Snape on My Nape

Chapter 1-First Year

The Slytherin Common Room was never my real home, it was Professor Snape's office. My bed was never filled with my belongings nor my body, for those all belonged to Professor Snape in his home. During my first year, the Sorting Hat demanded that I join Ravenclaw, but I quickly hushed his recommendations and persuaded him to place me in Slytherin. The cheers that filled the room after my sorting ceremony were unparalleled to the striking gaze that I beheld with the Slytherin Headmaster, who stared intently into my green eyes and failed to break eye contact with me. I blushed passionately and quickly diverted my gaze whilst brushing away the stray auburn hair dangling round my ears. I was one of his now. He was in charge of me for the rest of my wizarding career, which I thought somehow romantic.

He did not clap for me, nor did he smile. Instead, he tossed me a studious face kissed with an air of arrogance. His hair, neck length, casted a heavy mysterious shadow over his face, only making his character more interesting. Severus Snape. I knew the name well. He did not know me well, but in time he would. Soon his worn face would be revived to its rightful youth, that is, after he took the time to get to know me. The thing is, I've known about him for quite some time as he's been in the newspapers recently. Why yes, he is being persecuted for siding with the Death-Eaters and Voldemort. I know I shouldn't speak his name, but what would that matter if I wanted to join him? I come from a Pure-Blood family with ample holes in the family tree leading us to be viewed as less prominent amongst the well-to-do wizards.

"House Slytherin, follow prefects Peter Thornhill and Blair Coldwell down to the basement." Professor Snape's voice boomed prominently over the dull noise of the other Headmasters who were conducting their students. I stared at the man dressed fit for a Muggle funeral with a burning desire that he would avert his gaze and look at me.

"Girls over here!" Blair motioned, so all of the girls quickly filed together and followed our prefect out of the Great Hall and down a flight of stairs. The girls gossiped and laughed in small huddled masses all around me. The boys followed behind, but were no less vain than their female counterparts. They primarily remained silent, though their smirks and sly faces told a story better than their mouths ever would. We came to a landing tunneled by wet, mossy cobblestones lit by torchlights. The hall extended, but eventually gave way to a large room filled with black and emerald colored decorations. Sculptures of snakes emerged from the walls, spitting water into small fountains all around. Everything was rich in texture and design (velvet upholstery upon Victorian furniture enlivened the mood of pride). The females veered off into a stone archway which I only could assume was where the dormitory hid. While all of the girls eagerly shoved one another to claim their space in the room, I sat down at the long table centered in the Common Room awaiting for whatever happened next.

I sat awhile in utter silence. There was no one here with me, so I suspected nothing was to happen for another few moments. I bit my lip, tapped my fingers on the table, looked about the room, then gave into my weakness in life-legilimency. At once I closed my eyes and navigated space like a searching hand in a filing cabinet, seeking one particular file. The pressure in my head squeezed at my temples, but my curiosity guided me further along in my search for one person's mind. My eyes fluttered beneath my eyelids while my lips stuttered nonsensical words. Where are you hiding?

I'm not hiding. And for the record, Miss Scalier, I am an Occlumens .

I jolted awake, gasping for air under a layer of sweat and pressure against my temples.