*Crack* 10 points to Slytherin.
"Assuming that my calculations are correct I believe... that a change of decoration is in order. Gryffindor wins the house cup."
Albus didn't know what he had done, couldn't have known, yet…he should have.
Being awarded the coveted House Cup at the end the Hogwarts school year is something that meant a great deal to both staff and student. The rivalries between houses were fierce, none more than between the Snakes and the Lions.
The once illustrious and eminent Slytherin table looked as though an army of Dementors had found their way to the benches along their table. The disenchanted and unbelieving glares being shot up to both the headmaster and across to the Gryffindor table could not be missed or misinterpreted. What could be missed however, were the daggers being thrown with warning and promise from the sons of fathers, fathers who bore a dark mark on their wrist. Those daggers landed on their house lead, Severus Snape. Snape felt those daggers as true as he'd feel them later that evening.
You would think that upon hearing this championing news and watching the banners wave from a shade of green to a shade of maroon, from stark S's shifting to gripping G's, that Minerva would be proud and excited and elated for herself and for her house. The Gryffindor Head of House would have loved to be celebrating this victory. The problem was, unlike Albus, she knew the cost of what he had done.
Somewhere in the last 3 years Severus and Minerva found themselves spending more time sitting by the fire in the staff room complaining about students and grading than two people normally would. And progressively, sitting by the fire talking about holiday's and hobbies.
Somewhere in the last 2 years Severus and Minerva found themselves not only supervising Hogsmeade trips but also going together without students and having drinks in The Three Broomsticks.
Somewhere in the last year Severus and Minerva found that sleeping alone felt lonely and the fireplaces that were connected by flu powder in their respective rooms were actually quite easy to use.
Professor McGonagall beamed when her house's quidditch team beat the others. Minerva loved it when Severus pouted after his house lost their 3rd straight game to her house and how he playfully nudged her shoulder and whispered in his deep, potions voice "We'll get you next time but for now, I'll have to just get you tonight."
Professor McGonagall adored the fact that they could keep what they had protected and safe and theirs. That this secret was theirs and theirs alone.
Minerva was broken each and every time that Severus kissed her forehead, told her not to worry, and left answering the burning mark on his arm.
The people on the side of 'light' who stood sided with Dumbledore had no clue and made no attempt to understand the sacrifices the potions master made or to know what pure, unrelenting pain that Severus Snape went through. It hurt Minerva, albeit not as much as it hurt Severus, each time he came back to Hogwarts trembling and shaking from the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse, holding himself up right using doors and walls to make his way back to the safety of his, or Minerva's, chambers. All Minerva could do was whisper the she was there and be close when Severus would continue to clench his teeth and grip whatever was within reach, hours after returning as pain shot through his body, almost like a Cruciatus was stuck and wriggled free. There really was little Minerva could do for Severus when he had suffered too many bouts of Cruciatus, but she could at least find some peace in knowing that he was not alone to deal with it any longer. He had someone not on the dark side, or on the light side, but on his side.
As the last green and silver banners transformed into maroon and gold, Severus knew that his fate was sealed. His evening was going to be long. Had he been a weaker man, he may have hung his head or looked towards the students he knew held an unwarranted power over him and sought sympathy. He was not.
It's not only staff and students that care about the Hogwarts House Cup. Pride is a deep running characteristic of the Slytherin house. Slytherin's are tied in their deep roots of dark magic and connections with dark witches and wizards. Slytherin has many wealthy families and many wealthy families that consist of Death Eaters. It is not a secret in the wizarding world that the connection between Slytherin, dark magic and the Dark Lord exist.
Lord Voldemort, You-Know-Who, The Dark Lord, an old Hogwarts student of Slytherin cares deeply about the fate of his House. How convenient it is for him that his perceived right-hand man is the Head of House. There is an expectation; Slytherins, old and new, should be revered and respected and idolized.
The sons have been told this by their fathers; Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Malfoy. The fathers have been told by their master; The Dark Lord. And the head of house, the potions master, has felt this expectation by them all.
Many students, if not all baring those in Slytherin, attending Hogwarts think that it is just the despondent nature of Professor Snape to take points so aggressively from the other houses and award them handily to his snakes. Professor McGonagall thought this along with the other staff members for many years. Then she found out the pressure and punishment of failure that fell onto the shoulders of Snape.
The success of Slytherin and the associations that came with it should be on display for the Wizarding community, when they are not 1st, they have failed. And, it is easy to point this particular blame, warranted or not, at Severus Snape.
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy glared at the head table, first at Albus Dumbledore, who continually discredited and belittled the hard work and success that the Slytherins did rightfully achieve, and then finally at Professor Snape. It wouldn't be long before the food was cleared and the boys would owl their families to let their Death Eater fathers know what happened.
