Very short dialogue between a second year Severus and his Transfiguration teacher.


Of engaging discussions with a cat-like teacher

"Mr. Snape!"

He heard Professor McGonagall calling him before he could leave the class. He turned slowly toward her with questioning eyes.

"May I have a word with you?", asked McGonagall. Her usual austere look lingered over her face, but there was a warmth in her feline eyes that Severus had never seen before. The boy nodded and walked slowly to the professor's desk. He stopped then, waiting, as he felt the eyes of his teacher to scrutinizing him. He just waited for her to speak first.

"Mr. Snape", McGonagall began at last, "if you find difficulties engaging discussions during classes, you can always come to my office after them. Throughout my career, I assure you, I've never eaten a student", she told him coldly.

Severus looked up at her, amazed. Truly, he had first believed that the teacher wished to undertake a conversation about why he did not intervene any more during classes.

"Now you just don't stand there looking at me like that. I can see when certain behaviours are forced by others. But this does not mean that you and I can not discuss about Transfiguration in private. I do not think Potter and Black can prevent you from coming to my office", McGonagall explained then, noticing the flickering disbelief in her student's black eyes.

"Can I?" Severus asked.

"Of course, you can", the teacher retorted, slightly piqued. "You, Mr. Snape, appear to be one of the few students in this school with whom I would honestly like to start a debate". She smiled slightly when she saw the boy's eyes light up. "Waiting for you this evening at eight o'clock, Mr. Snape. And I do not accept delaying", she added then, spying the boy through her square glasses.