Down in the Dungeons

It was lucky that I decided not to turn my back on the whole thing. For the first time in years I enjoyed myself considerably. Being reunited with old friends and reacquainting myself with the vast castle of Hogwarts brought back many memories. Those memories were far warmer than I remembered. I did enjoy my years at Hogwarts very much. I enjoyed my friends and I enjoyed my classes.

Perhaps those cold, black eyes would have stirred up some dark memories… if I'd seen them. But I didn't. In three days I never once saw a trace of the Potions Master. Now, whether or not Severus Snape was still at Hogwarts, I didn't know. Nobody told me, and I didn't ask.

Of course, his name did come up here and there in the midst of a conversation among classmates, but no one knew for certain. We talked plenty about our school memories and how much we'd all like to do it all again. None of my friends knew how I felt about our wicked, sardonic Potions Master, but I thought to myself that if I'd had the chance to do those seven years over again, I'd not have fallen so deeply in love with him. I'd have not taken to any feelings for him at all… except perhaps those bitter feelings most everyone had for him.

Sometimes while walking alone through the corridors I could have sworn I felt his presence still lurking around me, but I excused such foolishness for childhood memories. As students, it seemed that when we were roaming the corridors past curfew it was always Professor Snape who discovered us. Little did my fellow Ravenclaws know how much I loved being caught by this particular night prowler. I loved seeing him at any opportunity, even if it led to trouble and a detention. Professor Flitwick was always easy on us. His detentions usually consisted of petty chores within our Common Room. They were relatively effortless chores, as the House Elves did a superb job of keeping our Common Room tidy as it was.

A part of me misses that cold chill that runs up and down my spine each time I pass the dark passage leading down to where we had our Potions class. Twice now I've walked by, half wanting to take a peek inside my old classroom and half wanting to just walk on by.

It was nearly time to leave now. I'll have one more chance to explore the dungeons. After dinner I'll be on my way back home to London. Back to Rubens Winikus where I'll continue to concoct the most difficult of potions known to the wizarding world. Back to where I'll be alone, longing for the love I once thought I had.

I was on my way to the Great Hall when I stopped and stood at the top of the staircase leading down to the depths of the dungeons. I could feel a draft of cold air already. Potions class was always so cold. Even now in the heat of summer I could feel goosebumps forming on my bare legs.

I lived in a Muggle neighbourhood, so naturally my wardrobe consisted primarily of Muggle clothing. This weekend I saw that I wasn't the only one who packed Muggle clothing. In my opinion, the fashions of the Muggle world were far more trendy and stylish. Sometimes I felt like I would suffocate in my robes. Today I wore a soft, silky little black cross-top shirt with short sleeves and the cosiest denim skirt I own. It came down just above my knees and had a little slit in the back. The heels of my open-toed black sandals echoed as I took one step at a time down towards the dungeons.

My hand clung tightly to the railing as if a part of me were trying to hold the rest of me back. Perhaps that was the shrewd, wiser half of me. My heart hammered within my chest so hard I could hear it pounding against my eardrums. The goosebumps on my skin spread and swelled so much it hurt.

This isn't right. What is it that my body is dreading so dearly? Is it the memories I left buried within these dungeon walls? Is it for fear that my schoolgirl crush will be resurrected upon setting my eyes on my old Potions classroom? Or, is it the remote possibility that he's down here - right now?

Impossible!  If he were still here somebody would have said something!

I should just turn around. Clearly I'm not as prepared as I thought I was for this little endeavour. I thought Severus Snape no longer meant anything to me, but if the mere memory of him is causing me to crumble like this, there are obviously still some issues I have yet to ravage.

I had just turned around and hopped up a couple of steps when a faint noise caught my attention. I stopped, froze, and listened carefully. I thought I'd heard someone sniff.

So what? Among other things, the castle is chockfull of sniffling, sneezing, talking portraits. It could have been anything… or anyone.

I stepped quietly up a few more stairs and kept my ears on alert.

Just then, a horrible sound struck my ears. A high-pitched squeal much like a heavy wooden chair being pushed across the stone floor.

There is someone down there!

Before I knew what I was doing, my feet started carrying me down the staircase and towards the open door of my old Potions classroom. My heart was no longer thundering and the cold had ceased to bother me. In fact, I felt quite eager to see who else had gathered the courage to revisit the Potions classroom.

After all, many of my fellow graduates were Slytherins. Perhaps one, or some of them had come down to see the classroom as well.

I stopped at the door and looked inside. At first I thought it was empty, but then my eye caught a peculiar figure in the furthest, darkest corner of the classroom. Glossy black hair, billowing black robes…

Just then, my heart did stop. It was a Hogwarts graduate – and a Slytherin, too. Not from my graduating class though.

Oh Merlin! It's him!