"I'm so glad Poppy let me watch today. I tried to convince her to come but she's quite steadfast on just staying at the wing." Said Selena while picking off a banana from the fruit bowl in front of her.
Filius hummed lowly, "I'm not surprised. Poppy was never one for Quidditch..." He seconded. "Something about the noise and the crowded areas."
"Well, she isn't the only one around here who complains about that…" The Mediwizard chuckled to herself as she thought of her potioneer friend. "Maybe while you get older you just start to hate the world?" She quipped, making her old Head of House snicker.
"Don't look at me like I would know. I'm not old, nor will I ever grow old." He kidded, making Selena chuckle, then he faked a sigh—or not, "Or... Just grow, really."
"It's alright, Professor. 'Makes you the cutest amongst all the staff, me included." Selena chuckled.
"Dear, that's already a known fact." She laughed louder. "Oh, look, here comes Severus."
And there the potioneer was, all dressed in his black robes, pausing by Potter and his friends—and by the looks of it, it wasn't pleasant—then proceeded to limp his way to the front once he was done with them. He acknowledged her with a slight nod and the Mediwizard broke into a smile.
"Good morning, Professor." Selena greeted with her usual cheekiness. "Big day, huh?"
"In the event that victory is in our favor, it will be." He exhaled a breath of evident arrogance.
She gave him a bored stare. "Is winning all you think about?"
"Obviously not. I have a life, Miss Stellifer, I think of a lot of things." The Mediwizard simply rolled her eyes. "But as far as the game is concerned, yes, that is all. Isn't that what games are made for?"
"No. Games are made for enjoyment."
Severus crooned. "That's what a loser would say." He earned a glare from the other.
"Now I know why 'smug' starts with an S." Selena gasped. "Oh! And would you look at that; So does Severus."
The potioneer only raised a judging brow before mimicking her tone in a less cheerful manner, "So does Selena."
"And Snape."
A scoff. "And Stellifer." Damn it.
"Just go have your breakfast." She grunted.
"My, my, and stringent…"
"Go!" She ordered, but ended up laughing.
Breakfast passed with the much expected chatter of students and staff alike, including, of course, Selena's daily dose of unenthusiastic caricature from Severus. The morning went on like every day of the past few weeks until Selena and Dumbledore met up with the Heads of Houses standing by the training grounds at noon.
"Oh, there you two are! Walk any slower and we'll miss the first half!" Minerva chided from a few yards away. Selena, though a little sorry, chuckled, anyway.
"Someone's excited."
Albus exhaled a small laugh. "Or it could be the other way around, my dear."
Minutes later, the staff began their stroll to the Quidditch field with Severus leading them. Selena occasionally inhaled the ephemeral cool air, which she thought complimented the suitable warmth of the sun. A smile graced her lips at nature's impeccable bliss, and she hoped it would last longer than she could wish for.
"You chose the right day for the first match, Headmaster." The Mediwizard chirped. "It's absolutely perfect out here."
Albus smiled at her in a fatherly manner. "Indeed, it's quite pleasurable, my dear Selena. Lucky, we are, to have been granted it. On another note, I only wish for one thing today; a fair game."
"Like that has ever happened," Severus muttered, and Selena shot him a deadpanned look from behind.
"Hey..." She rebuked with a quirk of an eyebrow. The potioneer glanced at her and for a split second Selena could discern the smugness of his face. She rolled her eyes. "Anyways… The game isn't for us, it's for the students. It's a House bonding, a team-building of some sorts—oh, it's a muggle thing—And no more tests!"
"That's because those tests are already with us, Miss Stellifer. Stacks of parchments on our desks waiting to be smudged in ink of anything but the words Outstanding." Countered Severus, brow quirking upwards in a judgemental way.
"See, that's where we disagree; If it were up to me, everyone deserves an Outstanding." Said Pomona.
"No, no," Flitwick intervened. "If they work hard enough, that's when they deserve an Outstanding."
They turned to Minerva for her opinion, but she just rolled her eyes. "Anyway, you are quite right, Selena. Quidditch is a game we play for students to acknowledge teamwork within their Houses."
"And for competition." Severus mumbled.
Minerva threatened to smack him on the arm. "It is a traditional game."
"You're overlooking the underlying reason on why they play." Selena crossed her arms, enjoying the little banter more than she could admit.
"For winning."
She rolled her eyes. "For unity."
"What part of competition do you not understand?"
"Why do you want to win so badly, anyway?" Selena now addressed the four House Heads, tilting her body a little and beginning to walk facing backwards.
"To persist Slytherin's eight winning streaks."
"To end Slytherin's eight winning streaks." Minerva light-heartedly added.
Filius joined in, "It's the only way I can get my Ravenclaws out of their common room."
Pomona cheered, "We get a raise!" An awkward silence occurs, and they all stop in their tracks. The professor blinks, eyes dancing around the five people surrounding her.
"Now, that just sounds like we're desperate for the money, Pomona." Said Minerva.
"Aren't we?" Severus jokes, and the Transfiguration Professor really smacked him on the arm this time. Selena chuckled at that.
"So, a raise, huh?" She asked.
"The winning Head of House gets a raise for winning the House Cup." Flitwick said, and motioned for the Headmaster to continue. Dumbledore laughed.
"In the olden days, my dear Selena, it was obligatory for the Headmaster to provide a gift of gratitude to the Head of the winning House for creating an 'effective' camaraderie and sportsmanship in the said House" He explained. "It used to come in the form of a single diamond, or a potion of choice brewed by professional Potion Masters. Now, I've made it a monetary prize as diamonds are quite rare now."
Selena hummed in agreement. "Apparently, so are professional Potion Makers." She smirked at Severus.
"Hilarious." He loured at her. "If your intention was to offend me, Miss Stellifer, you'll have to try much harder than that." The Mediwizard half-frowned, half-smiled.
Defeated, but there was a forming smile on his face, Dumbledore continued, "It's really not that high of a raise, my dear." He informed her. "No need to feel bad."
"Still, money is money…" Selena then, sighed. "Now, I wish I was a Head of House."
A sudden quietude feigned over them and the four Heads stared at her as though she had just confessed to committing a felony. Severus pursed his lips and subtly shook his head.
"No, you don't." They said almost synchronously. Dumbledore laughed heartily once more.
It was quite odd for Selena to be situated at the teachers' stand for the Quidditch game minutes later. The view was definitely better than she could remember, but as Flitwick mentioned a few days ago, it wasn't any more risk free than where the students stood. Other than that, however, the loud cheers and whistles, the whooshing sound of the racing brooms and the fresh breeze of mid-autumn crashing into her figure brought her back to the first game she attended. It was during her first year, but unlike the present one, it was Gryfindors versus Ravenclaw. In which, victory was in their favor, she remembers proudly.
She was in her own nostalgic trance when a Gryffindor player speedily swooped a few feet near her, and the surprise brought her back to reality. Selena fixed her gaze on that specific player, ready to call him out in her mind when she recognized Harry. Her spite turned into amazement at how well the bespectacled boy was flying and in the back of her mind, a mix of emotions filled at the thought of how proud Lily and James could've been for their son—Especially James, Selena mused on.
The match was going as smooth as a Quidditch game could be when suddenly, a few horrid screams were heard from the Gryffindor stands, followed by an incoherent yell from Hagrid. It so happens that Harry's broom shook so violently, mimicking a rattle in a very naughty baby's hands.
She felt herself shiver, but this time it wasn't from the wind. Someone was making an attempt on the Potters' son and her internal accusations were proven as soon as she whipped her head towards the Slytherin stands, where Severus was already reciting what Selena assumed was the counter-curse. Her hunch was simple; that Quirrell was behind all this and it angered her. The broom still shook, and Severus' attention faltered by the minute, she needed to do something.
Drawing her wand out, the Mediwizard began casting subtle stilling spells on the broom as her aim was good anyway. She didn't want to risk muttering a counter-curse of a curse she doesn't even know. When she paused for a slight moment, her gaze averted to Severus, who turned his head at the same time and looked a little surprised at the sudden cooperation, but he nodded once and resumed his counter-spell.
It was when the stilling spells became quite ineffective she noticed that her potioneer friend was strangely glowing a fiery orange, but after a few seconds, it dawned to her that it was actually fire. Out of impulse—and slight concern, though she wouldn't admit it—she Apparated to the Slytherin stands and onto the spacious platform of where he stood.
"Professor—" The landing was rough, and she would've almost fell onto the lower platform if it weren't for a warm hand gripping her forearm for balance. She was pulled back, ending up inches away from Severus' frock coat breathing just as raggedly calm as hers. Selena felt her cheeks flush, a reaction she did not expect and therefore, resulting in her eyes to widen a considerable amount.
"Miss Stellifer, couldn't you wait until at least a minute after my predicament before you come and make yours?" Severus' dry humor was there, but still, Selena nodded feverishly. Almost catching herself falling into a trance again, she trained her eyes elsewhere and they landed on the burnt part of his coat.
"Are you hurt? Burned?" Selena blamed the Mediwizard in her for sounding like a prying interrogator, but in her defense, it really was her job to question the patients. "Should we venture to the infirmary—?"
"Miss Stellifer, please do not concern yourself over my physical well-being. I am not injured nor in any pain." The Potions Master assured, and Selena nodded slowly.
"Are you sure?" A firm nod. "Very well..."
Her chocolate eyes searched the stands for someone capable of lighting his coat on fire, but it was as if Severus was reading her mind, he began to explain; "Probably disinterested children with a knack for horseplay." He moved the hair off of his face with one flick of a hand. "Do sit down and pay no mind to it, Miss Stellifer. The game is still ongoing."
Slightly puzzled, but reminded that Harry was no longer in danger, she sat back down on the free seat beside Severus. "Who did it?" She asked in a whisper only he could hear. The potioneer only spared a glance. Selena rolled her eyes. "It couldn't have been you who jinxed the broom, right?"
"Obviously." Severus drawled, looking more bothered at the fact that his robe had been burned.
Selena inched closer. "Is it—" But dark eyes immediately silenced her, and the pupils pointed to the side. The Mediwizard followed them sneakily and managed to quickly discern the figure of the turban-wearing DADA professor watching the game with distaste.
"We cannot discuss it here." Severus said. "Library at 2:00."
A scoff suddenly escaped from Selena's mouth and a smile dawned itself on her features. "Are you sure about that?"
"Positive."
Selena looked at him with fake disbelief. "You sure? Because the last time we made those plans—" She was cut off with Severus' bored stare, turning her sentence into a laugh.
"I suggest you pay more attention to the match, Miss Stellifer." Said Severus whilst switching his attention to the field. "Otherwise, I'll be convinced that you burned my coat out of boredom."
Selena forged a gasp, "I would never." She chuckled, then found herself catching the scoreboard. "Turns out you're still getting that raise, huh?"
There was a quick but smug upward twitch of his lips. "Perhaps."
But the next few moments after that was a noisy one, as Harry landed on the ground after falling off of his broom. Selena called out his name in both concern and shock, more so when the messy-haired boy brought himself back onto his feet, but began gagging as though he was about to hurl out everything he had for breakfast that day.
The Mediwizard was ready to Apparate down there before Severus gently held her back, wordlessly telling her to wait for what could happen. She turned her head to counter his suggestion but as soon as she did, Severus' face was closer than ever, closer than the night he peeked into her enclosed palms for the firefly, and they locked eyes.
They were dark, gloomy, distant… They held hidden secrets… But they were also so… Entrancing…
Selena quietly hoped he wouldn't notice the blood rushing up to her face.
"Harry Potter caught the snitch! 150 points to Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan suddenly bellows into the mic, and they soon drowned in the loud roars of the Lion House. "Gryffindor wins!"
Selena felt Severus let go of her arm when a man near them began muttering curses while heading for the stairs. She faked a cough, turning to look at Harry on the field being hoisted up by his teammates. He wore a contagious wide grin, that Selena caught on and smiled as well.
"I'm quite convinced it's in his blood. Quidditch." Severus commented with his hands behind his back, eyeing the boy as well.
"Well, James was an excellent player." The potioneer only hummed, and Selena smiled at him sympathetically. "Cheer up, Professor." She attempted, but he only scoffed. "Or don't. Let's go meet with the others and you can decide, then."
"I will never hear the end of this." Severus groaned, but as he did, he gestured for her to leave the stands first, and she bowed in thanks.
"Definitely not. Minerva will bask in glory in the most subtle way." She laughed, and he sighed.