Since the other two chapters have been from Hermione's viewpoint; I thought it was time Severus Snape had his chance of being more involved with the plot line. Hopefully it will be okay =)
Chapter three – Just Like You?
Severus rolled up his sleeves, he eyes watched Miss. Hermione Granger leave his classroom, something was new about her... she looked more grown up Severus could not quite put his finger on what had changed. The large smile that she had gave him moments before made he feel as if he had done something right – that for once he had made a person feel happy. Severus slowly smiled to himself for a moment before dropping his lips to the usual, dull expression he wore. 'Why did I help the annoying little know-it-all? Not like she really needs to learn more; but at least it will keep her out of my hair,' Severus thought to himself, feeling confused. The head of Gryffindor house, Professor Minerva McGonagall stepped into the cold eerie classroom; that was a former dungeon in the castle. Her green eyes scanned the room until the met Severus dark orbs. Stepping closer to the Potions Professor she smiled at him.
"Severus, I heard about Draco Malfoy's outburst from Albus...well, in fact it was more then an outburst, absolutely disgusting; poor Hermione. How was she?" Minerva began to question Severus, her eyes becoming more clouded with angry, she was appalled by what Albus had told her. She also feared that one of her many Gryffindors welfare was at stake. Severus sighed, he felt as if Minerva was blaming him for what Draco had stupidly said to Hermione, he could not control Draco or any of the Slytherins. Severus may have been late to the lesson, but he real was not to blame for this stunt. The words that Draco had said had also affected Severus, it gave him memories of when he was at school being ridiculed by the maunders; for being a half-blood. A person cannot help who their parents are; they certainly cannot chose to be a pure blood. "Look Minerva, I dealt with it as well as I could. I had to speak to Madam Pomfrey beforehand you see, so I was late for the lesson. I am not to blame for this; Draco deserves everything that is coming to him. But knowing Albus he will let him get away with it." Severus' blank expression gave nothing away; Occlumency made sure of that. He was angered and if Minerva stayed here to question him further he would lose his temper at her – and quite frankly Severus did not want to do that; Minerva was a person he considered to be his friend, or at least an acquaintance. "Look Minerva, Hermione was fine I made sure of it. Now bugger off I have plenty of marking to do." Snape spoke bluntly; this earned a scowl from Minerva. She did not bother to respond and started to head towards the door, she slammed the door shut behind her clearly denoting her anger. Severus breathed a sigh out, he then looked at the pile of books that needed marking.
"For God sake!" He yelled
XXX
Snape was not sat in his private quarters; it had been a long and enduring day teaching the pupils of Hogwarts Potions. Severus fond himself sat on the small ugly-looking worn out sofa sat by the fire place. His eyes watched as the lit flames rolled over; flickering their orange glow – giving the whole room warmth and light. Severus stretched his long thin bony legs out onto the sofa, so that he could feel more relaxed. He knew that this would not last long, it would not be long before some interruption came along; knowing his luck tonight he would be Summoned or even worse he would have to meet with Dumbledore. Deciding that he wanted some strong black coffee, Severus got to his feet and walked towards the small unit top where he had a kettle, a cupboard and a small fridge. He flicked the switched on the kettle so it started heating up the water. He closed his eyes in frustration, leaning against the small unit; waiting for the kettle to boil. Severus began to lose himself in his own thoughts, he was thinking about how Draco had called Hermione a Mud-blood. Every time he thought about it all, he got even angrier, he knew his Godson carried the same hate as most Slytherin, or Death Eaters. His farther hated Muggles but would not encourage his son's behaviour; only because he is one of Hogwarts Governors'. Lucius Malfoy maybe a Death Eater; that detests anyone that is not a pure-blood, but he is no fool. He would not make a comment about his son screaming 'Mud-blood' at a muggle. He may be proud of his actions in private but he would not dare show it in front of Dumbledore or anyone at Hogwarts. His thoughts drew to Hermione, how she must of felt hearing Draco call her that highly offensive name: Mud-blood. Hermione did not even utter a word about it though; this really reminded him of himself at her age. Everything that happened to him, from the James Potter and his petty friends – he hoped Hermione would not have to suffer like him; he would do what he could to ensure that she did not suffer like he did. The kettle had boiled cutting his thought process off; he poured the hot liquid into his cup and then made his way over to his sofa again.
Just as he sat down there was a light thumbing at the door, Severus' expression was Solomon as well as aggressive; he was wishing it was not some snotty-nosed first year wanting to ask questions about Potions lesson or wanting homework. He placed his thumb and forefinger on the bridge of his nose and sighed, he abruptly opened the door ajar to see a fluffy pink jumper glaring into his eyes with the toad-like women staring at him. 'Oh, great just the toad I want to see' Severus sarcastically thought. He opened the door a little more.
"Oh, Professor Dolores Umbridge, what can I do for you?" Professor Snape asked, he was met by a fake sweet smile from Dolores, this made her look even more toad like – he had to bite his lip to suppress a smirk growing over his lips.
"Good evening Severus, I was wondering if you could supply me with some Veritaserum?" She wore her fake sweet smile and fluttered her eyelashes. Snape turned his head away before he ironically laughed at the middle-aged women standing in from of him; who had an unhealthy obsession with the colour pink. "May I ask what you need this for?" Severus said. Her face now looked as if it had been injected with venom, she was scowling at him.
"No, you may not. The ministry allows me to have access to anything I need, so I need some Veritaserum Severus."She answered rather too nonchalantly for Severus' liking. "As you wish Dolores," Snape turned on his heal to go to his private store cupboard, his tone mocked Dolores earlier tone – when she tried to sound sweet. He really was not comfortable with this woman using his Christian name, he was utterly repulsed by her presence furthermore she had tried to flirt with him just to gain a potion... Once in the store room he poured a small amount of liquid from its original container into another bottle. He poured a little water into the potion to disenable any chances of it working for her. He returned to her with the bottle, a fake smile now plastered on his own face. "Here we are Dolores," he spoke, Dolores snatched the bottle with a evil look in her eyes. "Thank-you for your consideration Severus," She smiled tucking the bottle into her robe pocket. "Is there anything else I can do for you Dolores? Anymore potions I can supply you with?" Severus said in an ironic, sarcastic tone."Actually Severus there is one thing I would like to talk to you about, may I come in?" Dolores replied. Severus shifted his body sideways so there was a small gap that Dolores could squeeze through. He walked across the wooden floorboards leading Dolores into his living-room, he picked up his mug of coffee and began to consume the not-so-hot coffee; hospitality not being his strong point he did not offer Dolores a drink. He really did not want to even see her face right now.
"So Severus, I over-heard in the staff from about Mr. Malfoy's out-burst on Miss. Granger. I found it rather well deserved didn't you? I do not see how the Mud-bloods should even be allowed into the magic world," Dolores boasted. Severus gave her an evil glare the spoke with a snarling voice:
"Umbridge I suggest you leave my quarter and we never discuss this again. Get out!" He shrieked at her, his face turning red with anger. Dolores was clearly shocked by the way Severus had acted; she got up and scuttled off quickly in fear.