Chapter Eleven

Your essays must be two scrolls long and will be due one week from today. Class dismissed. One by one the students gathered their things and filed from the room, chatting amongst themselves quietly as they disappeared through the classroom door.

Severus rubbed his forehead absent mindedly before seating himself at his desk at the front of the room. He'd had the strangest feeling since class began that he was being watched, but he couldn't find the cause for this impression. His years as a Death Eater had sharpened his senses, so he didn't think he was just imagining things.

Someone was definitely there, and he was quickly losing his patience trying to figure out why they would want to spy on him. It was giving him another one of his headaches. He glanced around the room and announced quietly You may come out now and explain why you feel the need to observe my class.

Movement from a dark corner of the room caught his eye. A small brown bird swooped gracefully through the rows of desks from its perch on a bookshelf at the rear of the classroom and landed in the middle of the stone floor directly in front of his desk. Snape inspected it curiously and a moment later the bird was replaced with a dark robed person. Glancing up from his view of the person's feet he was surprised to see the very woman he had been thinking about all morning looking back at him.

Val watched the reaction on Snape's face as she transformed. Obviously he had no knowledge of her Animagus form, as he was clearly surprised at her appearance. His facial expression quickly returned to its usual scowl and he demanded in his deep silky voice, What is your purpose in spying on my class, Professor?

Val stepped forward and closed the space between herself and his desk and replied confidently, I merely wished to observe the famous speech that you give to all your first years. I am happy to say that you have lived up to your reputation yet again. I am most impressed. You even scared me and I'm not one of your students.

Severus frowned at this comment. It seemed that already people were coloring her perception of him as a person. He'd hoped that she would try to get to know him better before accepting him at face value.

Well, Professor, I am happy to be at your service. Now if you will excuse me, I have things to do. Please see yourself out.

He turned his back deliberately and went into his office, listening to the retreating footsteps and the hinges of the door squeaking as it closed behind her. Severus sighed and sank into his chair, reaching for the bottle of headache potion. It was going to be an exceptionally long year.