, raising a brow at the elderly woman.
She gave him a knowing glance, taking the well-worn armchair opposite him. The older woman mirrors his expression
His charmed book shuts itself and then takes its place on the table. He caught a glimpse of her knowing eyes, her gaze nurturing as she scanned the sight of him.
Huffing, he takes to his feet. He muses, moving to set out another teacup and saucer, “Would you like any tea with your impending psychological assessment, Professor?”
She chuckled briefly at his quick wit and gloomy behavior, something that hadn't seemed to leave him since adolescence. “Ah Severus, I’ve always been most envious of your optimism.”
“I would proceed with caution. Though my elder, if I do recall you’re seemingly not as envious of my temper.” He warns playfully, filling the woman’s tea, and carefully mixing in the appropriate amount of sugar and tea for his superior.
She thanked him graciously, before taking a sip. Watching the wizard, she studied his features, carefully considering his emotions despite the well-conducted occlumency wall that kept them off his seemingly exhausted features. It was almost refreshing to see an expression other than bored.
“What can I do for you, this evening Minerva?” He asked irritably. It was evident the lack of sleep was coursing thickly through his veins.
The older woman put the saucer gently down on the small tea table in the center of the room. Pushing up her glasses, she pins him with a glare. “I’m beyond my years in checking up on you as a student, but I hope we are past the limit where I couldn't ask about your well-being as my friend.”
He smirks and lets himself chuckle briefly, the corners of his lips pointed slightly as he speaks, “And what makes you believe even if we are friends, that I am willing to discuss my ‘well-being’, professor?” His response is dry, and he glances over his shoulder as he finishes cleaning the small marble-topped kitchenette close by.
“On the contrary Severus, I believe you shouldn’t like to talk about it and by extension won’t, but it was worth trying.” She offers him a beat to speak, raising a brow in challenge.
“You always did love your gossip,” He retorts, rolling his eyes at the elder.
“Caring for someone’s personal well-being and gossip are drastically different dear boy.” She says patiently, blinking in surprise at his sheer audacity.
“You still prefer the latter.”
“And I believe you’d prefer sleep, but something is troubling you.” Finally, the younger’s eyes soften slightly, but he does not give in.
“You’re quite mistaken, Minerva if you should think to find it to be that easy,” He snarked, rolling his eyes at her.
Persistent and patient as always. The woman had been through so much trouble with those rather mischievous Marauders. Yet still, she found a way to find empathy in her heart for each and every one of her students.
Meant as an end to a conversation, the woman sat before him saw it as an opening. She wasn’t one to give up so easily, she knew better than that what to expect from him by now.
“No, not that easy I suppose. But I should think it important, and worth the trouble to simply care for you.” She states briefly.
If Severus had been a little bit more well-rested, he might have been inclined to not share information as he did. Yet, he was not well rested, and so he would share his thoughts, carefully of course, but he would still be calculated in his ways.
The warm words used by the kind woman seeped into his brain thickly. To be cared for by someone was nothing to sneeze at, as people say. Severus was almost touched by this notion. He dared not think too hard about it.
“Well, I’m not going to say that I’m frightened, we are well past that.” He’s thinking, carefully choosing his words.
“But I am..a bit…disheartened by the situation.” He finally decides.
“Disheartened?” Her confusion is evident usually there would be much more hatred laced in his words.
“Yes. It is a rather complicated arrangement and it is quite concerning for the safety of everyone involved, even those affected indirectly.” He points out taking another sip of his tea.
She nods in understanding. She can feel the anxiety radiating from him. Of course, she would never let him know, and he would never tell her he felt it but it would be known.
“Ah, well I don’t think there is much to worry about. After all, you are quite intelligent, your skills are excellent. You will not fail. And as for the children, you continue each year to, despite your best efforts, protect them and help them succeed. All will be well in time.” She states.
Though well-meaning, he would always add some remark to her ‘pep talks’ when he found them to be too ‘inspirational.’
“Quite a speech.” He said shortly. Finishing his cuppa as he set it back down on the table.
She sighed “Yes, and I suppose I had forgotten how irritating that pessimism of yours is.”
Coming to a standing position from her seat finishing her tea as well she gave a polite nod.
“Thank you for the tea, Severus it wasn’t so dreadful as I imagined it to be.”
“Oh! I had almost forgotten, this is for you, from the headmaster he said to deliver it by hand. Ig seemed rather important.” She said taking her wand from her robe and producing a small envelope from it.
“Goodnight, Severus.”
“Goodnight, Professor.”
And with a small mutter into the floo flames, she vanished. Some of her words still plaguing the back of his mind but he couldn’t dwell on those, he had tasking course preparation to get to.
Still, it was quite nice to have tea with a friend, but should you dare to ask, he’d always deny the accusations of befriending the loving woman. She was too kind for his own well being it seemed.