The Potions Master's Countdown to Christmas
Yes, another one...can't help myself. It is replacing a fic I took down in order to rework, so techinically it is not another one. LOL!
Disclaimer: Fanfics are just for fun and never for profit. Someone sent me a niffler for Christmas and alas, all my galleons are gone.
December 1st
Professor Septima Vector's eyes locked on the shiny green paper for a mere moment. Silver bells twinkled and swung languidly back and forth on the paper…magicked gift wrap obviously. They made a sweet tinkling sound that was pleasant to the ears. And it was obvious that the bestower was hoping that their Potions Master found it pleasant too.
Well, it was a nice gesture to try to appeal to the cold-hearted dolt. She knew his students had a huge test before the long holiday break.
The tinkling of the bells was disrupted by an abrupt crackling sound as the paper was slowly crumpled, the images of the cheerful bells disappearing before her eyes. The paper, now in a crinkly ball, rose in a perfect arc as a long arm raised a wand and directed the paper towards a rubbish bin at the far end of the room, and the paper deposited itself. Using verbal spells merely for instructing younger wizards and witches, Severus Snape had no desire to use them in his office usually.
Professor Vector opened her mouth slightly as if to say something and then thought better of it. Her gaze now followed the other hand that rose in the air still poised as if gripping paper that was no longer there. She couldn't see his face because she had gone to the other side of the room to get the rest of the mail and the Christmas presents that were sent early. They also had one more temperamental and complicated potion that Pomfrey needed that they had to carefully oversee in its final stages. As for the Christmas gifts, some students, colleagues, parents, and the like sent them early because Hogwarts was far too busy right before the holiday break.
She couldn't see his face, only a green overstuffed chair, and only strikingly black hair that fell in sheaths to his shoulders, and a strong profile that turned as a hand moved forward to a rickety dark wooden end table and pointed a wand at another gift that levitated and landed in his other palm.
As he summoned each gift and slowly opened them, her eyes kept going back to his hands. It was curious. She wasn't sure why. The hands that elegantly yet slowly but furtively tore open another bit of paper were white and soft with long fingers. She couldn't understand why he would use magic to receive them but refrained from using it so he could slowly unravel the paper. It occurred to her that he probably secretly enjoyed it because she knew for a fact that he spent Christmas at Hogwarts and received nothing on Christmas Day. The students and staff sent gifts earlier in the month. It was sad but she then wiped the thought from her mind. Surely, it was entirely his own doing.
It was why she felt sorry for him, even though he was a complete asshole to her. She always gave him his gift on the 24th. Merlin, had it been four years now that I had worked here? She guessed that at least he could open something on the 25th.
She shook her head and looked at his hands again. It surprised her that after years of ingredient preparation in Potions class and making some for students and staff in case Pomfrey needed something, the monotonous cutting, peeling, etc, that concocting potions warranted, he had merely two little scars that one wouldn't notice unless they cared to look.
However, those hands worked, a lot, and had done much. The undersides were slightly calloused but still soft. They had gripped her arm once or twice when trying to stop her from doing something, even the palms had placed themselves on her cheek…her forehead…when her life was in danger once.
She grudgingly appreciated it. She'd show much more appreciation if her were nicer to her…
That had worked together for four years and she always believed that eventually he himself would soften over time. She had seen potential in glimpses; some words, a kind act here or there, but nothing promising.
They could get along perhaps but they would never be friends in the true sense.
She sensed that the wall would always be up like it was for everyone else and that he would only peer over it once in awhile and then pull back.
It was sad, lonely, and she was never mad at him permanently after a heated row because she somehow sensed it was a guarding of himself.
But he was still an asshole at times….
And the thought made her forget, as she continued to watch him open gifts, the time that her life was in danger…working for the Order.
Her life in danger…the only time she allowed the miserable moron to touch her.
It didn't count right? It was only to check her signs and then see what potion would be right for the spell that was cast on her. He checked her eyes, moved her hair out of them, felt her pulse, put a hand on her head to see if she was still warm…I mean, I was nearly unconscious after all….I hadn't looked good until he arrived….according to those who were there.
And when she managed to look up trying to catch her breath while she struggled with the pain and he told her to look at him as he analyzed her pupils, for a moment, she thought she saw concern. Perhaps a bit? Was he all bad? He had saved Potter countless times and she heard about other people too. If Pomfrey needed something unusual for a student with a rare affliction due to a hex or trying something new and botching it that she ran out of, he had it for her before she could ask twice. Did that count? Surely that was concern for others?
And then she lost her train of thought because he started to speak to her…
"Vector, it is quite simple. If you refuse to tell Flitwick that all the choir practice in the world couldn't help those dunderheads, your friend, Sinistra especially, I will not be held responsible for what happens next…" the voice was cold but she detected an ounce of his taste for dry humor in it.
"And what might that be?" She rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Ear plugs, oh, and believe me, I will let them see me wearing them." His face was expressionless but dour.
He was still at it. In a way she couldn't blame him. She could hear them down to the dungeons, when she was down there, quite often again lately and unfortunately too, because they were using the corridor that led to the spiral staircase for better acoustics this year. However, just because he knew that she was good friends with Flitwick and that Aurora was her closest friend, didn't mean she had to do his dirty work for him. And she had to admit to herself that he had no qualms about making his opinion known at staff meetings and in the Order, so maybe he…deep down, er, somewhere, felt bad about telling them but would never admit it? So, she would have to hear his complaints so he could vent. Lucky me…she pondered.
"It has been weeks and I see no difference…and considering that your friend Sinistra as well carries a tune much like an expiring hippogriff, you can sympathize surely. There's not a spell in existence that could improve that lot. And they should be studying. There are exams before the holiday break…an utter waste of time and my hearing."
"I refuse to do that. I will not hurt their feelings." She didn't say that they could probably use a bit more practice too and that they needed to lose the part with the toads.
"Very well..." His lip curled.
Silence.
Two hours later…
Professor Snape continued his ritual. A wand rose, an object came undone, the other hand carelessly waved paper into a bin, without him looking back at it.
Professor Vector had brought the rest of the batch to the table an hour ago, while she was overseeing the final stage of a potion that was brewing in a cauldron and that was also ladled into a flask, labeled, and ready for use by Pomfrey. She believed she could go now.
She had both her arms resting on a chair's armrests and she gazed at him. She inhaled and rose to her feet. She walked slowly and her perception changed. She settled herself in a chair a few feet away from Snape that faced his own.
"I am going now. I am quite finished."
He looked at her as if there was not an inkling of truth to her statement and then sighed resignedly. He looked merely indifferent as to her coming and going but then he spoke.
"Surely you can. But alas, the disturbance has caused me to go about this business slower. If only you would agree to have a word with Sinistra…"
"Why can't you tell them yourself?
"I believe it will be better coming from you." It hung in the air that they would probably listen to her because they liked her better. "Fine, well how about just assisting me with this last? Write the names on the tags down for me so I can keep track of who gave the gifts."
Her eyes flew open. "Do you…do you mean to send thank-you cards this year, Severus?"
Snape raised an eyebrow and glowered.
"No, but it will be noted."