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 caught their eye, motioning for them to join her in the center of the crowd, but Shaylah suggested they make their way to the front. Though she told them it was for the best view, her intentions had nothing to do with the coming announcements or excitement. She needed to grab Severus during the chaos, before he was swept up in the ensuing celebration.

Forcing their way through the thick gathering, they found an open area close to the shining goblet perched on its pedestal, waiting to tell them the name of the champions that would soon compete in its games. Marsha and Lexi soon joined them, taking their seats as Dumbledore's booming voice brought silence to the room. The excitement in the space was palpable as the Headmaster announced the proceedings, offering his arm for the goblet to answer.

A blinding flash produced a smoldering piece of parchment, announcing the champion for Beauxbatons. Fleur Delacour. There was an eruption of applause as the girl made her way to the door behind the Head table and disappeared.

A second flash presented the smoldering name of Durmstrang's champion, Viktor Krum. Shaylah watched as the boy she had heard so much about from the girls in her year crossed the room, followed by celebratory shouts and applause, girls swooning as he passed, and disappeared behind the first contestant.

Silence encased them once more, everyone on the edge of their seats as they waited for the final name to be called, the representative champion of Hogwarts. A third blinding flash, and the last name fluttered into the Headmaster's hand. Cedric Diggory. His shouts of celebration and praise were by far the loudest and the good looking Hufflepuff shook the hands of those around him as he made his way, following his predecessors through the door.

Dumbledore joined the rest of the students in a round of applause and began to follow the champions but was quickly stopped by an unexpected fourth and final flash. Shaylah knew the name on the smoldering paper, it was the reason she was here, what had started the uprising she had spent most of her adult life fighting, 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 he was shouting, scanning the room. Harry Potter! Shaylah and the other students watched as a perplexed and nervous Harry made his way across the room. Some students jeered, looking at their peers in confusion. There was no booming approval or applause as the young boy joined Dumbledore, who quickly rushed him from the room.

Chattering broke out among those left behind, even her own friends were muttering as they proceeded toward the exit, still in shock. Shaylah slipped away, pressing through the mass of bodies in the opposite direction. She caught the sleeve of Severus' robes before he could enter the door the others had disappeared through. The sneer he offered was deadly as he wrenched the fabric from her grasp. "What is the meaning of this?" he growled.

"Sir, Professor Moody, he-"

Severus silenced her with a raised hand, his brows drawn, "Any complaints you have about any of your teachers should be taken up with the Deputy Headmistress." He turned his back to her, hand on the doorhandle, but she snagged him again. She would surely catch detention for this, more damn potions lessons, but it was necessary. She heard his rage in the thick exhale he forced through his nose.

"No sir, it's not that. 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.

"Do not miss your lesson tonight," he growled through clenched teeth, before disappearing through the door, leaving her disappointed.

Turning, Shaylah let out a sigh, surprised to find her friends waiting just beyond the exit. They were still discussing the scene when she joined them, each with a different assumption. Nate seemed the most convinced that Harry had successfully used an age spell to trick Dumbledore's age line, but Carrie pointed out that that hadn't worked for the Weasley twins. Marsha seemed convinced that an older student had put his name in the cup 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.