Chapter 9 - Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful…

Winter came to Hogwarts at full force.  A fresh coat of snow covered the grounds and Sophie stepped out to admired nature's artwork.  The castle looked odd blanketed in snow, beautiful yet haunting.   'Not quite Currier and Ives is it,' she reflected.  She was feeling frisky and that was never a good thing.  Snow always brought out the latent adolescent in her. 'Her inner child,' she thought with a grimace.

She was contemplating building a snowman when the sound of laughter caught her attention.  Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were walking up the path to her house.  "Inspiration," she said with a malevolent giggled.  Picking up a clump of snow and forming a perfect sphere she launched it in to the air and clocked Harry right between the glasses.  They all stood dumbfounded. 

"You have been challenged," she yelled across the courtyard.

"Are you mad?"  Harry sputtered, wiping his face clean.

"No, just bored.  It's Saturday.  I refuse to work and I am feeling playful.  So again I say, you have been challenged."  She was already preparing more rounds of  ammunition.

They looked at each other and smiled.  "All right then.  But remember you asked for it."

Just then Ginny ran to the side of Sophie and began to prepare for battle.

"What are you doing?" yelled Ron. "You're consorting with the enemy."

"We have to even up the sides don't we."  With that she threw a poorly formed ball at him, missing him by several feet.

"I'd better help them. It looks like they'll need it."  Hermione joined the girls and the fracas commenced.

The air was full of unsuccessfully aimed snowballs and laughter.  At one point Hermione yelled, "Retribution" or something like it, and tackled Harry who had found a little too much pleasure in using her for target practice.

During a momentary cease fire, Sophie and her comrades were in the middle of planning their strategy when a familiar voice came upon the scene.

"Are we testing out a new form of regression therapy or is this some Muggle ritual we need to warn the proper authorities about." Severus Snape stood looking as self-righteous as ever.  Sophie could not help but admire how his black cloak and clothes stood out against the crisp, white snow.  She smiled to herself as the thought came to her, 'Beautiful yet haunting.'

She stood up, covered in snow, her hat askew, and her eyes looking for trouble.  She tried her best to look dignified. "Perhaps a Muggle ritual would do you some good."

"If you are implying that I join your little mêlée might I suggest-" Before he could finish a large snowball landed square on his nose.

He was irate, scraping the snow from his face.   "Dr. Young if you cannot control your impulses-"

"Oh,come off it Sevie, live a little."

"Did you just call me Sevie!?!"

"Don't be tight, grab some snow."

"I am not in the practice of-"  Another snowball found its destination.

"I see," he said as he cleaned his face and adjusted his cloak.  "I will begin by saying this is childish and completely inappropriate behavior. You are not being a proper role model to impressionable, and in this case, troubled students.  You have also shown a shocking lack of judgment and decorum.  With that said, may I also add -- with much trepidation -- it is 5 house points to any Gryffindor who defects to my side."

They all stared at each other not quite sure what they just heard.  Confusion gave way to shock upon seeing Severus Snape making a snowball.  Knowing which side would probably come out victorious, Ron ran over and joined him. 

"Traitor!" screamed Ginny

"I have to even you the sides, don't I.  You still love me don't you, Dr. Young." Just then, the largest snowball of the day struck him in the face and sent him tumbling back.

"Deserter!" Sophie yelled. "Defector.  Show him no mercy."

Harry went to join Ron and Snape, as he too knew a winning side when he saw one, and the battle persisted.

Snowballs went flying through the air at an amazing rate.  Severus Snape had impeccable aim and never missed a shot.  Ron and Harry were very impressed. This went on for quite a while until….

"Oh dear," said a nervous voice.  They all stopped and turned. Neville was standing frozen to where he stood, trying desperately to comprehend the scene before him. His aunt, who was always somewhat nutty, looked completely cracked now covered in snow, and she had that look in her eye again. Hermione and Ginny were standing next to her, looking only slightly less cracked, also covered in snow.  Across the snow bank, stood two snowmen which slightly resembled Harry and Ron.  And behind them was….no…it couldn't be…Oh dear Merlin he was hallucinating.  It couldn't be.

"Pick a side."  Sophie was preparing another snowball.

""Wha….Wha…What?"  He was baffled and suddenly very nervous.

"No one is neutral, Neville.  Pick a side or prepare to be dealt with."

"I …well…I.."

"You were warned." But before she could make her shot she was struck on the side of her head by one very well placed projectile that sent her flying several feet.

Severus looked at her and grinned.  "Never turn your back on the enemy my dear.  Especially one who can hit a fly at thirty yards."

It was now full-scale warfare. 

There were no sides, there were no allies, there were no truces. It raged on until the combatants were all sitting on the ground exhausted except Professor Snape who somehow managed to remain untouched.

Sophie spoke, "If I may call a truce.  I have hot chocolate and cookies in my home and a nice warm fire that are beckoning me.  You are all welcome to join."

They all got up and started to go inside.  Snape adjusted his woolen cloak and started to leave.

"Oh please, do come in," she grabbed his hand and gave it a small squeeze.  They stood immobile for several moments.  She hoped her eyes conveyed how much she wanted him to stay.

He stood for a moment, unsure of what to do. "All right," he said quietly.

They sat around the fire drying off and comparing scars.

"You have the best aim I have ever seen."  Ron was talking to Snape

"It was not the first time I have thrown a snowball."

They all looked at each other for a moment.  It was hard for them to picture Severus Snape as anything other than a demanding, heartless teacher who seemed to get pleasure out of torturing students and doling out detentions.

After they had their fill of treats, they said their good byes.  Sophie pulled Severus aside. "Could you stay for a moment?"

When they were alone she turned to him. "I'm glad you joined us today.  It was fun."

"It was quite gratifying getting to bombard the Gryffindor three."  Her smile widened at his words.  He continued,  "As much as I hate to admit it, and I do really hate to admit it…I did enjoy it. "

"You are a very complicated man, Severus Snape."

"You have no idea."

"I would like to get an idea."

"Meaning."

"I would like you to start sessions with me."

"Sessions?"

"I'm sorry, is English not your primary language?"

"You think I need therapy?" He was annoyed at the very thought.

"No, it isn't that. Though I don't think it would hurt you.  No, I am hoping you could give me some insight."

"Into what?"

"Into the mind of a Death Eater?"

"I see."

"I don't think you do.  My sessions with Draco are not progressing.  He talks freely about his life here but when I try to get him to talk about his home life he shuts down.  I need to understand what he is going through.  I need to find the trigger that will get him to open up.  When people come to me out of their own free will it's easy to get information out of them, they're dying to talk things out.  All I need to do is ask the right questions and they go off sometimes for hours.  Draco is extremely guarded.  I'm not sure if it's shame or fear or just confusion.  I need to try a different angle and I think you may be the key."

He at quietly contemplating her proposal "Have you ever dealt with a Death Eater before?"

"Some.  The ones I have spoken to were trying to save their own skins so I don't consider their input reliable.  But if you are afraid you will shock me you needn't worry.  I have been exposed the dark underside of this world before and I am prepared for what you have to say."

He sat in silence for several minutes. "I will help you but I ask for something in return."

"What?"

"Reciprocity."

"Meaning?"

"I will not be the only open book in these sessions.  I will not divulge the minutia my life without having you do the same.  I will treat this as an open discussion of our lives and life experiences and not a therapy session."

Now she was contemplating his proposal. "Agreed. Who goes first?"

"I will.  I am free Sunday afternoon if you are."

"Perfect." 

"I will see you then," he said with a cut nod.

She nodded back. "I will have plenty of wine on hand."

"Wine?"

"I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."

She watched him walk away and back to his quarters.  He wanted to know something specific.  She smiled as she thought, 'I guess I am not the only one who can spot an opportunity.'