Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-2-

The dark figure keeps his stare that just sends shivers down to my spine. Scary... "Ah, Professor Snape..! Good to see you." Flitwick breaks the tension. Well, almost. Those dark eyes keeps staring at me without a word, it's almost petrifying. The professor next to me clears his throat a bit and continues:"Severus, this..- this is Professor (Y/N) (Y/L), she is..-", "In my seat." the man says with the deepest and calmest voice I've ever heard. His seat? Automatically, I got up from the chair a little:"O-oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know these seats are taken. I..-", "Then perhaps, Miss (Y/L) will remember to ask if the seat is taken next time she enters a room." he keeps the calm tone, and yet it sounded like a warning. What's up with him? Without a word, I go sit down an empty chair on his right side, and he sits down on the chair I was a second ago. Well, this is awkward.

The ceremony keeps on going. Luckily, no one really saw what just happened on this corner of the room. Can't believe I haven't even been able to start working here properly and I'm already getting myself in 'trouble'. Now I just feel awkward to just sit here next to him... Dumbledore started to speak to the students after the first years got sorted in to their Houses. To be honest, I couldn't really focus on his speech, since all I could think about was the man on my left side. It's like he is radiating this weird, negative energy from the gecko. He must be Slytherin. To think he referred me as a 'Miss' rather than 'Professor' somehow made me feel small. I know I don't have the proper education to have the title 'professor', but... Dumbledore himself trusted me for this job. And that should be the only thing that matters. Right?

"And our new substitute teacher of Herbology; Professor (Y/N) (Y/L)." Dumbledore's strong voice echoes all over the Great Hall as he points at me with an open hand. Everyone's gaze in the room follows the Headmaster's hand, eventually all eyes landing on me. Oh, now is my turn! It was said we can just stand up and give a quick wave at everyone and go right back down once we hear our own name. Right when I got up from my seat, my thigh hits the edge of the table, so it makes this loud 'thudump!' - sound and the table moves a bit. The people next to me leans back a bit as they get surprised by this sudden move, and the whole situation makes most of the children smile and giggle a little, like a wave. Ahw, bollocks! I then give a tiny wave and sit back down, face all red. Pretty quickly after that, Dumbledore continues on introducing the other professors, and the attention luckily goes away from me.

While keeping my hands neatly on my lap and head slightly down, I try to calm down and convince myself it wasn't that big of a deal. For Merlin's sake... Why?! Why these things keeps happening to me?! After gathering myself and lifting my gaze back up, other side of the High Table, I see Remus. He is giving me very compassionate smile and I feel little bit better about myself. It's alright. Then, I feel how the person on my right side leans towards me - a little bit too close for my liking, so I automatically lean away from them - but not too much, so I won't get in touch with Mr. Grumpy over here. "No need to be nervous, darling. I know how intimidating it must be sitting next to a celebrity, but don't worry, I'm just as a professor like everyone else here." the man whispers with a bright smile on his face. Celebrity?

"Sorry?" I whispered back. He reaches his hand towards me:"Ouhw, where are my manners? Gilderoy Lockhart.". "(Y/N) (Y/L)." I shake hands with him, still a bit confused what he meant by the word 'celebrity'. "Lovely." he pecks a quick kiss the back of my hand. Awkward smile raises on my face as I get filled with these mixed feelings about this person. I mean, he hasn't really done anything bad, but something just feels little bit... Off? I must be imagining things. Soon enough, very delicious looking and smelling food appears in front of us. Without thinking, I let out a quiet gasp out of joy and my (e/c) eyes began to sparkle by the sight. The dark man on my left side gives a quick side-eye before he starts gathering some food on his plate just like everyone else around the Great Hall. There are so much food, it's hard to decide what to take! Oh, how much I missed this too!