Light the candle

~Eight~

"Well. Next, Miss Granger." The director announces, looking at his parchment.

"He's a quick learner but his attempts are, well, what can I say? They're too rudimentary. She only transcribes what she reads. What's more, as we've been able to tell you over the last few years, her know-it-all behaviour is just too much." Filius answers. It's not the first time the teachers have complained about the Gryffindors, but the headmaster always turns a deaf ear. What's more, the transfiguration teacher isn't helping them in the slightest. In the first years she defended them tooth and nail, but now she's just passive.

"So let's move on to Mr Potter." Dumbledore says with his grand-father tone.

"All decent work. Maybe he needs to push himself to the limit, otherwise he's a good pupil, not the best." Pomona answers. The headmaster nods and looks a bit disappointed.

The meeting then continued with the rest of the Gryffindors after the Headmaster had given priority to his three students.

When it came to the Slytherins, they were quickly dealt with to finish the meeting.

▬♣▬

Severus arranged his bun one last time. He had decided to tie them up for tonight. He is also dressed in a navy blue long-sleeved shirt and black trousers with black moccasins.

The master checks his appearance one last time in the bathroom mirror before activating his bracelet.

He arrived in the Chamber of Secrets, where he hadn't been for a while. The spot where the Basilisk's corpse had been is now empty. He had retrieved everything. He approached the sculpture of Salazar Slytherin and heard the whistling. He found himself back in a gigantic library where Potter was waiting for him with a smirk on his face and, strangely enough, his glasses.

Usually when Potter is with him, he's not wearing his glasses and glamour.

Tonight he's wearing a white jumper that brings out his green eyes, blue jeans and a pair of black boots. He looks good on him. 

Severus sees a gleam in the emerald green eyes and softens when he sees him.

"Ready, baby?" Potter held out his hand. Severus takes it after a moment. The two of them walk down a corridor that the Potions teacher didn't know existed. The corridor leads to an exit that leads directly into the Forbidden Forest.

The young man guides him to a clear space. There's a small pond with hundreds of fireflies floating above it like will-o'-the-wisp. Severus notices a candlelit table next to the pond. He is cut off in his admiration of the scenery when Potter kisses his cheek.

"Good evening, baby." Potter greets him with a smooth smile. The Slytherin nods to greet him.

"So how do you like it, baby?" The dark-haired boy nods slowly. Their hands are still entwined. Potter then leads him to the table, releasing his hand to pull the chair out for him. Severus raises an eyebrow but his ears turn slightly pink. He sits down in the chair and Potter pulls the chair towards the table and sits down opposite him.

Dobby appears with a bottle of wine and shakes them a glass. The house elf leaves, leaving the bottle behind.

"I'm glad you agreed to this date." Potter says softly.

"I had no choice, Mr. Potter." Severus counters.

"I don't remember forcing you into anything, baby."

"I didn't want to have your disappointment on my conscience." The black-haired snorts.

"Oh, and since it matters to you." The older man's lips stretch and he raises his wine glass to his lips. His eyes widened. This wine is delicious. Hmm, maybe this date isn't such a terrible idea.