The Midnight Hour
CHAPTER THREE: Excuses
Sarcasm. Such a wonderful thing, there was usually truth behind it – and it could be palmed off as a joke. Even when it wasn't. Severus Snape used this talent to make fun of people. With Ginny Weasley, however it was something different. Something very different. When she made jokes at his expense he used it as a defence against her.
"Yes...Now Go!" Yes...there was truth...He knew it was bad, it was against the law. He didn't know what it was about her, but there was something, her eyes, her hair, her attitude. He had been stretching his excuses for keeping her back "Do you have nothing better to do?", it was true, he knew it. He had been a teacher for nearly ten years and never in his teaching career had he come across a person young or old. Nobody had been able to distract him as much as she could. She was a brat, she was a stubborn and impossible brat.
He could not erase her from his mind.
She was intelligent, witty and fascinating. Severus wanted to kick himself for having these thoughts plague his head was a bad thing. He was a teacher, and she was a student. He was twenty years older than her and it disgusted him to think that he had some sort of attraction towards her.
Perhaps all he needed was a good sleep, it was only nine thirty but the essays piled on his desk could wait another day. He retreated to his bedroom sincerely hoping to extinguish all thoughts of the young Weasley out of his head.
"As you are aware, your exams are coming up very soon, and it is part of my job to make sure that you know what you are doing. Unfortunately most this class is far from exam standards. So it is with great regret that Dumbledore has announced that I will be giving remedial potions to those who cannot seem to grasp the fine art of potion brewing. They are a select few of you who could do without it but some", Severus dark eyes gazed the room and set on the young red head. "Are in dire need of... aid"
The Gryffindors moaned, the last thing they wanted was more lessons with Snape.
"It seems that the only thing that we are in dire need of is a new potions professor.." Ginny whispered snidely to Colin who laughed quietly.
"What was that Miss Weasley?" Snape's head snapped to face her, she smirked.
"Nothing... Your excellency."
"Well, since you seem so keen Miss Weasley, you would be happy to know that you are the first on my list for remedial potions." He said, as if addressing an infant. "and joining you will be Colin Creevey, Gregory Smarm and Frederick Wincey."
"I look forward to it – sir." She said mockingly with a sweet smile.
"The remedial lessons will be held at a time convenient for me, they have already been decided so I will expect you to adjust your timetable. See me after the lesson and I will tell you the times. We have wasted enough of our lesson discussing this so lets move on. We will begin to brew a branding potion, and if you have done your homework you know that it will take eight days. Before you move I want a volunteer to go and get some ingredients out of the ingredient cupboard- Mr. Creevey"
"Sir I didn't" Colin stammered.
"Thankyou Colin, here is a list. Be as quick as you can." Snape thrust a piece of paper out at Colin
The bell echoed down the stone hallways and into the dungeon Ginny stood up and walked towards the door as quickly as her legs could take her.
"And where do you think you are going Miss Weasley" Snape's voice boomed she stopped.
"Why to lunch of course, professor." She said, not turning around.
"I recall asking you to stay back Miss Weasley." He said in a tone of faux confusion.
"Funny that, I don't recall it at all." She said taking a step closer to freedom.
"Stop." She stopped walking "turn" Ginny spun around on the spot "and walk back to your seat." She walked towards the chair she had left only moments ago and plonked herself down on it. His thin lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Thankyou for joining us Miss Weasley." He said and nodded in her direction, she folded her arms.
"Mr Creevey please come to my desk." He said, Colin got up and walked over to his desk timidly. "Here is your time, any questions?"
"No Professor." Colin replied. Snape dismissed the sixth year with a flick of his wrist. Snape called Gregory Smarm up next, then Wincey. Ginny sat at her desk the whole time, an indifferent look on her face when Severus called her she raised her eyebrows.
"Come to my desk Miss Weasley." She didn't move "Or would you like to stay here for the rest of your lunch. I don't mind, I do not have an more lesson for the day." She tilted her head to the right.
"Why do I need remedial potions sir? I am getting an average mark of seventy-five percent." She said, trying not to let her anger show through.
"Well Miss Weasley all of the work you have submitted is somewhat similar to that which Potter and Granger submitted last year." He said snidely.
"What? What I submit is solely my own." She replied.
"Do not try to convince me otherwise Miss Weasley, I have a good eye for these matters."
"A good eye? For what?" She asked standing up.
"For spotting people who plagiarise Weasley." He drawled all, of the emotion drained from his waxen face.
"This isn't about my work is it?" She demanded forcefully, Severus glared at her. "What is it about?" She asked.
"It is about your work." Snape said standing up. And turning towards the door.
"No its not." She growled "What do you have against me?"
"I have no problem with you Ginevra, all I wish is that..."
"Is that, what?"
"Your remedial lesson is at seven thirty tonight." He said and walked out of the room quickly.
"Where are you going Ginny?" Harry called out after her as she got off her broom.
"I have a remedial potions lesson." She replied grudgingly.
"But training isn't finished yet." he stated.
"I know Harry- but I .." She begun, he interrupted her.
"When will you be finished?"
"Probably at eight thirty." She replied.
"I was kind of hoping we could go for a walk tonight, he said looking at the ground awkwardly. Ginny's heart gave a quick jolt.
"I'm sorry Harry, maybe another night." She said taking her scarf off. "Oh, can you give this to Ron for me, it's his." Before he could say anything else she walked off towards the castle and walked the familiar route towards the dungeon.
She was sick of the way Snape patronised her. Every time he saw her he got a look in his eyes of dislike. She hated the effect he had on her, his eyes penetrated hers and when he spoke she had to try hard to resist the urge to shiver. Most people were scared of Snape, but she was well past that stage. She didn't know what it was that made her feel the need to shiver. Did he disgust her that much? Did he make her that angry? Did she hate him? Or was it more than hate?
She snapped out of her thoughts as she opened the door to the dungeon and stepped inside.
"Glad to see you are on time for once, take a seat." Snape ordered. "We will be working on your potions essay skills today. Take out your quill and some parchment." He ordered, she didn't move.
"Sir, how can I cheat on an in-class essay when I can take no notes into the room and have no preparation time." Ginny asked.
"It seems, Miss Weasley, that you are kidding yourself." Snape drawled, she looked at the vein, it wasn't throbbing. He was enjoying this.
"How so sir?" She sneered he gave a cold laugh.
"There are many ways to cheat Miss Weasley." He stated matter-of-factly "Now, take out your quill and some parchment. I will dictate to you." Ginny pulled out her quill and got ready to write. "Paragraph one. Introduction: The history of the potion and what it is used for." He stood up. "Paragraph two. The main ingredients and their history." He walked over to her desk "Miss Weasley, are you writing any of this?"
"What? Oh. Yes professor." She replied snapping out of her daydream. He put his hand on the back of her chair and peered at her work over her shoulder.
"Paragraph three: The brewing process, are there any risks involved? What are they?" He moved his head nearer to her to get a better view of what she was writing. She smelt like fresh-cut grass and there was the lingering essence of perfume, she would have come straight from quidditch practise.
"Paragraph four: any other interesting facts." She shifted in her seat and his hands slipped onto her shoulder, touching it very lightly, she didn't seem to notice. "Paragraph five: the conclusion mention the effectiveness and credibility of the potion." He leaned closer, his cheek an inch from her.
"Is that all?" She asked as she put the full stop at the end, she turned around to face him and their lips brushed together for a split second. She jumped off her seat like a shocked animal and Snape straightened up quickly. She gathered her books quickly and shoved them into her bag.
"Weasley." Snape called as she walked towards the door. She ignored him. "That wasn't meant to happen." She opened the door "Don't-" she stopped.
"Don't tell anyone?" She asked angrily, she shook her head and stepped into the corridor slamming the heavy door behind her...
A/N: So there you have it, the next chapter, we hope it met your expectations. We are honestly sorry for the delay but we have both had much to do at school. Once again we would like to thank all the reviewers, even those who flame, but especially those who asked us to continue. The next chapter shouldn't take so long to complete, we already have some of it written. Thanks for waiting for us!
CHAPTER THREE: Excuses
Sarcasm. Such a wonderful thing, there was usually truth behind it – and it could be palmed off as a joke. Even when it wasn't. Severus Snape used this talent to make fun of people. With Ginny Weasley, however it was something different. Something very different. When she made jokes at his expense he used it as a defence against her.
"Yes...Now Go!" Yes...there was truth...He knew it was bad, it was against the law. He didn't know what it was about her, but there was something, her eyes, her hair, her attitude. He had been stretching his excuses for keeping her back "Do you have nothing better to do?", it was true, he knew it. He had been a teacher for nearly ten years and never in his teaching career had he come across a person young or old. Nobody had been able to distract him as much as she could. She was a brat, she was a stubborn and impossible brat.
He could not erase her from his mind.
She was intelligent, witty and fascinating. Severus wanted to kick himself for having these thoughts plague his head was a bad thing. He was a teacher, and she was a student. He was twenty years older than her and it disgusted him to think that he had some sort of attraction towards her.
Perhaps all he needed was a good sleep, it was only nine thirty but the essays piled on his desk could wait another day. He retreated to his bedroom sincerely hoping to extinguish all thoughts of the young Weasley out of his head.
"As you are aware, your exams are coming up very soon, and it is part of my job to make sure that you know what you are doing. Unfortunately most this class is far from exam standards. So it is with great regret that Dumbledore has announced that I will be giving remedial potions to those who cannot seem to grasp the fine art of potion brewing. They are a select few of you who could do without it but some", Severus dark eyes gazed the room and set on the young red head. "Are in dire need of... aid"
The Gryffindors moaned, the last thing they wanted was more lessons with Snape.
"It seems that the only thing that we are in dire need of is a new potions professor.." Ginny whispered snidely to Colin who laughed quietly.
"What was that Miss Weasley?" Snape's head snapped to face her, she smirked.
"Nothing... Your excellency."
"Well, since you seem so keen Miss Weasley, you would be happy to know that you are the first on my list for remedial potions." He said, as if addressing an infant. "and joining you will be Colin Creevey, Gregory Smarm and Frederick Wincey."
"I look forward to it – sir." She said mockingly with a sweet smile.
"The remedial lessons will be held at a time convenient for me, they have already been decided so I will expect you to adjust your timetable. See me after the lesson and I will tell you the times. We have wasted enough of our lesson discussing this so lets move on. We will begin to brew a branding potion, and if you have done your homework you know that it will take eight days. Before you move I want a volunteer to go and get some ingredients out of the ingredient cupboard- Mr. Creevey"
"Sir I didn't" Colin stammered.
"Thankyou Colin, here is a list. Be as quick as you can." Snape thrust a piece of paper out at Colin
The bell echoed down the stone hallways and into the dungeon Ginny stood up and walked towards the door as quickly as her legs could take her.
"And where do you think you are going Miss Weasley" Snape's voice boomed she stopped.
"Why to lunch of course, professor." She said, not turning around.
"I recall asking you to stay back Miss Weasley." He said in a tone of faux confusion.
"Funny that, I don't recall it at all." She said taking a step closer to freedom.
"Stop." She stopped walking "turn" Ginny spun around on the spot "and walk back to your seat." She walked towards the chair she had left only moments ago and plonked herself down on it. His thin lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Thankyou for joining us Miss Weasley." He said and nodded in her direction, she folded her arms.
"Mr Creevey please come to my desk." He said, Colin got up and walked over to his desk timidly. "Here is your time, any questions?"
"No Professor." Colin replied. Snape dismissed the sixth year with a flick of his wrist. Snape called Gregory Smarm up next, then Wincey. Ginny sat at her desk the whole time, an indifferent look on her face when Severus called her she raised her eyebrows.
"Come to my desk Miss Weasley." She didn't move "Or would you like to stay here for the rest of your lunch. I don't mind, I do not have an more lesson for the day." She tilted her head to the right.
"Why do I need remedial potions sir? I am getting an average mark of seventy-five percent." She said, trying not to let her anger show through.
"Well Miss Weasley all of the work you have submitted is somewhat similar to that which Potter and Granger submitted last year." He said snidely.
"What? What I submit is solely my own." She replied.
"Do not try to convince me otherwise Miss Weasley, I have a good eye for these matters."
"A good eye? For what?" She asked standing up.
"For spotting people who plagiarise Weasley." He drawled all, of the emotion drained from his waxen face.
"This isn't about my work is it?" She demanded forcefully, Severus glared at her. "What is it about?" She asked.
"It is about your work." Snape said standing up. And turning towards the door.
"No its not." She growled "What do you have against me?"
"I have no problem with you Ginevra, all I wish is that..."
"Is that, what?"
"Your remedial lesson is at seven thirty tonight." He said and walked out of the room quickly.
"Where are you going Ginny?" Harry called out after her as she got off her broom.
"I have a remedial potions lesson." She replied grudgingly.
"But training isn't finished yet." he stated.
"I know Harry- but I .." She begun, he interrupted her.
"When will you be finished?"
"Probably at eight thirty." She replied.
"I was kind of hoping we could go for a walk tonight, he said looking at the ground awkwardly. Ginny's heart gave a quick jolt.
"I'm sorry Harry, maybe another night." She said taking her scarf off. "Oh, can you give this to Ron for me, it's his." Before he could say anything else she walked off towards the castle and walked the familiar route towards the dungeon.
She was sick of the way Snape patronised her. Every time he saw her he got a look in his eyes of dislike. She hated the effect he had on her, his eyes penetrated hers and when he spoke she had to try hard to resist the urge to shiver. Most people were scared of Snape, but she was well past that stage. She didn't know what it was that made her feel the need to shiver. Did he disgust her that much? Did he make her that angry? Did she hate him? Or was it more than hate?
She snapped out of her thoughts as she opened the door to the dungeon and stepped inside.
"Glad to see you are on time for once, take a seat." Snape ordered. "We will be working on your potions essay skills today. Take out your quill and some parchment." He ordered, she didn't move.
"Sir, how can I cheat on an in-class essay when I can take no notes into the room and have no preparation time." Ginny asked.
"It seems, Miss Weasley, that you are kidding yourself." Snape drawled, she looked at the vein, it wasn't throbbing. He was enjoying this.
"How so sir?" She sneered he gave a cold laugh.
"There are many ways to cheat Miss Weasley." He stated matter-of-factly "Now, take out your quill and some parchment. I will dictate to you." Ginny pulled out her quill and got ready to write. "Paragraph one. Introduction: The history of the potion and what it is used for." He stood up. "Paragraph two. The main ingredients and their history." He walked over to her desk "Miss Weasley, are you writing any of this?"
"What? Oh. Yes professor." She replied snapping out of her daydream. He put his hand on the back of her chair and peered at her work over her shoulder.
"Paragraph three: The brewing process, are there any risks involved? What are they?" He moved his head nearer to her to get a better view of what she was writing. She smelt like fresh-cut grass and there was the lingering essence of perfume, she would have come straight from quidditch practise.
"Paragraph four: any other interesting facts." She shifted in her seat and his hands slipped onto her shoulder, touching it very lightly, she didn't seem to notice. "Paragraph five: the conclusion mention the effectiveness and credibility of the potion." He leaned closer, his cheek an inch from her.
"Is that all?" She asked as she put the full stop at the end, she turned around to face him and their lips brushed together for a split second. She jumped off her seat like a shocked animal and Snape straightened up quickly. She gathered her books quickly and shoved them into her bag.
"Weasley." Snape called as she walked towards the door. She ignored him. "That wasn't meant to happen." She opened the door "Don't-" she stopped.
"Don't tell anyone?" She asked angrily, she shook her head and stepped into the corridor slamming the heavy door behind her...
A/N: So there you have it, the next chapter, we hope it met your expectations. We are honestly sorry for the delay but we have both had much to do at school. Once again we would like to thank all the reviewers, even those who flame, but especially those who asked us to continue. The next chapter shouldn't take so long to complete, we already have some of it written. Thanks for waiting for us!