Apprentice of Potions 2: New Beginnings

Chapter 3 - Creeping Around

Vienna and various other characters are my own creation. J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter franchise, no copyright infringement intended.

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Chapter 3 – Creeping

Vienna looked over the map, level by level. She noticed students walking around the halls and grounds, Dumbledore pacing his office, but one thing especially catching her attention – Professor Quirrel stopped in one spot of the third level corridor, the same one that Dumbledore gave warning about at the Welcome Feast.

"What are you up to, then?" she asked herself aloud. Vienna was so consumed in thought that she did not notice Severus' footsteps heading towards her. It was the heavy knock that brought her back from her musings.

"One moment!" she called out at the door whilst hastily trying to fold the map and stick it into her pocket. She swore as she unlocked the door, having not charmed the map back to blankness, but proceeded to let him in.

He looked down at her, lip curled, "What are you up to?"

"Never mind that," she spat out and turned away from him. Vienna heard his steps follow her in, and the door shut.

"What is it that I've done now?" he asked curtly.

Vienna threw up her arms with an audible scoff.

"Oh, I don't know," she replied with an angry, sardonic flair. "Perhaps it's the way you treated that boy in Potions!"

Vienna rounded back towards him, her gray eyes glowing with fury, Severus averted his own onyx orbs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well?" she prodded.

"Alright, I guess you wouldn't understand my actions," he began, returning his gaze to her. "The boy so looks like his father! Except his eyes... he has her eyes."

Vienna waited for him to continue, not moving a beat. He gave a sigh.

"Look, that spiel I was giving him was actually a message. I was giving my regards for the loss of his mother. That's... all."

"Oh, how's he to know that?! From the way he behaves, he's only discovered the wizarding world! He doesn't know what a bloody Bezoar is!" she yelled.

"I know, but I am not about to tell him exactly what I was saying," he scowled.

"No, of course not, that would be too easy!" Vienna was getting distressed now, and she saw the look of worry on his face, causing her to take a moment to calm a bit before continuing, holding a hand up to him so that she could finish.

"If you insist on torturing the boy because of who his father is, then keep it to just that. But, if you so much as hurt him, it'll be me you'll answer to, am I understood?"

"Yes, my precious, gray eyed, demon," he answered with a grin, advancing towards her and wrapping his arms around her. Vienna dropped her hand now, the hint of a smile melted away her anger, wrapping her arms around him.

Over the course of a month, many interesting things began to happen for the Potter child, Vienna had noticed. Severus had not lightened up on him at all in Potions, but she had noticed him behave a bit darkly to the Longbottom boy, being almost cruel to a point with the both of them. Harry Potter was made seeker for Gryffindor's Quidditch team after some apparent skillful flying and trickery during his broomstick flying class in which Longbottom had broken his wrist. Draco had been messing with Longbottom when Harry had come to his rescue. Harry and Draco also had a duel, and where ever Draco created trouble, Severus was there with a lame reprimanding. This had come to dig under Vienna's skin, like a bias from being Draco's godfather and a loyal Slytherin. But, he'd been asked to do so by Lucius, for old time's sake. So, Severus was left with watching over both boys to persons he cared for, out of loyalty, but he kept Potter under scrutiny at all times.