Snape was one of the first to show up for breakfast the next morning.
A sardonic glare at each and everyone who approached the staff table was sufficient enough to save him from the bother of having to say good bloody morning to everyone. And where was Dumbledore to start the breakfast?
He was getting hungry. The curious looks cast at him by a few early colleagues didn't improve things, he didn't care that even they noticed his particularly vile mood, they should mind their own bloody business. Why he was so angry? Because of Lierin... Lierin, Lierin, Lierin and bloody Remus... And McGonagall and Dumbledore and ALL of those pesky students. And it was his job to fill the thick empty skulls of those dunderheads with some useful information. And that didn't include anything that had to do with Quidditch. But, he had to admit, he was the most angry with Lierin. Or Professor Heartilly as Dumbledore insisted he'd call her. Hah! He'd be damned before he'd call her that!
What had got into him to tell her about Serena Romero was beyond him.
He wasn't his usual self lately and it was all because of her! Since she had arrived to teach at Hogwarts, his world had been flipped upside down.
First she had got a bunch of dementors on her back and in return for saving her miserable life she just had to mess up his Veritaserum. Of course he'd rather die before he'd tell anyone about the effects of the potion. He would be the only person to ever know, that Lierin had managed to alter his Veritaserum into some kind of mind-expanding drug. He had been more aware of his surroundings than he had ever been and in that state he hadn't been able to conclude his lesson. Infuriated, he had run off to confront Lierin about it and turbulent emotions had collided into a passionate confrontation that afternoon. But, of course, that wasn't enough for her. No, once she had decided to be a nuisance, she went all the way. He remembered that well from the days she was in his class. Since her arrival, he suddenly found himself in a roller coaster of emotion. One day he hated her, the next he felt very gracious towards her and the next day after that... he didn't even dare to trespass that field of emotional riot. He did know that at the moment he felt less than charitable towards her. He wouldn't let the fact that she had caught him with his guard down a couple of times bother him; it didn't mean he had changed. He was still Severus Snape, Potion Master supreme, the untouchable one. Determined not to let her get to him, Snape sat up straight in his chair and used his nastiest of glares just to convince everyone that he was still the same, that he hadn't changed a bit, even though he had acted a little out of character lately.
"Good morning Severus, Filius, Minerva. I trust you all slept well?" sounded the cheerful voice of Lierin.
Severus couldn't help but notice the funny jolt of pleasure in his stomach and that angered him even further.
"Wonderful! Don't I feel like bloody Tantalus this morning!"
Surprised, Lierin wheeled around to face Severus, as she had passed him to reach her seat next to him. She eyed him curiously and wondered what had got into him to cause this sudden burst of anger. After last night, she had truly believed they had moved on to a safer spot, that they had moved along to the line of civil politeness and past the line of childish remarks and sarcastic behaviour.
"Come again?"
"Tantalus, Miss Heartilly. I trust that even you are familiar with this Muggle myth. Especially considering your field of expertise."
"Well yes, of course. But what does that myth have to do with me?"
Severus covered his face with his hand and he thoroughly wished he hadn't mentioned the subject. He had hoped for a quick attack and swift victory.
He certainly didn't feel inclined to explain his verbal attack with colourful words and he wished he could just drop the subject. Unfortunately, Lierin didn't share his sentiment, as she was obviously still waiting for an answer. He sighed, deeply annoyed.
"Because, Miss Heartilly, every time I think... hope that I'm able to reach my goal, which is peace and tranquillity in my life, you come swirling in like the proverbial wind and you sweep away the branches with fruit and you cause the water the seep away before I'm able to taste it's refreshing qualities."
Silence.
Lierin thought of a way to strike back and suddenly it hit her and she had a hard time to refrain herself from laughing. "Thank you Severus, for that very... colourful assessment. I'm pleased to know that I have such a large impact on your view of life, though it grieves me to know that my impact on you causes you so much distress. Please forgive me and accept my most sincere apologies. But in my defence, I must say that causing you any distress whatsoever never lay in my intentions."
Every teacher in the Great Hall had stopped talking and they were all now looking at Severus, their mouths twisted in silent laughter as they witnessed how Severus Snape was put in his place by their youngest colleague. Every word of her 'apology' had dripped with sharp-edged sarcasm, shifting it into anything but an apology and now they were all waiting for Snape's reaction. Was he going to accept this? Was he really going to sit down and chew on this insult? But what else was there left for him to do? Of course, no one had counted on Snape's cunning mind and though this time he couldn't see a way to strike back, there was a way he could diminish his humiliation and her triumph, by nor accepting, nor declining her disguised insult.
"Apology noted, now sit down and continue your breakfast." he hissed.
"Ah, but I haven't even started breakfast. Dumbledore isn't here yet, as you can see." retorted Lierin.
"Where is that man for Merlin's sake!"
Lierin sat down obediently while she winked at her colleagues. Silently she formed the words, "Barking dogs don't bite," but of course, Snape noticed.
"Be careful Miss Heartilly, for my bark may prove to be much worse than my bite," Snape purred using his silkiest of voices.
Right at that moment Lierin considered the fact for the first time, that something might be seriously wrong with her, because if she had to be honest, she loved it when Snape used that special voice with her. She would have loved to think some more about this exciting subject, but the entrance of Dumbledore prohibited any further speculations about 'the silkiest of all voices.'
After McGonagall opened the doors of the Great Hall for the students, breakfast was ready to begin. Once again the sound of clattering silverware filled the room. A few groggy students looked less than enthusiastic to commence their classes while others, like Miss Granger, were devouring breakfast while leafing through their study books as 'mental coaching' before class. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were two great examples of 'groggy students' who were less than thrilled for their upcoming lessons. One of those reasons happened to be, that their first lesson was taught by none other than the feared and hated Professor Snape.
They had Potions with Slytherin, just to make things worse.
After eating two slices of toast and a large goblet with chocolate milk and creme, Lierin cast a longing glance in the direction of Remus. She so wanted to talk with him but she knew his first class were the second year Ravenclaw and Gryffindor students. Remus sensed that she was looking at him so he turned his head sideways and gave her an understanding smile. As he looked more closely at her, his eyes started to twinkle and he pointed his index finger to a spot right below his small but painfully straight nose. Lierin wiped her mouth with the back of her right hand and noticed the residue of the chocolate milk. She looked up at him and smirked, right about the same time that Dumbledore ended breakfast.
The students either quietly walked or rushed out of the Great Hall, leaving the teachers behind, who stood up in a more distinguished manner to trade the warm cosiness of the Great Hall for their strictly run classrooms. Lierin quickly caught up with Remus to escort him to his classroom and after he closed the door to his class, Lierin found herself alone in the now abandoned hallways. She knew very well that she should return to her own class. Even though at the moment she didn't have to teach, she could always read through her schedule again and make sure everything was in order for her class. With a deep sigh she turned around and after a longing glance in the direction of the library, Lierin continued down the hall in the direction of her classroom. Serena Romero had to wait for a little while longer.