Sarcastic Venom

Chapter 5

Potions was a bore, me and Hermione finished the potions first followed by Malfoy and Blaise Zabbini. I still had not eaten and was gathering quite the appetite so I decided I was go to Herbology because it was with Ravenclaw house which meant I would be able to see Leah, which within itself made life more tolerable. I did however get followed by Malfoy and his crew, I ignored any snide comments they made behind me. I kept my hand on the leather bound book, remembering the passage, remembering my name. With my head held high as I approach the greenhouses, I see Leah a bit ahead with a few other Ravenclaws and run up to catch them. I was surprised at the kind greeting I got from them, word got around what I had said to Professor Snape at breakfast. Empathy votes I guess. We all filed in pairs to a desk, I was with Leah who was very talented with Herbology and had already made a few notes in her textbook, this lessons would have went terrible if she was not there to guide me. Even though all we did was water plants, I still would have made a mess of things.

The teacher, Professor Sprout smiled at us, she was only slightly taller than ourselves so it was rather welcoming and in no way intimidating. She was head of Hufflepuff, so I can see where she sprouted her kind nature from.

'I like her, I can see where she sprouted her kind nature from.' I smiled at my pun whilst the surrounding Ravenclaws laughed.
"Geez Chelsea, lay off with the puns it's honestly punishing." A Ravenclaw boy spoke up, he had light brown hair but blue eyes, he made a pun, I like this human.

The class finished and it was now dinner, I had to suffer at the Slytherin table, I made sure I arrived first and sat the closest I could to the door. It was near the seventh years but I didn't mind, none of them scared me. The whole hall filled their tables and the Dumbledore stood up to address the hall. He said a few words and the feast began, the seventh years didn't mind my blood status much, so I can now join the meals if I sit here all the time. I fill my plate up having not eaten all day, I glumly look over in envy at Leah, Harry and Ron who all sat with friends laughing. I take out the book and begin reading through other names, no seventh year paid any attention. I saw Regulus Black crossed out so I am guessed he betrayed his oath. I continue flicking through names, no other names stood out to me, I closed the book and placed it back in my bag under the table. I downed my drink and looked forward at nothing in particular, voices buzzed around me, truthfully I was alone. I mulled over my thoughts, my brother wouldn't be here for me, I was never close to him. My parents are muggles, they would never understand the discrimination against them, I haven't mentioned or send any of my family members a letter. I had no escape, I had only one source to live through these seven years. Ambition. I was determined to not let them get under my skin, I wanted to be better, I wanted to rise above everyone and become something great. I have not spoken to Harry and Ron since I was sorted, Leah spoke to me, which was nice to know I have a friend. Hermione was nice, although it was never anything special. I glanced at everyone else, Malfoy sat also looking lonely somehow. He was speaking to his friends but not the same way, Harry and Ron spoke to each other. He spoke to gloat, to make people envy and fear him. So I guess in some ways I am the same as the brat, which was not a comforting thought. The feast ended and I went back to my dorm, I suppose I could leave after curfew and go ask Professor Snape about this book and why his name was crossed out. Nobody would bother with me, I needed to change so my house was not visible although my face and name are now well known around the school, there was always a possibility. I ran straight to my room and began changing, I put black jeans on, a dark green shirt, a black jacket, and black boots. I grabbed the book and hid it beneath my jacket. Walking out: no one noticed I entered the common room, they all circled around Malfoy and a heap of gifts to see what he got. Such a diva. This worked to my advantage and let me simply walked out, I pressed my back to the wall and looked around the corner, clear.

I brought the book out, to get to Professor Snapes room, I had four corridors and one set of steps to ascend. To begin my journey, I turned the corner and slowly walked forward, picking up my pace when I realised I was half way and could get caught with no escape if I didn't get to the turning point. Repeating my precautions at this corner I now added looking behind me, nothing either way. I turned right, going further into the dungeon. Five steps stood before me, I missed one with each step up. Look behind, nothing. Look around, nothing. Was no teacher doing their job on the first day? I ran down another corridor, turned my head back then around, Filch. I jinxed it. I looked back and heard footsteps, definitely jinxed it, I had no escape. So my choice was, either Filch or whoever was coming this way. There was a higher possibility that a teacher would be kinder then Filch, but if I go with Filch then he would take me to Snape because I'm Slytherin. I scrunch my eyes so tightly together, then turn and come face to face with Filch. He began to laugh, grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and pulled me away.

'Filch.' Never in my life would I want to hear that voice, it was dark and low, Snape.
'Professor, I was just coming to see you.' His hand that grabbed my neck began sweating and shaking, wimp.
'I believe you, but now you see me I would like your hands off one of my students.' He shoved me forward into Professor Snape, who placed a firm hand on my shoulder, steadying me still.
'Off you go.' He sneered at Filch, who huffed and turned away.

I didn't dare meet the Professors eyes, I just tailed behind him as he began to bring me back to the common room.

'Professor, I found this book and- um..'
'Don't mumble.' He had stopped halfway down the hall, he loomed over me.
'It is this, and you name was in it. I wanted to know more about it, and I trust you...' I trailed off, my hands shook as I pulled the book into the glow emitted from the candlelight.
'This was where you was first day I presume.' He flicked through pages and turned back around to go to his office.
'No sir, I was dancing with unicorns and baking cakes filled with happiness and sunshine with centaurs in the forbidden forest. All whilst we made our way to candy land.' I really could not control myself.

To my surprise, he laughed, we stood outside his office now and he opened the door for me. Why was he being so nice? He sat down and looked through the book, flipping through pages, a finger tracing over names. He got to the last page and smirked at my name written in black ink, it was right under another name but not one I knew.

'Wanted to know why my name was in here? Why it was crossed out?' He looked up from the book at me.
'Yes actually.' I fiddled with my hands behind my back.
'The same reason why you wrote yours.'
'You are a muggle born?' I didn't think he was.
'No, but I am a half blood. My mum was a witch and my father muggle.' Really?
'Oh, but I know loads of half bloods in Slytherin, they aren't shamed as much as I am. So that doesn't make sense.' I wanted to see how much he would cave.
'I was never treated by the house like you were, however I was constantly reminded about the stereotypes by a group called the 'marauders'. I got endless torment from the four, it wasn't easy.' He kept stopping, he was picking his words carefully.
'Do you have the scar? The one Merlin talked about.' His name was ruled off, he was weak.
'Yes.' The man had nice hands, I only noticed when he continued to play with them endlessly.
'Where? What part do you most value?' I didn't know where mine would go, I don't really value my life or person very much.
'Right here.' Professor Snape turned to his left and pulled back his hair.

Engraved into skin, a single word at the very edge of his hairline, weak. He valued, his mind. That was, more sentimental then I thought it would be.

'When did you get it? How do you prevent yourself from getting it?' I couldn't imagine having it, a constant reminder of m failure.
'When I got this?' He pulled up his left sleeve, the Dark mark.
'Why are you telling me all this? You don't seem one to open up, you seem reserved, like...' I trailed off after realisation.
'Like...you.' I nodded, he knew.
'That is exactly why, I am telling you all this. The world doesn't need another Severus Snape, go back to the common room and sleep. I won't deduct points, but if you have any troubles with students. Door is always open.' He attempted a smile, which mostly freaked my out but I smiled back.

Well, that was something I thought.