That evening, Severus sighed as he watched me from the High Table in the Great Hall. I was eating and just happened to glance up to see him staring. Severus sighed again and finished eating. After dinner I left to go back to the Gryffindor dorms when Severus blocked the door. "Come with me."
"Is there something wrong, Professor?"
The Potions Master took a deep breath. "No, Miss Jones."
"Then if you don't mind, I would like to get some sleep."
Severus coughed and cleared his throat. "I wish to speak to you about why you saved my life."
"Yes?"
"Not out here." He snapped. The professor grabbed my hand and guided me down the staircase and to his classroom.
"What is it, sir?"
Severus was just inches from me within seconds. His obsidian eyes bored into me with potency. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Severus sighed heavily. "Perhaps you would care to recall your reasoning for this?"
"You would've died, sir." I retorted.
He shot me a glare. "Obviously..." Severus exhaled. "Of course you had the proper motivation to. But most would not bother rushing to my aid."
The Potions Master circled me. "I believe you are sympathetic, compassionate and kindhearted to others. Was it only because I would have died, Miss Jones?"
"Yes!" I shouted, causing Severus to frown at me. "And you were most ungrateful!"
He sighed deeply. "That is a fable, Miss Jones. It is not as if you will understand my perspective. If you were offended, I apologize. However, you did receive my gratitude and I am genuinely indebted to you."
"Then why are you so horrible to everyone else here?"
Severus eyed me sternly. "You know nothing about me, Miss Jones."
"Your reputation proceeds you, sir." I shot back.
He gave me a stoic look before sighing loudly. "I would not call you into my classroom to waste my own valuable time, Miss Jones. I am afraid you are mistaken if you believe so."
"Instead of telling me you suspect that I saved you because I love you." I told him vehemently.
Severus drew in a deep breath and sighed it from his lungs. His expression was unreadable but he gazed at me for seemingly an eternity.
A few long moments passed between us before his silk voice cut the tension. "Precisely."
"I hate to disappoint you but you are incorrect, Professor." I told him as I turned away.
The Potions Master inhaled sharply and let out his breath slowly as if he was relieved. "Very well, Miss Jones. You may leave now." Severus frowned at me as I left, as though in deep thought. Little did I know he wasn't buying my answer.
