DISCLAIMER: The following story is set during the book "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", by Joanne Rowling. The setting, characters and background plot are all properties of J.K. Rowling and as such I cannot claim that any of the following story is truly my own, except the plot, some of the beasties and Penny Riven. I do not intend to profit from this story and am writing it purely for recreational purposes. I thank yow.
Snape's Valentine
It was mid-February. The bright pink envelope on Snape's table had been the source of the pupils whispering as Snape arrived to teach Ginny Weasley and her class of Gryffindor and Slytherin pupils all about potions. Severus Snape walked into the class and duly noted the hushed silence of his group. He noticed the pink envelope and Ginny swore he say him wince.
"Ha. Ha." He added dryly, and filed the pink envelope to the bin. "Sorry to break anyone's hearts, but on with today's lesson." Potions seemed as bad as usual, thought Ginny, but Snape did not appear to take off so many Gryffindor points today.
The lesson finished and Ginny felt down. Her best friend Penny Riven had been withdrawn from Hogworts by her parents after the Yule Ball, Neville Longbottom was no longer speaking to her and Harry Potter, her 'secret' boyfriend, was so busy with his Triwizards Cup thing that Ginny found herself alone once more. Ginny had felt absent-minded all day and was halfway down the corridor leaving the dungeon when she realised that she forgotten to grab her bag! Dashing back, she passed Snape leaving in a hurry and retrieved her bag. On her way out, Ginny noticed the pink envelope had gone from the bin. Ginny felt happy for him and smiled.
Back in the common room, everyone else was getting valentines and getting all soppy. Ginny was hoping that Harry would send her one. One for him waited under his pillow, but still Harry seemed to busy to care that much about it and Ginny felt miserable. She watched Ron and Hermione chatting in a corner and Ginny hoped that Ron would send Hermione one – they would make a nice couple, she thought. "Oh blow this!" she muttered to herself, and decided to take a lunchtime stroll to get her away from all this fluffy romance business.
Outside, she spied Severus Snape and Sybil Trelawney sitting down and chatting in the bleak wintery gardens. The February air was warm with the first sunshine of spring and Ginny sat at a distance and felt happy for Snape. For some reason, Severus had not seemed so bad lately. Harry had disputed this whenever Ginny had brought it up, but Ginny was sure there was a softer side to him. Suddenly, Ginny noticed Severus sag and Sybil put his arm around him and muttered something in his ear.
"Oh, poor Snape", she found herself whispering. And with that, Ginny decided to go see them. "Why not?", she thought. It was lunchtime and she had nothing else to do. Anyway, why should Harry have all of the great adventures? So striding up to Severus and Sybil, Ginny asked sympathetically "What's wrong Professor Snape?"
Sybil and Severus almost leapt out of their robes and looked around desperately and tried to look professional.
"Oh, it's you Miss Weasley. I am well and fine thankyou. Perhaps slightly shaken by Neville's inadvertent chemical threats to my well-being, but otherwise, I am just dandy. Now run along." Severus rallied.
"Look, don't get upset if someone sends you a Valentines Card Professor Snape-"
"I'm not upset Miss Weasley, I-"
"So why did you keep it then?" flourished Ginny, feeling a little heady at her boldness and now expected expulsion as a result!
Sybil stood up and took Ginny's hand. "Look, there are some things that Severus cannot discuss here-"
"Oh Sybil, what's the use! Ginny hangs around too much with that Harry – she's bound to have picked up his nosey streak too." Sneered Severus.
There was an awkward silence. Ginny felt really idiotic and muttered "Look, I'm really sorry Professor Snape, sir. You just looked a little worried by it in the lesson, so I thought I'd-"
"Spy on me eh? I'll punish you for this!" barked Severus and Ginny feared for her own safety. Luckily, Sybil stepped in.
"Oh Severus! Leave Ginny alone! You are a bloody fool sometimes – just let it go! The girl means no harm."
Severus looked a little shocked then relaxed. Ginny realised she was trembling. Severus realised this too and laid his hand on her shoulder. "Thankyou. It's been a while since anyone's – well, thankyou."
"You're welcome," trembled Ginny. "I'd better go." Snape nodded. Ginny turned and began to walk away. Her mind was chastising her for being so nosey, stupid and naïve; Snape was Snape and would never change!
After Ginny had left, Sybil took Severus' hand. "You can't hide your feelings everyday you know?" she smiled. "Ginny really does care for those about her too. She's also been through a lot lately, so you could have been nicer."
"Professor Snape being 'nice' to the pupils?" Severus paused and smiled. Sybil put her arm around his and began to lead them back to Hogworts for another busy afternoon.
"I do miss her though." said Snape sadly.
"Oh, I know you do." smiled Sybil. "It was nice of your daughter to send you the card though. Really sweet."
"Yes. The occasional letter is all we can use to talk to each other now – not even the owls are safe! Damn the Ministry."
"Oh, but Severus, it won't be long before you can finish your mission and get back to her again."
"I know. Come the glorious day, eh?" Severus smile disappeared and he stared into Sybil's eyes. "Let's hope Voldemort goes down for good this time." he prayed. Sybil hugged him and they walked back into Hogworts.
Two days later, Ginny received two valentines cards, one of which really upset Harry.
THE END - Happy Valentines Day and Big Hugs.