Hey all! First off, I own nothing but my twisted plot and a few own characters. Would you honestly think that you would be reading this for free if I got any money out of this?
Now.. sorry for taking my time with updating. I honestly am real sorry but RL was trying to take over everything for once but you see... here I am again! Sherry, I just love the work you do for me when you are so loyally correcting my texts as well as can be! And you know... you've done that for me for fourteen chapters already and that is my record of keeping any betareader! But please go ahead with the story I hope you will like it and would you please consider telling me your opinion of it?
Chapter 16
After class Severus was in a better mood. As they were heading for lunch Lucius was glad. He noticed that he actually got a response to his chatting and his friend wasn't looking so gloomy anymore. He was pretty sure that the earlier gloominess had been just the after-effect of the weekend. Severus was most likely missing the freedom and honesty taking most of the students on Monday could make anyone grumpy. The only difference was that instead of being grumpy Lucius thought Severus looked blue. Whatever the reason for Severus funk Lucius was just happy it was over. He still remembered how badly off Severus had been yesterday. He didn't think he would ever get an answer to his questions about what had happened over the weekend…no if, ands, or buts about it!
Severus stopped thinking about his troubles by the time class ended. He didn't know why but everything seemed lighter at the moment. He was still a bit embarrassed over the accident yesterday, not to mention how he nearly was caught. If Lucius had only come earlier…He just wanted to forget he whole thing. Lucius was chatting and that distracted Severus from his painful thoughts. He decided to keep those flea-bitten rats of Mauraders away from him for a while. Out of sight out of mind. Maybe he wasn't about to blab to the teachers about what was happening, but if he could just keep them off his back for a while and then he'd be happy. In his other school he was often left alone and that was partly why he was left to the wolves. Now he was hardly ever alone so it just might work out. Since he had only been attacked while he was alone. He was again grateful to Lucius for sticking with him and certainly wondered why on earth he had been feeling so down earlier. He just shook his head and silently yelled at himself for doing something so stupid in the first place. He knew first hand why he shouldn't trust anyone else but he felt as if he could use the company. When they entered the great hall and dinner greeted him his stomach growled. He ate with relish having skipped breakfast. Severus was really beginning to like History of Magic!
Later as they headed for Charms Severus felt himself with drawing again. As he entered the classroom the familiar insecurities kicked in and he picked a table in the corner and thought of just being alone; which was the norm for him. Now however he wasn't alone and Lucius parked his butt in the next seat and sat near him meaning to offer any encouragement his friend he could use. He wasn't sure how to react to that and just glanced around the room to check out the Gryffindors on the other side. They seemed to be mostly chatting to each other and he luckily saw no-one looking at him. He was hoping to keep it that way for as long as possible. Well, that was the intention at least.
Professor Flitwick came into the room with his normal flourish, turning once reaching the front of the class he told us what our assignment was. At that everyone's mouth practically hung open.
"Today we are going to start brand new project. This is going to be so fun! We are starting the practice anagram charm! We'll start with its counter-charm and as soon as you've got it mastered you will get the anagram charm itself. We will practice this as long as it takes you to grasp it properly. If someone completes the assignment earlier you can help your class-mates perfect their incanting. Now I'm going to give you a paper that is charmed with the spell. Everyone is going to get a paper that is a bit different and will include a password. Then you are to incant the paper back to disorder again with the directions that the paper will give you! People who are able to hand me that paper in disorder along with the password are considered finished. If you are not finished by the end of the class you will finish it in the next class. If you manage to finish that, then I will give you your the next assignment. It may look weird what we are looking at but at the end of the week the whole class may have finished the assignment. I have quite a few small assignments for you to accomplish so we should be busy for the whole week. I'm sure that you'll be done by then. If not then you'll have to write an essay and that will be have to be enough for now. So no pressure! Now I'll hand you your assignments and then we shall try that counter-charm first. Just one more thing, you will pair up with someone from the other house to complete you assignment!"
Severus couldn't believe his ears. This was really bad…his breath hitched and he began to sweat at the idea of having to be paired with a Gryffindor. He looked over at the Gryffindors who were looking disgustedly towards the Slytherin. There was only two Gryffindors in the whole class with whom he would consider pairing with, but with his luck he would probably end up with someone annoying or even one of those disgusting marauders. Moreover the person would probably be disgusted with having to pair with him. They would most probably just forget he existed if he were lucky. He sure knew well enough what it was like to be alone while trying to work as a pair. By now he was slipping into hopelessness but then he saw someone coming his way and he knew the person. Maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be a fifth wheel at this time. He struggled to keep his face cool as Valtteri stopped beside him and asked if he wanted to pair up with him. Sure he wanted and thought he was actually a bit overjoyed he just kept his cool and said 'yeah'. Maybe this class assignment wouldn't be so bad after all.
When Severus got the assignment he noticed it really was in a perfect disorder. It would be a miracle if the bunch of letters really could become actual words. Or then it could be he just sucked at anagram games. At least now he got to do it with magic and that was much nicer than in a muggle style. He glanced at Lily who was with one of the boys he didn't know very well. He felt something akin to regret for not working with her but she didn't looked that disturbed with the person she was paired with. For reason unknown that made him almost sad, almost! Not that he would really admitted that even one bit. Besides why on the earth he should feel sad if some Gryffindor was sitting with someone else but him.
In that instantly he realized that he had been staring at Lily and he tore his glaze away from her. It wouldn't do for people to think that he had a crush on her when it was so clearly not the case. As he glanced at Valtteri he noticed to his horror that Valtteri had been looking at him a bit too curiously. He swore under his breath and taking a deep breath he prepared to act as if nothing had happened. He asked if Valtteri had his paper; though he knew very well that he had it. That did the trick and all their attention was aimed at the mix of miscellaneous letters. He was a bit surprised to notice that Valtteri sighed almost inaudible. He frowned a bit at that and asked what the problem was.
"vell just listen to dat." he tried to say the spell a few times and everytime first f was coming as v and glanced at Severus as if Severus should realize what he trying to show.
"Oh, I see. Maybe you can say it if I try to emphasize it a little stronger than youI normally would." Severus said. However he didn't wait for the sarcastic laugh, which had nothing to do with a real joy, from his partner.
"Sure just try to over pronounce it and make vool of yourselv. I just vish I vould have realised this problem vrom the peginning since ve moved to USA. However it vas not the case and I vas happy just understand dem and being understood. Only good thing is that ve are sitting here at the corner dat not so many people vill hear my groping attempts to say it properly. Vorst is dat too many spells are really asking vor pronouncing some letters right in order to make dem vork. Sometimes I really vonder iv I vas really meant to pe here." he said in a bitter tone. Severus sympathized with him and he tried to smile encouragingly at Valtteri.
"I'm sure you'll pick it up eventually. You'll have time to learn to say it better. Besides I'm sure your trying sounds just fine. Why don't you try saying it!" said Severus. He thought that should do the trick as he looked at Valtteri who was still looking at him dubiously but he did start trying to say it. Well maybe Severus thought Valtteri was right he really sounded a bit strange. To hear him pronounce the words somewhat too powerfully and using a long f sound didn't really sound like it should. Besides Severus thought they were sitting in a pretty lonely corner so that wasn't really a big deal as most wouldn't hear him. Severus liked the idea that because Valtteri had trouble with the words that they wouldn't be the first ones ready and be responsible for helping others in there spell work. Valtteri didn't want to do that for that either as someone would have found it funny that he was pronouncing it the way he was; if he said it shortly it came out as a v or as ffff. Severus certainly wasn't the kind of jerk that enjoyed seeing anyone struggling to do something with hardly any success. Usually it was him who was in that position.
"Look around and you'll see a bunch of people also trying to get it to work with no success whatsoever." he added smirking. It seemed that so far there was no one getting it. He himself started to work on the problem as he saw teacher's look linger on him and for a second tried to purposely get his somewhat wrong. Nobody would notice if he did that. The only problem was that as soon as his concentration faded on trying to get it wrong he found himself with a clear paper in front of him. He hardly had time to conceal his achievement as the teacher was already there.
"Mr. Snape! Again first one to complete his assignment! Two points to Slytherin!" he exclaimed cheerfully.
Severus was trying not to redden at the unwanted attention as he tried to forget everyone who was staring at them because of that remark. He didn't need anyone to tell him that there were people looking at them now.
Valtteri was looking at him and as soon as the teacher left he tried to say something.
"You know only thing you should do is just to vorget dem. Or one once told me that iv you are veeling uneasy vor own lecture or vor any reason just try to imagine your listeners only with their unmentionaples on. It gives incrediple lot of guts and pesides vhat they don't know von't hurt them." Valtteri said smirking. That did a trick and instantly Severus was snickering just a bit.
"That really sounds as if it really would be the thing to do." He added dryly.
"You got that one done vell, care to show me how you did it?" Valtteri asked.
Severus looked at Valtteri a bit unsure but sighing he gave in to the request. After a bit of practice together Valtteri got the spell right once in a while which he was incredible happy about. Maybe he wasn't remembering the correct pronunciation if he just spoke freely but that he could say it aloud was miracle itself. By the end of the assignment they weren't too keen about the thought of helping others and they just began chatting silently for the moment.
"You know… I should thank you for helping me out vith dis one. I don't think so many vould have peen so volunteering to help to dat extend that you did…nor even pair up vith me at dat. Usually I'm vith Lily in dese situations put now as ve vere asked to pe vith Slytherins… You know vhat I mean." Valtteri said whispering as he wanted to make certain that nobody else heard it.
"Yeah I understand, a bit too well. I really don't mind pairing up with you. Actually imagine me pairing up with some other Gryffindor other than you or Lily…"
"Yup, the point taken. py the vay, vould you have preverred to pe vith Lily?" He asked looking as if butter would melt in his mouth. Severus just goggled at him before he remembered to hide his reaction and he schooled his expression as he said as believable sounding as possible.
"It really isn't the matter if it is you or Lily, just not any of the more annoying Gryffindors. There really is quite a few of them." But he didn't think so really. He wasn't sure what made him lie for but he did. What he was more horrified about was that it didn't seem that he had convinced Valtteri about it by the look of it. "I really am serious" he added almost stammering. He was ready to hit his head on the table for how unconvincing he had managed to sound now. Worst thing was that he didn't know why it should matter after all. Lily was just a friend! Nothing more, nothing less.
Valtteri just nodded at that a bit too cheerfully looking and Severus thanked Merlin that the class ended then. He had really never fancied anyone and he'd never allowed himself to. All that would lead to was more hurt than he already for.
He was more or less lost in his own thoughts when he was made his way to the Potion classroom and he never noticed that a couple of prats come at his way. He wasn't far from the class when they caught up with him and tripped so that he landed on the granite floor. His head swam for moment and he realized his nose was bleeding as he tried to get up quickly. Class was starting soon and he should get in there before he was late. However he didn't make it very far as he never made it straight up before someone grabbed him and turned him around before settling him down against the wall. He was still very dazed as someone started to question him.
"What happened? Was it someone tripping you or just an accident? Did you see the person?" someone asked in a half worried and half annoyed voice. As he answered he realized just how hard it was to speak just now.
"Just an accident. I'll be all right in a minute and I really should get to the class!" he said instinctively trying get rid of the person whoever it was. As he looked closely he realized that person holding him was his own head of house whose class he had been heading to. If that wasn't bad enough he realized that most of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were in a semi-circle around them. As he tried to get up a hand kept him down.
"Maybe not Mr. Snape. Now…did anyone else see what happened?" Only silence met that question and he went on, "Guys, do wait in the class I'll be there as soon as I've got Mr. Snape into proper care. Now!" And everyone sprinted towards the classroom though a couple people were hesitating to leave them. He wasn't quite able to clear his sight enough to know who it was but he could guess. It most likely was probably Lucius but he wasn't the only one… maybe Lily and Valtteri stayed as well. He cursed his still swimming sight and let his head to fall back against the wall, his eyes close. As someone tried to speak to him he felt as if he was hearing as through under water. He tried to say something in return but he couldn't make himself. As someone picked him up into his arms he lost the fight and the world went blacked.
Now... Aloha, Kendra... really big thanks for sticking to this story! And not only review but review every chapter! I just love that! Severus really needs a really good friend, yeah. But really some real good white chocolate or fazer's blue chocolate would do miracles... lol. I know, I know... I just told you guys that I wouldn't do cliffies that often... but I couldn't resist to stopping in this place! You really must understand that! I promise I will update now sooner than I did earlier. I took some while before I got used to this my new schedule but now I'm fine with it and I should be able to write now a bit better : ). Please. whomever you are over there and reading this... DO REVIEW! I'd love even flames but really, if you are planning to critisize, go ahead but please do it in a constructive way! I do love getting told what I would do better. So you may telll about my grammar mistakes but please tell how to improve it! I'm still practising english here and I do hope that my writing is improving somewhat! But please do review!