Chapter Nine

That was better than I thought it would be. I still don't like being here again, but getting the chance to tell James Junior part of my past has lightened the burden of…

…hmm…I don't think I'm ready to touch that, not even in my own journal. And I really should stop referring to him as the son of his father. He's Harry Potter, an individual in his own right. I admit it's perhaps too early in the year for me to have bared my soul to that student. I am a professor after all. But I simply couldn't help it, it all just came pouring out. Thing is, I've got bigger secrets to share that he has every right to know. This is a pretty good start, but I better pace myself.

I just hope that-uh oh, someone's coming-

Celeste quickly slammed her emerald green leather-bound journal shut. She heard strong footsteps headed toward her office and presently, knuckles rapped smartly on her door. Have Hogwarts students turned into such absolute nerds to even think of consulting professors on SUNDAYS? This is yet another time that that old map of those four nutters would really come in handy. With a sigh, she braced herself for a morning of tutoring.

"Come on in!"

Severus hesitated outside the door, very much as Harry had done just yesterday. Why am I hesitating? Am I or am I not one of the Order's best spies? I know I'm a lot tougher than this! With that mental kick to himself, he took one deep breath and turned the doorknob.

Standing up, Celeste turned and felt a hot sensation rush up to her face as she took in the all-black matching suit, the billowing black robes, the pale, pale face, the aquiline nose, the endless-tunnel eyes. Severus Snape never really changed through the years. The only thing that seemed different was his shoulder-length hair, which looked like he had actually combed it.

"So, D'Angelique, are you going to let me in, or will I just stand here all day?"

Typical sarcastic Severus.

"No, your Grace, please come in."

The Potions Master sneered. Typical sarcastic Celeste. But he was not one to be affected by her. He jumped right to business, and stood squarely in front of her medium-sized mahogany desk, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"So, you've been avoiding me."

Celeste knew that in the presence of this man, she had to tread carefully. After all, wasn't he a Legilimens, just like her? She of all people ought to know...

Gameplan, I need a gameplan...

"And a touch of Occlumency wouldn't hurt either, D'Angelique."

Celeste felt a blush coming on, but her pride forced it down. She summoned all her willpower to block out the probing of this intruder and flashed him a naïve, big-eyed look.

"Hmm, what makes you think I'm avoiding you, Snape? Or better yet, what makes you think you're worth avoiding at all?"

Severus couldn't believe she was playing innocent. Was she or was she not absent at every meal he'd gone to the Great Hall for? Did she or didn't she stay away from the dungeons? Not that she really had any reason to go down there, but still.

"Don't toy with me, D'Angelique. I know you've been staying away from me. I just want to know why."

Celeste smiled almost viciously. He's good. He really is. Or maybe I'm just being too transparent. "You know, Snape, someone smart enough to guess that I am indeed avoiding you should be smart enough to guess why."

Severus felt the beginnings of a rage start up in him, but he fought it down. A smile dripping with disdain spread across his features. "You're right, I am that smart. But I just wanted to hear it from you." Now let's see you wriggle out of that one…

Celeste's mouth started to open in protest, but knew that she'd just allowed herself to be cornered. She looked down, let out a loud sigh, and fixed her wide blue eyes on her colleague.

"All right, you win. What do you want?"

Severus wanted to laugh over his little triumph, but he decided (wisely) to save it for a time when he wasn't facing Celeste's fuming countenance. Instead, he returned her gaze steadily.

"What do I want? I simply wanted to converse with you, if that's not too much of a problem."

Celeste moodily indicated the seat in front of her desk and plopped down on her own seat. She may have lost the battle of wits, but she wasn't going to open her mouth and play into his hands again.

Severus ignored the seat offered and went around her desk to sit on the part of it right in front of the witch. "Oh come now, Celeste," he said, "we were friends at Hogwarts. I don't see why a little tit for tat would be so hard for you."

"Severus, I--"

"You don't have to answer that very rude question I opened with. I of all people must not demand such things from you."

Celeste flared up a bit as she looked up at him. "Sev, cut the flattery. You came in here wanting to know why I was avoiding you. I'll tell you. No," she said, holding up a finger, "don't interrupt me, you wanted to know." Though she started speaking with determination, after that last burst, she felt it ebb away from her. No words could find their way out. So she stood up from her seat and moved over to the window.

Celeste looked out over the school grounds, a whole stream of memories rushing through her. With her mind's eye, she could see James and Sirius romping about the grassy slopes around the castle, scheming up the best ways to torture Snivellus Snape without actually getting caught. She felt the pangs of guilt she'd always felt when she'd witness her Slytherin friend being, well, bullied--yes, hard as it was to admit, that was what they did sometimes--by her more popular classmates. And, she seemed to hear Sirius' voice resounding in her head, demanding to know just why she stayed friends with "that oily-nosed, rag-haired, Dark wizard wannabe from Slytherin". So deep was she in her thoughts that she barely noticed that Severus had walked over and was standing right behind her.

Severus finally broke the silence. "You ought to know that when you were chosen to take Umbridge's place, I stood up and tried to change the Headmaster's mind. You know that I appreciate very well the value of solitude."

Celeste replied without turning. "I know you do, Severus. But--"

"--but," he interrupted, turning away from the glass panes and heading towards the door, "just as I appreciate its value, I also realize how much of a curse it can be."

With a swish of his flowing black robes, the Potions Master was gone.