SHOUT OUT TO:
MissesE: Thank you so much for the comment! I'm searching for BETA right now! :) ah, thanks for pointing out the grammatical errors. it's a flaw that I'm struggling to cope at the moment. Haha! i'm glad you enjoyed the Lucius scene at the end. ;)
notwritten: Thank you! this chapter is for you ;) you too keep smiling!
Chapter 4: A Friend
SEVERUS Snape was a bitter, cynical, cranky man who was overall, extremely hard to please. Back in the old days while he had been a professor at Hogwarts, he was widely known as the 'Greasy Git' by most students, new or old alike, and was immediately hated by them due to his sharp tongue.
Despite disliked by many, Severus had an admirable thing about him that most of the students (and some of the professors) often overlooked－he was a damn good teacher and a highly intellectual and formidable sorcerer.
As a professor, he put his standards on his classes higher than the other professors and would only allowed students who seemed worthy and qualified with best grades to continue with advanced study. As it turned out, most of the students whom hated him, ended up graduating with high achievements in all of their classes, all thanks to his high expectations and disciplines.
As a formidable sorcerer, Snape's extensive knowledge and abilities about magic, especially the Dark Arts, made him one of the powerful and fearsome wizard in the Wizarding World. He was also extremely intelligent and calculative, with a brilliant mind for strategy and deduction.
Which was why, on one Saturday morning during breakfast, it was very unusual for his only female house-mate to watch him pacing back and forth like a miserable duck on the kitchen's floor, all the while cussing and tearing his hair out, with a piece of paper on his hand.
"Severus?"
"What?"
"You might want to stop tearing your hair like that, you'll go bald, you know. I'm just saying." Claire chewed her toasted bread very slowly, eyes still focused on the older man.
Severus growled and glared sharply at her. He walked toward her and leant forward.
"Stop being such a cheeky lass. Why are you still doing here? Where's Lucius?" He hissed through his gritted teeth.
Claire shrugged. "Dunno. Haven't seen him for weeks since the date."
Again, Severus let out a frustrated groan.
Claire rolled her eyes. "What about you? What crawled up your arse and bit it off?"
"Language, Miss Rollins!" He didn't answer her question.
It wasn't until he almost toppled everything on the table, including her breakfast, when Claire finally put her foot down.
"All right, that's it!" She pointed one finger at him. "You. sit down. Now!"
Severus gave her his best intimidating 'how-dare-you-order-me-around' glare, but Claire would have none of it. She raised an eyebrow instead.
After a minute or two of glaring contest, Severus finally gave in. He sat down on the unoccupied seat before her, crossed his arms, and pouted like a bloody child.
Claire took a deep long breath, exhaled and began to speak with calm voice.
"Severus, I've noticed you haven't been yourself lately. So either tell me what's really bothering you so that I may help you to depose any ill feelings, or so help me God, don't take it on other people!"
Severus narrowed his eyes at her. Wordlessly, he pushed the crumpled piece of paper toward her.
Claire took the paper and carefully read it.
"The Annual Spring Ball?"
Severus sneered, but refused to give a comment.
Claire read a bit more before her mouth formed an 'o' and then she nodded. "Right. I see what your problem is. "
She pointed out at a sentence and read it aloud, " 'All teachers are allowed to bring a Plus One.' that's what troubling you, isn't it?"
"Very good Miss Rollins, for pointing out the obvious! I'm sure you must be proud of yourself. Want me to give you a pat at the back?"
"Oh for the love of-" Claire shut her eyes and pitched the bridge of her nose.
Deep breath, Rollins. Take a deep breath.
Taking a deep breath and straightened her back, Claire looked at the greasy dark haired man.
"Severus. While I can't see the reason why your need to be such an arse toward me these past few days, I'm here if you need a helping hand. Do you need me to be your Plus One?"
Severus shifted uncomfortably on his seat. His refusal to look at her in the eyes told her everything.
"All right. When is the ball then?"
"Tonight." he muttered lowly.
"TONIGHT?" Her unexpected shout at him caused Severus to get up from his seat.
"Yes, it's tonight! Is your sense of hearing not working, Miss Rollins?"
"Well, I'm sorry for being a little shock. Git."
Sighing, Claire reached for her mobile phone and dialled a number.
"What are you doing?" Severus asked, watching as she tapped her fingernails on the table.
"Doing you a bloody favour, that's what." She lifted one finger in the air at him and talked the person over the phone. "Hi, good morning! Is this Madam Karam? Yes, this is Claire Rollins speaking. Yes, yes that's me. I'm calling in to say that I won't be able to come to work today. Yes, I've gotten a cold. Oh, she did? Well I'd thought it was nothing at first- oh, okay. Okay, thank you so much for your understanding, Madam. Good day to you too. Bye!"
As soon as she hung up, she looked up and immediately met with Severus' sharp look.
"I never recalled asking for your help, Miss Rollins." Severus said through gritted teeth.
"I know. You're just too proud to ask for any helps, Severus. Anyhow, my Lady Boss has already given me a leave for today. She said I didn't look so well last week and told me to rest up."
Sneered, Severus sat down on his seat, beside her. He relaxed his stiff muscles and closed his eyes.
Claire sighed, looking at the man sitting beside her. Standing up, she went behind him and unexpectedly began to massage his stiff shoulders.
"You need to relax more."
"Shut it, Rollins."
"What, no 'Miss Rollins' now?" Claire playfully teased.
Severus deeply sighed as he relaxed completely and enjoyed her hands massaging on his stiff shoulders.
It wasn't unusual to have her massaging his shoulders. Claire remembered the first time she had offered to give his shoulders a massage a month ago, Severus looked like as if she had told him his hair was pink. After assuring him that her hands wouldn't 'wandered' off, Severus had reluctantly gave in at first, but found himself enjoyed it tremendously.
Since then, every twice a week, Claire would give his shoulders a massage.
"Severus? Now that I'm available for the rest of day, when are we going for a shopping?"
Severus' eyes automatically opened. "Shopping, Miss Rollins?"
"Well duh, I need a dress for tonight!"
Raising an eyebrow, Severus crossed his arms. "Are you telling me you don't owe a piece of proper dress whatsoever?"
"Have you seen my wardrobe?"
"Unbelievable!"
CLANK.
The clunking sound of hangers being thrown on the floor.
"Preposterous!"
CLANK.
Claire winked at the last of his many outburst. As soon as she had said those words, Severus, without any hesitation went through her wardrobe.
To say that he was shocked to see no dresses whatsoever in her wardrobe was an understatement. Severus was beyond shocked!
Here was a young woman in her twenties, whose wardrobe should be filled with mini skirts, ruffle blouses, gowns, dresses, but instead, all he saw were t-shirts of all kinds, jeans, pants, and a couple of old and worn out long skirts, including the one that she'd wore during her date with Lucius.
"Merlin's Beard, woman! Are you a male or female?"
"Hey, that's a very sexist remark,Snape! Of course I'm a female!"
"Then prey tell me, why isn't there a single dress in your wardrobe? The only thing that I see here are these－pants!" He shove the pants in his hands to her face.
"I wear pants because they're comfortable and easy to move in! But that doesn't make me any less than a female. You're in my world now, Severus Snape. So like it or not, you'll just have to deal with the fact that some females prefer to wear pants over skirts, t-shirts over dresses. I'm happened to be one of them, you old git!"
Severus pitched the bridge of his nose. He knew he needed to learn plenty about the Muggles' strange cultures, like it or not. Taking a deep breath, Severus took out his wand and began to wave it around to clean up the mess he'd made in her room.
Once everything was properly rearranged accordingly, he turned to Claire.
"Let's get you a few dresses then."
"That will be £120, Sir."
Severus paid for dresses to the cashier.
"Here's your change, Sir. By the way, your daughter looks very nice wearing that dress just now, if I may say so myself!"
Severus was stunned by the cashier's harmless' words. So stunned, he barely accepted the wrapped dress in the plastic bag that was handed over to him by the cashier. Fortunately, he was saved by Claire's quick remark.
"He's not my father. He's my uncle." Claire smiled.
"Oh, I'm very sorry for saying that, Miss! You two looked so close, I assumed you were his daughter!"
"It's okay. Don't worry about it." Claire waved at the friendly cashier for the final time before she hooked one arm with Severus and dragged him out of the store before the girl could questioned them any further.
"Phew! That was close." Claire at her 'Uncle.' "Are you okay over there?"
Severus recovered quickly. He nodded but said nothing.
"Oh, cheer up, Severus!" Claire playfully punched his arm. "It's not like you haven't been questioned before. What's wrong?"
"It finally sunk into me." he looked at her. "You're old enough to be mine and Lucius' daughter."
Claire let out a loud snort. "So?"
"Miss Rollins, the fact that you are old enough to be our daughter and living with us－with me especially－doesn't it bothers you at all? I mean, shouldn't young women at your age be doing something bizarre and hooked ups?"
"I failed to see your point, Snape."
Snape sighed desperately. "You are a young woman living in an apartment with two strangers who do not have any blood relations with you whatsoever. You lied to people, to your friends and employers saying the three of us are relatives. Doesn't it bothers you at all the fact that you could have gotten married or have a wonderful relationship with someone else instead of just being here with me!"
"Snape, what the hell are you talking about?" Claire snapped.
Does Severus Snape actually worrying about my love life? Bloody hell!
"I don't know where this ramblings of yours coming from Snape, and I don't bloody appreciate it, but yes, I got it. I'm a single young woman who lives with two male strangers in a small apartment. Those busybody neighbours have already thought that I'm one of your play toy and there might be a chance that I'll ended up as old maid because no men are brave enough to touch me if they found out about two of you. But-"
"Then perhaps we should move out of your place. I'm sure I can afford to find a place nearby. I'm pretty sure Lucius has his own bloody place to stay as well-"
"Hold on, Snape! I haven't finish talking yet!" Claire put one finger on his lips to stop his ramblings despite his glare.
Claire sighed. "Despite what the people are saying about us, Severus, that apartment is a home for all the three of 've been living together close to six months now, for God's sake! Lucius often comes and goes as he pleases, but the two of us, we've spent time getting to know each other, arguing, laughing, cooking, sleeping － those are the things that made the apartment that you and I are staying, special. It makes me feel like I have a home to return to. It makes me feels like having a family again. Blood relation be damned. So you see, Severus, should there be a man who wishes to sweep my feet away, he needs to accept the fact that I enjoy staying with an overgrown bat with a greasy hair and an arrogant self-centred wizard and having the two of you as my house-mates. Because I knew you two long before I met him. And who knows when I will meet 'the man destined for me'. If he can't accept the fact that what we have is nothing more or less than just a true friendship, then it's his loss. I need a man who can trusts me. If he doesn't trust the two of you, that's fine. But he needs to be able to trust me. Because I will never give up on our friendship for the sake of other. Not even for him."
There were few things that'd actually made Severus Snape turned completely speechless. Usually those time were very rare and hard to come. By the time Claire finished her speech, Severus could only stared at her. Gone all the troubles in his eyes and the heavy burdens on his shoulders.
"Miss Rollins..." Severus said after a long pause. "I... I'm speechless. I don't really know what to say."
Claire smiled at him and took his hand, which Severus flinched a little bit when her hand touched his.
"I know a good place that sells excellent pies. Shall we head there for lunch?"
The bell rang the moment a couple entered Tony's Pies.
"Welcome to Tony's! Have a seat, Miss, Sir!" A waiter welcomed them and brought them to their seat. He handed each of them a menu and waited patiently for them to order.
"I'll have the Beef Pie, please. Severus?"
"Mushroom and Cheese."
"One Beef Pie and one Mushroom and Cheese. How about Drinks?"
"Roselle Iced Tea, if you have any?"
"One Roselle Iced Tea. And you, Sir?"
"Same. Thank you."
"Two Roselle Iced Tea then." The waiter jotted down the order and left the table.
Claire looked at the black haired man sitting across her on the opposite side of the table with a small smile. She knew he had a lot to think about what she'd just told him.
They sat there together in peaceful silence. Each with their own thoughts when the same waiter came with their drinks.
"Severus?" Claire decided to ask, while stirring her drink.
"Yes, Miss Rollins?"
"While I am happy and grateful that you bought me the dress earlier, I am curious and would like to know something. About tonight."
That caught the man's attention. He looked up with a slight panic.
Don't tell me she changed her bloody mind. "What about tonight?"
"Why didn't you ask any of the teachers or staff to be your Plus One? I mean not ALL of them are married, right?"
Her question immediately made Severus shivered.
Before he could answer, the waiter served them their meals.
"Enjoy the Pies!" Said the friendly waiter before he took off to his station.
"There is a reason why I chose you, Miss Rollins." Severus picked up his fork and cut the pie to small bites. "You see, back at the Easton Academy, there's a woman, a school's nurse, who resembled a lot like a fat annoying cow back at Wizarding World. A cow named Rita Skeeter." He hissed at the name.
"She's a noisy reporter for a gossip column of the Daily Prophet, whose life is to make other people's life miserable with her lies!" The fork he grip with an iron-fist, was bending to an uncontrollable shape.
Claire cleared her throat and asked for new fork from the passing-by waiter.
"She's that bad huh? Sounds no different from our own noisy reporters."
"They have their own kind." Severus cleared his throat. "Anyhow, the nurse's name is Darla Kim. She turned out to be an ordinarily Muggle. I'd almost, almost hexed her the first time we've met."
"You didn't!" Claire gasped.
"Almost." Severus sighed. "I hate that Rita Skeeter with pure passion. What's even worse is, Darla Kim, is apparently said, to be fond of me."
The less crowded Tony's Pies was filled with the sweet laughter of a young woman in the same table with an older brooding man who could be easily mistaken as her father or older relative.
Claire had to hug herself to stop herself from breaking into a laughing fit. While she was busy doing so, Severus was giving her a hard glare. His paled face was slightly red, either from being greatly embarrassed that a woman actually took an interest in him or from hearing his younger companion's sweet laughters, Severus couldn't decide.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Severus! I didn't mean to laugh at you. It just that, well... Why didn't you asked her to go with you instead? Sure, she has the look of someone you hate, but if she is generously interest in you, I don't see why you shouldn't at least give it a try?"
Severus snarled. "Bah! I'd rather chop my hands off than dating someone like Rita Skeeter or someone that looks like her!"
Claire shrugged. "suit yourself. So, the reason why you wanted me to come along is to throw Darla Kim off, right?"
"Please do. She's been giving me the creeps since day one. And quite frankly, I'd rather not have her claws all over me tonight."
"Okay then." Claire raised her hand. "Excuse me! May we have the bill, please?"
"IT'S our great pleasure to have such generous man as yourself to come to the Spring Ball, Mr. Lucius!" Mr. Jade Lewis, the Principal of Easton Academy greeted the Malfoy Patriarch formally as he entered the VIP Room.
"We can't possibly thank you enough, Mr. Malfoy for your generosity to contribute significantly amount to the funds of the Literacy Faculty!"
"It is my pleasure, Headmaster Lewis. I have a good friend who is also a staff here. You should thanked him for telling me of your faculty problem." Lucius smiled professionally as he shook hands with the Headmaster.
The school's photographer wasted no time to snap a picture of the Patriarch and the Headmaster.
After a few more formal greetings with the school's staff, Lucius excused himself to the veranda for a bit of fresh air.
Lucius was dressed in a cream wool single-breasted three-piece suit, white cotton shirt and black silk tie with white stripe. Black and grey strip cotton pocket square, silver-plated tie bar, with a Slytherin ring on his right ring finger.
Last but not least, his trademark walking cane.
These past couple of weeks, Lucius Malfoy had been a very busy man. He'd spent a few days in the Netherlands to settle a business deal, flew to Austria for a potential Buyers for a week. Then, on the second week, he'd returned to England to settle another deal before being drove to the Eastern Academy just in time for the Spring Ball Ceremony.
Lucius' son, Draco, had been locked up in his office in Paris the whole of those hectic weeks, monitoring over the businesses there and to ensure that everything went accordingly and smoothly. He would be back in England first thing tomorrow morning for a weekend getaway before being forced to fly back again to handle the Paris' Office.
Looking at the moon above him, Lucius let his mind wondered to a young spirited Muggle whom he had the pleasure of taking out to a dinner few weeks ago.
Claire Rollins.
While Lucius had been busy with his hectic schedules, he was surprised to find out he'd missed her strange yet bubbling personality. There was something about her that didn't immediately caught his attention, but when it's no longer there, he craved for it.
Was it because it had been the first date he had with a woman whom he didn't need to pretend who he really was? Was it her personality? Her boldness to speak her mind whenever she wishes, and not really caring to whom specifically?
Whatever it was, it was driving Lucius crazy－especially after he'd found out who the bloody Fritzwilliam Darcy was!
A Muggle's fictional character? She really compared him, Lucius Malfoy II, to a non-existence Muggle's Fictional Character?
Preposterous!
Drinking the cup of wine he was holding with his right hand, Lucius was about to retreat inside and entertained himself with the old geezers who only wanted his fortunes when something caught his attention－a couple, both he knew too well, was entering the school gates.
Lucius couldn't believe his eyes.
His good friend Severus, was dressed in a Slytherin Green Suit. In his arms, was the young Muggle whom Lucius found himself missed greatly.
Claire wore a simple Forest green half-sleeves Lace Knee-length dress －Severus' choice of dress after they'd spent the entire morning for her to choose and trying out dresses. Her hair, she once again did the same style like when she went out on a date with Lucius.
For tonight's occasion, Claire made an effort to put on a light make up on her face and chose a rosy red lipstick for her lips.
All in all, Claire thought she looked great and rocked in the dress!
The moment Claire and her date entered the hall where the Ball was being held, memories of her high school years flashed in her mind. Claire had pretty good years as a high school students. She didn't belonged to any group and just blending in with everyone, though, she tried her best to avoid the Popular and Jocks Crowds, but they had always found their way into her small group of circles.
Claire assumed she was just simply a people's person.
"Could you wait here for a little bit while I go for my rounds?" Severus said once they have arrived at the beverages' table.
He had told her earlier in the day that all teachers were required to be on-duty, make rounds and keep eyes on the students to make sure they don't do any inappropriate deeds.
"Sure. I'll keep myself busy with the beverages then." Claire smiled.
Severus gave a brief smile at her before he leant forward and whispered in her ears. "Try not to finish all of the food. I know you've been starving yourself since lunch."
"Wicked." Claire playfully tapped his arms.
As Severus was about to leave her and walked away to start his duty when he literally froze.
Claire watched as his back stiff immediately. She could even clearly him sucked the air before he swallowed. Curious, her eyes drifted from his back to look at the person standing in between him and the exit door.
Surely whoever Darla Kim was, who resembled closely to the noisy reporter witch Severus hatred with great passion doesn't looked too bad, right?
Wrong.
The moment Claire's eyes met with the School Nurse, dressed in a very tight ocean blue short sleeveless dress that showed off most of her curves and cleavage, Claire almost spat the drink in her mouth.
Surely there must be rules for anyone to dress like that! Where the hell are the Fashion Polices? It's a crime for someone to be dressed inappropriately like that in a school nevertheless, let alone someone her own age!
Darla Kim's face was covered with thick make-ups and powder. Her thick lips was covered by bright red, her thick red haired were curled in odd ways. She wore a thick red spectaculars to hide her ocean-blue eyes.
As she walked toward Severus, Darla swayed her hips left and right － causing a few of the male students in the hall to gawk openly and received a hard hit by their dates.
"Severus Snape. It is so good to see you again this evening." Darla's voice was thick and seductive.
"Good evening to you as well, Madam." Severus struggled to keep his mind straight.
Oh dear. Claire took the last sip of her drink and put the empty glass down.
Show time!
"Darling, they even serve cheese and ham crackers at the beverage table!" A soft hand from the back reached out for Severus' stiff arm.
Claire's soft gaze met with his shocking look. She smiled at him before turning her look at the older woman before them. Her hand drifted from his arm to his chest, possessively.
"Oh, and who is this, Severus? Your colleague?"
Severus coughed. "Yes. Allow me to introduce you my dear, This is Darla Kim, the School Nurse. Madam Kim, this is my," He momentarily paused. "Dearest one, Claire Rollins."
"Oh, so this is the famous Darla Kim my dear Severus has been talking about! It's a pleasure to finally meeting with you. Thank you so much for watching over my Severus while he's at work!" Claire boldly walked toward the stunned woman and shook her hands strongly.
"It's a pleasure." Darla finally found her voice. Her eyes moved from the attractive looking younger woman before her to Severus. "You failed to mention that you are in a relationship, Severus. With a younger woman nevertheless."
"Oh, forgive me for not telling, Madam. I'm a simply a private man after all. As for my preference, I believe in the saying 'to each his own', Madam."
After a moment of an awkward silence, Darla made an excuse, saying that she needed to go out for a bit of fresh air.
Right after she'd left, Claire had a hard time of controlling her giggles.
"You're right, Severus! She does looks like a cow and a hag!" she gasped, still giggling.
Severus gave her a sharp glare. His face was still flushed from the encounter. His hands slightly shaken by the way Claire's hand had been on his chest earlier.
Claire stopped her giggling and gave the man her best smile.
"I say we've finally gotten rid of her."
"I highly doubt that." He sneered. "The woman's a stubborn and headstrong hag. I doubt she'd walked away so easily. No. We need to create something that would ultimately convince her that I'm not technically available."
"Well, what do you have in mind?" Before Severus could reply, a shrilling voice called out to him across the hall.
"Severus Snape!"
All eyes turned at the owner of the voice and at the name spoken by her.
Darla came in, looked like a completely different woman from when she had been a moment ago.
Her eyes were narrowed, thick lips thinned and her hair looked like Medusa's. She stomped toward where the couple was and spat, "I don't believe that you, in any way, are in a relationship with her! " Darla gave a dirty look at Claire.
"Madam-"
"This is something to throw me off isn't it, Snape? Have you ever thought why an attractive, fresh and young woman like her would want a ghastly old man like you in the first place? Definitely not for your looks! For all you know, she could be using you for your fortunates!"
"Now hold it right there, woman!" Claire was immediately cut off by the ramblings of the older woman.
"But I'm not like that Severus! I'm older than you, I'm well aware of that. I am genuinely interest in you! I sincerely believe I can make you happier in more ways than one compare to this witch! Tell me, is she any good in bed? Is that why you went for a younger woman?"
PAK!
The sound of a good hard slapping echoed the whole silence hall. The music had stopped a long time ago the moment Darla had shouted Severus' name across the hall.
Claire had never been so enraged in her whole life! How dare that- that bitch dared to talk about her and Severus like that? Who gives her the damn right to say those words in the first place?
In her rage, Claire didn't stopped to think the consequences of her next action.
"Good in bed? Let me tell you something, sister, I'm more than just that! The first reason why Severus had chosen me over a cow and hag like you is because I'm a hell of a good kisser!" Not thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him down on his knees for his lips to crash to hers.
SEVERAL people gasped loudly could clearly be heard in the hall. Majority of the students were being taught by Severus or knew him by in either in Chemistry class or Detention Class.
They were all aware of his attitudes, and called him names worse than a 'Greasy Git.' However, none of them ever expected to see him escorting a beautiful lady tonight as they entered the school gates together.
Some of the students went as far as throwing bets around the school that he'd hired someone to be his Plus One, just to save his own face.
When Darla Kim, the School's hot Nurse was making a scene, only then thing got a bit interesting, and more bets were made around the school. It got even more interesting when Severus' date had slapped Darla Kim before she literally snogging the black haired man in front of everyone.
Lucius Malfoy was at the VIPs stands, speaking with one VIPs when he heard a loud commotion coming on the other side of the hall. At first, he'd ignored them as moved on with the conversation but something else caught his hearing.
"Severus Snape!"
Lucius had to rush over to see what the commotion was all about. Already forgotten his drinking companion, he went over to the centre of the hall to have a closer look.
By the time Lucius managed to successfully brought himself to the beverages' table where the commotion took place, he was shocked to see the young stunning Muggle who had tormenting his mind even now, had raised her hand and slapped the other woman dressed in a skimpy outfit.
It'd happened so fast. Before Lucius could even blinked his eyes, the young Muggle had spurted angry words at the other woman's face before she turned and wrapped her arms around Severus' neck and crushed his lips with hers.
Lucius immediately felt unknown sensation running through the back of his spine. He felt like strangling Severus right there and then.
Why? And for what?
Lucius wasn't sure himself. All he knew at the moment, that if he didn't get out of there in time, he would do something regrettable to Severus.
It was Severus who turned his head away and ended the abrupt kiss. He took her arms from his neck and released them. Wordlessly, he walked away from her and the spectaculars with whatever dignity he had left in him.
Claire touched her lips slowly. Her widened eyes watched as he walked left.
Oh my Lord! What have I done?
Panic began to wash over her like a bucket of cold iced water. Before she could chase after him, a high-pitched chuckles caught her immediate attention.
"Well, well, well. Who would have thought that someone would actually be in love with Hogwart's own Greasy Git and Ex-Potion Master? Then again, he is known as the 'War Hero', all thanks to the goodwill and efforts of the Boy-Who-Lived. No women could resist such title. Not even Muggles, am I right, dearie?"
The woman whom Claire had the pleasure to slap earlier was no longer the School Nurse, Darla Lim. Instead, in her place, stood an attractive blonde hag with her hair set in elaborate and curls that contrasted oddly with her heavy-jawed face.
Her thick fingers ending in two-inch nails, painted crimson, was writing something on a notepad using an acid green quill. She carried a crocodile-skin handbag around her arms.
Her attire had also changed from the skimpy revealing dress to a more formal attire; green leather with maroon furs at the collar and sleeves with a matching skirt.
"Who are you?" Claire asked, thought she had an idea to who it was.
"Rita Skeeter. Gossip Correspondent for the Daily Prophet. At your service, dearie." Rita smirked. "Thanks to you, I've managed to gather some very juicy gossips about Severus Snape! Imagine; 'His sudden disappearance from the Wizarding World just proves that the witches and sorceresses are not his type of tea! No, he preferred to be with Muggles who are young enough to be his daughter'! No doubt the readers will go wild over this!"
"Y-You're a horrible and vile woman!" Claire pointed one finger at her. "You take back those words or else I'll-"
"'m a witch, dear. For your own good, if you ever touch me ever like that again I will-" Before Rita could see what hit her, she felt a sharp stinging sensation on her left cheek.
"I'll make sure you regret hitting me the second time, bitch!" Ignoring Rita's threats, Claire rushed out of the Exit to find Severus.
It didn't take her long to find the brooding man. He was obviously out of the school grounds and was making his way home when she found him.
"Severus!" Claire broke to a sprint. "Severus, wait!"
He didn't stopped.
"Severus!" Claire finally caught up with him and grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. "Wait! Please, just hear me out!"
"Why should I trust you when all those words you'd said to me earlier where nothing more than just lies!" He literally barked those words at her.
"Severus, I admit, it's my fault. I let that bitch Rita Skeeter got to me!"
"Rita? You mean-"
Claire nodded. "Darla Kim IS Rita Skeeter. She said she has been doing a research on your whereabouts. Bloody bitch. I gave her another slap though."
Severus swore loudly. "EXCELLENT, Miss Rollins! Not only my career as a teacher in this Muggle world has literally ended, now I have that annoying Rita bloody Skeeter on my watch for twenty-four seven!"
"Why are you so bloody mad at me about?!" Now Claire was pissed! True, she shouldn't have done that, but was her kiss so bad that he had to go amok on her?
"I'm sorry I've created a scene, Severus. Had I known my kiss would be so disgusting and defective, I wouldn't have done it even if you begged me to!"
"IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!" Severus screamed.
"What?" A dumbfounded look was on Claire's face.
Severus sighed heavily. "You were not the one at faults, Miss Rollins. I am."
"I-I don't understand..." Severus pitched the bridge of his forehead. He was pacing back and forth while Claire stood still behind him.
"Miss Rollins, I am an ugly old man. I'd loss the only love of my life to a man who made my time a living hell in Hogwarts, and on top of that, I was also partly responsible for their deaths. To add more insult to my already wounded pride, I'd been forced to keep the scion between the love of my life and the man I hated with passion safe from being killed by the Dark Lord for years. In other words, I am a loser. I have no social interpersonal skills. And certainly, I shouldn't be the first man to steal away your first kiss!"
Claire's rage suddenly volume up. "Severus Snape you are NOT a loser! You're certainly NOT ugly and you are most definitely NOT responsible for stealing my first kiss! I'm the one who'd forced you into the situation! Didn't you feel your lips literally crushed into mine and not the other way around?"
Tunnel eyes filled with unless shame looked away from her gaze.
Immediately, Claire realized what was the root of the problem. It was written all over in his eyes. She'd just been too upset not to see it earlier.
Raising her hands to his cheeks, Claire forced the ex-Potion Master to look at her. She spoke in a clear tender voice, "Severus Snape, you, like the rest of the men in this world, deserved to be given a chance to love and beloved. Lily, had Lily been the one who made you felt so unworthy of yourself, Snape? Because she didn't returned the love you had for her and chose James Potter instead?"
Severus didn't move nor said a word. His eyes remained locked with her.
Claire sighed softly.
"Lily had not been a good friend to you , Severus." That caught the man attention. Immediately his expression changed from shame to hard cold.
"It had been an accident. You did not intentionally insulted her, did you? You were enraged. People who are enraged do not think with their brain, Severus. Look what I'd just did to you! The point is, if she had been a great friend, Lily would have understood that you didn't meant to call her a 'Mudblood'. She had every rights to be angry with you and called you a jerk and arse, yes. But to cut of your friendship completely because of that and just like that? She had been not a good friend. Personally, after everything I heard from you about her, I really don't see how you could be loyal to her." Claire shook her head.
Severus inhaled sharply and then slapped her hands away from his face.
"Do not talk about Lily as if you'd known her the way I do." His eyes was icy cold and his voice was filled with acidic when he spoke those words to her.
Without another word, Severus made his way to the apartment.
The time was one O'clock in the morning by the time Lucius Malfoy arrived at the steps of the small Apartment he shared with his house-mates, he was slightly drunk but carnally satisfied from spending hours with another of his 'toys'－as Claire would referred them.
What he did not expect the moment he reached arrived the fifth floor of his apartment, was to find his female house-mate sitting on the floor of their front door, hugging her knees with her head down.
"Miss Rollins?"
Claire slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were red and swallowed. She pointed at the front door.
"Severus kicked me out with a spell. I couldn't get in."
Lucius raised his eyebrows. He kept his eyes on the young Muggle before he approached her, and got on to his knees, to her eye level.
"How long have you been out here?"
"Since ten."
Lucius cussed at Severus' lack of manners, before removing his coat and wrapped it around the young woman. His hand accidentally touched her cold icy skin.
"We need to get you to some place warm." He said mostly to himself than to her. Pulling her against his chest, Lucius looked down at her.
"Do you trust me, Miss Claire?"
Claire slowly nodded.
"Good." Lucius smiled briefly. "We're Apparating to the Wizarding World, the Malfoy's Manor, if you don't mind. Severus can be a complete twit when he chooses to be, so it may takes a while for you to be able to speak with him again."