Chapter Ten--New Faces
Georgie awoke and shuddered as the light offended her eyes. The excitement that the day would hold for her took a bit of the edge off the sleeplessness and cold she was feeling right then. She quickly showered and threw on her robes. She was a little surprised to not find Snape sitting out in the lounge reading a paper-how he always got them before the morning owls came at Breakfast was beyond her comprehension! She frowned pensively for a second before impulsively turning to Snape's chamber door and slamming her first fast and furiously into it. "Snape! Just making sure you're up!" She yelled into the wood. But on not hearing anyone stir she dropped the attempt and strode out to the Common Room and to Breakfast.
Snape was at that moment sitting at the far end of his room, at his desk beneath a window. He was looking out at that lake. He'd been shaken from his reverie by his young neighbor's nasal screeching. La, Girl! Is it too much for you to do anything quietly? He frowned as he tried to concentrate very hard on something at the back of his mind, eluding him at every turn. He just had a bad feeling, and he wasn't prone to unnecessary feelings and emotions--he was even less likely to dwell on figuring them out. He had the least respect for those fools who believed and put their trust in Divination and trying to read the fates, but what was he thinking right now then? Did it mean something, or was he just paranoid.
He stood and straightened his robes, then briskly made his way to the Great Hall.
Georgie's day passed by much too quickly, and she was enjoying herself immensely. Hogwarts was a totally different atmosphere than The Institute had been, well, just so very different in every way. Too clean, too bright and polished and practiced. Hell, half of the time she was flying by the seat of her pants in her classes, no pun intended, she apologized to herself. The first day she had Advanced Divination much to her chagrin first thing in the morning. She felt really out of place with the fifth, sixth, and seventh year Slytherins, sitting up there with the kooky lady in the stifling towers room with coverings over the windows.
The first day they went over ancient omens that transferred into modern times. Personally, Georgie thought, of all the times I've seen a hawk fly over my head I don't think too many people have died directly as a result of it's foretelling afterward... She quickly deduced that if one just says something odd--anything--Trewlaney will love you. Gawd, this'll be an easy class she simpered. She sat at a table with two sixth year twins from Slytherin. They smiled a lot and on introducing themselves Georgie almost gagged on their names. Siobhan and Naimh-except they pronounced these Shavon and Neeve respectively, or at least that was how Georgie tried to pronounce them. They were Irish and had a funny lilt to their voice. She thought that at several times during the lesson they looked a bit insane, really insane. They seemed to have flashing eyes and a red glow beneath their skin. But they had a fabulous sense of humor and they were Slytherins...
They had fun devising horrible ways of dying to try and fool Trewlaney when she called on them for their interpretations. When class time ended right in the middle of Niamh's explaining her vision of dying by swallowing tacks to a confused Professor, Georgie was glad to climb out of there in the company of new friends. Though she couldn't for the life of her differentiate between the two of them.
At lunch she spoke with Hagrid about her lesson with him next. Hagrid was glad to have her in his class and was going on about what surprise he'd have in store for them. She just hopped that it wasn't a dragon, or a blast-ended skrewt, or pixies she thought with a smile as she remembered a story Minerva had shared with her.
Two hours later she stood in front of Hagrid's cabin and muttered, "Oh my god," disdainfully. Hagrid had just produced a half dozen Pogrebins from an enormous Rhino-sized cage, and he was now breaking up the class into partners. They were to each take turns allowing the Russian Demon to follow them, but if it turned on student, the partner would use a simple hex to freeze it in place long enough for the roles to be reversed. This couldn't end well.
She paired up with a tall blonde Slytherin with a haughty disposition, but Georgie didn't give one whit what she thought. She was watching her partner as she strutted back and forth trying to bait the creature into even starting to follow her, but Georgie was monitoring three other pairs close by, incase something happened.
She sighed and considered just stunning it and telling Hagrid it had already done it's attacking, but then what would they do for the next few hours? She looked around at the obviously not-enthused Slytherins who were walking away from the Demons and gathering under a large tree for some shade. Most of the Demons stayed put. However one did not.
One beady-eyed boy had just turned his back on his Pogrebin and was about to join the others across the grass under the shade when the Pogrebin suddenly decide it would show some spirit. It pounced on his back and snarled as it tried to take a bite out of the boys shoulder. The boy screamed and fell thrashing with it to the ground. The rest of the students witnessed this and jumped to their feet in place.
Georgie dashed over to a few feet behind the struggling pair. Where's Hagrid? She thought acidly. She put her wand to the back of the creature's shiny head, but just then it lashed out at her arm with it's claws, before turning back to the boy. With renewed intensity she huffed, "Stupefy!" It flew away and landed like dead weight. She offered the boy a hand up with a deep sigh, and seeing his look, apologized quickly that she hadn't meant that for him.
He seemed alright, though he took off for the Hospital Wing just in case. She suggested that the dozen or so students huddled by the tree should head back around carefully to where Hagrid could keep an eye on them. Surprisingly they followed her instruction. Ha! She thought, they listened to me! Funny. Maybe I'm all looking responsible and large-and-in-charge and all, she puffed up.
Grabbing the Pogrebin by the scruff of it's neck she grabbed the little guy and dragged him back around to the front of the cabin and leaned it up outside against his cage. She glanced around the yard and by the looks of most of the Pogrebin's, the students had just knocked them out, not bothering to do the freezing charms. Quick learners, she assessed approvingly. Hagrid was sending off two girls in the direction of the castle. He hopped over to where she was standing and explained, "'Appens every single class. Don't worry 'bout it." Oh, but she did worry about it.
But she had to admit, it was a very practical lesson. Something she wasn't used to and was surprised she'd performed so well. Well, a few cuts and bruises weren't so bad. Thank goodness she only had this class once a week, sighing a breath of relief. Hagrid let the class go early to whoops and hollering of the students who scattered in all directions, and promised to chat with her at dinner.
Georgie walked solo back down to the dungeons. Snape was in there with his feet up and a stack of parchments in his lap. He looked up, "You're back early."
"Hiya. Yep, Hagrid's class is in shambles. How did your classes go?" She walked over to her room, threw open the door and flung her outer cloak on her bed, before returning
He stared at her and didn't answer for awhile. "Just not used to hearing that question. The students are impossible. The ones that had a firm grasp last year, have lost it all to a summer of idleness. Half of them don't know which animal a Jobberknoll's feather comes from." She laughed at this. "And Potter..." She tried to suppress a grin at that. She'd know he was in Snape's first class, and she wanted to hear what'd happened.
"Same as always--same as his father. Cocky, too--sure of himself, above the rules, holding twittering conversations in the back. I wish I could slap him some days. Get him to wake up." She wanted to bust up inside, but restrained herself out of respect for Snape's feelings, as he still hadn't gotten used to laughing at himself.
He turned his observant eye on Georgie who was mirthfully watching him from her couch, feet up. "What went wrong at Hagrid's? Though it doesn't surprise me in the least."
"Pogrebin's were supposed to follow us about. Turned a bit nasty. Got to break up an attack though," she said cheerfully. To herself, she mumbled and held her arm out from her side, "Ow, but my arm's a bit stiff..." Then shaking it off went to grab her Divination book and returned.
"Georgie? May I see your arm?"
"Huh?" She looked up in alarm as she returned. "Nah, it's fine. Man, you've got good ears." She tried to laugh, as she hadn't realized she'd even spoken aloud.
He got to his feet and approached her. "Snape really! I'm fine, I was just complaining. I complain, okay? Just sore--that's all. Sorry."
He remained obstinate, "Let me see it then."
"Damnit," she muttered under he breath, as Snape knelt in front of her and began to role up her sleeves. "It's nothing really..." But she broke off when she saw her arm. There was a deep gash running a few inches down the outside, it was bloodied and sticky. Her face twisted into a mask of disgust and shock. "Oh my gawd..." She whispered.
Snape lifted her to her feet by her other arm, as she kept looking down at it. "Pomfrey can fix that up in a few minutes. It's no big deal at all really." She only half listened but kept staring intently at her angry red wound as he dragged her down the hallway. On arriving at the Hospital Wing she felt herself being pushed to sit down on the edge of a bed.
She watched as Pomfrey poured some burning liquid onto the gash, exciting a list of expletives the poor old lady had never heard the likes of. She had snapped out of her shock enough to see Snape embarrassingly holding his head in his hands. She then did something with her wand to close the gapping laceration, then plastered on some paste that felt warm, Georgie noticed with a smile. A minute later with a bandage encircling her entire upper arm, Pomfrey pushed both her and the waiting Potions Professor out of her Hospital declaring that everything'd be as good as new by tomorrow.
"Holy crap," She muttered under her breath, shaking her head unbelievingly. "I didn't even realize I had it..." She felt numb from the neck on up. She looked sideways at Snape who was looking seriously straight ahead as he gripped her elbow tightly and led her down stairs once more.
She narrowed her eyes, "How did you know?"
He smiled a little at the corners of his mouth. "I have never heard you complain about anything pertaining to you and your comfort before--remember, you'll even swim in the lake. If it were enough for you to say something, I recognized it must be something bad indeed."
"Oh," She stepped into the lounge after him, considering something.
She sat back down and put her feet up and he on his couch did the same and picked up his stack of parchment as if nothing had happened. "I was right in saying it would only take a few minutes."
"Severus?" Georgie started lowly.
"What is it?" He didn't look up from his work.
"Thank you for listening to me babble." She meant more than that, but hoped he'd get her gist.
"I don't see how I could avoid it." He monotonely teased, as she picked up her schoolbook once more.
At the dinner table Georgie joked with Hagrid and didn't let on about her accident happening in his class--he'd only feel bad about it. Snape kept staring daggers down to their end of the table, at Hagrid directly, but Georgie knew the two men were friends and she intercepted a lot of the looks and shot back a few of her own for good measure. She contemplated loading up her spoon with greens as a sort of catapult-surprise for Snape.
Georgie looked out into the Great Hall and got a dreamy sort of look in her eyes. She was spying so many pale-cheeked, dainty girls, with beautiful big blue eyes, and delicate smiles and perfect manners--like china dolls, she likened. She turned her open stare now on the High Table. Minerva was quite beautiful, but she hid it like it were a burden. Possessing almost a transparent skin and a pouting mouth.
Sinistra looked like a gypsy--which, she might actually be. Georgie never paid much attention to her, because she was snobbish at times, and it got under her skin. Most everyone ignored her when she came to think of it.... But she was still pretty. She had a pert nose, curled-under shoulder-length hair and wore outlandish robes with heaps of jewelry.
Sprout, Georgie believed, must've been pretty too, but she was old and graying now. She had a warm face and a broad smile, and crow's-feet dotted the outside of her eyes. But if she wasn't gorgeous now, at least she was the most fun and jolly Professor, which more than made up for that other stuff.
Georgie frowned and turned on Snape, narrowing her eyes slowly. Hmm, she was getting an idea. Snape didn't think anyone could love him, so what he needed was a boost of self-esteem from the female direction. She bit her lip and continued to stare ugly holes into the back of Snape's head as she worked out that no female here-young or old--would fit Snape's bill. She would have to play Matchmaker--but albeit so covertly that he wouldn't suspect her of a thing. Otherwise she'd be toast; she grinned at the thought.
She continued staring at him and drumming her fingers into the table as she spun her spoon in her pudding. She was woken from this action by Snape's starring back at her and mouthing "What?" He looked angry.
Well duh, she was glaring at him for ten minutes for nothing. Quickly, she tried to act confused as she glanced left, and right, as if shaking herself from a stare off into space. She then turned back and shrugged, "Sorry" she mouthed, and at that he turned from her.
She'd have to search out side of Hogwarts. Hogsmeade? Nah, only Rosmerta, and Rosmerta was too much woman for Snape, she laughed as a picture came to her mind.
The next day she had Transfiguration with Minerva first thing in the morning, this was the class she'd been waiting for. She got to be a Teaching Assistant to a class of advanced students. She wasn't as thrilled at the actual prospect of teaching--as Minerva was to handle that, but rather at doing some hands-on instructions when the class would break into smaller groups to practice. And the class was of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors--two houses she hardly ever came in contact with.
The morning started out perfectly. She stood a bit uneasily to the side as Minerva 'talked-shop', just as Minerva had explained she would earlier. But she grinned easily as she knew that these were harmless--though sometimes bumbling--students. Well, compared to her Slytherins, she puffed up proudly. They could be truly terrible, but in a few of them--especially in the twins--they seemed to be acting out against serious neglect from 'Dear old Mum and Dad.' They wanted attention and to feel their own self worth, so in a way Georgie was glad to hear about her house's antics and accomplishments. Sure it was pouring rose water on a cancer, but at least they weren't sitting alone in their rooms, pouring over parchments, mumbling to themselves as they set up devious schemes for mass murder...
...Like Snape happened to be when she returned to the dungeons after her class. She stood hovering in the doorway as she beheld him bent over parchment mumbling to himself. She cleared her throat loudly, and he glanced up.
"Murdering people today?"
"Noooo...Not today. Why?" His eyes glinted.
"No real reason," she parried as she flopped down on her couch.
"With you, there's always a reason." He spoke like he didn't trust her. Georgie sighed and rolled her eyes.
"I had a vision-Not like Trewlaney!" She exclaimed on seeing his face. "I had an idea of some student bent over parchments all alone in their rooms, mumbling to themselves and plotting murder. I just came in and freaked a lil' bit, but no harm done."
"I do not mumble to myself." Snape insisted evenly.
"But you just did!"
"I did nothing of the sort."
"Yeah, like you don't snore like you're sawing-logs," Georgie teased. Actually he snored only lightly and when he was exhausted, but how would he ever find out?
"I can hear your snores through the walls," Snape complained.
"Why do you listen at walls, you freaky-creepy!?" Georgie laughed at herself for that silly name.
Snape frowned hard at her then tossed the top piece of parchment over onto the couch cushions next to her. She picked it up and read "I think that the best way to make a really good Draught of the Living Death would be wait until the person is asleep then get some stuff like, maybe cabbage and wormwood and toenails, maybe some other stuff too..."
She looked up at him, "Oh my gosh that's terrible, he spelled almost all of the words wrong too. How sad....And utterly, ridiculously hilarious!" She yuck-yucked, then tossed the paper back to Snape.
"Sometimes I really understand how you feel about teaching them, that was soooo bad! I'd have gone mad if I had to deal with idiots like that. It's beyond bad; it's actually dangerous. Yes, I think I can understand how you act the way you do."
"How kind of you to try and understand me and my motives," he drawled, his voice tinged coldness.
"Snape, I didn't mean anything by that. I meant that before--when I never had proof of the students' ineptness. Now I'll see it every single damn day...."
She stopped then caught his eye before continuing. "You know how when I first met you, ya thought I'd be an idiot or a freak of nature just because I was from The Institute?"
"Yes, and you haven't let me down."
"Shut-up. Anyway, I think I was infinitely more prepared at that age then the majority of students here at Hogwarts." She expected Snape to jump down her throat, and defend the honor of the school.
"I think that perhaps you are a special case and shouldn't be used in a comparison. I think you also miss the greater picture. Former Gryffindors, besides being headstrong and impulsive to a fault, are known for cool heads in the real world when dealing with Hexes, Charms and Transfigurations. Hufflepuffs for dealings with Magical creatures and Mediwizardry. Ravenclaw--pretty much anything that can be found in a book," He muttered dryly. "And you can probably guess who knows the most about the practical uses of Defense against the Dark Arts, as well as the instigation of these same arts." He looked tired at those words.
"It's a well-rounded education, but for some reason students here seem to only take to a couple of areas--if that. Perhaps prejudices based on House-placement or family preferences, who knows. They choose to excel where they see fit to.... Such a waste." Snape snatched up his quill.
Georgie had a free afternoon, so she'd set up to meet with Naimh and Siobhan after lunch by the lake. It was a sunny day, but a bit windy, so Georgie stopped by her room to grab a cloak after the lunch meal.
She walked outside and shielded her eyes from the warm rays of sun, she spotted the two girls sitting by the shore apparently deep in conversation--one of them making grand gestures with her hands. Georgie plopped herself down between them on the grass and they both turned to look at her.
"What's up?" She greeted. She usually waited for one of the girls to call the other by her name before she tried to guess which was which. She took off her glasses-she wore them only about half the time, though she was told to wear them constantly. Classes were all she allowed herself to be seen in them and now that classes were over, off they came.
"We were just talking about Professor Snape. He's nasty, ya know." The girl explained. Georgie just rolled her eyes like it were the most obvious sentiment in the world to loathe Snape. "He was storming around the dungeons, sneering and threatening. I mean, It was awful because he was including Slytherins! He assigned so much homework already. It was only our first class! He's obnoxious really..."
"I can always help ya guys with potions. Anytime--really." Georgie tried to console. They both calmed a little and smiled at her attempt.
"Really," The other girl began, "I've had him for years and he's been really pissy last year and now this year. I used to like potions, well at least it was tolerable when Snape favored us, but now, It's going to be pure, unadulterated hell!" She moaned as she reddened.
"It's because of You-Know-Who, you realize though. He was a Death Eater and now he's working for Hogwarts and Dumbledore--who's the biggest adversary. I'd be pissy too if I thought that the devil himself was after my skin." She rationalized in a low voice.
"Perhaps, he's just not getting laid, or something." Okay, Georgie thought--That one's Siobhan. She was a bit bawdy and vulgar, but heaps of fun. "Not like he ever did--" She asserted quickly on seeing the looks on the other girls' faces at that comment.
"Gross."
"I second that. Snape's sooo not a romantic object." Georgie mused, "He and I get along better than anyone else 'cuz we have to live and work close together, but ...he's so not a Don Juan. I couldn't even picture it--NOT that I try to!" She giggled nervously.
"I bet he was better looking when he was younger--maybe a better lad back then. Had a better hand at the ladies and friends and all..." Niamh imagined--always the dreamer. Her sister snapped her out of it by bopping her lightly on the side of her head and laughing.
"Hey, since we're talking like this," Georgie glanced around her for effect. "You can't tell a single soul about any of what I'm about to relate to you.
Siobhan put her hand to her heart, "I give you my word as an Irishwoman," she vowed solemnly and evenly.
"God, girl! If you say that she really won't be believing us!" Her sister twittered.
"Okay. I was thinking about helping Professor Snape get a date or a friend or something." The twins stared at her like she had a horrible disease.
She explained quickly. "Look, he's really an okay guy when you get to know him, deep, deep, deep....deep down." Niamh rolled her eyes at this. "He's a good friend. He's older, ya know. And Hogwarts is his life. He's kinda given up on having a woman. I reckon that if I put an ad in a paper or something and start up a correspondence, perhaps he might hook up with her."
Siobhan shook her head, "Nah, won't work. He'd never agree to meet her and most of the girls in Britain have heard about him, or had him at school. People aren't purposely looking to get punished you know."
Niamh was starting to get a look in her eye, she was thinking far-off dreamy thoughts. "What a challenge, though! Think of it: The unlovable man gets a little prodding and he blossoms under the influence of love to everything that is amiable and attractive."
Georgie and Siobhan laughed at this heartily. Niamh looked back at then and grinned embarrassedly, "What?"
Georgie chuckled, "Dear, I don't think anything could get Snape to be 'amiable.' But you're seeing my point. He deserves some happiness, and heck it might help your plight in classes if his mind is occupied by some fair dainty thing...I am doing it. He's my friend and I'm giving it a go for his sake."
Siobhan smirked, "Good. If there wasn't a self-serving reason to this, I couldn't rationalize spending time trying to help Snape the Snake's love life. Now I've got one. So what'll we do now?"
"We can try and write the ad first. Let's meet after dinner and try and brainstorm. Damn, we'll have to describe his preferences--I haven't a clue. Have you?" Georgie knew that hadn't. She couldn't just out and ask Snape wanted in a woman. Could she? She smiled broadly.
Georgie sighed, "I'll work on it. Listen, I'm excited we're gonna do this together. I'd probably make the ad something awful and not get a single taker. You guys have got to keep me grounded!" Georgie hopped to her feet. Considering for a moment, she remembered that Snape had an afternoon class, but he might be getting back anytime now.
"I'm gonna go and attack Snape for information. Wish me luck," she grimaced. Both girls held up crossed fingers to her and waved her off. If she was really going to do this she was going to have to do it now. Her stomach felt topsy-turvy-like as she crossed the grounds for the building, her fists clenched themselves nervously. Geesh, I hope I don't vomit on the floor or anything! She opened the door and went inside.
Snape pushed open the door and saw Georgie sitting with her back turned towards him on the couch. He shifted his books and papers to his other arm and shut the door quickly behind him. She followed him with her eyes not saying a word. He deposited his books on his desk in his room then returned out to the lounge.
"Why are you inside when it's such a fine day?"
"You sound like my mother--when I was eight." She sneered, whether at him or her mother he couldn't tell.
He lay back on the couch carefully, then summoned a reading book to his hand from the bookshelf. Before he could get started though, Georgie cleared her throat. Great, just great. What has she got to say now? He frowned and looked at her waiting for her to continue.
He had had a bad day--even by his standards. Several students caused accidents and explosions all throughout the day. If they would only listen to what he said--none of this would have happened. But some students felt themselves above rules and procedure. Not one of them thought of the consequences, the injuries that they could inflict on others. Sure, then they'd say that they didn't mean to--it was an accident. No, he'd snarled at the class, if it were an accident you'd not be doing it every day, in every class.
In addition he was getting worried about Voldemort's meetings with him, though he hardly liked admitting his fears to himself. Snape believed that his loyalty was being tested, that he would be found out, and ultimately fail to protect Potter. His body be damned, he had handled the Cruciatus curse before--always by Voldemort's own hand, yet still...one never gets used to something like that. But Potter was a boy, a defenseless, sniveling, and ignorant boy. He owed it to his father, and to Dumbledore to make sure Harry saw it to adulthood. Owed it even to himself, he thought at the back of his mind; he really couldn't stomach any child coming to harm. But he pushed that away from his mind. He wasn't going to go soft and he sure could have throttled several students today, he gritted his teeth.
Georgie's strong voice brought him back to the present. "Earth to Snape?" She called again.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a foolish question?" She didn't meet his eyes. Oh, this is going to be rich, he lamented.
"Hasn't stopped you before."
"What do you look for in a women?"
Snape wasn't expecting anything along those lines. He stared at her embarrassed face, blinking occasionally in the silence.
"I don't look for women." He acknowledged, which Snape thought was very truthful, and might possibly get her off the track.
"Well, if you were to look for women then." No such luck, he grunted.
Snape sat upright and cracked his long thin fingers together, then brought his fist up to his mouth. "I'm not sure I understand what you are asking." His eyes narrowed at her made her feel immediately ill at ease.
"Though whole burrito so to say. Tall, pretty, kind, blonde, likes to cook, likes to go jogging... hell I don't know. What'd be your ideal women, I guess."
"Why do you want to know?" He hissed and tensed.
"Research project." In some ways this was true. She was doing research for a sort of project.
Snape's eyes flashed as he began, "What sort of research project? And for whom?" He noticed a quill and parchment sitting in her knees that he hadn't noticed before.
Georgie knew he might ask these, so she smiled and said "Divination." She had figured that if she had tried to do a reading for Snape during the next class then she technically wouldn't be being untruthful. She just needed the true answers to compare her own results to; it looked logical from that standpoint. It was also a great answer because Snape hated Trewlany and had the least contact with her than with any other instructor. He wouldn't question it. He probably had no clue what was happening up in that tower during classes. For all he knew they all sat about, ate crayons and mooed at each other.
"Couldn't you ask someone else?" He winced. If this got out he would murder her. Murder her and strangle her and hex her....
"No, I have to get three different answers and you'd be the last one." She turned a syrupy smile on him. "Please? You'd be doing my a huge-a-mongus favor!" She burped, put her hand to her mouth mumbled cheerily, "'Scuse me."
"I don't see any real harm," He stared her down. " I really can't see what the imbecile Trewlaney would need with such information, but, well it is Sibyll..."
He sat back and looked at the door absently. He sighed, figured he might as well get it over with as fast as he could:
"Okay. Female. Smart. Good. Just . Good hygiene. Good sense of humor. Must be fond of Potions (here Georgie rolled her eyes). Capable of intelligent and serious conversation. Independent. Must NOT go jogging. Kind. Courageous. Unconventional. Forgiving. Discerning. Wicked." His voice dropped off, and Georgie continued scratching away with her quill for a few more seconds.
On finishing she looked up at him, "What do you mean wicked? You said 'good' but also 'wicked?' I don't get it." Actually she did and he thought she did also, but she just wanted to make him explain.
"By that I meant 'not too good,' someone who had the capability but wasn't. But you're right, it makes no sense, so scratch that out." He was feeling irritated. Georgie didn't scratch it out.
"But what about like physical appearance, blood lines, money, health, height...all that stuff?" She pressed.
"I don't give one whit about any of those things." Georgie looked at him; she didn't believe him.
He didn't know why he was bothering to explain anything to that girl. "Okay, fine. She has to be drop dead gorgeous. I wouldn't take anything else." He didn't elaborate though. Georgie took back up her quill and smiled to herself with a look of satisfaction. He sneered at her. If she was just going to take what she wanted to hear, this interview couldn't be getting anywhere.
"Full-blooded?" She looked up at him.
"Don't care really." He said seriously.
"What?!" Georgie howled. "But you're always pumping those bastard Slytherins full of Pure Blood shit. What the hell!" She screeched.
"Georgie, no one is pureblooded anymore. If they were they'd be insane from the interbreeding. All the oldest houses have mixes." Snape clarified. "And don't call your own house members bastards."
"Even your family?"
"Of course." He admitted, enjoying the shock on her face, and smiling slightly at it.
"Holy crap. I feel as I were just handed the moon and told that it was really the size of a peanut!"
"The truth is oftentimes more interesting than the fiction." He leaned forward and heaved a breath, "Anything else."
"Humma-humma," she pretended to mumble in shock. Looking back at him finally she threw down her quill and then proceeded to bad-mouth Trewlaney. It seemed the only logical thing to do to change the subject and get Snape's suspicious mind off the question, she grinned evilly afterwards.
Georgie thanked Snape for his help, then pointed at his book that had been set-aside on the table, "Okay, now...Fetch!" She condescended.
He stood up, "I must retrieve something from my office." She sniffed at the word 'retrieve.'
"Would you like me to bring anything back for you? Nightshade goes wonderfully with Diet Coke, I've heard..." His eyes danced tauntingly at her, before sweeping back to his classroom.
Later in the library Madam Pince kept glancing up to the three heads huddled together in the corner table beneath the darkened windows. She'd reminded them twice already to keep their voices, or rather laughter, to a minimum. But she hadn't the heart to do it again. The girls were with the new student Georgie and it went against the grain to tell another adult to keep quiet. She grabbed a stack of books that needed reshelving and walked off, pretending she didn't hear.
"Okay, How about this?" Siobhan cleared her throat and looked at the other two girls to see if she had their complete attention. She began, "Single white male searching for Miss Right. Must be intelligent, kind and understanding. Also just and discerning. Appearance not important. A companion to a man too long occupied by career and duty." Niamh gagged, so Siobhan stopped and shot her a look. "A friendship first then we can see what happens next, please reply if you think you're the one for this mysterious, lonely, solitary man, drop an owl and we'll see if we can make magic together. Signed: PotionLuvR."
"Bloody hell that's awful. Only boring girls will write him, or the hopelessly desperate ones." Siobhan throw the much scratched-out and edited advertisement on the table between them.
"Georgie, I really don't see how you can get away with this," Niamh fidgeted uneasily. "I mean if he gets responses back, and girls'd want to meet him... He's going to skin you alive and run you up a pole."
"Well, I plan on just picking a few of them out and then explaining that these are friends of friends..." The twins looked at her disapprovingly.
"I know, "Georgie admitted. "It's a rash and stupid plan. But I figure if this works out he'll thank me. If not, the most he can legally do is declare war on me for a few weeks. At least I'd have tried to help the overgrown bat out...Don't worry about me girls, I'm going into this with both eyes open, and damn the consequences." She sounded stronger than she felt. She was starting to get cold feet about actually sending it in to the Daily Prophet.
What if no one answered? Well that'd be a bit of a relief actually, and Snape wouldn't be the wiser to it. If she got back heaps of replies, then there might be some trouble. She figured she could tell the ladies that she was his best friend and doing it on his behalf, but she still would have no idea how to get them together....
The twins and her gabbed for an hour more, about Siobhan's crush in Hufflepuff--"Honestly, Siobhan, you'll crush on any boy who'll smile at ya and give ya the time of day!" Her sister lamented.
They giggled when Georgie admitted she found the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor quite fetching, in a mysterious sort of way. Both the other girls agreed on that and they gossiped about what his mysterious secret could be. Georgie of course knew, but didn't dare tell, even though most of the students remembered what it had been a couple of years ago, she just didn't feel it'd help Lupin out if she reminded everyone. Niamh was sure, he had a tragic lost-love sort of a history, but Siobhan was positive it was a darker one. "Perhaps he was a Death Eater, like Snape." She ventured.
"Nah, couldn't see him doing something like that. He's too reclusive and independent to join a group of raving lunatics traipsing about the countryside in matching outfits." Georgie laughed at her own picture.
"You know what I want?" Georgie gazed out the blackened window and pursed her lips in thought.
"What?" the girls both asked in unison.
"A harmonica." Then she looked at them and grinned happily. She'd been joking, but she wasn't going to let them know that. With that she stood up and stretched her arms above her head in a tall stretch. Grabbing up the parchment and her quill, "Man, I gotta run. I'll see you both tomorrow. I'm going to the owlery to get this off tonight." Before I change my mind.
She waved at the two girls, Siobhan still looking confused at the harmonica bit....
Georgie awoke and shuddered as the light offended her eyes. The excitement that the day would hold for her took a bit of the edge off the sleeplessness and cold she was feeling right then. She quickly showered and threw on her robes. She was a little surprised to not find Snape sitting out in the lounge reading a paper-how he always got them before the morning owls came at Breakfast was beyond her comprehension! She frowned pensively for a second before impulsively turning to Snape's chamber door and slamming her first fast and furiously into it. "Snape! Just making sure you're up!" She yelled into the wood. But on not hearing anyone stir she dropped the attempt and strode out to the Common Room and to Breakfast.
Snape was at that moment sitting at the far end of his room, at his desk beneath a window. He was looking out at that lake. He'd been shaken from his reverie by his young neighbor's nasal screeching. La, Girl! Is it too much for you to do anything quietly? He frowned as he tried to concentrate very hard on something at the back of his mind, eluding him at every turn. He just had a bad feeling, and he wasn't prone to unnecessary feelings and emotions--he was even less likely to dwell on figuring them out. He had the least respect for those fools who believed and put their trust in Divination and trying to read the fates, but what was he thinking right now then? Did it mean something, or was he just paranoid.
He stood and straightened his robes, then briskly made his way to the Great Hall.
Georgie's day passed by much too quickly, and she was enjoying herself immensely. Hogwarts was a totally different atmosphere than The Institute had been, well, just so very different in every way. Too clean, too bright and polished and practiced. Hell, half of the time she was flying by the seat of her pants in her classes, no pun intended, she apologized to herself. The first day she had Advanced Divination much to her chagrin first thing in the morning. She felt really out of place with the fifth, sixth, and seventh year Slytherins, sitting up there with the kooky lady in the stifling towers room with coverings over the windows.
The first day they went over ancient omens that transferred into modern times. Personally, Georgie thought, of all the times I've seen a hawk fly over my head I don't think too many people have died directly as a result of it's foretelling afterward... She quickly deduced that if one just says something odd--anything--Trewlaney will love you. Gawd, this'll be an easy class she simpered. She sat at a table with two sixth year twins from Slytherin. They smiled a lot and on introducing themselves Georgie almost gagged on their names. Siobhan and Naimh-except they pronounced these Shavon and Neeve respectively, or at least that was how Georgie tried to pronounce them. They were Irish and had a funny lilt to their voice. She thought that at several times during the lesson they looked a bit insane, really insane. They seemed to have flashing eyes and a red glow beneath their skin. But they had a fabulous sense of humor and they were Slytherins...
They had fun devising horrible ways of dying to try and fool Trewlaney when she called on them for their interpretations. When class time ended right in the middle of Niamh's explaining her vision of dying by swallowing tacks to a confused Professor, Georgie was glad to climb out of there in the company of new friends. Though she couldn't for the life of her differentiate between the two of them.
At lunch she spoke with Hagrid about her lesson with him next. Hagrid was glad to have her in his class and was going on about what surprise he'd have in store for them. She just hopped that it wasn't a dragon, or a blast-ended skrewt, or pixies she thought with a smile as she remembered a story Minerva had shared with her.
Two hours later she stood in front of Hagrid's cabin and muttered, "Oh my god," disdainfully. Hagrid had just produced a half dozen Pogrebins from an enormous Rhino-sized cage, and he was now breaking up the class into partners. They were to each take turns allowing the Russian Demon to follow them, but if it turned on student, the partner would use a simple hex to freeze it in place long enough for the roles to be reversed. This couldn't end well.
She paired up with a tall blonde Slytherin with a haughty disposition, but Georgie didn't give one whit what she thought. She was watching her partner as she strutted back and forth trying to bait the creature into even starting to follow her, but Georgie was monitoring three other pairs close by, incase something happened.
She sighed and considered just stunning it and telling Hagrid it had already done it's attacking, but then what would they do for the next few hours? She looked around at the obviously not-enthused Slytherins who were walking away from the Demons and gathering under a large tree for some shade. Most of the Demons stayed put. However one did not.
One beady-eyed boy had just turned his back on his Pogrebin and was about to join the others across the grass under the shade when the Pogrebin suddenly decide it would show some spirit. It pounced on his back and snarled as it tried to take a bite out of the boys shoulder. The boy screamed and fell thrashing with it to the ground. The rest of the students witnessed this and jumped to their feet in place.
Georgie dashed over to a few feet behind the struggling pair. Where's Hagrid? She thought acidly. She put her wand to the back of the creature's shiny head, but just then it lashed out at her arm with it's claws, before turning back to the boy. With renewed intensity she huffed, "Stupefy!" It flew away and landed like dead weight. She offered the boy a hand up with a deep sigh, and seeing his look, apologized quickly that she hadn't meant that for him.
He seemed alright, though he took off for the Hospital Wing just in case. She suggested that the dozen or so students huddled by the tree should head back around carefully to where Hagrid could keep an eye on them. Surprisingly they followed her instruction. Ha! She thought, they listened to me! Funny. Maybe I'm all looking responsible and large-and-in-charge and all, she puffed up.
Grabbing the Pogrebin by the scruff of it's neck she grabbed the little guy and dragged him back around to the front of the cabin and leaned it up outside against his cage. She glanced around the yard and by the looks of most of the Pogrebin's, the students had just knocked them out, not bothering to do the freezing charms. Quick learners, she assessed approvingly. Hagrid was sending off two girls in the direction of the castle. He hopped over to where she was standing and explained, "'Appens every single class. Don't worry 'bout it." Oh, but she did worry about it.
But she had to admit, it was a very practical lesson. Something she wasn't used to and was surprised she'd performed so well. Well, a few cuts and bruises weren't so bad. Thank goodness she only had this class once a week, sighing a breath of relief. Hagrid let the class go early to whoops and hollering of the students who scattered in all directions, and promised to chat with her at dinner.
Georgie walked solo back down to the dungeons. Snape was in there with his feet up and a stack of parchments in his lap. He looked up, "You're back early."
"Hiya. Yep, Hagrid's class is in shambles. How did your classes go?" She walked over to her room, threw open the door and flung her outer cloak on her bed, before returning
He stared at her and didn't answer for awhile. "Just not used to hearing that question. The students are impossible. The ones that had a firm grasp last year, have lost it all to a summer of idleness. Half of them don't know which animal a Jobberknoll's feather comes from." She laughed at this. "And Potter..." She tried to suppress a grin at that. She'd know he was in Snape's first class, and she wanted to hear what'd happened.
"Same as always--same as his father. Cocky, too--sure of himself, above the rules, holding twittering conversations in the back. I wish I could slap him some days. Get him to wake up." She wanted to bust up inside, but restrained herself out of respect for Snape's feelings, as he still hadn't gotten used to laughing at himself.
He turned his observant eye on Georgie who was mirthfully watching him from her couch, feet up. "What went wrong at Hagrid's? Though it doesn't surprise me in the least."
"Pogrebin's were supposed to follow us about. Turned a bit nasty. Got to break up an attack though," she said cheerfully. To herself, she mumbled and held her arm out from her side, "Ow, but my arm's a bit stiff..." Then shaking it off went to grab her Divination book and returned.
"Georgie? May I see your arm?"
"Huh?" She looked up in alarm as she returned. "Nah, it's fine. Man, you've got good ears." She tried to laugh, as she hadn't realized she'd even spoken aloud.
He got to his feet and approached her. "Snape really! I'm fine, I was just complaining. I complain, okay? Just sore--that's all. Sorry."
He remained obstinate, "Let me see it then."
"Damnit," she muttered under he breath, as Snape knelt in front of her and began to role up her sleeves. "It's nothing really..." But she broke off when she saw her arm. There was a deep gash running a few inches down the outside, it was bloodied and sticky. Her face twisted into a mask of disgust and shock. "Oh my gawd..." She whispered.
Snape lifted her to her feet by her other arm, as she kept looking down at it. "Pomfrey can fix that up in a few minutes. It's no big deal at all really." She only half listened but kept staring intently at her angry red wound as he dragged her down the hallway. On arriving at the Hospital Wing she felt herself being pushed to sit down on the edge of a bed.
She watched as Pomfrey poured some burning liquid onto the gash, exciting a list of expletives the poor old lady had never heard the likes of. She had snapped out of her shock enough to see Snape embarrassingly holding his head in his hands. She then did something with her wand to close the gapping laceration, then plastered on some paste that felt warm, Georgie noticed with a smile. A minute later with a bandage encircling her entire upper arm, Pomfrey pushed both her and the waiting Potions Professor out of her Hospital declaring that everything'd be as good as new by tomorrow.
"Holy crap," She muttered under her breath, shaking her head unbelievingly. "I didn't even realize I had it..." She felt numb from the neck on up. She looked sideways at Snape who was looking seriously straight ahead as he gripped her elbow tightly and led her down stairs once more.
She narrowed her eyes, "How did you know?"
He smiled a little at the corners of his mouth. "I have never heard you complain about anything pertaining to you and your comfort before--remember, you'll even swim in the lake. If it were enough for you to say something, I recognized it must be something bad indeed."
"Oh," She stepped into the lounge after him, considering something.
She sat back down and put her feet up and he on his couch did the same and picked up his stack of parchment as if nothing had happened. "I was right in saying it would only take a few minutes."
"Severus?" Georgie started lowly.
"What is it?" He didn't look up from his work.
"Thank you for listening to me babble." She meant more than that, but hoped he'd get her gist.
"I don't see how I could avoid it." He monotonely teased, as she picked up her schoolbook once more.
At the dinner table Georgie joked with Hagrid and didn't let on about her accident happening in his class--he'd only feel bad about it. Snape kept staring daggers down to their end of the table, at Hagrid directly, but Georgie knew the two men were friends and she intercepted a lot of the looks and shot back a few of her own for good measure. She contemplated loading up her spoon with greens as a sort of catapult-surprise for Snape.
Georgie looked out into the Great Hall and got a dreamy sort of look in her eyes. She was spying so many pale-cheeked, dainty girls, with beautiful big blue eyes, and delicate smiles and perfect manners--like china dolls, she likened. She turned her open stare now on the High Table. Minerva was quite beautiful, but she hid it like it were a burden. Possessing almost a transparent skin and a pouting mouth.
Sinistra looked like a gypsy--which, she might actually be. Georgie never paid much attention to her, because she was snobbish at times, and it got under her skin. Most everyone ignored her when she came to think of it.... But she was still pretty. She had a pert nose, curled-under shoulder-length hair and wore outlandish robes with heaps of jewelry.
Sprout, Georgie believed, must've been pretty too, but she was old and graying now. She had a warm face and a broad smile, and crow's-feet dotted the outside of her eyes. But if she wasn't gorgeous now, at least she was the most fun and jolly Professor, which more than made up for that other stuff.
Georgie frowned and turned on Snape, narrowing her eyes slowly. Hmm, she was getting an idea. Snape didn't think anyone could love him, so what he needed was a boost of self-esteem from the female direction. She bit her lip and continued to stare ugly holes into the back of Snape's head as she worked out that no female here-young or old--would fit Snape's bill. She would have to play Matchmaker--but albeit so covertly that he wouldn't suspect her of a thing. Otherwise she'd be toast; she grinned at the thought.
She continued staring at him and drumming her fingers into the table as she spun her spoon in her pudding. She was woken from this action by Snape's starring back at her and mouthing "What?" He looked angry.
Well duh, she was glaring at him for ten minutes for nothing. Quickly, she tried to act confused as she glanced left, and right, as if shaking herself from a stare off into space. She then turned back and shrugged, "Sorry" she mouthed, and at that he turned from her.
She'd have to search out side of Hogwarts. Hogsmeade? Nah, only Rosmerta, and Rosmerta was too much woman for Snape, she laughed as a picture came to her mind.
The next day she had Transfiguration with Minerva first thing in the morning, this was the class she'd been waiting for. She got to be a Teaching Assistant to a class of advanced students. She wasn't as thrilled at the actual prospect of teaching--as Minerva was to handle that, but rather at doing some hands-on instructions when the class would break into smaller groups to practice. And the class was of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors--two houses she hardly ever came in contact with.
The morning started out perfectly. She stood a bit uneasily to the side as Minerva 'talked-shop', just as Minerva had explained she would earlier. But she grinned easily as she knew that these were harmless--though sometimes bumbling--students. Well, compared to her Slytherins, she puffed up proudly. They could be truly terrible, but in a few of them--especially in the twins--they seemed to be acting out against serious neglect from 'Dear old Mum and Dad.' They wanted attention and to feel their own self worth, so in a way Georgie was glad to hear about her house's antics and accomplishments. Sure it was pouring rose water on a cancer, but at least they weren't sitting alone in their rooms, pouring over parchments, mumbling to themselves as they set up devious schemes for mass murder...
...Like Snape happened to be when she returned to the dungeons after her class. She stood hovering in the doorway as she beheld him bent over parchment mumbling to himself. She cleared her throat loudly, and he glanced up.
"Murdering people today?"
"Noooo...Not today. Why?" His eyes glinted.
"No real reason," she parried as she flopped down on her couch.
"With you, there's always a reason." He spoke like he didn't trust her. Georgie sighed and rolled her eyes.
"I had a vision-Not like Trewlaney!" She exclaimed on seeing his face. "I had an idea of some student bent over parchments all alone in their rooms, mumbling to themselves and plotting murder. I just came in and freaked a lil' bit, but no harm done."
"I do not mumble to myself." Snape insisted evenly.
"But you just did!"
"I did nothing of the sort."
"Yeah, like you don't snore like you're sawing-logs," Georgie teased. Actually he snored only lightly and when he was exhausted, but how would he ever find out?
"I can hear your snores through the walls," Snape complained.
"Why do you listen at walls, you freaky-creepy!?" Georgie laughed at herself for that silly name.
Snape frowned hard at her then tossed the top piece of parchment over onto the couch cushions next to her. She picked it up and read "I think that the best way to make a really good Draught of the Living Death would be wait until the person is asleep then get some stuff like, maybe cabbage and wormwood and toenails, maybe some other stuff too..."
She looked up at him, "Oh my gosh that's terrible, he spelled almost all of the words wrong too. How sad....And utterly, ridiculously hilarious!" She yuck-yucked, then tossed the paper back to Snape.
"Sometimes I really understand how you feel about teaching them, that was soooo bad! I'd have gone mad if I had to deal with idiots like that. It's beyond bad; it's actually dangerous. Yes, I think I can understand how you act the way you do."
"How kind of you to try and understand me and my motives," he drawled, his voice tinged coldness.
"Snape, I didn't mean anything by that. I meant that before--when I never had proof of the students' ineptness. Now I'll see it every single damn day...."
She stopped then caught his eye before continuing. "You know how when I first met you, ya thought I'd be an idiot or a freak of nature just because I was from The Institute?"
"Yes, and you haven't let me down."
"Shut-up. Anyway, I think I was infinitely more prepared at that age then the majority of students here at Hogwarts." She expected Snape to jump down her throat, and defend the honor of the school.
"I think that perhaps you are a special case and shouldn't be used in a comparison. I think you also miss the greater picture. Former Gryffindors, besides being headstrong and impulsive to a fault, are known for cool heads in the real world when dealing with Hexes, Charms and Transfigurations. Hufflepuffs for dealings with Magical creatures and Mediwizardry. Ravenclaw--pretty much anything that can be found in a book," He muttered dryly. "And you can probably guess who knows the most about the practical uses of Defense against the Dark Arts, as well as the instigation of these same arts." He looked tired at those words.
"It's a well-rounded education, but for some reason students here seem to only take to a couple of areas--if that. Perhaps prejudices based on House-placement or family preferences, who knows. They choose to excel where they see fit to.... Such a waste." Snape snatched up his quill.
Georgie had a free afternoon, so she'd set up to meet with Naimh and Siobhan after lunch by the lake. It was a sunny day, but a bit windy, so Georgie stopped by her room to grab a cloak after the lunch meal.
She walked outside and shielded her eyes from the warm rays of sun, she spotted the two girls sitting by the shore apparently deep in conversation--one of them making grand gestures with her hands. Georgie plopped herself down between them on the grass and they both turned to look at her.
"What's up?" She greeted. She usually waited for one of the girls to call the other by her name before she tried to guess which was which. She took off her glasses-she wore them only about half the time, though she was told to wear them constantly. Classes were all she allowed herself to be seen in them and now that classes were over, off they came.
"We were just talking about Professor Snape. He's nasty, ya know." The girl explained. Georgie just rolled her eyes like it were the most obvious sentiment in the world to loathe Snape. "He was storming around the dungeons, sneering and threatening. I mean, It was awful because he was including Slytherins! He assigned so much homework already. It was only our first class! He's obnoxious really..."
"I can always help ya guys with potions. Anytime--really." Georgie tried to console. They both calmed a little and smiled at her attempt.
"Really," The other girl began, "I've had him for years and he's been really pissy last year and now this year. I used to like potions, well at least it was tolerable when Snape favored us, but now, It's going to be pure, unadulterated hell!" She moaned as she reddened.
"It's because of You-Know-Who, you realize though. He was a Death Eater and now he's working for Hogwarts and Dumbledore--who's the biggest adversary. I'd be pissy too if I thought that the devil himself was after my skin." She rationalized in a low voice.
"Perhaps, he's just not getting laid, or something." Okay, Georgie thought--That one's Siobhan. She was a bit bawdy and vulgar, but heaps of fun. "Not like he ever did--" She asserted quickly on seeing the looks on the other girls' faces at that comment.
"Gross."
"I second that. Snape's sooo not a romantic object." Georgie mused, "He and I get along better than anyone else 'cuz we have to live and work close together, but ...he's so not a Don Juan. I couldn't even picture it--NOT that I try to!" She giggled nervously.
"I bet he was better looking when he was younger--maybe a better lad back then. Had a better hand at the ladies and friends and all..." Niamh imagined--always the dreamer. Her sister snapped her out of it by bopping her lightly on the side of her head and laughing.
"Hey, since we're talking like this," Georgie glanced around her for effect. "You can't tell a single soul about any of what I'm about to relate to you.
Siobhan put her hand to her heart, "I give you my word as an Irishwoman," she vowed solemnly and evenly.
"God, girl! If you say that she really won't be believing us!" Her sister twittered.
"Okay. I was thinking about helping Professor Snape get a date or a friend or something." The twins stared at her like she had a horrible disease.
She explained quickly. "Look, he's really an okay guy when you get to know him, deep, deep, deep....deep down." Niamh rolled her eyes at this. "He's a good friend. He's older, ya know. And Hogwarts is his life. He's kinda given up on having a woman. I reckon that if I put an ad in a paper or something and start up a correspondence, perhaps he might hook up with her."
Siobhan shook her head, "Nah, won't work. He'd never agree to meet her and most of the girls in Britain have heard about him, or had him at school. People aren't purposely looking to get punished you know."
Niamh was starting to get a look in her eye, she was thinking far-off dreamy thoughts. "What a challenge, though! Think of it: The unlovable man gets a little prodding and he blossoms under the influence of love to everything that is amiable and attractive."
Georgie and Siobhan laughed at this heartily. Niamh looked back at then and grinned embarrassedly, "What?"
Georgie chuckled, "Dear, I don't think anything could get Snape to be 'amiable.' But you're seeing my point. He deserves some happiness, and heck it might help your plight in classes if his mind is occupied by some fair dainty thing...I am doing it. He's my friend and I'm giving it a go for his sake."
Siobhan smirked, "Good. If there wasn't a self-serving reason to this, I couldn't rationalize spending time trying to help Snape the Snake's love life. Now I've got one. So what'll we do now?"
"We can try and write the ad first. Let's meet after dinner and try and brainstorm. Damn, we'll have to describe his preferences--I haven't a clue. Have you?" Georgie knew that hadn't. She couldn't just out and ask Snape wanted in a woman. Could she? She smiled broadly.
Georgie sighed, "I'll work on it. Listen, I'm excited we're gonna do this together. I'd probably make the ad something awful and not get a single taker. You guys have got to keep me grounded!" Georgie hopped to her feet. Considering for a moment, she remembered that Snape had an afternoon class, but he might be getting back anytime now.
"I'm gonna go and attack Snape for information. Wish me luck," she grimaced. Both girls held up crossed fingers to her and waved her off. If she was really going to do this she was going to have to do it now. Her stomach felt topsy-turvy-like as she crossed the grounds for the building, her fists clenched themselves nervously. Geesh, I hope I don't vomit on the floor or anything! She opened the door and went inside.
Snape pushed open the door and saw Georgie sitting with her back turned towards him on the couch. He shifted his books and papers to his other arm and shut the door quickly behind him. She followed him with her eyes not saying a word. He deposited his books on his desk in his room then returned out to the lounge.
"Why are you inside when it's such a fine day?"
"You sound like my mother--when I was eight." She sneered, whether at him or her mother he couldn't tell.
He lay back on the couch carefully, then summoned a reading book to his hand from the bookshelf. Before he could get started though, Georgie cleared her throat. Great, just great. What has she got to say now? He frowned and looked at her waiting for her to continue.
He had had a bad day--even by his standards. Several students caused accidents and explosions all throughout the day. If they would only listen to what he said--none of this would have happened. But some students felt themselves above rules and procedure. Not one of them thought of the consequences, the injuries that they could inflict on others. Sure, then they'd say that they didn't mean to--it was an accident. No, he'd snarled at the class, if it were an accident you'd not be doing it every day, in every class.
In addition he was getting worried about Voldemort's meetings with him, though he hardly liked admitting his fears to himself. Snape believed that his loyalty was being tested, that he would be found out, and ultimately fail to protect Potter. His body be damned, he had handled the Cruciatus curse before--always by Voldemort's own hand, yet still...one never gets used to something like that. But Potter was a boy, a defenseless, sniveling, and ignorant boy. He owed it to his father, and to Dumbledore to make sure Harry saw it to adulthood. Owed it even to himself, he thought at the back of his mind; he really couldn't stomach any child coming to harm. But he pushed that away from his mind. He wasn't going to go soft and he sure could have throttled several students today, he gritted his teeth.
Georgie's strong voice brought him back to the present. "Earth to Snape?" She called again.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a foolish question?" She didn't meet his eyes. Oh, this is going to be rich, he lamented.
"Hasn't stopped you before."
"What do you look for in a women?"
Snape wasn't expecting anything along those lines. He stared at her embarrassed face, blinking occasionally in the silence.
"I don't look for women." He acknowledged, which Snape thought was very truthful, and might possibly get her off the track.
"Well, if you were to look for women then." No such luck, he grunted.
Snape sat upright and cracked his long thin fingers together, then brought his fist up to his mouth. "I'm not sure I understand what you are asking." His eyes narrowed at her made her feel immediately ill at ease.
"Though whole burrito so to say. Tall, pretty, kind, blonde, likes to cook, likes to go jogging... hell I don't know. What'd be your ideal women, I guess."
"Why do you want to know?" He hissed and tensed.
"Research project." In some ways this was true. She was doing research for a sort of project.
Snape's eyes flashed as he began, "What sort of research project? And for whom?" He noticed a quill and parchment sitting in her knees that he hadn't noticed before.
Georgie knew he might ask these, so she smiled and said "Divination." She had figured that if she had tried to do a reading for Snape during the next class then she technically wouldn't be being untruthful. She just needed the true answers to compare her own results to; it looked logical from that standpoint. It was also a great answer because Snape hated Trewlany and had the least contact with her than with any other instructor. He wouldn't question it. He probably had no clue what was happening up in that tower during classes. For all he knew they all sat about, ate crayons and mooed at each other.
"Couldn't you ask someone else?" He winced. If this got out he would murder her. Murder her and strangle her and hex her....
"No, I have to get three different answers and you'd be the last one." She turned a syrupy smile on him. "Please? You'd be doing my a huge-a-mongus favor!" She burped, put her hand to her mouth mumbled cheerily, "'Scuse me."
"I don't see any real harm," He stared her down. " I really can't see what the imbecile Trewlaney would need with such information, but, well it is Sibyll..."
He sat back and looked at the door absently. He sighed, figured he might as well get it over with as fast as he could:
"Okay. Female. Smart. Good. Just . Good hygiene. Good sense of humor. Must be fond of Potions (here Georgie rolled her eyes). Capable of intelligent and serious conversation. Independent. Must NOT go jogging. Kind. Courageous. Unconventional. Forgiving. Discerning. Wicked." His voice dropped off, and Georgie continued scratching away with her quill for a few more seconds.
On finishing she looked up at him, "What do you mean wicked? You said 'good' but also 'wicked?' I don't get it." Actually she did and he thought she did also, but she just wanted to make him explain.
"By that I meant 'not too good,' someone who had the capability but wasn't. But you're right, it makes no sense, so scratch that out." He was feeling irritated. Georgie didn't scratch it out.
"But what about like physical appearance, blood lines, money, health, height...all that stuff?" She pressed.
"I don't give one whit about any of those things." Georgie looked at him; she didn't believe him.
He didn't know why he was bothering to explain anything to that girl. "Okay, fine. She has to be drop dead gorgeous. I wouldn't take anything else." He didn't elaborate though. Georgie took back up her quill and smiled to herself with a look of satisfaction. He sneered at her. If she was just going to take what she wanted to hear, this interview couldn't be getting anywhere.
"Full-blooded?" She looked up at him.
"Don't care really." He said seriously.
"What?!" Georgie howled. "But you're always pumping those bastard Slytherins full of Pure Blood shit. What the hell!" She screeched.
"Georgie, no one is pureblooded anymore. If they were they'd be insane from the interbreeding. All the oldest houses have mixes." Snape clarified. "And don't call your own house members bastards."
"Even your family?"
"Of course." He admitted, enjoying the shock on her face, and smiling slightly at it.
"Holy crap. I feel as I were just handed the moon and told that it was really the size of a peanut!"
"The truth is oftentimes more interesting than the fiction." He leaned forward and heaved a breath, "Anything else."
"Humma-humma," she pretended to mumble in shock. Looking back at him finally she threw down her quill and then proceeded to bad-mouth Trewlaney. It seemed the only logical thing to do to change the subject and get Snape's suspicious mind off the question, she grinned evilly afterwards.
Georgie thanked Snape for his help, then pointed at his book that had been set-aside on the table, "Okay, now...Fetch!" She condescended.
He stood up, "I must retrieve something from my office." She sniffed at the word 'retrieve.'
"Would you like me to bring anything back for you? Nightshade goes wonderfully with Diet Coke, I've heard..." His eyes danced tauntingly at her, before sweeping back to his classroom.
Later in the library Madam Pince kept glancing up to the three heads huddled together in the corner table beneath the darkened windows. She'd reminded them twice already to keep their voices, or rather laughter, to a minimum. But she hadn't the heart to do it again. The girls were with the new student Georgie and it went against the grain to tell another adult to keep quiet. She grabbed a stack of books that needed reshelving and walked off, pretending she didn't hear.
"Okay, How about this?" Siobhan cleared her throat and looked at the other two girls to see if she had their complete attention. She began, "Single white male searching for Miss Right. Must be intelligent, kind and understanding. Also just and discerning. Appearance not important. A companion to a man too long occupied by career and duty." Niamh gagged, so Siobhan stopped and shot her a look. "A friendship first then we can see what happens next, please reply if you think you're the one for this mysterious, lonely, solitary man, drop an owl and we'll see if we can make magic together. Signed: PotionLuvR."
"Bloody hell that's awful. Only boring girls will write him, or the hopelessly desperate ones." Siobhan throw the much scratched-out and edited advertisement on the table between them.
"Georgie, I really don't see how you can get away with this," Niamh fidgeted uneasily. "I mean if he gets responses back, and girls'd want to meet him... He's going to skin you alive and run you up a pole."
"Well, I plan on just picking a few of them out and then explaining that these are friends of friends..." The twins looked at her disapprovingly.
"I know, "Georgie admitted. "It's a rash and stupid plan. But I figure if this works out he'll thank me. If not, the most he can legally do is declare war on me for a few weeks. At least I'd have tried to help the overgrown bat out...Don't worry about me girls, I'm going into this with both eyes open, and damn the consequences." She sounded stronger than she felt. She was starting to get cold feet about actually sending it in to the Daily Prophet.
What if no one answered? Well that'd be a bit of a relief actually, and Snape wouldn't be the wiser to it. If she got back heaps of replies, then there might be some trouble. She figured she could tell the ladies that she was his best friend and doing it on his behalf, but she still would have no idea how to get them together....
The twins and her gabbed for an hour more, about Siobhan's crush in Hufflepuff--"Honestly, Siobhan, you'll crush on any boy who'll smile at ya and give ya the time of day!" Her sister lamented.
They giggled when Georgie admitted she found the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor quite fetching, in a mysterious sort of way. Both the other girls agreed on that and they gossiped about what his mysterious secret could be. Georgie of course knew, but didn't dare tell, even though most of the students remembered what it had been a couple of years ago, she just didn't feel it'd help Lupin out if she reminded everyone. Niamh was sure, he had a tragic lost-love sort of a history, but Siobhan was positive it was a darker one. "Perhaps he was a Death Eater, like Snape." She ventured.
"Nah, couldn't see him doing something like that. He's too reclusive and independent to join a group of raving lunatics traipsing about the countryside in matching outfits." Georgie laughed at her own picture.
"You know what I want?" Georgie gazed out the blackened window and pursed her lips in thought.
"What?" the girls both asked in unison.
"A harmonica." Then she looked at them and grinned happily. She'd been joking, but she wasn't going to let them know that. With that she stood up and stretched her arms above her head in a tall stretch. Grabbing up the parchment and her quill, "Man, I gotta run. I'll see you both tomorrow. I'm going to the owlery to get this off tonight." Before I change my mind.
She waved at the two girls, Siobhan still looking confused at the harmonica bit....