A/N: This is supposed to be the last fanfic I begin, but I've told this to me so many times that I don't even trust myself.

I wrote this first chapter months ago, but I left it aside because my wonderful beta reader, Yue Sai, told me, very wisely, that they were out of character and that it could be improved. She was right, totally right, I can now see it… because sometimes it's good to reread things after a long time, with your mind clear. Thank you, Yue Sai ^.^

I think it's better now, at least, I like it. But the real judges are you and I'd love to know what you think about it.

… … … … … … … … … … …

Not just a game

It's not his fault, it's mine... I can't feel betrayed because he warned me; he told me this was going to happen someday, but I just ignored him.

It was 1980, maybe 81… I know it was at the end of November, I remember it because it was a cold autumn and the fireplace of the teachers' common room was lit.

After I finished correcting some essays of my second year students, I raised my eyes and noticed everybody had already retired to their bedrooms except for us. He was sitting on an armchair near the fire and he seemed very concentrated playing a chess game on his own.

I didn't want to disturb him so I tried not to make any noise while I tided my things and put the chair back in its place; but when I was going to grab all my papers and books, one of them slip from my fingers and felt to the ground. In a crowded corridor, even the most acute ear wouldn't have heard that; but we were in an empty room of an old castle almost at midnight, so the crash of my book against the stone floor echoed like a cry in the mountains.

My eyes quickly searched him with the vain hope that he would have ignored my clumsiness, but he had stopped his game and was now staring at me. "I'm sorry" I apologized "I didn't mean to disturb you."

I think I heard him mutter something, but I didn't understand and then he went back to the chessboard. He definitely was a man of few words. I made my way to the door and before opening it, I turned back and looked at him. There was something on him that attracted me, maybe that aura of mystery around him, I don't know… I guess I spent a few seconds standing there just gazing at him because somehow he noticed and glanced back at me asking if there was anything wrong.

"No, no…" I shook my head trying to remember where I was and what I was doing there "I'm sorry. I was just thinking that… since I'm not tired yet either… maybe we could play together?"

"No." That was all he said, and then his eyes moved back to those little figures destroying each other. He used such a plain tone, that it sounded rude to me.

"There's no need to get upset. I was just saying that you would maybe enjoy your chess game a little more if you played with someone else."

"I don't think so." He replied.

"You don't know. Uh, never mind… I was just trying to be nice with you." I said.

"You don't need to." He replied still submerged in his game.

"That's what friends do." Yes, I'm sure that was what I said, because he then replied:

"I don't have friends." And he even said it without even look at me.

"I would like to be your friend." I insisted.

"You wouldn't." I was shocked by every answer of him; he didn't even try to be nice or polite, like if he didn't care.

"Why not?"

"Because I betray my friends" This time, he did look at me, I now understand he was trying to make sure I believed those words…

"Well, you won't have time to betray me during a chess game…" I said, sitting down on the armchair at the other side of the chessboard and making the pieces return to their place with a move of wand.

"Tell me, please, professor McGonagall, what do I have to say to make you go to your bed and leave me on my own as I wish to be?" He implored with his neutral tone of voice.

"Come on, professor Snape, we'll have fun. Let's do something, if you win, I leave you alone. Deal?"

"Deal."

… … …

We have played dozens of games since that night and I don't remember ever losing one… until yesterday.

...

TO BE CONTINUED…