Yen, here is the result of one of the ideas I tossed at you. Happy New Years, a bit early.

Title: Taken out of Context

Rating : G

Author: sheankelor

Word Count: 100 x 5

Challenge:snarry100 prompt challenge 354: What if?

AN: Not betaed. These things have become their own little universe... So, here is the next installment to the Professors' Universe.

This is actually a section that became it's own minor series in the universe.

Disclaimer: None of the characters nor the universe are mine. I'm just weaving tales for pleasure not money.

Taken out of Context

"Ling said it?"

"He was in Diagon yesterday and said he saw it."

"He saw a snake chasing a dragon's tail?"

Harry stopped at the corner of the hall listening to the students.

"It was in the Alley. There wouldn't be a real dragon there."

"So, Ling was speaking in code? The snake could be Professor Snape. He was out of the school yesterday."

"Then what dragon tail was he chasing?"

Harry's eyes widened. 'What if it was...'

"Draco Malfoy. His name means dragon."

"Snape is after Malfoy's tail?"

Harry leaned against the wall. What if it was true?

(o.o)

Severus scowled at the looks being thrown at him by the students. He shifted his scowl to his plate. 'Draco would have a fit if he knew of the rumor.'

Glaring at the Gryffindor table, he checked to see Potter's reaction to the rumors. 'It doesn't matter. He wouldn't care if I was chasing Draco.'

He masked his surprise at the scowl that was hovering near Potter's eyes. 'What if he does care? He can't care. He hasn't said or done a thing to show that he even thinks about me in passing since he started teaching here this year.'

(o.o)

Harry watched as Snape swept through the throng of students that seemed to be trying to cling to his robe but keep a safe distance. He could tell they were hunting for some evidence that the rumor was true. As he watched, his gut told him that it wasn't.

Severus almost hexed the students that were getting too close. Increasing the strength of his glare, he cleared a path through the throng. He caught sight of Potter watching, sympathy and understanding in his eyes. "What if I did hex the students? Would he still sympathize?' He thought Potter just might.

(o.o)

Escaping Hogwarts, Harry strode down Diagon looking for a quick place to get a bite. He spotted an oriental restaurant and decided to try it. As he settled at one of the small tables, his eyes were attracted to the place mat. Across the top was an Asian Cloud Dragon rushing across being followed by a snake. When the dragon was gone, the snake coiled up and a banner proclaiming the Year of the Snake appeared above it. Then it repeated.

'The snake is chasing the dragon.' His eyes widened. What if this was what Ling had been talking about?

(o.o)

With the place mat folded and tucked in a pocket, Harry hurried through Hogwarts. He needed to show this to Snape. It didn't matter if the man still hated him. No one deserved to be hounded by a rumor. All the what if's were gone.

Harry touched the paper and smiled. He could finally help Snape.

Severus shut the door behind Minerva. He finally convinced her that the rumors were not true without giving anything else away. 'She doesn't need to know that my interests are a lot closer than she believed. Now she wants me to handle the rumor.'