Title: Crushed!
Author: Cyberwulf
Rating: G
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to JK Rowling.
Summary: Severus Snape finds himself the object of a youngster's affections yet again.
Feedback: Feed the Wulf and click the button!
Legs shaking, Hermione Granger entered the empty classroom and made her way gingerly towards Professor Snape's desk. The stern, dour Potions master seemed oblivious to her approach, engrossed in grading test papers with a long quill. With trembling fingers, Hermione pushed a rather sweaty apple onto his desk next to the inkwell, and waited.
Professor Snape ceased to write and eyed the piece of fruit suspiciously. He stared at the young girl standing in front of him, and watched a warm blush spread across her cheeks as she caught his eye.
" Ah, Miss Granger." Severus set aside his quill and straightened up. He glanced at the apple, and asked, in a voice that dripped sarcasm, " For your favourite teacher?"
Too nervous to speak, Hermione nodded.
" Yes." Professor Snape sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. "Let me be blunt, Miss Granger. You are not the first pupil to become infatuated with me, and, I fear, you will not be the last." Hermione opened her mouth and he held up his hand. " Don't speak. I can assure you that I do not, nor will I ever, harbour any romantic feelings for you. So don't waste your time looking for signs that I return your… 'love'."
Hermione's heart plummetted at his words.
" If I happen to choose you to answer every time I ask the class a question," Snape continued, " it's because I'm tired of waiting for the other students to use their brains. Should I grudgingly admit that you've done well this year, that does not mean I'm about to declare my undying love for you. And if I ever write 'Ten out of ten!' and a smiley face on one of your term papers, I suggest you alert the proper authorities." He paused and gazed at his young admirer, taking in her scarlet face, knocking knees and quivering lower lip. " It's best for all concerned if you put aside this childish notion and concentrate on your studies." He fixed her with a steely stare. " Do I make myself clear?"
" Ye… yes – sir," Hermione gulped.
" Good." Professor Snape picked up his quill and returned his attention to the test papers. " The apple is appreciated. You may go."
He didn't look up as she fled from the room, and paid no heed to the sobs that floated in from the corridor. He took no pleasure in making her cry, but his harshness was necessary. If such things were not nipped in the bud, his classes would be full of moony adolescents who were too busy wondering if he ever smiled or washed his hair to get any work done.
Though it was flattering to be the object of a youngster's affections.
A small sound drew his attention away from the test papers, and when he looked up he saw that Hermione Granger's shiny red apple now had a green companion.
Severus Snape put down his quill and straightened up.
" Mr. Malfoy." He gazed, stone-faced, at the blonde boy, and asked sarcastically, "Is that for your favourite teacher?"
The End
