-18-
Remus left Hogwarts way faster than I had imagine. Good thing I even had the time to say proper goodbye to him. Now the school feels so... Empty without him. He was my closest friend in here after all. Not that we won't see each other ever again, but it certainly makes it difficult. "Alright! Class's dismissed, don't forget to study for the test tomorrow." I inform the whole class. All of the fourth years groans at the same time and leaves the room. Right when I get behind the desk, the Transfiguration Professor rushes to me. "Minerva! What brings you here?" I smile. She looks little bit troubled:"I... Uh...". "What's wrong?" I get worried. "I'm afraid we have a problem." she folds her hands neatly in front of her. "A problem? What kind of a problem?" I ask. "There are two of our students, a Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff, who were misbehaving in my class." she informs. Little bit surprised to hear that:"Oh, what did they do?". "...You better come and look." she mutters and we leave the room. What's going on?
Couldn't believe what I'm seeing as we enter to the Hospital Wing. "Dear, Merlin..." I gasp when I see a Gryffindor student who has aged to the same age as the Headmaster himself. He's sitting on the hospital bed, looking all embarrassed and defeated. "What transfiguration spell is this?" I ask while staring at the student. "Ageing potion. Professor Snape came in to check up on him earlier today." Minerva explain. Then I turn to her:"Where is she?". It was told one of my students had done this to the poor Gryffindor and ran away. So, as the Head of the Hufflepuff's House, I need to speak with the student. This is the first time anything like this has happen when I've been here.
After looking for her fifteen minutes, I finally found her sitting on the edge of the dock at the Boathouse. One of the windiest places on the castle on a snow day like this. Brilliant... "Miss Vivian Wallnut?" I call her calmly. The girl's head snaps right at me, looking so frightened. "It's alright, I just came here to talk." I reassure. Tears fills her eyes and she looks back down to the water. Slowly, I approach her and stop right beside her:"Is it alright if I sit here?". She gives a slight nod. I chuckle:"You put quite a show in the Transfiguration class, I heard.". "Derek started it." she spit out. I raise an eyebrow:"How so?". Miss Wallnut pauses for a moment, wondering if she should tell me or not. "A week ago, he called me a Mudblood." she confess. "Oh, boy..." I roll my eyes. Not because I'd be mad at her, but because how cruel some kids can be for no reason.
Miss Wallnut then told me all about how Mister Davies has bullied her for the past few weeks now. It has all been done verbally. The last straw was when he laughed at the end of one of their Transfiguration class, something about 'wonder if we could turn you into Pure Blood' - type of thing. She wanted to revenge, so she came up with the Ageing potion. Knowing that Mister Davies loves to play Quidditch and is about to attend the team. She thought, this way he will certainly fail the trails. Smart from a second year, I must admit. It makes my blood boil when people are separating others by their blood type or what House they have been sorted in. No matter what age. "Don't worry, Miss Wallnut. I'll handle this and make sure he won't bother you ever again." giving her reassuring smile. Those teary eyes looks up to me with full of hope:"Thank you, Professor (Y/L).". Then we both just watch how the snow slowly lands on the lake.
I told Minerva everything. Luckily, she is on my side on this, and had a little talk with Mr. Davies privately, Headmaster being there as well. His parents are going to hear about this, no doubt. Same goes to Miss Wallnut. As her punishment for using the potion on a student like that, she needs to help me after the classes to clean up and help with the garden for two weeks. Not too bad for my opinion - then again, she was the victim here... Who said it is easy to be a professor in the school of Witchcraft and Wizardly? There has happen so much lately, it's hard to keep up! Even Professor Sprout had write me and Dumbledore a letter, where she informs she has to push back her arrival even further, probably she'll be gone rest of the semester. Apparently, having a hip surgery in the Muggle world isn't going as smoothly as we all hoped.
Couple days goes by. We still don't know who's going to be our next D.A.D.A professor. As for now, either Minerva or Snape has been teaching the students. Poor first to third years has to deal with Snape, when the fourth to seven years have Minerva to teach them. Unfortunately, I got problems of my own too... It seems that Mr. Derek Davies has started a rumor of somekind how much of a bad teacher I am. How I'm now 'favouritism all of the Half Bloods and Muggle Borns only'. Which doesn't make any sense in any way! But somehow, that has made me the target of among some students. Luckily, there are some sensible children here, Neville Longbottom for example and his new friend, Miss Wallnut. "Where do you want me to put these, Professor?" Vivian asks while holding a bag of soil in her tiny hands. "To that corner, thank you." pointing at the right direction. Neville is quick to help her carrying the heavy bag. They look like a big brother and little sister when they work together around the Greenhouse.
Then, I check the time and realize how I should be heading to the Great Hall, if I want to eat anything before going to sleep, that is. Neville and Vivian had already eaten before coming here. Quickly, I gather all the parchments in one pile and start heading out of the Greenhouse:"Remember to feed the Venomous Tentaculas in the back, and lock the doors before leaving.". "Yes, Professor (Y/L)!" they both shout after me. Merlin, I'm hungry! Speed walking my way to the Great Hall and wondering which path I'm going to take this time for Sniffy's evening walk. Or maybe I'm going to be lazy and just walk him around the garden... Yet again. "Yeah, I wonder why she never clean her hands properly. They are always covered in soil." can hear a student chuckling right behind the corner to her friend. Huh? I slower my steps, so I can hear what they are talking about. "She's not even that pretty, if I'm being honest." the other one scoffs. That made my legs stop themselves.
Now I'm standing right around the corner, out of their sight. Wonder who are they talking about? I know eavesdropping is wrong, but... Something tells me I shouldn't turn around the corner for them to see. At least not yet. The first one continues:"I'm sorry, but if I was the professor of Herbology, I would take care of my looks way better than she does.". My heart drops for a moment. They are talking about... Me? Immediately getting flashbacks when I was a student. How people were talking about me behind my back. 'Heard she supposed to be Slytherin.', 'Her? Only hot ones gets into Slytherin, so no wonder she didn't.', 'She's so lame and ugly.', 'Did you see her hair today? What was that all about?' All of those words from the past starts echoing in my head. Back then, I had no one to turn to. No one to step up for me when I couldn't.
Thought things like that would stop as I grew older, but... Nothing has changed, it seems. Struggling if I should step around the corner and just walk past them. But it feels like I just became that same little girl years back, and I just... Walk away. Guess I need to find another path to get to the Great Hall. After I left, those two girls - Ravenclaw and Slytherin, keeps talking about me. "Bet she never even had a man in her whole life." the Slytherin laughs. "With that face, not a change!" the Ravenclaw joins in the laughter. When all of sudden, they both feel a cold breeze coming behind them. "Huh?" they both turn around and freezes out of terror. Professor Snape stands right behind them, looking down on them with the most loathing stare.
In the Great Hall, I'm sitting alone around the High Table. Seems that all the other professors have already eaten and went to do their evening routines. Just a few students are still sitting down, eating and chatting with their friends about school and their lives outside of it. I'm not so hungry anymore after hearing what the students were talking about me. So I kinda keep poking the food that is left on my plate. Wish Remus would be here. My eyes goes down to my hands and see some dirt under the nails. No matter how many times I wash them after the classes, there is always some dirt under the nails. After the weekends, they become all clean, but when the Monday comes... There is no way to avoid it. I should remember better to keep the gloves on. Being so deep in my thoughts, I won't notice how someone comes standing right behind me. Then, I feel how something gets placed on top of my head gently. "Huh?" lift my head to see what's going on. It's Snape, holding a book somekind. He had just tapped that on my head to get my attention.
There is surprised look on my face:"Oh, go-good evening, Professor.". "I assume you forgot this." he says with the monotonic tone and places the book on the table, right beside my plate. Couldn't believe my eyes. It's the book about the plants under water! The one I asked if I could borrow, before... Snape sits down a chair next to mine and starts gathering some food on his plate. I'm too stunned he remembered something like that. "Five days." he says without looking at me. "Hm? Sorry?" I ask. "I'll give you five days to read it. After that, I want it to be back in my shelf where it belongs." he says. Last time it was a week. I take the book in my hands and look at it with gentle smile:"Thank you, Severus.". Still feels funny to call him by the first name, but I'm getting used to it. And he doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Wish he'd call me by the first name too.
Then, I see my dirty fingers against the deep bluish green book's cover. It's like they have become now more noticeable ever since those students talked about them. Then I put the book back down on the table and place my hands on my lap. Like that would hide them from the world. Snape sees this corner of his eye, but won't say anything. He's tempted to read my thoughts, but because of our agreement, he won't do that. We stay quiet for a moment, but it doesn't really bother me like other times it has. "Children are the worst." he breaks the silence while eating his food peacefully. Surprised, but also amused by the sudden comment, I turn to look at him:"Sorry?". He then starts telling me how the kids aren't doing a good job - up to his own standards, in the D.A.D.A. classes.
Our conversation keeps flowing smoothly, we even ended up continue the conversation to the hallway after we ate. Students weren't the only topic we had. We also talked about our favorite books, plants and spells we like to use etc. "There is this one curious book I found many weeks ago that has a few spells on it I've never heard of before." I reveal. "Do tell." Snape says calmly. We are walking side by side, both looking forward. "I mean, it's an old Potions book. Ones that students can use if they don't have their own." I explain. Snape stays quiet, waiting for me to continue. I press the book Snape gave me earlier against my chest:"There are lots and lots of marks and writings in the book. It seems it used to belong to someone named 'The Half Blood Prince'.". Snape stops walking and I do the same after taking couple of steps past him.
There is a small pause before Snape opens his mouth:"Curious... Indeed.". "Right?! Who ever wrote those notes is very smart. Not going to lie, I have become their little fan." I let out a small giggle. Light blush comes up to my cheeks as I said that. I must've sound weird for saying that. The man in front of me stays quiet. Hard to tell what's on his mind right now. "You want to read it sometime?" I ask with innocent smile. No answer. "I can borrow it to you, if you'd like. Since you let me read this one." showing him the book in my hands. He stares at me without any emotion. Then, he turns around and starts walking away:"Good night, Professor (Y/L).". Surprised by the act:"Wh..-?". The long cape keeps moving smoothly behind him as he gets further and further away. Did I say something funny? Then, I lift my head up and realize that without my notice, we had come to the entry of the Greenhouse.