Snippet to follow PS: Hot Babes!
I still have no legal ownership rights to the Harry Potter series, except for having purchased some physical copies of books & movies. JKR, Scholastic, and a bunch of other people who aren't me own them.
…..
Severus Snape lurked at the edge of Hogsmeade, having purchased an assortment of ingredients and intending to return to the castle to place them in his store-rooms as quickly as possible. Preferably before one of the little dunderheads could do something to ruin them.
"I don't know how you manage, Severus. Dealing with so many children every day," Lucius gave a slightly exaggerated shudder.
"Practice, perhaps?" Severus Snape arched an eyebrow as he looked at his… friend wasn't the right word. Few Slytherin alumni, which he and Lucius Malfoy both were, had actual friends. Especially not from the Slytherin House, and even less so when there was a three year age gap. Severus still hadn't figured out if he'd forgiven Lucius for introducing him to some of the Death Eaters, years ago.
Regardless, he would always be grateful the older Slytherin had introduced him to the one who eventually became his Potions' Master, enabling his studies of the art and his own eventual Mastery. He would also always be grateful for the assistance with dueling and other defensive spells, though he felt that had been more than adequately repaid by helping the older student pass his OWLs in Potions.
"Odd, I never took you for the sort to enjoy the company of children," Lucius raised one pale brow. The expression made him look like a prissy brat trying to look regal, regardless of the fact that he was a grown man, a dangerous wizard, and had personally killed dozens of muggles.
He'd even killed two with a knife. Lucius never talked about those when he reminisced about the 'good old days'.
"Fine, it's because I had neither the political clout or the golden pardon you possess, and many people wanted to throw me into Azkaban ten years ago. Dumbledore vouched for me, and only later did I learn what form of gratitude he expected," Snape glared at Hogwarts, visible over the trees.
"Your choices were teach children to ruin potions or go to Azkaban?" Lucius' face revealed shock.
"I concluded that the food would be better here," Severus spoke in a solemn tone. "And perhaps I would eventually find a reprieve."
He took a few moments before adding, "And I try to teach the dunderheads to brew potions, they can ruin them just fine on their own."
"Draco had written several interesting things about your classroom demeanor, and your behavior as Head of House," Lucius mused.
"As Head of House it is my duty to keep the dunderheads out of some trouble, and to give them a little supervision, not to… be their friend." The last words were hissed with so much venom for a moment Severus could have been mistaken for a viper.
"You apparently dish out a combination of insults, challenges, the occasional threat to turn parts of someone into potion ingredients, and tantalizing words about potions you don't intend to teach them," Lucius smiled.
"What potion would that be?" Snape arched his own eyebrow.
"Draco didn't mention specifics, but he did seem quite vexed," Lucius offered.
"I mention that the correct potions can even draw the interest of attractive females. Then I don't tell the dunderheads which potion or hold their hand through brewing a magical short cut to dating and lust," Snape smirked.
"Is that wise?" Lucius clearly fought his own smirk at the explanation.
Snape laughed, something more than a few students would have sworn was impossible. "Since I've started that sly hinting, potions grades have risen by an average of thirty points, passing OWLS have doubled, and there have been half again as many students infesting my NEWT level Potions classes, with two out of three of them passing. In their frustration, the dunderheads actually put in a bit of effort and study."
"So much of a change?" Lucius looked impressed. "I'm not certain that isn't a more impressive accomplishment than earning your Potions Mastery at such a young age."
"Amazing what people will do in obedience to their lusts and passions," he sniffed. "But you wouldn't have come to Hogsmeade to question my teaching methods."
"No, I was hoping you would have time to brew up a few potions for Narcissa and myself. Unfortunately they are rather beyond my own skills, and I still recall your rather scathing rant about fools overestimating their skill and causing massive amounts of destruction or simply killing themselves. Narcissa could make the one if it were just a question of skill, but she's been having some odd dizzy moments of late, and…" Lucius reached into his robe and produced a small roll of parchment.
"Brewing with the chance of dizziness is most unwise," Severus nodded. "I assume you will cover the costs of any materials I may need to procure for these potions?"
"Of course," Lucius smiled, an expression he was far more familiar with than his associate.
In the distance, a couple students observed their terrifying Potions Professor talking with a cloaked figure. Occasional glimpses of long pale blond hair could be seen, and a few gestures revealed one hand bore a jeweled ring.
Obviously a woman of money. Who else but a woman or a girl would wear a jeweled ring?
Maybe even an attractive woman of money.
Maybe even a veela.
"Did you see…" Barnabus Matthews hissed, one hand gesturing towards the distant pair.
"I guess potions really can get you hot babes," Douglas Witherspoon murmured, eyes wide. "Do you think she might be a veela?"
"How would Snape of all people get a veela?" snorted Micheal Atwood.
"Potions. Lots of powerful, awesome potions that he won't tell us about," Douglas retorted.
Hogwarts being what it was, and with the level of secrecy and respect for privacy that British schoolchildren were renowned for, the rumors of Snape and his potions gaining a veela girlfriend, or at least a hot affair, were all over the school, among all four houses before class on Monday. The facts that he hadn't been seen over the rest of the weekend and in fact seemed less angry at the world than usual were taken as confirmation.
Draco Malfoy would have been horribly offended to know his father – who would hear about this – had been mistaken for a woman. Perhaps even a woman who wasn't fully human.
Lucius would have sneered before retreating to try to determine what about his appearance had caused such confusion and begin plotting revenge at the embarrassment.
Narcissa would have been quite amused.
Awe at the power of potions would cause an increase in studying, and record numbers of OWLs and NEWTs from the classes that year. After all, if potions could get Snape a hot blonde who might be a veela, then they could help anyone.
End follow-up snippet for PS: Hot Babes.