When the students arrived back from break, they were all loud and happily chatting with their friends on the way to the carriages that would take them up to the school. Snape oversaw the transfer from the train to the horseless carriages, though he could see plainly that they were driven by something.
It was the second of January and Snape thought about what Sophia Roe was planning at least four times a day. He hated surprises and he hated anything that put him into the spotlight even more. He didn't like to accept gifts or give them and he really meant it when he said she wasn't to get him anything. Severus was not one of those people who said the opposite of what they actually meant.
His eyes wandered over the flush of students, all mingled together so that houses were nearly impossible to distinguish. Snape's eyes landed on Potter and the boy was conspiring with his friends as he started toward one of the carriages. He was reminded again of his task.
A student bumped into him from the side and Snape snarled down at the boy, a second year from Hufflepuff. He was chubby around the middle with glassy brown eyes and a mess of brown hair on his head. He was stammering with apologies as he realized just who he ran into.
"Ten points from Hufflepuff, Mr. Hanes, for not paying attention to where you are going," the Potion's Master drawled, his voice dangerously soft.
The boy nodded mutely and then hurried off to where his friends anxiously waited.
Snape felt minute satisfaction from this and he looked around to find anyone else that obviously deserved to have points taken. So far, there was no one blatantly ignoring the rules of the castle and the wizard was left to glower on his own.
He stalked over to the last carriage, waiting specifically for him, and stepped up into it. The last of the students were already headed back to the castle and Snape followed, still glowering.
A welcome back feast was set for the return of the children and Severus moved up to the Head Table, which was back in its rightful place. He was relieved that there would be no more time spent sitting with students and listening to everyone converse. Now he would be left in peace in his spot at the end of the table. The only person he now had to worry about was Sophia.
She was waiting for him with a smile on her face. His grouchy mood did not deter the young witch as she continued to grin and start up conversation every time they were together. Although this could bother Snape, it didn't really. He sometimes pretended it did, though.
"How were the students?" Sophia asked as he took his seat.
Dumbledore was waiting for the last of the children to settle before he started his speech.
"Their friends will not be so happy when they get a chance to see how much their house points have gone down by," Snape replied smugly.
Sophia did not say anything, but the Potion's Master could tell she was not reproving as some of his other colleagues might have been. The air she gave off beside him was almost amused and he was happy to have someone on his side, though he kept it well hidden.
"I guess I will have to correct that tomorrow in class," the girl whispered back to him as the Headmaster started his speech.
"Do not think I won't also be taking points tomorrow," Snape stated.
Sophia let out a small, breathy giggle from his left. Severus Snape could not believe his luck in finding such a creature as her. She was so innocent and yet she chose to stay around him. He could not have been more satisfied with this, but he still wondered when he was going to mess everything up.
They were quiet as they listened to the last of the Headmaster's speech and then the food appeared before them and they were thoroughly distracted. The rest of the professors were back and Sophia had other people to talk to now, specifically Filius Flitwick to her left. Snape was only slightly disappointed that she would not be solely focused on talking with him anymore, but he pushed that emotion away immediately.
Instead of focusing on self-pitying feelings and things that were of no real importance, Snape decided to better use his time and listen to what the two were saying. He could hear every word if he paid attention and all that was needed of him was to look like he wasn't eavesdropping. Severus continued to eat his food and glare down at the school.
He stayed focused intently on what the two were speaking of, but it wasn't anything really important. They spoke of their holidays, what they received for Christmas, and what they would do now that break was over. Sophia spoke to Flitwick about Hagrid and whether or not he would return before the end of term.
Sophie listened to everything the tiny man told her and commented with her own stories about her holiday, but she was more focused on the man to her right. Professor Snape was eating his dinner stiffly and silently, but Sophie knew he was doing more than just watching the masses of teenagers below them. He did have two ears, after all. He would not be a good spy if he didn't use them.
When she was done speaking with Flitwick, she turned back to Snape and grinned. She wondered if he would own up to eavesdropping on their conversation or if she would have to say something.
"So you didn't feel the need to discuss with the man what you gave me for Christmas," Snape commented quietly and sarcastically.
Sophie had to admit, it was a clever way to admit he was listening. Her cheeks tinted slightly pink as she recalled that morning.
"I didn't think you would enjoy having your personal affairs laid out for others to see," she replied quickly.
Severus Snape looked down at her and raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Touché'.
The young witch couldn't keep it in for long, she beamed up at him and laughed, her eyes alight and sparkling in the Great Hall's brilliant light.
Snape could do nothing but watch her and comment to himself how gorgeous she really was. This was all stored in the back of his mind, though. No one could ever know he thought these things, he could barely admit to himself he thought them.
"When do your classes with Harry start?" Sophia asked.
This question instantly brought a scowl to Snape's face. There was nothing he wanted more than to get out of this promise to Dumbledore, but he could do nothing. At the moment, he was stuck with the order.
"Tomorrow," Severus growled lowly.
"Good luck," Sophia laughed.
"Will we be working tonight?" Snape questioned.
Beside him, Sophia Roe winced and started shaking her head, "I can't. Professor Sprout and I have neglected our duties over the holidays and now we have to get back to it. I'm sorry."
For a second, Snape was disappointed, but then he recalled how she would sing when she was 'alone' in the forest. He slowly nodded his head.
"I'm sorry," she apologized again.
"That's quite alright, Ms. Roe," Snape replied. "My stores do seem a little low lately."
Sophia smiled, "Another night, then?"
Severus Snape slowly nodded, "Another night."
Dinner passed quickly and soon everyone was exiting the Hall to their rooms for the night. Tomorrow, classes would start again and everything would return to normal.
Sophie met up with Professor Sprout outside the doors to the Great Hall. Snape was walking out behind them, wondering if he should follow or just take the time to get the last good night's rest before he would have to deal with the dunderheaded students in the morning. He truly considered the fact that she would be fine and didn't need him watching her while she worked, but his mind fed him images of that night. He could still hear the Herbology Professor's voice calling his name and he could feel the dead weight of the girl in his arms as her blood seeped into his robes.
No, Severus decided, he would have to go with her just to be sure there wasn't another attack. She was foolish to go out by herself anyway and she didn't even realize he was following her. Of course Sophia needed protection. He didn't know how he could think otherwise.
Before him, the girl and her mentor exited the castle, but Snape continued on to the dungeons. He knew their schedule pretty well by now and he didn't need to go out just yet. They would talk and do things in the greenhouses for a while before Pomona let Sophia out into the Forbidden Forest. He didn't want to leave the castle just yet anyway. How would it look if he just followed them out? Severus Snape was not a good spy by being stupid and parading what he was doing to anyone who cared to pay attention.
Instead of wandering down onto the school grounds, he stalked toward the Slytherin Common Room with purpose. The Potion's Master decided they would need a decent lecture after the holidays and he wanted to remind them of house points, that Umbridge was someone to be on the good side of, and that Quidditch was also a good way to take down the Gryffindors.
When the portrait opened to let him into the room, most of the students were still milling about. They had yet to settle back in and were talking loudly with one another about their breaks. Snape called them to attention immediately and they were silent as they waited for him to speak.
Snape looked over each of their faces coolly. Draco Malfoy was one of the few at the front of the group. The blonde-haired boy gazed at his professor with a haughty air, obviously stemming from that of his father's. Others he knew personally stood among the gathered crowd and he wondered how many of them would end up on the wrong side when this war ended. He wished he could spare them the horrors of that world, but he knew he could do nothing about it.
The Potion's Master spoke in a deep, carrying voice about what was expected of them with this coming term. If they were to get into mischief, don't get caught, if they were in trouble, come to him immediately and he would take care of things. He was their Head of House as well as professor and he could do things for them that others could or would not.
When the speech was done, Snape stepped back out of the room and into the dank dungeon hallway. One particular student followed him.
"Professor Snape!" the cool voice of Draco Malfoy called.
Severus didn't necessarily want to be there any longer, but he really had no choice. He was starting to worry about missing Sophia and he was anxious to get outside and follow her. But allowing Draco to speak to him was important.
He paused and waited as the boy caught up to him.
"What is it, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape questioned in a bored tone. "I do not have the patience or the time to stand here all night and chat with students."
The boy went on to ask more about Umbridge. He was already involved in the woman's ideas and such, but he wasn't sure how far he should go and he wanted to know more about how she could push him to farther places.
Snape explained how the woman was involved with the Minister of Magic in a very clipped tone and finally told the teenager that they could discuss this more on his office hours if the need was really that dire. He claimed he had much to prepare for the next day and told Draco that if he wasn't in bed soon someone might take off house points.
When the boy returned to his Common Room, Snape turned and stalked back up the dungeon stairs, quietly letting himself out of the castle. He was lucky tonight; he could just make out the form of Sophia Roe slipping into the trees at the edge of the forest.
Severus Snape started down toward that spot, his black robes billowing about his body and blending into the night. Without a sound, he entered the woods and started toward the voice he could suddenly hear, singing softly.
The Potion's Master slipped through trees and finally caught sight of her, collecting herbs from the roots of one of the trees. She placed them into a magical bag and carried on through the foliage that hindered her path. Snape trailed after her, his eyes observing everything.
Sophia continued sing and Severus basked in the sweet sound of her voice. It was something he didn't think he could tire of hearing. She didn't notice as he stalked her through the woods.
Something seemed off about tonight, but Snape couldn't place what it was. He was on alert, his eyes searching the trees for anything slightly out of place. Though he relished the sound of Sophia Roe singing, he wished she would just be quiet so he could focus. What he didn't realize was that she was also on alert, her eyes searching the woods just as his were.
Sophie felt something different about tonight, but she continued to gather the things on Professor Sprout's list. She knew she was reasonably safe and could defend herself if it came to that so she wasn't really worried. Still, she was aware of all that was around her as she sung softly to the night.
It wasn't until she was nearly done that something happened. It wasn't an Acromantula, which Sophie was immensely grateful for. No, out of the trees came nearly twenty centaurs, galloping into view. They stopped directly in front of her and glared down at her being.
Snape watched from a nearby tree, eyes wide. He was still and for now he would simply observe the situation, but from a hidden pocket, his wand slipped into his hand.
"You are trespassing on our land," one in the front stated.
His voice was hard and mean, leaving no room for negotiation. His hair was braided down his back and his dark eyes were cold. Sophie wondered what happened to him to make him so cruel to her.
"This is property of Hogwarts School," she replied.
"What business do you have here?" he questioned.
"I'm collecting plants needed for classes up at the castle," Sophie explained. "I'm an apprentice in Herbology."
"We do not permit wizards on our land," the centaur stated.
She didn't really know what to say to that.
"I'm sorry," Sophie replied. "What would you like me to do about it?"
The group was staring at her, angry and mean.
"Leave," the centaur ordered.
"Don't come back!" another yelled and still another cried, "Give us back the plants you stole!"
Snape didn't know how she did it. Centaurs were territorial beings and they didn't like wizards or witches on their land at all. With all the disruption of the war, they were becoming testy as well and they didn't approve of anyone, especially taking the plants that grew where they lived, though Snape didn't know their territory was this close to the school. One minute the creatures were angry and attempting to intimidate Sophia and the next they were talking politely with her.
It was a strange sight to see. Somehow she managed to negotiate with them and they allowed her access to the forest to collect the plants she needed. One even went so far as asking her if she needed a guide, though she kindly refused. When they left, Sophia Roe was perfectly fine and she started to sing once more.
Snape was dumbstruck. He knew this woman was the kindest he'd ever seen, but now she could negotiate with centaurs too? She was able to stand before the Dark Lord, laugh and smile immediately afterward, and she could talk with centaurs. He didn't know what to think of this woman.
Slowly, he placed his wand back in its spot and started after the woman again. He didn't think they would bother him, mainly because they didn't notice he was there.
He was right. No creature bothered him that night and after the centaurs went on their way nothing bothered Sophia either.
Between their encounter and the time when she would go back to the greenhouses, Snape observed the woman once again. He knew she was beautiful, but was constantly struck by it. Here under the moonlight, he thought she looked best. When everything was dark and she was unaware that any eyes were on her, she was gorgeous.
There was plenty of time for him to think about anything and everything as he watched Sophia Roe collect the plants and herbs for potions and herbology. Severus could have been thinking about the upcoming lesson with Potter, or he could have been thinking about his role with the Dark Lord, he even could have been thinking about the first day after the holidays.
Instead, for the first time since he was eight years old, he was wondering about his birthday, only days away. Snape was curious about what the girl would give him, though he never would have admitted it aloud. Still, he wondered if she would give him something great, like her last present, or if that was a fluke and he would have to pretend to like something impractical or awful.
The man would have never admitted it, but he was nervous. He wanted to like what she would give him, because she insisted on giving him something. Snape had an odd feeling in his chest that he tried to identify, but was unsure of what it could be. Strangely, he didn't want to disappoint her by not liking whatever she might give him.
When Sophia was done collecting the plants, she started back to the front of the forest. Severus followed silently. She was humming now, a tune that was rather pleasant to listen to.
At the edge of the trees, Snape watched as the girl started toward the greenhouses. She didn't look back once and this gave the Potion's Master the cover he needed to blend into the night and start up toward the castle.
Sophie happily made her way back up to the castle after handing over the plants that she collected with the permission of the centaurs. She didn't tell the woman about her experience. She didn't think it was really necessary, nothing happened.
As she got ready for bed, she thought about Snape and what he would've done if the centaurs did attack her. Would he have shown himself? Or stay in the shadows? The girl smirked as she slipped into bed and closed her eyes. In just a few short days, it would be Severus Snape's birthday and she was beyond excited for it to arrive.