A/N Severus gets a small shock at the breakfast table
Enjoy, and as always, a review would make me so happy!
Characters belong to the brilliant J.K. Rowling, I merely use them to do my bidding!
Severus awoke, already in a terrible mood. He hated when he woke up because of the sun from his single window. He preferred to wake up on his own time. He got out of bed though, and made himself appropriate for breakfast in the Great Hall. Wearing his customary black robes, he exited his quarters.
On the walk up to the Great Hall, Severus appreciated the silence of the castle for the last time this year. Soon the students will arrive, and he will be back to silently walking in the shadows and catching wrong-doers unawares. His lip twitched at the thought. One of the very few highlights of being a teacher was the satisfaction at seeing student's faces fall when he docked points.
He hoped Slytherin would win the House Cup this year. Last year's loss to Hufflepuff was too embarrassing for Severus to handle again. He arrived at the Great Hall, and stalked up to the staff table, his robes billowing behind him.
Resuming his customary seat between the headmistress and the empty seat where the DADA professor usually sat, he looked around. Empty, but not for much longer. He glared at Minerva as she walked up and sat beside him.
"Sleep well, did you Severus?" she inquired, taking a sip from the cup of coffee that appeared before her.
He glowered more. "Keep your pleasantries to yourself, Minerva," he said, the irritation obvious in his voice. "I have no use for them this morning."
Minerva had the grace to look slightly crestfallen. "Apparently not, I see. A shame, I'd think. I was going to invite you to chess and tea this evening as an escape from fumbling students trying to find their dorms."
He continued to glare at her, hoping she would turn away and leave him alone. "I think I am quite capable of handling a few lost students, headmistress." He smirked as she realized her offer didn't tempt him. "I daresay Gryffindor would be breaking some sort of record if no points were lost on the first evening back."
It was the headmistress's turn to glower now. "Severus, please. Can't there be one day when you don't act like a sarcastic bastard?" she said as a glimmer of amusement sparked in her eyes.
Severus's smirk grew as he took a sip of his breakfast tea. "It isn't realistic to hope for things that are beyond your reach."
Minerva grinned but let the comment go, choosing instead to focus on her English muffin.
Severus turned to his food, the smirk still in place.
He enjoyed his relationship with Minerva. She really was a pushy woman. He huffed inwardly, recalling how she nagged him the first year he was back to play chess with her. He had finally acquiesced, and so their comfortable friendship had blossomed. He was interrupted from his reverie by the sound of someone behind him.
"Hello, Professor. It's good to see you again." a familiar voice said as a body plopped down in the empty chair beside him.
Severus was surprised, but he didn't show it. Instead he turned towards the voice, and was even more surprised to see it belonged to the Granger girl. Keeping his usual look of utter disgust on his face, he inclined his head stiffly. "Granger."
"It's Professor Granger now," she replied, as she dug into her breakfast.
Severus arched an eyebrow, and turned away. He didn't respond to her, instead focusing on his meal as he considered which hex to use on the headmistress this evening. Why hadn't Minerva warned him that she would be back? It had been four years since he last saw her. Why did that have to change?
Minerva noticed the exchange, and sighed. Apparently Severus would be treating Professor Granger with as much disdain as he usually did.
Severus, however, was happy that Granger took the hint and didn't try to pursue further conversation.
Hopefully it would stay that way.
All year.