Ch. 11 Scones and Scarves

Severus was heading toward the Slytherin common room the morning of the Slytherin Vs. Gryffindor match. Being the Head of Slytherin house, it was his duty to give the team a rousing chat before they hit the field, an act he didn't dread, nor looked forward too on most occasions. However this morning it was more a chore then it normally was. Last night Severus and Tabatha had stayed up late into the evening discussing the rules and game play of Quiddich. Though Tabatha had read material on it, it was understandable that a sport with so many things going on at once would be hard to follow. Reaching the common room door he paused and took a deep breath before going in.

Tabatha was upstairs sitting at the High Table in the Great hall; she was slowly drinking her tea as she waited for Severus to come up dungeon. Looking down the rows of children she saw the colors red and gold, or green and sliver everywhere, children had banners in hand or made sure to wear their house colors openly. She had noticed that lots of children who were not in green and silver had excitedly gone over to her young friend Mr. Harry Potter this morning. She was watching these interactions take place, when she glanced over to the large doors and saw the trademark black blur that was her friend. Severus walked down the aisle towards Tabatha, but took a moment to stop in front of Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and said something Tabatha couldn't quite make out. The exchange was quick and soon Severus was walking behind her to take his seat.

"Is something going on with Harry?" Tabatha mused between taking slips of her tea.

Severus looked down the row towards the boy.

"Oh I guess you didn't hear. Potter is the new seeker for Gryffindor, I was wishing him luck."

Tabatha smiled softly she always enjoyed it when a bit of the mask came off, then she waited for it, the quick recovery that always followed.

"Though I told him after that Troll incident a simple game of Quiddich would be easy, even if it was against Slytherin."

Tabatha smiled more.

"Well I suppose your right there; I mean those three did take on a troll all by themselves it was very brave."

"And very stupid" Severus added quickly "They could have been killed, but what do you want from a Gryffindor, they are always doing impulsively stupid things, and if they manage not be killed or kill someone else in the processes they get the title of heros."

"looks like someone needs a therapy session this morning" Tabatha smirked as she got up to get more tea.

Returning to the table she brought along a pumpkin scone and placed it in front of Severus.

"Here I know it's your favorite" she chimed sitting back down.

Severus looked at the scone and back to Tabatha.

"Is this what you call a therapy session?" Severus glared raising one eye brow.

"Sure if that what you want to call it, personally I call it breakfast but whatever makes you happy" she raised her eye brow right back to him and chuckled.

Severus looked back at his scone and smirked, then looked back at Tabatha.

"Are you looking forward to experiencing your first Quiddich match?"

Tabatha shook her head. "Yes very much so, I think it's going to be a great time".

Then Tabatha making sure no one was looking, leaned a bit closer to Severus, took her hand under the table, reached over and placed it on his hand which was resting on his lap.

"I'm very glad you invited me to sit with you", she whispered flashed her warmest smile.

Severus felt the warmth of her touch and again feeling that fluttering in his stomach swallowed hard.

"I..I'm glad I did too".

Severus then slid his hand out from under Tabatha's and proceeded to eat his scone with haste.

A few hours later Tabatha was walking over to the Quiddich field where she would meet Severus, again his head of house duties prohibited his ability to walk with her, but Tabatha more than understood. She was almost there when she saw Hagrid who was walking over to the field withHarry's two friends Ron and Hermione.

"Hagrid!" Tabatha called out as she waved

Hagrid looked back and smiled broadly

"Ms. Rewolf, how are you this lovely morning?

"I am doing well, excited for my first match!" she breathed out as she trotted over to the small group.

"Aye! Yes it would be your first time wouldinit? Well would like to come sit with us in the Gryffindor stands I'll make sure there's plenty of room for ya." Hagrid offered pleasantly.

Tabatha smiled but she her head "No thank you Hagrid, though I am very honored you'd ask me. I have already promised someone I'd sit next to them" and with that Tabatha pulled a green and sliver scarf our from under her rose cloak.

"Ahhh" Hagrid smiled and gave a knowing nod "I fully understand I hope you have a lovely time!"

The children next to Hagrid didn't seem to understand much of it at all.

"Why would you want to sit with cruddy ol Slytherin's anyway!" Ron spat, his face as red as his hair.

Tabatha lowered herself so she could talk to Ron directly; she looked at him and smiled.

"You should never judge a book by its cover you know. I am sure that some Slytherin's can be pretty cruddy, but we should always remember that there are good and bad in all people."

"She's just saying that because she's friends with Professor Snape" Hermione interjected in a very haughty tone.

Tabatha laughed and looked over to the girl with messy hair.

"You know what you're right, I am friends with Professor Snape, but I'm also friends with Hagrid here, and Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore, and even the new star seeker of Gryffindor."

Then Tabatha looked back over to Ron and then returned her gaze to Hermione.

"And I would be really happy if I could be friends with you two as well."

Ron and Hermione looked at Tabatha, and smiled back at her.

"Ya I think that would be ok" Ron shyly grumbled shuffled his feet.

"Yes that would be lovely!" Hermione smiled wide.

"Wonderful!" Tabatha stood up "It's always a good day when you make more friends."

"Yes Ms. Rewolf that is certainly true". Hagrid beamed at her "but I will say we better get a move on or we be late for the start."

"Yes your right" Tabatha agreed and the four of them walked towards the match.

Severus was already by the Slytherin stands waiting for Tabatha when he saw her walking towards the field with Hagrid, Ron and Hermione. They were all laughing and talking having what seemed to be a wonderful time, Severus stomach fell. Maybe Tabatha had changed her mind and decided to sit in the Gryffindor stand with Hagrid and those little prats instead. Suddenly he was filled with negative emotions.

"I see, I guess Slytherin wasn't good enough for her." He mind raged "I guess she'd rather be with the coveted Gryffindor's then have to be embarrassed sitting here with the "evil" Slytherin house.

Then Severus mind took a self-destructive turn.

"Or maybe she would just be embarrassed to sit next to me."

Sadness swept over Severus. It was one thing to have to spend time with him normally, he thought, everyone knew it was per Dumbledore's order that Severus was to teach the new witch, but to come to match, a social event like this, well this meant that they would outwardly be known as friends. Severus was far from stupid, he knew that he was not the person most people would choose to be friends with, not if they were nice at least, and one adjective everyone would place with Tabatha Rewolf was just that, nice. Severus turned around and lowered his head sadly; no it was foolish of him to think she would ever really want to be close to him. Suddenly he felt a hand from behind him on his shoulder just as he was glancing back he hear her signature warm tone

"Hey, I'm sorry I'm late. I was just saying hello to Hagrid."

Severus completed his turn thinking of a way to tell her that she didn't have to lower herself sitting with him when he saw his house colors around her neck. Staring at it, Severus' mouth dropped open a bit and he reached out his hand and touched the scarf.

"M..my colors," He licked his lips and let his eyes move up from the scarf to her eyes, her beautiful warm hazel eyes. "Y..your wearing my colors."

"Yes silly" Tabatha beamed "you're the head of Slytherin house, and my best friend, what else would I wear"

And with that Tabatha moved to the long flight of stairs need to get to the top of the stands.

Severus couldn't say anything for a moment; no one had ever done that for him before, no one. Severus heart was going a mile a minute

"Are you coming?" she called back

Severus slowly started to follow her up the stairs.

"Her best friend, he pondered as he followed her slowly up the many flights to the top, "I'm her best friend.

Severus knew quite well what happened to his last best friend, and terror washed over him. He thought for a minute that he should stop this now before something happened, something horrible. But Severus made a mistake, that same instant he looked up and when he did, standing at the top of the landing was Tabatha.

"Are you ok?" concern flooded her face "Is your leg hurt?"

Severus shook his head no and smiled a slight smile "No Tabs, I'm ok".

He couldn't help it, he liked the way she made him feel. She made him feel good, when nothing else in this world did. He was a Slytherin wasn't he? He was supposed to use any means to get to an end wasn't he?

At that moment Severus made a decision, he decided that he would never turn his back on any of the promise or vows he made, but he was not going to live alone and miserable. Fate had given him back a piece of humanity and he was going to savor it, Tabatha Rewolf liked him, for whatever reason that was it was true. In that moment Severus took another vow, a vow to himself, a vow he would promise to keep until his death like all the others. He vowed that he would always protect and care for his undeserved gift from fate.

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