Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. Moonvale did her beta magic in this chapter. I know it sounds much better this time. š
Chapter 2
The weather around Hogwarts castle grew worse and along with that Severus Snape noticed that niggling ominous feeling grew steadily, much to his frustration. He was too restless to even recline in his armchair and pretend to be busy reading the potions periodical that lay open on his lap. The wind outside had picked up and a cold draft blew through the empty corridors making him shiver even in his black woolen robes. Peering out of the staffroom window he noticed that dusk, like any other day, had set in. Along with that came those heavy dark clouds which cloaked the half-moon glowing at the edge of the sky.
Minerva McGonagall, his Deputy Headmistress, sat across him leafing through a stack of parchments muttering under her breath now and then. Together they had already gone through the revised budget plan of the current year. The ledger of expenses incurred in the past months was also taken care of. Student performances were evaluated once the other professors had submitted their observations.
Looking over her reading glasses, the Gryffindor witch asked, "What's the matter?"
Humming to himself, Snape shrugged, "Nothing."
"Yet, you look quite put out," she prodded.
Exhaling loudly, Snape looked at her and then turned his face to catch the distant crack of thunder far over the Forbidden Forrest.
At length he murmured, "I don't know whether it is just the weather or something else."
The witch too was looking out of the window and took note of the howling wind and the approaching storm. Soon enough it started pouring like cats and dogs. As they sat watching, droplets of rain drenched the window panes relentlessly, adding to the gloominess of the lonely castle. This time thunder clapped somewhere quite near and Minerva flinched with surprise. Snape watched those heavy sheets of rain descending over the grounds of the school like they were determined to flood them by nightfall.
Broodily he shared, "I never liked Divination but my disgust for Trelawney is more intense. I do know how the mind works and I don't question the skill of other proclaimed seers as much as I wish to trample over our alcoholic professor's unhinged theories."
Chuckling, the Scottish witch teased, "Yet you tolerate her, have been tolerating her for too many years to count. What is it Snape? You don't usually resort to small talk."
Curling the edge of his lips, Snape pondered aloud, "On days like this one, I often wonder, how does it look from the outside. Imagine this whole castle and its grounds, the Forbidden Forest, the Hogsmeade Village, and the sky with the storm and rain all trapped inside a seer's glass ball. By stroke of luck, you alone have the privilege to see it all from above. Of course, there is that tell-tale mist of illusion and magic which hides away a real scene, the most important chain of events taking place in the background."
"That is indeed philosophical. Let me guess, you don't quite like that mist shrouding the real mystery?" Minerva baited.
"You can't expect me to stop being attracted to mystery and the smell of adventure. As much as I like this peaceful co-existence, I confess to you alone, Madam, at times, it does get boring." Snape smiled ruefully.
"Oh Severus, it's just a random storm and it will pass as soon as it stops raining. But if you feel like daydreaming about intriguing mysteries and baffling discoveries, I suggest you take a short trip to the muggle world and watch a movie!" The witch huffed.
"The idea is as horrid as this randomly raging storm," the younger colleague replied sourly.
Apprentice Longbottom unceremoniously barged in, throwing the door open, startling the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress.
Few members of the staff were residing in the castle over the summer break. Surprisingly Apprentice Longbottom opted to stay on and tend to the greenhouses. He was also spending a lot of time in the library to catch up with his many voluntary projects. Snape found it amusing, at first, when the young man started sending him a detailed bunch of parchments filled with speculations regarding medicinal plants and their (not so popular) role in potion-making. It lasted only a week before his patience ran out. Over a weekend, the irate Headmaster hauled the young man up to his office and demanded, "Ask any intelligently formed questions and I shall answer them to the best of my ability."
Out of breath the young man pleaded, "Sir, might I be excused for the rest of the day?"
"Mister Longbottom?" Minerva looked at the half-drenched man disapprovingly, "Surely, there is an explanation to your barreling through the door?"
Longbottom colored and then hurriedly added, "Madam, it's Hermione. I have just received an owl from Harry. She is at St. Mungo's. They have admitted her to the spell damage ward. I don't know the specifics. I don't quite like the way the letter sounds." Turning to the headmaster, he pleaded desperately, "May I leave, sir? Hermione is, after all, a dear friend."
Severus stood up and crossed the room in two long strides. Extending his palm in front of the astonished man, he simply said, "The letter, Longbottom."
The flabbergasted Herbology apprentice may have fumbled with his words but was in his right mind to extend his hand and deliver a bunched-up parchment.
The headmaster quickly read through it and handed it to Minerva. The woman had turned ashen by the time she read the last line.
"Miss Granger is illā¦ The healers suspect it to be a case of Obscurus. What blasphemy! Severusā¦"
"Potter was never clever enough to write a decent and meaningful letter. Yes, Longbottom, you may leave. And no, Minerva, all of us cannot go at once. It will draw unwanted attention, something we don't wish for. Especially the kind of drivel the Prophet is capable of printing. Now pick up your hanging mouth from the floor and get out!" Snape barked.
Neville had left as fast as his long legs could carry him.
"Severusā¦?" Minerva choked.
"We will wait for Longbottom to return with more information and we cautiously stop assuming the worse. That is what we are going to do in the meantime, Deputy Headmistress. Now, I think, my office is the best place for that," throwing some floo powder into the fireplace of the staff room, Snape waved the distraught witch over.