A/N- Hello again, sorry for the slight delay in a chapter, but I didn't start writing this one for a few days. Hope you all forgive me. I suppose I should say as well don't worry, though I plan to make this with more angst in the future, I don't think I will be able to leave out the humor no matter how much I tried to. I think I am allowed only one completely sad tale a year, and that was Sudden Sorrows. Oh well…
Disclaimer- I will never claim this as my own, and if I should sell it, then I am completely mad and… Oh… look at the pretty squirrels…
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Chapter 8- Stuck
DAY 1
It had been over an hour since her last 'meeting' with her Master, and she was currently seated against what had once been her way out. She had tried everything; the handle, charms, the verse that was used on the way in, and every other 'unlocking' technique she had ever heard of, not excluding a wry attempt at blowing the bloody entrance up. She was stuck. The git had locked her in the bloody library. And she needed to use the lavatory, and quickly.
Defeated she groaned, and then rose to her feet. Maybe there was a lavatory within the library, and if there were, she was going to find it. She made her way to the other corner of the library, and instead of a usual wall there, as there had been in 'her' corner, there was instead a small archway. One that was even shorter than she was. She decided to go through, and for the second time, her breath was taken away. It was a grand hall, with dozens of doors upon either side of it, all trimmed in silver with red and black velvet as the main entourage.
She tried the first door to the right, and squealed in excitement. A toilet! What luck! She quickly did as she needed and then, her curiosity getting the better of her, decided to go and figure out what all was behind the many doors of the hall she had found. To her dismay, she found that most of them did not open, except for three others. The first two that she discovered were bedrooms of sorts, and the last was a kitchen. Unfortunately, it was empty- completely and entirely empty. Oh well, it was not that big of a deal really in that aspect. She simply knew that Snape would send an elf to bring her food. She knew it…
On that note she sighed and went back to her table. Might as well see what in the world he was to have her do… She looked at the list.
In the name of Merlin! The man was completely out of his gourd. If her count was right, he wanted her to read nearly one hundred books, and more or less write a book herself in a report. After picking up a few books, she decided to go to one of the bedrooms. If she were to accomplish that much reading, she might as well do it in comfort. She collapsed heavily on the large, soft bed with a sigh. It was unfair really, she did after all finish seven of the twelve books he wanted her to finish, and she had well over the amount of notes he had required of her. And she had tried… She really did…
Once again sighing, she picked up the first book, and began to read.
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Day 2
Well, it now was becoming obvious that Snape had no intentions of coming to check up on her anytime soon. She was simply positive that he would have at least by lunch time, but by her calculations, considering the fact she had forgotten her watch and there were absolutely no windows in that bloody place, it was well past. Not to mention she had nothing to eat since breakfast… Yesterday. She was positively starving. She had finished nearly nine books since the day before, as well as at least seven feet of parchment worth of notes. Simply to say… She was tired.
Where was he anyway? One would believe, knowing that he had given her such an assignment, that he would check up on her at least once a day.
Damn and blast him anyway! Why would she care? He was being completely unfair. It wasn't her fault that she couldn't sleep before breakfast yesterday, it wasn't her fault that she got settled with an assignment that was due far before it should have been, why was he doing this?
Was it really a common thing that a master would lock their apprentice in a library? Ok, that fact she really didn't mind. It was simply the fact that she couldn't get out, even if she wanted, and the fact that she was hungry, and the bloody pantry was empty. At least it was a marvelous library… Maybe if she worked hard enough on her assignment, she might get it done early, depending on whatever time he ever decided it should be done, and she could read a book or three that she hadn't read before. She noticed that there were so many books here that weren't within the schools library. Where did he get them all? Or were they already here perhaps?
She sighed, picked up a few more books, and went back to what she declared her new bedroom. This place was perfect; it had everything that she could ever long for, a bathroom, kitchen, and best of all, a magnificent library. Now if only she had food…
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Day 3
She was going to kill him. Right after she ate something. Sure, she had water, but that was only holding her through by so much. She was feeling sick. Where in the bloody hell was he?! Next time she saw him, she swore she would hex him. Hex him from here till the rest of bloody eternity. She was doing his bloody long assignment, the least he could do was bloody well feed her.
DAMN HIM, damn him, damn him! She now knew why he took her on… To kill her. He more or less had permission in that contract to do it, she just never thought he would do it. How seemingly subtle of him; lock away hated student in her favorite spot, and see if she is able to claw her way out before she starves to death. Genius really, too bad she hadn't thought of it first so that she could have turned the bloody tables around. Would serve him right…
Wait… McGonagall knew that she was staying here… She wouldn't allow Snape to murder her so early on in her apprenticeship… Maybe… Just maybe she had some hope after all… At least… She hoped so. She looked towards the entrance, and felt herself begin to cry. Don't forget me Snape… Please…
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For close to the hundredth time, Severus read his favorite book, Madame Alchemica- Mistress of Potions. It was, unsurprisingly, an actual potions book, but with a twist to make it seem like a real work of fiction. He loved the way the author had twisted story with potion making seamlessly in together. Although, considering the fact that the book had stayed in print for a very short time, there weren't all that many others that felt the same way about it. Maybe it was the fact that it went far into detail when coming to potions, and how many stirs, and the smell would affect it… Oh well, it was their own problem if they couldn't see the brilliance of it.
Just as he was reading, he had the sudden feeling as if he were forgetting something important, but what? He pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to figure out what it was. He didn't have to go stir his current potion for another half hour, he had all of his work done that he needed to do for the day, and he had already spoken to Albus about school time arrangements for Miss Granger. After much yelling and cussing on his part, Albus still refused the workload that he wished to unload on Granger during the school year, something about not having the ability to watch both his students, as well as his apprentice. Rubbish, all of it! If the stupid girl blew herself up with one of the potions while he was not there, he didn't see how he would be responsible for that. Yes… He had remembered everything he needed to… Didn't he?
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Day 5-
She ground her teeth. It had been another two days, and she was starting to get so hungry she couldn't concentrate on her work in the way that she would like. She had figured it out now, that IF Snape ever walked through the door that the only thing that would save him from being eaten alive, was if he would be carrying in food for her. For some reason, she honestly doubted though that he was going to be doing neither.
She sighed, and in some mechanical motion went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and went back to the library to read. She didn't set down the knife though. If that damnable mouse were to come anywhere near her again, she would kill it. She didn't trust her wand to do it… No… If she were to kill the mouse, then she would be getting food from it. It would last her while, entrusting enlarging charms and freezing charms and all that.
That was it; she was starting to go mad.
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Day 6-
Snape had tried to eat peacefully, but couldn't seem to do it. OF coarse not… Why, who would want the ability to eat without being stared at for the entirety of the whole bloody meal anyway?
He couldn't take it anymore; he turned to Minerva. "WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU WANT, WOMAN?"
She looked over the top of her glasses at him. "Where has Miss Granger been for the past five days, Severus? Whether the girl knew or not of your own schooling, does not mean that you can abuse her the same way that you were abused. There are people here that will look out for her, and I don't wish what happened at the end of your apprenticeship, to happen again."
He looked at her, his surprise evident upon his face, if not in his voice. "You know what really happened then?" She nodded, and he spoke quietly, "I didn't know you cared."
"Well I do, Severus, and never forget it. None of us wished you dead during the war, and know that sentiment continues still."
He snorted. "I will keep it in mind. And don't worry yourself Minerva, she is fine. She is in my private library studying. Perhaps she hasn't come because she is a workaholic?" He sneered as he noticed that she accepted this bit of information, and continued to eat.
Like a flash of lightning he suddenly realized what it was that he had been forgetting. Bloody hell… He turned to Minerva again. "Excuse me Minerva, but I do believe that there is a certain matter that I must attend to."
And as he left the hall, he did not notice the pleased smile that spread across the woman's face, for there was one more task that Minerva had come up with, after she had witnessed him smile for nearly an entire day. To make Severus Snape either feel worthy of being alive, or to fall in love, whichever came first.
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A/N- Yay, a longer chapter! Still not overtly long, but it is the longest one as of yet, and hopefully will get longer as time goes… LOL. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, please review, I do appreciate them. :)