Chapter 16
As Rosemary had predicted, the entire school had heard Neville's story before breakfast had even started. Ignoring the blatant stares and whispers that had followed them, Rosemary and Severus had both entered the Great Hall that morning as if nothing had changed. Severus arrived first, composed, dignified, throwing a poisonous glare at a group of girls who giggled loudly when he walked by.
Rosemary arrived a short time later, looking as graceful and elegant as usual. She tuned out the whispers and stares that floated about her and took her usual place on the teacher's dais. The students were disappointed when both she and Severus simply began to eat their breakfast as usual. The waited with baited breath for some tidbit of news, hoping that Dumbledore would make some sort of speech or something. The headmaster, however, seemed to have adopted the same "nothing-is-wrong" policy as his teachers.
Later that afternoon, as the Gryffindors and Slytherins trudged down to the dungeons for their potions lesson, everyone wondered what exactly to expect.
"I understand needing a good lay," Draco was saying, "but how could he even touch her? She's a bit too muddy for my tastes." He added with a laugh. Pansy Parkinson twittered appreciatively beside him as Crabbe and Goyle guffawed loudly.
"Gossip, Draco, is a detestable habit," said a cold voice. "I would have expected better from you."
Draco paled somewhat as Severus glared down at him. "But professor—"
"Fifty points from Slytherin," snapped Severus, "and two weeks of detention."
"You can't be serious!" said Draco, rising angrily to his feet.
"Three weeks then," sneered Severus, "would you like to try for four?" Draco glowered at him but said nothing. "Sit down, then; or would you like to delay my class even longer?"
Draco slunk down into his chair, fuming silent as Severus strode to the front of the room.
"Your instructions are on the board," he said. "Samples on my desk in one hour." And then he did something that he had never done before. Instead of sweeping about the room to hail down his usual criticism, he sat down behind his desk and began working on a small stack of papers. After the little display with Draco, the students knew better than to comment, and they set to work in silence.
