Coincidences III

History was repeating itself. Alana Gilmore quivered like a leaf desperately trying to hold on in the wind. Why Rolanda couldn't find someone else to carry messages, Severus couldn't fathom. "You have exactly five seconds to speak, Miss Gilmore."

Stiffly, she lifted a note. "Headmistress Hooch told me to give this to you."

Impatiently, he snatched the paper and began to read.

Severus,

Please help Professor Longbottom get to know the school. I had intended to do it myself, but something came up

Rolanda

Crumpling the note in his hand, he sent a look in Alana's direction. The girl was so petrified that it almost made him feel guilty. "Five points to Slytherin." He heard her audible breath of relief as he turned and strode down the hall towards Neville's room. He somehow doubted that Rolanda had anything at all to do.

He knocked on the door and waited. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Neville dressed in muggle clothing. The jeans and tight blue t-shirt did more for his muscular form that robes ever could. It took Severus nearly a full minute to find his voice. "It seems Professor Hooch is occupied this afternoon and I will be acting as your guide," he said flatly expecting Neville to complain.

Instead, he smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate you taking time out of your day."

"Never mind that. The sooner you get to know the halls, the sooner I can go back to my potions."

"Well then, I'll get my cane and we can get started," he said still smiling.

Cane in hand, Neville walked toward the door and Snape instinctively grabbed his arm to pull him along. "No, like this," Neville corrected taking hold of Severus' arm. "I follow just a half step behind. And I do hope you can keep hold back your chatter. I have a lot of counting to do."

Severus snorted. "If I were searching for conversation, I can think of dozens of other people I would seek out before you."

The day went quickly. For the most part, they were silent. Severus gave descriptions and directions when asked, but neither man made an attempt to keep polite conversation. Students in the halls stared curiously after the pair. Word had traveled fast that there would be a blind man teaching Magic History. Blindness was rare in the magic world and he doubted most students had ever seen a blind person before. They gaped at the pair, and Severus ached to say something to the little demons. He held his tongue though, not wanting to disrupt Neville's navigations.

By lunch, he was relatively competent at finding his way. He had released Severus' arm and was tapping the cane before him. Neville was well adjusted, Severus had to admit. It even earned him his respect in a small measure. Living in a world you couldn't see had to be hell, but Neville walked through it with an almost ease. He wondered how Neville had gone blind. He certainly had been able to see at the end of the war. In fact, Snape couldn't recall Neville even receiving a major injury. He'd be damned if he'd ask. It wasn't his habit to care about other's lives.

In the Great Hall, the students were once again staring as Neville and Severus sat down to eat. On Neville's left sat the new muggle studies professor, Maeven Quinn. Maeven was every straight boy at Hogwarts wet dream brought to life. Unsurprisingly, the number of students taking the subject had tripled since her arrival a year ago. She smiled widely at both men, but Neville definitely had her full attention. "So you made it back from your grand exploration last night, and we didn't have to send a search party after all.

"How kind of you, Maevan. I'm surprised you didn't sneak into my room after I left and switch all the tags on my clothes," he said with a laugh.

"I see you two have met," Snape said dryly. The slightest pang of jealousy grew in him at being ignored by the pair.

"I had the misfortune of running into Professor Quinn—quite literally—when I was first leaving the magic world," the younger man explained.

"Ha, and I still owe you for that bruise!" Maeven quipped.

She leaned in close and whispered something in Neville's ear. God knows what she said. Severus snorted, and Neville looked grateful. "I appreciate it," he told the woman before slowly moving his hands to the plate before him. He kept his hands very low and found his glass. It took every once of his being not to watch Neville. Again, the boy—the man seemed practiced and natural. Severus couldn't imagine how Neville seemed to know exactly where everything was in front of him.

The meal went by disgustingly slow and Severus found the company less than desirable. He wondered if Neville knew that he had chosen the most beautiful woman at Hogwarts. Most of all, he wondered why he cared. Every time that deep laughter escaped Neville's lips, he found himself hating Maeven more. When lunch was over, Snape stalked out before either of them realized he had even stood. Professor Quinn could lead the git around.

"Hey, Severus!" He cringed and turned to face Maevan. By her side, Neville stood with a rather confuse look on his face.

"I thought you could escort him, since you are obviously such dear friends," he said letting his biting sarcasm show through.

The wench didn't bat an eye at his acerbic words, in fact she laughed. "Would love to really, but Rolanda said that she needed me for something or other. I'll see you later, loves!" She said with a wave and was off sashaying down the hall—drooling boys following the sway of her hips. Maevan turned back to him and he would have sworn she winked at him.

Snape completed his task with even less enthusiasm than he had begun it with. Neville seemed to be aware of the potions master's mood, and didn't try to force any sort of friendliness. By the time they reached his quarters, Neville had mastered the school's layout, and Alana Gilmore stood before him again. This time she held out a piece of parchment and took off at a run as soon as it was delivered.

"What was that about?" Neville asked.

"Hmph, 'that' was Alana Gilmore, fourth year Slytherin." Saying even that much rankled Severus' nerves.

"Still putting the fear of God into kids? Doesn't the joy of making children quake in your presence ever get old?"

Severus' darkening looks had no effect on the blind man. "Good evening, Longbottom."

With a swoosh of black robes, Snape stomped off to the Headmistress' office. The portrait of Dumbledore on the wall grinned at him. That annoying old man was never going to stop driving him out of his bloody tree. If possible, he was even more irate when he entered the room to find Rolanda seated behind her desk, and Maevan Quinn standing beside her. "What is this about?" he stormed.

Maevan laughed, and even Rolanda had a glimmer in those cat eyes of hers. "Just seeing how you and Neville are getting on?"

"You could have saved both of us the time and effort by staying out of it."

"Calm down, Severus." The gray haired woman wiped the cheer from her face. "I think you two could benefit from each other's influence."

"Benefit?" He shot her an incredulous look. "Personally, I don't even know why he's here at all."

"You approved of him yesterday," Hooch reminded him.

"That was yesterday and I have had time to form another opinion."

The headmistress sighed. "Very well." She turned to Quinn. "Maeven, you may go."

The insufferable witch cast him a smirking glance before she left the room. Snape scowled after her.

Madame Hooch picked up the picture from her desk and stared lovingly at it. "Do you know how long we were together?" Snape simply shook his head. He could see the sadness in her, could relate to it. "Fifty two years, Severus. I was only seventeen when I met, and she was already twenty five. She really was quite beautiful back then, and got even more so everyday in my eyes. I know you loved Remus."

"If this is what you are trying…."

"You are too young to be alone, Severus!" Her voice cracked. Never once had anyone seen her show this kind emotion, only Minerva. She leaned back in her seat. "Think about it before you dismiss the idea. I think I'll go rest."

When he was left alone, he looked once more at the photograph at the happy couple.