Many thanks to JKR for providing the setting and characters.

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He would never admit how much he liked to watch her fly.

Arms folded into his robes, he stood where he had a good view of the Quidditch field. Still too early for many students to be out and about, the grounds were empty except for the witch on her broomstick and the wizard on the castle wall.

"Your Seeker needs a bit more time practicing, Professor, if Slytherin plans on winning this year."

Snape glanced towards the stands, where Malfoy hovered on his broomstick beside a group of Slytherin girls led by Pansy Parkinson. He grimaced and wondered if he could get away with turning the blasted boy into a ferret. Perhaps Potter would oblige him by knocking Malfoy senseless during the match.

"Perhaps he just needs to be the favorite son of Hogwarts," he remarked icily.

Madame Hooch laughed, her golden eyes narrowed into the setting sun as she watched the students practice. She idly tapped her broom on the ground.

"You sound positively jealous of Potter," she said.

Snape snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. Damn the woman for always being so calm, he thought. Of all the faculty, Hooch and Dumbledore were the only ones who didn't bristle at his biting remarks. It was a petty frustration, and one that goaded him further even when he knew he should walk away. Snape almost liked talking with her. It was challenging.

"I have no desire for celebrity, or fan clubs."

"Can you imagine, a Severus Snape fan club? You might need a haircut for your photographs."

Sneering, he stalked off to the castle with her laughter ringing behind him.

"Waiting for me?"

Snape turned, eyes glittering as Madame Hooch approached. The sound of her boots rang like ice cracking off the stone, and in spite of the chill she wore her usual shortened flying robes.

"Good morning, Madame Hooch."

"Severus," she said pointedly, "I do have a given name."

"Good morning, Hana." His mouth twisted in a half smile as he realized she was carrying two brooms. "Working on new tricks for the students?"

"Actually I thought you might like to join me, since you've been out here so often lately." She chuckled at his raised eyebrows. "My nickname on the team was Hawk Eye for a good reason."

"I know," he murmured, taking a broom from her hand. "You won the World Cup three times for Moravia with those eyes. One of the fastest seekers ever."

"I didn't know you followed Quidditch."

"I don't study all the time," he replied distantly. Deciding that it was early enough that no one else would see, he offered his arm to Hana Hooch.

He couldn't figure out why she didn't taunt him, the way anyone else would have. Confessing an interest in Quidditch, tacitly admitting he watched her fly! That was certainly enough to get a few chuckles from the staff table, and Merlin knows the students would have a field day with such information. Unconsciously frowning at the third year Potions class, Snape drummed his fingers on his desk. The students kept their eyes on their frogs and bubbling potions, hoping to avoid rousing the absent minded dragon.

Rousing himself enough to dismiss the class with only a few parting barbs, Snape paced through the dungeon corridors. His robes flapped, wings around his shoulders, the edges curling round the floor and his feet. Without pausing he took a staircase heading upwards.

The sun had already set by the time he reached the top of the astronomy tower. This was one of his favorite places at Hogwarts, above everyone and everything. Still golden on the western horizon, the sky was slowly fading into blue night. A crescent moon gleamed brightly. He inhaled deeply, resting his hands on the wall. Some things did not change, he thought wryly.

In the twilight Snape examined the Dark Mark on his forearm. It could rage even here, or someone could stumble upon him. There were precious few safe places left. His fingers traced the almost invisible scars on his forearm before Snape pulled his sleeve down.

Stars appeared as the darkness settled over Hogwarts. Hours later he was still counting and tracing constellations in his head. Astronomy was one of the few things other than Potions he found interesting enough to devote any time to studying.

"I didn't know you liked astronomy either. Curiouser and curiouser, Severus." Hooch leaned against the archway, watching him.

"Are you following me around?" Snape spit out, rising to his feet.

"Why would I follow you?" Her eyes were guileless. Point, he thought.

"I should think you have other things to do."

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, stepping forward. Moonlight tinted her spiky hair silver, and she cocked her head at Snape.

"No." He turned away from her and stepped to the edge of the platform, looking out over the forest.

"You missed dinner."

"I'm sure I wasn't missed."

She was silent, and he grimly added a point to his side.

"Severus..."

"Yes?"

"Shall I see you in the morning, then?"

Snape turned his head slightly, eyes dark and unreadable. A slight nod and he swept past her as a shadow.