Disclaimer: I own nothing of J.K. Rowling's.
A/N: The first is over.. this book, I know, will be the longest thing I've ever written. I'm going to have to milk it at some parts, though, in order to keep the plot straightforward and upright. This is more serious, despite Maranda's language, and the story itself is a bit darker in some senses. My own take on snape's life too.. can be OOC at times by the way. Just warning you all. Thank you very much Gwenny for the very motivating and inspiring comment. I'm so glad you like.
Chapter 2: Bothersome Battles
It was a bitter, icy night. The room was disturbingly quiet, except for the pitter-patter of rats moving about. I was stuck in a damned storage room! Sleeping wouldn't be an option this year, would it? I watched as the shadows moved across the walls. They were dancing back and forth, irritating me in every single way. Then I realized it was a ghost, an that scared me into a few minutes of sleep.
All in all the night passed horribly, with only an hour of sleep to my name. I guessed I would soon have to become accustomed to slumberless nights. No big deal, right? It's not like I need to function or anything.
I changed quickly, not wanting to ask Snape where a shower was. I could see me now, walking in his room and bluntly asking, "Where do you bathe?" Yeah, that would really start us off on a right foot.
Besides, I wanted to wait until later to ask him when I wasn't so groggy. Opening the door wasn't such a great idea, for I noticed that the Potions class was closer than I had thought previously. Suddenly I knew this year would be the most challenging of all. I had an authority figure across from my new bedroom, which meant no funny business. Ha...ha...ha?
My pinstripe black pants and black top made me appear sophisticated, which is how I wanted to look on my first real day back in Hogwarts. Gathering my dignity, I exited my room and went knock, knock, knocking on Snapey's door. At first there was no answer, not even a sound to signal life on the other side of the wooden door. I knocked again, hoping not to disturb Snape if he was still sleeping. I sighed, waiting patiently for some reply to my knocking.
"Can I help you?" Snape swung his door open fast as if it were an emergency.
My throat became dry for a moment, "I...I just wanted to ask..." I thought about the bathing question and almost chuckled, "I wanted to know when breakfast was."
"At seven-thirty it begins, just like the normal school days you remember. You came to ask me that at seven o'clock when I could have been sleeping still?" A sneer appeared, making me feel slightly uncomfortable.
I conjured up another reason for bothering him, "I also wanted to know if my attire is acceptable, or if everyone involved with the E.Y.P's has to dress a certain way."
"You are fine for today," Snape seemed to calm down, for he wiped the sneer off his face, "but when the school session starts, you are required to wear professors' robes as the rest of us. Dumbledore is going to mention this at the feast tonight, so I wouldn't worry right now if I were you. ...Now, will you kindly leave me be. I have much to do before breakfast."
Feeling defeated, like I had just been in a battle, I nodded and began walking down the hall. Behind me, I heard the Potion's door shut loudly. What a crappy start to a day. For sure, I thought Snape was going to yell at me for no reason, but his cold words were worse. I decided to go up to the Great Hall. At least it would be nice and quiet until breakfast started.
And I was correct; The Great Hall was dead quiet, giving me time to recollect my thoughts and ideas. I sat at the Gryffindor table and glanced around. It felt so strange having the Hall this quiet. A rush of independence rushed over me like a chilly autumn breeze. Here I was, at last, a graduate preparing herself for the world of work. Growing up was hard to do, who didn't know that? But I had this urge to be little again, even though it would have been in my orphanage. I wanted to have another chance to make everything right. I wanted to go back in time and make the shy, hidden girl I was to be more outgoing and strong. However, being where I was now and who I was now was just as great as any wish to correct the wrongs of the past.
After a half-hour of pondering life, professors and graduates began to enter the Great Hall. Among them were Hermione, Ron, Draco, and Gwen.
"Maranda," Hermione giggled, "You're sitting at the wrong table. We're supposed to sit next to our professors, remember?"
I smiled, "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to be at our old table one more time." With that, I stood up and went to the professors' table.
Dumbledore soon walked in and directed everyone to sit in different assigned spots. I want to hug him, for he sat me next to Hermione. The only downside was I sat in the middle of her and Severus. Next to Hermione was McGonagal, and then the list went on. Ron wasn't too far from Hermione, and Draco was actually in the middle of Snape and Gilderoy. I wanted to laugh in his face, Ha Ha Ha!
I took my seat just as Snape sauntered into the Hall. He gave me a hateful stare, plainly not wanting to sit near me.
Hermione saw this and whispered, "Someone's grumpy."
Breakfast initiated as Dumbledore took his seat. All the professors seemed very amiable, for they started conversations with us E.Y.P-ers. Snape didn't send any friendly vibes out, so I avoided contact with him. Hermione talked to me about the location of her new room, which was on the first floor, down the hall from McGonagal's classroom.
"Yeah, at least you get some breathing space." I tried to stay quiet, "I'm stuck right across from the Potions room. I mean, it's not a terrible thing, but I would like some peace and sense of privacy. I feel as though he's going to watch everything I do." My voice wasn't too loud. I was pretty sure Snape hadn't heard my complaints.
Hermione let out a small laugh, "You know he would not give any of his precious time to watch what you are doing."
"True.." My frown disappeared.
In a minute, Snape began talking to me, "Are you going to bother me every morning?"
"No, I won't bother you every morning. I was awake and had a few questions on my mind that were haunting me." I was becoming a bit irritated.
"Well, how would you like it if I bothered you early in the morning for silly questions?" Snape had a bad attitude, but I could handle it.
"I," My voice sounded mockingly proud, "would not care in the least, for I can't sleep correctly in that room. It wouldn't matter to me if you bothered me at any time, for it seems I can handle it a tad better than you can."
Snape was not only shocked, but speechless. I had won the battle alas. Breakfast for me remained silent, except for the constant praise Hermione whispered to me for sticking up for myself.
Before I left the Hall, Snape ordered me to meet him in his classroom to clean with him. Great...Now I'm a maid.
As ordered, I met Snape in his class and he began to list things off for me to do. Wash the cabinets, sweep and wash the floor, straighten the tables and chairs, go through the cabinets and place any empty flasks in the sink, clean the empty flasks, and then wait for further instructions. Of course, this wasn't a detention, so he allowed the use of magic. Yet, the cleaning did take a long time, for I had to make sure everything was as close to perfect as it could be. Otherwise, I would be screamed at by the Snake. I attacked each problem one at a time, realizing I shouldn't have worn such sophisticated clothes for such a dirty job.
"Professor," I looked over at Snape who was cleaning out his desk drawers, "May I be excused for one measly minute to change into something I won't mind getting dirty?"
"Yes," He kept his head down, looking at some old papers, "you may."
Changing into some blue jeans and a blue top only took me about three minutes. I dashed back into the Potions classroom and returned to work.
Hours seemed like minutes, quickly passing by without me noticing as I kept on task. My stomach began to grumble, indicating it was close to lunchtime. I wondered what Snape would think of me if I skipped lunch alltogether and kept working. The cabinets sparkled I cleaned them so well, the empty flasks were glittering though they had never been used before, and the floor was almost done being washed. My 'chores' were taking so long because I wasn't too good at cleaning with my magic, so it took a longer time. Snape had progressed though, for he moved from cleaning his desk drawers to cleaning his study, which was in another small room in the back of the classroom. His bedroom was a room behind his study. I only knew this because he told me not to go in the back room for any reason. When I asked him why, he told me his private quarters were after the study. He also advised me not to enter his study unless he told me to. What a demanding guy!
"Are you hungry, Miss Maguire?" Snape's voice startled me and made me jump.
I answered quickly, "Not really. I'm going to finish my job before eating anything." Some soap suds found there way to my arm, but I didn't care.
"You don't want to eat anything?" He almost cared. Obviously I didn't buy his concern.
I shook my head.
Snape went to the door and said, "Last chance..."
Again, I shook my head, "I'm fine."
He left the room and I continued to clean. He was the one who ordered me to help clean, so why not give one-hundred percent?
0o0o0o0o
Time passed again, but I hadn't noticed...again.. I was completely into cleaning, which was a first for me. I actually enjoyed making Snape's room sanitary enough to stay in. Not that it had been atrocious and disgusting, but it held a murky, moldy smell to it as though Snape hadn't touched it for...the whole of summer vacation. Funny, he hadn't touched it for the whole time of summer vacation.
Soon the clock read close to five.. I was surprised Snape hadn't stopped me from cleaning the tables or chairs one by one. He never asked me to do this, but as I thought before: Better one-hundred percent than a half-ass job.
"Alright, Miss Maguire," Snape realized how dirty my clothes were, "I think it's time for you to stop. You have hand-washed most of the things in here, when I allowed the use of magic. You are the filthy one now, so I hope you will clean up before going to the supper."
I looked at my shirt, which went from blue to a greyish-black from dirt. "Professor, I only hand-washed some of the things because my cleansing magic is not very strong yet. Oh..." The bathing question came into my head, but this time I had to ask, "Where is there a shower I can use? I'm sure I'm not permitted in the Gryffindor Common Room to wash up."
Snape looked at me with a calm sense, "You'll have to use the bathroom down the hall, near the Slytherin house. There is a shower there. I would let you use mine, but I feel that is a bit extreme.. We both want our privacy, now don't we?"
Oh no..He had heard me this morning. "Erm..Yes.. So, down the hall?"
"Yes, that's what I said. The feast begins in about fifteen minutes, so hasten, will you?" He raised an eyebrow, and I nodded in return.
Running back to my room, I grabbed the clothing I had worn before, and ran down the hall to the bathroom. The walls were painted green, which didn't surprise me, and in the corner stall was a shower. Perfect..Anyone with claustrophobia would not have a good time in here.
My pinstripe pants were comfortable enough to run in, so I ran to the Great Hall. Something told me I would be late for the feast if I didn't hurry. However, the feast had not begun yet once I entered. I sat next to Snape, who half-smiled at my exhaustion from running. Yeah...Let's see you run a mile, Snake!
As everyone was in their seats, the E.Y.P Feast intitiated with Dumbldore making a small speech. "Welcome one and all," Albus began cheerfully, "to the E.Y.P Celebration Feast. This has officially been day one of you graduates being here, so congratulations! I am here now to inform you all of any questions that may have been swimming in your oceanic minds. Sleeping arrangements should have already been made by the professors who showed you where your new rooms were last night. As for eating arrangements, you are in your new seats for the year. Tomorrow, I will allow you assistants to purchase teachers' robes from Hogsmeade. You are now expected to wear these robes every weekday, while you help teach in class once school starts. Until then, and on weekends, you may wear anything appropriate that you wish. If, at any time, you have a problem with whom you are assisting, please see me in my office at a reasonable time of day. I realize it is hard, at times, to work with a person one-on-one who used to teach you, which is why I am all ears. The rest of information regarding you helping professors is up to them to hand out, for they will help you help them. Also, they will give you objectives to fill for teaching a class. May your year be wonderful and exciting, and may you all succeed with excellent progress. Without futher adue, let's eat!"
Mountains of food appeared on the table, in our plates, waiting for us to eat. I was starving. Mione and I conversed while we ate. Snape kept pretty quiet aside from the few words exchanged with Draco. The night would end after the feast, and I couldn't wait to actually fall asleep tonight. The bothersome battle of sleep and awake waited for me, teased and taunted me. Today was full of tiny battles, and I felt they would soon turn into wars.
But I knew life was a battle, and us soldiers had to fight for our right...to party!
