A/N: Septima decides to spend her morning skating on the Black Lake.
Submission for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Arithmancy Assignment #9 - Write a story about one of the Hogwarts Teachers.
Countdown to Christmas Drabble/Oneshot Competition!: Day 5 - Ice skating
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Septima walked out into the crisp morning air with her ice skates thrown over her shoulder. It was early, the sun barely rising above the trees of the Forbidden Forest, and the grounds were covered in a layer of untouched white snow.
She smiled as she headed towards the Black Lake. Most of the students had gone home for the break and the few who remained were still bundled up in their dormitories so she had it all to herself, to just let go and enjoy herself.
She loved skating. At one point in her life, it had been as important to her as the air she breathed. BeforeHogwarts, she would spend everyday of the Winter holiday skating on the surface of the pond in her neighbourhood whenever possible. She would compete in the local competitions in both figure skating and speed skating, and win many medals and trophies. It had been her dream to go professional and compete internationally, the name Septima Vector synonymous with elegance and grace on the ice.
But when she started school, there was less time for skating. She was in a different place, caught up with lessons, and only had the two weeks at home to skate on her pond. Competitions had to be put aside and her dream slowly faded away as the years went by. In the end, she chose magic, and took the Arithmancy position here instead of continuing to skate.
But today was a different day. The Lake called to her this morning and she couldn't deny the call. She reached the edge of the lake and sat on a nearby stump to strap on her skates. The well-worn leather of the shoes had seen better days but she would never get them replaced. They were as much a part of her as the air she breathed. They had been a gift from her Nan when she was eighteen, after her old pair had actually fallen apart at the seams.
With a deep breath, she stood up and then pushed off across the surface of the ice, finding her rhythm quickly as the actions hardwired into her muscles kicked. She spun and twirled and jumped and glided across the lake as if she were performing before a large audience, all eyes on her, the flashes of cameras going off constantly. She was light. She was beauty. She was grace.
"I never knew you skated, Septima?" a voice drawled.
She almost fell onto her face as her head spun to find the source of the voice. There she spotted Severus, in his typical long black cloak standing on the crest of a snowbank at the other end of the lake.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked as she skated towards him. Though she had not expected any real viewers, she would not be embarrassed or ashamed. Skating was her life and if the stiff Potions master didn't approve, then that was his problem.
He held up a small basket under his arm and said, "Potions ingredients."
She nodded and looked around. It was just the two of them on this cold winter morning. She shivered a bit as a slight breeze picked up and drew her winter coat closer around her. She would probably only have a few more minutes before the students awoke or the cold became unbearable.
"Well good day to you, Professor Snape," she said, turning back towards the large expanse of the frozen lake.
Just as she was about to push off, she heard him say, "I should probably join you next time."
She turned around suddenly, surprised at the man's offer. Had he really just said that? The image of the stiff Potions master gliding around the lake was incredible, almost ridiculous. "Next time?" she asked.
But he was already disappeared, descending down the other side of the snowbank and was heading back to the castle. She smirked at his retreating figure before she pushed off and skated to the other end of the lake. If he was serious, she would probably take him up on his offer. It was always better to skate with someone else.