Irish Melody

2 weeks have gone by, and the evening lessons, have been going great. Isibeal leaves behind the world that she knows, when Professor Snape invites her into this world of education, she learns of magic she never knew, and she became involved in essays, and projects for him. He saw her as an escape also, she would listen to him rant about Defense Against the Dark Arts, and about the newest student mess-up. She laughed and awed when he began to get riled up about poor Neville Longbottom.

\"Seriously Professor, he can\'t be all bad. He seems like a very kind boy, just unsure of himself. I\'m sure a very intimidating man as yourself, just keeps the boy from becoming an excellent wizard.\" Snape scoffs at this remark. Isibeal smiles, then looks down.

\"Professor..\" She says sheepishly, as she takes a seat next to the counter.

\"yes..\" He moves to the other side.

\"I know, all this learning about spells, and defense, and incantations. Well they are exactly what i need, but.. but... All these other witches i see walking around Diagon Alley, they\'re so well versed. They know authors inside and out. Well when i try to read the stories, or the poems... i just.. i get confused. I feel like a genuine arse for asking this, but... could you teach me about art... about beauty. things of those nature. I want to be able to quote from epic poems, and lead people in lessons from great minds.\"

\"Calm down Miss McOugh. Well i guess, after we finish the lessons for the evening we can go over, such things breifly. I would prefer you to concentrate on your studies. Less time worrying about other witches. Yes, i can help you better understand these novels you find yourself perplexed by.\" He gave what she fel was a smile to her. She held his gaze and smiled back. He liked the way she smiled at him. It felt so sincere unlike others who smiled, out of fear, or contempt. She smiled because she cared, or he wanted her to. He just didn\'t know how long he could keep pretending he didn\'t know what she did when she left the classroom.


It was November 1st, and exactly at 9p.m. Isibeal arrived with her payment. Snape could never bring himself to take the money directly from her. He thought it would make her feel cheap. So she would place it in a drawer of his desk. then they would begin her lessons. Isibeal was drawn to the mystery of her Professor, they has been studying together for three months time, and yet she knew only what very little he shared with her, and it was always about things within the school.
They had finished their lesson today on herbology. She was starting a garden of useful plants, that once full grown, she would cut and groom to start her own ingredients collection. She was cleaning up the dirt on the counters, when Snape went into his room, and returned with a book in his hand.
\"Tonight, i\'ve hand selected our story. It is a poem called in the Dark Green, by Finnegus Overturn. A wizard who has written both Muggle and non-muggle literature.\"
\"Excellent.\" She smiled and took a seat at the counter, she opened a parchment and dipped her quill.
\"The Dark Green grows where there is no sun. The moon beams cherish all the lost ones. There\'s a wild blue-\"
\"Professor Snape..Are you married?\" Isibeal tapped her fingers against the counter.
\"Please Miss McOugh, if you don\'t want to learn we don\'t need to meet anymore.\" He sounded rough.
\"Sorry, it\'s just we\'ve been at this for months. I know nothing really about you.\"
\"I know just as little about you, i think that\'s what makes this work so well.\"
\"Well, say i want to know more about you..and you can ask whatever you want about me.\"
\"Okay..Four questions each.\" He smiled at her.
\"Okay... me first! Are you married?\"
\"No, Why do you care so much about other people\'s opinions of you?\"
\"I guess because... I don\'t want to be the person that you won\'t tell anyone about me because of my station in life. I don\'t like being looked down apon. Why do you drink so much FireWhiskey?\"
\"What?\"
\"I found it in one of your drawers, but it was an empty bottle and a half full.\"
\"No i mean, what.. do you mean i don\'t tell people about you?\"
\"You just don\'t ever mention me to anybody, i\'ve never met anyone else you speak with. I\'m like your dirty secret!\"
\"There is nothing to tell... The only reason you are doing this, is very selfish indeed! You are just trying to make people think that you are something that maybe you shouldn;t be, because if your station in life is all you think of then thats no reason to practice magic!\" Isibeal felt her heart drop. She knew that wasn\'t why she was there, but he believed her to be such an awful person. Maybe she shouldn\'t be there. She stood slowly and walked to the fireplace.
\"Will you really never believe anyone to be better then what they are?\" She said that and she was gone. Returned to her house. She shooed the last of her mothers drunken friends out of the house. Then began the regular evening chores. Her mother was even weaker. Isibeal did everything for her now.Brushed her teeth, combed her hair, washed her.Everynight before she laid her down to bed, she would sing Danny Boy. Yet Now without her lessons, she knew this was it for her mother..and herself.