I had no idea how to reply to her, and was thankful that I felt a small tap on my shoulder. That is, I was thankful until I saw who it was. I turned around catiously, not wanting to be ambushed by more people who loathe me. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to escape them.
Remus Lupin stood there, wearing his very bland smile and ever mangy robes. Hullo, Severus, he said, offering his hand. In fact, his was the last that I ever wished to shake, but I took it anyway. His long, bony fingers were cold.
From the look on Granger's face, I could tell she as relieved as I to not have to converse with one another. , she crowed, shoving me out of the way harder than was necessary. Her brown eyes were positively full of unsaid thank you's, and she wrapped him in a bone crushing hug.
Lupin looked momentarily discomforted, but said nothing, only tactfully extracting himself from her maudlin embraces by a greeting, Hermione, how've you been? I hear the arithmaticy teacher requested you to be her successor?. She laughed softly, and I was surprised to hear that she did not sound like the fog horn I was expecting.
They stood chattering to each other, as I skulked awkwardly away. Lupin's ever precarious health seemed stable, and his looks had vastly improved. His face was reasonably attractive, in a chisled sort of way, and his tousled hair was always very popular with women. His eyes kept glancing elsewhere besides Granger's mouth, but I said nothing.
Albus had also been watching silently, though he was much more gratified than I. Ah, is it true what they say, Severus, that childhood rivalries never do go away?, he asked, his eyes undreadable beneath his spectacles. I haven't any idea what you're talking about, Albus, I said dismissively. Are you so greatly disappointed that another has claimed what you have seemed to have so desperately wanted before?, he asked again, an odd darkness in his voice. He was still watching them.
I've long given up the dream of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, I said, rather bitterly. And it was true, every year, some cretin had thwarted my attempts for the position. I crossed my arms, and turned to my headmaster, glaring him full in the face. Not a flicker of surprise registered in his features, though his eyes seemed greatly amused.
I wasn't necessarily speaking of the of the job, Severus, he said meaningfully, tugging at his beard. I raised my eyebrows in question, and he nodded quickly at Granger. Albus, if you honestly think..., I began, ready to scoff him. But, to my increasing annoyance, he was already gone.










A/N: Apologies for format. I know that it is difficult to read, but because I have a Mac, I don't know how to get it so I retain paragraphs and such.Thanks for those who reviwed, and also, the titles on the second chapter are meant to be different, but for some reason, it didn't result that way. For those who are interested, it was Sir Walter Raleigh who wrote The Nymph's Reply.