Author: OBseSs3D
Title: Slytherins in Gryffindor
Chapter Four: Very Convincing
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I only own Mary, Julie and anyone else who isn't in any of the books. Everyone who is in them belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Please review and critic as much as you want. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, not that compliments aren't. They are. ]
Whew! Almost didn't finish this chapter today but here it is. I'm not so sure about this chapter..so tell me what you thought of it.
"Longbottom!! If I may have a word with you," Professor Snape snapped. He turned away from the doorway and walked swiftly over to his desk, his long black robe brushing against the floor.
Neville froze when he heard his name. He reluctantly turned around and marched himself up to Snape's desk.
"Sir?" he said timidly.
"Speak up! What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?!" Snape sneered.
"NO, sir," Neville said trembling, as he stood up straight.
Snape inspected him and after a pause said, "If I had my way, you wouldn't even be in this school right now. So I suggest you make sure your brain functions before you even step inside this classroom. Do you understand?!!"
"Yessir," Neville said, his voice barely audibly above the snickers of people who had gathered to watch.
"I will tolerate it no longer," Snape barked. "10 points from Gryffindor for making me waste my valuable time in order to give you this lecture." When Neville stood there still, "What are you still doing here? Don't you have a class to go to? You're dismissed, now move it before I deduct more points from Gryffindor on your behalf!!" With that, he glided away into the hall, his robes swishing behind him.
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'Good grief. What does Dumbledore see in that dimwitted boy?! He must be getting senile; he's blind enough that he can't even see that that Longbottom will never amount to much. Hmpf.'
Snape entered the library and promptly went to the very back, which was extremely dusty due to the fact that any student not yet a fifth year was forbidden there. The shelves were full of books containing dangerous information about the Dark Arts. He squinted at the titles on the worn spines of the books. When he reached the end of the shelf, a pale hand darted out and grabbed him by his collar and pulled him into the shadow. Snape jerked away from the person who had grabbed him and turned around to face him or her. As a pale, pointed face and a pair of cold, gray eyes came into view, Snape recognized them to belong to—
"Lucius!!" he hissed. "What are you doing here?!!"
"Hello, Severus. How pleasant it is to see you, too."
"You didn't answer my question, Lucius."
Lucius, Draco's 'beloved' father, adjusted his robe, giving the pretense that he wasn't paying any attention.
Snape waited. When Lucius made no attempt to break the silence between them, he said impatiently, "If you've no business with me, then I must be going." He turned away and—
"Severus."
When Snape didn't walk away, he continued, "I have some private matters to discuss with you."
Snape waited for him to continue. When he didn't, he turned around, "Well?"
Lucius looked at him with incredulity, "Surely, there's somewhere where we can talk undisturbed."
"If whatever it is that you need to say to me cannot be said out here, "he spread his hands out on either side of him, indicating the deserted area, "then you need not say it at all."
Lucius threw his hands up, "Fine, Severus, if we must."
Snape replied coldly, "Call me Snape."
"Why the icy manner?"
"I have no other manner reserved for you, Lucius. Now if you would please hurry up, I have to prepare for my next class."
"Fine, I'll get straight to the point. Every year, Gryffindor wins the House Cup. But this year, Slytherin will win." He pounded his right fist into his left palm.
"And what does that have to do with me?" Snape asked, although he did have a vague idea of what Lucius had in mind.
"See, that's just it. You're very involved. We need someone educated in potions and who better than the Potions professor, my friend Severus Snape. So how about it?"
Snape glared at him. "No."
"Oh, why not?"
"Why should I? One, I am a professor. Two, I AM A PROFESSOR. Three, I have no reason to listen to any of your ramble."
Lucius's dancing eyes quickly turned cold. "You should think about it, Severus. Or have you forgotten that I know of your failed plan to kill Mr. Harry Potter," he spat, "during his first year at Hogwarts?"
Snape eyed him coldly, "Dumbledore knows that I've changed."
"Oh? But what about the Council? Cornelius Fudge? Bartemius Crouch?"
Snape was silent.
"Your part in this would only to be provide my son, Draco, and his 'cronies' with the spell and its ingredients that he requires."
Snape's silent agreement was enough for him. He turned away and vanished into the shadow of the dimly lit library.
Please review--Pretty please with a cherry on top.