Echoes of the Soul

Severus sat in the chair opposite Albus in the Headmasters’ office looking like a sulking teenager. He face was dark, his eyes flashed dangerously and he had his arms wrapped around himself tightly.



It had been a full ten minutes since he had stormed in without invitation and demanded to be allowed to step down from his teaching post with immediate effect. He had paced the floor, robes billowing, telling Albus in no uncertain terms that teaching was no longer his vocation, he was unfulfilled in the role and he wanted to leave. Now. Albus listened attentively, eyeing him over the top of his spectacles, until he stopped pacing and slumped into the chair.



‘Bad day, Severus?’ Albus asked mildly.



Severus scowled. ‘If I have to explain to another dimwit Gryffindor how to add the ingredients to their healing draught, only for them to get it wrong, I will be tempted to commit murder in my classroom!’ He growled his voice deep and menacing.



Albus smiled at him, blue eyes twinkling. ‘Severus, my boy, your days of killing for no reason ended a long time ago and we both know it. What you need, I think, is a holiday, a sabbatical. You would perhaps feel differently afterwards.’



Severus stared into the fire. Perhaps a holiday is what he needed, he mused. Time to complete his projects in peace. Time away from the classroom.



Severus grunted a little. ‘Can you arrange a temporary teacher, Headmaster?’ He was calmer now.



‘But of course, Severus. I’ll get right on it.’ Albus smiled.



‘As soon as possible, Headmaster, if you will. I am sure you would not like to have to explain to the Minister how one of your pupils came about an untimely death.’



Severus stood and made to march out of the room, but Albus spoke again.



‘Before you go, Severus…’ Albus stood and lifted a small pile of books. ‘Would you do me a great favour and return these to the library at the Ministry. They are particularly rare volumes and I dare not trust an owl with such precious cargo. I would go myself, however, as you know, I have a staffing issue that requires my immediate attention.’



Severus glared at Albus. He was a Potions Master, not a lackey to be called on to return someone’s’ library books. A vein pulsed in his neck as he observed the Headmaster. Damn it, he needed the break and he knew this was the pay off.



‘My pleasure, Headmaster.’ He gritted his teeth and grabbed the books, marching from the room, his robes billowing behind him.



Albus chuckled as he watched Severus leave and glanced over at the phoenix in the corner of the room.



‘Ah, Fawkes. Severus can always be relied on to raise a smile, don’t you agree?’



****



Hermione walked into the Ministry canteen and helped herself to chicken and salad from the servery. It was still quiet. She had taken her break early in an attempt to avoid bumping into Ron. Things were very frosty between them, ice cold in fact. She hated coming in to lunch because where she would normally sit with Ron and Harry, Ron was now ignoring her and would automatically move to another table as soon as Hermione sat down. Harry was in a dilemma but usually chose to sit with Ron. He had to share an office with him and Hermione knew he was trying to keep the peace. In the Library it was unlikely she would see Ron, but here in the Canteen it was harder to hide. Hermione knew she could floo home and eat there, but in truth, she was sitting it out until Ron thawed enough for them to be friends again. She missed his company and his easy sense of humour.



She sat at an empty table, waving over at Marmaduke Banks from the Magical Mysteries Department. She had been helping him with his research on a rare case of multicoloured garden snails which had been popping up in muggle neighbourhoods. He was nice but a bit fusty-smelling and definitely not good lunch company. Hermione started to eat and looked up as she heard familiar laughter. Harry walked in, closely followed by Ron. Hermione smiled at Harry and he grinned at her, until Ron walked past them both. Harry shrugged and walked over to her.



‘Hi. Are you OK?’ He looked uncomfortable.



‘You know I’m not Harry. I wish he would talk to me, I really miss his company. Tell him I want to be friends, Harry, please?’ Hermione looked up at him sadly then down at her plate was Ron walked up to them.



‘Don’t bother, Harry. I heard her.’ He looked at Hermione. ‘I don’t want to be just your friend Hermione, don’t you get it? If I can’t have everything, you get nothing. Your choice, not mine.’ He stomped away and Hermione felt hot tears pricking her eyes a little.



‘I’m sorry, Hermione.’ Harry patted her shoulder. ‘See you soon ok, owl Ginny, come for dinner…’ He walked over to where Ron was sitting glaring at them.



Hermione felt herself blush under the gaze of her fellow diners. The place was started to fill up and she knew they had seen Ron’s angry exchange. She pushed her food away and walked quickly out of the canteen and back to the Library, brushing away angry tears as she went and smudging the little mascara she had applied in the morning. When she reached the Library, Master Tompsett looked up at her and nodded.



‘Off for mine now.’ He whispered and left her to it.



She stood behind the counter and closed her eyes, head down as she tried to stop the tears from falling. Damn Ron. How could he throw away their friendship? It wasn’t her fault she wasn’t in love with him. She rubbed at her eyes again. A slight cough caused her to jump and she looked up briefly. Tears were blurring her eyes but she saw a tall figure in black place a pile of books on the counter. She lifted them and started to flick through the pages and check them against the open ledger in front of her, blinking until her vision was restored.



‘Thank you. Now, let me see…’ She spoke quietly, biting her tongue in concentration.



Severus bit back a comment. It was clear she had been crying and hadn’t registered his presence. He briefly wondered what had upset her. She had changed somewhat, her figure was curvier and she looked more womanly but the hair was the same and she wore the same serious expression on her face when she was thinking.



‘Oh. These books were let to Professor Dumbledore. He usually brings his own books back and we go for pumpkin juice together…’ She smiled up at the dark figure and jumped with a start.



‘Professor Snape!’ She gasped. ‘I’m so sorry, Sir. I was preoccupied, I didn’t see it was you.’ She smiled at him. ‘Nice to see you, Sir. How have you been?’



Hermione was glad to see him. She had been avidly reading his theory papers in preparation for her next assignment and she had been astounded. He was a genius as well as a hero.



Severus stared at her. She seemed genuinely pleased to see him. He didn’t know how to respond to that.



‘I have been fine, Thank you, Miss Granger.’ He stated slowly. ‘I had no idea you were working here.’



‘Oh, it’s just to fill in. I finish my Potions Masters shortly, only three assignments then I’m done.’ She smiled and handed a small sheet of parchment to him. ‘These are books that the Professor requested. Could you hand this to him, I have ticked the books that are available, the rest are on order.’ She smiled again, her full lips showing a perfect row of white teeth.



‘Potions Masters?’ He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Really?’ He was surprised. He thought she would have preferred Transfiguration.



‘Yes, Potions. It was always my favourite subject.’ She smiled warmly at him then remembered who it was she had just confessed to and looked away, a light flush brushing her cheeks prettily.



Severus looked at her. Potions? Her favourite subject? He would never have guessed that in a million years. He smirked at her embarrassment and decided to save her.



‘I imagine you will excel in your chosen field, Miss Granger. You always did have a very sharp mind.’ He lifted the parchment and turned to leave. ‘Good day, Miss Granger.’ He nodded and swept out of the Library.



Hermione stood with her mouth open. Professor Snape had just given her a compliment. She couldn’t believe it.





*****



OK. They are both on each others\' radar now. We just need Albus to keep pushing...