Chapter 2:
Mystery Theories
Disclaimer: If you really need another disclaimer go back and re read first chapter.
A/N: While we are happy to see that so many people have read this story we would really appreciate some feedback. Hope you continue to read. First reviewer per chapter will get a cookie! Now on with what you've all been waiting for.
Story Start:
In The Great Hall
"All prefects lead your houses to the dormitories. The feast is now over!" McGonagall yelled over the roaring din of the great hall. The buzz of student conversation died down as the young witches and wizards left the hall; speculation at the staff table, however, continued unabated. McGonagall herself was lost in thought, and so at first she did not hear some of the more absurd and creative ideas floating around the staff table. Professor Flitwick, however, did; he appeared caught between laughter and disapproval. Finally, however, one particularly preposterous theory penetrated through to the Assistant Headmistress and she came out of her reverie. "Oh, don't be absurd!" she snapped. "Is it truly so hard to imagine that Severus was, in fact, married at one time? Or that Albus, in all of his years, never had a life beyond these walls? Really!" She stood up and glared around the table, looking for a moment quite as fierce as Snape. "And gossiping about another Professor! Have you no shame, Sybil?" Professor Trelawney looked down her nose at the other woman, but McGonagall simply shook her head. "I swear, I have seen better behavior out of the students we teach!" She turned and swept out, heading toward the Gryffindor Common Room and her new charges.
The Gryffindor Common Room
The common room, however, was equally abuzz. The only topic being discussed was the mysterious woman who had entered the great hall. Poor Neville was still in shock; he stood in the middle of the Common Room, his eyes wide in shock, unmoving. He, at least, had put two and two together and knew that he was doomed; after all, anyone who liked Snape was bound to share some of his attitudes.
"She'll eat me alive," he moaned, clearly terrified.
"She's Dumbledore's daughter? I didn't even know he had one," said Ron dumbfounded once again at his lack of information.
"What's even weirder was how she addressed Snape; I mean have you ever heard anyone refer to him like that? I mean the most informal I've ever heard anyone call him is when Dumbledore calls him by his first name," Harry pointed out. "No one would dare call him anything else; he'd have their head, but he just accepted it from her. Not only that, but it almost seemed like the most natural thing in the world for her to call him. It was like she didn't even think about it."
"That's just it, Harry, I don't think she did think about it." replied Hermione "Have you ever seen anyone genuinely smile at Professor Snape? As if they were happy to see him? Excluding Professor Dumbledore, of course, he smiles at everyone. I mean, did you notice anything different about him, like the look on his face and the way his voice sounded? It's clear that there's something going on between the two. I think she must be his girlfriend if not possibly his wife." Harry gave her a slightly disgusted look; Ron was a bit more vocal.
"Oh my God, Hermione that's just gross," remarked Ron. "I mean who'd want to date Snape, not to mention marry him? That's just wrong!" That's just great: the greasy bat of the dungeons might be married and I can't even get a girlfriend. The thought was written all over Ron's face; Harry gave him a sympathetic pat and grimaced.
"What I want to know is how Snape got a woman like that! I mean he's ugly as anything and a completely evil bastard. How'd he get her to fall for him? I want to know his secret!" said Dean, utterly astonished with the fact that Snape could have a girlfriend that didn't look Umbridge, but more like one of those muggle models.
"Can you imagine having to kiss Snape?" asked Lavender.
Simultaneous "Ewwwwws" and "Gross" were heard throughout the room.
"Well she must enjoy it seeing as she jumped into his arms without any protest," answered Parvati Patil.
From there the conversation just kept going downhill until Natalie McDonald screamed, "I don't want to hear speculations about that particular part of Snape's love life! The images, oh God the images, get them out, get them out, get them OUT! I'm going to have nightmares and it's all thanks to you two! Oh God, that's wrong, sick and wrong!" She ran to the bathroom looking green.
"I think Natalie's right, that's enough of that," said Hermione to the dead silence of the common room.
"Well what was that about her being dead? I didn't know people could come back to life," said one of the second years.
"They can't, at least, not that I'm aware of. I guess we'll just have to wait and see at breakfast tomorrow," stated Hermione. "Speaking of which we'd all better head to bed, it's almost midnight and we've been talking for more than four hours already. Good night everyone." Everyone else followed her example and headed for the dormitories unsure of what tomorrow would bring. One thing was certain; there was never a dull moment or uneventful year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Sorry about the short chapter, but real life has a nasty habit of interfering with writing; one of us was moving and the other didn't have the requisite program to submit this thing.