Let Me Hear You

[ Developments ]

He told me to sleep well.

Professor Snape told me to sleep well.

I haven't been able to get those two words out of my head. It took me nearly a week to process my encounter with Snape. Why had he been so kind? So understanding? So...normal?

He and I had never had any issues. I never gave him any reason to berate or belittle me, as he so often did other students, and faculty, for that matter. At least once a day I heard someone think "Teacher's pet", but I knew I wasn't. I simply knew how the teachers were feeling and adjusted my behaviour in class accordingly.

It felt different now, though. He had been in my private quarters and felt comfortable there, and I strangely felt the same. I knew he could cast Legilimens, but I also knew he was adept at reading body language. He must have sensed I was not as uncomfortable in his presence as everyone else is. Perhaps that's why he stayed so long. I don't know what to think.

I knew he didn't, and wouldn't, cast Legilimens on me. For one, I would feel it. And secondly, it is forbidden to use such charms on a student. However, I got the sense that he was as desperate to know what was going through my mind as I was.

Throughout this weeks' classes, I started to feel his emotions in stronger waves. It started out small; a smug pride when a Slytherin answered a question correctly; annoyance when a Ravenclaw did the same; and an incredibly strong aversion to anything a Gryffindor did. A part of me wanted to sit at the back of the class, trying desperately to avoid eye contact. But my subconscious knew I couldn't stay away; knew I needed to know more, to see if I could get close enough to hear his mind clearer. Preferably without the door between us this time.

What concerned me in this development was that it seemed as though he was beginning to feel my emotions, too. I am far too skilled in Occlumency for him to be able to hear my thoughts; it simply wasn't possible. My feelings, however, I weren't so sure. I hadn't met a Legilimens outside of my family, so this was foreign territory.

I started to notice him paying closer attention to me throughout the week. On Tuesday following the tour of my room, he merely lingered in front of me for a moment longer than the other students; briefly scanning me head to toe. I kept my face passive, but I felt nervous, shy even. With a quick tilt of his head and a slightly raised eyebrow, he swept away. It's common for students to feel nervous around him, but my nerves weren't out of fear. I wondered if he'd picked up on that.

This progressed through every lesson for the rest of the week. I started to feel anxious even when he was sitting at the front of the classroom. I could feel him starting to respond to my tension as he tried to avoid coming near me as much as possible. However, even from afar, I could feel his paralleled nerves. I couldn't tell if his trepidation came from his comfortableness in my presence or if he picked up on the fact that I was as in tune with his feelings as he was mine.

On Friday, while practising nonverbal spells, a Gryffindor girl accidentally set her robes on fire. She was mortified by her mistake, and practically trembled with fear when Snape towered over her. I couldn't laugh out loud, I couldn't so much as smirk, but I was most amused and couldn't help but giggle on the inside. I was standing right behind Snape as he dished out his 10-point deduction from the girl. He whipped around to face me so fast I stumbled into the desk next to me. "Is something funny, Miss Goldstein?" I looked up at his looming, dark face, and frowned in confusion. "I didn't hear her laugh! He's hearing things. Finally lost it." Came the familiar mind of Augustus next to me. I internally rolled my eyes.

I stood defensively straight and kept my chin high. "I didn't say anything, Professor." He can't have read my mind, I would know. He must have been able to feel me. Shit. I started to panic, digging my nails into my palms. He still hadn't responded; we were in a stare down. People started whispering around us "He hasn't even punished her for talking back!" "The royal Slytherin treatment." "I guess the Head Girl can do as she pleases." I broke eye contact with him to glare around the room, but I was met with blank faces. I hadn't heard whispers; I had heard their minds. In my moment of panic under his piercing gaze, I hadn't been able to tell the difference. When I turned back to Snape, he looked menacing, one eyebrow cocked, arms crossed; yet he felt confused, and I swear I sensed a hint of guilt too.