A/N: Another longer update yay!
Just a Little Luck
The next few weeks passed much like the first day of term. The workload that was piled upon the seventh years in preparation for their NEWT's was immense, from every subject, and it was not just Eva who would find herself buried beneath piles of books and mounds of parchment. Even Cole at times could be seen spending the evenings working away rather than socialising with his friends, a highly uncommon sight.
Of all of her subjects Eva was finding the workload from Transfiguration and Potions the most heavy to bear. This she had naturally been expecting, McGonagall known for her tough classes and well transfiguration was a difficult subject at the best of times. Potions however had become something all of it's own. The next lesson back after Professor Snape's first lesson test , the class being noticeably a few students shorter than last time, they were all informed of how the year would progress.
"There are a number of potions you are all going to be working on throughout the year. Highly advanced and difficult potions, amongst them being Veritaserum, Everlasting Elixirs, Polyjuice potion and Felix Felicis." Snape had told them. The list in itself had been terrifying enough, some of the most complicated and long winded potions to make, the could each take months at a time to complete and then they were informed that each person would be given a different potion to study. "I wish to see how well you can work alone, not how well your neighbour can help you with your potion, therefore each half term you will all begin one of the potions different from that of your classmates. Any questions?"
If there had been any nobody had a chance to ask them as Snape whisked onto the next topic so quickly that not even a single hand had time to make it into the air. On top of their individual potions they were studying Professor Snape was also assigning them reading, essay's and regular testing on all of the potions that they had already covered in the previous six years of school. 'To keep their memories fresh,' he would tell them.
The lessons had not only confirmed to Eva her suspicions but also increased them. She really did have a crush on the dark and mysterious new Professor. And well why wouldn't she, he was young, appealing and attractive in an unusual sort of way and he had a air about him, something of interest that let Eva know for sure he'd had far more life experience in his short years than many men far older than him. Perhaps that was what had made him cold, and yet to Eva this coldness was even appealing, the wonder of what lay beneath it. She'd spend many hours obsessing about this when her mind was not on homework, or if a particularly boring subject would cause her mind to wander. It would probably do her NEWT results no good but she found herself unable to stop it from happening.
One problem however was the fact that she still hadn't managed to break it off with Cole, if there still was even anything between them to consider a relationship. The massive workload that they both had meant that they spent less and less time together, which to Eva was a relief but it also meant that she was putting things off for even longer than she wanted to. This combined with her obvious obsession managed to bring her down fairly often, she was clinging onto a hopeless fantasy of Professor Snape in a desperate attempt not to remain stuck in the rut she was in with Cole. And yet she still couldn't leave Cole for fear of forever being alone and having to face up to the fact that her delusion about her Professor could and would never happen.
The problem being that there was nobody else around that sparked her interest, boys her own age were all just so boring and obnoxious and, well, they were simply Cole in different bodies. There was nobody that had the kind of intrigue that Snape did, he promised excitement and even the possibility of danger, nothing like she'd ever experienced in her life before and Eva wanted a taste of it. It would probably be very bad for her but right then, her seventeen year old self, wanted it more than anything.
She had feared for the way this obsession would interfere with her potions work, after she had blanked a lot of what he'd been saying during the first lesson due to her deep thoughts on the subject, being in his presence even more could only make things worse right? But she had found the mass of work piled onto her rather a blessing, it gave her mind something more to focus on rather than the gliding way in which he moved around the classroom and how she loved the smooth velvet of his voice when he talked.
Also the potion which she had personally been assigned for the first part of the term was particularly difficult and time consuming that if Eva didn't focus her full and undivided attention on it the whole thing would go disastrously wrong. Felix Felicis truly was a wonderful potion, but now she knew the way in which it had to be made she realised why it was so rarely used and hard to come by very few people would actually be able to make it. In fact she was positive that she wouldn't remember any of the meticulous method if she didn't have the reams and reams of notes to guide her along the way.
Therefore her attention had very little time to wander back to the form of her potions master, probably quite a blessing. That was until they were about mid-way into October and Snape informed the class that in order to complete their potions properly in the time allowed for each one they were all going to have to come back for evening lessons, once every week.
There was much groaning and quiet complaints around the room, "It's like being given detention," Eva heard someone mutter. But it was something else about this information that was worrying her. They were each assigned a different day to attend, depending on the potion they were currently working on, and as it turned out Eva was the only person making Felix Felicis. Private lessons, alone with him, Eva thought frantically at the idea, this could only be bad.
Full class lessons she could deal with. She could focus on her work and need not speak to Snape nor pay him any attention at all really and as there were other people in the class, those that did require his help and assistance, he didn't particularly pay that much attention to her.
Or at least she didn't think he did, she was too engrossed to notice the lingering glances he'd cast towards her as he sat behind his desk. Watching carefully the way she worked, flawlessly, the way her features pinched in concentration the flame red hair that would constantly cascade over her shoulders only to be shoved away again in irritation. Just so long as he didn't meet her peridot eyes Snape could almost be back at school himself again.
But in an evening lesson by herself? He would most certainly be paying attention to her and she wouldn't exactly be able to just ignore him would she? Oh and the voice of his, it left her short of breath. Would she even be able to coherently answer a question when he spoke to her without sounding like some kind of blithering idiot? So many things to panic about, she really did want to make a good impression on him, particularly when she was so obsessed with him but just the idea of it made her nervous. He gave her butterflies, made her struggle to breathe and left her weak at the knees, what kind of picture would she be in a room alone with him. But on the bright side it'll be an evening away from Cole. She thought to herself. It was certainly a sobering and appealing thought, if she could just hang onto that maybe she'd get there without too much of a panic attack and then face the music once she was actually there.
"Do not forget what evening you are required to be here. I will be expecting each one of you at 7 sharp, so do not dawdle at dinner." Snape's cold voice rang through the classroom as the bell rang and everybody scrambled to pack their things away.
Eva carefully placed her potion in the making into the assigned cupboard where it would remain safe until her private lesson that week. As she turned back to grab her bag and exit the classroom she met his eyes and froze, seeing him look at her so intently tightened her chest. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe all Eva could do was stand and stare. Snape stood silently, watching her for a few moments before he arched an eyebrow "Miss Maher, is there a problem?"
Eva shook her head struggling to find her voice, "No Professor…sorry." She said hastily, rushing back to her desk and grabbing her bag from the floor.
"Good, then I will see you on Thursday. Seven' o'clock sharp."
Like she would be able to forget. A part of her was almost sick with nerves at the thought of it, but another part of her was almost desperate to be left alone in a room with him. If only he weren't her Professor.
***
"What do you mean you have to go to potions class?" Cole asked as he attempted to lead Eva off on a nice little evening walk around the castle, now that he finally had an evening free from all of the work he'd been forced to do. "Eva I swear all this workload must be getting to you, hello it's Thursday evening, see evening. No classes!"
Eva scowled slightly and shook her head. "I know what time of day it is Cole, but I have to go to potions. We've all been given evenings to come and continue our work otherwise we'll just not get it all done properly."
He shook his head in dismay, "What kind of teacher wants to carry on teaching once the classes are over. I mean from the way he acts around this place I'd swear that new guy doesn't even want to be a teacher."
"Oh what would you know Cole, you don't even take potions." Eva snapped defensively. Another thing she'd found come along with her new obsession, she couldn't stand it when somebody spoke badly of Professor Snape and sometimes found it very difficult to keep her mouth shut. "The stuff we're working on is really complex and it just needs more time taken over it. It's only one night a week for a few a couple of weeks, till the holidays then we'll be done for a while." She tried to reason, but he still appeared dismayed and stubborn about the whole idea. "Think of it just like homework, only I need to actually be working on a potion rather than writing about one. Hence why I need to go to the dungeons to do it."
That sounded like a reasonable enough explanation to Eva but Cole still shook his head. "Sounds more like a detention to me. You sure you're not just fibbing to me Eva? You got yourself into some trouble and just don't want to admit it?" He teased, earning himself nothing more than a further scowl from Eva as she grabbed her things from beneath the dining table and began to rise to leave the Great Hall.
"No I haven't got detention, it's work and I need to go or I'm going to be late."
"How long will you be, I'll wait for you." He offered as she began to walk away.
Frowning slightly as she turned back Eva wondered just why he had offered, it was a little more considerate than Cole ever usually was, he must have some ulterior motive in mind. So Eva simply shrugged. "I don't know, Professor Snape didn't specify. Don't wait for me I'll just meet you back in the common room later, okay." With that she turned on her heel and hastily made her way out of the hall before he could say anything more to her.
She hurried down the cold stone steps, tracing now all too familiar path towards the potions classroom, it was almost seven and Eva was keen not to be late. Start at least by making a good impression. The closer she got the more her stomach seemed to twist up in knots, a strange and heady mixture of nerves and excitement, she'd not actually been this keen to be anywhere for such a long time it was almost a novel feeling.
Turning the final corner of the corridor hastily Eva let out a small yelp of surprise as she nearly ran head on into none other than Professor Snape. She felt so amazingly wired and on edge that at this small shock her heart began to pound wildly in her chest. She clapped one hand to her mouth to stop any further embarrassing exclamations from escaping until she could control herself again, as she fought to calm her heartbeat and slow her breath again.
"Sorry Professor I…uh, just didn't want to be late and…"She began to say, stumbling over her words as she went and wondering at the rather amused expression that settled over Snape's face.
But he did not comment on her words nor on her sudden appearance and screech of surprise. Instead he simply nodded towards her and opened the door to the potions classroom. "Glad to see some of my class can manage to arrive to these sessions on time. As it is only you this evening Miss Maher, please collect your potion and any ingredients you will require and then follow me to my office. I have some work to attend to myself tonight and would rather not drag it all around where it could be misplaced."
Eva gaped for a moment, his words seeming to take longer than was normal to settle into her head and still longer to actually make any sense to her. But as the look on his face began to grow to impatience Eva quickly caught on, "Oh, right yes. Sorry." She stuttered, hurrying into the classroom and collecting everything she needed as fast as she could.
Struggling slightly under the mass of things she had loaded into her arms Eva headed back out into the corridor and followed Snape a few doors down to what must be his office. With a tap of his wand he unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for her to enter before him. As quickly as she could, without tripping over her own feet, Eva nodded and stepped past him into the small and rather dimly lit room.
She'd just stepped over the threshold of the room when a gasp escaped her mouth as the glass jar containing the frozen ash winder eggs slipped from under her arm. Eva turned, bright green eyes wide in horror, to see Snape proffer her the jar a less than happy look on his face. "Please do be careful Miss Maher, I'd rather not have an inferno in my office if it is all right with you."
"I'm sorry Professor, they slipped." All she seemed to be doing so far was apologising to him for one thing or another, not a good start to the evening at all.
Sighing, rather deflated at her own stupidity, Eva set her things down on the desk that had so obviously been supplied for her use that evening and began to dig her notes out of her bag.
"What stage are you now at with your potion?" Came Snapes voice from over her shoulder.
Eva jumped slightly, how had she not noticed him looming behind her like that as he stooped to read her notes and examine her cauldron. She could feel the delicate tickle of his breath through her hair against her neck and found she had forgotten how to speak.
After a few attempts at making her mouth work Eva cleared her throat and managed to attempt an answer. "Ah, well last lesson I made the infusion of Belladonna and dittany which should be ready to add tonight, along with the ash winder eggs. In the cauldron at the moment are the Augurey feathers, the pixie wings and the powdered pyrite." She paused, swallowing hard as her stomach seemed to knot even tighter by his presence being so close to her. "If I do everything correctly then the potion should take on it's gold colour by the end of this part of the process." She finished, allowing a shaky sigh of relief to escape her lips as he nodded and stepped away.
"Very good, sounds like you have a good grasp of the potion and know what you're doing. Please continue, I'll be working at my desk if you need anything."
Snape headed back to his desk, he had not failed to notice the way she'd reacted to him standing so closely behind her. In truth that was why he had done it, the images and thoughts he picked up from her during times in class had told him a little of what she was thinking of what she wanted but Snape wanted to know for sure if he really had any effect on her. When he noticed her body tense, her breath shorten and the struggle she had to answer him, his questions were effectively answered.
When his back was turned to her he secretly smirked to himself. It was just what he'd been hoping for, just the reaction he'd wanted to elicit from Lilly all those years ago and to see it from Eva, almost her perfect look-alike, was practically a dream come true. Too bad that wasn't all he really wanted, and of course couldn't have Eva was a student and he a professor, she wasn't his Lilly.
He sat down with a small sigh, perhaps it had been a bad idea to torture himself further. He had to remember that she was Eva Maher, a student, no matter who she looked like that was who she was and would always be. Well no more, he wouldn't tempt himself any further. They could each have their own little delusions and that would be the end of it.
But perhaps these private lessons were not such a good idea after all.
Eva had nodded as he walked away, glad that he was no longer peering over her shoulder though her spine continued to tingle a little reminder of where his presence had been. She sat down and began to sort though her work with shaking hands, he'd left her trembling something terrible and not simply out of fear. Come on Eva get a grip on yourself, you've got work to do, she silently scolded herself and, taking a deep, steadying breath, set to work on her potion. Something complex to focus her mind on, so involved she became that not once did she feel the weight of his gaze upon her as Snape silently sat and watched her work.
Almost an hour had ticked by, Eva had been meticulously working on her Felix Felicis potion, the plant infusion had been added first quickly followed by the ash winder eggs where it was stirred quickly so that they didn't burst into flames and scorch her entire potion. At this point the potion was not being heated beneath a flame, until the eggs were properly combined the potion needed to be treated with a series of freezing charms to subdue the volatile mixture. Eva had to keep a close watch on the potions surface, timing the periods between the charms carefully and extending the time ever so slowly until the mixture was no longer flammable.
Then it was time to heat it, she hoisted the cauldron carefully and set it above a glowing orange flame, simmer for five minutes and it should begin to take on some of its trademark molten gold like appearance. Sure enough as the minutes passed, Eva carefully watching and stirring her cauldron when it required it, it was soon filled with glimmering molten gold liquid. It almost looked as if it could be complete but she knew better, there was still more that needed to be done and once finished entirely the surface of the potion would appear to be dancing inside the cauldron. It truly was a magnificent potion to behold as well as to use.
"Nice work Miss Maher, very nice indeed." The rich velvet voice sounded from over her shoulder and Eva jumped yet again. She'd not heard him move, not even sensed him looming behind her once again.
"Thank you Professor." She replied softly, not trusting her voice not to crack should she try and speak any louder.
Snape moved around the desk to the opposite side, facing her rather than breathing down her neck. Only Eva wasn't sure which was worse to feel his breath on her skin or to see those eyes boring though her own. One his face she was surprised to see and exceedingly rare sight, a small smile had curved his lips as he examined her cauldron. He looked up and met her eyes, "You certainly do have an aptitude for the subject."
Did he just pay me a compliment? Eva thought frantically, not even trying to stop the broad grin that swiftly came to her lips. "Thank you Professor, it most certainly is my favourite subject." Not only for the lessons but for the great view whilst I'm there, oh Merlin did I really just think that. A pale flush came to her cheeks as these thoughts invaded her mind.
Snape couldn't help but chuckle softly, if only she knew that he was picking glimpses of what she was thinking. He'd still not dared to breach too deeply, that would be abusing his ability and could well land him in trouble, but just to scrape the surface, especially of this one, was far too tempting not to. "Well I do believe there is nothing more you can do at this stage, the potion will need to rest for…"
"For a week, yes Sir." Eva cut in, still smiling and wanting to show off just a little more of her knowledge of the subject.
"Quite," Snape replied, the word rumbling low in his throat, almost a growl. "In that case you are dismissed Miss Maher, pack away your things and I shall see you next week. Do not forget the written assignments I have set either."
"No, I won't Professor." Eva replied as she began to pack away her things, her potion being the last thing she collected, Snape opened up the doors for her and she replaced it back in the cupboard alongside the rest of the classes work.
"Enjoy your weekend Miss Maher." Were his last words to her as she headed for the stairs, with a smile and a nod Eva headed up to the Entrance Hall and then the Ravenclaw Common room. Where Cole, true to his word, was sitting waiting for her.
"An hour Eva, sounds like a detention to me." He teased as she entered the room.
"Think whatever you like Cole," Eva replied airily as she sank into one of the sofa's, all in all it had been quite a productive and enjoyable evening and she was quite looking forward to the next one. Maybe then she wouldn't be so nervous and actually be able to answer him properly when he questioned her, well enough to actually enjoy him breathing down her neck.
"Don't worry, I will." He grinned obnoxiously, "So when have you got to go back next?"
"Next Thursday," Eva replied, that should be pretty obvious really.
"What, you mean he's going to make you work after school hours on Halloween? That's harsh"
Aaah Eva is actually happy...or well ish anyway. So what will happen on halloween???
