Chapter 34: High And Dry
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
{"High and dry, out of the rain...It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain...And don't you know that a love can't grow...'Cause there's too much to give, 'cause you'd rather live...For the thrill of it all, oh...You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far...'Cause you know it don't matter anyway...You can rely on the old man's money...You can rely on the old man's money...It's a bitch girl and it's gone too far...'Cause you know it don't matter anyway..."} Rich Girl, Hall And Oates
The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Severus Snape stared down at his vastly empty plate as he sat with his fellow Slytherins at their table. His obsidian gaze flickered with a quiet fury as he watched Lily giggle and gossip with a few of the girls at the Gryffindor table just as James Potter got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around her, making sure that Severus saw him lure the red head witch into a kiss to further rub salt into the raven haired wizard's wounds. Unbeknownst to the arrogant prat Potter, Severus' rage was more toward Lily than him. It was after all Lily that had so callously informed him that she happily murdered his unborn child just to further her relationship with Potter.
Regulus turned his attention to Snape with an arched brow and a look of confusion filed across his handsome face.
"Are you alright Sev?" he asked.
"I'm fine." replied Severus turning his attention to his concerned friend. "It is only that I've seemed to have lost my appetite."
"Don't give that arrogant prat the satisfaction..." began Regulus.
"For once it's not Potter that turns my stomach." replied Severus getting to his feet and walking out of The Great Hall.
From the staff table, Albus Dumbledore noted Severus Snape's departure with vested interest. He had known all too well about the history of the young Slytherin and his issues with James Potter of Gryffindor house and sought to put an end to the petty squabbling once and for all.
He excused himself from the staff table and moved to catch the less than subtle Severus Snape before he hid himself from the rest of the school's view.
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The Corridor, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Young Severus had only been halfway through the vast corridor leading from the Great Hall when he felt the rather unwanted presence of the Headmaster and stopped in his tracks. He had not been overly fond of the elder wizard and his previous encounter following the issue with Black trying to get him killed by were-Lupin was more than enough to remind him to steer clear of the long thought benevolent wizard.
"Is there some reason you are following me old man?" asked Severus with an arched brow despite not being too keen on having Dumbledore trailing after him.
"Where are you headed so late in the night with all of your school mates safely inside the great hall Mr. Snape?" asked the blue eyed wizard looking over the seemingly world weary boy whom had only been sixteen years of age.
"No place special." Severus replied honestly. "I simply didn't have much of an appitite."
"Does this lack of wishing to dine with the rest of the school stem from your affections for the young Miss Evans and her affections for Mr. Potter?" asked Dumbledore in an eerie father-like tone.
Severus wanted no part of the elder wizard's supposed attempt at counseling him. He knew he was less than nothing in the sight of the Headmaster, that much was proven with the Lupin trying to eat him incident that Sirius Black orchestrated and James Potter came off like a selfless hero in the eyes of Lily Evans further damaging Severus' relationship with her.
"Does it truly matter?" asked the young raven haired wizard not in the mood for games. "I have no interest in the meals and wish to go to bed."
"It seems you've had quite a difficult time here at Hogwarts Mr. Snape." said Dumbledore looking him over with twinkling blue eyes.
"Like you care about how I'm doing...you're only interested in your precious Gryffindors and how the school looks to the rest of the wizarding world..." replied Severus in annoyance. "If I'm such a burden to the school why not let me take my exams early and we never have to look upon one another again."
"Mr. Snape..." began Dumbledore with a saddened expression.
"Everyone would like nothing more than for me to disappear...why not give them their wish and make their final year pleasant...let me take my N.E.W.T.S. and O.W.L.S now." said Severus meeting the elder wizard's gaze. "Then I can be gone and you can get on with having Potter be the center of the universe."
"It is clear that taking your wizarding exams fairly soon mean a great deal to you." said Dumbledore.
"There's no need for false pretenses...we both are well aware of your disdain for me." said Severus not backing down in the least. "I simply wish to take my exams and move on with my life...there's nothing for me here and even less to speak of in the way of your teachers doing their jobs...another year of torment does little good for anyone."
Dumbledore considered the young Slytherin's bold request for a few moments.
"Either I leave here an example of the intellectual class of Hogwarts for my year or I go without the knowledge of my true potential being known either way...you will not see me suffering through another year of this hell old man." said Severus the intent in his words not at all lost on the elder wizard.
"Have it your way Severus." replied Headmaster Dumbledore. "Very well, you shall take your exams and should you fail..."
"I won't." replied Severus determined. "And I will not return for the final year no matter what you believe."
Dumbledore sighed knowing this was the best thing he could possibly do for the wayward Slytherin.
"Despite what you may think of me Mr. Snape...I wish you the best of luck." said the elder wizard.
Severus took his words with a grain of salt and continued on his path back toward the Slytherin dungeons.
The way he saw it, he could not be rid of this place fast enough.