Chapter Six: Halloween
Severus was late getting into the great hall that morning. When he did finally step through the large oak doors he stopped dead in his tracks. Evelyn. She was in her usual place at the high table like every other day but she was not dressed in her usual tidy 'teacher clothes'. She was wearing a toga.
"Yes! He lives!" she crowed as he took his seat next to her.
"Good morning to you too Evie. Or should I say Aphrodite?" he said sardonically, she stuck her tongue out. He looked at it and cocked a brow. "Put your tongue away, it looks disgusting hangin out, all pink and naked." Evelyn snorted. It was a cute snort…Did I just think that? What the fuck? Severus reflected in his head. He shook it in an attempt to clear his mind. It's that mile of cleavage's fault. He decided averting his eyes from Evelyn's low neckline and freckled breasts. For a time they were silent as Severus worked hard on focusing solely on his plate in front of him.
"So what's the occasion?" Severus asked some time later.
"I wondered about the lack of festiveness from you. It's Halloween, dumb fuck." Evelyn said laughing. Severus knew what day it was. What he didn't know was why she was parading around in a sheet at age thirty – four. No one else on the staff was dressed in costume. Hardly anyone was too visible in their observation of the holiday. Albus was in orange robes and Miss Marcus had a spider perched on her hat. That was it.
Evelyn was well aware that she was the only faculty member dressed up. She wasn't too surprised. Professor McGonagall wasn't the sort of person to act foolishly anytime, even during the holidays. Many of the older teachers were that way, except for Dumbledore, but he was a law unto himself. However Evelyn thought that some of the younger members of the staff would share some of her enthusiasm for the day. But Sinistra and Vector were both Halloween – less. Evelyn also was put out by the fact that some of the teachers she thought were cool were not festive. Then the final blow was dealt when Severus showed and was in his usual attire. Evelyn thought he would show some of the spirit that he had while at school. They used to always dress up on the holiday, it was tradition. But she didn't let the lack of support ruin her holiday. Sitting at the high table she felt very much like a member of the high court of the gods.
Breakfast was over and Severus and Evelyn exited the hall together. Evelyn was seemingly ignoring all the stares she was receiving by both sexes of students and the whispers that were also thrown about. Severus however was not. He felt his urge to kill rising as young boys blatantly gawked at his friend's décolletage and high - slit skirt. Yes she had nice legs but that doesn't mean you should ogle them.
"Close your mouth." Severus hissed in more than one ear as they walked the hall. Severus would've knocked off points if Evelyn hadn't been right there.
"I felt my heart crack a little when I saw you looking like you do everyday. And then you had to ask what day it was." She said giving him a pouty look. Severus wanted to say that he had grown up and didn't have time to relive his childhood, nor would it be prudent to do so. But he didn't seeing as how Evelyn was very much in nostalgia over the whole holiday.
"I didn't have anything to wear." He lied to her. But before she could say anything they were at their parting staircases. She would go up, he would go down.
Nothing to wear, well I can change that. Evelyn thought as Severus took his leave. She pulled her wand from its girdled resting place and with a flick she gave Severus a costume. With a satisfied smile at the end of it all she began the climb to her class room.
Evelyn arrived at her class along with her students, they, she was glad to see had a bit more spirit than her colleagues. However their spirit was in the form of pumpkin earrings and flashing medallions that said 'BOO!' Evelyn gave them all smiles and sat down at her desk. Everything was going as usual down to the loud crash out side the door that signaled Miss Melee's arrival. Tessa arrived barely on time as always.
"Good Morning Miss Melee. You've only been late once this week, congratulations." Evelyn said to the blonde student hurrying to her desk. Usually on Fridays Evelyn would just add up all the infractions of the week and give out a flat punishment. This however was different. Tessa was wearing large white fluffy angel wings and had a shinny halo suspended above her head. It was a hilarious sight and one of great hope for the rest of the day.
"It's Friday, but since it's also Halloween I will make this announcement." Evelyn said standing up and moving around to be in front of her desk. "I will award five points to all students who are dressed up for the occasion. Tell your friends so they can cheat." She said there was a small rise from her class. "Now about Wednesday's homework…Yes Miss Granger?" Evelyn said, she noticed that Hermione's hand had shot into the air and that her friends, James's son and the Weasley boy were rolling their eyes. Evelyn had gotten a read on the trio early on. She liked them well enough it was a relief to see that Harry was more like his mother in demeanor. Ron was also a nice young man.
"Have you corrected Tuesday's papers yet Professor?" Hermione asked.
"No, I did not correct your homework yet... I can't perform miracles!" Evelyn said smiling; Hermione looked a touch put out. She struck Evelyn as more of a Ravenclaw than Gryffindor, quite bookish, and very eager to show her intellect. Evelyn worried that she might burnout soon. "Speaking of correcting. I took a look at your most resent test scores; I have decided to provide a special tray for you to place your homework in each day." She picked up her garbage can and set it on her desk with a dramatic flourish. "It would be a waist of my time to correct them you see, the majority of you have got everything down pat. However some of you know the material but need to slow down. Points are not awarded on speed, but accuracy. Now I will hand out your tests, so pass your homework to the right and be ready for your tests on the left." Evelyn told her class and proceeded to hand out and collect.
Evelyn was sitting in her office during her first free period checking papers. She felt a little guilty at being behind, but they were essay so didn't she deserve a little slack?
"Evelyn, a word?" Her head shot up at the bitten tone in the voice addressing her. It was Severus and he was livid, she could tell right away. His temple was twitching and she could feel the daggers that he was shooting at her. He was no longer sporting the five inch horns she had given him that morning or probably the tail.
"Yes Severus?" She asked him offering the chair opposite her; he refused it, opting instead to stand at the corner of her desk.
"What were you thinking?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" She asked confused.
"The horns. Were they your doing?" he asked hotly.
"Yes. You said you had nothing to wear." She said, turning her chair to face him better.
"Did the thought ever occur to you that maybe you should ask before turning me into Satan?"
"It was meant as a joke." Severus closed his eyes and sent air out through his teeth in a hiss.
"My first period was too distracted to do anything other than stare at me. They couldn't even speak when I enquired to them as to why they weren't paying attention. Five cauldrons exploded this morning. FIVE! Evelyn, I am not fourteen any more, I am an adult who needs respect and wearing horns and tails undermines that. You are no longer fourteen, this is no longer the seventies, you're no longer a Hufflepuff, no longer a student. You need to grow up." Severus said. If Evelyn hadn't been so enflamed at the moment she would've been grateful to not be hit with both barrels. Severus had exercised some restraint with his friend.
"Jesus Christ Severus it was a fucking joke. Do think I don't know you're a teacher demanding respect! You've got a good deal of the student body absolutely terrified of you to the point that they have to mentally prep themselves before class and run to the bathroom to cry after, or so mad at you that they have little voodoo dolls in their pockets and stab them under the tables in my class. I've heard all about you and it sickens me to think that someone who use to be so full of life and fun loving has turned in to a royal bitch that can't separate the past and the present. You think I live in the past, I don't transfer any grudges from my youth to any of my students. I give them all a fighting chance. You've turned cold." Evelyn said standing. The friends stood toe to toe glaring at one another; this was no longer a friendly banter session but an all out war.
"You made a fool of me in front of my class. Not only a fool but played upon the thoughts of every student you so thoughtfully described now they will see me as Satan, not as a lesson to be learned…"
"A lesson to be learned! You are on the staff to teach potions! Not to degrade and humiliate your students. And not to fuck up their self image for what ever reason you have to not like them. I can't believe it! I can't. I can't believe you! What happened to the man I use to know?" Evelyn spat at him.
"At least I don't coddle them and build their dreams on sinking sand. I am reality! The sooner they get checked the sooner they will be ready for the world." Severus replied just as fiercely. Evelyn's cheeks were getting colored and her eyes were blazing.
"You shoot them down, you crush them beyond repair, do you really want them to hate you?"
"If it means they fear me then yes! They need to learn to fear!"
"Power? Is that it? Is that the soul reason for any and all of this? You need the power that comes from being a teacher, from holding the detentions and house points in your hand and abusing them? If this is so then you should not be teaching. If this is how you really are then they deserve you." Evelyn exclaimed, she grabbed his left arm and pushed up his sleeves bringing his mark into the light. She looked like she was going to either cry or hit him.
"Yes, your precious – little – Sevvie – Kins. Maybe I like having power. Maybe having control is all I've ever wanted. And you contradicting that is unacceptable. I act my age, no student looks at me with anything other than respect for my authority, they may hate me but they respect me. I don't have female students ogling me and if I ever do I would put them in their place. You, you however go from that tucked fitting suit to this! Parading your cleavage and thighs for every male to see and fantasize about!" His voice was rising. CRACK! Evelyn's hand connected with his cheek placing an angry read mark across his sallow skin.
"Get out." She said in a dangerously low voice. Her chest was raising and falling rapidly and she was flushed. With out a word Severus pushed his sleeves back down and left. He slammed the door with such force that a picture fell down and the glass cracked. It was a photo of them. Evelyn sat down heavily in her desk chair and buried her face in her hands.
Severus hurried to his room throwing out detentions and docking points to any student that stood in his way. His face still stung from the assault it had received by Evelyn's hand. If this is how you really are then they deserve you. Her words played again and again in his head like a broken record. If this is how you really are then they deserve you. If this is how you really are then they deserve you. If this is how you really are then they deserve you. She knew. He didn't tell her yet she knew. And the way she sounded it sounded like she hated him for it. But of course she may have just been angry all together, his prior master just another cinch in the chain around his neck. Why had he said those things to her? Sure her immaturity and life in the past was annoying but he shouldn't have told her that. And then to go and comment about her physical appearance, he winced at it. That was too low, too dishonorable, he should be shot. But yet she…She was just trying to have some fun. He was losing control of his thoughts. The facts were running wild, the 'what ifs' ramped. He was so confused.
Both friends' days were ruined by their fight. Severus was twice as hard as his classes punishing everyone for making the slightest disruption, even the Slytherins, who were shocked by this. Severus couldn't even look at a Hufflepuff. Tessa didn't help, her presents in his class reminded him so much of Evelyn and their fight that he made her lose the costume. He was so angry that even she turned into a meek student cowering in front of him. And for once he felt no power, no rush. Evelyn suffered through her classes her spirit also gone. A brave face was there for the children, but on the inside she was in turmoil. Her classes noticed, but said nothing; they just worked asking naught of her.
At the end of the day Evelyn was still screaming in his mind no matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried to empty his mind he could not. Severus could not escape. Classes for the day were over and he sat in a slump in his office. He couldn't go back to his sitting room where they used to sit and talk together. And he couldn't go to his bedroom. Between his mirror and the images of her under him…He rubbed his temples. What could he do? Standing Severus decided to bare his soul to the two people he regarded better than he did his own parents.
Evelyn refused to go back into her office. Thinking about it only allowed the voices to resurface in her mind. You are no longer fourteen, this is no longer the seventies, you're no longer a Hufflepuff, no longer a student. You need to grow up. Sitting in her living room that was now a dark unhappy room. Just that morning it had been a sun filled haven. Dear Zeus, what have I done? I have killed a friendship. I have helped kill part of my past. I have killed part of myself. I cannot change this. I... I must seek help. I must seek guidance. I must seek the Madams.