I do not own Harry Potter.
June 09
SPA
Part 2
Christmas was over and classes resumed. Snape hadn't seen Jane since the Yule Ball, and wondered how she looked the rest of the time. He didn't have to wait long, she was at the staff table before him, long before him as he noticed an empty plate, half a cup of strong coffee and she was a few pages into the newspaper. Jane was dressed quite strangely for a practical teacher, she wore a suit with a knee-length skirt, it was black and so she still looked rather acceptable to the eye in most cases.
He did not disturb her as she continued reading, when she finished she seemed quite surprised to find him next to her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Paper?" She offered.
"No thank you, one more Rita Skeeter article and I will be put off my food," he replied.
"Not a fan then?" Asked Jane.
"Are you?" He asked.
"I can't deny that it's amusing to read. It's obvious half of it isn't even her own work and that most of the information is under or over exaggerated," she replied.
"Be grateful you don't have to teach anyone in forth year or over, although if you are still here next year, you will be expected to referee a few quiddich matches," he said.
"Of course, though I have heard that other teachers are capable of the task," she said.
"Not unless I absolutely have to," growled Snape.
"Alright, you made your point, I'll do it," she said.
"It's part of your job description," he added.
Jane rolled her eyes slightly. Snape either didn't notice or pretended that he didn't. The teachers left before the bell rang and Jane was thrilled to start teaching. She split the first years into teams of seven and they all smiled at her hopefully.
"Alright, organize your teams into what position you feel comfortable with. Any problems?" She asked.
"Were you ever on a team?"
"That isn't a problem, but yes I was and I warn you all now, I'm not easy to please," she replied.
For first years, Jane found them not bad, but not good either, especially the keepers. She got her own broom out and sat on it sidewards on, but still managed to block, effortlessly. Other students inside looking out of the window, stopped listening to their teachers and slowly stood up. Jane challenged all of her class to try and get passed her, before giving the chance to someone else, one slip up and the next person and so on.
"She is hot!"
Professor McGonagall, hit the boy with a rolled up piece of parchment. By the end of the day, the school was a buzz with what they had seen from their new flying teacher, but no one could keep up with the excitement of the first years, something Snape was not impressed with as he heard whispers.
"Did you see her? I thought one of us would do it, but she was quick,"
"It was only a school broom too,"
"She didn't cheat at all,"
"She's good, she shouldn't be teaching, she should be in the premiere somewhere,"
Finally the potions teacher, lost his temper.
"Quiet! How do you expect to learn if all you do is go on about flying all day?" He asked coldly.
By the time dinner was served, Snape glared at Jane, but knew he couldn't really challenge her popularity without seeming unfair, so he decided on a different approach.
"If you carry on with your lessons, the captains will struggle at tryouts by next year, because all the second years have been taught by an international player," he said, quietly.
"I wasn't that good today, I was trying to let them win," she said.
"Oh really? I am so glad my classroom has no windows and isn't on a higher floor," he said.
Sure enough, Jane was given a few cautions by other teachers, who were not happy about the disruption of their own classes. Snape smirked slightly, the trouble with perfection was too much attention, which in turn made her slightly unpopular.
"I'm sorry, but I can't not teach. I don't wish to be rude, but maybe use some blinds or something?" She said.
"I suppose, perhaps you are right," agreed Professor McGonagall.
Snape could have chocked on his potatoes. She had managed to appease Professor McGonagall, to make matters worse, she even took things further.
"Would you like me to fix your classroom?" She added.
Poor Snape, was put right off his food. Professor McGonagall smiled and shook her head, but thanked her for offering. He found it sickening. Jane had disrupted a day of classes and yet she still managed to stay in every one's good books. He thought for a moment of mentioning the mood that the first years were in when they came to his classroom, but he wouldn't put it passed her to get around him, so refused to give her the satisfaction.
"You can do my blinds Professor! Magical eye or not the second my back is turned, I found them all eyes glued the window," complained Professor Moody.
"Not to worry, I will see to it as soon as I've finished eating. Let me know if anyone else needs a hand please," she said.
When Jane turned, Snape saw Moody smirk at her. Clearly he didn't trust her either. Then again, the man was suspicious of any Slytherin, incase they had deatheater connections, which Snape was pretty sure that she did, however he hadn't seen or recalled seeing the dark mark on her arm at the Yule Ball, then again he knew full well that witches could hide any marks they didn't want showing temporarily and he knew that he hadn't met every deatheater who ever served Voldemort.
Snape eventually followed Jane to the defence against the dark arts classroom. He notice her shut the door, but he managed to open it a touch, silently. He saw her roll up her sleeves as she began to black out windows with her wand, when she turned her left arm to his direction, he smirked. Jane had once been a deatheater, he knew it. He knew her butter wouldn't melt attitude was a big mask, he couldn't help himself. He let himself in and she turned to him quickly and quickly pulled down her sleeves.
"I wouldn't bother. I know," he said.
"How dare you?" She asked.
He glared at her and rolled his own sleeve up. Jane looked uncomfortable.
"Been hurting hasn't it?" He asked.
"I know," she said coldly.
"Will you run?" He asked.
"No," she replied.
"Interesting," he said.
"What's the point? If he wants to kill me he'll do it sooner or later," she said.
Snape smirked at her,
"We'll see," he said.
"What the hell is your problem?" She asked.
"You might have everyone else fooled with your polite and good attitude, but I know otherwise. I assume the headmaster does know?" He asked.
"He never asked," she replied.
"You were never caught, you never even stood trial did you? He's going to be really pleased with you," he said.
"Worry about your own fortune Severus and leave me to mine," she said.
Snape narrowed his eyes, then smirked at her.
"You know what makes this so amusing? The fact that I must be the only person you have shown a not to sweetness and like side towards," he said.
Jane smirked back at him.
"Imagine how nice I can be, with my life on the line. I am how I am just to keep my job and keep everyone unaware of me," she said.
Snape shook his head at her. To make matters worse, he found her to be a very suddenly accomplished wandless-magic witch. The windows all became blocked with one movement of her hand.
"I think we're done here, thank you for your help," she added.
Jane had suddenly gone back to innocent and charming, but her eyes spelled trouble.
"Pull the other one," he said, coldly.
"There must be another side to you somewhere, you can't be the moody, potions Professor, all day can you?" She asked.
"Whether I am or not, you shall never know," he replied.
"Come now Severus, don't hate me, we're not so different," she said.
"I never said I hated you or otherwise, Madame Hargreaves. I was just pointing out that you haven't done a good job of keeping your secrets so far," he said.
"Oh I have, there is one thing I know you cannot possibly suspect. I have been far too careful, I'm quite comfortable with the idea that you know who I was, and that I'm not all that I seem, but more than you will ever know," she added.
"I could find out if I wanted to," he threatened.
"I am probably just as skilled at occlumency as you are legimancy," she added.
Snape instantly tested her, but sure enough he got nowhere, other than a very childish scene of her making fun of someone. He stopped what he was doing.
"That was quick," she said.
"Impressive, is there no end to your talents?" he asked sarcastically.
"Necessities Severus," she replied.
There was a cough at the door. Professor Moody returned to his classroom and Jane smiled at him and gestured to his room.
"What do you think?" She asked.
"That you and Snape need to find another room to talk in," he replied.
Jane looked slightly uncomfortable as she left. Snape went his way and she went her own, both quite tired of each other's company and challenges.
Later that night, there was a knock at Jane's door. She just placed a wedding photo beside her bed and left to answer the door. The groom was a young, blonde, haired wizard, with grey eyes and the bride had long, brown, hair with blue eyes, it was Jane, but the man she had married, was not really Mr. Hargreaves.
Jane opened the door and almost screamed, a hand was placed over her mouth and forced her back into her quarters.
"Don't say anything," he ordered.
The man removed his hand.
"You, you, are supposed, to, be, dead," she said breathlessly.
"What can I say? Recognize this?" He asked.
He showed her the wooden leg and the magical eye. He then took out a hip-flask.
"Barty, you're not?" She asked.
"Oh yes, I am and I always have been. I prayed you would notice at Christmas, I wanted to tell you, when we danced but I couldn't," he replied.
Barty Crouch Junior, wrapped his arms around her. He'd done it before, many years ago as a young deatheater. He then backed her back into her bedroom, but noticed the picture instantly. He let go of her and looked at it, he then picked it up as though sure that he was seeing things.
"He, Jane, he married Narcissa Black, they have a son!" He cried.
"I know. We married as Lucius and Jane Hargreaves, after he and Narcissa. I already knew," she said calmly.
"Why? Why play second?" He asked.
"It's not that simple," she replied.
"You deserve better," he added.
"Barty..." she began.
"Someone who isn't already married for a start," he added.
"Like who?" she asked.
"Me, I would have made you a good husband," he said.
Jane shook her head, but looked at him apologetically.
"Your father would have never accepted me," she said.
"Neither would Lucius'," he added.
"Lucius wanted me, his father wanted him to have Narcissa. I was young, I hadn't long finished as the youngest international player Britain has ever seen, I didn't want the fame and he was offering me a way out," she said.
"Lucius wanted you because of that, if anything happened to Narcissa, he would announce you to the world. What about the boy? How would his son feel?" asked Barty.
"No doubt the same as my daughter would," replied Jane.
Barty glared at her even more and shook his head. Whatever he had expected from her after so many years, it wasn't to be a second wife, with a daughter to him as well.
"Why?" He asked.
"It started off as a mistake," she replied.
"What about me?" He asked.
"I cared, but there was always three in our relationship. It's no different," she replied.
"He's coming back, why haven't you answered? I can't spare you forever," he said.
"I would never ask it of you," she added.
"There's a manor, I'll take you there," he said.
"Barty..."
"I promised! Don't think I'm doing this for you, not after what you've done. I could accept if you found someone who truly loved you and had a family, but not this, not Lucius," he said, harshly.