C H A P T E R 0 2
The week had been nothing short of awful for Severus. Between annoying children and a constant sight of Miss Granger, things didn't seem to want to get any better. She hadn't talked to him as much as he expected. She merely said 'Hello' every now and then. Sometimes she brought up some potion to a discussion, which he never helped with. He just referred her to a book (that she probably already read) and walked away.
On Thursday he had run into her coming out of the bathroom. She was looking dreadful, and wasn't in the best mood. He wanted to avoid that, but by the time he was finished glathering his things she was out of the lavratory and looking at him with glazed eyes.
"Sorry," she mumbled and looked at her hands. He noticed them shaking slightly, but didn't question it. He didn't particularily care to know.
He sighed and shrugged a bit. What was she sorry about?
"I have no need for your apologies."
She walked past him quickly and out of the room and he didn't see her at all on Friday. Not even in her own classroom.
He had spent this Saturday so far up in the Headmasters office, waiting for him to show up. Dumbledore had sent a 2nd year with a note to the library, where Severus had been in the back enjoying the silence. Saturdays were always empty of students. The note had instructed him to go to the office and wait for him.
Tapping his foot on the dark carpet, and impatiently sighing every now and then, there was a sound behind him.
Turning around in his chair he saw Dumbledore hovering over him, smiling.
"Severus."
He rounded the chair and stood infront of him now. "Albus, may I ask what I've been waiting in your office for almost an hour for?"
"I am terribly sorry about the wait, but other things were to be taken care of," he said smoothly. "Now, as for why you're here, I need you to do me a favor."
Severus gritted his teeth. Of course. His life consisted of doing things for Dumbledore.
"I need you to take over Professor Grangers Seven o'clock detention with Jeremy Steiner. She is currently unavailable to do so."
"And why is she?"
"That information, upon her request, is to be held. Lets just say her condition is not indusive to the envoirment right now."
"I think that if I am to do her dirty work, I should know why."
"Severus, when she feels the time is right to tell you, she will. It is not my position to say."
Severus left the office in a foul mood. It was six in the afternoon already. He had not bothered going down to supper and looking for Hermione (if she'd even be there) he just went directly to his chambers and put away his books. Setting up his desk to mark tests he was to give back on Monday, he waited for the child to get here.
Finally, when he did, he looked very nervous. He fidgeted and approached Severus' desk.
"Now, Mr. Steiner, what did you do to get this detention. I need you to tell me so I know an appropriate way to punish you."
If possible he looked more nervous. Severus recognized this kid from his class and noted he was in his 4th year. He was in Slytherin, and had a reputation for getting detention often.
"I called Granger a mudblood," he stammered a bit.
"It's Professor Granger, and you are to respect her as she is your teacher."
"Yes sir."
"Now, prior to popular belief to you and your little friends, being a muggle-born does not limit Professor Grangers abilitis. She is every bit as smart as the rest of the staff, if not more. I taught her when she was a student and if someone had not mentioned the fact that she came from a muggle family I would have presumed her to be a pureblood."
Severus had no idea where that all had come from.
"You are to apologize to Professor Granger in class on Monday morning. I will know if you do or not."
Severus assigned him lines and stooped behind his desk marking large red letters on the top corner of the parchments. He usually only had to read 3 or 4 lines into a parchment before knowing the mark. He remembered that he usually didn't bother reading Miss Grangers assignments, he always knew they were one hundred percent right, even if they were compied by memory. She never did write in her own visions, which is what he tried teaching her for so long.
"Mister Steiner, you may go now. And remember - Monday morning."
After another hour of grading, Severus went on his usual patrolling of the castle. He hoped that it would be quiet, and without interruptions. He was, of course, wrong.