Heredity vs. Solidarity (S. Snape)

Chapter Nineteen

The sun was setting in the sky outside, and in the Great Hall, the enchanted ceiling was growing darker and darker as the evening settled upon the grounds. For the most part, the students were slowly departing, with only small groups dispersed among the tables.

Selena stood outside of the Great Hall doors, tapping her foot impatiently, and feeling her stomach churn with nerves. Marcy and Matthew passed her, and though Marcy moved to go towards Selena, the latter silently gestured for her friend to leave. Confused, Marcy departed, very close to Matthew's side.

Selena, though grudgingly, had spent the last week and a half avoiding Severus Snape. With Michaela’s swarming growing closer, the guilt had been eating away at Selena to the point where just looking at him sent her into a frenzy of panic. She hated what was going to happen, but Marcy was her friend first, and though she had to choose, it was with reluctance that she did so.

For the first time in days, Selena purposely waited for Severus to step out of the Great Hall. She was nervous, with her stomach churning with anxiety, and her fingertips constantly picking at her nails.

So, when he stepped out from behind the grand doors, it was with a nervous breath that she stepped towards him. He paused mid-step, and when she thought he was about to walk towards her, he did the exact opposite. Selena was deeply hurt when he stormed towards the dungeons, and though she was only down there for class reasons, she found herself moving towards them without an ounce of fear.

“Severus, wait!” she called. It was too late. He nearly sprinted down the steps, an angered look to the way he charged, and black robes billowing behind him ominously. Ignoring the damp feel of the lower levels, Selena rushed after him, hearing the portraits along the walls hissing back at her spitefully. “Please!” she added.

Politeness made no difference. If anything, he ran harder, and upon reaching the lower landing, his stride had calmed to merely a fast walk. Selena touched down on the dungeon floor, and sprinted after him, getting closer and closer until something grasped the back of her robes, hauling her to a complete stop.

The sudden lack of momentum made her body lose balance, and fall unceremoniously to the ground. The stone scraped against her skin, and holding back a cry, she gathered her bearings and stood quietly. Laughter ensued from behind her, and as she spun around, she found herself swallowing hard.

Three Slytherins were standing before her, each one easily a head or more taller than her, and each one grasping a sparking wand within their hands – all of which trained on her. Backing up a step, she knew it would do no good. They knew these halls better than she did, and because of this, she was both stranded in the wrong territory, as well as doomed.

The only thing she knew about these halls was where the Potions classroom was located, and what good would that do her when Professor Slughorn was still in the Great Hall, discussing various Poison Antidotes with Professor Flitwick?

“I’ll leave you alone, if you just let me leave,” Selena bargained, eyeing the staircase behind them with longing. “I’m not here to cause you any trouble – I swear.”

“We don’t care what you’re here for,” the first one smirked. “We’re just wondering what you’re doing in the wrong territory, and furthermore, chasing one of our housemates? Sure, Snape isn’t that good of a looker, but I’m sure you can find some other boy to chase after?”

“Severus is a kind man,” she whispered, feeling her defensiveness kick in. “He at least deserves better than you three as housemates. Besides, if you want to call someone a bad looker, then maybe you should look in the mirror? I’m sure –“

“Why you little –“ the second one lifted his wand, about to strike, but Selena had hers out in a mere instant, her threat now imminent. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”