-30-
A week goes by. Still no clue about Headmaster. Minerva and I have been speculating that the Ministry is doing this on purpose. Because how Dumbledore kept delaying their meeting for this long, they want to make sure people in the castle has to wait for his return. Don't know how they are doing it, but seems to be working. "And remember! Nothing's more rewarding, than the bright smile on your faces." Umbridge's annoying voice echoes around the castle thru the megaphones. "Merlin, I'm going to rip of my ears off soon..!" I mutter to myself while walking with Minerva back to the classes from lunch. We are all really on edge with our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. "Can't wait when Albus comes back. The first thing to go are those annoying funnels." Minerva sighs. "Then her." I joke, even we all know it's not possible - at least not yet. "Let us just keep our heads high." my friend tries to encourage.
Haven't told her - or anyone, anything about what has happen between me and the two other professors. There has been couple of times I almost has, but somehow... I feel like I'd be bothering them if I will speak up. I don't want anyone getting in trouble because of me. Ever again. "Think we should go celebrate the end of the semester somewhere when the time comes." Minerva suggested. "Sounds great!" I smile. We still don't know what the future holds on my part. That is yet has to be seen. As me and Minerva are talking, I see Lockhart passing by other end of the corridor. Our eyes meets right away and he smiles. Quickly, I turn my head away, acting like I didn't see him. I have tried to keep my distance towards him after he had suggested... Whatever he suggested. When it comes to my clothing, I have tried to dress up more like... Not myself, I guess? Not that my original style would be revealing or anything. I've just put on more clothes to cover everything, so I won't come across as provoking. Like Umbridge said.
There are memories flashing by from my childhood. One after another. "Concentrate, (Y/L)." can hear Snape's voice as he's using the Legilimens on me. My mouth quavers as I'm trying tell him that I'm trying. Can see how eleven year old me is sitting on the Great Hall in the Sorting Ceremony. Feeling so hyped as the Sorting Hat gets put on my head. "Hufflepuff!" the Hat shouts proudly, having no doubts what so ever where I belong. Big smile raises up on my face and the students cheers loudly. The memory changes quickly after that in... Not so happy one. "No! There must be somekind of mistake, Headmaster! My daughter..-", "The Hat never makes mistakes. It can not be undone. I'm sorry, Mrs. and Mr. (Y/L)." Dumbledore tries to explain to my parents. "Surely there is something you can do as the Headmaster?" my father tries to reason. I'm standing corner of Headmaster's Office, trying to look as small and unnoticeable as I can. "There is nothing wrong in Hufflepuff. Kind and honest. Brave and true, right to the other till the very end. Exceptionally hard-working... Infinitely fair-minded - and most importantly; a fierce, fierce friend. To be quite honest, I wish I would have been sorted in the House." Dumbledore says. Hard to say if he is lying or telling the truth. Either way, my parents aren't pleased.
Everything gets blurry. All I can hear is how my father is screaming to my mother, accusing her for cheating him. 'How else the girl got sorted in there?!' The next image comes; It's winter. I can see from a window how our house elf, Dongy is shoveling snow. His whole body is shivering because how cold it is. Struggling what to do since I have been forbidden to interact with the elf alone. But I can't stand watching him suffer like that. My parents are not home either so I could ask them to help him. So, I thought the best thing to do is get him at least something to keep him warm. "Dongy!" little me rush up to him after putting a scarf loosely around my neck. The elf looks surprised:"M-Master (Y/L), you should be inside. It's cold out here. Your paren..-", "Here! I wanted to give you these." I smile and hand him mittens. The elf's eyes widens as he watches the grey mittens I just handed. Thinking he might not like the color of them. They are after all pretty dull. Tears raise on his eyes. "What's wrong?" I wonder. "...Dongy is free." the elf finally lets out. Won't take long before my parents heard the news. "You did... WHAT?!" a voice yells. The image starts shaking a little as my father goes for the wand on the desk where the alcohol is.
Letting out a gasp as soon as Snape stops using the spell on me:"..Haah..!". Potions Master stares at me for a moment as I try to refocus in the chair middle of the Potions classroom. Then he goes to the little area where he likes to boil water:"I believe that is enough for today.". I try to steady my breath. It feels like I've just ran a mile as fast as I can. My head hurts too a bit, so I bring my head down to my hands:"I don't know if I can keep doing this.". Snape is preparing something while having his back on me:"It takes time to learn Occlumency. Considering the damage of your brain from the past, it might take longer than normal.". Cups and plates are clinking as he gathers them together. "Well, that's encouraging..." I say sarcastically. Snape has given me piles and piles of books about the Occlumency and everything related to mind control and improving the brain generally. Weird how interested he has become lately about brain and how it can be fixed.
As I bring the chair back to it's place - which is side of Snape's desk, he turns around and places two cups of coffee on the surface. Without a word, he takes off his cape, puts it aside and goes sit behind the desk to drink the coffee. Slightly surprised he has made me a cup too. What is more surprising, is how he has made the cup of coffee just the way I like it. How did he know? Without paying more thought into it, I sit on the chair and drink it. We sip our beverages in comfortable silence for a moment. There are thoughts going from side to another in my head. Revealing this much of my past to him... The things he has seen... I just don't want him to think of differently of me. Why do I care so much? "Curious." Snape says all of sudden. My head snaps up from the cup in my hands to look at him:"Hm?". He's looking down to his cup:"...Parents, I mean. Why do they have children if they are incapable of excepting them as they are?". That got me thinking, I really don't know nothing about his past.
For a moment I'm hesitant if I should ask him or not. Don't want him lashing out again. "I assume you have some experience with that too, huh?" I try to act casual and take another sip of the coffee. "Some." he keeps staring at the cup in front of him. He then goes and tells me about how his father Tobias Snape - a Muggle, who never really was fond of anything, ever. His mother - Eileen Prince, a Witch, was quite neglectful towards her son. Specially when Tobias was abusive towards him. "So you are a half blood." I point out. "Naturally." he lift those black eyes to stare my (e/c) eyes. There is this small pause. Almost as if he is waiting for me to realize something. But I just stare back at him with polite smile. Severus goes inner battle with himself how sweet and innocent the person beside him is. He then leans against the desk with his elbow and rests other cheek on the hand and looks away. "Your brain really is damaged." he mutters to himself. Lift both of my eyebrows confused:"Eh?".
As he's looking away from me, I keep staring at him. My heart breaks after hearing his story. Him opening up to like this is very huge thing! Feeling the urge to give him a hug, but knowing he would probably hate it, so I keep sitting quietly in the chair. Perhaps, now I understand more where he is coming from. He looks so pensive. "I'm sorry you had to go thru those times." I let out with the most purest way possible. Snape stays quiet, like he doesn't know what to do right now. Thinking it'll be for the best at least try to light up the mood a little, so I chuckle:"So... How did you became a professor of Hogwarts? Considering you're not so keen on children.". He shifts his eyes on me, then shifts them away:"Dumbledore and I have a common agreement.". "Right, since you two are best buddies. What did you do? Lost a bet?" I tease. Snape sips last drops of the coffee:"Something like that.". Giggling to myself:"I knew it.". But Snape doesn't seem to be in the mood of throwing anything witty back. Guess he is still thinking about the past.
I look down to my right hand that is casually resting on the desk. Seeing how there are still some dirt under the nails, no matter how I washed them after the classes. It makes me think how I got the job as Herbology teacher. Keeping the gaze on the hand and chuckle:"To be honest, I never thought I'd be a teacher of Wizarding school either.". Snape raise his eyes on me and sees how I'm staring at the right hand. "Thought these hands would someday protect from the darkness as an Auror." I continue. Slightly sad that may never actually become true. Then, Snape's left hand comes in sight to touch my right hand gently. "Perhaps... These hands are made for teaching what's good in life, rather than destroying it." the tone of his voice is so soft. A blush raises on my cheeks and heart skips a beat as our fingers gets interlocked loosely. Lift my gaze from our hands to Snape's eyes. They are already staring back at my (e/c) eyes. My heart keeps pounding fast. Feels like it can come out of my chest any second now.
Without a word, Severus is the first one who leans forward. Both of us tightening the grip of our interlocked fingers. Lips inches away from each others. I can feel his breath on my face. Both of us are about to close our eyes, and then... The door slams open. "Snape! A word with you?" Umbridge storms in. Severus shoots up from the chair, acting like she didn't just ruin the perfect moment. Merlin's beard! What just happened?! He is quick to bring back his usual poker face:"Yes? What this might concern?". Umbridge is about to start talking, but lowers her gaze on me, realizing I'm in the room too. Luckily, my back is facing the door, so she can't see how red my face really is. "(Y/N). What are you doing in here?" she asks. Shit. Before I can open my mouth, the Potions Master responds:"Professor (Y/L) wasn't feeling well, so I gave her the antidote she needed.". "We have perfectly qualified nurse in the Hospital Wing. Why didn't she went there?" she questions like I'm not even here.
Once again, Severus speaks for me:"May I remind you, that one of the rules the Ministry has put up on the wall next to the Great Hall, says that the school staff needs to provide their own health care on their own time.". Umbridge struggles for a moment what to say back, but then just scoffs:"Very well.". Phew. She then gives me the glare that I should leave the room. "Right, sorry... I'll just... Leave you two to it." I mumble and rush out. After closing the door behind me, I quickly return back to my chamber. There are students looking confused as I walk quickly pass by them. Heart going all wild again. What the hell was that just now?! Were we just about to kiss?! The..- there is no way! I can't think straight!
Redness comes in flames back up all over my body when I shut the door behind me after coming to the chamber. SEVERUS WAS ABOUT TO KISS ME?!?! Sniffy watches as I'm walking back and forth the room. My mind is all over the place. This is unbelievable! Does this mean he likes me? Or... Did I just misunderstood the whole situation?! "Sniffy! What do I do?!" I shake him like he would give me an answer. The niffler stares back at me confused after I stop shaking him. This can't be real. Had to sit down on the edge of the bed and think everything through. Slowly, I became to realize... How deeply I have fallen for Severus. When did this happen?