Heredity vs. Solidarity (S. Snape)

Chapter Two

The Great Hall was filled with the glorious sounds of laughter, voices, and the clinking and shifting of plates, cups, and utensils. While most of the students were socializing, Selena was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, eating while her eyes swept over the pages of her book once more.

She was unaware of the Slytherin student slinking to his seat, his eyes shimmering with nothing but contempt for the Ravenclaw student. He couldn’t help but be enraged; she had the nerve to speak to him – a Slytherin student – like that?

He’d have to think of a better plan for his next encounter.

“How did it go?” Severus jerked in his seat, and turned his head to the student next to him – Avery – who was smirking at the boy’s sudden edginess. “That bad?”

“She called me out,” Severus hissed. “And insulted me, in the process.”

“Snarky one, she is,” Avery commented, eyeing her with a glint of mischief. “I can set her straight, if you wish.”

“Don’t bother,” Severus growled. “I just need to have another plan.”

“She’s a blood traitor, though,” Avery continued, looking more pleading now. “I could just curse her some, you know, tell her that –“

“No,” Severus interjected, eyes turning on his housemate. “I have to win her trust – it’s the only way I’ll ever be able to get her to follow me willingly into this.”

“Within a year?” Avery asked, astounded. “She’s a Ravenclaw, Snape! It will take longer than a year to convince her otherwise!”

“Have faith,” Severus smirked. “Aren’t we, after all, cunning and ambitious? Don’t we, after all, thrive on power and resourcefulness?”

Avery eyed him warily before asking, “What do you have up your sleeve?”

“Much, my friend, except for a certain mark that shall be branded into my skin by the end of this year – mark my words,” Severus answered, smirking.

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Even after classes were over for the day, Selena still had a bad feeling about that Severus character… she didn’t feel he was quite finished, yet. However, she didn’t let these thoughts stop her from completing her homework for the day, or from writing a letter to her adoptive parents.

Hello back home,

The first week back has been a thrill, but I am positively strained about seventh year! Not only are the N.E.W.T. exams this year, but I also have to put up with the intense load of homework they are giving us! It’s insane! I never thought there were so many battles in 1634 regarding the Goblins!

However, I am doing quite fine – spending a lot of time studying, mind you. I plan to get perfect marks once more for when I graduate, so I figure if I study a different subject everyday up until the N.E.W.T.’s, I’ll have every book memorized! It’s quite a tedious task, but so far I have two chapters memorized from each book.

Regardless of all of that, Professor Flitwick seems mighty thrilled that I am getting ahead of it all, but he thinks I should slow it down (Ha! He just doesn’t understand!). Oh well, by the end of it, I’ll pass with flying colors, I’m sure!

How are things back home? Did you two get things straightened away at the Ministry? And, are the neighbors treating you right? I know they can be nasty when it comes time for their children to leave, so just let them know that worst case scenario, I can inform them of how their children are doing!