IWSC: Season 3 Round 7
Durmstrang: Let Bygones be Bygones
Year 6
Word count: 2486
Mandatory prompt: [Character] Original Character
Secondary prompt: [Occupation] Potionner
Third prompt: [Action] babbling
Special rule: Pure-blood
A/N: This story is AU. Severus did not become a Death Eater. After he graduated from Hogwarts, he opened an Apothecary. He takes on an apprentice.
More Than Skin Deep
Jeannette walked around the small town of Hogsmeade. She sat by the fountain in the middle of the square. The babbling water soothed her frayed nerves. She had everything going for her. That was until she opened her big mouth. The past three days had been agonizing. Everything she worked so hard for slipped through her fingers. She didn't even realize that she'd done anything wrong. It was how she was raised.
Laughter in the distance brought Jeannette out of her musing. She saw a few children playing. They were playing what looked like Tag. Seeing the light-hearted game gave her a wistful smile. That small joy didn't last as she thought about her situation.
Before coming to the British Isles, she had lived in a small town just outside of Nouvion. It was a peaceful town filled with witches and wizards.
She'd graduated from Beauxbatons with the highest grade in Potions. Her dream was to be the first Potionner in her hometown. She sent out several owls in search of the best Potionner to apprentice under.
Her luck couldn't have been better when she got an answer. And not only did she get an apprenticeship, but it was with the Potions prodigy Master Severus Snape. She had everything. She was in her first year of a six-year apprenticeship. She was on top of the world.
And then she wasn't...
Three days earlier:
Severus and his lab assistant, Jeannette, were at Three Broomsticks having lunch. It was a normal day for them. There was a Potionner's conference they just left. Jeannette offered to treat Master Snape to lunch.
"What Master Jones said was riveting," Jeannette gushed.
"If you say so," Severus said dryly. "I think he's a little pompous."
Jeannette snickered. She loved how easy it was to talk with her Master. When she first started working for him, the man seemed stand-offish. She never imagined that he was a great conversationalist. She loved to pick his brain about certain ingredients or procedures in brewing.
She thought Master Snape was a wealth of Potion knowledge. And the fact that he agreed to let her apprentice under him was an honor. She understood why he was a prodigy and was awarded several prestigious accolades.
"You said that about everyone who spoke today," Jeannette said, trying to keep from laughing. "Was there anyone you liked listening to?"
Severus took a sip of his drink and looked at his apprentice, raising an eyebrow. "No. I didn't want to go in the first place. I have better things to do than to listen to people that don't know what they are talking about, prattling on."
Jeannette sat back in her chair. "It couldn't have been that bad, sir."
"Wolfsbane can be stored for a month," Severus sneered. "I would love for him to test his theory with a person with lycanthropy and see what would happen. Anyone worth their salt would know that Wolfsbane must be freshly brewed for it to be effective."
Jeannette tilted her head back, laughing loudly, causing a few of the other patrons to look at their table.
"A complete waste of my time," Severus sighed.
Rosemerta walked over to their table carrying a tray with their ordered food.
"Severus, sweetie," Rosemerta said while putting the plates of food in front of them. "My girlfriend wanted me to remind you to stop by her house. Her mum has taken a turn."
"I will."
Rosemerta put her hand on Severus' shoulder and walked away. Jeannette watched the small conversation.
"Sir, if I may inquire, what was that about?" Jeannette asked, taking a bite of her cornish hen.
"I have to go to London," Severus said, cutting his steak. "I'm watching over a friend."
"Where in London?" Jeannette asked curiously. "I would love to help you with this."
"It's not necessary, there isn't much that you would be useful for, but if you want, you may come. It is in Liverpool."
"Liverpool?" taking a bite of food and looking at Master Snape, "that's a Muggle town, isn't it?" Jeannette sounded shocked.
"Yes," Severus looked at his apprentice. "Is that a problem?"
"Why would you have dealings with Muggles?" Jeannette asked, putting her utensils on the table.
"And what is wrong with that?"
Because she grew used to the no-nonsense tone Master Snape used, she wasn't aware that he was getting annoyed. Her biggest mistake.
"They're Muggle."
Severus stared at her. His eyes narrowed; his grip on his goblet tightened. In the several months that they worked together, he had never thought she was prejudiced against Muggles.
"Pure-bloods don't need to mingle with the likes of them," Jeannette continued as she picked up her fork and knife and continued eating.
"Is this something that will be an issue?" Severus calmly asked. "If this is the attitude you have, I don't think this will work."
Severus dabbed his mouth with his napkin and stood up.
"What did I say?" Jeannette was surprised at her Master's reaction.
"I will write you a letter so that you will be able to find another Potions Master to apprentice with."
Jeannette's mouth dropped open. Her cutlery clanged against the table when they slipped from her hands.
Without saying another word to Jeannette, Severus walked over to Rosemerta and walked out of the pub.
Joann didn't know what it was she said that turned everything backward. She stared at the now empty seat across from her. Rosemerta walked over to her table.
"What did I do?" Jeannette asked no one in particular. "I just said Pure-bloods shouldn't mingle with Muggles."
"Well," Rosemerta sighed, picking up Severus' unfinished plate. "His best friend was Muggle-born."
Jeannette gasped when she learned of her blunder. Tears burned her throat as she just ruined her chances of learning from Master Severus Snape. She picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. Jeannette wanted to run out of the restaurant before she embarrassed herself anymore.
"How...how much do I-" Jeannette stuttered, trying to speak over the lump growing in her throat.
"Nothing," Rosemerta said. "Severus paid for the meals."
Hearing that made the tears flow like a river. Jeannette couldn't get out of the pub fast enough. This was supposed to be her treat for Master Snape. Now, it's all ruined.
A child's cry brought Jeannette to the present. She looked over at the children and saw that one of them was sitting on the ground holding his knee.
"You okay?" a girl asked, kneeling next to the boy.
"Yeah," the boy replied. "Just skinned my knee."
"We told you not to try floating," the girl laughed. She stood and held out her hand.
"Yeah, well," he said, reaching out for her hand. He stood next to her. "I had to see if it would work."
"You know being a Muggle there are some things you can't do," she wrapped her arm around the boy's shoulder. "Let's find my brother's friend. He can heal your knee. He's going to be a Healer after Hogwarts."
"Boy, I wish I could go to Hogwarts," the boy sighed.
"I wish you could too," the girl replied. "But you can't do magic. But that doesn't mean we can't play together."
"I love playing with you, cousin." the boy gushed. "There is something new I learn every day."
"We'll play more tomorrow," She promised. "A girl I room with showed me this game. I want to show you how to play it."
"What is it?" the boy asked.
"It's called Exploding Snaps," the girl said smiling. "And there's more. Plus, we have the whole Easter Holidays to show you more games."
The children walked away chattering back and forth.
Seeing the interaction between those children gave her a little insight that Muggles are no different. The girl didn't care that he couldn't do magic. She offered to show him things she learned. And if those two can still be friends and not care that one could do magic and the other couldn't. Surely, she can fix this. She had to fix this.
_0000_0000_0000
The lunch with his apprentice bothered him more than he cared to admit. He thought about his friend he grew up with. In the beginning, they were thick as thieves. Lily was the blooming flower that grew around the desert wasteland that was his life.
When they went to Hogwarts, they didn't let House rivalry dictate how they acted with each other. It was wonderful until their fifth year. His greatest shame. A day that he will forever regret. He could be a coward and blame his blunder on the peer pressure he suffered while he was alone in the Slytherin house. But he was adult enough to know it was his actions that stopped their friendship.
After that day, Severus vowed he would never allow that kind of bigotry around him. He stayed locked in his dorm and worked on acquiring his NEWTs. Severus's new diligent studious nature paired with his excellent marks had helped him persuade Professor Slughorn to mentor him on his journey to Potions Mastery.
Severus walked into his laboratory. Just being in the room calmed his nerves. It didn't matter what happened outside those doors. The minute he stepped across the threshold a sense of calm washed over him.
Shrugging off his outer robe and hanging it up on the freestanding rack while picking up his dragon-hide smock and apron. Severus walked over to his potions cupboard, looking to see if he was low on anything. There wasn't anything that was direly needed and after the minor stressful event that happened earlier that week, he didn't want to risk brewing an experimental potion.
He decided to replenish his larder. Preparing ingredients had been Jeannette's domain but now that they had parted ways as master and apprentice, the tedious chore was his once more.
Severus was lost in his work, grinding a small bicorn horn. There were several cauldrons babbling over burners. His warding alerted him that someone had walked into his store. He was still holding the pestle as the door to his lab opened. His eyebrows rose when he saw who stepped in.
"Master Snape, I need to talk to you," Jeannette said, raising her hands in a surrendering manner. "Please, sir, don't say anything until I finish."
Severus put the pestle down beside the mortar and placed his hands on the table in front of him. He tilted his head, waiting for his former apprentice to speak.
"I was so honored to be chosen to be your apprentice," Jeannette started. "It was a dream come true. To be in the presence of a Potion Master prodigy was just…"
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"I want to be a Potionner for as long as I can remember. In my hometown, there were no Potionners or even in the surrounding area. Everyone had to owl to the next province for their potions and salves."
Severus said nothing.
"I want to continue under your tutelage. Please give me another chance," she begged.
"Ms. Perreault—"
"I didn't mean to offend you," she continued, "I would never talk bad about anyone."
"Ms. Perreault—"
"I'm not like these other Pure-bloods that believe that they are superior over everyone else."
"Ms. Perreault, please—"
"I grew up not knowing the difference in people—"
"Ms. Perreault!" Severus yelled, holding his hand up. "Please, stop."
Jeannette's mouth closed with a snap. The one thing that bothered her if not anything else was the fact that she never knew what he was thinking. His face was like stone. Was he going to give her another chance? Would she still be able to continue with her dream?
"I appreciate your zealous attitude with wanting to be a Potioneer," Severus said, walking over to the woman who looked like she was about to jump out of her skin at any moment.
"Now," Severus began, "I know you were unaware of my thoughts about the different blood statuses. I may have reacted poorly. It reminded me of the most awful day from my past. I vowed to myself that I would never surround myself with such hatred."
"But I don't—"
Severus raised his hand to halt Jeannette from continuing.
"You misunderstand me," Severus continued. "I conceded that you come from a town that may not be aware of the difference. I will excuse that ignorance. But, I am firm about this; I will not have someone under my tutelage with such beliefs."
"Now, as to you continuing with your apprenticeship," Severus walked back to his station, "that is uncertain."
Jeannette's face paled as her heart both sunk to her stomach and rose to her throat at the thought of losing her apprenticeship. She nervously rubbed her hands on her robes trying to calm herself.
"Since you've been under me," Severus continued, not noticing or caring about the turmoil that Jeannette was suffering. "I can attest to the fact that you do know your way around the lab. You still need polishing, but you have the potential of becoming a fine Potioneer."
Hearing the praise coming from Master Snape was a dream come true, but it was bittersweet.
"As it happens, I am in need of a novice assistant."
"An assistant?" Jeannette blinked.
"Are you interested in the post?"
"Yes, of course." Jeannette quickly agreed.
Severus nodded. "You will be on a trial basis," Severus said, picking up the abandoned pestle. "You will have to work your way back to being an apprentice. If you can prove to me that you will be a fair Potioneer, I will consider moving you back up to apprentice."
Jeannette gasped. She can stay. She can stay! Right now, she didn't care that she wouldn't be an apprentice. As long as she was working with Master Snape was all she wanted.
Jeannette rushed to Severus' side and wrapped her arms around the slight man. "Thank you! Thank you so much."
Severus tensed at the contact. He was someone that didn't like being touched. He awkwardly patted her shoulder.
"Yes, yes," Severus sounded befuddled. "You can release me now."
"Oh," Jeannette said, still beaming. "Sorry, sir."
"Now, if you are finished with your annoying babbling and shows of unnecessary affection," Severus said after clearing his throat. "Get your smock on and get to work."
Jeannette rushed to her locker in the back of the lab.
Severus stole a glance at the woman. When she gripped him, he could admit to himself that he was shocked. Not many people wanted to touch him. Honestly, the last one was his former best friend.
Looking around the lab, Jeannette felt like the world was right again. It had been three days since she'd been in the lab. Going to her station, she started by looking over her notes from the last lesson Master Snape talked about.
Everything was going to be alright. She was going to be a Potioneer.
THE END
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my story.
Please leave a review letting me know what you think. {good or bad; just be nice}
Many hugs and kisses to you all!
Mandancie