Beneath the Covers / DRAMIONE (COMPLETE)

School is Out

The end of term was swiftly approaching and no-one could be happier. Students and staff alike had managed to forget that Voldemort had been vanquished a scarce few weeks earlier and also the many who had died. In the hopes that a return to normal would help those who had not managed so easily to return to normalcy, Dumbledore had ordered lessons to continue as usual. 

This meant that the professors, who had hoped for an early summer break, returned with disappointment to their classrooms.

"Today," said Snape, "I shall be doing what I promised your class two years ago. Today I shall poison one of you."

A sea of apprehensive faces met his proclamation. Among the most terrified were, unsurprisingly, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Draco looked amused and Hermione less than thrilled. 

To Severus' lack of surprise, Neville fainted dead away. Poor boy.

"Patil, please take Longbottom to the Hospital Wing."

Relieved, Parvati rushed to help up a stirring Neville. She could not have been happier to miss out on this particular lesson.

"Actually, we're going to mix it up a bit," Snape announced. "You will vote on who you want to be poisoned."

Since the class contained Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode and Draco Malfoy, his own godson, Severus was very curious to know who would get the most votes.

He wasn't actually going to poison them, obviously. But he had such a feared reputation that his students did genuinely think he would willingly poison one of them. And he would if he was ever allowed, or needed to. 

But not today. Albus had said no. Regrettably.

"Take a bit of parchment and write down who you want to be poisoned. Then I shall do a complicated little spell and the results will come up on the blackboard, like so."

Severus waited patiently as each student scribbled down a name, then waved his wand and watched as the results appeared.

"Hmm, curious. Very curious."

"Sorry Sir, what's curious?" asked a naive Harry Potter.

"Well, Potter, it's curious that the person who everybody wants to get poisoned happens to be none other than your previous platonic soulmate, Roonil Wazlib."

Ron went white as a sheet. Severus was surprised he didn't make like Neville and slide to the floor in a dead faint. It would have been funnier.

"Congratulations, Mr Weasley," he drawled. "You're the most-hated student in this class. What an achievement."

"This isn't fair!" Ron exclaimed. "It's all your fault!"

He pointed in Draco's vague direction.

"I think you'll find it was you who claimed to be my boyfriend," Hermione said, all fired up. "You started this."

"He called you a Mudblood!"

"Like four years ago - people change!"

Severus rolled his eyes and checked the time.

"Incompetent brats and ingrates, I am hardly paid enough to teach you, let alone listen to this rubbish. Sort your petty squabble outside. Class dismissed."

When thirty stunned faces turned to look at him, he explained.

"I'm also not paid enough to get away with murder. If you want to poison each other, do it yourselves. Good day."

*****

A.N. Pt. 3! Snape hasn't stooped to murder... Yet.

Thank you for reading and please comment!!! :)