Severus Snape stood before the long table
of governors. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, his glasses slipped slightly
down his nose. He was sweating with nerves.
"Professor Snape, do you know the reasons
why you have been called before this Board?" The head of the school governors,
Oscar Crabbe, began. Oscar Crabbe had taken over when Lucious Malfoy had
been sacked, but at this moment, Lucious Malfoy was sat at the far end
of the table wearing a peculiar smile.
"Yes, sir." Snape replied feebly.
"Good, then we shall proceed with this
hearing. Severus Snape, you have been teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry for approximately how long?"
"Twelve years."
"How old are you now?"
"Thirty-five."
"So for the twelve years you have been
teaching Potions, why have you never informed anyone about your sexuality?"
"For nine years I have been denying to
myself who I truly am. When I was married, I wasn't comfortable; I have
never been comfortable with women. It's only this year that I have allowed
myself to be who I am. I didn't inform Professor Dumbledore because I was
afraid I would lose my job."
"Are you involved with anyone?" Crabbe
looked straight into Snape's eyes. Their eyes met, blue to black, cold
to cold.
"Not anymore." Snape removed his gaze from
Crabbe's eyes.
"What happened?"
"We split up,"
"Did this relationship affect your work?"
"He was more cheerful and relaxed around
his students. He soon became a favourite teacher." Dumbledore answered,
speaking for the first time since they entered the chamber.
"I see. Did you confide in anyone?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." Snape replied,
trying in vane not to look into those hypnotic eyes.
"Ah, yes. The female teacher you had a
brief relationship with. That brings us onto another matter on our agenda."
Crabbe shuffled his papers. Looking for another piece of evidence, no doubt,
Snape thought bitterly to himself. "Two years ago you and Minerva McGonagall
began a relationship with each other. The following year you were told
by the Minister of Magic." Snape looked in Fudge's direction "to break
off your relationship. Which you did, did you not?"
"That is correct."
"So you were guilty of breaking school
guidelines?"
"Yes." Snape looked at his feet; he could
not look into the cold eyes of the school board.
"The punishment for that is transferral,
and yet as it was your first violation of the guidelines you were given
a choice. How do you treat your classes?" Snape looked up but did not answer.
"Professor Snape."
"I treat them as they should be treated."
He replied cautiously.
"By rewarding the Slytherins for their
insolence and punishing every other class who works there hardest?" That
was not a question. "You give the Slytherins an easy ride through your
class, hardly any of them are worthy of a passing mark and those classes
who deserve all the glory are punished and given a hard time." No wonder
Lucious Malfoy was looking so smug, but Snape had other plans.
"I am lenient on the Slytherins out of
fear."
"Fear of what?" an old wrinkled man asked.
"Of my job. Ever since I started work at
Hogwarts, ever since Voldemort was defeated." Some members of the board
cringed to hear that name. "Lucious Malfoy has sent me a letter, blackmailing
me into being nice to the Slytherins." Malfoy's smile was gone.
"This man has been telling lies all his
life, how can you possibly believe him now?" Malfoy demanded coldly. Dumbledore
and Snape both looked at each other, they both sensed triumph.
