Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters
A/N: Tis time to update another chapter. Since I plan to make this story longer than the others, I might dwindle my author's notes to only once every two or three chaps. Not starting until after next chap though. Note for anyone who knows me in school-the stupid bianca girl in this story reflects the obsessive mirror thing I used to have. laugh out loud hehehehe.
Chapter 11: Preppy Arrogance
Chocolate was not a very grand idea for breakfast, especially when I first woke up. But I couldn't help but want something sugary to pep me up for today, Monday. This was the day I would teach a class on my own. Snape would still be in the room, but only at his desk. As I hopped out of bed and into my black robes, I decided to have one more piece of chocolate. First of all, I needed to be energetic, and second of all, I was a secret chocoholic.
"I teach today," I told myself over again, "I teach today." I still couldn't believe it. The only drawback of this teaching business was that Snape picked me to not only teach one, but both first year classes. Mary's class and the prep's class.
Breakfast was the usual sit-and-chat with Hermione. I decided not to ask Snape for the serenity potion only to show off that I wasn't as nervous as I thought. Let's just hope I stay this confident throughout the rest of the day.
"I might be in and out of third class today. If you're alone with the students for a few, don't be alarmed. Go on as if you were a real professor, and don't let your guard down. Children can act horrible if they feel you're vulnerable." Snape tried giving me tips I already knew. It was funny though, for now I knew he didn't want to seem vulnerable in class.
I purposely teased, "Is that why you act so intimidating in class?"
"It's not an act. I am strict because I need to be. End of story."
Ok.. So Snake the Oxymoron is sensitive when it comes to teasing him about his teaching methods. I'll keep that in mind.
First period I had off, for it was Snape's Advanced Potions class. There was no way I would go back in that class. Not that last year was terrible, but I've had enough of past memories.
At long last, the time had come to enter Snape's classroom. He had given me a sylabus to teach from, but I didn't really need to use it. The class would be mostly reading from their textbooks today anyways. Snape mentioned how he tried to make a day in the beginning of every week a reading day, to read the chapter aloud or silently and answer all the chapter review questions. Additionally, he said this set up was mostly for the younger years, so he would have more time for the upperclassmen to make potions.
Standing in front of the class, which started immediately as I entered, Snape announced, "Miss Maguire will be teaching your class today. It is her first time, but she knows rules and regulations as much as I. No fooling around, no backtalk, and do your work she assigns without complaints. I will be at my desk if any punishment is needed from me. Other than that, she has all rights as a professor today, which means she can and will punish if needed. That is all. The floor is your, Miss Maguire."
Oh Merlin, here I went. Time to teach these tiny mutant children things about potions. Wow, I sound like him...The Snake.
"Hello," I began calmly, "I'm glad to be here today, teaching you all. Please turn your books to chapter three. I'm going to need a few volunteers to read aloud.. Any takers?"
A few girls raised there hands, and a couple boys were hesitant, but raised their hands high. My brain began conjuring a plan, seeing Mary's shy, slouching self. Should I pick on her, despite the non-raised hand? Snape would do it.. But the question is...Would I?
Yes I would.
"Miss Burmingham," She shot her head up as I spoke, "Would you be so kind as to reading the first page of chapter three?"
She sighed and nodded her blushing head. Facing the textbook, she began reading in almost a whisper. I didn't want to pick on her, but she needed to raise her voice. So I asked her to, and she did. The first page was read, and then the second, third, and fourth. I had them silently read the rest and answer all of the chapter review questions. This took up the rest of class, and unexpectedly went well. When class finished, Snape pulled me aside for a moment.
"See, no need for your serenity potion." I smiled and waited for Snape to say anything.
Patting me on the shoulder, which was damn odd, Snape stated, "Well done, Maguire. But are you ready for the next class?"
Nodding, I replied, "Yes, Sir! I hope I didn't anger you by picking someone who didn't have their hands raised. I just thought Mary should have some boost to open her mouth."
"She reminds me of you when you were quiet.. That didn't last long. Let's pray she doesn't end up being the next you in the yelling department." With a smirk, Snape sat back in his chair as the next class piled in.
From his desk, Snake introduced me as their teacher for the day. He repeated himself from the first class. Unfortunately, the students in the room didn't look as settled as the last. Not only because the preppy chick was in here either.
Before I asked for a volunteer to read, Snape stood up and left the room. Of course he would choose the rambunctious class to exit. Pressing on, I chose a few students to read, and they followed orders...
Until preppy chick, Bianca Hawford, spoke up, "Why do we have to read out loud? Professor Snape isn't in here right now, so we should take a break."
"Miss...Hawford," my tone was neither intimidating nor vulnerable, "We cannot and will not stop doing our work because the certified teacher is out of the room. Sorry to disappoint you, but school work is more important than playing with make-up." I only threw this comment in on account of her checking her make-up every five minutes.
She shot back, "Guess we know who was a nerd during her years of school."
The class made an ooooh sound as if I had gotten badly dissed. To my disbelief, it hadn't angered me one ounce.
"Five points from Gryffindor. I may be a nerd, but I have the power to punish those who have big, egotistic heads full of hot air. Now, back to reading.. I believe Scott was reading the second half of the fourth page before Professor Snape left." My oh my, authority felt good to have once in awhile.
The student who was reading was going to coninue doing so, but Bianca interrupted with her mammoth mouth.
"I refuse to learn anymore from this amateur graduate. Where is Professor Snape? Have you chased him away with your ugly face, Miss Maguire?"
Ok...not mad...not mad..Not mad..
Mad...
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Hawford. Ignorance and arrogance are not usually turn ons this day in age." I felt slightly better.
"Neither," said she, chewing on gum like a fat pig, "is having a horrendous looking teacher, and I'm not talking about Snape, who is most handsome. Anyone would look better than you, even Filch. Even the scum on the bathtubs. Go ahead and take all the points away from me if you want, but that won't make up for how disgusting you are."
Sigh. "Well, you'll be most hated today. Twenty points from Gryffindor, and detention with Filch tonight. You seem so fond of him, why not spend a little quality time with the ones you love?"
Ha! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, preppy chick. Wait...She called Snape handsome?
"Three rolls of parchment on the reading today," Snape waltzed into the room with a look of upmost ire, "Due tomorrow. Anyone doesn't turn it in, you will have detention with Filch for the week. If that doesn't satisfy you enough, another week of detention with me. If I ever catch any student disrespecting Miss Maguire again, your parents will feel how much pain you are in before it even happens. She is a student teacher, yes, but she is older, wiser, and more intellectual than all of you put together. She is also human, so treat her right, or leave my class. I never tolerate discourtesy in this room, so save it for your own time. And you," He shot an icy glare at Bianca, "I want you to stay after class. Use the rest of class time to read the chapter silently. Chapter three."
Sitting down in a chair next to Snape, we side-glanced at each other and spent the next fifteen minutes quietly reading and sifting through papers. He had stood up for me. The insults hadn't mattered the second Snape came into view. I knew that somehow, he knew what was said, what was done. And yet, he still chose to be the good guy for me. He kept his guard up, but hinted to me that everything was finally under control. Hints of care for me. Care for dignity. Equality.
Bianca approached Snape's desk as the last few children left the room. She only stood in front of him, but I could tell in her eyes that she had meant it. She thought Snape was handsome. From all the romance books I read, the stories had taught me how crazy people can act when in.. love. The tales additionally inferred me of what they look like when they adore or fancy someone. Their eyes glimmer with faith, their lips subtlely tremble with lust, their breath becomes heavy and drawn out. Complete messes. Completely disturbing, in my opinion.
"You owe Miss Maguire a meaningful appology." Ordered Snape.
Turning to me, Bianca bobbed her head to the side and practically whined, "I'm sorry, ok? Very sorry. You should understand though. Monthly thing.. Totally ticking me off... Moody...Aching.."
Please no more excuses... Stupid chick.. "It's fine." It's not fine. "Really." Not really. "You seem like a nice girl." You seem like a freaking dumb ass. S'cuse my language, despite it being in my thoughts.
"Thank you," Snape caught Bianca's full attention. "You may go now, but don't forget your detention with Filch tonight."
A breath of relief escaped both my and Snape's mouth as she left.
"Profess-"
"Miss Ma-"
We started talking at the same time, which was kind of amusing.
"Ladies first," He smirked.
Continuing on, I gratefully stated, "Thank you so much, Professor Snape. Miss Hawford was way out of line."
"No problem," Looking into my eyes, Snape said, "but remember not to take her words seriously."
"I know. I don't find myself ugly, and I don't think I'm very pretty either. But that's just my humble opinion." I glanced at the door, for it was almost time to leave. The next class was third years, and I didn't teach it or help teach it.
Snape stated, "You'd better head out, Maguire."
"Yeah," Standing, I agreed, "I'd better head out."
And so I left his room with a confident piece of mind. Snape had stood up for me. He had helped me overcome a smart-alek, conceited, arrogant female. I was euphoric.
