Shade (A Severus Snape Fanfiction)

|chapter three|

The door to Snape's classroom was wide open, though there wasn't much noise coming from it other than the sound of quills scribbling across parchment. Snape had taken over the DADA class, and it was still strange to seek him out on the third floor of the castle.

I could hear Snape scolding someone as I entered and saw that it was the Weasley boy that was friends with Harry Potter, the boy who had fought and won against Voldemort numerous times now. He sat nearby, shooting his mate a sympathetic glance.

"Perhaps if you would pay attention, Mr. Weasley, you will know how to handle yourself in the presence of a vampire," Snape said rather condescendingly. The poor boy's ears were nearly as red as his hair as he took his verbal thrashing from the frightening professor. "Five points from Gryffindor."

Ouch. I sure didn't miss those days. Snape had been just as scary when I was his student, though I don't think I minded it quite as much as my classmates. I had always sort of fancied him, and though I wouldn't actually admit it to anyone, I still did.

There was just something about the rather unlikeable man that had always been so appealing to me. Perhaps it was his dark demeanor that drew me in. I was after all inclined to dark things. Whatever it was, he had been the subject of many of my sexual fantasies when alone in bed at night.

I hadn't realized that I was staring at him until he and many of the students turned to look at me. My cheeks heated up at their action. "Can I help you, Ms. Quinn?" Snape drawled, his tone bored as he cocked a brow at me. I cleared my throat nervously and took a breath before speaking.

"Madame Pomfrey asked me to come collect the items she requested," I told him, my voice surprisingly confident despite my shaky nerves.

"This way," he replied and motioned for me to follow him to a nearby closet. It was rather large and he stepped inside for a moment and returned with a small box full vials. "Madame Pomfrey does not usually send anyone to collect them," Snape said as I took the crate from him.

"I think she's trying to keep me busy. She suspects something is wrong," I said quietly so that the students nearby wouldn't hear me.

"Has your condition worsened?" Snape asked in a hushed tone. I began to answer, but I noticed that a certain boy with a lightening bolt scar was listening intently. I tilted my head toward Potter, and Snape sneered in his direction.

"Eavesdropping is rude, Potter. Another five points from Gryffindor," he barked at the boy and lead me out to the corridor where we could speak more freely.

"There have been some changes," I told Snape, stepping in close so that passerbyers wouldn't hear me.

"The potions you have now are much like your previous ones with some minor differences that should strengthen their effect. Drink one immediately, and if you have not improved come back," he replied. Standing so closely to him, I could smell him. He smelled like potion spices.. and fire whiskey? He certainly didn't seem drunk. Perhaps it was something else entirely. It was quite an intoxicating scent, though, and I found myself wanting to press my nose against him and inhale it.

"Did you hear I word I just said or have you just been standing there staring like a complete nitwit?" He sneered. I blushed and took a step back, mumbling an apology.

"Thank you, Professor Snape. I will let you get back to your class," I said with a polite smile, pulling the box of potions close to my chest.

"Severus," he said as I was turning on my heel. I paused and gave him a quizzical look. "I am no longer your professor, Ms. Quinn. You may call me Severus when we aren't in the presence of students."