Perhaps Another Time, Severus [A Severus Snape Fanfiction]

1994

1994

It had already been a week and the homework Shaylah had accumulated only continued to pile up. She had chosen a large table in the library to sprawl out her books and parchment, her quill steady at work when a shadow fell over her. She stalled, waiting for the person to shift but the shadow loomed. Narrowing her eyes, she cast an irritated look at the interloper, only to find a matching glare on the potion master's face. "Miss Epans, your essay on Dittany has not yet made it to my desk," he said gruffly. For a moment Cross' face flashed through her mind, his blood caking her hands. She shook her head, wiping the memory away. Perhaps her fallen friend was thriving somewhere out there, basking in a second chance he never knew he had been granted.

"I'm sure you didn't track me down just to remind me," Shaylah muttered under her breath as she dropped her face back to her work. She had found that this Severus was much more cantankerous than her own and she preferred him in small doses.

"What was that?" he sneered, a hand stalling her quill, forcing her to look up at him. He was bold to be sure, but she was his still pupil, not his equal. Not anymore.

She slid the parchment which read Dittany and Its Many Uses across the table toward him, "I'm working on it right now, S–sir."

His brows dipped in disappointment, "Very well. You're tutoring starts today, I expect to see you in my classroom, immediately after dinner." He slid the paper across the table before turning on his heels, disappearing between the closest row of shelves.

Shaylah let out a small huff, returning to her work. She had mostly settled into her new life as 'Miss Epans' but the pull of her old life still dwelled in the back of her mind. The irrational irritation this Severus showed toward his students often ate at her and helped dwindle the urge to think of him as her husband. He was, in another life, but not here. She wondered how they would ever end up together if she succeeded because she didn't think she could stomach this Severus and he looked at her like she was a pest. Much the way he did all the students.

Carrie's voice echoed through the library before the Librarian quickly shushed her, tossing her books down as she joined Shaylah at the table. "Boy, Professor Snape didn't look too happy. Not that that's unusual."

"Yeah, I have extra tutoring with him tonight to get me caught up on what I missed," Shaylah admitted, not looking up as she scrawled.

Carrie sucked in a breath between her teeth, "I'm so sorry."

"If I could ever catch up on all this back homework I would feel better," said Shaylah, resting a hand on her brow. She hadn't been a student in a long time and even when she was, her school was very different. She still hadn't quite gotten the hang of the castle or the subjects but it was becoming more manageable. She had to attempt to pass classes, if she flunked out, she couldn't complete her mission. Unfortunately, she needed to put in the extra effort.

"I bet it's a huge change to adjust to but I think you're doing great, Shay," offered Carrie with a smile, placing a hand on Shaylah's arm.

Shaylah returned the gesture, "Thanks, Carrie."

The two studied in silence until it was time for dinner. Shaylah managed to make massive progress on her workload, finishing several major assignments. Marsha joined them as they made their way down the moving stairs, and Shaylah almost lost her footing as one abruptly decided to move.

The Great Hall was bustling as they entered and she ignored the dark eyes that followed her as she made her way to the Slytherin table. She questioned why he bothered looking at her at all. That flicker of recognition she had seen in his eyes when they first met, was he trying to recall how he knew her? If his theory was correct and all time ran concurrent, did this Severus harbor some of his future memories without knowing? A headache began to bloom in her temple, a nudging throb, surely he wasn't–