AN: There is no violence in this chapter. This is a flash back chapter series I started as something fun, to kinda give reference for how Snape and Penny and Penny and Lupin developed their relationships. It's all fluff and sass, enjoy!
The sun was dipping low over the Hogwarts grounds, Penny hurrying away from Hagrid's. She'd spent the better part of the afternoon with Hermione and Hagrid working on Buckbeak's execution case. They didn't get much done because Hermione burst into tears over Ron and Harry refusing to speak to her.
Penny loved her brother, but the argument over the firebolt was absurd. Penny made it known she agreed with Hermione, but neither of the boys would listen to her. So she spent as much time with Hermione as she could, until the idiots got over their grudge.
The wind blew and a shudder tickled her spine. Penny paused, looking around at the Dark Forest, feeling as though someone were watching her. She told herself she was being absurd, but she could not shake the unnerving sensation. Sirius Black had escaped Azkaban and apparently was out for Harry, would that vendetta include Penny? She really did not want to find out, and hurried over the slope to find refuge in the castle.
Penny left Hagrid's before Hermione because she needed to turn in a paper on werewolves to Professor Snape. He'd subbed for Lupin early last month and assigned a paper most of her class refused to write, and Professor Lupin assured them they did not need to do. But Penny had already finished her paper by the time the announcement came. She didn't actually mind, her studies took her into exploring the Wolfsbane potion, which she was fascinated by.
Crossing the Entrance Hall to the stairs that led to the dungeons, she took them three at a time. Snape's office was located halfway down the cold corridor, adjacent to Penny's Double Potions class. Without a knock, she pushed the already ajar door further open, stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows on the jars that lined the walls. Though most of her classmates found them creepy, Penny was fascinated by the contents of the jars. Her eyes settled on a dead frog in one, suspended in thick purple liquid.
Movement from her right caught her attention, Snape's dark hair coming into focus.
"It is customary, Ms. Potter, to knock before entering," he said in a bored tone, barely looking at her.
He shut the door to his private stores and walked at a brisk pace to his desk where he took a seat. Penny followed without invitation, seating herself almost before he had.
His eyes narrowed, "I don't recall asking you to join me. This is, after-all, my free time, and I'd rather not waste it."
"I want to talk about the essay you assigned," Penny replied, ignoring his jab, and opening her bag to find her essay.
"Well, I do not. That's why I assigned it as an essay. You see, as a Professor, I am given the luxury of deferring the subjects I'm sick of trying to teach to imbeciles to independent study. But you can't actually have finished-"
"Not that one. I'm referring to the one on werewolves that you assigned in DADA last month," Penny said impatiently. Seeing the anger flash across his face she hastily added, "sir," hoping to appease his wrath.
He was placated enough to remain silent, choosing instead to interlock his long, thin fingers before him.
Ploughing forward before he found his resolve to kick her out, Penny turned over her parchment and slid it across to Snape.
"In writing your essay I found mention of a Wolfsbane potion for the relief of symptoms of transformation,"
"Your point?" Snape said lazily, dark eyes glancing at the clock behind Penny's head.
"If you listen and stop interrupting I'll get to it," Penny replied, her eyes narrowing this time.
Dark eyes darted back to her face, scanning it, the corners of his lips twitching.
"I can't find a single book in the library on this potion."
"Are you intending to turn into a werewolf this weekend?"
"No, are you?" quipped Penny.
His eyebrow raised, and he looked down his hooked nose at her.
"I am not the werewolf you need to worry about."
"I''m not worried about a werewolf, I want to know why this potion has been removed from academic shelves."
He considered her for a moment, then he stood and walked to his book case where he scanned the shelves, retrieving what he was looking for. He flipped through the pages, returned to his seat and then laid the book open before Penny. Unable to stop herself, her greedy fingers took hold of the pages and pulled it toward her, her eyes darting furiously across the pages.
"How can anyone brew this, it's so complex and the mishandling of monkshood can easily kill someone," Penny muttered, her brows furrowed.
"I would not expect a subpar student to grasp the techniques required for this brew. I will admit, it takes a deft hand, but I can assure you I've brewed it several times myself with no issue," he said in a velvety voice, his eyelids heavy with contempt.
"You are a bad liar, Professor. I know very well you would never give me perfect marks if I were a subpar student." Ignoring his sneer she continued on, "You've brewed this more than once?" she said, her tone betraying her skepticism.
"Yes, Ms. Potter, that is what I said. In fact, I am currently in the middle of a batch at this very moment."
"I imagine you want it to be done by Friday," said Penny, her eyes now searching his face.
A horrible grin spread across it, and he leaned forward, placing his chin in his long fingers.
"Tut tut, so much for perfect marks. That's an Exceed Expectations at best. I already told you I am not the one you should worry about,"
Penny broke into her own smirk, sliding her paper closer to him.
"Ahh, but you see, your conclusion has missed the mark. As I said, I came to talk about the Wolfsbane potion. I already knew about the werewolf. I just wanted confirmation that you have indeed given, what is it," she said, looking back at the book, "96 hours a month, brewing this," said Penny, smugly.
"And why would you want confirmation of that," said Snape, coldly.
"Because it's a really nice thing to do, Professor. I know you like to try and convince us all you are the scary Potions Master, but I give your effort an Acceptable at best," Penny, finished pleasantly, smiling up into the cold fury that reigned down on her.
"How charming, I might need a tissue to dab my eyes," said Snape, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Penny got to her feet and glanced at the clock, dinner would be served soon. "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret Professor, that you're actually a good man. But only if you help me become as talented of a potions master as you someday."
Hitching her bag over her shoulder, she looked back at the flabbergasted expression on his face, not bothering to hide her satisfaction. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she turned on her heel to leave.
"I look forward to our next discussion," she said cheerfully, leaving the door ajar as she went.
His lack of response told Penny she had hit the nail on the head. She'd been aware of Lupin's condition for quite some time. She'd wondered how he was managing it, but she dare not ask him. They were becoming fast friends, but it was not a subject one brought up in polite conversation, and it was incredibly intrusive. When Snape assigned the essay was when Penny realized how Lupin was coping and who was helping him.
Everyone always told her she wasted her time with the surly Severus Snape. But Penny suspected, and this proved it, there was more to the Potions Master than met the eye, and she was determined to continue to discover more about him.