Of Potions Incidents and Thoughts
The boiling cauldron threatened to spill its contents. Neville frantically tried to freeze the flames, but tripped over the words "Frigatorium Polasti", and the temperature reached the breaking point - the cauldron exploded and Sanatio Solution sprayed all over the caliginous dungeon.
"LONGBOTTOM!!! You hopeless, abysmally ignorant boy! Will you ever learn that if you leave a Self Heating Fire burning longer than three minutes, the Frigatorium charm is useless!?" Professor Snape punctuated the end of his tirade by slamming a potions volume on his desk.
Neville stuttered. Luckily the bell rang and the class sprinted from the room before they could incur any more wrath from Snape; and the tremulous Neville was left to wipe Sanatio Solution and leftover leech spleens from the dungeon floor.
"Slimy git," muttered Ron as he, Harry, and Hermione walked quickly upstairs. Neither Harry nor Hermione responded to the comment - Ron repeated it after every Potions lesson.
After Neville had scurried from the classroom, Snape strode into his private chambers. "Veniebam" he snarled, and the bookcase immediately jumped aside long enough for the Potions Master to pass through, then slid back into place.
Snape whipped out his wand, pointed it at the fireplace - "Accendite" - and a roaring flame lit the entire room. Snape sunk into the nearest chair and rubbed his temples.
Oh how he loathed students at times! Snape didn't mind when they were ignorant, that was why he taught them. But when they chose to be ignorant, now that was entirely another matter. Longbottom let his fears triumph over his intellect, desist all efforts, and rely on the mumbled instructions of others.
Severus tried to calm himself, his nerves had been fraying lately. He felt like a rubber band that some cruel hand kept stretching tighter and tighter, and one of these days he was bound to snap.
Victoria's presence did not ameliorate the situation. Every glimpse he caught of her reminded him of that day, the day he failed to contain his emotion. In a moment of weakness he had given in to desire. He cursed himself for it. Had all those years of spying on Voldemort taught him nothing about letting his emotions get the better of him? What would happen if he permitted his true feelings to break free when he answered a call of the Dark Mark? Severus could not afford to let his guard down for a moment, under any circumstances. If he could not enclose his emotion in ordinary situations, how did he expect to under an Imperius or Cruciatus? This was why he appeared so cold and misanthropic to the outside world. He was well aware the opinions his students and his colleagues held of him. No one, save perhaps Dumbledore, understood that he must lock all passions inside at all times - or expose himself to the dark side. Voldemort was keenly aware of the actions his servants took. One small slip and he would be on the receiving end of Avada Kedavra. Voldemort's monitoring obliged him to treat the Slytherins the way he did. So many times he would have loved to squash Malfoy Junior like a despicable insect, but he restrained himself.
Snape had chosen to fight with Dumbledore, and thus was forced to accept the lonely life that came with it. He was cursed with solitude.
In his most private moments, Severus longed to be with the woman who loved him despite his frigid exterior. But when he told her it would never work, he meant it. His cover would be unraveled, bringing destruction upon both him and Victoria. This was how he had chosen to lead his life, and he must accept it. Victoria would have to take her place among the rest who once loved him, but could not have the sentiment returned. To love would be the end of him. That could not happen. It must not happen.
Glancing at the clock, Snape realized he was due to teach the first years Healing Potions in five minutes. Drawing in a slow, even breath he collected himself. He must maintain his composure so as not to lose his temper at the blundering juveniles and cast an Unforgivable.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: Thanks to Wolf Angel Keri and Psycho Kitty Purra for the kind reviews! Kitty you made me laugh :) .
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it is my opinion of why Snape acts the way he does.
"Imperio!" You will review..you will review..(Hee hee, please don't put me in Azkaban for casting an Imperius!)
The boiling cauldron threatened to spill its contents. Neville frantically tried to freeze the flames, but tripped over the words "Frigatorium Polasti", and the temperature reached the breaking point - the cauldron exploded and Sanatio Solution sprayed all over the caliginous dungeon.
"LONGBOTTOM!!! You hopeless, abysmally ignorant boy! Will you ever learn that if you leave a Self Heating Fire burning longer than three minutes, the Frigatorium charm is useless!?" Professor Snape punctuated the end of his tirade by slamming a potions volume on his desk.
Neville stuttered. Luckily the bell rang and the class sprinted from the room before they could incur any more wrath from Snape; and the tremulous Neville was left to wipe Sanatio Solution and leftover leech spleens from the dungeon floor.
"Slimy git," muttered Ron as he, Harry, and Hermione walked quickly upstairs. Neither Harry nor Hermione responded to the comment - Ron repeated it after every Potions lesson.
After Neville had scurried from the classroom, Snape strode into his private chambers. "Veniebam" he snarled, and the bookcase immediately jumped aside long enough for the Potions Master to pass through, then slid back into place.
Snape whipped out his wand, pointed it at the fireplace - "Accendite" - and a roaring flame lit the entire room. Snape sunk into the nearest chair and rubbed his temples.
Oh how he loathed students at times! Snape didn't mind when they were ignorant, that was why he taught them. But when they chose to be ignorant, now that was entirely another matter. Longbottom let his fears triumph over his intellect, desist all efforts, and rely on the mumbled instructions of others.
Severus tried to calm himself, his nerves had been fraying lately. He felt like a rubber band that some cruel hand kept stretching tighter and tighter, and one of these days he was bound to snap.
Victoria's presence did not ameliorate the situation. Every glimpse he caught of her reminded him of that day, the day he failed to contain his emotion. In a moment of weakness he had given in to desire. He cursed himself for it. Had all those years of spying on Voldemort taught him nothing about letting his emotions get the better of him? What would happen if he permitted his true feelings to break free when he answered a call of the Dark Mark? Severus could not afford to let his guard down for a moment, under any circumstances. If he could not enclose his emotion in ordinary situations, how did he expect to under an Imperius or Cruciatus? This was why he appeared so cold and misanthropic to the outside world. He was well aware the opinions his students and his colleagues held of him. No one, save perhaps Dumbledore, understood that he must lock all passions inside at all times - or expose himself to the dark side. Voldemort was keenly aware of the actions his servants took. One small slip and he would be on the receiving end of Avada Kedavra. Voldemort's monitoring obliged him to treat the Slytherins the way he did. So many times he would have loved to squash Malfoy Junior like a despicable insect, but he restrained himself.
Snape had chosen to fight with Dumbledore, and thus was forced to accept the lonely life that came with it. He was cursed with solitude.
In his most private moments, Severus longed to be with the woman who loved him despite his frigid exterior. But when he told her it would never work, he meant it. His cover would be unraveled, bringing destruction upon both him and Victoria. This was how he had chosen to lead his life, and he must accept it. Victoria would have to take her place among the rest who once loved him, but could not have the sentiment returned. To love would be the end of him. That could not happen. It must not happen.
Glancing at the clock, Snape realized he was due to teach the first years Healing Potions in five minutes. Drawing in a slow, even breath he collected himself. He must maintain his composure so as not to lose his temper at the blundering juveniles and cast an Unforgivable.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: Thanks to Wolf Angel Keri and Psycho Kitty Purra for the kind reviews! Kitty you made me laugh :) .
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it is my opinion of why Snape acts the way he does.
"Imperio!" You will review..you will review..(Hee hee, please don't put me in Azkaban for casting an Imperius!)