Harry Potter and the White Conference

Chapter 5: The Human Side of Snape

The next few weeks passed without much problem for Sophia. Her first session with Professor McGonagall had been interesting, to say the least. Sophia had read about the spells, but neglected to purchase a wand. So, they ended the session quite early and went shopping in Diagon Alley for Sophia’s magical supplies. Minerva quite enjoyed watching Sophia’s reactions as she saw all of the shops. She bought some beautiful new robes to replace the used ones she had been borrowing, stocked up on potion ingredients, and, most important, obtained from Mr. Ollivander a lovely 9 inch wand made with the hair of a Harpy and sealed with volcanic ash.

Hermione, keenly aware of Sophia’s aversion to Prof. Snape (but not entirely sure of the real reason!), was helping her catch up in potions. Sophia found Hermione to be an excellent teacher, and she was able to master the first and second year potion brewing quite quickly. But Dumbledore kept reminding Sophia that she should attend the lesson itself. Even Harry was helping Sophia muster up the courage to attend one of Snape’s potion lessons. He and Ron filled her in on all the ways that they had received detentions over the past few years, thereby suggesting what NOT to do. But really, it just turned into a wail against Snape conversation. Although it was entirely unprofessional, Sophia didn't really mind, she kind of agreed.

“And remember one thing you have to be really careful about, Sophia, if you catch him looking your way, and if he seems to be really concentrating, just shut off your mind. Don’t think about anything. Snape is a very accomplished Legilimens.”

“In fact, just don’t think about anything all class,” Ron interjected.

Sophia nodded as Harry explained to her what Dumbledore had recently explained to him. Of course it made sense now, so Snape CAN read minds. This was going to make potion lesson’s even more uncomfortable!

***

Between Sophia’s lectures to the first years on muggle practices and her lectures on civilizations in muggle history (designed to accompany Professor Binn’s Famous Witches and Wizard’s in history), Sophia spent much time with Hagrid and his many wonderful creatures. She was quite fond of all these incredible animals that only a couple months ago had thought they existed solely in legends. Her favourite experience came on the last day of October when Hagrid sent her a message by owl telling her to meet her at his hut one hour before sunset. This particular time seemed a bit odd to Sophia, as the Dark Forest was incredibly unsafe after dark, but she just guessed that Hagrid was going to take her to see an animal that moved around at dusk. She spent the rest of the day giddy in anticipation of what he was going to show her.

As the sun began to sink near the highlands surrounding the castle, Sophia made her way to the hut. She was distracted. Upon rounding the corner that led to the entrance, she collided with someone. Sophia instinctively put her hands out to steady herself, and found them resting on someone's chest (a very lean chest, she could not help noticing, as her hands lingered), which belonged to none other than Severus Snape. She pulled her arms back swiftly, and tried to go around him. But Snape moved to block her path.

“And what, pray tell, do you think you are doing leaving the castle when it is almost dark?” Snape sneered at her, obviously delighted to have something to lecture her about.

“Despite what you may think, Professor Snape, I am not one of the students here and therefore where I go is none of your business.” Snape’s eyes narrowed.

“Curfew laws are for everyone’s protection, Miss Aristides. They should be especially applicable for you.”

“Oh really,” she said “and why might that be?”

Snape smiled with a hint of malicious delight in his eyes, “what do you intend to do if you come across a Deatheater, who all happen to be fully trained wizards?”

Damn, he had her. She sighed and looked at her watch. She was already late and certainly did not want to miss her meeting with Hagrid and whatever animal he was going to show her.

“You are right, Professor Snape. I am sorry for sounding snarky....” Snape was taken aback. She wasn’t going to fight with him? Damn, he was looking forward to blowing off some of that tension that had been building up since she first came to Hogwart’s! “If you must know, I am meeting Hagrid, he has a creature he would like to show me. Afterward’s he will escort me back to the castle. So, as you can see, I will be perfectly safe, but thankyou for your concern.” She flashed him a smile and pushed past while he stood there, stunned.

‘Bloody Snape! Yeah right he is worried about my safety, more like he wants to have an argument with someone and display his superiority. Well, I can certainly deny him that pleasure! I’ll piss him off by being exceedingly sweet. He wont know how to counter that.’ Sophia thought to herself, grinning, as she ran out of the castle, and feeling sure that she could beat Snape at his game of nastiness.

***

Snape moved to the door and watched her hurry down the stone steps to Hagrid’s hut. He was quite dissapointed. He felt like he needed to duel with someone. Or better yet, he needed to find some poor and unsuspecting student to yell at. He strode off in search of a first year with a curl on his lips, and the stirring in his groin began to subside.

***

“Hi Hagrid! What are we up to this evening?” Sophia asked, slightly out of breath.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming, Sophia. I’ve got a really special treat for you today. But we are going into the Dark Forest.” Sophia looked a little alarmed and Hagrid continued quickly, “but don’t worry, we’ll be perfectly safe. We aren’t going far, and we’ll bring Fang.”

Hagrid led her for about 20 minutes, until they came to a clearing full of long grasses, willows and a creek which was sparkling in the setting sun. He told her to sit at the edge of the clearing and not make a sound. They waited there for another 10 minutes or so when a beautiful white creature came slowly out of the forest. It headed towards the creek, and as it bent it’s elegant neck to take a drink, Sophia gasped as she realized that it was a unicorn. The unicorn looked up at the sound and was about to run away when it saw Hagrid. The unicorn bowed it’s head to him. It was like nothing Sophia had ever seen.

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Sophia ran back to the castle just in time for the feast. She was in a complete euphoria after her encounter with the unicorn. Nothing could foul her mood tonight, not even another run-in with Snape.

Her excitement was shared by many of the upper year students, for tomorrow was to be the first trip to Hogsmeade, in honour of All Hallow’s Day.

Snape noticed Sophia bounce into the great hall for dinner with a great smile on her face and her eyes shining bright. ‘What the hell could that great oaf have done to her to make her so happy?’ Snape said silently. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been that happy. ‘Damn, Am I jealous? No, of course not! She is nothing to me.’ Snape stopped his silent monologue and glared as Sophia neared the great table, but was surprised when she smiled at him when their eyes met.

Snape jerked backwards as if he had been hit. What the hell? He was very confused. Sophia smiled inwardly as she noticed his reaction.

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After the Halloween Feast, Snape stood up from his seat anticipating the satisfaction of handing out many detentions and deducting even more house points. He started his prowling near the kitchens for he knew that on Halloween youngster’s loved to snitch as many goodies as possible. He smiled after he deducted 20 points from some Gryffindors and another 20 from a group of Hufflepuffs for stealing food. Sometimes he enjoyed keeping up his image of a cruel bastard. Later that evening he was even more delighted to take another 50 points from a Gryffindor student who was outside of the dorms after curfew.

“But Professor,” Hermione complained, “I was in the library researching something very important!”

“More important than the school rules? Your lack of respect disgusts me. Where do you get the gall to contradict your teachers? Get out of my sight before you get a months worth of detention!” Snape barked sharply.

Sophia shook her head as she stood silently around the corner from where Snape was chewing out Hermione. ‘What a cruel bastard,’ she thought. She turned around silently and took another corridor leading towards the Gryffindor common rooms. She turned another corridor and heard a quiet sob and knew that she had found Hermione.

“If it’s any consolation, you aren’t the only one Snape has reduced to tears this evening.” Sophia said gently.

“I know...” Hermione sniffed and wiped her eyes, “you’d think I’d be used to it by now.”

“Nah, you never get used to that sort of thing.” Sophia put an arm around the younger girl’s shoulders. “Would you a cup of tea before bed?” Hermione nodded. They turned together and rounded the corner towards the grand staircase.

“The worst part about it is that besides Professor Dumbledore, Snape is the most powerful and skilled wizard I know. I just wish I could earn his respect,” Hermione said.

Sophia sighed. Ah, the great human problem of trying to please others. She stopped Hermione at the staircase.

“Hermione, you are the brightest witch in the school, I'm sure you already have his respect, perhaps he just does not show it because he wishes to keep an image of a cold-hearted b...” Sophia stopped herself in time from swearing in front of Hermione. “Let me fill you in on a little secret of mine,” before she continued she happened to glance across the hallway and saw a pair of dark eyes watching them. She stopped speaking, ‘I’m sure Snape would love to hear where this conversation is going, wow, that was a close one!’ She started to continue thinking bad thoughts about Snape until she saw the look on his face. His eyes were veiled, she could not see what they hid, but they held none of the usual cold unrestrained hatred. His head was tipped slightly to the side. It was almost as if he felt bad for Hermione’s unhappiness. But, the moment was over when Hermione shook Sophia and Snape noticed that he was being watched. He silently slipped back into the shadows.

“I will tell you later, perhaps you should get back to your dormitory now,” Sophia said. Hermione nodded but was curious what she had been about to say. Obviously any secret regarding Snape would be incredibly useful.

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Two days later Sophia received an owl from Dumbledore requesting a meeting. Finally, she was going to find out what she was doing here. She found herself at the familiar statue and whispered the words Dumbledore had given her ‘Treacle Tart.’

She climbed up the stairs and entered the great office. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Dumbledore relaxing on a sofa, his head slightly tilted back in laughter. Across from him was none other than Severus Snape (‘Lord, I seem to run into this guy everywhere,’ Sophia thought to herself). He was sitting back in a great armchair, one ankle propped up on the other knee, his arms resting gently on his thighs. Sophia was speechless. Snape was looking so calm and relaxed, his face seemed at least 10 years younger without the frown lines. And the exchange between him and Dumbledore had an air of absolute friendship and trust between the two, it was quite touching. There was certainly something more to Snape than met the eye. Sophia made another mental note to try and find out his story. Perhaps Harry knew?

“Oh, I’m sorry Professor Dumbledore, I didn’t know you were busy.”

“No worries, my dear. I must have lost track of time. Do come in. Severus and I were just saything that you should attend his next potion lesson.” Sophia doubted very much that was what they had been talking about for Snape’s eyes clouded over as soon as Dumbledore said it.

“The lecture for tomorrow’s Fifth Year’s should be particularly relevant to Sophia.” Dumbledore said to Snape, and then turned back to Sophia, “he is going to give a demonstration of a travelling potion that allows the user to travel anywhere he wishes.” The old headmaster’s eyes twinkled, and Sophia knew something was up. Hopefully she would find out when Snape left.

“Yes, of course. I should be going now. Headmaster. Miss Aristides,” Snape nodded to both of them slightly before swishing out the door and down the stairs.

“Well, my dear. Perhaps we could have that discussion now. And I can tell you why it is so important that you learn the travelling potion.”