A Whole Week Later
A week of sharing the classroom with Professor Snape had passed by quickly. The two of you had managed to continue working together without any further disagreements, but that was mostly due to the fact that the greasy haired man had done his best to limit any interactions with you. He almost lost it when you let off the Weasley twins handing over one piece of homework, but he played it cool. The boys had declared, 'We do everything together. We didn't want to waste any extra paper, the poor trees.' which had made it hard for you not to laugh out loud. You accepted their attempt of a joke, by agreeing with them - much to Severus' dismay. But other than that, the week didn't have many special events. Until now.
It was Saturday night, past the weekend curfew. All of the students were either milling in their common rooms or getting ready for bed in their dorms. You found yourself standing outside of Snape's door, overcome with a mixed feeling of guilt and nervousness. Your hand kept raising to knock on the door, but being brave wasn't always your forte. You had your moments, but when it came to situations like right now you found yourself questioning your next move. How you wished you had a mouthful of the Draught of Peace right now. You should've stolen a small vial full from your last lesson.
You finally did it. Three consecutive small knocks, unable to bring yourself to be loud just incase he was sleeping. He didn't answer immediately, and you thought about leaving until a few minutes later when the door cracked open slightly. Severus looked at you, waiting for you to speak.
"Can we talk?" You asked him, honestly.
"It's almost midnight," He huffed, "can't it wait?"
"Unfortunately not." You shrugged, "Let's not talk out here. Do you want to step into the classroom?"
Instead, he opened his door fully and used his hand to signal for you to come in. Severus had hesitated at first before his action, you had noticed from his furrowed brows that he had seconds to make the decision to let you in. You were glad he did.
His room was much like what you had expected it to look like. His own personal ingredient's collection littered his shelves, and the room was dark in colour. It was scarcely decorated, but his furniture seemed to match yours with his desk and bedside tables. The rest of his candles lit themselves at his command, illuminating the room with their flames. You dared not to snoop, and instead turned straight to Severus to begin the speech you had somewhat rehearsed before knocking at his door.
"Listen," You breathed, beginning to ramble on, "I know you've been avoiding me all week. Because of what I said. It was rude, uncalled for. I'm not malicious like my family, but their behaviour does come out of me sometimes. I can be cruel, with words anyway not spells. I was wrong to insult your teaching. I'm not sure what Dumbledore knows, but he saw me that day and strangely assured me you were a great teacher. I knew that already, I've seen it. But it felt personal and the guilt crept in."
"And so I've been thinking about it all week, and I want to apologise." You sighed, stopping yourself from talking before you talked yourself into a hole.
"I don't appreciate having my abilities as a teacher slated." Severus said, plainly.
"I know that, I was wrong," You admitted, "but I don't want to spend the rest of the year at war with you. We should be working together and I thought, maybe, we could come up with something together? Like, a teaching dynamic that includes both of our approaches. Since I'm supposed to be the assistant, after all."
"So, you want to have a say in how we teach?" He questioned you, curious. "So, your apology is still criticising my teaching?"
"No, no!" You were quick to object, "I meant, Merlin's beard this is hard, we find a balance. Between the two of us, so we don't step on each other's toes. A balance where we both teach the same class, rather than one of us just sitting there looking pretty whilst the other has full control."
"You think I sit there... looking pretty? When you teach?" You could tell he was trying to wind you up now from the small smirk on his face.
Severus didn't know what compelled him to joke with you. He had been annoyed with you, all week at that. He found you insufferable from that first day of teaching, but somewhere in his body he also admired the way you stood up for yourself. Something he could barely do at school until he had acquired such powerful friends from his house. When he opened the door, he hadn't expected to let you in or even talk to you at all. Yet here he was, in his room with you. He thought himself insane.
"No, obviously I was referring to me," You joked, but turned serious again, "but, do you get what I mean?"
"I suppose," He mused, "do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, maybe, we could stand together when we address the class, for a start?" You thought hard about what you wanted, "Possibly share talking? The only part we have done well is observing the room together!"
"Very well, we shall attempt your suggestions." Snape agreed.
"Really?" Your eyes lit up, surprising him, "I think we have the ability to work well together. We both want the students to succeed, after all. Here's to a (hopefully) great next lesson and more."
You stuck your hand out towards him, and he eyeballed it before shaking your hand. The two of you looked at each other almost nervously when neither of you let go. Severus was the first to yank his hand out of your grip, his pale cheeks tinged with a light pink. You didn't notice his blush, the candlelight being just a bit too dim to see it. The same electricity you felt had warmed your entire being, and you were certain that he had felt it too but you said nothing on the subject.
"Goodnight, Professor Snape." You said, beelining for the door.
"Goodnight, [first name]."
You were out of the door quicker than a flash, fumbling with your doorknob to get into your own room. Once safely inside, you leaned against your door relaying the recent events. Severus had called you by your first name. This was a big deal for you, aside from the handshake, as you felt you had earned his respect.
You practically crawled into bed, laying under the covers and staring at the ceiling whilst lying flat on your back. It took you a while to settle, as your brain whirled with thoughts. You tossed and turned, constantly thinking about your last interaction with Severus Snape and what Monday could hold. You had a whole day in-between to get through before then and you had little idea of what you were going to do. You hadn't known Snape very long, but you could tell he was a very proud man. He was very private, even the other teachers knew barely anything about him.
Severus was also very good at maintaining his emotions, which was why he was cursing himself as he laid in bed unable to sleep - just as you were. He had made a joke, then lost his cool demeanour at your simple touch. What kind of magic was this, if any? When you had mentioned Lily in the lounge on your first day, he had managed to compose himself at the time, but if you mentioned her again he felt he might explode. It had only been a week, but you almost reminded him of Lily at times. You were determined, brave and definitely intelligent. Pretty. Special. He rolled over on his side at the thought, as if his harsh movement would push the thoughts away. It didn't help, they were still there. He hated it.
The next day was fast to approach as you had stayed up half the night. You couldn't sleep anymore though, so you got ready for the day. During your sleepless night, you had decided you would head down to the greenhouses today to see if Pomona needed a hand or two. You barely glanced at Snape's door when you walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. Students seemed to buzz around you, greeting you with big smiles.
"I wrote a letter to my mum this week," A quiet voice came from beside you, belonging to the fifth year Hufflepuff girl Heather Miller, "she wanted me to give you her congratulations for becoming a teacher. She might send you a letter soon, if you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind, tell her thank you and that she can contact me whenever." You smiled at the girl, patting her arm in reassurance, before heading to the teacher's table at the end of the hall.
You had just sat down to eat when the one and only Professor Snape came striding in. Your eyes met, but you looked down quickly to cover the toast you'd picked up in jam. He sat next to you, silently and began eating himself. You made yourself talk to him.
"I was thinking about heading to the greenhouses to help Pomona, do we need anything for the storeroom? I could grab it when I go?" You asked him.
"Not that I know of," Snape mumbled, "should we need anything I'll let you know."
You nodded in reply, then stood up. You took some tissue and wrapped it round a croissant, "See you later, Severus."
You were brave enough to use his first name, deciding that after he had used yours last night - you had a free pass to use his. Then you left and started your journey to the gardens. A happy Professor Sprout greeted you as soon as you walked through the door.
"I was wondering when you'd visit!" She beamed at you, "It is wonderful to see you. What a crazy week it's been! Getting the seventh years to successfully drain their soil enough to plant Asphodel lilies has been more difficult than I had originally thought."
"Do you have a large class this year?" You asked, "I remember only a few of people passing their O.W.L in Herbology in my year, there was only 6 of us in my seventh year class at school under Professor Beery."
"Oh yes," She sighed, "Herbology has become a quite popular class to pass in recent years since everyone seems to want to be an Auror when they leave Hogwarts now-a-days. But I will help them pass their N.E.W.T.s regardless, although I wish someone would take the class to be a Healer instead. Merlin knows we need more of them. How are you getting on with your own classes?"
"They're fine," You smiled.
"The students have taken a strong liking to you," Sprout was happy to tell you, "I like that you tell them what they will be able to grow in my class to help with their potions, I'm always being asked when we're going to look after a certain plant!"
"That's good to hear, but I hope their questions don't annoy you too much!"
"Oh it's fine, I'm just glad they're interested. Now, would you mind dropping some dragon dung in to fertilise those plants over there? I'd appreciate it." She thrust some gloves in your hand.
"Happy to help!" You were quick to say, putting on the gloves.
You pottered around the greenhouse, putting fertiliser into pots and admiring the selection of plants in the room. Until you came across a very rare plant and became curious, asking, "Whatever gods did you please to get your hands on Devil's Snare?"
Professor Sprout's eyes widened and she came rushing over to you with her little legs, "I forgot I'd left those in here. I must remove them, thanks for the reminder!"
"I don't think I've ever seen it at school, how on earth..." You half-mumbled to yourself, but it was loud enough for Pomona to hear.
"Special Hogwart's business, my dear," She said hurriedly as she picked up the large pots, "I can't say any more than that."
The short witch took the pots completely out of the greenhouse, and you were left to fertilise the rest of the plants. When you had finished, she still hadn't returned so you left her a note at her desk to say you had finished everything - leaving the gloves next to the note as well. You made your way back up to the school, thinking what could be Hogwart's business and why you hadn't been told.
Professor Quirrell had been watching the you and Sprout from the castle, and you spotted him when you got to the doors of the castle, "Quirrell, are you alright? You're looking very gloomy."
"Fine, f-fine. I think I m-might just need a spot of tea." The man stuttered to you, "S-say, how were the g-greenhouses looking today?"
"They were fine, I just added a bit of fertiliser today to help out." You shrugged with a smile, "Make sure you get some tea in you, you're looking very pale. A warm drink will bring the colour back for sure."
"N-nothing out of s-sorts?" He probed further, ignoring your comment about tea.
"No, nothing." You were confused, "Should there have been something wrong?"
"No. Of c-course not. Silly me. I'm g-going to my room for a l-lie down." The strange man muttered before wandering off.
What was going on with him? You followed after him for a little while, to ease your suspicions. You were heading to the teacher's lounge which meant you would be following him anyway since his living quarters were in the same direction. You kept an eye on him as he disappeared down the corridor, before telling the portrait you needed a rest. It swung open and you ascended the stairs to the lounge. Lo and behold, Severus Snape was sitting in his favourite chair reading a book. You decided you had to tell him what had just happened, the words spilling from your lips instantly.
"Quirrell is very odd." You spoke, interrupting him with a confused look on your face, "I think he was watching the greenhouses, he asked me if anything was wrong with the plants. As if there was supposed to be something unusual going on."
"He has definitely been skulking around the castle this week," Severus had put his book down, "was there anything wrong? In the greenhouse, I mean?"
"Well..." You went and sat next to Snape, unable to keep a secret after your strange interaction with Quirrell, "Pomona has got her hands on Devil's Snare. I didn't even know it's use was permitted in school, but that was the only thing I found strange. But she said it was Hogwart's business. Maybe an addition to the curriculum for new seventh years?"
"And did you tell Quirrell what you saw?" Snape seemed on edge and he stared at you, awaiting an answer.
"Of course not! It seemed too... suspicious. Professor Sprout was so secretive, I don't even think that I was supposed to see it. I don't think I should be telling you, but I just-"
"You can tell me," Severus spoke, almost softly, "I know about it. If you see anything else strange, don't hesitate to let me know. But don't tell anyone else."
"Okay," You breathed, leaning back into your chair with a sigh, "and I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest. What a lie."
"A lie, indeed." Snape agreed quietly, thinking deeply about what you'd told him.