KitKat07-Thanks for all the lovely reviews! I agree, it is an improbable scenario, between Snape and Ginny, and I think that's what makes it more exciting. :) I really dont think it is my writing so much, although I thank you profusely for your compliments, as much as the ' wickedness' of putting together such unlikely souls. Hmmm...I dunno about a courtroom POV, I hadn't thought about it before, but is a rather intriguing idea for a one shot!
And it does seem kind of odd that Lupin's name would be Lupin. . .even before he became a werewolf. Almost like it was premeditated, or maybe werewolves only bite certain surnames! If his last name had been Smith. . .he might have been fine!
Erica Dawn- Yeah I had to get in that line about his age. So many people are prejudiced against older people, I just had to let Ginny be different! She's not the kind of girl that would care one bit! Course she has problems with mature communication!
A/N -Okay, don't panic but I believe that Snape goes a just the slightest bit Ooc here. Honestly it is a very tiny instance, but I couldn't write the chapter without it. I guess since he is already wildly AU, it won't matter too much. Hope everyone enjoys! I am so excited, I almost have a hundred reviews! That is the most I have gottenn for one story on one site! I am so amazed that every one is enjoying this idea! Wow!
All right, enough of that. . .now on to the story!
The inevitable day came. The beginning of the school year was drawing dangerously near, and the time for buying any last minute supplies had come.
Well, her time for such shopping had come. Apparently Snape had already handled his affairs, his coveted supplies were no doubt hoarded away somewhere safe, under lock and spell. He politely declined Ginny's invitation to accompany her to Diagon Alley. If she wanted to elbow her way through the jostling students and their distraught parents, that was her business. His business lay elsewhere and was private, he informed her.
He promised however to meet her at 2:00, and they would have a drink and a late luncheon some place dark and quiet. Ginny had kissed him goodbye then and warned him to stay away from crucifixes, garlic and running water. She had been gone for a good five minutes before he realized she had called him, in so many words, a vampire.
Odd, he would have despised anyone else saying that to him. He had never been able to differentiate the fine line between teasing and harassment; but coming from her. .. it only made him want smile. He had been having that urge more frequently of late, and even though he had it controlled to just the occasional rapid twitch of the mouth at the moment. . .he didn't know how long it would be before he accidentally broke into a genuine grin.
The thought of wearing his emotions; or anyone's emotions at that, so blatantly on his face like a moonstruck calf was both horrifying. . .and yet not so horrifying.Half of the time he was suspicious that people were looking at him and knowing that he was thinking of her. Then for no reason at all, he wanted to demand of random people;
" Don't you notice anything new about me today? Hmmm?"
She was driving him insane, that was what it was. He could feel insanity creeping into his blood like gangrene. The last thought he had before leaving her flat that morning was that she had better still be worth it ' twenty years from now. '
Ginny had invited Hermione to join her, but she and Remus had already promised the Granger's that they would spend a week with them, and Ginny only hoped that the guest bed had well oiled springs, and the cabinets were stocked with chocolate. She knew it wasn't nice to think like that, but when you are the only girl, and you have six brothers. . .your thoughts aren't always going to be nice. Crude, yes. And funny too, in the way that makes twelve year olds snort milk through their noses. But not always nice.
Besides, Ginny was in a good mood. And when a Weasley is in a good mood, every one else in the world should beware.
She had intentionally waited until the day when most of the students would be in Diagon Alley, and she was rather pleased at the enthusiastic greetings she received from several of her students from the year before. She had a keenness for remembering names, and that delighted the children as well.
She often thought it was strange, that she should have become a teacher, when it had always seemed to her as if it were Hermione who was most suitable for the job. But Hermione had stepped right out of school and into the Ministry; knowing exactly where she wanted to go. She had begun with Muggle Communications, but through dogged determination, had reached the department that specialized in the rights of Half-bloods and Muggleborn witches. She also managed to put in an incredible amount of time and effort into campaigning for the acceptance of Werewolves, the emancipation of house elves, etc.
Ginny had actually tried out to be a healer, with a specialization in injuries due to Quidditch and flying. She had a great memory for it, but not the temperament. She was too impatient with cry-babies, and not strict when it came to prescribing bed rest.
When that venture failed, she had taken up work part time as an Apparition Examiner, and tutored on the side. Usually her students were hesitant fliers wanting to be better on a broom stick. She had also been helping Hermione with her research and work for the ministry, because she could transcribe notes faster than Hermione.
When Dumbledore had contacted her about the position of DADA teacher, she suspected that it was at Hermione's referral. Why else would she had been called up out of the blue? She had thought about refusing, but decided that she would take the position, with the hopes that she might take over the position of flying instructor if Madam Hooch retired.
Of course that was last year. This year, she knew just how much it irked Snape that she had his coveted job, and she wasn't too sure now that she wanted to relinquish the beloved post. Maybe it all depended on how nice he was.If he was really good, perhaps she could bargain with Dumbledore.
That didn't stop her from feeling anxious about the upcoming year. It is one thing to sleep with your old professor, but could you then work with him as your colleague? Especially when you were involved in some bizarre type of affair, that wasn't exactly dating. . .( no one could use terminology like that when speaking of Snape, ) but lay somewhere in the gap between a one night stand and a wedding ring? It was a big gap too.
But, even apprehension about their future together as competitive colleagues by day, passionate lovers by night could not drown out the joy and excitement she felt as she watched eager young first years with their noses pressed to windows, and their harried yet proud parents, some of them very confused Muggles, searching the school lists and reading every shop sign.
She saw that as usual, the biggest group of people had congealed around Fred and George's store. Short children bounced on their toes trying to see in the windows, as the lines moved sluggishly forward into the narrow, crowded building. Every so often, and grinning person would exit clutching their treasures close to their chests.
She thought about going over and having a look around, just so she would no what to expect from the students later in the year. About the time they starting getting into the rather boring subject of Hinkypunks, she could expect the occasional dungbomb or enchanted airplane. Maybe even flaming ink, or invisible parchments.
But, she decided it probably wouldn't be the best idea. George might have some revenge in store for her, and she couldn't stand up to both of them at the same time. She only wished now that she had perfected that Twin Charm she had been working on. It was supposed to enable someone to jinx one twin, and no matter where the other twin was, he or she would receive the exact same jinx. So far she had only managed to cause one twin to jinx, and the other to feel the exact opposite effect. Interesting. . .but disappointing.
She looked at her watch. It was fifteen minutes after one, and with a sigh, she turned to the robe shop. It was what she dreaded most. She had intentionally stalled as long as possible, enjoying herself as she purchased toiletries, quills, ink, parchment, and other small odds and ends, knowing that there was going to be an arduous task ahead.
She only needed two new robes. Her old ones from last year were still quite new, although a bit ' yesterday ' in the style department. She did need a new cloak, though, and as she suspected, the woman selling the robes had put an enormous amount of effort into trying to convince her that green would suit her better. Crimson simply clashed with her hair. Green was better.
" I agree." drawled Snape from the doorway, startling both women.
" Well, that is a miracle. I thought you never agreed." Ginny replied cheekily. Punctual as usual he had arrived at exactly 2:00.
The witch fitting the cloak saw this as an excellent opportunity, and turned to Snape, as if to implore him to convince her customer that green was better.
" So. . .you know each other then? '' she offered hopefully.
" Yes. She is my cousin, so I am told. And believe me, the red is much better suited to her temperament."
He said it with an admirably straight face, and Ginny gestured to him to keep quiet, giving him a warning look in the mirror, as she tried not to blush.
He accepted it as a challenge, and waited until the woman had finished the fitting and was wrapping the purchases in brown paper. Then he came up behind Ginny, as she stood at the counter, and tucked his body as close as he could get it to hers. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, as he massaged her upper arms in a manner that was almost obscene in it's suggestive simplicity.
" I was in a mood for a quiet dinner somewhere, but seeing that woman's bottom when she leaned over for her pins, has completely murdered my appetite. Tell me, have you ever seen a posterior that was so overstuffed?" his tone was the same he used when he condescendingly asked rhetorical questions of his students. However his body language was easily misread by the rotund salesclerk.
Ginny's embarrassed face, and her haste to pay her fee and remove herself from the store was equally misleading. As they burst out of the store, they could hear the witch exclaiming indignantly that she could not believe just how immoral the world had become since the pristine days of her youth.
" Did you hear that? You are immoral." she said to Snape, with a matter-of-fact nod of her head. She was free to grin now that she was outside.
" Isn't it a poet's; -to say nothing of a cynic's-moral duty to be immoral? " he said, then when seeing her inquisitive expression, he added; " A quote I discovered one day. John Fowles, a Muggle author."
" Oh. Hermione would probably have known that."
" I doubt it. Her tastes are a bit more dry. It was not a text book."
" So if you are immoral, does that make you a poet?"
" No, a cynic, of which I am very proud."
" You are proud to be a cynic?'' she asked around an amused smile.
" Yes. You have no idea how difficult it is to remain a cynic in the face of all the world's disgusting optimism."
Ginny laughed and patted his arm. His humor took a bit of getting used to, but once you adjusted to it, it could be rather charming.
" Look at all of this rampant and revolting optimism." Ginny said, as they passed a group of laughing teenagers. " Maybe we ought to duck inside someplace before we catch some of it."
" Yes. I think I know a place that is suitable. " he took her arm and steered her down a side street she had never noticed before. With a flick of his wand the packages of robes vanished, sent to her flat to join her other purchases. He led her then to a narrow door, covered with a green and gold striped canopy. Two or three couples sat outside, at delicate wrought iron tables, their hands entwined over desserts.
Inside it was both dark, and dim, and the smell of fresh breads and pastries was intoxicating, causing her mouth to water. They were seated at a tiny round table in a corner, after Snape had spoken quietly to the very short mustachioed man who seemed to be owner, waiter and cook, all three.
The man then brought out two enormous menu cards, and one large drink with two very curly straws stuck in the frothy liquid. After they had ordered, Ginny looked at the drink and raised a brow at Snape, who glared.
" Don't get that look, Miss Weasley. It has nothing to do with romance. The owner is just very eccentric. You would have received the same treatment had you been accompanied by another woman, or even a goat."
" I'll have to try that sometime." she winked.
" A woman or a goat?" he asked, suddenly curious.
" Oh, both, of course. I believe in being very. . .open-minded." she batted her lashes at him.
" I see. " he shifted in his seat. " Are you. .. looking forward to the year ahead?" he changed the subject to a safer topic.
She recognized the amount of effort that question took, though. He was still learning about polite conversation. . .and she had to admit. . .he was earning points for his efforts.
" Yes. And no. Last year was too easy. I am certain that a failure is in store for this year."
" Spoken like a true cynic, Miss Weasley."
" That's Cousin Ginny to you. . .love."
" Isn't it a little early in your career to be giving up?"
" I'm not giving up. I am just worried that last year was an accident and that this year I will fail miserably."
He didn't answer right away, waiting instead for the waiter to set down the platters of food. The Bistro might be a little shabby, and a mutated cross between a Muggle pub and a Magical tea shoppe, but the food looked and smelled delicious.
" Why would you think that?" he asked, watching her take a great mouthful of pasta.
She shrugged and looked down at her food.
" I was never very academic. I just think there are others who would be better. . .at that particular post. "
He stared at her for a moment, drawing up his courage from his feet. He wanted to say it, but he wanted it to sound sincere.
" I. . .in my opinion. . .you are. . .you are a very good teacher."
There! He had blurted it out, and it sounded rather sulky, but it was out. Finally! The evil truth he had been hiding, for two years. It hurt more than he thought it would, to admit that he admired just how well she had done for someone of her age. Not to mention that it was a hard subject. . .as difficult or more so than Potions.
She looked pleasantly shocked.
" You. . .you do? I mean you think so?" she asked.
He nodded his head. He had spoken it once, that was as much as she was getting from him today.
She smiled, quite prettily. She didn't need him to repeat it, or to gush out great strands of compliments and flattery. His simple statement and the sincereness of his eyes was enough.
" Well, then," she said, giving his hand a squeeze, " Thank you. "
And she meant it.
" Now. . .what happens if I blow very hard into this straw?" she asked placing her lips around the pink plastic, and giving him a look of sheer mischief to lighten the mood.
" Then I hex your lips to---what? What is it?" He asked, catching a look of panic in her eyes. He knew he wasn't that convincing when he mock threatened her!
" Over there!" she hissed, around the straw. " No! Don't turn around and stare. . .I just saw someone that I used to go out with. " she shuddered.
" Should I be jealous?" Snape asked, and her eyes widened when she felt his hand on her thigh. She was thankful for dim lighting,. . . and long tablecloths.
" No, he was a real creep. " she reciprocated his hidden caress.
" Then why were you seeing him?"
" He was a better creep than the one before him. " she smiled." That's how it used to be for me, going from one creep the next."
" May I ask who the creepiest one was?"
" Harry Potter." she answered.
Snape had been drinking out of the straw, and at the mention of his nemesis' name he snorted into the straw, blowing the drink all over her, and began choking.
" So that's what would have happened if I had blown into the straw!" she laughed.
" That isn't Potter sitting behind us, is it?'' he gasped.
" Heavens no. It's some snivelly little prat named Adrien Cusp." she said returning to her food.
Snape did not. He sat, stunned for a moment, forgetting that he was still half choked.
" Wh-who?" he whispered.
" Adrien Cusp. Why, what is it?" she looked perplexed.
Snape had turned around viciously in his chair, almost falling over. He turned back around, twice as fast, his face pale and twisted into an inscrutable mask.
Ginny thought perhaps he was angry at her for mentioning her old beaux to him, and she reached out apologetically, expecting him to throw off her hand.He didn't. He clutched it tightly instead.
" Maybe we ought to leave now." he suggested urgently.
" Why? I didn't mean to upset you. . .''
" You don't understand. Do you know what that man does for a living now?" he demanded.
" Nooo. . .'' her first thought was that perhaps he was one of Voldemort's spies, or maybe a reporter for one of the gossip papers.
Actually the answer was much worse. . .as far as she was concerned.
" He works for the Ministry. He. . .sat at my hearing!" Snape spat.
" Oh no." she graoned in disbelief. " Tell me he didn't !"
" I wouldn't lie. He was the little bast-the one who did the interrogation."
" What do we do?" she squeaked, hunkering down over the table, hoping that Adrien might not notice her.
" Escape.'' Snape answered, standing.
Too late. Adrien had spotted her,. . .and her companion. His large brown eyes grew even larger, and his cheeks turned visibly redder. He turned and began talking animatedly to his female friend, who turned to stare at Ginny with a look of smug condescension.
Ginny did the first thing that came to mind. She stuck her tongue out at the woman, whose mouth dropped open, in surprise. Adrien rose, as if to confront them, but the woman pulled him back down, and with a smug look of her own, Ginny motioned Snape to sit back down.
" If they are offended they can leave. I, however, am not walking away from this delicious meal, which I intend to follow with an equally delicious desert."
He seated himself again, amazed at her boldness. He wanted to be anywhere else in the world, but he ewasn't going to play the coward and run, whils he sat there in all of hr Gryffindor splendor, ignoring the looks that Adrien was now sending her.
" He is a snivelly little prat. I thought you would have had better taste." Severus finally muttered into his plate.
" I did.' she answered cheerfully." I traded up for a wonderful old git. Now eat your food, you might just need your strength."