When writing the characters, I tried
to exaggerate one characteristic of that person. Take Remus. In the books,
he isn't always as happy and sunny-minded as he is portrayed here. I just
took that one feature for this story. And I also see McGonagall as one
who's really strict, and eager to learn. Now, I know perfectly well that
eagerness is different from curiosity, but I decided to give her that role
anyway.
That's just for the side-characters.
If you think Severus and Hermione are terribly OCC, please flame me =D
The Perfectionist
By Mykerinos
Chapter Five: Why, thank you!
Hermione knocked on the door of Professor
Snape's office at 5 pm. At first there was no response, but when she knocked
again and was about to leave, the door opened to reveal an angry Snape.
"Where were you at 4 am, girl?" he
growled dangerously. "I've waited half an hour for you in the rain, for
heaven's sake!"
"4 am?!" Hermione squealed,
surprised at this sudden explosion. "Couldn't you at least have told me
it was am you meant? I had to skip Herbology to find a field that
was already being used by Quidditch teams! I just got back from it!"
Snape crossed his arms and snorted.
"Don't you have any brains? Does it make sense to you I'd have us
practicing at a time we both are supposed to follow lessons?"
Hermione just scowled. Of course
that made sense. She wouldn't be surprised if he told her to leave school
and go to the other side of the world to get something he wanted. "Does
it make sense to practice at a time we should all be asleep?" she retorted.
"Very much," Snape crossed his arms.
"At 4 am, the field is never unavailable. And at 4 am, like you said, everybody
is supposed to be asleep. Nobody can see us practice,"
Hermione kept silent. She had to
admit he was right in some way. But still... He couldn't blame her
for not showing up, either!
Snape scowled. "Well then, see you
at the Quidditch field at 4 am this night. If you are planning to
show up,"
He stepped back and closed the door.
Hermione put her hand on it just in time, and Snape looked up, disturbed.
"Professor, could you perhaps write
a note to professor Sprout to tell her the reason of my non-attendance?"
Hermione asked carefully.
Snape rolled his eyes and snorted.
"I think not," he said, and closed the door. Hermione stared at it for
a few seconds, then shrugged. "Fine," she muttered as she turned around
and started walking back to the common room.
- -- - -- - -- -
"He did not!" Sprout exclaimed in
total astonishment. "But how-"
Minerva waved her hand to keep her
colleagues that had gathered around her silent. "There's more!" she cried.
"He even told her-" She shut up abruptly as Severus entered the room.
He stood still and squeezed his eyes
suspiciously at the group. Slowly everybody started to take steps back,
revealing Minerva. "Good afternoon, Severus" she said, her face unreadable.
"Good afternoon, Minerva," Severus
replied icily, his gaze still fixed upon her. They stared at each other
for some time, both not saying a thing, silently observing, and the rest
of the staff hold their breaths.
Then the door swung open again, and
Remus came walking in. "Hello, everybody!" he smiled cheerfully, and Minerva
and Severus both snapped their heads up at the same time. "Having quite
some fun here, I see! Mind if I join the conversation?" he beamed.
Severus glared, and took his seat
in the corner, ignoring Remus. Unfortunately the other man grabbed a chair,
placed it next to Severus, and sat down there.
"So, how are you doing, Severus?"
Remus asked.
Severus glared.
"I heard lots of students have signed
up for the contest already! Parvati Patil, Alicia Spinnet, Zabini Blaise,
the Weasley twins--"
Severus glared.
"--even Draco Malfoy! Or what about
Harry Potter? I'm afraid you and Hermione will get a lot of competition,
Severus!" Remus continued.
Severus glared, until Remus finally
kept silent. Harry Potter. Ha! He couldn't allow himself to lose
from that boy. Or any student, for that matter.
TBC