Yes, I am extremely aware that the choosing of the school champions took place on Saturday, however for the purposes of my fic, it happens on Sunday.
Mysterious-mists: Hey my home-skillet. Teeheehee… yeah anyways, I found some of your comments a bit harsh, but all-around useful. I figure that you should just stop reading it because if you're not interested in it, well then there's no point in reading it. I think the reason that you aren't enjoying it is because it's a relationship-based fic, where the climaxes so far are based on relationships, not on actual events. As we learn more about Drea's family and such, event-based climaxes will happen more frequently, but until something like that does begin to happen, don't bother. Thanks for reviewing! Muah!
Captain-Ammie: Another smashing review, thanks so much! I'm glad that twist caught your attention, as it is one of the defining points of Draco's character, which we'll begin to see later on. I was reading through your profile and I noticed that you're in taekwon do too! Yay! I'm a red belt, which is pretty sweet so far. Really nervous about black belt testing, (which is about two years away…) but also really excited. How often do you practice?
TessaCilory: Glad I've kept you interested so far. Thanks for the review.
Kaleidoscope: I was once practicing my spelling while I was babysitting (don't ask) and I had to try to spell "Kaleidoscope" three times before I got a skittle. Just a random comment, thought you might appreciate that…lol. Anyway, wow, lots of reviews, which I appreciate greatly. I shall respond to each one individually.
Ch 1: Yeah, Snape's pretty immature in my fic, which I think is great, personally. I mean, he's a very mature person who's been through a lot, but I think that the way he treats Gryffindors in the book is very immature so I thought I'd keep the tradition going. Not giving away anything on how she affects his life, sorry!
Ch 2: Yeah, I hate Pansy. She's a pirate wench (don't ask.) I just ate a really spicy chicken wing and it's burning my mouth, but also cleared up my sinuses, which is nice.
Ch 3: Yeah, actually, Draco is sketching Drea. Congrats on being the only person to ask that! It was meant to show the early signs of his infatuation with her, which develops into an actual caring for her.
Ch 5: Yeah, I also really really hate Hermione/Draco fics. That is one of the only ones out there that I just don't get. I mean, Snape/Hermione ones are just sick, but in a way they can make sense, but making Draco like Hermione is just SO OOC that it makes me want to puke.
Ch 7: Yeah, Draco's cool AND sexy. Nice combination, if I do say so myself. Glad you caught the disgusting/disgusted looks reference. I was really hoping that someone would (and also wondering if it made sense to anyone but myself…)
Ch 9: Yeah… I say 'Yeah' a lot.
Ch 11: Glad you enjoyed it. I like some of the interaction in this chapter, but still not sure if I'm satisfied with the result…
Kerichi: Super reviews! As with Kaleidoscope, I'll deal with each one individually.
Ch 1: Thanks for the awesome tip! I changed it almost right away, I've never realized that they worked it that way! Thanks for the very positive comments.
Ch 2: I like Buffy. I'm sad it's over. But yeah, Xander is quite a bit like Xander, although not as dense. Being dense isn't bad, but it's not Xander. The Xander in my fic, not on Buffy. That's gotta be one of the most confusing things that I have ever written…hmm. Anyhow, Drea is quite vinegary, as you put it, but she does mellow out. An explanation is present later on in the story.
Ch 3: Drea isn't really one to go 'wow' yet, especially since she's really only spoken to Draco to make fun of him. She kinda thinks he's a twit. It's kind of like when you see a really hot guy but you know that he's a prick so you don't really notice hot incredibly biche he is…
Ch 4: Draco is a good student, he just doesn't really care sometimes. He gets excellent grades and works quite hard in his classes. I've also played with the thought that perhaps he just wanted Drea to think that he was 'cool' so acted all casual about class.
Ch 5: Well… Blaise hasn't really done anything to make her hate him (yet) so she has no reason not to notice his attractiveness. This chapter contains scenes of Drea realizing that Draco is incredibly biche, inspired by you, so enjoy thoroughly! If I was at Hogwarts, I'd constantly have detention with Snape, not only because his dark, sarcastic sense of humor is very sexy, but also because he's obviously quite intelligent. Yay for violence!
Ch 7: You didn't like that line? Wow… that's one of my fav's. I admit that it's a bit out of character, but Drea does throw him off and I didn't think that it was so bad that it would ruin the story, so I left it in. It was meant to show that Draco doesn't really want to redeem himself or be accepted, he really just wants somebody to understand him.
Ch 9: This is my favorite chapter, so I'm really glad you liked it. Drea doesn't end up with Xander, they're just friends. I love the flashback, I think it's real funny. Keep reading, you leave great reviews and obviously enjoy the story muchly!
Okay so now that my two pages of shout-outs are finished, (BTW I will probably be moving them to their appropriate chapters in a couple of weeks, so if you're a bit late on the reading, and you reviewed and don't see your name, check the chapter(s) that you reviewed, as it's probably there,) you can read the fantastic chapter that took me about a billion years (or maybe three weeks…) to put out! (My spell-check tells me that this is a run-on sentence, but I don't care, I like it! cheeky grin)
Chapter 12 - The Feeling Is Mutual
Drea walked into Professor Snape's private chambers, closed the door and sunk to the floor. She sat there until she realized that her texts were digging into her stomach, then stood up slowly and walked to the sofa that she'd woken up on. She put her books on the side table and sighed deeply, realizing how much work she had ahead of her. She had two feet of parchment to write for Runes, a foot and a half for Potions, and a spell to create for Arithmancy. She finally picked up a quill and some parchment, opened her Runes text and got to work.
Two hours later, Professor Snape stormed into the room, slamming the door with such force that the word Drea had been writing became nothing but a scribble. He strode into his room without even looking at her. She wondered if he had forgotten about her, then finished her Arithmancy and started on her Potions assignment.
Draco sat in the Great Hall, impressing Durmstrang students and Hogwarts students alike with his amazing, heroic tale. Some of the Beauxbaton girls had even come to the Slytherin table, although Draco could tell that they weren't there for his story. He smirked inwardly, adding small lies into his story to make it more interesting. He loved being the center of attention.
He continued telling his story, which became more and more fascinating as time went by, but couldn't help but feel jealous of Drea's group of friends. They listened intently to her account of the past day's events, their faces changing to express their reactions to different parts of the story. He clenched his jaw and raised his voice, hoping to catch her attention. As usual, it failed.
Severus Snape stood in a dimly lit room with the school champions, fuming inside. Potter had once again been brought into the spotlight. Severus knew, under all of his anger, that Potter couldn't possibly have put his name into the goblet on his own, but was too furious to let this knowledge change his mood. He had already accused the boy of breaking the rules, but had felt no better after it. With no other students to target, he tried to satisfy himself by sending nasty glares in Potter's direction.
He stormed out of the Great Hall at the soonest possible moment, but was delayed on his way to his chambers by Moody, which only added to his annoyance.
"Good evening, Snape," he said cheerfully.
"I assure you that it is not," Severus replied darkly, resuming his journey to his chambers.
"You don't really think that Potter put his own name in the goblet do you Snape?" Moody answered almost as darkly, changing his expression with such speed that Severus was taken aback.
"What I believe or do not believe is none of your concern, Professor," he answered, spitting the last word out like venom.
"Don't think that I'm not keeping an eye on you."
Severus flung his door open and slammed it in Moody's face. He stormed into his bedroom and paced angrily. He clenched his jaw so firmly that it began to cause him pain. He finally lay down on his bed and pulled his pillow tightly around his head. He yanked the blankets over his body and forced himself to calm down. Without realizing it, he sank into a disturbed sleep.
Drea had finished her homework hours ago and now lay on the sofa, reading a large, leather-bound book containing some of the most rare potions ingredients. She began to drift off to sleep, only to be pulled away the sound of Professor Snape's footsteps. She sat up and closed the book, looking at him expectantly. His eyes were smoldering and she immediately wondered what she'd done to make him so angry.
"Sir, what's wrong?" she asked quickly, closing the book.
"Bloody Potter and his bloody need to be in the spotlight," he muttered quietly. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright, sir. A bit tired, but it is eleven thirty, so that's to be expected."
"You may return to the Common Room."
"Thank you," she said, rising from the couch. She collected her books and walked to the door. Before opening it, she turned to face him. "Sir, are you going to be alright?"
Severus paused to look at the girl. Nobody had asked him how he felt - aside from the Head Master - since his third year of teaching. It pained him to remember those times, so he banished the thoughts from his head and concentrated on his anger toward Potter.
"Yes, Ms Daray," he answered shortly, letting her know that he did not wish to discuss it.
"Okay," she said. He watched her open the door and leave, closing it gently behind her. He noticed that it now hung slightly crooked.
Draco read quietly in the Common Room. His hair fell into his eyes, which frustrated him, but he'd taken Snape's opinion to heart and had decided to take his advice. Observing himself in the mirror, he'd noticed that he did look less cold.
At eleven thirty-eight, Draco heard the portrait swing open. He looked over the top of his book and watched Drea walk in.
"Hey," she said tiredly.
"Hi," he said back.
Drea flopped into a chair across from Draco and dropped her books on the floor. Draco looked her up and down before he caught himself and turned away.
Drea cocked her head to the side and watched Draco curiously as he ran his eyes up and down her body. She smiled slightly, allowing it to extend to her eyes. She watched Draco notice what he was doing and almost laughed. He looked away and she allowed her eyes to travel along his body. His brown t-shirt was loose, but she could see that he was nicely built. Very nicely built, in fact. She turned away before her eyes could do any more wandering, but wondered why she hadn't noticed how attractive he was before now.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked, breaking her train of thought.
"Yeah," she answered. "I really do appreciate that you left the party to bring me back."
"Yeah," he said distractedly. He finally brought his gaze back to hers and smiled.
"What?"
"Your make-up is smeared all under your eyes."
"Ah, a true sign that one is ready for bed," she said, reaching up to fix her eyeliner.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Good night then."
"Good night."
Friday was usually a day that one looked forward to, especially as the day got later. Severus Snape, however, dreaded it, as he had Slytherins and Gryffindors all afternoon. It wasn't that his House bothered him, but when they were around the Gryffindors (or any other House, for that matter,) they got quite obnoxious.
The week had been fairly uneventful, due to the fact that everyone was too involved in the Tri-wizard tournament to cause trouble. Severus tried to avoid the topic at all costs. It only reminded him of his younger days.
He sat at his desk, watching the students file into the classroom. Nearly every Slytherin student wore a badge bearing the words Support CEDRIC DIGGORY - the REAL Hogwarts Champion! alternating with POTTER STINKS. He noted that Ms Daray entered the room with a girl who's name he had never learned, rather than with Draco, who she'd come in with every other day that week. He guessed that it had something to do with the badges.
Suddenly he heard shouting in the corridor. He stood up and walked calmly to the door, arriving just in time to see a red spell and a turquoise spell ricochet off of each other, one hitting Goyle, the other hitting Ms Granger.
"And what is all this noise about?" he said softly.
All of the Slytherins present rushed to offer their versions of the story, even some that Severus was sure hadn't been there. He pointed to Draco and said, "Explain."
"Potter attacked me, sir -"
"We attacked each other at the same time!" Potter shouted back.
"- And he hit Goyle - look -"
Severus examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that would have been at home in a book on poisonous fungi.
"Hospital wing, Goyle," Severus said calmly.
"Malfoy got Hermione!" the youngest Weasley boy said. "Look!"
Severus turned slowly to the girl, who was trying her hardest to hide her teeth, which had now grown past her collar. "I see no difference," he said coldly.
Ms Granger turned and ran down the corridor and out of sight. Potter and Weasley both started shouting at Severus at the same time. Unfortunately, their voices echoed so much in the corridor that it was impossible for him to hear exactly what they were calling him. He got the gist, however.
"Let's see," he drawled. "Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention for each Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it'll be a week's worth of detentions."
He watched the students walk into the classroom. Potter and Weasley were fuming, much to his satisfaction.
"Antidotes!" he said, beginning the lesson as though nothing unusual had happened. "You should all have prepared your recipes now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then we will be selecting someone on whom to test one…" He looked right at Potter, his dark eyes piercing into him. Potter looked back at him, the hatred in his eyes equal to that which Severus felt.
He had been about to continue his speech when there was a knock on the door. Colin Creevey walked into the room and up to his desk, grinning at Potter.
"Yes?" he said curtly.
"Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs."
Severus stared down at the Creevey boy, causing his smile to fade away. "Potter has another hour of Potions to complete. He will come upstairs when this class is finished."
The boy went pink. "Sir - sir, Mr Bagman wants him," he stuttered. "All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take photographs…"
"Very well, very well." Severus snapped. "Potter, leave your things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote."
"Please sir - he's got to take his things with him. All the champions -"
"Very well! Potter - take your bag and get out of my sight!"
Potter very quickly slung his bag over his shoulder and strode out of the room.
"Well, why haven't you begun?" he demanded viciously of his class, then walked back to his desk. He sat there, observing the students, who worked even more nervously than usual. There was no doubt in his mind that most of them would see death if they had to take their antidote. He glared maliciously at anyone who looked at him, but did not allow his anger to creep into his gaze.
Ten minutes before the class ended, Ms Daray walked up to his desk, a vile of murky red liquid in her hand. She carefully placed it in the vile rack, then walked back to her desk. She cleared her space and sat quietly, exchanging the odd comment with the small girl beside her. She looked up and saw him watching her and sent what could have been a glare in disguise at him, then watched the girl's potion intently.
The class was due to end in three minutes and students were still rushing around trying to finish their potions. Ms Daray stared at the clock.
"Any volunteers to test their antidotes?" Severus asked in a sickeningly silky voice. Ms Daray stared at him, daring him to call on her. "No? Then I'll have to select someone myself. Let's see…"
"I'll do it sir." Ms Daray's aggressive tone pierced the nervous silence that filled the room. Every student in the room stared at her in surprise and awe.
"Come select your antidote, then," he said begrudgingly. Ms Daray picked up her vile and held it out to him. When he looked at her with a questioning look that only she could see, she answered just quietly enough that the students couldn't hear.
"If I'm to take the poison, someone is going to have to hold the antidote."
"Of course." He handed her a vile of shimmering black liquid. "A small sip will suffice."
Ms Daray nodded and took the vile in her hand, tipped her head back and swallowed the liquid, then sat in the chair in front of the room.
"Note the effects of the poison carefully. If we were to let the poison take complete control of her body, she would begin to twitch, vomit, and then eventually pass out. The final step, of course, would be death. You make take the antidote," he said, handing it to her.
She took the vile in her hand and brought it to her lips. Unfortunately, the tremors began and she spilled half of it down her front. Where it landed, her clothing decayed and must have been corroding her skin, but she forced herself to drink the remaining antidote. The shaking slowed down and eventually stopped, at which time the girl stood up, walked to her desk and stared back at him.
"Ten points to Slytherin." The class ended. "Ms Daray, Weasley, I'd like to speak with you."
Ms Daray walked up to his desk, anger visibly showing on her face. Weasley, on the other hand, was full of fear. No, not fear. Hesitation.
"Have a seat, Weasley. Ms Daray, obviously you will be receiving top marks for your antidote." He paused and waited for a reaction, but got none. "What has upset you so much that your attitude toward me has changed completely?"
He finally got a reaction. It was minimal, and her eyes showed her surprise for only a moment. "Sir, with all due respect, I don't think this is the time."
"Weasley, you and Potter have detention with myself tomorrow evening. You may go."
Weasley stood up and picked up his bags, nodded shortly and left the room.
"Is this more appropriate?" he asked in an almost sarcastic tone. He leaned back in his chair, daring her to speak. He knew that he was being immature, but the way that she was acting really irked him.
She paused for a moment, as though assessing the situation then placed her hands on the front of his desk as she began to speak.
"Your treatment of the Gryffindors is completely unfair. You speak to those people as though they hold less value than the potions the first years brew. I can understand that you have personal problems with that House, perhaps even individual students, but that gives you no right to treat them that way. As a teacher in this school, one would expect you to have the maturity of a teacher, not instruct students on how to poke fun at each other. Your favoritism for your own students is blatantly obvious in everything that you do. Quite frankly, after what I've seen today, I don't think that I can respect you on a personal level anymore. Any respect that I give you from this point on is only because you are a Professor."
She paused at the end of her speech, stared at him through narrowed eyes, then turned abruptly to pick up her bag. This gave Severus time enough to recover and think of a response.
"The way I treat my students is none of your concern. As I once explained to you, I have reasons for all that I do. If you can not see that, then you aren't as intelligent as I once thought."
"The feeling's mutual," she muttered.
"Excuse me, Ms Daray? Was there something you wanted to say to me?"
"I said, 'the feeling is mutual,' sir," she said through clenched teeth.
"Care to explain yourself?"
"If you can't see that every student in this place has reasons for the things that they do, then you aren't as intelligent as I thought either."
"You will not take that tone with me."
"Neville ruins his potions because of the amount of pressure you put on him."
"Five points from Slytherin."
"Potter only hates you because you treat him like shit."
"Detention, Ms Daray."
"He told you quite frankly that he and Draco attacked each other at the same time, and still you chose to ignore it and blamed him!" she yelled, spinning to face him.
"Get OUT!" he shouted. She threw her bag over her shoulder and stormed out of the room, not looking back even once.
As a final comment, I'd like to let all my readers know that I am taking a break from writing this fic. It willn't (yes, I know that this isn't a word, but to me, won't isn't a word... like how does will and not make won't?) last too long, probably about a month, but I have a lot of stuff that I have to deal with right now, what with school and my 'emotional instability' whatever the hell that means. I will try to keep writing, it just won't be as intense as usual, so when I do resume posting, I might have two or three chapters for you guys, so make sure to review! I'm also beginning a three-part fic about Severus as a twenty-four-year-old, which deals with the first time and last time he fell in love, lending reasoning behind his bitterness and fear of emotion. Will probably be posting that one at the same time that this one starts again. Thanks for so much support, all! MUAH! Peace out, my home-skillets. (Being a home-skillet is a good thing.)