Disclaimer : The Harry Potter Universe does not belong to me and I do not make any money from this story.
As I don't have a lot of free time, this story will only be updated once every month (I will post one chapter the 1st of every month), and I already have a few chapters written up.
Sorry for my english, it is not my mother language.
Enjoy the story ;)
Hogwarts 2 July 1994
Severus Snape, Master of Potion at Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was finishing a batch of potion against the cold for the school hospital wing. Tomorrow would be the first day of the Summer Holiday and he would be free from the ban of his existence : Harry Potter. It sounded almost too good to be true.
Today was the graduation day for the 7th year. Every year, after the others student went home on the last day of June, the 7th year would stay two more days. The first day, they would just roam around the castle one more time, during the lunch they would all eat at the same table, their uniform bare of their house crest. It was their last day as children, the last time of innocence. It had been the case for Snape. The day after the graduation ceremony he had taken the Dark Lord's second day, as in today, they had the graduation itself. It was the only day, family members were allowed in the school ground. For the Muggle born student, it was an occasion to bring their loved one in the world, for the other it was the time for an unofficial class reunion. It was almost unbelievable the number of deal made during this day. The ceremony was held in the ground, near the lake . They would sit on white chairs, listening to the headmaster's speech, then the head girl's speech, then the head boy's speech. Snape had been bored out of his mind, like every year , but as the head of the Slytherin house, his presence was mandatory.
If Snape was honest with himself, he didn't completely hated teaching, well to the upper class anyway. He enjoyed seeing the most promising of his pupils becoming successful in their own area of expertise. He rejoiced reading good article or thesis, written by his former student. Like this Ravenclaw's girl, Laura Johnson. She had obtained an apprenticeship with a potion master in Paris. Snape had helped her writing her application to enter the program. Laura was good, she was even very good. She wanted to specialized in healing potion and she would do great. But she wasn't as good as he was. Snape was not bragging, he was the best in his field. After all, there was a reason Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort was fighting over his talent.
A light knock on the door surprised him out of his thoughts. Snape couldn't help to wonder who it was, at this time everyone should be outside with their family, only a few hours were left before the departure of the Hogwart express.
With a flick of his wrist, the door banged open. Percy Weasley was standing there, looking at him warily from the doorstep.
« - Hello, Mr Weasley, what can I do for you ? Shouldn't you be celebrating outside with your family ? » Snape snarled at the young man standing in front of him. Truth to be told, he didn't hate him as much as the other Weasley. Percy was very smart, and very powerful. Was it not for his look, he would have thought the young man to have been adopted.
« - Professor »said Weasley entering the room shyly . Percy Weasley was always looking shy . Almost disturbingly shy considering the rest of his family . « I came to thank you, for everything you did for me »
Snape had been helping Percy, for some research. He had been surprised the first time Percy came to him at the end of his 6th year. He had laugh at him, refused to help a Gryffindor and a Weasley. But the young man had come again and again, always with new documents, new theory . Percy had impressed him and at the end he had begrudgingly agreed to help him. After his sister had been taken (and rescued) to the chamber of secret, Percy had taken upon himself to become more knowledgeable. He wanted to understand every way of magic, he needed it. Of course, the Dark Art was a part of Magic and he had asked Snape for this part of his learning .
« - I heard you got a job at the ministry » Snape couldn't comprehend why the young man wanted to work at the ministry, when he could do so much more, but he was a Weasley after all. If he wanted to work under Cornelius Fudge, who was he to stop him.
« - I know you are disappointed with me » continued Weasley in a quiet voice, almost inaudible. « But it's what I want to do. It's what I always wanted to be »
« - It's your choice, your life Mr Weasley. This is not my place to be disappointed or not. »
Percy smiled sadly, and Snape could have sworn his eyes were a little bit too shiny.
« -I won't forget what you teached me Professor. And I will continue my research during my spare time. »
Snape hadn't realised that during their talk, Percy had come closer. So close that he could feel the breath of the other man on his face. Then Percy Weasley kissed him. It was a light kiss, a brush of the young man's lips against his own.
Snape was too stunned to react. Then Percy turned away and went away to the door, almost running. Before he left the room, he turned around and said :
« - Thank you once again Professor . I hope you will be safe. »
With this last, not so cryptic words, Percy Weasley was gone. And while Snape brought his hand to his lips, he thought that bright blue eyes might haunt him for a little longer.
