Another Kind Of Magic - A Severus Snape Fanfiction

Lost And Found

He could not believe his luck. Or lack thereof. Here he was, roaming the castle in search of a monstrous feline. And as if that alone hadn't been enough, his least favorite Slytherin was at his side, awkwardly trying to appear composed. He wished she would just finally stop that silliness, for it was plainly obvious that she was anything but. Well, he couldn't blame her; at least, not for that. This hazardous mission left even him highly tense.

But who was he kidding? It was her fault, after all. How could one mess up a spell like that? Then again, it shouldn't have surprised him. If anyone was capable of messing up something as simple as the familiar spell, then it surely was her. Just another proof why she was his least favorite student. Not that he favored any of the dunderheads, but she was an especially unnerving specimen. Merlin, she couldn't even take one step without tripping over her own limbs. What had Albus been thinking, assigning him this job?

He glanced over to the girl who was apparently struggling to keep up with him. Well, she'd better get a move on, or they'd be spending the rest of the day in search for her stray cat. Judging from the loud growls, it had to be somewhere nearby, and he really wanted to get this over with.

"Professor Snape."

Severus rolled his eyes as his student's intimidated voice reached his ear. She was clearly out of breath. "Yes, Ms. Flowers?"

"I'm scared," the girl confessed shyly.

This made the wizard stop in his tracks. He turned his head to face her and snarled, "Well, Ms. Flowers. I can see why. Hunting down a vicious predator isn't exactly a walk in the park. I could think of a million different activities I'd rather be engaged in at this very moment. However, you made a mistake and now have to stand up for it, lest you wish your friends to be mauled to death."

"But it wasn't a mistake," she talked back. "I didn't do anything wrong. The spell just didn't work."

The professor snorted, looking down at her appraisingly. "Ms. Flowers, you seem to have trouble acknowledging your own failures. Just like in my class. You simply lack any talent, and yet you try to find all sorts of outrageous excuses to explain away your incompetency. If you had enough decency to at least admit it, it would spare us both a lot of inconveniences, and we certainly wouldn't have to deal with an oversized runaway kitty."

As he continued rushing down the dimly-lit, narrow hallway, he heard her muttering something behind him. Without slowing his pace, he bellowed, "What was that, Ms. Flowers?"

She inhaled sharply before she offered a bold reply. "Sir, by no means am I incompetent. I know why you must think that of me, given that I seem to spoil every potion you assign in class, but it has nothing to do with lack of talent."

For some inexplicable reason, this made him grin. When he realized what his mouth was doing without having received permission from his brain, his face quickly returned to its default emotionless state. Glancing back at the girl, making sure she hadn't seen it, he stated cooly, "Very well. You will have ample time to prove that you're capable of brewing each and every potion listed in the book. Once we are done here, you will have detention for the rest of the year."

"W-what?" The Slytherin stammered, completely taken aback. "Why?"

"For one," he sighed in irritation. "You need to be taught some respect. I don't tolerate students talking to me like you did in that ridiculous note of yours. And secondly, you endangered all of our lives today." His black eyes locked with hers. "Does that suffice as an answer?"

She moved her lips in an attempt to say something, but no sound left her throat.

A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I see, you are in agreement."

Her honey-colored irises widened as if in slow motion as she stuttered, "P-p-p-ro-f-essor!"

She sure was afraid of the prospect of a year's detention with him. Well, he didn't look forward to it either, but this reaction was a little over the top. Gods, she even started to tremble vigorously. Watching her being so scared almost made him feel sorry for being so rough with her. But there was another emotion he couldn't quite grasp. Nevertheless, it was rather strong; so strong, that his heart immediately responded, causing an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. He narrowed his eyes, trying to shake off that nauseating feeling, telling himself that it was the very point of detention to punish his student, and that it was a good thing she didn't want to spend time with him outside of class. Yet, this thought only made it worse.

"Ridiculous," he mumbled and flinched when he noticed he had said that out loud. Fortunately though, she hadn't heard him, since she was busy pointing at something behind him.

"Pr-pro-professor," she repeated barely audible. "Sir ... there ..."

"There what?" he hissed, successfully turning that confusing inner turmoil into something he was most acquainted and comfortable with; impatience with the student who knew just too well how to push his buttons.

"The ... the panther!"