Chapter 6
Being Nice
October 10, 1996
Be nice to Professor Snape. Why, what is the point? I guess it all comes down to if I trust Dumbledore's judgment, and I do. But, in my opinion the nice thing to do would be to leave him alone. I'm sure that is what Professor Snape would prefer, yet I highly doubt that is what Dumbledore meant. I glanced at Professor Snape, who was just glaring at his oatmeal. I wonder what he is thinking about. I thought as I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He looks rather angry about something…or someone. And unless his breakfast just insulted him, I can bet who that someone is, but what else is new?
"Alex, hey Alex, are you listening to me."
I stopped spying on Professor Snape and turned to look at Hermione, who apparently had been trying to talk to me for the last couple of minutes. "What?" I said in a perplexed tone.
"Did you hear what I said?" Hermione looked at me sternly.
"Yes," I lied.
"What did I say?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
I looked at her blankly for a moment. "I'm sorry Hermione, what did you say?"
She rolled her eyes. "I was only wondering if you wanted to know what you missed yesterday in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
I felt really lousy about not paying attention to her when she was just trying to be helpful. I smiled at her somewhat guiltily. "Thanks Hermione, yeah, I would like to know what I missed."
"Are you planning on going to class tomorrow?" I better since I promised Dumbledore I would be nice to Professor Snape, I thought bitterly.
"Yes," I said shiftily. "I'm sorry about that,"
"It's alright," she said. "I'll fill you in during break."
I beamed at her. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," she said kindly and then began talking to the red haired girl on her other side.
I peered at Dumbledore in the middle of the staff table. He appeared to be deep in conversation with Professor McGonagall, but as soon as my gaze fell upon him, he glanced in my direction. Be nice to Professor Snape, right. And throwing caution to the winds I got up and started towards the head table.
"Good morning, Professor Snape." I said sweetly. He slowly looked up from his bowl. I smiled widely at him. He just stared at me. His look was forbidding. I knew he thought I was either making fun of him or just trying to be a pain. And to be perfectly honest I was trying to accomplish both. The other teachers had all gone silent. I glanced at Professor Dumbledore, who was staring intently in the other direction, smiling to himself.
"Aren't you going to say good morning back?" said McGonagall to Professor Snape. Her tone immensely reminded me of a mother trying to teach her two year old good manners. Snape gave her a look so deadly, I half expected McGonagall to die right then and there. But instead she said, "Well?"
His eyes were on me again and I was trying to look innocent and not as though I was thoroughly enjoying myself. He looked like he was going to explode. Maybe this was just too much kindness for Professor Snape to take all at once. I waited
"Good morning," he said through clenched teeth.
I smiled even wider at him. I was really quite impressed that he was able to keep from shouting. "Well, I guess all see you later then," I said brightly. "Bye Professor." And I walked away rather pleased with myself.
November 1996
I continued to be nice to Professor Snape; although, I did not approach him at the staff table anymore; I didn't think I could survive anything so dangerous again. I quickly learnt not to expect any kindness in return from Professor Snape. On the contrary the nicer I was to him the meaner he was to me.
I never talked out of turn in this class; I only raised my hand quietly, not that he ever called on me. I said hello to him pleasantly every time we met, which became almost never because he stopped coming to meals and never seemed to be in the halls. So I only saw Professor Snape in class, when he was forced be in the same room as me. He always ignored my friendly greetings; in fact, he stopped talking to me all together. The only time he actually acknowledged my existence was when he was taking role call in his class. He would just read out the name 'Snape,' with his lips contorted into an awful grimace and I would say 'present,' and it would all be over. I was beginning to think that Dumbledore was using me as a ploy to annoy Professor Snape; if he was, it was certainly working.