A/N: Ow, I'm writing this with a major headache!!!!!!!! OWIE!! Oh wait, supper's ready, so I'm writing this in rather sparse parts. I hope they all fit together, heh heh.
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Snape walked around the classroom, glancing at the acidy substance inside each pathetic Gryffindor's cauldron. He smirked as he wrote black spiky Ds for several students before he came to Juliette's cauldron.
Her potion was a perfect simmering blend of magical powders and herbs, light purple in color and slightly frothy at the top. Precisely how it was supposed to be. He struggled to show displeasure as he subtly wrote an A by her name, debating whether to pt a - after it.
Juliette knew that this was definitely the best work she had done in this class, and for some reason, she felt compelled to push him a bit farther than just giving her an A.
she called out before he could reach the next cauldron. I was curious to know what I did wrong, because I'm sure I must have done something. I want to further improve my knowledge in this class. It is my favorite subject, as you well know.
She knew everyone was looking at her with much disgust and annoyance, but she knew it would be well worth it. He spun around on one heel to face her.
Your mistake, Ms. Morris, was speaking out of turn. Please return to tending your potion.No, sir. I really would like to know if I did something wrong on the potion. She could feel the annoyance fade, and the interest come in.
Yes, you did do something wrong, he said, turning back to another student's cauldron.
What would that be, sir? she asked, her voice soft and innocent.
He said nothing for a moment. Then, he walked slowly to his desk, each step echoing against the stone floors of the dungeon. He wrote something on a slip of paper, and handed it to her with a sneer on his pursed lips.
She glanced at it. You're giving me detention?Maybe that will teach you to hold your tongue, Ms. Morris, he said, raising his eyebrows. Class dismissed.You gave the girl detention? Flitwick squeaked, taking a sip of his tea in the teacher's lounge.
She was speaking out of turn, he said bitterly. Snape was quite aware his colleagues adored Juliette because of her intelligence and persistence, but he just didn't like anyone who seemed like a know-it-all, especially from Gryffindors. He loathed them, of course based on personal experiences.
What did she say? asked Trelawney, twirling one strand of rather large gold beads.
Shouldn't you know that, Sibyl? he said skeptically. Didn't you foresee this all? she stammered. I was teaching then, Severus. I have no time to look into the beyond. I have to do my job.What did she say, Severus? McGonagall asked, settling herself down in a rather large armchair beside the fireplace. A fire was roaring gently, casting a warming glow on the whole room.
She was questioning my grading method, if you must know, he said cooly.
I see, Dumbledore said. What are you going to do for her detention? he hadn't thought of that yet. Well, do any of you have anything you need done? If so, I'll send her down immediately....Severus, I think you should do her detention, McGonagall said, a slight smile across her lips.
He nodded. Well... Yes, I'm sure I can find some filing she can do. I have some exams that need to be organized. Some normal office work, and all done without magic, of course. Yes, Filius, don't you have her next hour?
He nodded.
Will you please tell her to report to the dungeons after supper?Of course, my boy, he said. Just go easy, she really isn't a bad girl at the least!
He nodded. I somehow doubt that, but we'll see. The punishment must fit the crime....And the crime wasn't that bad in the first place, McGonagall interrupted.
If you say so, he grumbled.
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Juliette finished up supper quickly, and grabbing her bag, she left for the dungeons with a smile on her face. Her first detention, and it was with Professor Snape. She had to crack him, she just had to. And not just for the sake of knowing she had another teacher charmed.
She was suprised it took him so long to give her detention. She knew that she really hadn't given him as much reason as she could have, but still. He saw through the good-girl act right away. Well, she wasn't a bad girl. Not really. But of course, she was far from an angel.
She brushed her reddish-blonde waves out of her face for no apparent reason as she approached the door. Her brow furrowed as she thought about how to make an irritating entrance. She laughed as she thought of possibilities, but she just decided to go in and see if he had gotten back from the Great Hall at all.
He had. She entered, and he smirked as she took a seat silently.
So... what now? she asked, propping her foot on the table in front of her. I've never had detention before. The other teachers don't think I deserve one, do they?
He rolled his eyes subtly. They don't see you the way I do, apparently.And they don't see you the way I do, she said boldly.
His eyes narrowed, and he came sweeping down on her so quickly her feet slipped of the desk and landed with a rather loud thud.
You think you're so terribly clever, he snarled.
No, I was just saying...Well, just saying' is what got you here in the first place, he said smoothly, and she realized how like chocolate his voice was, even when he was angry.
But I meant it. You know they see you as a bitter and sour man who seeks too much solitude and doesn't mix well with anything or anyone for that matter. The students dislike you very much, Professor Snape, but not me. I don't see a slimy-haired git.Was that meant as a compliment or an insult? he asked, his eyes flaming. Ten points from Gryffindor.Oh, by all means, take points from my house. I don't like anyone there anyway. So, what were you going to have me do?
He took a second to answer, and when he answered, his voice had cooled a bit.
You're going to be sorting through a few things for me. You will find the piles there on my desk.
She got up, and leaned on his desk, glancing at the papers, then back at him. He had already turned his attention elsewhere. He paced up and down a very lengthy bookshelf until he pulled a thick book with a very bland cover. She noticed the title on the spin: The Wondrous Wicked.You're reading The Wondrous Wicked she asked, interest was staunch in her voice.
He looked up slowly. Yes, I am. You're familiar with it?Yeah, I've read it. A while ago, but I've read it.Hmmm.... It's by a wizard though. Your mother introduced it to you, then?You could say that, she said, slowly. It was partly true. When her mother left, a lot of her books and other possessions were left behind. Not that she had lots of stuff in the first place. She and her father didn't exactly marry because they were in love, so she left a lot of her stuff at her family's house, or at least, that's what her dad told her. Did that mean she was always planning on leaving. My mum left me quite a few books, she finished, hoping he would ask her about her mother. For some reason, he wanted him to know about her.
Ah... She left you, did she? I knew your father was a muggle and your mother a witch, but I had no idea..... Not many people know. I guess Dumbledore knows, or something. Maybe.So why did she.... No, that's not my place, he said, suddenly.
She frowned. Why did she what?Why did she leave? he said quietly. He was looking at her. She'd never seen that look on his face before. It was weird, indescribable.
I dunno. I think she just didn't want a child. Well, I also heard she was big on the whole pureblood thing, so maybe she was ashamed to be associated with a half blood child. See, I'm pretty sure my father was just a one-night stand for her, but when she was pregnant with me, my father just proposed to her. He's a responsible man, my father. She accepted, but I have a feeling she might have been planning to leave him later. She told him he was a witch after they were married, but he didn't care. Then right after I was born, she left. My father said she wasn't a very kind woman. He knew a lot of her secrets, too. He told me them when I got older. It was such a relief to tell him all that. She'd never felt that kind of confidence with anyone else.
he said, closing the book softly with one hand, and set it back on the shelf. That's quite an interesting background, Ms. Morris.I know. And you know what? I felt so comfortable telling you all that. Isn't that funny? But anyway, I'm also quite comfortable telling you she was a Death Eater.
He froze. he said cooly.
Yeah. Her name was Bellatrix. Know her?
There was a long pause. It was a tense moment for her, and she could hear his heart beating louder than ever. he said finally. I do know her. She's your mother, is she?Uh huh. You won't tell anyone, will you?
He nodded, walking over to the desk. It'll be between you and me, I promise.
His eyes looked so much softer than they always do. It was so odd for her. Those dark eyes were normally so stern, so severe.
Juliette looked into his eyes for a moment longer, then returned to her detention work, for she realized she hadn't organized a single piece of parchment.