A new professor at Hogwarts: a Severus Snape story

The rescue missions

Snape didn't stay much longer at the party after that, and left without a word. Two hours later, I got to my room still very tipsy and took a bath hoping it would made me sober, because I still wanted to catch up some reading on anti-jinxing theory that evening.

Half an hour later I was already smelling like bath soap and curled in one of the armchairs right in front of the crackling fireplace, skimming through some textbooks borrowed from the library. Someone knocked on the door. It sounded just like... but it couldn't be. He wouldn't come. He's going to avoid you forever now, Jane.

But as I opened it, there he was. Snape. I could tell he was trying to keep a straight face, but was unnerved behind it.

'Good evening. Can I come in?'

'Sure' and I stood aside to let him enter the study room 'more school rules to instruct me about?' I kept my voice casual. He stopped in front of the fireplace instead of aiming for the wood chair in front of my desk. I added 'have a seat'.

'No, thank you, I just came to give you this'. I joined him by the fireplace, and he handed me a small and nicely wrapped parcel.

'What is it?' and then it hit me 'I hope that's not for my birthday, isn't there a no-gift rule between the school staff?'

'Well, yes, but it's also not a criminalized conduct' he curled his lips 'I wanted to apologise to you for being rude earlier today. I didn't mean to say you needed anyone'.

'You could really just have told me you were sorry, you know...' I opened the parcel and found a small jewelry box, with a beautiful pair of glinting pearly earrings shaped like drops.

It took a while before I knew what to say. 'You shouldn't have' I looked up at him 'they're beautiful, thank you'. I was absolutely melted inside. My heart was throbbing.

He didn't answered anything, looking at the blazing fire. I took a step forward. I was now at an arm length distance from him. He raised his head.

'I meant what I said, though, about not being open to relationships. Don't waste your time on me'. His voice was resolute.

I didn't replied him but kept my eyes on his. Something inside me was flaring.

I took one more step.

'I think it's only fair that you know it' he carried on.

One more step.

I could smell an herbal scent coming from him. My whole body was electric with desire. I could tell, despite his effort to keep a straight face, he was completely disorientated and didn't know how to react to the fact that I was not only ignoring all his statements but also almost rubbing my chest against him now. I stopped when we were at a palm distance from nose to nose. He gulped. I took my eyes from his and fixed them on his lips.

'I should go' he stepped back. His face was tormented.

Hum, so it had took him a good effort to put some distance between us.

He bade me goodnight and left the room.

...

The rest of October slipped away. I was already feeling more comfortable in my teacher routine and kept busy with the classes. Snape and I had not shared more than a few unavoidable words during staff meetings, and he had paid me no more visits. I tried my best not to be too sad about it, since I had more pressing matters to worry about.

On the last day of the month, I was called to the Headmaster's office. I had no free periods until midafternoon, when I could finally leave the classroom and make my way to meet Dumbledore.