Severus sighed deeply as he brought in some ingredients to his storeroom. The Potions Master desperately needed an apprentice.
It was fairly early in the school year still, October actually. He felt as if he should not have to bring up the subject with the Headmaster. Severus sorted the ingredients, which he would sometimes allow students to do if they were in detention.
He came upon an unfamiliar flask on the lower shelf. Severus instinctively sniffed the flask, coughing when the contents entered his lungs. Sulfur dioxide? He inquired to himself.
In his train of thought, Severus placed the flask on a table. Severus sighed heavily and went to mark parchment before his student for detention arrived for the evening.
Suddenly the flask fell to the ground, shattering and releasing the sulfur dioxide into the room.
Severus coughed violently to clear the toxic gas from his lungs. Eventually he became unconscious from the fumes as they suffocated his lungs.
I was on my way to detention with Severus when I heard something break in the distance. When I opened the classroom door, I saw Severus crumpled on the floor facedown.
I rushed over to him and put my hands on his back to check his breathing. I felt no movement, so I turned him over and pressed my mouth to his and gave him a quick breath and two thrusts to his chest.
On my second attempt of urging air into his lungs, a harsh cough erupted from his lungs. A piercing gasp followed immediately after. Eyelashes fluttered open and ebony orbs glared up at me.
The raven haired man began coughing intensely, his lungs demanding air. I helped him to sit up as he coughed. I slapped his back, coaxing him to rid his lungs of the toxins he inhaled.
Severus gradually expelled the harmful fumes from his lungs. "What...happened?" He questioned me, his usually silky voice coarse from coughing.
"I don't know. I smelled sulfur." I informed him, offering a hand to pull him up. "You were unconscious when I got here."
Severus frowned, reluctantly taking my hand and pulling himself up. He coughed, clearing his lungs. "You are here for detention, Miss Altman."
"You're lucky to be alive, sir." I replied.
Severus brought a fist to his lips, coughing. "Obviously..." He sneered.
"You don't have anything to say?" I asked in disbelief.
"Your deed will not spare you from detention." Severus snapped.
"Are you really so proud that you can't express gratitude?" I retorted back.
Severus scoffed. "It was a simple accident. Your being here had nothing to do with the outcome."
"Fuck you, Professor." I turned away from him.
I heard him sigh aloud. "Wait, Miss Altman."
I stormed out of the classroom. I did not see Severus gaining on me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward him.
"Leave me alone!" I screamed.
Black eyes looked down at me. "Come back, Miss Altman. I have something to say."
I shook my head, trying to pry my arm free of his strong grasp. "I won't listen."
Severus huffed and pulled me unwillingly back to the classroom.
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You are the most cruel, heartless Professor in the history of Hogwarts." I said boldly.
Silence!" Severus thundered, glaring at me. "I have heard your opinion on the matter. You could at least extend me the same courtesy, Miss Altman."
I closed my mouth as Severus began to circle me.
Severus sighed. "I realize that perhaps I may have been too harsh on you. For this I apologize, Miss Altman."
I looked at him expectantly.
Severus drew in a deep breath and sighed it from his lungs. "Thank you...Miss Altman, for...saving my life."
"Was it really that difficult?"
Severus coughed, clearing his lungs. "I suppose...not. However, you have some scrubbing to do."
He exhaled deeply from his lungs and sat at his desk to mark parchment. Severus watched me from his desk as I cleaned the cauldrons.
When I notified Severus I was finished, he sighed loudly. "You may go, Miss Altman."
