“Absolutely not”
Dumbledore had the audacity to twinkle his eyes at him.
“Please Severus. Think about Rigel.”
Severus Snape was in a terrible mood. Just this morning, he had to endure a prank by the Weasley Terrors, a first-year Hufflepuff somehow managed to ruin everyone’s potion and he stubbed his toe. His little toe. While seeing the twins’ disgust at having to extract flobberworm-mucus for their detention did brighten his day a bit, receiving a letter from Hurst destroyed it all.
That wretched man had gotten it into his head that it was his life’s goal to make Severus socialize, and made a point to invite him to an event every time they had the misfortune of meeting. Hurst even once asked him if he was interested in modeling for proper protective potion garments. While Severus’ death glare may have stopped him from uttering that sickening proposal again, the Aldermaster refused to take a hint and still sent him invitations to every potion-related event.
As if all that wasn’t enough, Dumbledore decided that it was the perfect time for him and his beard to butt into his business and pop in to “see how my dear potions professor is.” Severus couldn’t toss the invitation to the event fast enough and just like that, this day became one of the worst days of Severus Snape’s life.
“Do not bring Rigel into this.”
Severus knew something unpleasant was coming when Dumbledore's eyes twinkled even brighter.
“But my dear Severus, how do you think your apprentice will react when he finds out that his beloved professor refuses to go to an event to present Wolfsbane, something that could better his honorary uncle’s life?”
Severus fought the urge to sigh. He wasn’t going to give Dumbledore that pleasure too. Of course, the headmaster would use Rigel to guilt-trip him like that.
Severus did not need the headmaster's meddling added to his dreadful day.
“Rigel will not find out.” He bit out. “I do not wish to speak of this matter anymore. Get. Out.” He glared at Dumbledore venomously.
Dumbledore must have realized that if he didn’t get out, Severus would drag him out for he said, “Very well then. Let’s talk about this in the morning after a good night’s sleep. Have a good night, my boy.”
Before he could insist that this topic was closed forever, Dumbledore stepped out, smiled at him, and shut his door. Severus scowled forbiddingly at the entrance to his office. Dumbledore didn’t even give him the satisfaction of slamming the door in his crooked nose. Severus was so frustrated that he didn’t notice a certain letter missing.
[RbRbRb]
Rigel knocked on Snape’s door and waited. She was supposed to meet up with him last night for her monthly check-ups to make sure she wasn’t misusing the time-turner. She wasn’t. She was simply….making the best use of her resources. But due to the potions professor overseeing the Weasley twins’ detention, it had been moved to the next morning before breakfast. After this, she could get to brewing in peace for a while; Draco had quidditch practice and Pansy was spending time with Aldon and Edmund.
“Enter”.
She opened the door and saw her professor looking much better than yesterday. It was no secret that Snape was in a bad mood yesterday. The last time she had seen so many students visit the hospital wing before yesterday was during the end of the term exams last year. Snape looked up from his parchment and motioned for her to sit down.
He said wryly, “My apologies for keeping you from your brewing.” She barely held back a flush. It seemed that she wasn’t subtle enough in hiding her impatience. As if hearing her thoughts, he continued, “No, you aren’t that obvious. I merely understand as I too feel the same when kept from brewing. Now, let us get it over with.” Ecstatic at being compared to Snape by Snape himself, she smiled.
Once they were done with the check-up (Rigel tried not to feel guilty for misleading her professor), she stood up to leave. Just as she went to open the door, the handle turned by itself. She quickly stepped back and felt the door miss her by a hair's breadth. In front of her stood Dumbledore.
“I am terribly sorry, my dear boy. I hope you are unhurt?”
She waved off his apology, “There’s no harm done headmaster.”
Dumbledore smiled, “I’ll be out of your hair in just a minute. Forgive an old man’s memory but I forgot to give this letter back to you Severus. Here you go.”
[SsSsSs]
That manipulative old coot! Severus didn’t believe his story even for a second. He noticed that Dumbledore had extended his hand with the letter in such a way that Rigel could see exactly what the letter contained. He prayed to all the gods, hoping that Rigel’s obliviousness will prevent him from noticing the writing on the envelope.
“Is that an invitation to the International Potions Merit Ball? The one where only the best out of the best potions are presented? Are you invited to present your Wolfsbane, professor?” Rigel exclaimed, turning shining gray eyes on the Potions professor.
Of course, the gods would side with Dumbledore. Why was he even surprised anymore? He could feel the old man’s twinkle directed at him, but Severus kept his eyes on his apprentice, who looked like he might burst from excitement.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes.”
“Oh, this is simply marvelous! I’m so happy for you professor. It is about time you are finally given-”
“But I will not be going.”
“-the credit you are- I beg your pardon? You’re not going? But-”
“My decision is final, Rigel. I do not wish to socialize with those half-witted morons who think a better-smelling potion is better than a long-lasting one.”
Severus could practically feel the outrage coming from his student.
“How can you say that? Professor, if you don’t go, it’s not just the lives of werewolves that are going to be affected, but your career too. Your reputation. Even though your potion has received popularity, presenting it at the conference will have a major impact. You have worked for years to improve this potion so hard to get here and now you’re just throwing it away? And all for what? To escape from socializing? How is it any different from teaching students you see as dunderheads. How could you think your time is better spent here when you could make such a huge change?”
Rigel took a deep breath. “You once told me, sir, that the key to achieving something is by going to any lengths to see it done, and not letting any obstacles stop you on your way. I truly hope that you have a better reason to not fulfill your goal than a dislike of socialization.”
It was at times like these he wondered how a boy like Rigel could speak like a true politician, so convincingly. Severus sighed in resignation. He knew there was no way he could get out of going to that conference after that speech. Now if only Dumbledore would stop being so smug.
[SsSsSs]
Severus had been planning on taking an afternoon nap after that exhausting conversation. But when he reached his office after lunch, he saw a figure standing near the door. No. Dear Merlin, no. Please do not let it be him.
“Severus, there you are! It’s been a while since we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I knew sending you those invitations to balls would make you want to come to one someday.”
He gritted his teeth. Pleasure was not the word he would use. “Hurst, if those invitations did anything, it put me off meeting people even more. What are you doing here?”
Malcolm Hurst beamed at him. While most people would have been charmed by that smile, it only annoyed Severus even more. “Ah, how I missed your little jokes. As for what I’m doing here, Dumbledore mentioned that you were interested in attending the merit ball this year. I came to confirm it and ask you to send an acceptance letter.”
He knew it. Dumbledore and Hurst had been plotting to make his life hell.
As much as he wished to go to his office and shut the door behind him, he knew he couldn’t ignore the man, especially now that he had decided to go to the ball.
“If you must, come in then-” “Malcolm! I see you have arrived.”
Why god why. As if enduring one of them wasn’t enough.
“How about we discuss this in your office, my dear boy.” The old man has the audacity to twinkle at him.
“Do not call me that.” If he had known this day would come, he never would have stepped foot in this castle to teach.
[SsSsSs]
After Hurst finished talking about all the entertaining events there would be, more like torture, and what all to expect at the ball, misery and anguish,
Dumbledore interjected, “Now to discuss your absence, Severus, since you hadn’t taken the sabbatical offered to you two years back, this can be counted as part of it.”
At least he would be paid to endure the beetle-brained crowds.
“Then of course we must discuss who will fill your place.”
He looked at Hurst. “Why don’t you do it? This was your idea in the first place.”
Hurst sighed, “While I would be honored to but unfortunately, I have a project going on and I cannot keep away from it for more than a few hours.”
Dumbledore spoke, “If I may offer a suggestion? In earlier times, when professors took apprentices, they ensured their apprentices would get some more experience in their subject and let them teach some of their class.”
He barely even thought about it before he sneered, “No.”
“Why not?”
Why not? No, because…well, he supposed that there was no reason. Dumbledore’s idea was in fact a good one. But there was one problem.
“Rigel may not agree to it. Teaching his friends and his upperclassmen may not interest him. There is also the problem of teaching his peers while being a student himself.”
But Hurst rushed to assure him. "I will handle that Severus. I just need you to agree to this."
Dumbledore encouraged, "This would be a remarkable experience for Mr. Black. What do you say, Severus?"
Severus had a really bad feeling about this.
[RbRbRb]
“What?”
Rigel wasn’t sure if she heard it right.
Snape sighed, “You don’t have to teach if you don’t want to Rigel. But it would be a good experience for you. It would also give you practice for your future.”
“But how will I teach people my age, who probably won’t even listen to me.”
Her professor’s face hardened. “They will if they know what’s good for them.”
“It’s not just that professor. A lot of things could go wrong if they don’t think I’m fit to teach them.” She saw him open his mouth but rushed on, “Slytherins might be fine with this but that doesn’t account for the whole school. Potions is a dangerous subject and accidents are more likely if they don’t trust my authority.”
“All good points, Rigel.” She almost forgot about the other two people in the room. Headmaster Dumbledore and Aldermaster Hurst. When Rigel entered the room, she almost had a heart attack when she saw the Aldermaster waiting for her with Snape and Dumbledore. Rigel had never thought of Master Hurst as a loose end in the ruse. But all thoughts of the ruse crumbling had fallen to the wayside when Professor Snape proposed this idea. She had been so astonished by the proposition that she had forgotten about her friend’s father.
Rigel forced herself to calm down. Hurst didn’t have enough pieces to solve the puzzle and the fact that he called her Rigel was proof enough.
Hurst spoke, “If you are interested, I may have a solution to your problem.”
Rigel said, “I’m interested.”
The grin on the Aldermaster’s face when he spoke made him look so much like his son that she almost didn’t hear what he said. Almost.
“Polyjuice Potion.”
[RbRbRb]
Rigel thought of what just happened while she walked back to her common room and tried to process it all.
After the Aldermaster spoke, the room was in chaos.
Snape looked so furious she was surprised he hadn’t burned Hurst into ashes with his glare. Dumbledore simply looked excited.
After hours of discussion, they came to an agreement.
Rigel would go back to her friends and tell them why she was called by her professor. She would explain that she would be accompanying him to the merit conference and helping him prepare as his apprentice and be gone for a whole week or maybe longer. Aldermaster Hurst would be taking over Professor Snape’s classes in his absence.
The truth was that Snape didn’t need anyone to help him and would be going to the function alone while Rigel disguised herself as Master Hurst and taught her friends potions.
A part of her was dreading the amount of work she would have even with the time turner, but the larger part of her was excited. And the best part was that she could be herself as no one knew what Master Hurst was really like.
[DmDmDm]
With Rigel gone, it was hard for Draco to handle all the emotions bursting from his fellow students, but he had improved from the start of the year. He was starting to believe that his parents were right when they said it would get better.
Despite the improvement in control, it was a relief when Dumbledore stood up and everyone stopped talking. As if feeling their emotions weren’t enough,
hearing them talk about their hair, if their lover was cheating on them, or whether McGonagall and Trelawney were in a hate-love relationship was tiring.
Dumbledore announced, “I know you all are famished and are waiting to get on with dinner so you can go enjoy your Sunday night before the usual routine of classes begins. Ah, I remember when I was a student, after the Sunday dinners, I and some of my friends would visit the Forbidde-”
“Ahem. Perhaps you could tell the story later Headmaster.”
“Of course, Professor McGonagall. Forgive me. As I was saying, there is someone I would like to introduce to you all. As you all know, Professor Snape is away for a potions conference with Mr. Black accompanying him as his apprentice. He will not be back for a week or two.”
Three-fourths of the houses cheered. Gryffindor, of course, was the loudest.
Dumbledore chuckled, “I am very happy to see you all cheering your professor on. But unfortunately, the potions classes must go on. I am pleased to announce that the Aldermaster of the Potions Guild has taken up my offer and will be your potions professor in Professor Snape’s absence. Please welcome Professor Hurst.”
A brown-haired man sitting between Flitwick and Sprout stood up and smiled down at the students. This must be Malcolm Hurst, the Aldermaster of the Potions Guild.
Draco had heard about the man from both his father and Snape. Hurst was also in the Book of Bronze. The Hursts were purebloods but there had been many scandals involving the family that cost them their name in the Book of Gold. It had been years since a Hurst got into a respectable position. Not just any position but as the Aldermaster of a Guild which was very hard to become or so he’d heard. The man had a son too, a few years older than him. Draco couldn’t recall his name. The boy hadn’t followed his father’s footsteps into the limelight so Draco never bothered to learn it. Father once told him, Always make room in your head for people important enough in this world.
The man certainly looked the part of a pureblood. He had an angular face that was common in elite society, especially among the Rookwoods and Flints. His hair was a common brown color, but it was elegantly messy with a few grey hairs. He looked young for a man with a son out of school. Perhaps Hurst was vain and employed the use of glamour charms.
Soon the feast began and so did the noise. If he were a commoner, Draco would have scrunched his nose at the sight the Gryffindors made. Loud and noisy with no table manners. But since he was raised respectably, he decided to ignore them as usual.
Sitting across from him, Millicent commented, “I heard that some of the classes in our timetable are going to be rearranged to make it easier for Professor Hurst.”
Theo looked up from his chicken, confused. “But why?” he asked.
Blaise, as always, provided the explanation. “Isn’t it obvious? That man is an Aldermaster. He must have things to take care of even while being a professor.”
“If he’s so busy, then what is he doing here?”
Before Blaise could call Theo stupid, Pansy spoke up, “Professor Snape is one of the best. If he is going to be replaced, it would have to be by someone good enough to fill his shoes, and who better than the Aldermaster?”
Theo grinned, “Fair enough. And without Rigel as well, this is going to be a potions-fanatic-free week.”
Draco narrowed his eyes, offended on Rigel’s behalf. It seemed that Pansy was too because Theo saw both of their faces and went, “Relax guys. I was joking. Pass me that roast Milli?”
“Don’t call me that”, Millicent said, passing the plate to Theo. “Speaking of Rigel, has he ever said anything about Hurst?”
“Rigel once mentioned that Hurst recommended Heiress Potter for her internship at the Guild.” A familiar voice spoke up, a few seats away from him.
Draco fought the urge to groan. Why did Rosier always have to enter their conversations? Especially now that Rigel wasn’t here.
Pansy smiled, “Oh yes, that’s right. I do remember him saying that.”
Rosier turned towards Pansy and said, “I remember finding it strange that his cousin got it when Rigel is the one who is crazy about potions.”
Draco would have admitted to thinking the same if it weren’t for the fact that he’d then be agreeing with Rosier. Rigel didn’t feel even the slightest amount of disappointment for not being able to intern in the Potions Guild. Instead, he was purely excited for his cousin. It was at times like these that he couldn’t see how Rigel could be so selfless.
“Being good at potions doesn’t mean he’ll be good at teaching potions. I hope we have potions tomorrow. I’m interested to see how he compares to Professor Snape.” Blaise said and then changed the subject to the Transfiguration homework that was due the next day.
[DmDmDm]
They didn’t have potions on Monday, but the sixth years did.
Rosier and Rookwood had stopped by their group in the common room to tell them how it went.
“The man does know his potions but that is expected seeing as who he is. Hurst is good at teaching it as well”, Rookwood has said.
Rosier couldn’t resist making his own remark, “I would say that he’s better at it than Snape, but that could be because he doesn’t hate the profession.”
Of course, Rosier had to go there. Draco glared at him and said, “You’re lucky Rigel isn’t here.”
Rosier smirked at him. “I would never say such a thing in front of Rigel. But something tells me that Hurst would get along with Rigel when it comes to Snape.”
“What do you mean?” Pansy asked the question that was on his mind.
“Nuh-uh. Not going to tell. You’ll just have to see on your own.”
Even without his empathy, Draco could have seen Rosier’s glee as he made no attempt to hide it.
Their earliest potions class was on Tuesday, after lunch, and as they waited for Professor Hurst to make his appearance in the class, he thought about Rigel and how he would have reacted to being taught by someone other than Snape.
“Welcome to your potions class.”
He almost jumped. He was so used to Snape slamming the doors behind them and alerting them to his presence that he hadn’t realized the professor had arrived. The voice came from behind them, and the man who the voice belonged to slowly walked up to the front and turned to face them.
The second difference between Hurst and Snape was that the man was smiling, which was something Snape never did. He had only seen his godfather smile on rare occasions even before coming to Hogwarts.
Hurst started speaking, “I could never hope to live up to Master Snape’s excellent teaching skills, but I hope I will be an adequate replacement for this week.
Going by the syllabus, we will begin our class with Undetectable Poisons. Please note down the lecture notes.”
“Before going to the topic, I would like one of you to answer my question. The term Undetectable Poisons makes it clear that there are easily detectable poisons as well. Why?”
No one raised their hands. Hurst looked around the class. “Please do not be afraid to make mistakes. It is alright if your answer isn’t the correct one. I would like everyone of you to participate.”
Shockingly, Neville Longbottom raised his hand. Hurst smiled at him, “Excellent. Mr. Longbottom, go on.
Longbottom must have been in a dream world when he raised his hand, for he looked around the class and started stuttering.
“Just say what you can think of.”
“Uh um.” Merlin, Draco was already getting bored of this.
“Is it because, well, um, some poisons, they were made by people who, uh, didn’t know how to make them undetectable or, maybe, it was enough for their purpose?”
It was when Hurst gave Gryffindor ten points that Draco realized that not all potions professors were grumpy and demanded excellence. He had been beginning to think that those who were talented at potions were all one kind of species, what with Snape and Rigel’s obsession with it and their utter confusion at how people could be so bad at the subject.
[RbRbRb]
She was walking down the hallway to her office, thinking about all that had happened the past three days. All her classes had gone well, and the students respected Professor Hurst enough to pay attention. She felt really weird seeing her year mates and seniors as her students, but she made it work. None of them has given her any trouble except for a bit more than a few melted cauldrons. And most importantly, no one seemed to suspect that anything was off.
Overall, she felt she did a great job.
Being a professor meant you could brew anytime you want, enjoy the benefits of the restricted section in the library (Dumbledore hadn’t informed Madam Pince about the truth), and have an office with an attached bedroom and bathroom all to herself. Master Hurst had given her some books on potions from his personal collection to ‘decorate her office and be in character’ and the ones she had read contained so much information she hadn’t known.
As she walked around the corner, she came across a group of Hufflepuffs talking. She would have continued without pausing if she hadn’t heard the name Hurst coming from them. None of them noticed her and they kept going.
A brown-haired boy who she identified as Cornfoot was talking, “-really hope Dumbledore decides to make him permanent.”
The others were nodding their heads in agreement with the boy. A girl spoke up, “Maybe we should go tell Professor Sprout. None of the first years have cried since Snape left.”
Another girl, Tamsin Applebee her mind identified, exclaimed “Hurst is a saint compared to Snape.”
A cocky-looking bloke grinned impishly. “Though I would certainly miss Snape’s overdramatic entrances with his cloak billowing behind him as he walks.”
The group started laughing at his words. Rigel bristled. She’d heard enough.
“Students, I hope you aren’t talking ill about your potions professor.”
The two girls who were standing with their backs facing her jumped and turned around. Rigel was met with exclaims of “Professor!” No one seemed to know how to respond.
The guy who had made the joke about Professor Snape collected himself quickly and replied. “We weren’t making fun of Snape, professor. Honestly. We just…uh, think that you teach much better than him and well, you definitely seem to like us better. Professor Snape spends most of his time taking points off us and filling our assignments with red ink rather than actually teaching. We like you better and would love it if you decided to teach us permanently from now on.”
Rigel couldn’t believe her ears. “Is that so? Master Snape is the youngest Potions Master to date. He could have spent his life trying to better his potions career but instead, he chose to pass on the noble art of potions to the generations behind him. The injury rate in Hogwarts due to potions has gone down considerably since he became the potions professor here. If he had seen fit to take away points, then there’s a good reason behind it. I haven’t assigned any homework to any classes since Professor Snape is only gone for the week and I do not want to bring in a new way of correction, but I am certain that if I do, I too would fill most homework in red ink. The potions knowledge of this school is frankly lacking, but it is at least at this level only due to Professor Snape’s dedicated efforts.”
She must have come off strongly and rather harshly as they were staring at her with wide eyes. She could see from the corner of her eyes that her little speech had gathered some students in the hallway, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Professor Snape deserved more respect than what he was receiving from the students at this school.
Rigel dismissed them after receiving a mumbled apology from the Hufflepuffs. As she continued walking to her office, she could hear the whispers of the students behind her. That’s fine, Rigel thought, let them spread it. By the time Professor Snape returns, I’ll make sure that everyone knows how much he is worth.
Oh, if only Rigel knew what they were talking about.
[SsSsSs]
Severus Snape was having a better day than usual. His Wolfsbane potion had received a lot of praise in the potions’ community. Of course, he already knew that but seeing it in person was something else. He was loath to admit it but the past week hadn’t been the utter nightmare he had been expecting. It was even refreshing, taking a break from teaching those crackbrained menaces. However, he still wasn’t going to do this again. Severus couldn’t imagine the level of smugness Dumbledore and Hurst would emanate if Severus ever gave any indication of tolerating these events.
So when Dumbledore asked him how his week was, Severus merely replied with a grunt and a curt “Never again.”
Dumbledore seemed to find it amusing regardless, for he chuckled and added “Welcome back Severus. Things have been quite uneventful while you were gone. I trust that you can settle in and resume teaching tomorrow.”
Severus felt a prickle of dread.
Once he unpacked all his things and settled in his office, Severus remembered that all the details on the portions covered were in the office Rigel had been given. He stalked off in the direction of the office after making sure his office was properly locked.
On the way, he came across a group of giggling students. Oh, how he loathed being back. He quickly swept past them when to his great surprise, one of the girls called out. “Professor Snape! Welcome back!”
Severus nearly stumbled. His face remained impassive, but his mind was spinning while trying to make sense of this strange occurrence. Severus turned back to make sure that the girls were not merely a figment of his imagination, but to his great surprise, the girls were still smiling at him and waiting for a reply.
After an embarrassing time of a few seconds, he composed himself enough to give them a nod and went on his way.
What in Merlin’s name had happened while he was gone? What had his foolish apprentice done?
“Looking good Professor!” Called out a Gryffindor boy who Severus identified as a sixth-year.
He was way too sober for this.
[PpPpPp]
When Rigel told them about the event he was going to accompany Professor Snape to, Pansy was happy for her friend. Rigel was one of her dearest friends and he certainly deserved it. When Dumbledore introduced the substitute potions professor, she was intrigued. It had been a while since she’s had the fortune of meeting someone new and figuring them out.
Pansy had always been good at reading people. Since she was a young girl, she had enjoyed dissecting people and their mannerisms. Why they do what they do, how they think, how they react, their next move. Most of them were predictable. Very few eluded her. Rigel was one of them. She knew he was one of the kindest souls to exist and was loyal to the core, but her intuition told her that he was hiding big secrets. And her intuition was never wrong.
Professor Hurst was a good teacher. Snape was the better potioneer, but while Pansy respected her professor greatly, she knew he was not suited for the professor role. At least, not for students like them. For the ones who were passionate about potions just like him, like Rigel, he was the perfect mentor.
The first few classes with Hurst went well. He was the Aldermaster of the Potions’ Guild and that competence was unmistakably reflected in his lessons.
Then came the rumors. Of course, there were widely exaggerated ones as well, but some of the rumors were too detailed to brush off.
Professor Hurst has a crush on Snape.
It started off with Hurst telling off a few Hufflepuffs for speaking badly of Snape. But any teacher would have done that, though they certainly wouldn’t have given such a passionate speech about Snape’s worth.
In the classes they had after that incident, Hurst made sure to mention Snape in some way or the other. When they went to collect ingredients, Hurst praised Snape’s methods of storing them in their most functional conditions. When they lit up their cauldrons, he spoke of how Snape’s preparation and teaching prevented endless amounts of cauldrons from being damaged. When they stirred the Wide-eye Potion six times anticlockwise, Hurst told them about how Snape had modified the potion, so it didn’t have to be stirred twenty-four times both clockwise and anticlockwise.
At first, Pansy thought had an ulterior motive like currying favor with the Slytherins, but soon she realized that Aldermaster Hurst truly looked up to Snape. He seemed to worship Snape and always spoke of him with a tone of reverence and admiration.
Most of the students held Snape in high regard now. She suspected that when he came back, some Hufflepuffs would even fall on his feet to thank him. Recently, in a column of Society pages in the Daily Prophet, Snape was mentioned and the accompanying picture of him in navy formal robes with his hair tied back in a way that made him look younger did not help.
But what caught her notice was that Hurst sounded like Rigel. A little too much like him to be a coincidence. She had also heard from Draco that Hurst was married to a woman of low social standing, had a son with her and that it was a love match. The man couldn’t possibly be in love with a woman, while being absolutely charmed by Snape. Something didn’t add up.
So Pansy researched and she came to a very shocking conclusion.
She couldn’t wait to tell Rigel about the rumors circulating about Hurst and Snape once he finally returned from his trip.
[RbRbRb]
Rigel had a great week. She successfully taught the classes in Professor Snape’s absence, there were no life-threatening injuries, all the students seemed to like her classes and most importantly, she had opened the students’ eyes to how lucky they were to learn from Professor Snape.
But she had missed her friends. She had missed Draco’s dramatic whines, Pansy’s gentle words, Blaise and Theo’s fights, Millicent and her deadpan comments, and the Weasleys’ crazy ideas. She even missed Rosier’s ever-present curiosity. All the jokes, laughs, and talks were irreplaceable, and she found herself dreading the day this would all end and the ruse would be discovered.
“Rigel!”
Rigel was met with hugs and happy exclaims and looking at her friends, she had never felt this content with her life.
When all the greetings were done, Draco, Pansy, and Rigel finally got to catch up. Draco was rambling on about all the progress his Dueling Club made when Pansy interrupted him.
“Draco, we haven’t told Rigel yet about Hurst.”
Draco’s eyes lit up and he smirked. “That’s right. There is so much to tell you. I don’t know where to begin.”
“I do.” Pansy had a glint in her eyes that looked like trouble.
“Did you know Rigel, that Aldermaster Hurst has the biggest crush on Professor Snape?”
“What??”