A/N- Here is another chapter for your reading pleasure. And thank you to those few that have reviewed this. I will try and get the next chapter up soon for you, and once again, I look forward to your reviews. :)
Disclaimer- Alas, but it is not mine *dramatic gesture*
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Chapter 5- The Trouble With House Elves
As soon as she was gone I allowed a sigh to escape my lips. I flopped down heavily into my chair… Lovely? I thought of her face as lovely? Now I DID put my fingers to the bridge of my nose. Sure, I had thought of the girl as beautiful before, but never before felt the hormonal lust while noticing it. Oh hell… truly… I truly hope this will not last that long. I had suffered enough from my hormones what I was younger, and I was glad to be rid of the annoyance, I certainly did NOT desire them again. If this horrific thing was not over by morning… If it is not over by morning I would be forced to go to Albus, not something I would desire at all. That would mean that, for when it counted, I had failed. Again. For the third time, oh hell.
Attempting to clear my mind of my failures, I summoned the house elf Dobby. He appeared in my room almost instantly. "Is there anything Dobby can do for you sir?" I gave him a quick nod to reassure him I was not in a foul mood, and he visibly relaxed.
"Yes actually, two things. The first, I would like to have my dinner brought to me in here, and second, if you would inform the headmaster that I will be working late tonight, so I will be dining within these rooms." I paused before adding, "He worries far too much for me." The elf nodded.
"If Dobby may, sir… Perhaps it is because the headmaster cares for Professor Snape that he worries of him so?" I gave the creature a hard glare and it quickly left my presence, but not before muttering, "Dobby shall iron his hands sir, for his intrusion." I sighed, noting to myself to look at its hands when it returned. If there were no burns on them yet, I must chastise him properly, and tell him perhaps a bath would be more beneficial torture… At least that wasn't harmful to it, like most of the tortures that was ingrained within his memory. I frowned, it would be no use to attempt to change their ways, the house elves, it was hard enough to make my own relax from its own masochism.
Sighing at the hopelessness of the school's house elves, I pulled out a book of blank paper as well as my quill to write Ms. Granger her pass and upon the back of it, the list of books that may be helpful for her research. Her question had surprised me, I wonder what the girl will do once out of Hogwarts? A mediwitch most likely. I suddenly felt an itching sensation on my left arm, and for the first time today, oddly, I felt the urge to look at it. I took a deep breath, it was gone then this strange age catastrophe wouldn't be quite so terrible as I might have made it out to be… Slowly I lifted the sleeve from my arm to uncover it. I felt my heart lodge itself within my throat with a mixed emotion; perhaps of horror, as well as happiness all at the same bloody time. The mark was still there, sure enough… But… It was so light now; it was just a slight overcastted shadow of its former darkened self. I sighed, not exactly what I had in mind, but it wasn't a complete disaster, besides, this OTHER effect of the potion would most likely dissipate soon. A smile once again fell softly on my lips, it wasn't completely gone, but this was much, MUCH more progress than I had ever produced with any of my other ministrations before. That was a partial success to me, and so Albus would not be thoroughly discouraged of me as of yet.
After a few hours of marking down papers, grading and growling at the incompetence of some of my students, I finished my work. Soon afterwards, Dobby returned, with my food. Ironed hands and all- Damn it all. He was about to leave, but I paused him. Damn my conscience. "Wait."
"Has Dobby done something to offend you sir?" I watched the creatures large ears suddenly droop, and wring its bandaged hands. I watched it for a long moment before I answered.
"No, of course you haven't." You may call it a weakness, but I had a soft spot for these pathetic creatures. I had tried many times before to get it to understand that, no matter how foul a mood I was in, I felt no ill will towards it. I stood and walked to him, and took out a healing salve from a near bookshelf, as well as something else that was sitting there. Perhaps this time he would take the hint and maybe stop ironing his hands every time he bloody well spoke to me. "Hold out your hands." He stepped back from me. I clenched my jaw. Why make anything at all easy, no, I just don't deserve such things.
"Surely Master Severus Snape mustn't wish to see hands of Dobby, Dobby is just fine, Dobby is used to such pains, sir." I loomed above him, looking down at him hopefully with a dangerous glint in my eyes. If you desire the cooperation of an abused house elf, you must use the more… aggressive tactics for the right effects.
"Show me your hands, immediately, else I will be forced to make you do such and action. If I were you, I would suggest the first option, rather than the latter." I tilted my head as I waited for him to respond to me. After a moment it nervously took a step towards me, and shakily held its hands out to me. I knelt down and quickly took the bandages off of his burnt and now oozing burns, and applied the salve to his hands before he could jerk them away from me. Just as I could feel him start to tug I grabbed its wrists. Finally it stopped and it looked at me with a strange look upon its face.
"Dobby does not understand sir, Dobby deserves these burns for misspeaking to you sir, Dobby needs no help, Dobby does not deserve it sir." I kept hold of his wrists as I answered him.
"Dobby, I desire to help your hands. You must stop this, I do not desire for you to go out and harm yourself for everything you do without complete permission, or every sour look I happen to give in your basic direction. I happen to be a sour man, and if everyone in this school did that, there would never be any classes taught because they all would be spending their time with Poppy." He quietly nodded. I had tried this conversation before, but to no avail.
"Yes sir. Dobby understands you sir."
"As you have said before. Though this time I wish for you to heed those words." Before I let go of his wrists I slipped a small silver chain around one of them, and closed the clasp. I stood as he jerked his wrist back and peered at the bracelet in wonder. Suddenly his eyes went wide and moisture started to form. Oh dear.
"Oh! Sir… Oh sir!" A bit of wailing, "Why, why have you given Dobby this bracelet, Dobby does not deserve it, sir!" A bit more wailing, and then he blew his nose on his clothing. I took this chance to speak to it before it started again with its infernal wails.
"Call it a token of my appreciation. I will not say for what that appreciation is for, also I wish for you not to touch anything for one day. If anyone has any quarrels with this, send them immediately to me. You are dismissed." He looked up at me with his big eyes.
"Thank you sir! Than-" I interrupted his near rant before he could truly start again.
"It is nothing. Leave me now before I decide to change my mind." I turned from him, and by the time I looked back he was gone. I shook my head bringing my fingers to my nose briefly before I sat back down and ate my dinner in silence. When finished, I summoned a different elf, which immediately took my plate away. Hopefully Dobby was following my instructions for once. Unfortunately, knowing the elf he would most likely bandaging his hands up again and attempting to keep himself busy. A day off was of course inconceivable.
I sighed and cleared off a small spot on my desk for the latest book I was reading –New Wonders and Scarcely Known facts of New Age Potion making-. So far it was truly fascinating. One of these years I may actually convince Albus to attend those two years worth of courses at Vedrian's Advanced Magic Institute for the New Age Potions major I desire. Of course it was a major that required about 5-6 years of study, but I knew I could finish within two. After all, that is how long it had taken me to finish my potions major, and one additional year to earn the title of master, so I had no doubts. Unfortunately for me though, was the fact that it was an inconvenience for me to leave for such an extensive amount of time, so I have waited. Waited to tell Albus as well, though I have mentioned it to him on occasion, though have never truly asked for his permission to go. Perhaps it was because I didn't wish to leave… I shook the thought out of my head as I heard a knock upon my door. Hermione… "Come in Ms. Granger." I kept my head turned down to my desk as the door creaked open and I heard her footsteps slowly draw nearer to me after the door had once again clicked itself shut.
"Hello Professor Snape."