A new professor at Hogwarts: a Severus Snape story

Cupid Jane

I had, as always, no opportunity to talk to her at Grimmauld Place, since she was always escorted by her two personal guards and didn't stop to talk to anyone, unless Jane was around. I wondered if she went straight back to France when she left, or if she had a place to stay over on Sundays. But, must of all, I wondered about what she had said to me on how difficult it was to give it all up. To give us up.

On Saturday, Jane and Snape exchanged vows at a ceremony around the lake at Hogwarts, where a lot of white tables and chairs were placed to welcome their guests. Jane had already a small bump in her usually flat stomach, and they looked so happy together it was a little contagious. Or maybe it was the enormous amount of alcoholic beverages available, or because it was a beautiful summer day to be outside under the shadow of the trees. The fact is, everybody seemed cheerful.

Jade was, as expected, stunning in her long bridesmaid dress, and made a touching toast in honor of her dear cousin and her head of house. I was anxious to have an opportunity to talk to her. Once I had enough wine to feel brave, I stopped by her side, staring at the dancing crowd.

'You look beautiful' I managed to say before blushing furiously.

'You look very handsome yourself' she turned her head and looked me up and down 'I reckon Miss Havenock would probably faint seeing you in this suit' she grinned, while I almost spilled my wine chuckling.

'I have to admit they look great together' I jerked my head towards the newly married couple. And then, with all the courage I could muster, I asked her 'and do you have a boyfriend or a husband in France?'

She pressed her lips together, as if trying not to smile at my question. 'No' she replied. I just nodded, trying to conceal the warmth in my chest from hearing that. She took a sip from her glass. 'What about you?'.

'Ah, no'.

We kept in silence for a while, and I felt the air heavy with tension. After a moment, she spoke.

'I remember when you used to swim on the lake every weekend when the weather was good' she took another sip and added 'well, I reckon me and every other girl at the school' she once again tried to muffle a smile.

'Do you?' I raised an eyebrow. I was a Hufflepuff, and two years older than her. I thought she didn't even know I existed before we met at her graduation and spent eight perfect weeks together before she disappeared.

She nodded.

'In that case, I wish I had asked you out by then. So we would have had more time together.'

I knew I shouldn't've said that. But I didn't care playing a fool anymore. I just wanted to let her know how I felt.

She didn't say anything. I turned my head and saw a tear glimmering in her eyes before she mumbled she should say hello to her old classmates and left me there alone.

...

The next day, I was unease during my shift, waiting for her to show up. The sultry afternoon had triggered a summer storm, the noise of the rain lashing against the windows muffling every other sound. I was going to confront her. To tell her that it didn't matter what happened in the past and that I understood she had to follow her own path, but that I hadn't given up on us and if she still had feelings for me, then...

'THEO! AUBERT!' someone shouted. I heard people screaming, running, and explosions coming from the courtyard next to the section we were patrolling. I dashed towards the tumult and came to a halt behind the door, Aubert by my side, to find two out of the four wizards of our shift already surrendered. One of them was an Auror and was knocked out, and the other one was the protecteur that had just called us. Both of them were disarmed and held by four black-clad hooded figures. Death Eaters. One of them was raising its wand, pointing to the still conscious French guard, when another one yelped 'don't kill them, you fool! We need hostages!'.