When I finally realized where I was, and whose arms I was in, I cautiously
stepped back and attempted to wipe my eyes with the sleeves of my robes.
I wasn't really sure how much time had passed but I suspected that
Snape had been holding me patiently for at least half an hour.
"I'm being silly," I muttered in a throaty voice. That's the understatement of the year, I thought to myself.
"Not more than usual," he replied, handing me a handkerchief. Instead of his usual saracastic tones, his response seemed to actually be good natured. Snape, making a joke? How odd... Despite myself I felt the corners of my mouth make a very small smile for a fleeting moment before my brain shooed it away.
"No, really, I'm sure you haven't got time for this nonsense. I should be getting to work now. What was it that you wanted me to do tonight, Professor?" I said, trying to regain my composure and a tiny shred of dignity.
"Nothing, Meta--Miss Cockerham," he quickly corrected. "I think we've had enough excitement for one night..." For once Snape looked, well, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, and this was your last detention." He said looking down at the diary in his hands. "So, you are excused now. I will see you on Monday. Don't forget that report on the uses of Monkey's Paw." He added.
I made for the door and was reaching for the handle when he softly called out,
"I'm sorry about your mother, Miss Cockerham."
I turned back to him, and, somehow, even with the funny fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach, managed to say,
"And yours, Professor." He nodded, as if to say 'thank you' and I left the classroom. From that moment on I developed a very unique friendship with the Potions Professor, though it would take me quite some time to realize how unique it was.
As I was climbing the stairs to the third floor I suddenly realized that I had been clutching Professor Snape's handkerchief in my left hand. I unclenched it and stopped on the staircase. I held it up in front of my face, attempting to smooth out the wrinkles. It was emerald green silk and in the corner embroidered in black threat in a very elegant, but modest scrip were the letters 'S.S.' I impulsively clasped the cloth to my chest for a moment before carefully folding it up and putting it in my pocket.
A few minutes later I reached my dormitory and silently changed into my pajamas, not wanting to wake anyone. I crept into my bed for the first decent sleep in a week, and for once, a feeling of peace and contentment filled my dreams.
"I'm being silly," I muttered in a throaty voice. That's the understatement of the year, I thought to myself.
"Not more than usual," he replied, handing me a handkerchief. Instead of his usual saracastic tones, his response seemed to actually be good natured. Snape, making a joke? How odd... Despite myself I felt the corners of my mouth make a very small smile for a fleeting moment before my brain shooed it away.
"No, really, I'm sure you haven't got time for this nonsense. I should be getting to work now. What was it that you wanted me to do tonight, Professor?" I said, trying to regain my composure and a tiny shred of dignity.
"Nothing, Meta--Miss Cockerham," he quickly corrected. "I think we've had enough excitement for one night..." For once Snape looked, well, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, and this was your last detention." He said looking down at the diary in his hands. "So, you are excused now. I will see you on Monday. Don't forget that report on the uses of Monkey's Paw." He added.
I made for the door and was reaching for the handle when he softly called out,
"I'm sorry about your mother, Miss Cockerham."
I turned back to him, and, somehow, even with the funny fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach, managed to say,
"And yours, Professor." He nodded, as if to say 'thank you' and I left the classroom. From that moment on I developed a very unique friendship with the Potions Professor, though it would take me quite some time to realize how unique it was.
As I was climbing the stairs to the third floor I suddenly realized that I had been clutching Professor Snape's handkerchief in my left hand. I unclenched it and stopped on the staircase. I held it up in front of my face, attempting to smooth out the wrinkles. It was emerald green silk and in the corner embroidered in black threat in a very elegant, but modest scrip were the letters 'S.S.' I impulsively clasped the cloth to my chest for a moment before carefully folding it up and putting it in my pocket.
A few minutes later I reached my dormitory and silently changed into my pajamas, not wanting to wake anyone. I crept into my bed for the first decent sleep in a week, and for once, a feeling of peace and contentment filled my dreams.
