Perhaps Another Time, Severus [A Severus Snape Fanfiction]

1994

1994

The Great Hall was full of excitement as Shaylah and Nate joined the growing crowd. Carrie fell in with them though she had arrived earlier, she pushed for them to join her in the middle of the room but Shaylah begged to sit near the front. She had told them it was because they would have the best view but really it was so she would be able to grab Severus in the chaos that would ensue. 

They found an open area close to the shining goblet that sat perched on its pedestal, waiting to tell them the name of the champions that would compete in its games. Marsha and Lexi soon joined them and took their seats as Dumbledore’s booming voice brought silence to the room. The Headmaster announced the proceedings and then held his arm out for the goblet to answer. 

A blinding flash announced the champion for Beauxbatons with a smoldering piece of paper. Fleur Delacour. The girl made her way to the door behind the Head table and disappeared. 

A second flash presented the smoldering name of the second champion for Durmstrang. Viktor Krum. Shaylah watched as the boy she had heard so much about from the girls in her year crossed the room and disappeared through the door.

A third and final blinding flash and the supposed last name fell into the Headmasters hand and the champion for Hogwarts was announced. Cedric Diggory. The good looking Hufflepuff shook the hands of those sitting around him and followed his predecessors through the door. The Headmaster joined the students that were left in a round of applause and turned to follow the champions but was quickly stopped by a fourth and final flash. Shaylah knew the name on the smoldering paper belonged to Harry Potter but she plastered a look of surprise on her face to equal those of the rest of the room.

The Headmaster muttered the boy’s name but then his voice was shouting, calling for the boy. Shaylah and the rest of the students watched as a confused and nervous Harry made his way across the room and joined the others out of sight.

Chattering broke out among those left behind, even her own friends were muttering as they stood and proceeded toward the exit to the Great Hall. Shaylah slipped away from them in the mass of bodies and caught the sleeve of Severus’ robes before he could enter the door that Harry just had. He ripped his arm from her hold, the scowl on his face more menacing than usual. “What is the meaning of this?” He growled.

“Sir, Professor Moody, he-“ Severus held his hand up to silence her.

“Any complaints you have about any of your teachers should be taken up with the Deputy Headmistress.” He placed his hand on the door and she again tugged at his robes, causing the irritation in his eyes to flare.

“No sir, I think Professor Moody had something to do with Harry’s name being put in the Goblet of Fire.” She hoped the pleading shake in her voice would convince him to listen but she was disappointed. His jaw clenched as he pulled himself away from her. “Do not miss your lesson tonight.” He growled before disappearing through the door.

Shaylah let out a sigh and turned to find her friends waiting for her in the hall just beyond the door. When she approached they were still discussing how Harry’s name could have gotten into the goblet. Nate seemed the most convinced that he had somehow gotten an age spell to trick Dumbledore’s age line, but Carrie pointed out that that hadn’t worked for the Weasley twins. Marsha thought that he had convinced an older student to put his name in and Lexi thought he hadn’t put his name in at all, that it was some freak accident. Shaylah only nodded her head in agreement when Lexi asked if she thought the same. 

The common room was bustling with the same gossip. Draco Malfoy was the loudest of them all, calling Harry every name in the book before Shaylah told him to calm down. The boy bit his tongue but she felt the rage brewing in him. Nate stood behind her, shaking his head at the boy over her shoulder. It was so draining to know the future, the reason that things were happening and yet not be able to stop or announce it. She wanted to scream that it was Moody who did it until her throat was sore. She wanted to hex every mouth that spat vile words about Harry so that it wouldn’t open again, but she couldn’t. She could only pretend that she was as perturbed as they all were.

When she arrived in the potions classroom for her lesson that night, she was surprised that Severus wasn’t there. She stood in the quiet for a moment and was about to go back to the dorm when a flurry of billowing robes flew through the door. He didn’t slow as he approached her, pushing her back against his desk until she was sitting on it trying to get away. “What did you mean about Moody?” His voice was a low growl. He was so close that the tip of his nose brushed against hers. 

“I saw him put something in the goblet while I was on my way to Care of Magical Creatures the other day. No one else was in the Great Hall.” Shaylah lied.

She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, Severus’ dark eyes bore into hers. She had climbed onto his desk in an attempt to escape but now she sat with him between her legs, he hadn’t stopped coming after her until there was something in his way. “Prof-“

He placed a hand over her mouth and one on the back of her neck, forcing the words back down her throat. “Shut your mouth you silly girl.” His face turned toward the door to the classroom, it still stood open a crack from his dramatic entrance. She could hear voices but the words were lost within the wall. She withdrew her wand and waved it over one of his ears and then one of hers. The sounds outside the room became much clearer. In six years time she would use that same spell to eavesdrop on Severus. 

His eyes widened and the look of shock on his face made her smile under his palm. He applied more pressure as a response. The sound of students hushed voices were like shouts in their ears. Dumbledore and McGonagall were the next voices they heard, still speaking with hushed tones but they seemed to be in a hurry as their voices came and went. Then all went silent for a moment before they heard Moody, Shaylah felt this was the reason Severus was currently crushing the palm of his hand over her mouth. 

His voice was quiet in their ears, which meant he was likely muttering under his breath. No other sound filled the hall, just Moody’s mocking tone. Oh how did Potter’s name end up in the Goblet of Fire? Oh I wonder. Then he chuckled softly to himself. When no more noise buzzed in their ears, Shaylah waved her wand over them again. Severus’ face slowly turned to face hers, his palm still pressed firmly over her mouth. She was sure a perfect imprint of his hand would stay behind when he finally removed it. A look of sheer confusion and almost terror had fallen over him. He retracted his hands from her, the skin beneath them becoming instantly chilled. 

His hands fell to the bend in her hips, his thumbs sliding across the top of her thighs. He jumped as if she were toxic, he hadn’t realized what he was doing. His movements were almost habitual, as if his hands remembered her now that they had felt her. His body still occupied the space between her legs but he hadn’t yet rectified that. “You saw Moody put something in the goblet?” He questioned. She nodded her head.

“Prof-“ She had only meant to tell him that he was still standing between her legs but he thrust a long finger against her lips to silence her. 

“I have many more questions for you, but I must see to something else.” He finally looked down at her legs almost wrapped around his waist, she saw his cheeks flush before he bolted out of the classroom. 

On her way back to the dorms she pulled the picture of her family from the pocket of her robes. Her heart fell as she stared down at the photo which now only contained her. The scenery was the same but she stood alone. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle the cry growing in her throat.The effects of her efforts were already taking shape, just not the way she had hoped.