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The Raven and the Bat	By : Tally-wa111 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 768 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own and if the hair potter characters only the ocs Ravenlee and Nicolette.

Chapter List
- 1-Realizations
- 1
Ravenlee Fabble
- Witch
- Blue black butt length hair
- Big blue eyes
- Curvy frame
- 5'8
- Pouty lips
- Late start to school is 17 in 6th year
- Passionate about
- Potions
- Drawing
- Magical creatures
Chapter One
Realizations
Ravenlee had no idea when her admiration of the eloquent sarcastic man became more. All she could recall was that it started around the midpoint of her sixth. One day she just realized she'd grown to actually care for the teacher that others found unpleasant.
Over the years she watched her potions master with admiration as she worked determinedly to become a master herself. Every year professor Snape would push and challenge Ravenlee. And every year she managed to exceed those expectations ending the year with perfect grades. She never let her scores go to her head, she saw each success as a goal to beat, always competing with herself. She would become a master of that, she was sure. She'd been approached only a few weeks ago being made of where the fan for 7th year she would be testing to become the master she strove for. She'd already accepted her assigned potions she was to brew for her mastery and planned out when to start it next year.
She'd come to the room of requirement to drop off a few old things from one of the usually empty classrooms at the request of professor McGonagall. The Raven haired teen had been spending her free period these last couple weeks helping clear out and rearrange some of the abandoned classrooms to make room for some new activities the headmaster had planned the following year. Seeing as next year was her last year at Hogwarts she had found her thoughts wandering to what she wanted to do once she passed her seventh year exams and more importantly her masters exam. Ravenlee knew she'd be working as potion master that was without question. The problem was she'd been so focused on becoming a potion master that she never really put any real thought into where she'd use her potion master skills. It was while she was thinking of this that professor Snape had entered her mind and realization had hit her like the Hogwarts express. Her feelings and thoughts of the gruff potion master had changed. When had she decided she no longer wished for only a mild form of academic approval from the reserved professor. When had It become important for her to be the admired one instead of the admirer? This thought process startled her and she realized that over the years she'd been watching more than just the potion master's skills in his trade. Ravenlee had unconsciously begun to pay attention to all the things that made him not only professor Snape but Severus Snape. She tested the name on her lips only because she knew no other being would hear her here in the room of requirement. She didn't just want to prove that she could be a master, she wanted Severus Snape to notice her. "As an…equal..yeah that's all" she told herself.

    Professor Snape sat at his desk grading this year's poor excuses for owl essays. The sad truth was that he really didn't have many students who really put any real passion into potions. The Last of the essays he sat staring at we're not terrible as they were from his sixth year students that would have been completely unacceptable. He started grading the one in front of him determined to be done with the exceptional dribble he'd read thus far. Without taking notice of whose paper he was now on he started his first initial scans for obvious errors as there weren't any even with his older students. He was mildly pleased when nothing obvious jumped to attention. He now realized with a small smile he was unaware of exactly why that was as he took in the name Ravenlee Fabble. The dark haired teen had become a bit of a bright spot in his dark little world. She was extremely bright but never showed off obnoxiously and was well liked by most not that he'd ever really paid it much mind. He did appreciate the young woman's devotion to potions and had recently been made aware that she'd be testing to be one of the youngest potion masters in sometime. Only surpassing him by a couple years of youth for the title. He most likely could have become a master at her age but his time had been…tied up elsewhere. He was extremely pleased he'd no longer have to worry about doing the spy he'd more recently become known for. He had noticed early into his 'employment' with a certain dark lord that the deranged man had started creating horcruxes and had brought them stealthily to the attention of those skilled in their destruction before he'd created more than three. He was quite positive but if he had not interfered when he had many many more innocents may have been destroyed to complete his goal. Severus shook himself from his dark musings of the past. He focused on reading through Ravenlee's essay finding it not only well written but so easy to follow that even the most inept wizard could create the potion she had written about. He sent the perfectly scored paper aside momentarily considering coming up with an error just to see the girl's reaction but stopped himself when you realized how much thought he was putting into the girl. Though he was only about 10 years her senior as his student his fascination with her made him feel as if he crossed a line. He reassured himself it was because he saw the potion devotion that lived with himself in her that he paid the Raven haired youth any thought. He pushed the girl from his mind and finished grading the last few papers in front of him. He sent them graded papers aside and stood stretching. He hadn't noticed before but he was starving his stomach making a loud protest for dinner. It was a little late but if he hurried he could still get something before the house elves finished clearing dinner away.

   Ravenlee sat in the Ravenclaw common room so immersed in her book she didn't notice most of Ravenclaw had returned to the common room for the night. One of her bunk mates cleared her throat, "Raven..?"
Ravenlee's obsidian head slowly lifted with effort to look at the other girl. " Have you been down to supper yet?" The girl asked with a tone of concern this wasn't the first time she'd noticed the Raven teen had forgotten to eat. Rav blushed slightly and marked her place in her book. "I was just going to head down to grab some right now" she set the book on the side table and stood to leave. " Hold on take this with you or you might not have a pleasant trip back up if filch catches you" the girl handed her a piece of parchment that said she had permission to be out in the halls. Perfects can give these passes very sparingly and usually only when absolutely necessary and this in her opinion counted as necessary. "Thank you Nicollette… for this and everything else I know I can be a bit forgetful when I dive into something.. thanks for looking out for me" she gave the other Teen a soft smile and hurried out as the other girl chuckled and called after her. "It's nothing be Careful Ravenlee!" Ravenlee hurries through the corridor and down the changing sets of stairs timing it just right with the change that gave her the fastest time to the kitchen knowing the food from the tables would have already been cleared. She slowed as she rounded the corner of the dungeon corridor leading to the kitchen. She let her mind wander back to her earlier thought as she walked looking at the portraited walls and almost ran into none other than the man shed been considering only moments before. " Pardon me professor, I wasn't expecting anyone else to be in the halls' ' she apologized quickly. He hated to admit it but he'd not been paying attention for that same reason. " I do hope you have an acceptable reason to be so far from Ravenclaw tower this close to curfew " he half-heartedly chides, already having a guess as to why. She straightens herself and clears her throat, unable to stop the slight pinkening of her cheeks. " It would seem I lost track of time.. again and missed dinner. " Feeling a sudden boldness she has no idea where came from she locks eyes with him and teases despite knowing it could be far from well received, "as I suspect you have also."
Severus's mask almost slips in surprise no one has been daring enough to tease him in a very long time. If Ravenlee hadn't been looking for a reaction she'd have missed the shock and amusement flash through his eyes. "How very assumptuous of you miss Ravenlee" Snape says with none of his usual bite in his voice. "As it is though you are correct I was grading papers and only just finished" he found himself admitting before he could stop himself. "Well then" she pushed the door to the kitchen open "we can get food together if we hurry" she gulps hoping she isn't pushing her luck and almost loses her nerve. Severus hesitates momentarily mulling her words over in his mind, deciding to file it away for later. He simply nods instead of responding and stepping through the door realizing she's right about the need for promptness. Ravenlee scolded herself for her slip up and followed quietly into the kitchens where professor Snape had already called the attention of a house elf to start preparing plates. One of the elves carefully handed her a plate of food. She took her food to her usual late night spot, a small table in the kitchens. She sets her food upon the surface and takes her seat digging into the delicious bites the elf put on her plate unaware of it she makes a small noise of approval. Snape notices her table and decides as a teacher it's only right he stays with her he can't have her wandering the halls on her own he tells himself. Severus freezes when a small noise of pleasure reaches his ears and he has to take a deep breath and refocus when the sound seems to shoot straight to his core.
He decided this meal needed to be a quick one. He sat carefully and shifted till he was comfortable and ate his food carefully but quickly trying not to look too closely at the young woman across from him.
" So professor" , she started carefully " if you don't mind me asking…do you have plans for any new potions this summer? She poked her food nervously waiting for his dismissal of her question about his personal time. Snape paused for a moment and considered his answer strangely, not minding her asking questions of his personal time. " Well actually outside of the normal ones I brew for the Hogwarts school year I'm experimenting to make a potion to help ease the transformation for werewolves wolfsbane helps a little but it's not perfect and I'm hoping to help ease the pain as well as the clarity maybe even find a cure but that much less likely." Severus looked up at her to see her reaction. Rav found herself smiling " that's quite…." She considered her words ``amiable of you" she settled in gauging his reactions. Snape put on a fake sneer " don't go around telling anyone I have a heart you'll ruin my reputation" Snape found himself teasing and shook himself not sure why he was being so open and playful with the girl he quickly changed the subject before she could react. " I heard you are taking the test for your potions mastery early. I have to admit that I'm impressed you'll be the youngest master in decades" Snape said, glancing down to his food before looking at her once more. Ravenlee practically beamed at the subject of her mastery test. " Yes I only found out recently myself but already know exactly when to start everything " Snape cocked an eyebrow but said nothing. They sat eating in comfortable silence when Snape realized all but one elf had retired. Sighing professor Snape cleared his throat " it's well past curfew I should return you to your house tomorrow is the last day of exams and you need sleep" he stood stacking his dish for the elf and waited patiently for her to follow suit. Ravenlee was reluctant; she was enjoying talking to the professor but saw the truth in her words, her body forcing a yawn upon her as if to emphasize his point. The girl nodded and followed suit stepping through the door he held with a small thank you waiting for him to step into the hall. Ravenlee followed him quietly through the corridor and up the stairs to Ravenclaw tower. When they reached the portrait hole and she muttered the password " fames scientiae semper" she glanced at the professor and offered a quick smile " thank you professor have good night" she blushed slightly as she climbed through the hole and it shut tight behind her. The young woman climbed the tower stairs to her room, careful not to wake the other three girls with whom she shared. She undressed quickly and slid beneath the covers both happy and slightly shocked by the night's events. She'd had an actual conversation with the usually very private professor. Ravenlee had a feeling few were extended the honor of personal conversation with him; she'd only ever seen him talk to professor McGonagall for more than a few brief words. She felt honored to have had him share with her. The girl drifted off with thoughts of the strange evening dancing through her mind.
Severus Snape stared at the spot the girl just vacated for a moment more quietly saying good night to the now empty spot. The professor shook himself and headed back toward his personal rooms. Severus prepared for bed thoughts of the ebony hair woman unshakeable from his head. Did Ravenlee have feelings for him? Impossible all the blushing had been a trick of the light and she was only being polite by showing interest in his life. Plus he told himself she was beautiful and smart. She wouldn't want anything more than polite conversation with a greasy hair cranky professor like him. He told himself firmly that she isn't interested and that it's highly inappropriate anyway. He went to sleep battling his own mind as it insisted on giving him dreams of the beautiful young woman.

The next couple days went by as usual, taking her last exams, helping professor McGonagall and the headmaster, then off to the common room to read only now Nicolette came and found her before dinner these nights having noticed the pattern she had fallen into. She found that her mind often wandered back to professor Snape when she didn't keep it busy and it became more and more welcome and less weird or inappropriate. They may be student and teacher but next year would put them as equals if all went as planned at least where their masteries were concerned. As it was the last night in the castle and she was done with all her obligations she decided to spend the rest of her time at the lake today. As she approached her favorite spot she could see the Bowtrucks that lived there peeking out at her. As Ravenlee reached the tree she reached out a hand for some of her little friends to climb on to. "Hello my friends I missed you so these last couple of weeks I'm sorry I've been too busy to visit but I come bearing gifts! " She said both apologetic and excited. The girl reached into the pocket of her school robes and produced a container of wax worms having discovered her insectivore friends especially like them. Opening the container one handed has become less of a challenge over the years and so she had quite a few in hand within moments floating some more to her friends still in the tree as most of them rejoined their family there she sat down to watch them happily munch on the insects. There was only one who refused to leave her shoulder as she sat in the grass finny she found he was much attached to her early on after befriending the wonderful creatures. Finny slide down Ravenlee's long braid she'd pulled over her shoulder and landed gracefully upon her lap content to sit and eat the proffered snacks as rav pulled a muggle sketch pad and pencil out of seemingly thin air and began to draw the little figure as they lounged.

The Bowtruckle climbed up on the sketch and stilled the pencil examining the wonderful drawn rendering of himself approvingly before pointing to the sky bringing the approaching dusk to attention. Ravenlee lifted the small creature to her face gently nudging him with her nose in affection, setting him in the branches with his family bidding them farewell and promised to say goodbye before she got on the train tomorrow. Ravenlee disappeared the sketch materials and headed for the castle to join the others for dinner. She spent the night talking to the others about their summer holidays. Some were traveling to other countries, others were visiting relatives, others like herself would be spending it home well mostly. Ravenlee found herself glancing off in the way of the head tables under the pretense of making sure end of year announcements weren't beginning. Pretending she was just excited because they were in the lead for the house cup. The object of her attention seemed to be amusingly having a similar thought process but was far more discreet about his glances. Only she seemed to notice and only because she was already looking at him and she was very observant. She decided it might not be all that hard to win him over after all. She's returned to her room before the others claiming to just be extra tired. Perched on the window sill, Rav sketched a picture of professor Snape tending to one of his potions cauldron steaming, paying close attention to detail. She captured the handsome features screwed up in that cute way they do when he's concentrating hard on his work. She held the sketch back from herself to give it one more once over making sure she captured as much as she could in the one picture then wrote a message on the back for him. ' I meant to say this sooner thank you so much for the company and conversation at dinner the other night. It was an honor to get a glimpse of the real Severus Snape. I look forward to seeing you again this coming year. I only hope you can get past our current difference in station. I'd really enjoy more moments like the one we shared' she signed it with a raven and transfigured it into a bird, sending the bird to his private rooms.
Ravenlee reamed of all the ways the letter could be received tossing a bit in her sleep.

Severus sat on the couch in his room reading when he heard a tapping at his door. He grumbled thinking of all the insufferable people who could be on the side of the door. The man was surprised to say the least when he opened the door and a small black bird flew in perching on the back of his arm chair. " Well what have we here? " Snape asks and holds his hand out to the bird as it chirps and swoops, changing back to paper upon his touch. Severus Snape sits down on the couch and studies the drawing, seeing himself through the artist's eyes was actually quite beautiful. He studied the drawing for a while before looking for a signature. He turns the paper over and is stunned not only to not find a signature but a whole letter. He carefully reads through the letter his usual mask cracking at the edges as he feels the side of his mouth twitch up in a smile. His stomach knots with conflict upon being reminded at the end of the letter that while working her way into his every thought she was a student and while of legal age having started school later still for all school purposes off limits. He isn't sure how to respond so he rereads the letter over again trying to decide how safest to approach it. While Merlin knows he wants to assure her that he is just as interested in her company as she is, he also knows that he could lose his job if not handled correctly. Severus decides the best approach would be to answer her in part not leave her without any indication that he received her drawing and letter.
    Dear Ravenlee,
I have received your letter and would like to first say that you are an extraordinarily talented witch. Thank you so much for the portrait of myself I've never seen myself like that really the face I make when I'm at work? If so I was completely unaware my facial expression changed like that. I appreciate the detail and work you clearly put into your work. It's the same passion I see when you are perfecting a potion for class. As for the answer to the rest of your letter I'm not entirely sure what I can say to that as you know there is no simple answer but I will definitely think on it. I'm sure the chance to engage in pleasant conversation again will arise as we both seem to be creatures of habit when others are not about to pull us away. I find I'm glad to have shown you a small piece of who I am behind the mask. I'm not sure you'll continue to feel that way if you truly get to know of my past…
I look forward to hearing from you about what you end up doing on your holiday when we see each other next year.

Severus Snape

The man went to the floo in his office and summoned his bags to himself right before he stepped through. He waited till he was through to repeat her spell sending his own answering bird back knowing it'd reach her home before her but would only open at her touch.
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The Raven and the Bat