autumn | severus snape

twenty three

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat announced, sorting the last first year.

Cheers and claps from students in red and gold caused a certain snarky Potions Professor to roll his eyes. He glanced at the Hufflepuff table, allowing his gaze to linger on Ophelia for a brief moment, the weight of his own words pressed heavily on his conscience. Snape straightened his back. He had a role to play, a mask to wear, and there was no room for sentimentality. He reminded himself of the necessity of distance, of keeping the walls around him firmly in place. With a final glance in her direction, Snape's expression hardened, the softness in his eyes replaced by the familiar, cold indifference. He was Severus Snape, after all, and he had survived far worse than a troubled conscience.

The Headmistress was just about to speak when the door was pushed open and a small frame scurried down the Great hall, mumbling apologies as she went. Everyone's eyes were captured by her brown hair flowing beautifully behind her. Snape could see the shame in her blue eyes as he could hear only one word going through her mind; late, late, late.

"Ah, it seems our latest addition has finally arrived," Minerva smiled warmly, "welcome, dear."

"My apologies, Headmistress," the young woman said before letting out a relieved sigh as she sat down in an empty chair.

"Please welcome our new muggle studies Professor, Alaska Brown," the Headmistress announced.

Ophelia observed the new teacher, her beauty did not go unnoticed by her. She couldn't be much older than Ophelia, in her mid-twenties. Ophelia watched the new Professor sneak quick, almost shy glances in Snape's direction. Snape, for his part, maintained his usual stoic expression, his face giving nothing away. But Ophelia knew him well enough by now to notice the subtle flicker in his gaze as it briefly met Professor Brown's. It was the smallest of gestures, but it filled her with red hot rage.

"And welcome back to Draco Malfoy," McGonagall smiled proudly, "he will be assisting Professor Brindlemore in Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Draco winked in Ophelia's direction. She rolled her eyes and pretended to gag. Draco laughed.

"Let the feast begin!"

The Great Hall emerged in chatter, cutlery clinking against plates. Old students catching up and new ones getting to know each other.

"Hello!" A Hufflepuff boy was leaning over the table, obviously trying to get her attention.  "I'm Andrew," he said, "I'm your Prefect."

Ophelia hummed, "Teddy wasn't joking, then."

"I'm sorry?"

"Ah, nothing," she smiled, "I'm Ophelia, nice to meet you."

"American?" Andrew raised his eyebrows, smiling, "don't get many of those around here."

She grinned, "yeah, and I'm a year older."

"You're essentially asking to be bullied, eh?" Andrew teased.

"Oh, you're funny," Ophelia scoffed, looking up at the teacher's table.

Andrew leaned closer, following her gaze, "that's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin, and former Headmaster."

She whipped her head around, "Headmaster?"

He nodded, "he took over after Dumbledore. Most people want him locked up in Azkaban, but I guess he has nine lives."

Ophelia pulled her lips into a thin line. "Was he terrible? As Headmaster, I mean."

Andrew shrugged, "almost never saw him. I did have detention with him once, though, right before the battle, saved me from the Carrows." He paused to think. "He taught me how to duel, some defensive spells, I suppose that was.. decent of him."