Chapter 4
This September was cold and grey, particularly bitter, with winds gasping through the castle, rain drumming it's fingers on all the old windows, and trees groaning with age. And this made Severus feel invigorated! Weather is what Scotland does right. The marvelous weather he considered was a welcome back gift. He's spent most of the summer in Europe as he usually did. Mostly Italy, helping with research. What did I do right to deserve this he wondered.
Many aspects of Italy attracted the man to returning year after year. The culture for starters. Another thing. Maybe. Though he wouldn't venture too much further than Rome.
Flitwick had a theory that Snape, a man of many dark secrets, went over for some sordid detail or diabolical plan, his reason being that the pale man never came back with a "lovely tan". Sprout remarked that the man was rightly pale, having eyes dark enough for it. None of this ever made it to Snape's ears.
The castle seemed to sag and sigh, breath and live in this weather. While it did not make much of a difference down in the dungeons, in the quiet of his own work he heard miserable weeping murmurs of the castle from above. Ambiance he thought it in his darker, more reflective moments. And he slept much more soundly at night, like the raindrops were notes, and the wind howls singing in a lullaby.
So far everything had seemed normal. Until Minerva gave him a look while passing in the corridor which he couldn't decipher beyond smug. This he thought, could be in connection with the genuine smile Pomona had given him the next day at breakfast.
He did not like this. Not at all. Does Strange weather make magic folk even stranger?
It got stranger still. On the 4th day into term, in second year potions with Slytherin, the eyes in the back of his head seemed to fail him. When he turned his back he heard snickering and shuffling, yet had no idea what was going on. Everyone seemed perfectly innocent, nothing appeared to have moved, not even the thick layer of dust that was impossible to permanently rid the airless classroom of. He felt as though he were going crazy. The Hufflepuffs had been as obedient as ever after last year, yet his own house, full of eager and hungry students were acting as slovenly as Gryffindors! In fact he felt personally insulted. After a year of his personal blend of torment they had the nerve to do regard him with anything but fear and respect. So he figured his plan.
As the students, tucked away their parchment, quills and door stopper potions books he announced, and only barely audibly.
"And remember, these assignments are much more difficult now you're all in your second year. You may find yourselves short for time. Please know that I will not tolerate late turn ins, just as I will not tolerate disobedience. And so you may be relieved to know that I am allowing you the opportunity to start this week's assignment in today's detention." And he waited, for the students to slow down, pause and mutter quietly things such as "Detention? What" and "Today? Not today."
"I'll see you all at the end of the day."
He watched all the students file out carefully. She was there. She had grown at least. Not much taller but a healthy layer of puppy fat on her. She didn't look as weedy. But still pale and plain.
Normalcy returned for a week or two, then breaking in another second year Slytherin class. Whispers and quiet snickering bounced off the windowless, grimy stone walls, even the treacherous high ceiling, Snape's surround sound spies.
"Detention." He rang out, while writing on the chalkboard, the whole class getting the message.
"What for?" A slytherin boy piped up, already knowing the answer to that question.
"Would Mr Walton be requiring a third detention? Or are two enough?" Silence.
For 2 minutes. And then a loud clatter. He almost didn't even notice what had caused it, just that something was off about the room, until he spotted the vacant space. Striding over he saw the young girl doubled over and entangled with the stool chair under her desk. She looked pitiable poking out of the shadows, with her young face trying desperately not to give anything away, and her skew robes trapping her legs. Even he almost found it funny. When she saw him over her hopelessness flashed across her face before she remembered to preserve herself. It was clear she wasn't at all able to get up from the grubby floor.
"Move!" "Not you girl! You two, now. Off your chairs, and pull them out of the way!" And the two students either side of her did as they were told. Swiftly he then did something that he had never done in his entire career. His touch was deft, and even gentle as he hoisted the girl up by her upper arms.
She felt unsuspectedly heavy and cold, he found it almost disturbing. Besides dragging up delinquents by the scruffs of their necks, this was the first time he'd held someone. It wasn't what he'd expected for a living person, too impersonale and detached.
To her he felt surprisingly warm.
With his help she came clumsily to her feet, trying ever more to keep her preservation, a soft huff coming from her mouth on gaining balance. Dirt from the floor covered her robes, uniform, and mostly hands, which he noticed with a slight sneer.
Before she found the words to politely thank him, he addressed her with "Miss Kaper, You should be thankful you're only coming away from this lesson with one detention today. Make sure to remember that I-do-not-tolerate disturbances in class. Now get back at you desk, unless that's too difficult for you."
"Yes sir, thank you sir." Her response was quick and automatic, she seemed surprised even at his. A snicker followed as he marched back to his desk. The eyes in the back of his head did not fail him this time.
"Three detentions Mr Walton! And you'll be scrubbing the entire class room floor the first. It's filthy!" He allowed himself to smile, as the boys face scrunched up in furry, "And two detentions after that you can see how much floor of rest of the dungeon you can accomplish."
Snape knew this was one of the worst detentions in his arenal. It was surprisingly terrible. Elbow grease, disgustingly dirty, and never ending. Maybe his anger had devoured him. But those who defy him suffer appropriately.
October arrived and the weather only became wilder. Maybe his theory was correct, as all the students at least seemed restless. Detentions were been given out like halloween treats, the enchanted ceiling stole the attention away from food every meal time, and pets were ever escaping their owners.
"Wonderful isn't it?" Dumbledore remarked when he caught Snape gazing up at the enchanted ceiling on a particularly vigorous storm
"Isn't it just." as usual Snape's expression and tone were as flat and blank as paper.
"It's such a distraction it's even got you Severus. Those poor students don't stand a chance of finishing dinner tonight." Dumbledore chuckled softly. Booms of angry thunder penetrated the castle, and the ceiling showed a purple tinted grey sky, with clouds that were ever rolling, white flashes that crept through the creases and folds, and vicious lashings of thick rain drops that disappeared just below the candles.
Flitwick's high pitch voice cracked through the storm.
"Ha ha, I almost think the rains going to break through the enchantment! Scary! Ha ha!"
"But, Filius, you're the one who put the enchantment up." responded Mcgonigal
"Yes!" and he broke out cackling. McGonagall pursed her lips, but something then caught her eye, drawing out a low sigh.
"Severus?"
"Yes, Minerva?"
"It's about one of your Slytherin students, if you've noticed Leanne Kaper, she's not doing very well…."
"Well she's certainly not incompetent in potions." he snidely remarked as though that would settle the matter.
"She's being bullied!" exclaimed Flitwick as though it was obvious.
"You must have noticed?" she implored.
"I don't tolerate such foolishness in my classroom." she stared at him before replying with.W
"I heard about you helping her severus, both times. Those Slytherins pushed her stool forward, she's not just clumsy!" He went just a bit pink on his cheeks. That was the reason for the look she gave him! And the smile from Sprout.
"Why are you bringing this up?" He accidentally hissed at her.
"We're all looking out for her, us Staff, the students won't!" flitwick spoke as though her were initiating him into a prestigious club.
"I keep order in my class. That should be enough!" There was a pause, and then Minerva, looked at him very earnestly saying.
"What you did was very good of you Severus, it was kind. You obviously don't despise the girl! She just needs as many people on her side as she can get right now. And you're her head of house!" at this Flitwick huffed to himself. "You could do so much for her, keep an eye on her when we can't. She's sweet, smart and...different; she hasn't managed to fit in yet, the other students are scared of that."
"And you're good at rooting out trouble." flitwick's obvious attempt to sweeten him up.
"Very well then, I shall see what I can do." his statement was dripping with reluctance.
This was the very last thing he wanted to do. Baby sit some pathetic little second year that he would barely call a Slytherin. She wasn't hateable, but she certainly wasn't likable at all. A teacher's pet obviously, spineless, no personality, no ambition, nothing of merit beyond above average grades, and they were certainly nothing to brag about.
But he did find himself looking in her direction. If he decided it was worth it he might just do as he said.
Looking droopy she was sat between two groups of Slytherins, completely ignored, her yes every so often dancing up to the ceiling as the lightning continued through the sky in lilac waves. Even from his distance he could tell she was looking worse for wear, her black hair a bit greasy and her face washed out. As the lilac light managed to just reach her head, he wondered what something like her could possibly be thinking about, his black eyes trying to pierce through as they normally did. And just a moment later he saw the little tear travel down her cheek.
Snape wasn't entirely heartless, or without his own nightmares. Though he denied this having anything to do with his next actions. To him any action he undertook was nothing, and the only reason was purely curiosity.
That evening Snape made a visit to the Slytherin Common room. At first no one even realised he was there as he stood dead against the back wall next to the 8ft black oak doors. He did not come here. Not to this magnificent room. A cave under the castle, stretching out to a glass wall at the far end, that was shared by the lake. Vastly spacious and minimalistic, the opposite of the pokey Gryffindor common room, yet still just as cosy and much more luxurious. The near black walls were guarded by tall black bookcases, and hiding over a dozen little crevices, the floor was pale, glorious marble, and though the air was deathly cold, several groups of dark green couches crowded round fire places with beautiful green flames pouring out warmth. But the most fantastic thing about this place was the light. Most of the room was in a dusty darkness, but with the green fires, the strategic lamps and most importantly the glowing and swirling lake, the light was breathtaking. And he observed it all from the darkest end of the room.
His heart raced. He could not help but be completely enthralled. This is why Snape loved his job. The transition from student to teacher kept everything he respected, admired, enjoyed even, right with him, always. And the Slytherin life was center.
But still. There are something the transition leaves behind. The bitter taste in his mouth this room gave him was a reminder of that. Even in his disgustingly miserable life, he considered hell a long way behind.
Failing to see her in plain sight he wondered into the room, students falling into a hush as they spotted him near. He Drew on through the room, spying into the spots of darkness, the nooks and crannies. He found a pair of students making out on a couch in one of the nooks, and a student picking their nose in a cranny (and a Slytherin as well, no wonder they're letting the likes of Leanne in), and doled out three detentions, but no Leanne.
He tried. And he may not try again. Why should he. Was it even any of his concern?