You Shot her in her Heart
You look at the Headmaster with innocent eyes as you inwardly bite your cheek slightly. You realised that you had left your broom outside when the Dementors were chasing you. Your gaze wanders up and down the headmaster's figure as he steps closer to his colleagues. As you do so, you pull your blanket closer to you as he paid you no further attention. "Severus, you seem to be fine," McGonagall finally said. "Would be something new if it weren't for that, Minerva." Professor Lupin clears his throat and snorts slightly. The Headmaster gives Remus a tight-lipped look, Lupin recognising the request not to comment further. You watch the whole spectacle and take a small step backwards. "The Dementors were a little more eager than usual today, but they seem to have a bit of a thunderstorm." Snape says as he applies a wordless Reducio (shrinking spell) to your broom behind his back. So that your broom disappears into his closed hand. You frown, wondering if you will get the chance to get your item back. Professor Lupin observes your frown and tries to follow your gaze, but to no avail.
Finally, McGonagall speaks up, having remembered why they were all standing here in the first place. "Severus, our new exchange student - Miss Swan, she didn't know about the Dementors patrolling outside of Hogwarts," she said, continuing. "So I wouldn't think it very appropriate to reprimand her for that." Snape shifts his sideways glance to you as you push the woollen blanket down a little so he can see your face better. He finally clears his throat briefly. "Indeed." He leans forward slightly as he does so. "Miss Swan, seems to prefer to be informed a little later." You hold your penetrating gaze at him, recognising the amusement at the twitching corners of his mouth. "I won't make a habit of it, sir," you finally say, turning back to the other professors. Both professors nod in satisfaction as the headmaster continues to observe and gauge their reactions. "I would have expected nothing less, after all, the behavioural etiquette from the Beauxbatons School of Magic is exceptional and renowned." Said Snape with a sneer. "Severus and as she is, we will see this incident as a mistake on our part," McGonagall said quickly, directing a slightly indignant expression at Snape. Headmaster Snape reacted quickly. "Will we?" But before anyone made another comment, you interjected. "I'm sorry for making you all uncomfortable." "It was not my intention and I will endeavour to be more proactive in the future." You lean forward sincerely to back up your apology. The professors and the headmaster seem to notice your sincerity and tacitly agree.
Eventually, the professors turn away from the scene and head off again. While you pause in the square with the headmaster. You don't speak to each other as you both wait until the coast is clear. "Miss Swan, I would also like to see you stop acting out of death wish inside and outside the castle in the future." He said, before slowly making his way out as well. You realised that he had misunderstood the whole situation. You didn't have a death wish, but you had other, as yet unexplained feelings that were influencing you at that moment. You wanted to rush after him as you became all the more aware of the loss of your broom. At the same moment, the headmaster abruptly turned back towards you, so that a small collision could no longer be avoided. He reacted quickly as you lost your balance in the jarring collision with his tall figure. You stumbled awkwardly backwards and dropped your woollen blanket at the same time.
His left arm encircled your waist while his right hand gripped your left wrist and pulled you closer to him. It was all one fluid, swift and smooth movement, leaving no room for other considerations. While your heart raced through your head from the shock and your pupils dilated. Snape watched your expression and made sure you were stable. As you calm your mind, you notice the Headmaster watching you intently, his touch on your waist lightening. You stammer a small "thank you" as you slowly pull away from his touch, painfully aware of the loss of his warmth. The headmaster turns his attention to his now slightly damp palms as he circles his fingers together to feel the consistency. Your wet clothes had not yet found enough time to dry.
You became slightly embarrassed by the situation and finally mumbled a small, "I'm sorry," as a slight blush appeared on your face. Snape turned his gaze to you as his dark eyes look at you expressionlessly. You try to withstand his intense gaze, but you feel something begin to pull at your insides and the tingling at your fingertips returns. Finally, you take the woollen blanket from the floor to pull yourself out of the situation that has arisen. But Snape points his wand at you to apply a drying spell. Deep inside you felt a strange sensation, but you couldn't place it. You shake the blanket a few times so that it turns back into a cotton handkerchief. Snape must be a little impressed by your wand-loose spell, as he arches an eyebrow slightly.
Finally, you pluck up the courage to ask. "Would it be possible for them to return my property to me, sir?" you silently send out a small prayer to Merlin, hoping that the headmaster won't reprimand you. But Snape reaches into one of his front pockets and pulls out your miniature broom. He hands you your broom, but pauses for a moment. "For your information, Miss Swan." "I'd hate to fish that broom out of the lake again with Dementors stuck behind my back," he said, emphasising his authority. I nodded at him as I accepted my broom. He watched you for a small moment before finally turning away and finally walking away from you for good. You took a deep breath before making your way back to the Slytherin common room. Meanwhile, you review the situation. Lost in thought, you take in the architectural features of your castle again and wonder whether your first impression is positive or negative.