Trinity's eyes flared and she tore from the chair and down the hallway after Snape. "Feeling threatened there, Professor? You were put out pretty quick after I inquired about that job. Seems funny, don't you think?" She continued to move, closing the distance between them quickly.
He spun around nearly knocking her backward. "Threatened? Little girl, you don't know what you're talking about." His voice remained low, deadly soft.
Silver met black in a rush of fury as their eyes locked. Cocking her head slightly to the side a small grin crept on Trinity's lips. "Temper, Professor." He burned his gaze into her, their surroundings seemed to blur together as his anger rose. Pictures of his long slender fingers wrapping around Professor Hawthorne's neck were swirling through his thoughts and he had to all but draw blood as his fingernails dug into the soft flesh of his palms to refrain from acting on the delicious impulse he was fantasizing about.
"I will not be treated with such disrespect by a novice Potion teacher who thinks she's the end all, be all of this school. You are nothing but a girl with a big mouth and a small mind and I haven't the time or desire to deal with you." Severus smirked as he finished, feeling a little relief, he released the tension in his hands and crossed them over his chest.
Without a word or single twitch of emotion Trinity raised her arm and directed all of her energy into her fist as she let it loose right into the smirking Professor's face. Skin hit skin in a sickening thud and she felt bone crack. Whether it was his nose or her fingers she didn't know, or care for that matter. Snape stumbled backward, catching the hem of his robes beneath his heels. He tripped and fell to the ground, his hands cradling his nose, which was now bleeding down over his lips and chin. His eyes were wide and glittering with amazement. Trinity cursed under her breath and turned away from the bleeding man on the ground. Inhaling deeply through gritted teeth she gingerly touched her knuckles, which were now beginning to swell. She started off to Madame Pomfrey's office, supposing that that would be the wise thing to do. Not once did she look back down the corridor.
--
It had been almost a month since the confrontation between Professor Hawthorne and Professor Snape had taken place. Classes had started and Trinity was just now beginning to get the hang of juggling all of her students and lessons. Aside from meals the two hadn't seen each other, let alone spoken. Once Trinity had accidentally caught the Professor's gaze, one which wasn't friendly in the least as it rang out from two black eyes. As it turned out, she had broken two of her fingers. Madame Pomfrey was just about to ask what had happened to her when Severus had come storming through the infirmary door hands still covering his nose, which also had been broken.
A stern but somewhat amused talking to from Albus had wrapped things up. She assured him that there would be no more fists of fury from her. He had suggested that the two Professors try and steer clear of each other for awhile but Trinity couldn't help wonder if it was the best thing to do. There was just something about Severus that was drawing her to him. It was quite vexing in trying to figure out what it was though. She had curled her hands around the sleeves of her robes as she strode from the Headmaster's office. The gesture was almost juvenile, a child feeling remorse after having done something wrong. Not for their actions as much as for making their keeper cross.
In truth she wasn't regretful over hitting him even half as much as she was for making the attempt to befriend the dour man. Professor McGonagall had chastised her in the first days she had arrived after inquiring about Snape. She was drawn to men who weren't commonly thought of as handsome by the general population and had taken a liking to his demeanor the moment they had first met.
Someone to save, she had thought. Though more often than not she had found out the hard way that not everyone wants to be rescued.
Trinity sighed deeply, she was seated outside the castle on the front steps, breathing in the crisp autumn air that was swirling around her. The scent of burning leaves and over ripe pumpkin was a sure sign that Halloween was approaching quickly. Her hands dug into the lush hunter fabric of her robes for a cigarette. Inhaling harshly she let the smoke burn in her chest, blinking to the twilight. Her arm twinged as a star shot across the sky. Letting the toxins exit her body she closed her eyes and made a wish.
--
A fire burned dull in the hearth, pushing out a small radius of warmth that did not reach the professor across the room. Behind a desk he sat, eyes dull and tired as her read over yet another disappointing scroll of homework from his students. Throwing down the parchment in front of him Severus turned his gaze to the stack of papers that still needed to be graded. He pinched the bridge of his nose and winced. The onset of a headache was apparent, quietly forming behind his eyes. That coupled with the still lingering embarrassment from the scuffle with Professor Hawthorne were proving to make this evening a most dire one indeed. The physical wounds had been healed weeks ago but his ego was the most bruised of all. He couldn't believe the gall of that damned woman, actually raising arms against him. And Dumbledore hadn't fixed things at all. There were no repercussions for her outrageous actions what so ever, save for a mild verbal reprimand. What sort of example is that? Teachers can become violent towards other members of the staff and not have to worry about being disciplined.
Snape stood, paced the room in long, liquid strides still muttering to himself about 'that damn woman'. His head was throbbing now, a rough pulse behind his eyes. Crossing the room he threw open the doors on a large mahogany chest. Rummaging through the contents he produced a small vial filled with a dreamless sleep draught. Snape removed the stopped and let it fall to the floor as he tipped the contents of the bottle into his mouth. He grimaced slightly at the sickly sweet taste as the potion hit his stomach in a wave of warmth. He stuffed the vial into the pocket of his robes and crossed the room again, this time leaving his office for the comfort of his bed chamber.