A/N- I'm baaaack...A lot of you won't know me, due to my dalliances with HP/SS (Please don't run away!), and I will be upsetting those of you who do know me, because this fic is SS/HG in nature. Le sigh. Still, I hope you enjoy this...
Summary- Severus thought that having to teach sexual education was bad enough, but, when the class number is found to be uneven, he finds himself in an even worse predicament; paired with Hermione Granger!
NB- I've seen a few of these where Draco and Hermione are partnered, and even a couple where Draco and Harry are, so, naturally, I wanted to try something original...ish. It goes without saying, though, that HBP never happened here. Titles (including story title) are from Darren Hayes' The Tension and The Spark. BRILLIANT Album from a once-local (to me, at any rate) boy. Okay, so Logan's the next city up from Brisbane…that's very petty. He's still local to me. Well, not now that he's in San Fran in the states…Er…I'm rambling, aren't I?
WARNING: There WILL be mentions of Mpreg and Slash, though, as I've said, the focus is on SS/HG.
WARNING 2: For those of you still interested, I must warn you that this is certainly not HBP compliant. Many characters are OOC, though I've attempted to make them believably so. Please, post a review if you think this might be improved somewhat.
To say that Severus Snape was upset with his employer was an understatement. He stood before the elderly wizard, a scowl marring his features.
"I refuse."
Albus' eyes twinkled merrily. "My dear boy, you cannot refuse." The underlying message that he owned the former spy didn't need to be vocalised to be heard. Ignoring Snape's darkening expression, he continued on jovially; "Minerva feels that she can no longer manage the job...And, as the youngest staff member, we feel that the students would best relate to you."
Raising an aristocratic eyebrow, Severus stared. Surely Dumbledore couldn't believe he'd accept that pitiful excuse!
However, when the manipulative old fool next spoke, it appeared that he did. "You can retrieve the curriculum documents from Minerva after dinner this evening."
"You cannot be serious!"
"I've never been more serious," Dumbledore was curt. "Good day, Severus."
The Potions master nodded in acknowledgement of the dismissal; "Albus." He turned swiftly and left the room with grace, his robes billowing behind him.
The older man had generally been seen by most people to be sweet, doddering and kind, but Severus had always known better. He'd been well aware of the old wizard's Slytherin heritage; that which he kept hidden from the bumbling wizarding public.
Imagine, he thought scathingly, the hero of the unwashed masses, a Slytherin!
Severus scowled to himself. If his father hadn't left him damn near penniless, with the only exception being the crumbling old Snape Manor, he wouldn't need Albus and his bloody job at all! Certainly, he might have been able to make a substantial income by selling potions alone, but it was a volatile market, and there weren't too many retailers that would market potions brewed by a rumoured death eater. As it was, the majority of his clients were shady characters themselves! They weren't exactly the types you'd appreciate vouching for you when you were attempting to make a wholesome name for yourself...So he was stuck at this bloody school teaching dunderheads like Potter and Longbottom, and being threatened, constantly, by his employer to do the most degrading things...
Which, essentially, is where he had yet again found himself that afternoon.
"Bunny Slippers." He hissed upon reaching his chambers. The password was pathetic, yes, though no student would ever consider it when attempting to break in. (Not that they often did, mind you...It was merely a precaution in the event of another set of students like the Weasley Twins gracing the school's halls.)
Entering his living-room, he dropped unceremoniously onto the couch and summoned a stiff drink. "Damn that manipulative old fool!" He cried, downing the amber liquid and heaving the glass at the nearest wall. It shattered on impact, sending hundreds of shards flying. How dare he do this to him? Hadn't he, Severus, done more than enough for the bloody Order to relinquish his debt? The light had won, Potter and his minions had saved the day, and he, himself, had only narrowly escaped death on his final mission as a spy. And yet, judging by their most recent meeting, it appeared that the headmaster still felt he was owed more.
Summoning another drink, Snape continued to fume. He was, thankfully, no longer required to teach junior potions, as that job had been passed on to a new, insignificant staff member. Instead, while still teaching NEWT level potions (that was, 6th and 7th years), he had been allocated a new subject, one that had been Minerva's task until now.
Sexual Education.
It was a bloody joke! He, Severus Snape, the most despised professor in the school, was expected to teach Sexual Education to the 7th years! Didn't it require some finesse? Some compassion? Mutual-bloody-Trust?
Albus was clearly looking for a reason to have him dismissed. He was finished using the spy...now it would be fun to torture him until he snapped and did something so atrocious that he'd be asked to leave! That sounded incredibly Slytherin and very much like the headmaster, to Severus at any rate.
So, the Potions Master thought to himself, if he expects me to snap, I will simply have to do the opposite. Though it would be painful, Severus would throw himself into this task with vigour. He would not complain. Dumbledore would not win on this one! In fact, if Snape were to pull this off successfully, the old fart might have a coronary from shock.
Severus smirked to himself.
Yes, he decided, Dumbledore would have to try a little harder if he wanted to break the ex-spy.
Little did he know that the old wizard had already thought ahead...
-?-
A week later, at the sorting feast, the seventh years of Hogwarts were instructed to stay behind. When the last of the lower years had left the Great Hall, the students were somewhat surprised when Snape rose from the Head table and made his way to the center of the 'stage', where the podium had reappeared.
"Welcome back, seventh years..." He spoke, having already performed the sonorous charm. "Though I am certain you wish to enjoy your final night of freedom, there is a matter we-" he gestured to the staff behind him "-feel we must discuss." He paused for dramatic effect, choosing that moment to observe the smaller-than-usual cluster of students.
The war had reached its climax and had taken its toll the previous year. The school had been attacked and the sixth and seventh years had stood beside the staff, the Order and numerous aurors to fight the good fight. Only a few students had lost their lives, it was true, though, when the first had fallen, it had already been one too many.
He drew himself from his reverie and continued on. "As you would be well aware, your final year of compulsory schooling is aimed towards preparing you for life as an adult. With that being the case, you will be undertaking a new subject alongside the rest of your studies." He paused again, this time for the obligatory groans and whispers. Naturally, the Granger girl seemed to be the only student pleased by the thought of more work. He gathered himself once more. "However, unlike your other studies, you will find that this subject, for the most part, is competency based. The only grades, aside from the final essay, that you will receive will be simply a pass or fail."
Out in the hall, at the Gryffindor table, Ron heaved a sigh of relief. "Can't be too hard then, eh?"
A collective "Shh!" was his only response.
Oblivious, Snape kept on going. "I will be taking you for this subject and, yes, I will be assessing your progress."
Ron, along with many other students, felt his heart drop. "Bugger."
Hermione kicked his shin from across the table and glared, before turning her attention back to the professor.
"...To answer the question you are no doubt asking yourselves, this subject has been titled 'Sexual Education', though it is more a course in domestic studies."
Severus stopped and patiently waited for the sniggers and whispers to slow, knowing that the Headmaster was looking for any chance to pounce. He smirked to himself. This 'New Snape' would be annoying the hell out of old Albus...
Coincidently, the old man had pulled himself from his seat and had taken over.
Good. It just showed he was frustrated, as he should very well have been.
"Thankyou, Professor Snape, for your very fine introduction," Dumbledore twittered, his eyes twinkling. He turned back to the students, "You will notice on your timetables a spare double lesson has been allocated after breakfast on mondays and wednesdays, as well as another single lesson on a friday afternoon. These will be used for your work in this subject and, on some days, they will be classes which you must attend. The first of these is tomorrow morning, and we expect each and every one of you to be here." He grinned at the seventh years, "After all, we will be allocating you into pairs for your assessment."
The students began to whisper amongst themselves again. Snape didn't need to guess as to what they were discussing. What kind of assessment? Who would they be partnered with? Why was the greasy git taking them for Sexual Education, of all subjects?
"But, alas, we have kept you long enough...Off to bed with you, and may you all have pleasant dreams."
Severus forced a tight smile at the Headmaster after the seventh years had filed out. "Thankyou, Albus. Though, I wonder, what was the point of asking me to take the class? Clearly, you wish to instruct them, if your enthusiasm is anything to go by."
The older wizard chuckled. "Old habits die hard, child."
Snape nodded, observing the suspicious glimmer in his employer's eye. "That they do, Albus." He glanced at the muggle analogue watch on his wrist, thankful for its invention. The bulky wizarding wall clocks were useless to Potions makers and Masters alike. "And on that note, I must excuse myself. I have an important potion simmering that requires my immediate attention."
"Do not work too hard, my boy." The Headmaster responded, patting him jovially on the shoulder. "Tomorrow will be quite the day."
As Severus nodded by way of acknowledgement, he couldn't help but wonder at the Headmaster's tone. Something wasn't quite right, he decided, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of his stomach, and he was absolutely certain that the first class of the year would be far more complicated than he'd originally assumed...
-?-
"So," Ronald Weasley said, plopping down on a chair in the Gryffindor common room, "What do you reckon's worse? The fact that we've got more work this year, or the fact that we've got more Snape?"
Harry sniggered. "I'm leaning t'wards the Snape thing..."
"Harry Potter!" Hermione cried, sounding utterly scandalised. "After everything that man has done for you, and for the Order," these last two words were almost whispered, "how can you be so childish?"
Ron snorted. "That's right...I forgot you've got a thing for the git-"
"I do NOT have a 'thing', Ronald!"
"Nah, you're right...You fancy him!"
Her expression darkened. "You're forgetting that I can take points for the disrespect you're showing towards a professor."
She'd made Head Girl that year, which wasn't all that surprising to anyone. What had, however, surprised people was the Head Boy. Gregory Goyle, of all people, had walked away with that one. Harry and Ron were still sore about it.
The redhead rolled his eyes. "C'mon, 'Mione, I'm just taking the piss..."
"Well don't make me your target."
"But it's funny..." That was, perhaps, a stupid response.
Blinking a few times, Hermione scowled. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?" But, before he could respond, she huffed her way from the room, refraining -only barely- from slamming the portrait shut on her way out.
The youngest Weasley male turned to his best friend, clearly perplexed. "What'd I say?"
Harry shook his head.
-?-
Hermione stormed down the corridor that led to her rooms. They were, she decided, the best reward for all those years of hard work. Privacy. Peace and quiet. Her own bathroom. Heaven. Pure bliss. Naturally, the common room was to be shared with the Head Boy, but everything else was all hers. It was just what she needed, especially after incidents with Ron.
She sighed. The arguments had already started. That was definitely a bad sign.
"Dungbomb." Her nose crinkled in distaste at the password as she spoke it. They had to change it. It was far too simple. Perhaps for Goyle's benefit, she mused.
Speak of the devil, she thought as she entered. He was seated on the couch, a book in hand...
A book! Just what was going on?
He looked up at the sound of the portrait shutting. "Granger," he greeted, his voice deep and smooth, sounding nothing at all like the grunt she'd expected.
Her shock must have been evident, because he laughed, taking her by surprise even more. "You talk!" She exclaimed, in hindsight, quite rudely. She had the grace to blush and put a hand to her mouth. "Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry..."
Gregory shook his head with an amused grin and rose to his feet, towering above her. "S'alright," he said, "Most people've reacted the same way." He shrugged, "Now the ruddy war's over I can be m'self." He extended a large hand. "Gregory Goyle."
Still feeling somewhat overwhelmed, she shook his hand. "Er, Hermione Granger...What do you mean you can be yourself?"
He laughed again and sat down, gesturing for her to do the same. "You know, for the smartest chit in the school, you're a bit dense..." She frowned and he grinned. "I meant nothin' by it, I swear."
"Uh huh," she replied, nonplussed. "You were saying?"
"Well, I was always taught to act the fool," he told her, " 'cos everyone trusts an idiot...In times of war, the people that lose their lives are the suspicious and sly...If you're seen as a bumblin' oaf, you can't possibly be sly or cunnin'...You're not a threat to the person in power, so you're not in danger of losin' your life for suspected treachery."
Hermione blinked at him. "So, you mean to tell me that you pretended to be stupid and Malfoy's lackey all these years?" She paused a moment, "That's ingenious, if not incredibly self-degrading."
"We all do what we have to in desperate times." A rehearsed line, probably handed down by Dumbledore.
"That's very true..." Waiting a beat, she asked, "The professors were in on this, I take it?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I'd hand in two assignments and do two exams each time...Was the only way to look stupid but to get good grades..."
"But the workload!" She gasped, aghast.
Chuckling, Goyle shrugged. "It's not that hard to write a Troll-grade essay, Granger. Not for people like us, anyway."
She smiled, feeling the tension from her argument with Ron drain away. "Good point." She cocked her head to the side, "Was Malfoy aware of your charade?" She winced at the way her words sounded. "What I mean to ask is-"
"Was he using me because he thought I was stupid or was he in on it too?"
She nodded, blushing ashamedly. "I'm sorry, it was incredibly rude of me to pry. You don't need to answer..."
"S'all good..." He assured her, summoning two mugs of hot chocolate -yet another privilege for the Heads. "Draco's a good friend. Has been all me life. It was awful that he had the worst part of everything...What with his parents actually being evil 'n all...It was expected that he be the same...When we were a lot younger -just before Hogwarts- he was over at my place…see, my parents were pretending to be loyal Death Eaters in order to keep tabs on the Malfoys, and he broke down...told me his father expected the Dark Lord to rise again...told me he was expected to get the mark...Told me he wanted nout of it. Told him I felt the same. So we came up with the plan to keep us safe..." His face fell and his demeanour darkened. "Crabbe joined us at Hogwarts, the little shit...He was pulling the same act as me, to spy on us. We never gave ourselves away. As far as he knew, we really did support you-know-'oo." Goyle's lips curled into a malicious grin. "So the irony of old Voldy killing him wasn't lost on us."
Suddenly realising just how difficult things must have been for those innocents growing up in the Slytherin camp, Hermione felt a wave of guilt crash upon her. Forgetting herself, she placed a petite hand on the large, muscular boy's arm. "I'm sorry," she said. "If we'd have known..."
He closed his hand over hers. "Draco tried, you know, in first year...He was going to tell Potter, explain everything. We'd have really liked to be secret friends with him..." His large brown eyes met with Hermione's. "Draco had to act as he did around the three of you. We both did. You understand that, right?"
The Gryffindor felt incredibly torn. After all, she'd taught herself to hate the blonde Slytherin and his cronies for six years, and now she was essentially being asked to forgive and forget?
If you don't you'll be acting as childishly and narrow-mindedly as Ron was, the voice of reason nagged in her head.
She sighed. "I understand," she eventually answered, smiling at the look of relief that swept across the Slytherin's face.
"Always knew you were a bright one, Granger."
"That's a pity," she told him, pushing herself to her feet. "I would have liked to have known the same about you." She yawned, suddenly feeling the day catch up to her. "Well, Gregory, it was a pleasure to meet you, properly, I mean, and thankyou for...well...for being kind enough to tell me such personal things..."
"The pleasure's all mine, Granger." He smirked. "Now get to bed...We're sure to get a few surprises in the morning." He was, of course, referring to their Sexual Education class, and the way he spoke implied that he knew more than he was letting on.
Curious, Hermione bid him goodnight and made her way to bed.
Surprises? She thought as her head hit the pillow. I wonder what he meant...
But she was asleep before her brain could process the rest of their conversation.
-?-
"Mornin'," Gregory greeted the next day when Hermione emerged from her rooms.
She grinned. "Good morning. Why aren't you at breakfast?"
"Thought it'd be pretty rude if I took off without you."
She smiled, feeling touched. Ron had never waited for her before. She knew Harry had tried, on occasion, but had been dragged off by others. "You didn't have to."
"I know."
She observed him for a moment. "Is Malfoy as nice as you? I mean, if you were both faking it, for whatever reasons, is he as different as you are?"
"How's about you find out for yourself?" Another voice, this one familiar, asked, emerging from Goyle's rooms. Draco looked to his friend. "You're a lucky bastard, you are. Here am I, stuck with the prefect bathrooms, and you have that." He gestured behind him. He shifted his attention back to Hermione. "You've got the same set up, I'd imagine."
She nodded, unsure of how to handle the lack of malice in his tone and gaze. She couldn't help grinning, though, when he folded his arms over his chest and frowned like a petulant child. "I demand the right to drop by whenever I want."
"Er...right..." she managed.
He arched an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Granger, kneazle got your tongue?"
Ah, he still had the acerbic wit. She gathered her thoughts. "Well, it is a shock to the system, spending time in your presence without hearing the word 'mudblood'..." She smirked at him. "A pleasant shock, mind you."
"Indeed," he said, sounding very much like their Potions professor.
Speaking of..."Oh, Merlin, we're going to miss breakfast! Not to mention the fact that we'll be late for Professor Snape's class!"
The two boys rolled their eyes, reminding Hermione of Harry and Ron.
"We'll be fine, Granger. Summon an elf on the way, ask for a piece of toast, and eat it before class."
Malfoy's suggestion would have to do, she decided, summoning Dobby. He happily brought her an apple and some toast and she ate it as they made their way to the hall.
Harry and Ron glanced up as she entered, identical looks of horror upon their faces when they saw her laughing at something one of the Slytherins had said. She broke away from the other boys and dropped down at the Gryffindor table moments before Snape appeared at the podium.
"Good morning," he said, the bland sentiment taking them by surprise. It appeared he wouldn't be as awful to them as he had in previous years.
Hermione looked across the hall towards Goyle and Malfoy, then back at Snape. Another example of a war stifled personality? It didn't seem very probable. Perhaps Snape had realised the sensitive nature of this subject? Maybe Dumbledore had drummed that into him? That seemed likely enough.
"As we discussed last night, you are being prepared this year for life as a responsible adult. And while I feel that some of you should have been sterilised at birth-" here he looked disdainfully towards Harry and Ron, "- this subject aims to introduce you to domestic life with wives, husbands and, most importantly, children."
Hermione watched him in silence, ignoring the whispers of her peers. She felt her heart race when he told them of their assessment. They were to be paired with a compatible partner -the sorting hat would choose- and would then be put through a mock child-rearing ordeal. Naturally, with the aid of magic, this would be incredibly realistic, and they would be required to keep journals and write an analytical exposition for their graded assessment.
It was unlike anything she'd encountered before, and suddenly she felt nervous. She'd excel in the theory, she always did, but in practice? You couldn't learn maternal instincts. You couldn't be taught how to look after a child.
The professor was talking again, and she forced herself to listen. "It is also important for those of you who have been muggle-raised to note that male-pregnancy can occur if wizards are coupling. Magic, as you well know, is complex and intricate and it runs through your veins. So, for those of you whom happen to be of homosexual persuasion, do not assume that an accidental pregnancy will never be possible. It is as possible between two wizards as it is a wizard and a witch. Two witches may even conceive, if the magic -and arousal- between them is strong enough."
He continued on, explaining that if two compatible wizards or witches are discovered, by the sorting hat, to be of the same persuasion, it was likely they would be paired together. Yes, it meant that there was a possibility that 'closeted' wizards and witches would be 'outed', but this course was designed to prepare them for their lives after school, and not someone else's. It would be like living a lie for some, if they were forced to pair with another person of an incompatible gender. Hence, if you had secrets, you'd best prepare yourself for the worst. Even hidden crushes, where compatible, would most likely be revealed. After all, vague attraction from both parties was essential in the base level of compatibility. It wouldn't be the be-all and end-all, but attraction would have to be present for partners to be considered compatible and, inevitably, placed together.
Hermione heaved a sigh of relief; there was nothing the Hat could do to her that would display her secrets to the school.
"Line up and, when your name is called, place the Hat on your head. Once everyone has been read partners will be called."
Professor Dumbledore brought in the Sorting Hat, and Severus eyed it suspiciously, daring it to break into song. When it refrained from doing so, Severus' suspicions grew. The lesson was going rather well; Dumbledore was clearly planning something vile.
Names were called and students stepped forward to be analysed. The entire process took three quarters of an hour, with some students barely touching the hat before being told it was done and others sitting beneath it for minutes at a time.
When the final student -a Hufflepuff- had returned to her seat, Dumbledore took over.
He placed the hat on its customary stool, and announced that the partners would be called. Shooting a knowing glance at the Potions Master, he then informed the class that they were not to complain if their partner was someone they didn't know, or didn't quite get along with all the time, as the Hat deemed them compatible, and clearly read some level of pre-existing attraction from both parties. He also muttered something under his breath that neither Severus nor the students caught, but the Hat had opened what represented its mouth, and the partners were declared, allowing the students to stand and wait in a line for the next phase, as directed.
"Weasely, Ronald!" The Hat eventually cried, naming the first of the Terrible Trio.
Severus watched the boy straighten his back and eye his potential partners.
"And," the Hat continued, "Abbott, Hannah."
The Weasley boy heaved a sigh of relief before bounding over to the line.
The next couple was relatively insignificant, just the Parkinson girl and a Ravenclaw boy. And Severus couldn't even remember teaching the two witches paired after that.
The numbers were thinning by the second and he received a jolt of shock when "Potter, Harry!" was paired with "Goyle, Gregory!" Though it was interesting to see Weasley have a conniption. Granger looked mildly taken aback, but merely arched her eyebrow when the near-behemoth shot her a 'told you so' look.
Speaking of the know-it-all, she was the only girl left seated. Amongst...one...two...two boys. And, upon closer inspection, he recollected that he'd caught those same two boys in an abandoned classroom doing inappropriate things with one another the previous year. Which left "Granger, Hermione!" with...
"Snape, Severus!" Exclaimed the Hat.
He reeled backwards. Merlin, no!
The cry flew from his lips at the precise moment as it did the Granger girl.
"Headmaster!"
-?-
"This is utterly preposterous!" Severus paced the Headmaster's office, completely livid.
The Granger girl's eyes blazed as she nodded. "I concur, Professor. A relationship -even a mock relationship- between a student and teacher is expressly forbidden by the school charter and-"
Albus shook his head. "Recently amendments have been made to the charter, to allow equal opportunities for all students taking part in this assessment-"
"Why would you do such a thing?" Snape hissed. "This is immoral and highly unfair for the both of us. I wasn't even made aware of my details, my personal information, being placed into the hat! And the students weren't notified of the possibility..." He trailed off. "You've gone too far this time, Albus!"
"Now, now, my child..." Dumbledore wasn't at all fazed by this tirade, "All of the staff were entered into the system. The numbers of students were uneven...It was lucky that there was a match made at all. Luckier still that it is a believable match."
"Have you gone completely insane? She is 20 years my junior! She is my student! She is Potter's little girlfriend and a Gryffindor! Not that this should even be an issue, but how is a match between us even vaguely believable?"
"You are both brilliant academics, my boy. You both strive for success and knowledge...You are both also quite stubborn and hot tempered, which insinuates that you are both rather passionate souls, and, clearly, you must find each other somewhat attractive if the hat found you suitable for one another…" Albus stared down the bridge of his nose. "Should I continue?"
"No, sir, I'm willing to wager that neither the Professor nor I wish to hear any more." Hermione avoided Severus' gaze, her cheeks burning.
The Potions Master's cheeks were flushed, too, though his with anger where hers were tinged with embarrassment. "With no offence to our esteemed Head Girl, I wish to correct your assumption that there is even the slightest possibility that I might find her attractive. She is my student, for Merlin's sake! If I were to have noticed anything about her physical appearance, I'd have resigned by now! I am not a lecherous old man, and I take offense that you might even suggest it."
And if all of that wasn't enough, he hardly believed that a 17 year old would even consider looking twice at him in that manner. He was the Greasy Git. The Bat of the dungeons. His hair was lank and oily, his teeth crooked and yellowing, and his nose incredibly off skew. No young woman in her right mind would think of him as physically appealing. Not when surrounded by young men like the Malfoy boy. A spitting image of his father, Draco Malfoy had the ability to make any girl swoon. It was an ability Severus never possessed, not even in his youth. Certainly, as he aged, his reputation as an extremely able lover began to turn heads where his looks could not…but, here at Hogwarts, he kept news of his talents hidden. He had no compulsion to chase his students, after all.
Albus had taken some time to ponder his response. Perhaps that meant that he, Severus, and the Granger girl were saved. However, his hopes were dashed when the old fool finally spoke.
"Severus, my boy, in your circumstance it was not Miss Granger specifically the hat found you attracted to, but, rather, she must have fallen into the criteria of physical traits you see appealing when you do go on the prowl." His eyes were twinkling annoyingly. "I realise that you are both uncomfortable by this revelation, however, the decision has been made and cannot be reversed. Severus, you will not be required to teach this subject after all. In fact, you will not be allowed to teach Miss Granger full stop. Instead, you will take on the role as her partner. She requires one, after all, in order to pass the subject."
Snape glowered. How dare the old man threaten her so! Afterall, this was a compulsory subject, and, were a student to fail, they would not graduate, and would be forced to repeat; something which he knew would crush the Granger girl. Though he'd kept it to himself, she was the one female student in this particular year's graduating class whose work and dedication he admired. Though her 'know-it-all' attitude had once irked him, he now thrived for those moments in his classroom. One single student with enthusiasm for his subject existed, and made teaching those classes seem almost worthwhile. But now…Now the headmaster was taking that away, and placing them both in an awkward and, by all accounts, unfair situation.
"Damn you, Albus. Can you not foresee the ridicule she will face?" He spun to look at the girl he was being forced upon. Her cheeks were red, her gaze towards her feet…She was uncomfortable, humiliated and most likely close to tears. A wave of sympathy washed over him. It was not fair for an innocent child to be brought into his and the headmaster's petty games. In that moment, he knew that he would not allow himself to be played by the old fool any longer. If the man wanted him to leave, he would. But it would be on his own terms.
A plan forming in his mind, Severus nodded in acknowledgement of Albus' silence. "Very well, Headmaster. I can see that neither of us has a choice in this matter."
The old man cocked his head. Was Snape going to quit? He was surprised when the next sentence spoken was quite the opposite.
"Come, Miss Granger. You must be informed of the rest of this subjects requirements. We cannot have our Head Girl suffering any more setbacks, can we?"
Startled, she looked up at him, processing his kind words. "No, Sir…Thankyou, Sir." She turned and faced the Headmaster, as if seeing him properly for the first time. His decidedly Slytherin darkness was now more than evident to the girl. "Good day, Headmaster." Her tone was crisp. "Thank you for shedding some light on this for me."
As Albus bid them both farewell, he could sense that not all would be going to plan after all…And that just would not do.
A/N- Right, let me know…do you want more? Is it absolute shite? What can I do to make it better?