Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments and follows!
It's our favourite Potion master today!
Just a little chapter but I hope you like it!
Lots of love Zed x x
"You're joking…" Severus said flatly, his face blank as he watched the Headmaster gleefully select a sugared bonbon from the little dishes on his desk.
Albus simply twinkled at him over his glasses as he popped the sweet into his mouth.
"Please tell me you're joking…"
"Not at all my boy! Isn't this wonderful news? I approved it straight away of course; the young lad was so excited. I have added you in as the supervising professor, seeing as it's your area of expertise."
Snape clenched his hands inhaling sharply through his nose before releasing both. When Albus had asked for a 'little chat' this was not what he was expecting.
"I hardly think that I am the correct person to…"
"Nonsense," Albus cut across him, "I have every faith in you Severus, and you have done a wonderful job of inspiring our new first years. Couldn't be more proud my boy." Albus smiled.
Unclenching his jaw he tried a different tactic, "I don't think the students themselves would want my presence, I am not well liked amongst the student body Albus."
"Oh don't worry about that." The Headmaster was now grinning gleefully, "You were requested."
Severus felt his stomach drop, "I was…"
"Requested, yes." Dumbledore chuckled. "It seems that you are, in fact, this years favourite teacher."
A chocked wheeze escaped from his lips as he tried to think of a way to get out of this.
He could quit? Leave the school forever? Transfer to a different country? Open a little bookstore? Become a farmer? Where would be the last place Albus would look for him?
"Amongst the first years at any rate. I can't wait to announce this at the next faculty meeting, Minnie will be jealous I'm sure."
Wait…
Surely there aren't that many students interested… A club has a minimum number right?
"And just how many students have signed up for… for…" He waived his hand vaguely, grimacing.
"Hmm? Oh yes let me see," Albus rolled out a parchment and pinned it in place on his desk, finger moving smoothly down the list of names.
Severus leaned away from the parchment, as though distance would make it any less cursed.
"So far you have twenty three." He said with a nod.
"Twenty three…"
"Although more names have been coming in since it was proposed, so I suppose you may end up with more than that. Perhaps the entire year group. It's all very exciting!"
"More…"
More than twenty-three students that want to willingly spend time in his presence outside of mandated Potions lessons? Are they insane? What on earth could have given them the idea that he would even want…
"Which?"
"Which what Severus?"
He cleared his throat, "Which student applied for… this."
"Oh young Theodore Nott, he and Harry came to see me. Theodore did a wonderful presentation." Dumbledore twinkled at him again.
Oh well fuck him, now it all made sense. Nott is a menace and Potter is clearly deranged. He'll have to suggest to Pomfrey that they both get checked out for… for something.
Shit.
He let out a long sigh, pinching his eyes shut to avoid looking at Albus's smug face.
"And where an when are they meeting for this… thing."
"Potion Pioneers." Albus chuckled.
"Jesus Christ."
"Second floor corridor, second classroom. They don't seem to have a set day or time, but…Aha!"
There was a soft clatter, and Severus opened his eyes to see a few small silver objects tumbling across the headmaster's desk. With a quick motion, he scooped one up and held it up for inspection.
"Quite ingenious, a very clever piece of magic indeed. You simply tap the surface say the password and it gives you the date and time."
Severus tuned him out as he inspected the small silver badge in his hand. It was in the shape of a little potion pot, 'Potion Pioneers' slanted across the surface in beautiful cursive. Inside the lip was just visible and glistened like oil slick across the surface.
"Password?" He murmured
"Troll Bogies"
Severus's face dropped and he raised an eyebrow at Albus.
"They are eleven after all."
"…Yes."
Squeezing the little badge between his fingers, he felt it catch slightly then small wisps of shimmering smoke began to curl from the top.
"Troll. Bogies." His gritted out.
He watched, fascinated, as the smoke twisted into a date and then, after a pause, curled into a time, using the muggle twenty-four hour clock.
He turned the small badge around gazing closely at its surface, "who made these?" He gestured to the other badges on the table. "This charms work is…"
"Ah, young master Nott said he has 'a guy', who specialises in badges."
"A guy. Right. Of course he does." Severus levelled his best-unimpressed glare at the Headmaster, who completely ignored it.
"Have you considered that I perhaps won't have the time to babysit an extracurricular class?" He sneered, idly twirling the badge between his fingers.
"Ah, not to worry Severus, they won't need supervision for every meeting! It will be a mainly student led study group. Just pop in and check on them from time to time for me?"
Severus levelled his best unimpressed stare at that, Albus simply clapped his hands together with a cheery smile and ignored him.
Rude.
"Excellent, I'm so glad we got that all straightened out." Albus exclaimed happily.
"Wait... I..."
The Headmaster rose from his chair, and began moving towards the door of his office, gently guiding Severus by the arm as he spluttered indignantly at him.
"Now if you don't mind I do have to be getting on my lad."
"Hold on a second…"
"Thank you so much for your help with this Severus."
"Headmaster please…"
"Knew I could count on you."
And Severus Snape found himself standing outside Dumbledore's office, clutching a little silver badge and feeling quite dazed.
