Heart of Glass
Author's Note:
When I decided to write this I wanted to see how quickly I could whip something out. I indeed got this done very quickly, wrote the whole thing in a matter of a few hours. However I found it to be a bit too thin and I had some of the most horrific spelling and grammar mistakes. So I am going back through at a proper speed and cleaning this up, I will add a note to each chapter when I complete it and make a note that the story is finished on the title.
As this is my very first attempt at writing a fan fiction and the first writing attempt at all in over 8 years I would LOVE critiques and comments of any sort!
Thanks.
There were two faces to the Hogwarts School. The bustling, lively, and youthful
face it wore when classes were in session and students filled the castle in
winter. The other face the school currently wore was the soft, quiet,
contemplative face when the students were gone. Those who remained were left to rest and prepare for the next
year.
Severus Snape, a professor and resident potions master was taking the time to
do some unhindered research within the school library's restricted section. He
had moved one of the small tables from the student area to the entry of the
section. He waved his wand almost haphazardly at the books calling ancient
dusty volumes off the shelves and onto the table. The old dusty volumes flew
down like fat ducks and landed with white puffs on the makeshift desk.
Severus glanced at the pile he had formed and suddenly whipped his wand down,
ceasing the parade of books. His face wore a soft scowl as he worked over the
information he had uncovered in his mind. He bore that scowl a lot over the
last few years. When Voldemort had been defeated he had allowed himself the
relief of thinking the danger was finely over. Only to have Dumbledore pull him
quietly aside the next day to tell him he had reason to believe Voldemort would
return.
Snape frowned deeper; working under the guise of one of Voldemort's followers
had been dangerous, nerve-wracking business. His wits and skills had kept him
free from detection and alive but it had been more and more difficult to
maintain the charade. He had done it all without complaint. For Dumbledore, for
the school, and for his students, he risked his own life. He dearly loved to
teach, as much to have a chance to mold young minds as to demonstrate his
unique talents to an audience.
Not the most liked student at Hogwarts when he had attended, Snape had
developed a great fondness and respect for his teachers. It had seemed only
natural to pursue the career himself. Today however he was not preparing
lessons for the next year, although he did make a mental note of a particularly
difficult potion to try out on his secret star Hermione. Long graceful fingers
waved at a quill, it stirred into a lively dance, jotting down the notes on the
potion. He then made additional notes
for things to try as variations and a list of ingredients to get from the
potions shop. Though he could not show
favor to a Gryffindor, lest he raise suspicions, he delighted in Hermione's
skill at learning even his best techniques. Few came along who paid such close
attention to his teachings. He also
delighted in watching her creativity at fixing the horrible mistakes of
Neville, since he could then turn about and dash a few points off Gryffindor.
He turned back to his task at hand, letting the quill softly settle by his
parchments. He hadn't let anyone on to
his plan or actions. Not even
Dumbledore knew this research was to find anything Dumbledore and the others
could use against Voldemort. He wanted something to protect his beloved school,
to keep the students and staff safe from harm. Deep down he wanted something to
guard him from his most dangerous job as Dumbledore's agent. Perhaps even to find something that would
keep that insufferable Potter out of trouble.
He knew that when the school was first built the area around it had been
overrun with dangerous beasts and such. The founders must have had some secret
guards in place. A spell or charm or potion, something that helped them tame
the area and keep the school safe. He had already found entries in one of the
Hogwarts Histories, which gave him hope, and he was now trying to figure out
how to unlock the secret.
Three books he had found in the days before had vague references to a "Guardian
Glass". It was apparently some type of artifact that one of the founders had
used to help secure the school. As he dug further he learned that the item had
been hidden. What had not become clear yet was how it was used, why they
stopped, and where it was. Forlorn piles of books began to form around Snape
like tiny pillars. He stopped long enough to fetch tea from the kitchen to fend
off the dust now and then. Otherwise he barely left his place in the abandoned
library the whole day. The quiet and
cool of the great room was soothing to him.
As a stack wobbled beside him he would wag his wand in a scolding way
and back to their places the books would fly.
Night stole the light from the empty room; Snape lit a few candles with a word
and leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his tired eyes and stretched his neck.
He rose with a soft groan and paced thrice around the table. Fine lines of gray dust streaked his soft
black robes. His boots made a quiet heartbeat
on the carpeted floor. There was only
one book left in the trail. Some sort of journal hidden in the stacks and it
belonged to one of the founders. He waved his wand in the same bobbing dance as
before and replaced the last of the book, saving aside the diary. He used a few quiet words to guide the
furniture back to its proper position; he rolled the scrolls and quill into a
neat bundle that he tucked into an inner pocket of his robes. The soft fabric whispered as he readjusted
the garment onto his shoulders. When
the room was safely back to order he tucked the journal of Salazar Slytherin
under his arm.
Snape left the library, whispering the candles dark behind him and making his
way quietly to his room. A few of the school's specters watched him past like a
fellow shade. Mrs. Norris came around a
corner and directly under one of his boots before she realized he was
there. He sneered at the cat as it
yowled in shock and smirked slightly when she ran full tilt to find her
master. Alone in the castle, it was the
only time he could relax, no one to sneak up behind him. A familiar voice spoke his name from the
other side of the great hall. Snape stiffened for a moment and mentally thanked
his loose robes for hiding his jerk of surprise. His body still shook slightly;
he rarely let himself be caught off guard these days so his familiar scowl
touched his face as Dumbledore came into view.
"Finding new ways to make Neville miserable next semester?" Dumbledore was
wearing the sly grin he reserved for a select few. Snape lightly tossed his
head to clear the hair from his eyes. He kept his chuckle in check but he
couldn't help the smirk that pulled at his lips. "I really don't have to expend
any effort to make Neville miserable he manages to do that all on his own." He
refrained from pointing out to the headmaster that he had a new path to
Neville's undoing in his cloak.
Dumbledore clucked and lightly clasped Severus' shoulder and they both
started towards the path out of the great hall. "I really shouldn't tease the
boy but he does seem to have the worst time of life now and then." Severus only
nodded, keeping his long stride in check to match the headmaster's.
"I was past the library twice today Severus, you seemed to be working awfully
hard." Dumbledore felt his friend's shoulder tense slightly under his hand.
Dumbledore carefully kept his gaze on the crown molding and said more gently,
"I'm sure whatever you are doing is with the best of intentions, but it won't
help any of us if you make yourself ill." Severus had a word of protest on his
lips but Dumbledore continued. "My friend, you should at least attempt to
sleep. Perhaps I could locate a draught that would help?" Severus shook his
head. "Thank you Albus, I'm going to try an old book, I hear from some of the
students they work wonders." He lifted the journal just enough for Albus to get
a glimpse and then let it slip back into the folds of his robes. A light sneer, one Albus recognized as
Severus' peculiar humor, curled the corners of his thin mouth.
Albus laughed and gave him a friendly pat. "That they do, that they do. Right
then, it's off to the covers myself." Albus parted from Severus' path as they
passed the great stairs. Snape entered the hall that lead to the dungeons with
a nod of his head. Dumbledore frowned after Snape slightly as he disappeared
from view. "You push yourself to hard Severus, we are all in this together."
Albus left the great hall and made his own way to his sleeping chamber. As Severus left the headmaster's view he felt
his body release the shiver of fear he had been holding. He hated being startled and worse, it forced
him to admit he had let his guard down; something he could not afford to do.
