Disclaimer: Nope, it's not mine!
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A/N:: I've borrowed movie quotes! ::laughs evilly:: You'll know where…thanks for the reviews everyone!
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4. The Notorious Snape Impersonation
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Ginny slipped through a side entrance into the back of the great hall, arriving just in time to see McGonagall leading the first years up the main aisle.
She found herself seated on one of the low green velvet covered chairs behind the teacher's table – it was the last empty seat, and was located on Snape's left hand side.
Ginny sat down hastily and busily arranged her robes around herself, trying to ignore the weight of his frigid black gaze.
Once the sorting ceremony was over, she watched with a mixture of excitement and extreme nervousness as Dumbledore rose to make the start of term announcements.
The headmaster rose, the dark fabric of his heavily brocaded robes shining richly in the light of the hundreds of candles floating overhead. He looked out over the crowd of black robed students with warm, faded blue eyes behind his half – moon spectacles.
"First of all, I'd like to start by saying, that the forbidden forest is off limits to 'all' students. As usual, there will be no use of magic in the halls allowed. Madam Hooch has requested that all students interested in trying out for their House Quidditch team sign up for tryouts within the next two weeks. The Dueling Club has also been resurrected, upon the request of our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Weasley…you may see her for more information. I hope that all of you will do your best to make her feel welcome. That is all. Let the feast begin."
Ginny watched the food appear on the golden platters, still impressed by the sight, but found herself unable to reach for anything – her appetite had all but disappeared, knowing Severus was only inches away from her.
Shifting her feet restlessly, she bumped her knee against his leg and her eyes flew up to meet his.
His black brows drew downwards over the bridge of his nose, as he gave her cold, dismissive glance.
Ginny frowned at him in irritation as he swept his robes pointedly away from her, and picked up his glass of red wine in one graceful motion.
"Not eating, Professor?" She murmured as she picked up her golden utensils, determined to eat something.
"Perhaps you prefer to drink your dinner?"
Severus turned his head to shoot a black look her way, and suddenly the bite of moist, succulent turkey in her mouth tasted about as flavorful as sawdust.
"My drinking habits are certainly none of your business, Virginia." He said matter of factly. "Although, the thought of sitting next to you every morning and evening, is quite enough drive any sane man to drink," he added disdainfully as he lifted his glass again.
Feeling horribly insulted, Ginny narrowed her eyes on him.
He slid her a very quick glance from the corner of his eye. "Stop looking at me, you silly girl,"
The cool, authoritative snap made her feel as if she were sitting in his class again, both fascinated and terrified by him, and she dropped her eyes to her plate out of long forgotten habit.
Ginny cursed herself, almost immediately.
She was no girl, barely out of pigtails and patent leather buckle shoes. How dare the man belittle her!
"Haven't you anything to say about my heading the Dueling Club? I'd have thought you'd have gotten 'round to protesting about that long before now." She tapped her fingertips on the tabletop and then said sweetly, "Oh, but you didn't read Dumbledore's memo, I'd forgotten…"
For a long moment, it seemed as if he might ignore her…and then he turned toward her, very slowly, and deliberately resting his forearm across the edge of the table, his fist clenching, Fierce black eyes bored into her, and it took a great bit of effort and ingrained stubbornness on her part not to look away.
"I don't need to voice my protests about the Dueling Club, Professor Weasley, I believe they are already quite apparent – I had the opportunity to speak with Albus just before the feast, and he has already informed me of the matter. I, of course, questioned the wiseness of his decision to let one as young, and possessed of such an obvious, questionable temperament, as you, teach the students how to duel properly."
"Of course," Ginny said quietly, with a slightly cynical edge to her words.
He narrowed his eyes on her momentarily before continuing.
"Therefore, he has agreed that I shall be present at each lesson and meeting to keep things under control."
Ginny laughed. "By seeing to it that I teach them only Disarming Charms?" She shook her head, eyeing etching of the Hogwarts shield on her glass absently. "They're going to need to be offensive as well as defensive, Snape. You know that as well as I do."
She met his hard look with a firm stare of her own. "One never can tell what kind of evil is going to rear its ugly head…"
Severus's pale countenance took on a look of cold fury, and he nodded to her with an irritable jerk of his head, before standing up and walking away.
Ginny sighed, and looked to her right, to see Professor McGonagall watching her expressionlessly.
****************
Ginny looked up from her desk with an odd, nervous tingle in her stomach as she watched her first class arrive the next morning. She smoothed her full black robes, and adjusted the simple but elegant black velvet hat atop her loose red curls with a fretful hand.
She waited until the seventh year students were all seated, and then grinned, getting up and walking around to the front of the desk to lean against it.
"Good morning, class – I believe Professor Dumbledore has already introduced me – I am Professor Weasley."
She was answered with a chorus of enthusiastic good mornings, and she nodded, looking around the filled up room.
"So – what exactly do you all expect to learn in this class?"
Several frowns greeted her question.
"Well, that's obvious, isn't it, Professor?" One intelligent looking boy with brown hair and gray eyes said after raising his hand. "I mean, you'll just teach us what all the others have the past few years – "
"No, I won't." Ginny pushed herself up to sit on the edge of her massive desk, and began swinging her legs idly. "You lot can forget everything you were taught – I'm the teacher now, and we're going to begin all over again."
She ignored the groans of the class and shook her head, still smiling. "Don't worry, I never have been much one for written homework and all that nonsense," she paused as several cheers erupted from the class. "But – I do believe in hard work. There'll be no easy rides in this class. I expect myself to give one hundred percent in my work, and so I also expect it from you."
She stood to pace before the large desk, her hands clasped behind her. The small window behind her glowed with early morning sunlight, and its warmth felt soothing as she felt it spill across her back.
"I'll get a few things out of our way right now. Yes, I am young – I'm twenty, to be exact…I graduated from Hogwarts four years ago. But, looks can be deceiving, as the saying goes – I know more about the dark side of this world than I ever wanted to, and I want to see that you are as experienced as you can possibly be before we send you out in it." Ginny stopped, and looked out over her wide - eyed class with a serious expression.
"I've always looked on the Defense Against the Dark Arts class as being a mixture of Potions, Charms, Transfigurations, and a few others – and I've always thought that only one teacher here at Hogwarts ever successfully taught all of these in this class – and that was Professor Remus Lupin. I had the opportunity to study with him for several months a few years back, and I'll be passing along some of his knowledge to you, in a manner that does him justice I hope."
" I'll be teaching you the proper way to defend yourselves against any number of creatures, spirits, and beings – I'll also be teaching you simple – and not so simple –incantations, which will come in handy should you find yourself stranded in an isolated place, on a lonely night with only the moon to guide you."
"Don't take your wand for granted, my friends – it is entirely too possible that one day you lose it – or damage it, and it is also possible to apparate into a place from which you cannot disapparate." She smiled slightly at the speculative and scared looks she received.
"It's true, all that and more – believe me, I've been there, and done that."
"Now…I'll take questions before we begin, if anyone has any."
A dozen hands promptly flew up in the air.
"Yes?" She motioned to one girl who reminded her dearly of Hermione Granger.
"Is it true, Professor – did you really know Harry Potter? Is your brother really Ron Weasley?"
Ginny grinned again, crossing her arms and shaking her head. How many more times would she be asked that particular question throughout the day?
"Yes, I really knew Harry Potter – I still see him on holidays, in fact – and let me let you in on a little secret – he's just as human as you or I. He eats junk food, he's grouchy in the mornings, and he has a tendency to be overly dramatic and temperamental – and yes, Ron is my older brother. I'd say the same for him, but let's just say his sudden popularity as the Cannon's Keeper has gone to his head, and he can't get past the clouds to see any of us 'mortals' down here on earth," said Ginny wryly.
"Wicked," breathed a boy, obviously impressed, at a front desk.
"Professor," called a boy from the back, "I heard from my father that you were involved in the attack on Azkaban two years ago, when the Dementor's rebelled and the Ministry had to act."
Ginny felt her grin drop, and she nodded very slowly. "Yes, yes I was."
"It must have been horrible," whispered another, pale faced.
"It was," Ginny agreed, and then called on another student
"Professor, my oldest brother is Justin Finch – Fletchley – he said he worked with you in Hungary last fall…"
Ginny frowned. "That's right…"
"Well, he told me that, er…you do a rather great impression of Professor Snape."
Every student in the room either gasped or snorted in laughter.
"Oh, God," Ginny put a hand over her eyes and sighed. After a moment of giving herself a sound mental thrashing, she looked at the class with a rueful smile.
"It seems my reputation has preceded me again."
"Won't you show it to us, Professor?" asked the boy eagerly.
"Yes, show us!"
"Please Professor!"
Ginny shook her head. "I can't – I mean, I work with the man, now – it was different then – "
"Oh, come on – we won't tell anyone!" exclaimed Justin's brother.
"Yeah, please Professor? You know what he's like – he taught you, didn't he?"
Wheedling voices wore her down. Ginny sighed again, and bit her lip, deliberating.
"Oh, all right – just as long as none of you say anything…" she looked at them with a considering narrowing of the eyes, and then walked down the floor to the door.
The students waited with wide grins as she threw open the classroom door, and stalked in with a dark scowl.
She stepped back up to her desk, and crossed her arms, glaring at them. Deepening her voice slightly, she drawled slowly, the speech Snape had given in her first year.
"There will be no foolish wand waving, or silly incantations in this class." She ignored the slowly building laughter of her students and prowled the floor before her desk, barely holding back a grin. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However…" she paused, and eyed them each in turn, "- for those select few, who possess the pre – disposition…I can teach you how to bewitch the mind, and ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." This last was said so dramatically, that half of the kids were tearing up, clutching their aching stomachs.
She flipped back her robe sleeves, and snapped. "Pay attention! Just what, may I ask, are you laughing at?"
The class was laughing hysterically.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek," she grumbled, only to catch herself grinning. Ginny finally gave up, and bent over slightly, giggling.
"That was brilliant!" Justin's brother howled.
She brushed a strand of her red hair from her eyes and cleared her throat, trying to look stern. "Now, now, come on – we shouldn't be poking fun at Professor Snape – "
"Could you imagine what the man would do if he found out?" A girl gasped between chuckles.
"Really – we'd all have detention for a month…"
"Or worse, he'd take points – "
"Maybe he'd curse us – he certainly seems the sort!"
"Now, class –" Ginny began…
"No, maybe he'd have Filch lock us up in the dungeons somewhere – leave us hanging by our thumbs-"
"Or maybe, he'd be wondering which of the four is worse," came a chilly voice from the doorway.
Flame cheeked, Ginny bit her cheek as she looked up to see Severus standing just inside the classroom.
Twenty pairs of wide eyes turned to gape first at the Potions master, and then at her.
Severus's lips curled slightly as he stared at her across the classroom.
"A word, Professor," he drawled in a deceptively quiet tone.
She tossed back her fiery mane of hair and cleared her throat again. "Er…take out parchment and quills – I want you all to answer the questions up here on the blackboard, so I can get a feel of what level you all are at – I'll return shortly."
Ginny walked to the door with a swish of her black robes, and closed it behind her.
"So…that is what you are so famous for, 'Professor' – entertaining children with a disparaging impersonation of yours truly?"
Turning to face him with a sigh, she looked up at him with a shrug.
"Don't act so offended, Snape – it's just something I did one night when I was lonely – I told you I missed you while I was gone, didn't I?"
He sneered at her.
"Must you keep on in this vein, Virginia? It's becoming rather tiresome…"
"What exactly did you want to speak to me about, Snape?"
"I didn't…I was passing by when I heard your show of talent."
"And you thought you'd stop by and properly petrify the students," she commented evenly.
"You were mocking me!" He suddenly exploded.
Ginny felt her knees weaken, but she didn't back away. "I don't understand…Severus, why do you persist in making them absolutely terrified of you? Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't love you if you weren't who you are, but a teacher is supposed to be a mentor of sorts – "
He backed her against the hall wall in one long, threatening stride, bending low over her with black eyes narrowed into menacing slits.
"Do you know what kind of people need mentors, Ginny? People who can't think for themselves!" he hissed ferociously.
Ginny stared up at him in surprise.
He took a deep breath, and she watched him take a step back. The way he straightened his robes brought to mind a white and black plumed mockingbird soothing it's ruffled feathers.
"I'll see you this evening at dinner, Professor," he managed in a soft snarl as he pushed his disheveled hair from his sight. "And I may recommend not attempting to impersonate Professor McGonagall, next? Minerva is rather paranoid about such things."
She bit her lip, and looked away.
He cursed and caught her chin in his fingers, making her look up at him again.
"Don't look like that."
"L – like what?"
"Like I've hurt your feelings." He frowned as he searched her eyes, and then stepped back from her quickly, snapping at her again. "This isn't one of your adventures, Ginny – I'm not one of your doubtless many, love struck fans …I won't follow you about, fawning over you as you try to save the world yet again. You may be able to tempt a saint, but I am most definitely far from being anywhere near saintly. So do your job, live your life, and kindly stay the bloody hell out of mine!"
Ginny watched the man stalk angrily away in cloud of billowing black robes, and rolled her eyes, shaking her head feeling incredibly stupid. She had to be the biggest type of fool to ever exist…her face still burned with embarrassment. How was she going to survive the rest of the day?
True, she had survived everything life had thrown at her so far, and lived to tell the tale…but how could she survive him?
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To Be Continued…
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A/N:: I've borrowed movie quotes! ::laughs evilly:: You'll know where…thanks for the reviews everyone!
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4. The Notorious Snape Impersonation
******************
Ginny slipped through a side entrance into the back of the great hall, arriving just in time to see McGonagall leading the first years up the main aisle.
She found herself seated on one of the low green velvet covered chairs behind the teacher's table – it was the last empty seat, and was located on Snape's left hand side.
Ginny sat down hastily and busily arranged her robes around herself, trying to ignore the weight of his frigid black gaze.
Once the sorting ceremony was over, she watched with a mixture of excitement and extreme nervousness as Dumbledore rose to make the start of term announcements.
The headmaster rose, the dark fabric of his heavily brocaded robes shining richly in the light of the hundreds of candles floating overhead. He looked out over the crowd of black robed students with warm, faded blue eyes behind his half – moon spectacles.
"First of all, I'd like to start by saying, that the forbidden forest is off limits to 'all' students. As usual, there will be no use of magic in the halls allowed. Madam Hooch has requested that all students interested in trying out for their House Quidditch team sign up for tryouts within the next two weeks. The Dueling Club has also been resurrected, upon the request of our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Weasley…you may see her for more information. I hope that all of you will do your best to make her feel welcome. That is all. Let the feast begin."
Ginny watched the food appear on the golden platters, still impressed by the sight, but found herself unable to reach for anything – her appetite had all but disappeared, knowing Severus was only inches away from her.
Shifting her feet restlessly, she bumped her knee against his leg and her eyes flew up to meet his.
His black brows drew downwards over the bridge of his nose, as he gave her cold, dismissive glance.
Ginny frowned at him in irritation as he swept his robes pointedly away from her, and picked up his glass of red wine in one graceful motion.
"Not eating, Professor?" She murmured as she picked up her golden utensils, determined to eat something.
"Perhaps you prefer to drink your dinner?"
Severus turned his head to shoot a black look her way, and suddenly the bite of moist, succulent turkey in her mouth tasted about as flavorful as sawdust.
"My drinking habits are certainly none of your business, Virginia." He said matter of factly. "Although, the thought of sitting next to you every morning and evening, is quite enough drive any sane man to drink," he added disdainfully as he lifted his glass again.
Feeling horribly insulted, Ginny narrowed her eyes on him.
He slid her a very quick glance from the corner of his eye. "Stop looking at me, you silly girl,"
The cool, authoritative snap made her feel as if she were sitting in his class again, both fascinated and terrified by him, and she dropped her eyes to her plate out of long forgotten habit.
Ginny cursed herself, almost immediately.
She was no girl, barely out of pigtails and patent leather buckle shoes. How dare the man belittle her!
"Haven't you anything to say about my heading the Dueling Club? I'd have thought you'd have gotten 'round to protesting about that long before now." She tapped her fingertips on the tabletop and then said sweetly, "Oh, but you didn't read Dumbledore's memo, I'd forgotten…"
For a long moment, it seemed as if he might ignore her…and then he turned toward her, very slowly, and deliberately resting his forearm across the edge of the table, his fist clenching, Fierce black eyes bored into her, and it took a great bit of effort and ingrained stubbornness on her part not to look away.
"I don't need to voice my protests about the Dueling Club, Professor Weasley, I believe they are already quite apparent – I had the opportunity to speak with Albus just before the feast, and he has already informed me of the matter. I, of course, questioned the wiseness of his decision to let one as young, and possessed of such an obvious, questionable temperament, as you, teach the students how to duel properly."
"Of course," Ginny said quietly, with a slightly cynical edge to her words.
He narrowed his eyes on her momentarily before continuing.
"Therefore, he has agreed that I shall be present at each lesson and meeting to keep things under control."
Ginny laughed. "By seeing to it that I teach them only Disarming Charms?" She shook her head, eyeing etching of the Hogwarts shield on her glass absently. "They're going to need to be offensive as well as defensive, Snape. You know that as well as I do."
She met his hard look with a firm stare of her own. "One never can tell what kind of evil is going to rear its ugly head…"
Severus's pale countenance took on a look of cold fury, and he nodded to her with an irritable jerk of his head, before standing up and walking away.
Ginny sighed, and looked to her right, to see Professor McGonagall watching her expressionlessly.
****************
Ginny looked up from her desk with an odd, nervous tingle in her stomach as she watched her first class arrive the next morning. She smoothed her full black robes, and adjusted the simple but elegant black velvet hat atop her loose red curls with a fretful hand.
She waited until the seventh year students were all seated, and then grinned, getting up and walking around to the front of the desk to lean against it.
"Good morning, class – I believe Professor Dumbledore has already introduced me – I am Professor Weasley."
She was answered with a chorus of enthusiastic good mornings, and she nodded, looking around the filled up room.
"So – what exactly do you all expect to learn in this class?"
Several frowns greeted her question.
"Well, that's obvious, isn't it, Professor?" One intelligent looking boy with brown hair and gray eyes said after raising his hand. "I mean, you'll just teach us what all the others have the past few years – "
"No, I won't." Ginny pushed herself up to sit on the edge of her massive desk, and began swinging her legs idly. "You lot can forget everything you were taught – I'm the teacher now, and we're going to begin all over again."
She ignored the groans of the class and shook her head, still smiling. "Don't worry, I never have been much one for written homework and all that nonsense," she paused as several cheers erupted from the class. "But – I do believe in hard work. There'll be no easy rides in this class. I expect myself to give one hundred percent in my work, and so I also expect it from you."
She stood to pace before the large desk, her hands clasped behind her. The small window behind her glowed with early morning sunlight, and its warmth felt soothing as she felt it spill across her back.
"I'll get a few things out of our way right now. Yes, I am young – I'm twenty, to be exact…I graduated from Hogwarts four years ago. But, looks can be deceiving, as the saying goes – I know more about the dark side of this world than I ever wanted to, and I want to see that you are as experienced as you can possibly be before we send you out in it." Ginny stopped, and looked out over her wide - eyed class with a serious expression.
"I've always looked on the Defense Against the Dark Arts class as being a mixture of Potions, Charms, Transfigurations, and a few others – and I've always thought that only one teacher here at Hogwarts ever successfully taught all of these in this class – and that was Professor Remus Lupin. I had the opportunity to study with him for several months a few years back, and I'll be passing along some of his knowledge to you, in a manner that does him justice I hope."
" I'll be teaching you the proper way to defend yourselves against any number of creatures, spirits, and beings – I'll also be teaching you simple – and not so simple –incantations, which will come in handy should you find yourself stranded in an isolated place, on a lonely night with only the moon to guide you."
"Don't take your wand for granted, my friends – it is entirely too possible that one day you lose it – or damage it, and it is also possible to apparate into a place from which you cannot disapparate." She smiled slightly at the speculative and scared looks she received.
"It's true, all that and more – believe me, I've been there, and done that."
"Now…I'll take questions before we begin, if anyone has any."
A dozen hands promptly flew up in the air.
"Yes?" She motioned to one girl who reminded her dearly of Hermione Granger.
"Is it true, Professor – did you really know Harry Potter? Is your brother really Ron Weasley?"
Ginny grinned again, crossing her arms and shaking her head. How many more times would she be asked that particular question throughout the day?
"Yes, I really knew Harry Potter – I still see him on holidays, in fact – and let me let you in on a little secret – he's just as human as you or I. He eats junk food, he's grouchy in the mornings, and he has a tendency to be overly dramatic and temperamental – and yes, Ron is my older brother. I'd say the same for him, but let's just say his sudden popularity as the Cannon's Keeper has gone to his head, and he can't get past the clouds to see any of us 'mortals' down here on earth," said Ginny wryly.
"Wicked," breathed a boy, obviously impressed, at a front desk.
"Professor," called a boy from the back, "I heard from my father that you were involved in the attack on Azkaban two years ago, when the Dementor's rebelled and the Ministry had to act."
Ginny felt her grin drop, and she nodded very slowly. "Yes, yes I was."
"It must have been horrible," whispered another, pale faced.
"It was," Ginny agreed, and then called on another student
"Professor, my oldest brother is Justin Finch – Fletchley – he said he worked with you in Hungary last fall…"
Ginny frowned. "That's right…"
"Well, he told me that, er…you do a rather great impression of Professor Snape."
Every student in the room either gasped or snorted in laughter.
"Oh, God," Ginny put a hand over her eyes and sighed. After a moment of giving herself a sound mental thrashing, she looked at the class with a rueful smile.
"It seems my reputation has preceded me again."
"Won't you show it to us, Professor?" asked the boy eagerly.
"Yes, show us!"
"Please Professor!"
Ginny shook her head. "I can't – I mean, I work with the man, now – it was different then – "
"Oh, come on – we won't tell anyone!" exclaimed Justin's brother.
"Yeah, please Professor? You know what he's like – he taught you, didn't he?"
Wheedling voices wore her down. Ginny sighed again, and bit her lip, deliberating.
"Oh, all right – just as long as none of you say anything…" she looked at them with a considering narrowing of the eyes, and then walked down the floor to the door.
The students waited with wide grins as she threw open the classroom door, and stalked in with a dark scowl.
She stepped back up to her desk, and crossed her arms, glaring at them. Deepening her voice slightly, she drawled slowly, the speech Snape had given in her first year.
"There will be no foolish wand waving, or silly incantations in this class." She ignored the slowly building laughter of her students and prowled the floor before her desk, barely holding back a grin. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However…" she paused, and eyed them each in turn, "- for those select few, who possess the pre – disposition…I can teach you how to bewitch the mind, and ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." This last was said so dramatically, that half of the kids were tearing up, clutching their aching stomachs.
She flipped back her robe sleeves, and snapped. "Pay attention! Just what, may I ask, are you laughing at?"
The class was laughing hysterically.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek," she grumbled, only to catch herself grinning. Ginny finally gave up, and bent over slightly, giggling.
"That was brilliant!" Justin's brother howled.
She brushed a strand of her red hair from her eyes and cleared her throat, trying to look stern. "Now, now, come on – we shouldn't be poking fun at Professor Snape – "
"Could you imagine what the man would do if he found out?" A girl gasped between chuckles.
"Really – we'd all have detention for a month…"
"Or worse, he'd take points – "
"Maybe he'd curse us – he certainly seems the sort!"
"Now, class –" Ginny began…
"No, maybe he'd have Filch lock us up in the dungeons somewhere – leave us hanging by our thumbs-"
"Or maybe, he'd be wondering which of the four is worse," came a chilly voice from the doorway.
Flame cheeked, Ginny bit her cheek as she looked up to see Severus standing just inside the classroom.
Twenty pairs of wide eyes turned to gape first at the Potions master, and then at her.
Severus's lips curled slightly as he stared at her across the classroom.
"A word, Professor," he drawled in a deceptively quiet tone.
She tossed back her fiery mane of hair and cleared her throat again. "Er…take out parchment and quills – I want you all to answer the questions up here on the blackboard, so I can get a feel of what level you all are at – I'll return shortly."
Ginny walked to the door with a swish of her black robes, and closed it behind her.
"So…that is what you are so famous for, 'Professor' – entertaining children with a disparaging impersonation of yours truly?"
Turning to face him with a sigh, she looked up at him with a shrug.
"Don't act so offended, Snape – it's just something I did one night when I was lonely – I told you I missed you while I was gone, didn't I?"
He sneered at her.
"Must you keep on in this vein, Virginia? It's becoming rather tiresome…"
"What exactly did you want to speak to me about, Snape?"
"I didn't…I was passing by when I heard your show of talent."
"And you thought you'd stop by and properly petrify the students," she commented evenly.
"You were mocking me!" He suddenly exploded.
Ginny felt her knees weaken, but she didn't back away. "I don't understand…Severus, why do you persist in making them absolutely terrified of you? Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't love you if you weren't who you are, but a teacher is supposed to be a mentor of sorts – "
He backed her against the hall wall in one long, threatening stride, bending low over her with black eyes narrowed into menacing slits.
"Do you know what kind of people need mentors, Ginny? People who can't think for themselves!" he hissed ferociously.
Ginny stared up at him in surprise.
He took a deep breath, and she watched him take a step back. The way he straightened his robes brought to mind a white and black plumed mockingbird soothing it's ruffled feathers.
"I'll see you this evening at dinner, Professor," he managed in a soft snarl as he pushed his disheveled hair from his sight. "And I may recommend not attempting to impersonate Professor McGonagall, next? Minerva is rather paranoid about such things."
She bit her lip, and looked away.
He cursed and caught her chin in his fingers, making her look up at him again.
"Don't look like that."
"L – like what?"
"Like I've hurt your feelings." He frowned as he searched her eyes, and then stepped back from her quickly, snapping at her again. "This isn't one of your adventures, Ginny – I'm not one of your doubtless many, love struck fans …I won't follow you about, fawning over you as you try to save the world yet again. You may be able to tempt a saint, but I am most definitely far from being anywhere near saintly. So do your job, live your life, and kindly stay the bloody hell out of mine!"
Ginny watched the man stalk angrily away in cloud of billowing black robes, and rolled her eyes, shaking her head feeling incredibly stupid. She had to be the biggest type of fool to ever exist…her face still burned with embarrassment. How was she going to survive the rest of the day?
True, she had survived everything life had thrown at her so far, and lived to tell the tale…but how could she survive him?
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To Be Continued…
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