Severus sighed he was on the airplane home, thank God. He had forgotten about Jaci, for now, he had been gone from Texas for about a week now, he had to close other deals Voldemort wanted in other states. He was also too busy thinking about when he was going to talk to Voldemort about the deals he had closed and how classes were starting tomorrow and he had to get a few things ready. He sat back, rubbing his temple with both index fingers.
They landed soon and as he stepped out he gasped. It was freezing cold! He wrapped his coat tighter around him, cursing damn America for being so hot, then he thought of Jaci, and he stopped in his tracks, Jaci. Whatever happened to her? He growled and shook his head. He should have gone back, he should have gone back and seen her. He had the right mind to go back right now and see her, but a stinging pain in his left arm stopped him, Voldemort was calling. He quickly ran to the nearest bathroom, ran into a stall and disapperated.
Albus Dumbledore looked up and smiled as his friend walked into his office, he hadn't looked the least bit shocked at Severus' tan. He raised his hand, offering a chair, which Severus nearly collapsed in.
"Traveling has done you some good Severus," Dumbledore said, grinning. Severus tried his hardest not to glare at him, but it was impossible. Dumbledore laughed. "Well my friend, how are you feeling and how did you do?" Dumbledore's face turned serious as Severus began explaining Voldemort's plans and what he was expected of doing in the next four weeks. Dumbledore sighed when Severus was finished.
"All right Severus, you may go, we'll discuss this later." Severus nodded, but he didn't get up to go, not yet. He sat there for a few minutes, he spaced out. "Severus?"
Snape's head shot up, his confused black eyes met with Albus' concerned blue ones. The old man spoke without words and Severus knew. He sighed. He stood.
"Nothing Headmaster, I will see you at dinner," Severus' hand was on the doorknob when he heard Dumbledore speak.
"You know, you look healthier with your skin darker," Dumbledore snickered. Severus turned and glared at him. Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders, smiling. Severus walked out, hearing the old man shake with laughter.
Severus stalked into the Great Hall for dinner that evening, he hadn't seen anyone all day, he hadn't wanted to, he would get too annoyed, but right now he longed to see other faces. He walked in and heard several people muffle a gasp. He growled. So he had gotten a tan! What was so bloody surprising about it? He growled. He Severus Snape, had gotten a tan. He sighed, Jaci, he was always thinking about Jaci now, everything he looked at reminded him of her.
McGonagall looked at Professor Dumbledore with concern in her eyes. She was shocked when she saw Snape, but the look in his eyes, the way that he had stopped glaring at people, he wasn't talking at all, normally he spoke with most of the teachers, he wouldn't say a word. When he finished eating he walked quietly and slowly out of the Great Hall.
"What's going on Albus?" she asked him. Dumbledore sighed.
"I don't know Minerva, but the problem should show itself soon."
Severus looked up as he heard many footsteps entering the castle, he sighed. He wasn't going to the feast tonight, he couldn't. He had to finish the lesson plans he was supposed to have given Dumbledore about a month ago, but he was out, so he had to do them now, he had to get ingredients, stock up his lab, make sure he had enough of everything for at least half of the year. He growled as his stomach groaned from the lack of food. He shook his head, no. He would have something here and get back to work, but first.
He put the finishing touches on the owl he was sending to Jaci; he was apologizing for leaving so quickly, for not checking up on her. When he was done, he sent off his black owl and then went to the kitchens and got the elves to give him some food. He went back to his quarters and finished getting ready.
Severus growled, he overslept! How in the world had he done that? He was the kind that could look at the time and mentally tell himself when he was going to wake up, and it always worked, until today. Classes had begun five minutes again and he growled when he looked at his schedules and seen that they had switched his classes, he was going to have the 6th year Gryffindors and Slytherins that day.
Just what he needed, the annoying brat, Harry Potter and his two followers Weasley and Granger. He growled as he walked down the empty corridors to the dungeons. He threw open the door and was greeted with gasps of surprise. He mentally rolled his eyes.
"You're 6th years, you know what to do, and today we will be doing a most advanced potion…" Severus glared at a student as he saw he was snickering. "What Mr. Weasley is so humorous?"
"N…nothing Professor Snape," Ron managed to say, trying not to laugh anymore, but he broke down, and then half the class joined him. Snape growled. He slammed his hand down on the desk, causing everyone to stop.
"Mr. Weasley detention for disrupting the class, now," he pointed to the cupboard and then the board. The cupboard doors burst open, the supplies aligned there neatly, and then neat writing appeared on the board. "Begin."
Harry couldn't believe was he was seeing! First of all Snape was late, which was a miracle, then when Snape walked out of the dark shadows of the dungeons, he ends up having a tan! He couldn't help himself for laughing and he could tell half the class couldn't either. He took a deep breath and walked over to the cupboard to go and get the ingredients needed.
Severus sighed as he sat down at his desk, the class was working quietly and in a few moments he would go and check on their potions, right now he had to think. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and then looked out of the window, just as his owl flew in. It dropped off the letter in his lap and Severus gave it a piece of bread. The owl ate it hurriedly and flew out again.
Severus looked down at his letter, shocked. It had been returned unopened, he turned it around a few times in his hands, there was no writing, no reason as to why it wasn't opened. His bird wasn't forgetful, or lazy, he did what it was told. And if it was told to bring the letter back, then it did it was it was told. Severus tried hard not to sigh. Jaci had a right to not open his letter, after him leaving her the way he did.
Harry sneaked a glance at Professor Snape, ever since his owl had flown in, it seemed like Snape had completely lost his composure. He was slouching in his seat, eyes down, head in his hands, staring at the letter on the desk. Just then Snape sighed and stood, making Harry look back down at his potion, hoping that the Professor hadn't seen him looking at him.
Severus began to walk around, checking the potions, but his mind really wasn't into it and the class could tell. He hadn't made a single comment about Harry, or Neville for that matter, whose potion was smoking and turning red instead of green. Snape just walked around for a few minutes, then walked back to the head of the classroom. Just as he was about to open his mouth, the door to the classroom burst open.