The first mission
Snape didn't stay much longer at the party after that, and left without a word. Two hours later, I got to my room still very tipsy and took a bath hoping it would made me sober, because I still wanted to catch up some reading on anti-jinxing theory that evening.
Half an hour later I was already smelling like bath soap and curled in one of the armchairs right in front of the crackling fireplace, skimming through some textbooks borrowed from the library. Someone knocked on the door. It sounded just like… but it couldn't be. He wouldn't come. He's going to avoid you forever now, Jane.
But as I opened it, there he was. Snape. I could tell he was trying to keep a straight face, but was unnerved behind it.
'Good evening. Can I come in?'
'Sure' and I stood aside to let him enter the study room 'more school rules to instruct me about?' I kept my voice casual. He stopped in front of the fireplace instead of aiming for the wood chair in front of my desk. I added 'have a seat'.
'No, thank you, I just came to give you this'. I joined him by the fireplace, and he handed me a small and nicely wrapped parcel.
'What is it?' and then it hit me 'I hope that's not for my birthday, isn't there a no-gift rule between the school staff?'
'Well, yes, but it's also not a criminalized conduct' he curled his lips 'I wanted to apologise to you for being rude earlier today. I didn't mean to say you needed anyone'.
'You could really just have told me you were sorry, you know…' I opened the parcel and found a small jewelry box, with a beautiful pair of glinting pearly earrings shaped like drops.
It took a while before I knew what to say. 'You shouldn't have' I looked up at him 'they're beautiful, thank you'. I was absolutely melted inside. My heart was throbbing.
He didn't answered anything, looking at the blazing fire. I took a step forward. I was now at an arm length distance from him. He raised his head.
'I meant what I said, though, about not being open to relationships. Don't waste your time on me'. His voice was resolute.
I didn't reply him but kept my eyes on his. Something inside me was flaring.
I took one more step.
'I think it's only fair that you know it' he carried on.
One more step.
I could smell an herbal scent coming from him. My whole body was electric with desire. I could tell, despite his effort to keep a straight face, he was completely disorientated and didn't know how to react to the fact that I was not only ignoring all his statements but also almost rubbing my chest against him now. I stopped when we were at a palm distance from nose to nose. He gulped. I took my eyes from his and fixed them on his lips.
'I should go' he stepped back. His face was tormented.
Hum, so it had took him a good effort to put some distance between us.
He bade me goodnight and left the room.
...
The rest of October slipped away. I was already feeling more comfortable in my teacher routine and kept busy with the classes. Snape and I had not shared more than a few unavoidable words during staff meetings, and he had paid me no more visits. I tried my best not to be too sad about it, since I had more pressing matters to worry about.
On the last day of the month, I was called to the Headmaster's office. I had no free periods until midafternoon, when I could finally leave the classroom and make my way to meet Dumbledore.
'Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore'.
'Ah, Jane... I was looking forward to meeting you' he spoke when I arrived there 'have a seat. And, please, call me Albus'. As soon as I took my seat, he offered me peppermint tea and went on. 'I would like, first, to congratulate you. I have been hearing a lot of compliments from your students and colleagues. I'm delighted by how lucky we were that you decided to return to your old school'. I blushed, but kept listening.
'There is, however, another reason why I summoned you here today. I have been planning for a few years to establish rescue missions to retrieve three Hogwarts relics that have been taken away from our school many decades ago. I have, with much effort, identified and located them. These are not bound to be extremely dangerous missions. However, as a matter of precaution, I would like to count on an experienced team of rescuers. Thus, I would like to invite you to join these missions, along with another specialist in the Dark Arts who is a dear friend of mine. Would you be interested?'
'Of course! I mean' I tried to conceal my excitement the best way I could 'yes. You can count on me'.
'Good' he smiled 'you will receive more instructions soon. Thank you, Jane. I'll see you at dinner'.
Feverish, I left the office and went to my room. My thoughts were far away while bathing and slipping on a dark purple long dress, which I thought would suit the occasion perfectly. Before leaving for the Great Hall for Halloween dinner, however, I stopped by my desk and retrieved from one of its drawers my new set of earrings. I looked down at them, a feeling of longing streaming from its glimmering surface. What the hell, I'll wear them.
...
Two hours later, I was helping myself to a slice of pie, already a little bit dizzy due to several mugs of Mulled Mead. I was fighting against my urges to look at him, which were not unfamiliar to me, but that tonight were getting harder to overcome. First, the drinking wasn't helping it. Second, I knew he was wearing that tight set of black velvet dress robes and that my whole brain would melt looking at him in it.
I gave in and searched for him in his seat. Snape was talking to Professor Flitwick, who was sitting beside him. Dammit. He was just so handsome tonight. A few seconds drooling over him and, before I could look away, his eyes found mine. I averted my gaze, but I could tell that he did not.
Cheeks burning, I turned my attention back to Professor Sprout and her rattling on how the magical properties on fluxweed could help anyone better digest indulging meals such as that one.
...
November brought, along with the cold weather, the details about my first mission. It would take place in the first weekend of the month, and me and this former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher called Remus Lupin would be traveling to the Western Isles, where we should negotiate the custody of a rubies studded golden goblet that had belonged to Godric Gryffindor and which possessed not only inestimable historical value but also ancient mystical powers. For decades the object had remained between one of the oldest Imp tribes in Britain.
It was an exhausting transaction, and at several times it seemed that we would have to resort to our wands. But in the end, most because they were afraid of Dumbledore's unfriendliness than because they thought the amount of gold and magical objects that we were offering as a payment was enough, me and Remus were successful in returning it to Hogwarts by the end of the day.
When we arrived back at the Headmaster's office, we entered the room chatting and laughing, a warmth in my chest from the well accomplished mission. Remus was a really lighthearted man, and we had got along so well it took no time for us to become good friends.
As soon as we took the first steps in, however, my laughing died. Dumbledore was sitting in his usual chair, looking thoroughly relaxed. But on the other side of his desk, Snape was pacing up and down the room length, his face torn.
'What happened?' was the first thing that came to my mouth. Obviously, he had been deep in concern. Something was clearly wrong. Snape stopped dead and gaped at me as if I was some kind of hallucination. He then redirected his eyes to Remus and scowled.
'Oh, Jane, Remus. Welcome back' Dumbledore voice was serene 'as I expected, you two are in perfect health' he threw Snape a significant look 'how did the mission go?'
We took the free seats in front of him, handed over the golden globet and described our encounter with the Imps.
Snape stood still, absorbing every word without saying anything.
'I had high expectations for the pair of you, but you nevertheless exceeded them' Dumbledore beamed, surveying us from behind his half-moon spectacles 'thank you, in the name of Hogwarts, for bringing this relic back to where it belongs. Your next expedition will take place on the following weekend, so please make sure you rest appropriately during the week. Remus, as I told you before, I would be very pleased if you stayed at the school between these quests'.
Remus, however, denied the invitation.
'No, thank you Albus, but I will be back by next Friday. See you in a week, Jane' he grinned at me, then nodded, his face suddenly serious, 'Professor Snape' and left.
Snape, with plain contempt on his face, left right after him.
I looked at Dumbledore, and he probably saw the trace of puzzling in my eyes, for he added 'Severus was… worried. About this mission. The Imps are well known as hard folks to reach terms with'.
'Oh, I see. It is indeed an important object for the school, I imagine he…'
'Oh, no, Jane, he had no care for the goblet. He was worried about your safety. You and Remus, I mean' he added, as if promptly remembering something. He cleared his throat and continued 'I told him you two are more qualified together against magical creatures than any other team I could set up. Not only because of your competence to defend yourselves in case it turned out necessary, but also because I trusted you two would do everything you could to avoid that' he smiled.
'Thank you, Albus. Good night' and I went to my chamber wondering what was it with that old man that always made my heart turn into a balloon inside my chest.
