Random Stupidity

by Ethra Esme

A/N: I guess, the reason why this got so...angsty, is I wondered exactly how Snape and I would get along.

Not very well, apparently.

Chapter Three

The Weird Angst Begins

That, and I wrote this very early in the morning.

In later chapters, I shall simply disregard any ounce of canon standing between Snape and my romance. Heh heh heh.

Ethra arrived in the potions classroom fifteen minutes early. Snape was disposing of some potions from the earlier class. He looked up as she entered the room. And then glared.

"Look, about last night. I'm sorry about how disrespectful I was, Professor."

Snape raised his eyebrows briefly and muttered, "Well, I hope so."

"I really admire you."

He continued to look at her in confusion.

"I mean, how curmudeonely and intelligent you are-"

"That's enough, Miss Esme."

"And you're so grumpy and hate people-"

"I don't hate people."

"And your nose..."

"What about my nose, Miss Esme?" He asked dangerously, standing up slowly. "Do you find it amusing?"

"Amusing? No-"

"Or grotesque? Go on, Esme, try me. I've heard it all."

"No it's not that...it's just..." She shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, nevermind, you'll just think I'm being sarcastic."

She turned to sit down and before he could say anything the room began to fill with Slytherins and Gryffindors.

It surprised Ethra how weird it was to actually be in the Harry Potter world. As she tried to sleep last night, it had sunk in that this wasn't just a fantasy- it was reality, for however long that may be. The people she would be dealing with were real for now.

She was sitting in the back, and to none of her surprise at all, no one came to sit next to her. She looked over at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. 'Hm.' She thought. 'I'm surprised Snape let Harry into his N.E.W.T. class, especially after the Pensieve incident.'

Snape began to give instructions, writing ingredients on the board. It was an exceptionally difficult potion, but Ethra knew she could manage alright. She thought back and could remember her whole stay at Hogwarts up until then. It was exactly as her real-life school had been. Basically, she was a good student who only got bad grades for rarely doing her homework. She was friendly but introverted, and was basically a no-one in a large school.

She thought back to her relationship with Snape, and realised she had never really spoken to him, had gotten in trouble with him a couple times, and basically admired him from afar. She had never gotten detention with him.

In her reverie, she misjudged the measurement of Wormwood Essence and her potion turned a bright orange colour, and emitted an acrid smelling purple smoke.

"Hell." She muttered. She looked up and saw Snape quietly harassing Harry over his potion, which had turned almost the same colour as hers but still looked better. He swept his wand over the cauldron and Harry grew red, so Ethra assumed that Snape had cleaned out the cauldron. Her heart began to race as Snape's gaze turned to her. She felt her face grow hot as he sauntered toward her. He smiled grimly.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Maybe you should spend some time studying your potions and not my face?"

She glared at him.

"You find me fascinating, right? I'm sorry my beauty distracts you so, Miss Esme."

She heard some of the Gryffindors giggling, and the Slytherins were outright laughing at her. She glanced over at Harry, who was looking at her with a mixture of digust and pity.

Ethra narrowed her eyes and looked back at Snape, whose eyes were wide and lips were curled into a cold grin.

"I'm sorry Miss Esme, but I'm a bit out of your caliber, don't you think?"

"I don't need this." She said quietly.

"Excuse me, Esme?"

"I can't believe I ever liked you. I always thought you were antisocial, maybe a little mean, but I didn't think you'd be so cruel." She looked up at him, her eyes watering slightly. 'Oh my god', she thought, 'Now I remember why I hated high school.'

Although many Slytherins were still sniggering, the Gryffindors had gone silent. They all looked at her with pity.

Snape's grin had frozen on his face, and there was a clear battle going on behind his beetle-black eyes.

Ethra cleared her cauldron and grabbed her bag, beginning to feel enraged. 'How dare he try to make a fool of me? That's just ridiculous. Bloody story book character.'

She stood up and brushed past Snape, coming as close to him as possible so he would have to step aside.

"Where are you going Esme?" He asked, sounding actually confused.

"Wherever I want to." She said flatly. "Fail me. See if I care."

She walked toward the dungeon door and put her hand on the doorknob.

"I forbid you to leave this classroom." Snape said, his voice strangely high-pitched.

She turned around and glared, her eyes bloodshot and her nose bright red, as it always turned when she was upset.

"What are you gonna do? Avada Kedavra me?"

The class murmed quietly.

Snape seemed to feel better now that Ethra had risen. He smiled again. "Who says I wouldn't."

"Fuck you." She said and swept out the door. 'Nice comeback.' She thought to herself sarcastically. She wondered for a second whether or not he would follow, and broke into a run for the stairs. She didn't hear the door open behind her as she burst out crying.