Chapter 7: The Dungeons Dilemma

Chapter 7: The Dungeons Dilemma

Early the next morning, Athena woke up with her stomach in knots. The first and only thing on her mind was that she had to work with Snape today and at that, she wondered if he knew about this or not. With the impression she got from him, she highly doubted that he ever needed help previously to prepare for his own class.

Was this just one of Dumbledore's shenanigans?

She reluctantly got out of bed, tidied it up, got her clothes and went to take a shower. Athena got dressed in a teal shirt, along with black trousers, closed shoes and her grey coat upon remembering how cold the dungeons could be. She also hoped to dress modestly to not lead him to disrespect her in such a way or to give the wrong impression, not that she thought that he would notice her attire or make an effort to look at her anyway.

It was a gloomy Saturday and with the students back, the corridors and common rooms were crowded in their effort to stay out of the autumn rain. Many of them were in the Great Hall with Athena for breakfast at 7 AM, some of them waving politely at her, where others hastily pushed past her to take their places next to their friends at their respective House tables.

At the High Table were seated Professor Dumbledore in the middle, Professor McGonagall on his right and far along his left, Umbridge, coated in pink. Athena shyly accepted the seat Dumbledore offered her on his left.

"Good morning, Professors," she grinned at them and began to eat some freshly baked blueberry muffins and poured herself some orange juice.

"I am thrilled to find you so well adjusted! I am also hoping that you'll find by assisting Severus with his preparations, fulfilling."

McGonagall turned to Dumbledore, nearly choking on her tea. "Albus, why are you putting her up with Severus? Heaven know what he'll say to her! You know him-", Dumbledore waved his hand, silencing her protest. "Athena, I believe, is quite capable to attend to him, Minerva. It is only a matter of pride to overcome on his side from being rejected for the position that our dear Miss Herrmann now holds for the 15th time, if I'm not mistaken," Dumbledore said in a light and calm tone, as if nothing was wrong in the world.

Athena frowned and continued devouring her muffin. "Well, as far as I'm concerned, he should get over it. There is nothing he can do to change it now," McGonagall's nostrils flared and her eyebrows united in a frown that Athena remembered all to well. They continued their bickering at each other while Athena resumed her breakfast in silence, thinking about this new piece of information. Snape applied for the 15th time for the job she currently had.

I would be ill-tempered too.

Athena, usually not a big eater, finished her orange juice and heard Dumbledore still chuckling mischievously at McGonagall. "I have to get going. Good day to you, Professors," they both smiled kindly at her.

Her usual mistake was to stand up too fast and her blood pressure plummeted and her vision spinned.

Not again, not in front of the students and definitely not in front of the pink toad!

Staggering slightly, she got aware of unwanted eyes on her. Straightening herself, she threw her long hair back that got disheveled and was grateful for Dumbledore's firm hand on her elbow who smiled kindly at her.

Athena made her way to the door on their left side in pursuit of the dungeons when a startlingly strong grip enclosed around her upper right forearm.

"Do expect a visit from me during the coming week as part of my evaluation, Miss Herrmann," Umbridge said in a high voice. Athena felt her stomach tilt at the thought, because she knew that this woman would find something wrong in her work even if there was logically nothing wrong.

She wanted to tell Umbridge how annoying and unwanted she already was at the school, but chose wisely to remain quiet. She was a ministry official with too much power for Athena to just let her tongue slip. She could lose her job even before Monday began.

The one thing that Athena knew would cost her job was her constant low blood pressure if Umbridge should find out.

Rather, Athena gave her a stiff smile and pulled her arm from the woman's hand. In the corridor, she fumed and wanted to curse out loudly, but instead to release some of her anger, she kicked one of the pillars. She wanted to appear calm when she showed up to Snape's office after all, for she was sure he made a mental list of all the elements of her that he found disapproving.

Severus was rummaging in his personal stores for the ingredients needed to brew the Draught of Living Death as example for the first lesson of the 6th years on Monday. He placed all seven ingredients next to the brass cauldron on the table for Athena to work with.

His heart sank at the thought of her coming here to assist him for Merlin knows how long. The previous new teachers were not required to do so. He reminded himself that it was better not to question Dumbledore's motives, but this was unusual even for him and it annoyed him greatly.

Severus began to ponder over Athena's potion-making skills. She was a NEWT student, the best in her class and so was he. He'll judge it for himself. If she was really that good, he would have no choice but to admit that he would find it impressive. Not many people really appreciated potions like he did, and if there was a chance that she felt mutual about it, he would certainly be somewhat more civil to her.

While she would be attempting the Draught of Living Death, he would brew the Elixir to Induce Euphoria. Quite ironic. He wasn't a delightful person and felt slightly hypocritical to brew it, but he wanted to test her abilities in brewing the most advanced potions. He was hoping for her to fail to his satisfaction, but he was also in a deep part of his soul hoping for her to succeed.

Athena reached the dungeon that is Snape's office. Her stomach gave jolts, but it wasn't just out of nerves. She looked down at her clothes and straightened her necklace, disarray from the exertion and knocked three times on the door to his office. Would she really be so unyielding like she thinks she is or would she snap under his pressure?

Severus was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard a knock on the door. His heart skipped a beat and a strong frisson of excitement and fear embraced him.

"Enter," he called out in his usual commanding voice.

When Athena entered, Severus was yet again stupefied. She was modest and graceful in her whole appearance and not to say, alluring, and she looked slightly apprehensive upon laying her eyes on him. Again, thank Merlin for Occlumency. He was to keep his strange feelings deeply hidden from her for the unknown amount of time they would be working.

Athena saw him standing up when she entered. "Miss Herrmann. Good morning," his voice was a deep velvety baritone, it made her knees weak and her face began heating up. He is so annoyingly attractive! She didn't deny it, but she didn't even know him and such thoughts were crossing her mind.

"Good morning, Professor Snape," she greeted with a thick accent. He stared at her for a moment, making her wanting to throw him with a glass jar from one of the shelves or just run out of the door from self-consciousness. Maybe he was wondering what I wanted?

"I'm not sure if you are aware about the Headmaster's-".

"I am, Miss Herrmann. And to be frank, I'm not entirely sure what he is trying to achieve through this arrangement, but here we are," she frowned at him and her suspicions were confirmed that none of the former new teachers were required to do this.

"I was informed that you were a NEWT student in Potions. If you are uncapable to brew any potions this morning according to my standards, then we are wasting each other's time," he said matter-of-factly. Athena took a deep breath. She promised herself not to get too easily offended in his presence, but she did have a few things of importance to say to him. Athena hated being underestimated.

"Professor Snape," she began and walked closer to him to see him more clearly in the dark office.

"Forgive my candidness, but if you are to persistently question my competence regarding potions, allow me to enlighten you that I worked as a Master Healer in the Potion and Plant Poisoning and Creature-Induced Injuries Departments for 7 years. Also, I am an ex-Auror, so yes. I can brew potions admirably," she felt a deep pride inside at herself, but yet, she felt so small all of a sudden when she noticed that his glare didn't waver.

Severus was moved at her little speech. An ex-Auror, she says. Then why did she leave both noble and essential callings for a teaching position? Clearly, she did have great skill, but he'll still judge it for himself.

His earlier musing if she was German was correct. She had a strong accent that he found very intriguing at the least and was like honey to his ears! When he heard her speaking for the first time a few moments ago, he was thunderstruck and it demanded his attention when she spoke.

"And allow me to add, with respect, that I am not here as your assistant teacher to brew potions, I am here to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," her voice was firm and she noticed that he raised an eyebrow at her. Was that supposed to unnerved me?

Severus sensed that this woman was unpredictable and fierce. "Very well, Miss Herrmann. I require of you to brew the Draught of Living Death," Athena's stomach dropped.

"All your ingredients are sorted and if you are so adept at doing this, you shall not even realize that I left you no notes," he scowled at her that made her dislike him even more. What was it with him?

Athena only raised an eyebrow at him, glaring viciously and began to add the ingredients flawlessly to the cauldron, doing it with the simpleness of making a sandwich.

You could cut the tension with a knife in the room. The sooner this was over, the better. Severus would probably be the only teacher she wouldn't get along with. This Draught was sometimes very tricky to brew, but from the many times that she had to prepare this in St. Mungo's made her an expert and she could brew it with her eyes closed.

Severus was watching her. She could feel it. His eyes drilling into her skull. Athena didn't dare look up or she might spontaneously combust and she added the sloth brain.

Severus on the other hand, was so mesmerized by her skill, he forgot about his own potion to brew. Each ingredient was added precisely in quantity and in time. She stirred the cauldron with an elegant grace that entranced him. He simply couldn't manage to tear his eyes away from her.

She is a Potions Master.

He knew exactly what he just thought and didn't fight it, because it was true. So this is why Dumbledore said that they would get along. Their equal skills in potion-making. If he had to admit, his ego was a bit damaged at this point. For once in his life, he had been entirely steamrolled in being proven wrong.

She was a Master Healer in Potions, you fool, what did you expect? That she would blow up a cauldron like an ickle first year?

He had to ask, "Miss Herrmann, what was your favorite subject while at Hogwarts?", Athena, surprised at his question, looked up, but continued stirring the cauldron. "Without a doubt, Potions. The soft simmering of a cauldron can be so therapeutic," she replied and looked down into the cauldron again that has now turned black.

Severus' heart soared. Never had he ever heard such good words spoken from any other person regarding potions that he even couldn't put into one sentence. Perhaps Dumbledore was right...

Athena felt flushed. He kept looking at her and she hated it and then that question. Potions had always been her passion since her first day of school. She won many awards in competitions and she prided herself in it. While at St. Mungo's, she had to brew the most complex and dangerous antidotes to various poisons and venoms.

Athena suddenly felt mischievous and looked up at Severus, leaned over to look into his cauldron and said in a sardonic tone, "Did you forget how to brew that Elixir, Professor? There isn't really anything in your cauldron yet. Maybe you should have thought to put out notes for yourself more than not giving me any," she smirked and saw him frown, not caring what he was to say to her next.

Severus didn't say a word. He was too astonished at the woman's nerve. She just mocked him openly. It infuriated him, but he also enjoyed her wit, her nerve to challenge him, to openly say things to him no one else would even dare to.

Typical Gryffindor and proof that she is insufferable.

Athena barely contained herself at his shocking expression and soon turned off the flame, indicating that she was finished. He grunted and walked over to her cauldron, looking over her shoulder.

Severus took a leaf out of his pocket to test her potion and not to his surprise, it disappeared instantly when it touched the surface, just like it does when he brewed it. He had no words and yet expected her to do well, but this was exactly how it looked after he adapted the potion in his textbook! Maybe she had done the same. What a woman!

Athena felt her stomach fluttering again at his closeness and smirked at him having no words at her skill. "So, is there anything else you need assistance with, Professor?", she asked after she bottled her potion and cleaned out the cauldron.

"No, you did enough today," a little disappointed to not spend anymore time brewing, she nodded and began to leave.

"Your skill is...surprisingly phenomenal. I shall ask for your assistance in the future regarding unusual potions."

Athena felt her heart beating in her throat. Did he just compliment me? Severus wondered if he had accidentally drank some Veritaserum from his frankness all of a sudden. He of all people just complimented her, the one teacher he really disliked at this point, but still, if he was to deny her skill, he would be a fool and a fool was Severus Snape not.

"Thank you, Professor."

No breaking news for me. She bowed her head to greet him and gracefully left his office, dumbstruck at receiving a compliment from the Head of Slytherin. Some progress on his part.