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Soon enough, it was the end of the semester. Most of the students left the castle only two hours ago - back to their homes, to their loved ones. My Apparate spell skills are advanced, but my studies aren't over quite yet. I'm able to move myself from a room to another, but I haven't been able to test out any longer distances yet. There are still things to learn - such as doing the spell when having someone else with me. We have practiced it with a dummy, so if any of us fails there won't be lost of limbs laying around the classroom. So I'm always a bit nervous - even when it comes to practicing with the dummy, but I'm sure it'll be fine eventually. Since I don't have the license yet, I can only use the spell either at the Apparate class or inside Hogwarts's groundings. And now that the semester is over, I can practice on my own around the castle without scaring other students when I suddenly appear in a room with them. This is actually fun, even I feel little bit sick because all of that constant spinning.
As the Sun is slowly going down, I keep jumping from a room to another, excited how far I have become. When I appear to the Greenhouse's garden, the wind blows my hair and some of the flowers from the bushes snaps and goes up in the sky. My gaze follows the flying flower petals as they dance among the wind. Looks like there will be a storm soon. As the petals flies away, I notice the Astronomy Tower. Sneaky smile comes up to my lips. Okay, one more time..! Then, I close my eyes and fully focus on getting all the way up in the Tower. Soon, I vanish and appear in middle of the spiraling staircase that leads up the top of the Astronomy Tower. "Whoah! I did it..!" I gasp quietly with happy smile on my face. I've never done this big of a jump before. Severus would be so proud of me! Then, all of sudden, I hear some voices coming above me. Huh?
Immediately I recognize it's Severus's voice. What is he doing up there? Carefully, I walk couple more steps up to hear better. I can't see anyone, but I can sense there are two people up there. "Have you ever consider that you ask too much, that you take too much for granted? Have it ever cross your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?" Severus sounds slightly irritated, but still keeps the usual calm and cool manner. What..? The other person who's next to talk is Dumbledore. But I can't really hear his voice since he speaks more calmer and quieter tone. Thinking Severus's words. Does that mean... He doesn't wanna be working in Hogwarts anymore? ...Why? I thought he loved being a teacher - even though he doesn't like children as much. He has never expressed me any of his wishes to quit this job. What's going on? "Professor?" gentle voice calls behind me and I flinch. Quickly, I turn around to see familiar boy:"Ah, Harry.".
We haven't seen each other much after what happened in boys bathroom. But ever since Dumbledore told us he has talked with the student about it, none of us have pursued to talk to him. He looks at me slightly confused:"Is everything alright?". "Y... Yes. I was just, uh... About to continue my way, heh. What are you doing in here, if I may ask? Thought you already left with the others." I wonder. "Dumbledore wished to see me, so..." his voice goes small towards the end. Then I realize I'm standing on his way. "Oh, right. Well, good luck to you." I force a smile and let him go past me. After he took three steps to go up the stairs, he turns to me and we share a small, polite smile. Then, I head down the stairs, leaving him continue his own way.
With confused, yet heavy heart, I walk towards my chamber. Wonder if Severus is really considering leaving Hogwarts? And if so, why he hasn't told me anything about it? ...Or maybe I'm taking this all wrong. 'I don't want to do this anymore.' Maybe... He has enough of teaching Potions and finally demands to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Like he's always wanted! My eyes starts to sparkle by the idea he could finally reach his dream. But there is this one thing... Mad-eye Moody. If I'll play my cards right, wonder if he would be willing to teach Potions next semester? Therefor, Severus could take his place as the D.A.D.A. teacher! I'm getting exited by the idea and rushed down the Defence Against the Dark Arts. Bet he's still in there and hasn't gone off to his home - wherever that is.
When I finally arrive to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, I immediately see Moody other side of the room. "Hi..!" I start as I walk deeper into the room. Moody's head quickly snaps right at me:"(Y/L)? Surprised to see you here.". I keep the polite smile while walking towards him, hands behind my back:"Oh, I'm just... Wandering around the castle. Learning Apparate - as you know, and decided to come see you before I'll go feed Sniffy.". He doesn't look too convinced that I purely came all the way here just to say 'hi'. When I finally come up in front of the classroom, I stop and jump on one of the desks in the front row:"Listen, I've been thinking...". "Of course you have." he sighs.
I start moving my hands as I speak:"Just hear me out, okay? We have all seen how much you have struggled walking up and down the stairs with the cane... And I believe it's quite tiring at times, right?". No answer. He just stares at me, still unconvinced. "Now, how does it sound if you would get a classroom where you don't haveto tire yourself out everyday and you get to work in a place that doesn't requer any wand waving?" I end my speech with enthusiastic way. "Where are you getting in with this, (Y/L)?" he asks half bored manner. Then I exclaim:"Potions! You would be so great at it!". One of his eyebrows raise:"Potions?". "Uh-huh! I'm sure you would love it." I smile. He still doesn't look too convinced:"Then who..-", "I got that covered too, Professor. Behold; Severus Snape." I sound like a salesman here.
For a moment he stares at me like he's lost of words. But then, he bursts out laughing. "Wh-What? What's so funny about that?" I chuckle little bit confused by his reaction. He shook his head:"Out of all of the Professors, (YN)... Really?". I start frowning, still confused:"What's wrong with that? I think he would make a great D.A.D.A. teacher.". Moody narrows his eye on me:"Have you ever thought why Dumbledore never gave Snape that position in the first place? Hm?". For a moment I lift my gaze up to think. Then, I end up shrugging:"Because no one is as good in Potions as him?". "Try again." a small smirk appears on his lips now. Giving him half bored look:"I'm not in the mood for games, Moody...". There is a small pause as he stares right in my eyes. "Severus Snape is a Death Eater, sweetheart." he lets out with strict gaze. What?!
My eyes widens and heart sinks somewhere in deep while my whole mind goes blank. That..- "There is always a good reason for everything, (Y/N). That's what I tried to tell you last time we were alone." he tells. All I can do at this point is to stare at the man sitting right in front of me. That's not true... It can't be! My head starts to shake it's own:"...No. You're lying. This is one of your twist jokes, isn't it?". He raise an eyebrow:"You think so, eh? Perhaps you could go and ask Dumbledore if you don't believe me. Even he can confirm it. It's not the greatest secret here in Hogwarts, (Y/L).". A Death Eater? Him? There is no way. While he watches my stunned reaction, he takes out his flask and drinks from it before speaking again:"If you don't believe me nor the Headmaster, why won't you go and ask the man himself?". "M-maybe I will." I try to put on brave face and start walking out, acting like I'm not greatly taken aback by this.
As I'm walking away, Moody stares after me with evil smirk on his face. When I finally get to the corridors, my mind starts going everywhere. Why I feel so... Empty? Like I don't know what's real and what is not anymore. I remember when Severus asked me to keep my distance to Moody and all, but... This can't be true. Now I'm left with this heavy feeling inside my heart. Severus. Every moment we've shared so far comes down flashing. The times I've talked him about the Death Eaters or such... How he never really made a comment on them. How he always kind of brushed it all off. The times we've kissed. Touched. Hugged. Embraced. And even being intimate with each other... After all this time, he's one of them? Tears raises on my eyes, but I quickly push them down. Calm down, (Y/N). You don't even know if it's actually true or not!
Heard that the Death Eaters has this mark on their left arm - like a tattoo somekind. That got me thinking... There hasn't been a time where I would have seen Severus without long sleeves. Even when we have slept in the same bed, he always wears long sleeved pyjamas. Is it all on purpose? Or is it just who he is? There is part of me that wants to go up to him, burst thru the doors and demand him to tell me the truth. Then there is this other part of me that wants me to observe the situation and not jump conclusions. What if he really isn't a Death Eater? Then what do I do? I would just end up hurting Severus's feelings and that's not what I want to do. The idea of going straight up to Dumbledore and ask crosses my mind. Nah, I'm not going to do that.
Then, I stop walking in middle of the hallway. I stand there for a minute or two. Or three... Or even four. At this point, the Sun has gone down by now and the wind gone more intense outside while the orange sky has turned into grey one. Damn it! I end up huffing inside my head and decided to rush back towards the Astronomy Tower where I think Dumbledore might still be with Harry. Bet the Potions Master has left when he saw the student coming. As running there, I'm trying to convince myself Severus has nothing to do with the Dark Lord, and this is all just Mad-eye's sick joke he likes to throw around to mess with me. Hate to admit, but his little plan is working. But I need to get peace of mind, and I bet the Headmaster can help me with that.