The Stolen Life of Severus Snape
Introductions
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Professor Sylvie Turner kept pace with Professor McGonagall through the halls of Hogwarts. Professor Turner, the newest member of the Hogwarts staff, was having a tour of the school.
'I'm here,' she thought to herself. 'This is my big life changer. As my mother would say, 'This is when you grow up and do something." Sylvie had thought her life was just fine, until recently. Maybe it was turning 30 that had altered her perception.
After she finished high school, Sylvie, much to the devastation of her parents, had not continued her studies at an institute of higher learning but had concentrated on having a good time. Her life consisted of going to work (as a dance instructor, gasp) and then socializing with her friends which usually involved drinking and dancing at clubs. Lately it had all become repetitious and the fun was feeling forced. The only thing she really enjoyed now was studying with Nona (which her parents did not know about).
When the letter from Hogwarts had come offering her a position as a teacher's aide, Sylvie had taken it, seeing it as an opportunity to get out of the rut she was stuck in. She knew that her mother had gotten her the position, that the position probably hadn't existed until her mother had pulled some strings with the headmaster. Her mother won this battle in the war of whose world was Sylvie going to inhabit. But she hadn't won the entire war. Sylvie still played soccer, her father's game, rather than Quidditch, although in high school she had played both. The only thing she had that was entirely her own was dancing. As she tried to explain to her best friend before she left, she saw it as a chance to become her own person, not someone trying to please both her parents.
"I don't understand you, Sylvie. Why do you have to go to England to change your life? You can do that here in Toronto. You can get a job at your mom's school or your dad's if you want to teach. If you want to get married and have a family, you can do that here too. God knows you've met plenty of guys to fall in love with if you'd just give them half a chance."
"That's just it Suz. I can't teach at either of my parents' schools because I'll break the other's heart. And I have met plenty of guys, nice guys, fun guys, sexy guys, rich guys but none of them has felt right. I think I have a destiny elsewhere and I haven't been able to fall in love because I haven't met him yet."
"Him,' Suzy snorted.
"Yes, him. The love of my life. My soul mate. My life partner."
"And maybe you haven't met him because you've set impossible standards that no one can hope to come close to. Maybe you haven't met him because your mother pushes you to get married so you find something in every one to reject them.
"Maybe. Maybe I need to change my 'ideal man'.
Sylvie sneezed, bringing her thoughts back to the present. 'My God, it's freezing in here', she thought to herself. 'No wonder everyone wears so many clothes. You'd think they would use magic to pump some heat into this mausoleum.' Although she came from Canada, land of ice and snow, Sylvie was used to modern buildings with high efficiency furnaces, not drafty castles. 'You're going to have to unpack your sweaters, no, jumpers they are called in England.' Her usually bold clothing would have to be packed, to re-emerge in warmer climes. Not that it mattered. 'My standards would have to drop to below freezing to find the love of my life here. So far, I don't think I've met anyone under 75.'
Professor McGonagall opened up yet another room. "This is the staff room." In the room, two men were conversing, one tall, thin, rather like a crow, the other, what Sylvie would call a pretty boy.
Sylvie stopped and gasped. "It's him", she murmured to herself. "Who is that man," she demanded of Professor McGonagall, grabbing onto her sleeve.
"Which man", she asked.
"The sexy one, of course."
"Oh, you mean Gilderoy Lockhart, the one who is looking at us now. He is admired by many ladies."
"Not him. The other one." Professor McGonagall searched the room for a third person she hadn't yet seen. But there was no one. The only other person she could see was… surely not!
"The one dressed in black!" Sylvie replied with a frustrated growl.
"Professor Snape?" Professor McGonagall was astonished.
"Professor Snape," Sylvie said quietly to herself with a slow, wide smile ….
…
Professor Severus Snape was not having a good day. Somehow, he became trapped in the staff room with Gilderoy Lockhart. The man would simply not stop talking about himself and how great he was. He may impress empty headed females but he certainly didn't impress Professor Snape. He had tuned Lockhart out and just stood there glaring at him, thinking about what supplies needed to be restocked in the potions class. Lockhart seemed impervious to Snape's glare and continued to prattle on like a runaway train. Snape was interrupted from his silent list making when he heard Professor's McGonagall say his name in a high, strangled voice.
He turned and beheld a creature that had stepped out of an erotic fairytale. She was short, but her self confidence as she floated towards him made her seem taller. Her hair was the first feature he noticed. It was long, a dark brown, almost black that shimmered around her head like exotic serpents, a modern Medusa. Her figure was lush, not the stick thin that some women tried so hard to maintain. Her legs were well defined, almost muscular and by God, a lot of leg was shown. She was wearing a short skirt that looked like it was strips of fabric sewn together, revealing, concealing flesh as she moved. Her lips, full, her nose, pixie and her eyes. They were the shape of Lily's eyes, but were a light blue with flecks of green that was emphasized by her dark lashes and pale skin. Black Irish some would call her.
Professor McGonagall interrupted his admiration. "Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet our newest staff member, Professor Sylvie Turner. She will be available to assist you with your classes. This is Professor Severus Snape who teaches Potions and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, our new Defense Against The Dark Arts professor ."
Lockhart almost pushed Snape aside in his hurry to greet the newcomer. He swept her a low bow and kissed her hand. "At your service. I look forward to working closer with you. Not that I need any help but I'm sure that you will benefit from studying my technique. I'd be more than happy to take you under my wing, show you my expertise." As he spoke, he tried to put his arm around Sylvie.
"Oh, I think I've seen your "technique" too many times." Sylvie expertly avoided Lockhart's arm.
"Ah, so you are an American," Lockhart nodded to himself, putting his arm on the bookshelf instead, failing completely to make it look like that is what he intended all along.
"Actually, Professor Turner is Canadian," McGonagall corrected.
"From the colonies. Perhaps you have not heard of me, although I am told I have quite a fan club in the major Canadian cities."
"I'm from Toronto, the second largest city in Canada, which is not a colony but its own country or perhaps you haven't heard. But why would I have heard of you? Are you famous for something?"
Lockhart chuckled and shook his head. "Am I famous! The great things I have done are far too numerous for me to tell you at the moment. But, lucky for you, I have written about them and they've all become best sellers. Here's my latest 'Magical Me'." Lockhart holds the book next to his face and gives the same pose as the front cover. He then presents the book with great flourish to Sylvie.
"Here you are my dear. This will acquaint you with a few of my many adventures. Perhaps after dinner tonight, I could tell you about some of them and show you my awards. I am recipient of Order of Merlin, Third Class and five time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile award." Lockhart gives an example of his famed smile.
Sylvie coughs into her hands, hiding a snort of laughter from Lockhart but not from the other two professors. "Well, that's quite impressive but I'm very tired and think I'll just retire after dinner with your book. Now you mentioned that you have written other books. Could I borrow those as well?" Sylvie gives him her best smile.
"Of course. Why don't I get them for you right now?" Lockhart almost falls over himself in his haste to please an attractive, admiring fan. "Wait here. I'll be back in a flash."
After Lockhart leaves the room, Sylvie comments, "Well I think the thing he's most proud of is that smile." This time it is Professor McGonagall who hides her laughter.
Snape politely asks, "So you are here to assist with all subjects. Do you have a specialty?"
"I'm afraid I'm a "jack of all trades", good at everything, best at nothing. But, now that I think about it, I have been told that I am best at one thing, but we would have to know each other much more intimately for me to tell you what that is." Sylvie looked at Snape from under her lashes, leaned forward and tugged his sleeve so that he had to lean down towards her. She whispered, "And I'm sure that we will get to know each other much more intimately." She leaned in and nipped his earlobe. Then she gave him that same smile that she had on her face when he first saw her.
Professor McGonagall grasped Sylvie by the arm, pulled her away from Professor Snape, speaking quickly, "Well we must be going, lots more of the school to see." She practically dragged Sylvie out the door.
Professor Snape's hand raised to where her lips had been. He couldn't believe it. She had bit his ear!
…
Professor McGonagall pushed Sylvie into an empty classroom and turned on her. "What do you think you are doing", she hissed.
"I'm just getting to know the staff."
"Don't play dumb with me missy. You know exactly what I am talking about. Why were you acting that way with Professor Snape."
"Why not? Oh, I see. He's married… engaged?" Professor McGonagall shook her head at both of these questions. "Is he gay?"
"That's not the point. We are here to provide an example for our students. You cannot act like a…" Sylvie raised her eyebrows, waiting for the next word, ready to explode. "…a teenager with another Professor."
Sylvie laughed. "A teenager! I don't think that was the word you were going to use Professor. Besides, I've never seen "teenagers" have that much sexual tension between them. Besides, it didn't seem that you objected that much when you thought I was attracted to Professor What's His Name." Sylvie had actually forgotten his name.
"Professor Lockhart and why aren't you attracted to him. In terms of physical features, he is much better looking than Professor Snape. Why him?"
"Professor Lockhart is what the populous would consider "a dreamboat". I dated someone like him once. I'm afraid that he could never love anyone more than himself. He is a legend in his own mind. He's superficial. I want depth. Now Professor Snape. He looks like someone who's depths I want to explore. There is something between us and I think it could be something great. I know that sounds totally insane. Why are you so protective of Professor Snape anyways. Tell me about him."
Professor McGonagall turned away, not sure how to answer her question. She spoke slowly. "Professor Snape is … not experienced with women as more than friends. Well, he doesn't really have close friends either. He is professional and very knowledgeable. And, more important, he is loyal to the school."
"Why is that important? What are you hiding about Professor Snape?"
"I'm not hiding anything." Professor McGonagall paused and turned back to Sylvie. "Surely you know some of our recent history. A dark wizard rose. He almost destroyed us. His followers were called "Death Eaters".
"OK. Let me see if I can figure out this puzzle. You speak with all the clarity of the Oracle at Delphi. Yes, I know of what you refer to. So, from what you are saying, I would guess that Professor Snape was a Death Eater. But he is not in prison. He's shaping the minds of witches and wizards who will someday lead our kind. So, my guess is that he pretended to be a Death Eater but was actually working for the other side."
"No, that's not exactly what happened. Yes, he was a Death Eater but he came to regret his actions and he provided valuable information to us. Professor Dumbledore has absolute confidence in him. That is why Professor Snape is here."
"Oh a bad boy. I love bad boys."
Professor McGonagall turned on her and gave her the look that had left many a student quivering. "He's not a child. Don't play with him just because it amuses you. He is a human being with feelings that I don't want to see get hurt."
Sylvie sighed. "Professor, both my parents are educators so I am immune to that look that I am sure has been featured in many nightmares. I am not a child either, nor am I so cruel as to play with another's feelings. I know I seem frivolous sometimes but I promise you, I will not corrupt your professor. I will take the time for us to get to know each other as friends first, before we become lovers." Professor McGonagall's head snapped up at that. Sylvie held up her hand in the stop position. "And if he does not choose for us to become lovers, then so be it. You can be assured that I will treat Professor Snape with the utmost respect and deference in front of the students without a hint of anything else. And when we are in private, that will be private."
"Any hint of impropriety will most likely result in your dismissal."
"Understood. Now show me the rest of the school and whether you are hiding any more sexy men." Sylvie laughed at Professor McGonagall's expression and they continued the tour.