Chapter 2
Sneaky Smart Gryffindor
The next day goes as usual, boring and dull. The only light in the day is knowing that I get to see Grace again tonight. In fact this is all I can think about as I eat my dinner. I look over to Grace. She seems just as anxious as I do. She is practically breathing in her food. I smile to myself as I watch her get up and skip out of the Great Hall.
Unlike her I fear chocking and finish my food at a regular human's pace. I get up soon after she has left though and head for the library. When I get there she is already waiting for me at the perfect table. I walk in and directly to the table.
"Hello my dear. So, what do you need help with?" I take the seat directly across from her and pull out my books and place them on the table.
"I need help with the wordless summoning charm. Whenever I try it the object only moves about an inch then just stops." I nod, it's a common problem when you start out with that spell, you have to concentrate very hard. Which, although a very interesting Gryffindor… she is still just that, a Gryffindor. Her attention skills do not match that of a Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
I begin my instructions and am pleased with how excited she seems to learn this. She honestly wants to do well with this and that is a very commendable quality.
We go on with the lesson until she has it down to near perfection. And then as we work on separate assignments our conversation moves on to more personal matter. I'm surprised with how much we have in common and how much we truly get along. It's almost as I we were siblings in a past life… maybe something more. It's exciting to have a friend like her.
The conversation comes to a companionable lull and I start reading up on a potions essay due next week. I've read about two pages when she asks me a question.
"Sev? Why is it that we don't feel we should be together as a couple? We obviously get along, am I not your type… do you have a type?" I'm caught so off guard my face turns a dark red… I can feel it. It was never something I really thought about. I was enjoying her company so much I never bothered to think about how she must perceive this friendship. She seems very much okay with the fact that I'm not showing an attraction to her. Honestly it's a very reasonable question… but… how to answer it?
"I… I… you would defiantly be my type…" It's true… if I liked women I would have fallen in love with her last night I'm sure.
"If?..." I shake my head and look back down at my book. Stupid girls… stupid Gryffindor girls. Always see through me! I try to pretend for a few moments this isn't happening… can I avoid the question. I don't want to lose her friendship just because she knows I'm gay… would she do that? Gah… this is infuriating!
Apparently not… she's laughing at me.
"It's because you already have agirl isn't it? Is there a bird you were sneaking off to try and see yesterday? Maybe follow her around the Library?" My head snaps up instantly. WHAT? A girl she makes it sound as if I go around skulking and stocking people!I sneer at her. This cannot be happening.
"Do NOT repeat that assumption to anyone! I was not off to go stock a girl!" My eyes narrow into a dangerous glare that I hope appears most sinister.
To my ultimate horror she smirks at me…. She actually smirks! "Oh… not a bird eh? … You know, for a Slytherin you aren't a very good liar." WHAT! Is she kidding me right now? Damn her! I am too a good liar… just not to her….
"Leafling… I'm warning you. Keep those pretty little lips of yours shut!" She glares back at me. Whatever, she can glare all she wants!
"Or what! And what's with the use of my sir name? You think that's intimidating Snape?" Actually I had hoped it was just a little… my glare deepens as hers does… a starring contest ensues.
Suddenly the glare fades from her face and turns into the most devious sneer possibly imaginable… it puts mine to shame!
"Was it a bloke then? You can tell me. I won't judge you." Gods! Really? I hope that means she doesn't have a problem with me being gay because I can tell she won't let this alone until she has a very clear answer and apparently I can't lie to her very well.
I try one last time to be threatening. "What do you know Grace?"
She puts her hands up in a surrender position… I'm not falling for it so quickly. "I know nothing, I just know people." Screw that. She is positively Slytherin the way she examines people and reads them like books!
I can feel my twitch in frustration and I lean back in my chair with a sigh. "Women are impossible. Lily does the same thing, sees right through me without even having to look!" The Librarian shushes us. Grace mouths 'sorry' and looks back at me. God these Gryffindor women!
"So who is the lucky bloke that gets to have those black lusty pools you call eyes staring at him?" What did she just call my eyes? Wow she is good… irritating… but good!
I honestly can't help but grin at the description and she returns it. She knows that was a ridicules way to describe my eyes. I shake it off… I'm annoyed! "No one, it's no one."
"Didn't I just tell you… you're a very bad liar, your cheeks get all rosy when you lie about things like this? So are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?" It's pointless I have to tell her.
I cross my arms over my chest and glare as I decide for sure whether or not to tell her. If I do what will she think of me? I'm in lust with the two most whorish men in this school! She will think I am absolutely crazy for liking them… will she stop being my friend because of it?
"Fine I'll guess… give me a hint!" I rub my eyes, this is only slightly better than having to tell her out right.
"There are two men that have peaked my interest this year, both of which are in our year. There is one from each of our houses."
"Hmmm… are they similar in appearance?"
I sigh. "No, they are actually quiet opposite in their looks other than they are both very handsome." It's true… unfortunately.
She purses her lips as she considers the possibilities. "Sev… it isn't Black is it?"
My eyes get wide and as I look down at the table trying to avoiding eye contact. "But, just yesterday you were ready to go hex him for calling me a freak! And you spent the last five years making each other as miserable as possible. You're nutters!"
"Ugh don't you think I know that! You think I want to faun over him like those other dotty girls! I mean you weren't stupid enough to faun all over him! Why did I have to be! Last night I was trying to get down to the quidditch pitch to watch him practice!" She smirks but nods. I'm so embarrassed!
"There is something magnetic about the stupid git! Everyone knows he's trouble, but still all the girls and some boys just can't keep their hands off of him!" She leans over and squeezes my shoulder… a gesture I appreciate. "If I were just slightly more… normal, maybe I would be drooling over him too." I finally lift my head and look at her. She gives me a little smile to try to reassure me… I'm not quiet buying it I know I'm crazy for liking him. "So… you going to tell me who the other bloke is, or do I have to guess again?"
What's the point she knows about Black who is the worse out of the two of them. I take a deep breath and as I let it out I say the name. "I'm sorry, what was that?" Gods! I can't deal with this.
I roll my eyes. "You are not good for me! You're going to get me sent to Madam Pomfrey for a headache potion!" I rub my eyes and look at her feeling very defeated. "Lucius Malfoy."
"Isn't he dating that Narcissa girl?"… yes?
"Oh because that would stop him from getting a shag from anyone willing and able." It's very true and I think she knows it too. She's a Slytherin though… she knows she wins in the end because she's going to be the one married to him.
"Is that all you want? A shag? You picked the two most shag worthy and shagable men in the whole school! So it's either you're horney or you're like a masochist or something. You picked the two men that are not good enough for you! All Black wants is to have sex and hex people he thinks aren't cool enough. And Malfoy is going to marry Narcissa but in the mean time is willing to sleep with everyone else? Really Severus? I know we haven't been friends long but I love you like a brother, and I will not stand by and watch them torment you."
She is soooo right it isn't even a little funny. I must be a masochist.
I pout and can't help but feel sorry for myself. I want to get a boyfriend! It's not my fault my brain and my cock are saying two different things! She starts to talk again and I listen of course. "Look… Lucius, forget him. He's an arse. He'll marry Narcissa because she'll look best on his arm at Ministry events." I know I must look absolutely pathetic at her words. "Black… however, I know he will do anything to make his parents unhappy. He loves anything that will make his mother furious. You for instance would make her turn permanently plum colored!" This seems like a promising line of conversation… I'm all ears. "We just have to show him how sexy and brilliant you are underneath the Slytherin sneer! We'll get you a haircut and a new robe and teach you to walk this school like you own it. Black won't know what hit him! Then before long he'll be begging you for a shag and then a lifelong love affair!" It sounds too good to be true.
"How? Grace, this is madness! I will never be desirable." This also seems too true.
She squeezes my shoulder again it's very comforting. "I'll teach you. They say those who can't do teach! I'll bet I can get him to drool over you by Christmas break." I can't help but be very hopeful she's right. I have been trying for years now to not like Black… but it is very hard.
"You're just as nutters as I am Leafling." I smile warmly at her. I can tell she likes the smile, she seems happy that I'm not brooding anymore.
"Maybe I am, but that's why we make such good friends right?" I grab her hand and squeeze it. What would I do without her? It seems strange that I got through so much of this place without her.
"Yeah, the best of friends. I'm not sure how I've made it all these years without that laugh around. No wonder Lily is always in such a good bloody mood!" We're laughing again. We can't control ourselves which is when the Librarian kicks us out.
We walk out still laughing. "Good night Grace. Sleep well my dear. Save me a seat in potions okay?" I have a new skip in my step even if she wasn't serious about giving me a makeover I know she will try to help me get over Black if nothing else.
"Of course!" I hug her tightly and kiss her on the forehead before turning to go down towards the dungeons.
I walk calmly with a new air of rightness. Although I had my rough patches today, I think it ended on a good note. I hope she can help me.
Yay for adorable friends! Comment on it… because I like comments!
