"Hagrid!" Selena cheerily called for the half-giant a few feet away. He showed her a small wave before returning to watering what appeared to be wild Wiggentree. "You know, the Hospital Wing has been quite low on Wiggenweld Potions lately." She giggled while ducking down like a curious little girl around the plant.
With a humorous grunt, the gatekeeper shooed her away with a watering can the size of a stool. "Aye! Go plant yer' own, Miss Stellifer. Don't ya' come near Ferbert." He said protectively.
"Must you name everything, Hagrid? Ending with a 'bert' at that." Selena shrugged, remembering the time when he asked if 'Norbert' was a good name. Unique choice, but she supposes it's for another plant. "I may as well be Selbert to you, huh?"
"Nay, Miss Stellifer. To me, yer' a monkey, cute an' fun but bananas." The Mediwizard smacked Hagrid on the arm, but of course he is not bothered by this, considering the size of him. He chuckles at her embarrassment instead. "Headin' to the match, are ye?"
"Yes, actually. Just thought I'd drop by since I'm a bit early." She explained. "Are you coming with?"
"Unfortunately, not today. I've received special orders from Dumbledore that I need to accomplish ere the end o' the week. Ye' have fun though, an' make sure Professor Snape won't wind up in the Hospital Wing right after."
Selena absentmindedly averted her gaze to the mountains. "Yes, I quite fear that."
"Heard' it's his first time refereein', so I think it's best you watch out for him the most." From the corner of her eye, Selena can see Hagrid glance at her. She could've sworn she caught a smirk too.
"I'm on stand-by for everyone, Hagrid. It's my job as the school matron." She warily smiled at him while her hands shot into the pockets of her uniform. "I shall be making my way then. I ought to greet the teams with some good luck before the game starts."
The half-giant nodded. "Give my best to Harry, will ye?"
"Certainly." Said Selena before jovially prancing towards the Quidditch pitch.
The first month of the year had just passed and not long after, so would the second. The chill of winter still lingered though the snow has already been long gone. Golden sunlight broke through the thick clouds and graced its warmth of everything it may see. It was a perfect day for a match, the Headmaster was always so good at deciding the schedules for the games. The journey to the pitch was relaxing for the Mediwizard, especially now since she hasn't been out a lot for the past few weeks; students always found themselves in runny noses during the cold weather, though sometimes, Selena believed it was only a tactic to avoid classes.
Instead of going directly to the Ravenclaw stands, she approached the field first, where Severus was seen conversing with Madam Hooch, dark broomstick in hand. Selena laughed to herself, she has never seen the potioneer on a broom, and in her imagination, it looked like such an odd sight.
"Good morning, Madam Hooch, Professor Snape." Selena acknowledged the both of them coyly, hands behind her back. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"
"A very good day, indeed." Hooch looked relieved to see the Mediwizard. "Selena, dear, you were an exceptionally good flyer during your time, yes? Perhaps you would like to give our fellow colleague some advice." She pointed to the Potions Master who accommodated a frown on his face.
"Hooch, I am already in pain due to your mere presence more than myself falling off this broom." Severus retorted to which the Flying Instructor let out a laugh. "And Stellifer, don't even say a word about flying."
"Do respect me, my dear boy, for without me, you wouldn't have known what broomsticks are even for." Madam Hooch chided with a pointed finger and a smug smile. The Slytherin Head only rolled his eyes.
"Don't tell me you do not know how to fly, Professor." Selena raised her brow amusedly. "You requested to referee this match. The success of this game relies on your performance—well, mostly."
Severus let out a grunt. "Rolanda, may I be alone with Miss Stellifer for a moment."
"Very well," She skeptically glanced at both of them, but didn't bother to pry. "I'll go and check on the teams."
"Oh, Madam Hooch, please do forward my good luck wishes to them, and from Hagrid to Harry, personally." Selena requested, and the Quidditch teacher took note. After that, the two members of the staff watched Madam Hooch leave them until she was quite a distance from them and her earshot. Selena faced Severus with a puzzled grin. "I couldn't believe the Headmaster allowed you to referee. Whatever reason are you doing this for, anyway?"
"Trust me, I have no initial intention in involving myself with these stupid games." The Mediwizard chuckled at him. "However, you surely remember what occurred during the first game of the season? It is only necessary that we avoid that from repeating itself."
"You mean with Quirrell jinxing Harry's broom?" He nodded. "So that's why you're…" Selena met his eye and she ended up mumbling her conclusion.
"Yes, and since you have been told the reason, you are not permitted to speak of it to anybody else." Said the professor, sternly.
"Of course, I shall spare you your... image." She chuckled, and he only pulled a face at her. "But Severus, I must say, especially since no one will point it out, refereeing today is very thoughtful of you."
"This is nothing, yet it is much bothersome, if I shall be honest. With all my soul, however absent, I do not wish to be here." He fussed with a dissatisfied face. Loud chatter was suddenly heard from one side of the field, and it seemed that the stands are already getting filled with an audience. Selena internally hoped Severus wasn't anxious, even if on the outside, he didn't appear to be.
"Now, now, professor, if you are to referee this match, at least act like you arose on the right side of bed today." Severus didn't look amused by her effortless bolstering, though she doubts he's amused by anything really. "Don't be too worried for Harry, too. Quirrell will be situated at the Ravenclaw stands, so if he tries anything out of line, I'm more than ready to interfere."
"Don't be ridiculous now, I'm not worried for Potter," He scowled. "I, just like you, am preventing Quirrell from performing any outright jinx today. Like any other staff member, when it comes to safety, it's always the students who come first."
Selena sighed, watching his coat flutter a little behind him thanks to the wind. "That's correct..." Soon, the seats were all filled with cheerful students and mirthful staff members, and Lee Jordan has announced that the game will begin in ten minutes or so. "You know, even if Quirrell does try anything, Dumbledore will obviously witness it and he'll be kicked off of grounds tomorrow." With that, the two avert their gaze to the Headmaster who had just taken a seat on his grand chair on the middle stand.
"You must go now, Miss Stellifer. You will soon be advised to vacate the field if you stay, anyway." He said though his eyes were looking out to the deafening crowd.
"Very well, then." Selena exhaled through a smile and made a move to leave but she paused, "Severus," She called, and he quickly answered with a glance. "Be careful." He merely blinked at her, but she smiled at it. "And maybe watch your head."
Up at the Ravenclaw staff stands, Selena managed to seat herself beside Professor Flitwick, while Quirrell speculated the game from a few rows behind them. She occasionally spared a few glances to the side so it would look like she didn't spy on him directly.
"I heard Severus is refereeing the match." Flitwick said and it caught her attention.
Selena nodded with a fretful laugh. "Yes, he is."
"It's a bit strange because he was never really excellent at flying." He remarked with his eyes on the field, presumably at Severus who was fishing for the Quaffle inside the rattling trunk.
"Is he really that terrible with a broom? Up until now?" Selena inquired, glancing back and forth from Flitwick to Severus.
"Not terrible, but as I mentioned, not excellent either." Said her old professor. Concern absentmindedly bubbled up in the pit of Selena's stomach because now she had not only Quirrell and Harry to worry about, but so is her silly colleague who apparently does not know how to manage a broomstick well.
"Welcome everyone to today's game! Today's match will be between Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. Here comes—Professor Snape?" Lee Jordan squeaks into the microphone, Selena chuckles at this. After being whispered into by Minerva, he speaks again. "Oh, it appears the professor is refereeing today in lieu of Madam Hooch's injury…" Selena could imagine Severus rolling his eyes. "Well, anyhow! Here he comes with the Quaffle in hand, ushering the two teams to the center. As we all know the rules in Quidditch the…"
As Jordan is loudly bellowing instructions, Selena's attention is much more focused on the flying Potions Professor with a whistle in between his lips. The stubborn man refused to wear any protective gear, making Selena watch over him on the edge of her seat, ready for anything unfortunate happening whilst on his broom.
All the while, she couldn't rid the thought of Severus' concern over Harry's safety—It made her think that perhaps he may not be the most sympathetic person out there, he did care for the welfare of his students.
"—There goes the whistle—The Quaffle is now in the air—Wood grabs the ball—Gryffindor leads!" Severus is seen to evacuate the center of the field, though he occasionally moves from time to time to watch the players. Jordan's commentary after a few minutes is as goes; "Hufflepuff scores!—Aye! What's this? Potter's on the loose already!—Has the Golden Snitch already been in sight?"
All eyes turn to the Gryffindor Seeker, that is, if one can catch up with how fast he was flying. Harry abruptly dived all the way down to catch the speediest ball of the game, eliciting loud gasps from everyone including Selena.
"My goodness, that Potter boy has so much courage to fly like that." Filius commented beside her, the smile of a chuckle on his face. "Very much like his father, I believe so."
"Entirely like him." Selena added with a fondness in her tone. "James would be very proud of his son."
"That he would." He replied, sharing the same sentimental tone.
There was no more time to reply as Harry was zooming in the air once against. Audible gasps would be heard every time he swerved a tower or almost hit the ground, it made everyone both excited and nervous at the same time. Suddenly, Harry was speeding from one end of the field to the other end, and however hard as he might try to slow down, Severus was still in the way. The potioneer faced opposite to the Gryffindor Seeker and didn't move an inch from where he was suspended mid-air. Shouting at him would be pointless, he was too far, and intervening the game would cause penalties.
Selena's foot tapped the wooden floor anxiously, hoping Severus would have even an impulse to scooch away from the incoming boy. "Merlin!" The Mediwizard shot up from her seat in utter worry. It happened all too quickly; Harry sped by his professor and Snape had just turned to his direction, but was only pushed back a little from the impact of the boy's swiftness, not enough to be knocked off the broom, thankfully.
"Miss Stellifer, what is it?" Filius immediately inquired in shock to her remark. However, the pitch proceeded to drown in roars, especially from the Gryffindor team, when it was announced that Harry had caught the snitch.
"Nothing, Professor." Selena turned to him and stifled an overwhelmed laugh. "I saw Harry catch the Snitch! That's all."
"Yes, yes, indeed, he did." He nodded, though very skeptical of his previous student's behavior. She expected him to be, he was the Head of Ravenclaw after all, though she paid him no mind as her eyes bounced back to the field now filling up in cheering, red students. Fortunately, this made it easier for Severus to find, and he was hastily heading out of the pitch.
"Professor, wait!" Selena all but ran to him, quite breathless. "Are you alright?"
"I beg your pardon?" Severus scanned her panting figure. "I could ask the same to you."
Rolling her eyes, Selena continued, "I mean, are you not injured? Or perhaps, even light-headed? We have plenty of refilled draughts in the infirmary that might help—"
"Miss Stellifer, I urge you to take a breath." Selena let out a chuckle instead, to which the professor paired with a sigh. "Now, allow me to speak; I am perfectly alright. I'm not feeling any symptoms of nausea or any physical pain. So if you wish to keep my mental well-being intact as well, I should advise you to stop nagging me. I am not dying, for Merlin's sake."
At that, Selena grinned cheekily at him, "Ever the dramatic, professor… But fine, I shall take your word for it." Severus hums.
He speaks up again after a quiet moment. "Allow me to accompany you to the entrance of the castle. Dinner commences shortly."
"Oh? Are you not coming back to the castle yet? As you said, dinner commences soon."
The potioneer turned to face the Forbidden Forest, though not for long as students may still see them from a distance. "I must chat with a special friend of ours first."
Selena looked up at his focused face. She caught up with his terms immediately. "Quirrell didn't attempt anything today, though."
"Of course, he didn't. How could he? Dumbledore was present during the match." Severus spat with such spite, it made Selena look away.
"What do you plan on telling him then?" She asked.
"Just a little scare. No physical harm, if that's what you're worried about." He huffed just as a wind blew from behind them. Strands of his hair blew in front of his face, and he visibly grew annoyed.
Contrarily amused on the other hand, Selena answered, "Good. As much as it's my job not to be picky with patients, I would rather not heal the man lest his own injuries are to be blamed on you."
"You really must head to the castle, Miss Stellifer." He insisted once again.
"No." She replied all too quickly. "I mean to say—I'll wait at Hagrid's. You won't take long, would you?"
Severus quirked his brows at her. "Selena…"
"I just want to see how it goes." She pleaded and eyed him knowingly. "Do fetch me when it's over and we'll go to dinner together while you tell me what happened."
A scoff, though light-heartedly, she knew. It was odd how she could tell the difference. "How demanding, you nosy girl."
"Well, not only Slytherins possess that trait, Professor." The Mediwizard chuckled.
"What? Being demanding or nosy?"
Selena looked him up and down. "Both." She laughed as she slowly strolled to the gamekeeper's hut nearby.
Once the students and staff all emptied the Quidditch Pitch and the sun has almost been eradicated from the sky, Severus is seen to make his way towards the woods in a cloak. The witch was not stupid enough to wait at Hagrids, so when the potioneer was quite deep into the forest, Selena made her move to the first few trees inside, hiding behind one of them everytime she moved closer.
Selena had never been in the forest at dark, and her surroundings were much more creepier than she expected. Her hand snaked into her robes to reach for her wand in case something acted on her, while also locating where the faint whispers are two men talking are coming from.
She heard Quirrell's notable stutter first. "B...B...But Severus, I—"
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell." Selena gasped when she recognized Severus' voice. She had never heard him this terrifying before.
They carried on. "I...I don't know what you—"
"You know perfectly well what I mean." Suddenly, an owl hooted and Selena heard branches rustling, instinctively pointing her wand at it. There was no harmful creature, however, though something tells her the three of them aren't alone.
She turned back to hear them. "—your little bit of hocus pocus. I'm waiting."
"B...But I d...d...don't—"
"Very well," Severus was done, she knew that tone. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie." With that, his footsteps retracting from the quivering man was heard, and it was Selena's cue to leave as well.
She tried to stealthily exit the forest without Severus finding out, but somewhere near the edge, he stops and visibly sighs. "Miss Stellifer, I know you were there the whole time."
Selena didn't know what to do or say, she hid behind the tree for no apparent reason. Perhaps, she could prove Severus wrong. However, heavy footsteps trudged over hear, and the leaves crunching became louder and louder until Severus was in front of her, dark and brooding under the already-dark cloak of his.
"Hello." She smiled like an innocent child.
"Good evening." He said with an unamused countenance. Then he arched his brow suspiciously, "Strange seeing you here. You're not about to murder anyone are you? Or must I report your skeptical actions to the Headmaster?"
"Very funny," Selena huffed. "At least you don't have to tell me everything now."
"If Quirrell found out you were there, he could've reported it to the Headmaster and we'd both be in trouble."
"But he didn't! Because I'm an amazing hider." She giggled.
"I literally found you."
"Well, then that makes you a good seeker. Would you care for a rematch with hide-and-seek?" Selena kidded and rid herself from the tree.
"I would rather head along to dinner." Severus beckoned her to follow. "We should go separately so we would not rouse any suspicion."
"Alright. Good idea." She agreed. "By the way, I feel like you guys weren't alone a while ago."
"Obviously," The potioneer scoffed. "You were there."
"No, I mean, there seemed to be somebody else watching." Selena explained warily, and then turned to Severus who had an inkling of skepticism shown by the narrow of his eyebrows. "I just know that when an owl leaves a tree, the branches' impact don't make such a rattle."
Severus replied after a silent while. "We needn't worry, most of all you. In Quirrell's eyes, you aren't as involved as I am." He said and Selena doesn't know what to feel towards that. "Just pay it no mind and instead, watch out for what's ahead."
She hums softly, they're almost at the castle. "You know, you did good today… With flying, I mean."
"While your concern is much an obligation, I advise you not to do so again."
"What? Be concerned over a colleague?" Selena watches him nod. She scoffs, "Well, that's not really your choice, is it?"
Severus remained quiet on the most part, leaving Selena to silently wonder what was wrong in what she said. As they were about to part ways, he said in low tones, "I suppose it isn't my choice." And he nodded in acknowledgement at the grinning Mediwizard before separating.