0 1 . I n c i d e n t
Severina Snape, after yet another humiliation at the hands of the Marauders, had taken refuge in the library. Hidden by the high bookshelves, she had let out her tears, too long held back by shame and anger.
Potter and Black had set a trap for her : after lunch, they had managed to put a pair of fluffy pink ears on her without her even noticing. The mocking sniggers had alerted her and she had rushed to the toilets, finally noticing her ridiculous get-up. Unfortunately, some Slytherins had arrived and jeered at her with the satisfaction of seeing Professor Slughorn's prodigy being ridiculed. She ran off again, to the one place where she was sure she would not run into anyone: the back of the library.
With one spell, she had got rid of her grotesque ears. But that hadn't relieved her of her shame.
She sniffed, staring into the voide. She didn't have the weapons to satisfy her desire for revenge : her only friend, the wonderful and radiant Lily, would refuse to help her, claiming that it was better to ignore Potter and Black, and alone, she wasn't sure she could get away with it.
She wiped away her tears and set about putting on the impassive mask she had forged over the years. She left the library with a polite nod to Mrs Pince, who responded with a pinched smile.
ᅳ Leave me alone, you lice-filled little scoundrels ! cried a high-pitched voice. Severina, curious, approached discreetly. She was careful to stay in the shadows so as not to be noticed.
ᅳ Are you panicking, Miss Travers ? exclaimed a boy. A silly laugh followed these words.
Severina caught sight of Kerildee Travers, a young Third Year Slytherin with satiny black skin and sparkling white teeth. Two boys, probably Fifth Year, surrounded her. She gritted her teeth when she saw the red and gold tie of one of them.
ᅳ It's such a shame, we wanted to have a good time with you ! he grumbled.
Severina concluded that she wasn't the only one to be annoyed by the Gryffindors.
She hesitated to help her camarade. Despite the united front the Slytherins presented to the other houses, they were in fact divided by purity of blood and wealth. What's more, Kerildee was one of those people who laughed under her breath when she was teased and she had the tempting possibility of sneaking into the shadows to get to her Common Room.
It was the Slytherin's panicked eyes that convinced her. His gaze expressed the same distress, the same despair ᅳ quickly turned to deep resignation ᅳ as hers.
ᅳ Expelliarmus ! She exclaimed, brandishing her wand and grabbing the Gryffindor's. Incarcerem !
Magic ropes bound the other boy and Severina threatened her colleague.
ᅳ I'll give you the chance to get out of this and take your little friend home, but I won't do it a second time. If I find you in my way again, you'll pay a high price. Do you understand me ? she growled. She was pleased to see him turn pale and nod as he looked at her in fright.
ᅳ I. ... Yes! Yes ! I'll do it ! He swallowed and stammered, dragging his friend as best he could down the corridor.
Séverine held out her hand to Kerildee, who gave her a wary look.
ᅳ Why did you help me ? If you're hoping for money, forget it ; my family has fallen from grace since ... well, anyway. The only pennies we have come from the recesses of our coffers and the teas we attend.
ᅳ I demand nothing. Consider my help as... . A simple helping hand from a comrade.
Severina turned on her heels, avoiding waiting for Kerildee's reaction. She, an unpopular half-blood, had just lent a hand to a pure-blood whose family was certainly in disgrace, but influential enough to teach her where her place was.
Her footsteps were already moving away when she heard Kerildee whisper : ᅳ Thank you.