House: Slytherin
Category: Drabble
Prompt: Professor Charity Burbage
Word Count: 453
"Wormtail! Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest quiet?" Voldemort scolded, upon hearing a wail from Professor Charity Burbage.
Professor Burbage had been abducted and suspended over a long table, filled with Deatheaters and underlings alike. She was at her breaking point, having been tortured and taunted. All of her hope had been gone. Her only support and what kept her endurance going was the presence of Severus Snape.
She kept glancing over at him, hoping to catch his gaze. She had wailed, a few moments before, to try to get his attention. However, it only made the tense atmosphere more suspenseful. She could feel as Voldemort summoned her over to the table, formally introducing her to the guests. She tried to move her head to where she could see Severus. "Sev-Sev...Severus," she said between gasps. "Severus, please," she begged.
XXX
Professor Burbage had been suspecting about Professor Snape for some time now. She had been questioning his whereabouts, trying to connect the dots.
"Severus, may I speak to you?" she asked the serious professor.
"You may," he responded slowly, his expression making her feel intimidated.
She exhaled calmly, collecting her thoughts. "Severus…. I've been pondering about your many absences. I understand you may be busy at times, but lately, you don't look or act the same. It's as if all the good from you has disappeared," she began.
He didn't respond, only the slight hint of a raised eyebrow. "I consider myself your friend, Severus, so I expect you to come to me if you have any concern."
"Noted," he said in a monotone voice. He turned around to leave when she spoke up again.
"I hope you're not associating with those people, Severus. It's dangerous. I may teach a 'soft' subject compared to you, but I do know what it means to be dangerous."
"Do not speak of danger as if you have any experience with it," he retorted. "You have no right of mentioning anything of that matter. Don't act as if you know how it is." His stern expression had said it all.
XXX
Professor Burbage had thought back to when she tried to help him, to offer him support. She thought that he might stand up for her, to protect her, or at least prevent her from getting killed. She held his gaze, knowing that she didn't have much time left before Lord Voldemort got bored. She searched his face, hoping to find a sign for an emotion, or even pity. Tragically, she didn't. It was clear to her then, that he was not going to interfere. Her eyes began to tear up, as she attempted one final plea to her former friend. "We're friends."