Through My Student's Eyes

Jonathan had never been a quiet boy. Having grown up in a loving family with two little sisters who adored him, he was usually a bold and self-confident child. Well-liked by adults and children alike, he had always displayed a bit of mischief with which he frequently got away.

Hogwarts, however, had humbled him.

Being away from his family for the first time was hard although he had been looking forward to attending Hogwarts for years. The castle, though welcoming, was vast and Jonathan felt small and insignificant as for the first time he was easily overlooked in the crowd of first-years.

Also, he was intimidated by the teachers. While Professor McGonagall was kind, she was also very strict and his small attempt at a joke had not gone down well. Professor Flitwick's tininess was deceiving, as Jonathan had had to discover that his coursework was every bit as demanding. The worst, however, was Professor Snape.

Hooked-nosed, malevolent and always out to get someone who was out of line, he frightened Jonathan more than anyone else in the castle. His stomach clenched into knots whenever he heard the approaching steps of the mean-tempered potions master and to his horror, he only ever managed to quietly croak the answer whenever he was asked a question in class.

Potions wasn't exactly his strong suit either and so he would have hated Tuesdays with a vengeance, hadn't it been for the evenings.

He loved Astronomy and star charting had become something he was quite skilled at. Professor Sinistra had told him on several occasions that she was very happy with his work and he found himself proud of his accomplishments and of the fact that Aurora Sinistra seemed to smile at him a lot more often than at the other students.

He liked her a lot since he found her not only pretty but also a bit mysterious. Sometimes during meals, his gaze secretly wandered towards the faculty's table and he watched her eat. More often than not, she spent the meals talking to the dreaded Professor Snape and Jonathan wondered how she could keep so calm when his scowls and sneers were directed at her so frequently.

One Tuesday, he was concentrating on a test Professor Sinistra had them work on. He was not nervous since he had been working ahead and knew all the answers by heart. He was concentrating enough, however, to be startled when the door creaked open. In a flurry of nightclothes, a little girl with black hair and porcelain skin came running in, looking no more than perhaps a year old. Her steps were still a bit awkward but her short arms were stretched out and she looked very determined as to her destination.

"Mommy!" she babbled and hugged Professor Sinistra's leg. The astronomy professor looked as startled as her students were and gave them an apologetic smile before she picked the toddler up.

"Where is your daddy? You know mommy is teaching tonight."

The baby made an unintelligible sound and pressed her face to her mother's chest. Sinistra rolled her eyes and hugged her daughter closer to her.

"Class, I will be back in a..."

She was interrupted by the sound of the door that was flung open and Jonathan felt himself grow smaller on his chair. That black-clad arm that so violently pushed at the door could only belong to one person. Professor Snape walked in, his hair slightly ruffled, the look on his face uncharacteristically harassed. In the Astronomy class room that Jonathan regarded as his personal sanctuary he looked completely out of place.

Jonathan looked from the imposing bat-like teacher towards Professor Sinistra and – to his surprise – found her cocking her eyebrow with a subtle little smile.

"Severus, you can't let her run away like this."

Snape glowered at Jonathan and he quickly pretended to go back to filling out the almost completed questionnaire. From his seat at the very front of the class he could hear what they were discussing even though their voices were lowered.

"I am sorry, Aurora. I only turned away for a second and she was out the door."

"Next time put a spell on the door. You know how dangerous those stairs are."

Professor Sinistra gently stroked the little girl's hair.

"Yes, I should have done that." Jonathan had not expected "sheepish" to be in the repertoire of Severus Snape's looks but apparently it was.

He felt a bit embarrassed when Professor Sinistra, after a quick look towards the class that was once again engrossed in their work, touched Snape's cheek lightly.

"Careful with the little one." She handed the toddler back to Snape who wrapped his arms around her protectively. For a moment, his face looked almost pleasant.

Then he noticed that Jonathan was watching their exchange.

"You have already finished your work, I see," he said silkily. "Let's see whether your essay for potions tomorrow is also up to speed."

The look Snape shot at his student looked as if it was designed to kill but Jonathan could not help but smirk as the potions master looked only half as hazardous while clutching a grinning toddler to his chest that - unbeknownst to him - was drooling all over his black robes.

Sinistra looked amused as well, having crossed her arms in front of her upper body.
"Is there anything you find particularly amusing?" Snape hissed but was interrupted by his daughter whose tiny hands had clutched around a strand of his black hair. He winced when she pulled it hard, laughing, and desperately tried to disengage her fingers.

Jonathan felt a lot more light-hearted than he had in weeks.

"No, sir," he said, unable to stop grinning.

"If you dare..." Snape began, but Professor Sinistra placed a hand on his arm.

"Please stop harassing my poor student, honey."

Snape's eye twitched at the term of endearment and he walked out briskly, his sinister exit disturbed by his daughter's happy squeal.

Jonathan was a bit miffed by the fact that his favorite teacher was apparently married to his least favorite teacher but found that he now was a little less afraid of Snape.

Although he would probably give him hell.

Forever.

Professor Sinistra gave him a small smirk and picked up his test sheet.

"You better get to your potions essay," she said. "as I think it has to be perfect now that you dared to be amused by his predicament."

Jonathan found the blood draining from his face but she just winked. "Get going."

Walking out, Jonathan felt determined. Maybe Hogwarts would not be as bad now that he had found out that Snape was human after all.

A/N: That was just a bit of fluff but I hope you enjoyed it. Be prepared for the next chapter when Snape has to battle Sinistra's cat that absolutely detests him. You know how cats are... :-)