Chapter 3: Let the Pursuing Begin
By ataraxis
Harry dressed to impress the next several days, especially just before dinner the only time during the day that he actually saw the Potions Master. He would sit before the mirror and slowly alter his appearance so that Emma's eyes would appear more luminous behind the gold-rimmed glasses, her hair would be glossier and wavy, and her figure would appear slightly more enticing behind the plain black robes. So far, Harry's efforts hadn't gone unnoticed, but no real progress had been made from Severus Snape's side to engage in a more personal tête-à-tête that wasn't in a room full of hormonal teenagers. Another week had gone by, and Emma continued to sit next to Severus and engage him in mild, meaningless chatter.
That evening at dinner, they covered the latest Potions Journal, in which Severus felt all the contributors were imbeciles and would not know dragon scales from rose petals. Emma, of course, took perverse delight in tormenting the other man by disagreeing often with his assessment. Emma exclaimed that Madame Harricut's documentation of her attempts at creating the perfect eye-correcting potion was flawless, even if her potion was flawed.
"Granted, her note taking and reporting of her efforts were superb; the method of her madness however leaves much to be desired. One cannot use hoof of unicorn in conjunction with tears of the phoenix. As anyone with a modicum of intelligence could plainly tell her, tht combination creates an anti-aging elixir," said Severus, whose eyes were aglow with the heated debate.
Harry tried to keep Emma from rolling her eyes in exasperation and failed. "I believe I just said that, maybe with a bit less bite, but no less true. Really Severus, you must learn to curb your acerbic tongue, or you will never endear yourself to your contemporaries. I can't imagine you wanting to work here forever, and if you ever do venture out into the world of business, a good word spread your way from people who would refer you could only help."
Severus sneered and replied, "It should not be my temperament people rely upon for reference, but my exemplary work. My potions should speak for me, not my personality."
"True as well, but if you run roughshod over all the people you deal with, the quality of your work will not outshine your rough demeanor. You are an uncut diamond of great potential value, you just need to polish the edges somewhat, that's all I'm saying," Emma smiled demurely, her head tilted down and eyes just peeking upwards. Harry watched as Severus swallowed and hesitated to reply.
"And how would you suggest I polish my edges?" Severus asked. Harry was floored and flustered. Harry felt sure that Emma's cheeks brightened at the suggestiveness in the other man's voice as he felt the warmth flood his face. He knew he had been flirting in what he thought was a harmless and friendly manner, but apparently his flirting had progressed one step further than he was sure he wanted to go. He had been hoping for a close friendship, but the tone of Severus' voice indicated a more intimate relationship.
Emma bit her lip, showing her uncertainty and Harry watched as the warmth in Severus' eyes slowly dulled and the man closed himself off.
"I apologize for that, Professor Malsby. I seemed to have misconstrued the nature of our conversations." Severus was ever so polite and withdrawn.
Harry became once more unsure of how to proceed. He had known that Severus was smitten with Emma, he had just hoped that if he directed the conversations in a certain direction that Severus would understand that Emma was seeking a friendship and not a romantic liaison.
Harry watched, almost with a sense of detachment as Emma's hand reached out and tentatively touched Severus' sleeve. "I should be the one to apologize to you, Severus. I was trying too hard, I think, to make you my friend and my intentions in that regard became muddy. You seemed to be a fascinating person who doesn't make friends easily and I doubled my efforts to make that happen. If you perceived my interest in you to be anything other than that, forgive me?" remorse could clearly be heard in Emma's husky low voice as she leaned in to whisper her apologies.
Harry sat there and waited with a stillness no one would attribute to him in all his years of attending Hogwarts. It was a patience he had learned in the last four years, in learning to watch and wait and have what he wanted come to him. Almost in reverse to his seeking of the Snitch in Quidditch. His patience was once more rewarded when he felt a distinct thaw in the body next to him.
"Your apology is accepted... Emma. Perhaps we could continue our discussion on the latest Potions Journal in my chambers later this evening, and you could tell me more about your travels."
Emma smiled at Severus with delight, showing her clear acceptance of such a proposal. Internally Harry was cheering, he would finally get to see where the Potions Master lived and perhaps one more wall surrounding the man would begin to crumble. Harry just hoped that he would learn the secret behind the continued hatred directed at himself from Severus Snape and if there was any way he could cool that ire and temper it into something more pleasant.
"I'll see you then in two hours?" Emma asked.
"That would be acceptable. It should give me time to meet again with my house and to give my latest report to the headmaster. Do you need directions to my quarters?"
"I'll have one of the house elves guide me, thank you." Emma finished her dessert of chocolate trifle and removed herself from the Great Hall. Harry still had to give his own report to the great Albus Dumbledore, and it would be interesting to see what the old wizard would say about his latest findings regarding the new Dark Lord. One of Emma's students had let a remark go just before entering class about how the Dark Lord should be renamed the Great White Way, as the new Lord was set on paving a path of pureblood righteousness for the wizarding world. From that one stray comment, it was obvious that Harry's former classmate, Draco Malfoy, was indeed the man they were after.
A/N: Beta read by the incomparable Sansa, any remaining errors are mine.
