COMINGS AND GOINGS
Snape put another marked test aside and looked back at the remaining of the pile in front of him, completely disgusted.
Had none of these fifth year students learned anything during the last years? It was such a disappointment to see how deplorable their skills - or lack thereof - were. And it became worse and worse year after year. It seemed only few students showed any kind of interest in Potions, and fewer showed any potential at all.
Snape read the first lines on the parchment before crossing them out. He progressed to the next lines, and eventually crossed them out, too and shook his head. Who was this student trying to kid? Armadillo bile in a Confusion Potion? Ridiculous.
When he reached the bottom of the test at last and found only one partially good answer, Snape scribbled a quick D at the top of the piece of parchment. If only that kind of students could spare him some time and hand blank tests instead. Besides, what was the fun of giving rotten marks if they were deserved?
Snape put the test aside with the others. He would have to go check on his brewing experimental potion very soon. One or two other tests and he would go have a look.
As he moved on to the next piece of parchment, his study's door was suddenly opened quite rudely. Endora Wilson stormed in and planted herself in front of his desk, looking downright furious.
"Professor Wilson, it's so considerate of you to have announced your entrance with a knock…" Snape remarked coldly.
The Charms teachers didn't unclench her teeth and kept glaring at him.
"May I ask what brings you here?" he went on, hardly refraining from adding that it was probably not to wish him a good day.
"Professor Snape…" she eventually began. "It came to my attention that you have recently started to give unjustified detention and poor marks to the students of my House."
Snape put his quill back in the inkpot and crossed his fingers. "And what leads you to believe they were unjustified?"
"Apart from the fact that Ravenclaw students have never been prone to misbehaviour or laziness," she explained slowly, "you gave eighteen detentions to Ravenclaw students during the last week while all the other teachers combined gave only four."
"And you instantly jumped to the conclusion that there was some kind of discrimination on my part," Snape replied, "and never imagined that it could be all the other teachers showing favouritism for your House."
Wilson stared at him for a long second. "That seems very unlikely," she eventually answered, which elicited a snort from Snape. She silently observed him with a scrutinising look for another long second before speaking up again.
"If your recent behaviour with the Ravenclaw students is in any way due to what I said at the Three Broomsticks two weeks ago during what was supposed to be a private conversation, then I – "
"Thinking what you said," Snape interrupted, "as ludicrous as it was, would have such an impact, would be very presumptuous of you, Professor Wilson."
"I sincerely hope you understand that giving detention or poor marks to the students of my House is no solution to any kind of problem you might have with me," Endora retorted. "If you do have a problem with me, there are other ways to solve it."
"Absolutely," Severus agreed. "I heard Professor Dumbledore had given Professor Ursaglow his authorization to open a duelling club. Maybe we could solve our problem there," he ended with an evil smirk.
The Charms teacher folded her arms. "I was speaking of talking it out."
Snape couldn't help but sneer. "If you ever meet the Dark Lord, please do me a favour. Talk to him. Try and reason with him; he really is on a downward path…" he mocked. "Talking has never solved any problem."
The witch opened her mouth to protest, but he raised his hand to stop her. "I'm afraid I have to put an end to this… lovely conversation, for I have to go check on a potion. I suppose you will find the way out easily," he concluded before leaving through the door at the back of his study, leading him directly to his personal lab.
Once there, Snape examined the boiling contents of the cauldron. Everything seemed to be perfect. He added a couple of ingredients and stirred the substance for a few minutes. He waited another minute, inspecting the fumes and making sure everything was all right. Now he had roughly two hours ahead of him to finish marking the fifth years' tests before having to check on the potion again.
When he came back to his study, Snape had the great displeasure to find Endora Wilson, her head tilted to the side to read the edges of the books displayed on his shelves. At the sight of one of the titles her eyes widened as if in shock - probably one of his numerous Dark Magic books, Snape guessed.
"What are you still doing here?" he eventually asked with irritation, and she instantly looked up and faced him. "I was under the impression that you were done with your ridiculous accusations."
"I certainly wasn't," the Charms teacher objected and walked up to him. "If Professor McGonagall doesn't want to do anything about the way you have always been treating the Gryffindor students, that's none of my business. But I won't tolerate the same treatment for the students of my House. If I find out you have continued to harass the Ravenclaw students, you'll hear me."
Once she was done, she walked out of his study and closed the door behind her.
"I can't wait," Snape muttered with a sardonic smile before seating at his desk again.
He gave a look at the next test on the pile of parchments. Jimmy Thompson, Ravenclaw. Snape picked up his quill, draw a big D on the test with an evil smirk, and put it aside without even reading a single word. Life was so much easier when you had few moral principles.
Snape resumed his test correction. After a few minutes only he heard a knock at the door. He put his quill back in the inkpot and sighed.
"Come in," he called with exasperation, and watched Professor McGonagall enter his study and walk up to his desk.
"Sorry to disturb you, Severus," the Transfiguration teacher apologised. "Have you had any… contact with Lord Voldemort recently?"
Snape shook his head. "There has been no Death Eater meeting for a while, which usually does not bode well. But there will probably be one very soon now."
Minerva nodded, a concerned look on her face. "Then let me or Albus know immediately after your return, and we will hold an Order meeting."
"Sure," Snape acquiesced.
"I will see you later then," McGonagall added before leaving him.
Snape picked up his quill and continued the correction of the fifth year tests. He hardly had the time to mark five essays before there was another knock at the door.
"Come in," he spat, a little more angrily than the previous time.
Snape felt a sudden urge to take his wand out when he saw Mizar Ursaglow walking inside.
"Professor Snape! It's been a while!" the young DADA teacher exclaimed.
"Too short a while…" Severus muttered under his breath. "What do you want?" he added aloud.
"Well, I suppose you heard Professor Dumbledore agreed to my request to open a new duelling club."
"Unfortunately, I did," Snape replied coldly.
"I was wondering if you would agree to help me make a demonstration for the students, like you did the last time with Professor Lockhart," said Mizar.
Snape's gaze became distant as he contemplated the possibilities. An unfortunate incident during a duel… A premature death… A teaching position suddenly vacant, no time to look for other applicants…
"So?"
Snape focused on Ursaglow again. "No," he replied coldly.
"But – "
"I have no will to be involved in such an experiment again," Snape interrupted, "while I'm sure some other teachers will be delighted to help you."
"But – "
"Thus, I will ask you to leave my study right away," he went on and stood up to lead Ursaglow back to the door.
"But – "
"I'm afraid I have more important concerns to deal with," Snape continued, pushing the DADA teacher forward. Once they reached the door at last, he added "Have a nice day," and shut the door in Ursaglow's face.
Snape strode back to his desk, fuming. Correcting tests was already annoying enough, and being constantly interrupted made it maddening. He took a deep breath, picked up his quill and prepared to start the correction of a new test. He waited for a couple of seconds, his quill in mid-air. Since there was no new interruption, he started reading the piece of parchment.
Half an hour later the pile had noticeably diminished. If he hurried a bit he would be done before he had to go check on his potion again.
Knock.
Snape hardly refrained from banging his head on his desk. It was a conspiracy; it had to be. Dumbledore was probably behind it, enchanted to make his life worse than it already was. Maybe he could just pretend he wasn't there…
Another knock.
"Come in," Snape said reluctantly. Oh great, the Head Girl now. "Miss Granger," he greeted.
"Professor Snape," Hermione began, "I have the project of establishing some new facilities in the Common Rooms. In order to do so, I need the signatures of all the Heads of House," she finished and handed him a piece of parchment.
Always straight to the point, Snape thought while picking up the piece of parchment. He gave a quick look at it: she already had the signatures of Professors McGonagall, Wilson and Sprout. Of course, Snape thought with a snort. She had first asked those who were the most likely to agree to her request.
"I suppose the Head Boy wasn't consulted before taking these steps."
"Draco Malfoy isn't interested by this kind of demand," Hermione retorted.
Snape glared at her for a second. She had become more self-confident and arrogant along the years. He gave another look at the piece of parchment. Now that all the other Heads of House had signed it, refusing to sign it himself would be useless.
He quickly scribbled a signature. "Now off with you, Miss Granger," he said while handing the piece of parchment back to her.
"Thank you Professor." Hermione picked up the document and swiftly left the room.
Alone at last, Snape thought with relief. At least he hoped so until he heard yet another knock on his door after correcting no more than a couple of tests. He clenched and unclenched his fists nervously.
"Come in," he eventually called with resignation. The more he said these words, the harder they became to articulate.
He was somewhat relieved to see it was Madam Pomfrey this time. He knew what it would be about and that it wouldn't take long.
"Good evening, Madam Pomfrey," he greeted almost kindly - at least as kindly as he could greet someone that had the misfortune of being the fifth person in a row to interrupt his work.
"Good evening, Severus. Oh, I'm sorry, you were busy…" she added when she saw the pile of parchments on his desk.
Someone noticing it at last, Snape thought sarcastically before gesturing her to go on.
"I will be short of Pain Relieving Potions for the hospital wing very soon," Madam Pomfrey explained, "so I was hoping you would find some time to brew some for me."
"Certainly," Snape agreed. "I will bring them to you in a couple of days when they are ready."
"Excellent. Thank you Severus," the witch replied with a kind smile and left his study.
Snape returned to his grading work. Until a couple of minutes and tests later there was a knock on the door. Again.
Severus was now dangerously bordering a nervous breakdown. He took his wand out, marched to the door and opened it wildly. Surprised, Professor Wilson took a step back while Snape eyed her suspiciously. Why did she have this fake smile plastered on her face?
"What do you want again?" Snape accused sharply.
"While I…" She looked embarrassed. "While I was browsing through your books earlier today…"
Snape crossed his arms on his chest. If she was here to lecture him about being such a bad wizard for owning such terrible writings, it was both useless and the most unwise moment to do it.
"I happened to notice you owned a book called 'Combining different kinds of magic: great possibilities but terrible dangers'," she went on uneasily.
Snape arched an eyebrow. The only reason why he had this book was because there was a large part of it dealing with Potions. There was also a large part dealing with Charms, he remembered, and smirked. Knowing he had something she wanted desperately enough to stifle her pride and come back here to ask him for it was an extremely enjoyable thought.
"It is a very, very rare book and I would – " she continued nervously until he waved his hand to interrupt her.
"Allow me to make things easier for you. The answer is no. You won't have this book," Snape concluded before irreverently closing the door.
He only had the time to take two steps back towards his desk until he heard insistent knocks again. He walked back to the door and opened it once more. The Charms teacher was still there but in place of her fake smile was now an upset expression.
"And I would be extremely delighted if you would consider – " she started again.
"What, exactly, did you misunderstand a few seconds ago?" Snape interrupted. "I said no," he insisted and closed the door yet again.
The knocks that came split seconds later were more adamant than the previous ones. Exasperated, Snape opened the door once more.
"If you would consider lending it to me even for a short – " Wilson continued as if her sentence had never been interrupted.
"Professor Wilson," Snape exclaimed, "this is the last time I will state this to you. I won't give this book to you, or lend it to you, or do anything that would allow you to access all or even bits of this book."
He tried to close the door but the Charms teacher blocked it with her foot.
"Listen," she warned. "I've been looking for a copy of this book for years, and I will not move until you allow me to have a look at it."
Snape stared at her during a few seconds. She really wanted this book badly, didn't she?
"Fine," he eventually said calmly, and she seemed to relax a bit. "Then I suppose I should warn you it gets a bit cold here at night. Have a nice weekend," he concluded before closing the door in her face and immediately charming it locked.
He waited a couple of seconds, and when he heard no knocking walked back to his desk with a sigh. He now had a very short time ahead of him if he wished to finish grading these tests before he had to focus his attention solely on his experimental potion.
While examining the next test on the pile, Snape began massaging his forearm mechanically. Until the slight itch became an insistent burning sensation.
Oh great, Snape thought as he stared at the Dark Mark on his forearm. A Death Eater meeting. That was exactly what he needed to conclude this memorable evening.
Snape stood up and walked to his lab. He wouldn't be able to bring his experiment to its end. Such a waste of time and efforts… He switched off the fire under the cauldron and prepared to join the Dark Lord and his followers.
