Defending Heart

Chapter 2: Dumbledore's Office

I'm amazed how much this blew up on AO3!

The second the bell rings Severus steals from the classroom, hugging the walls as his robes flounce behind him, moving like a shadow into his own silhouette along the corridors. Desperate to escape the Marauders and their torment his heart bangs against his ribcage. He hears a small commotion from behind him and the distinct laugh of James Potter, full and booming that echoes across the old stone, soundwaves spilling into the central courtyard. Hiding just inside a doorway, the wraith waits for them to pass him before following, just keeping in earshot of their conversation. It's not eavesdropping, it's curiosity, he tells himself, trying to ignore the sunlight irritating his eyes. Can't afford to get distracted now when something so intriguing is afoot. The elder Potter, James' teacher, such a revelation.

"With my dad as our teacher, my OWLS are going to be a breeze!" James announces brazenly. Lupin frowns, leaning it to speak quietly to his friend.

"You might not want to say that - it could get him in trouble! Besides, won't people be more suspicious if you start excelling in subject you've previously done poor in?"

"Besides," Sirius snorts. "How can you be sure your father will give you special treatment? I've known your dad for 5 years, he's got integrity if nothing else,"

"Are you kidding?" James shakes his head, toothy smirk on his lips which surprisingly doesn't distort his handsome features. His skin still glows, dazzling out amongst the Marauders, second in looks and charisma only to Sirius. "Dad practically dotes on me, trust me he won't let any of us fail Defence Against the Dark Arts this year!"

"Nice one, James!"

Severus rolls his eyes, slowing down to let the Marauders disappear ahead into the distance, cloaks floating behind them like the dementors which haunt Severus' dreams. He shakes the thoughts violently from his head, heading to Advanced Potions round the darkened old corridors, a route taught to him by Professor Slughorn to avoid the boards of chattering chickens Hogwarts school calls the future leaders of the Wizarding world. "Ah Severus, good to see you again!" The Professor exclaims with a laugh when he walks in. Severus scowls to himself, concealing his existential hatred for all things 'chirpy' which Professor Slughorn embodies the definition of.

He slumps into a chair beside his best friend, Lily Evans who was unable to sit with him in D.A.D.A because of their difference in houses. She gives him a bright grin and he leans over the table, resting his head on his arms and staring blankly into the distance. Professor Slughorn's ramblings are lost in his own doodling in his textbook, forming the skeleton of a potion he has the idea to invent. Likely leans in, still staring at the board and whispers. "Did you see the New Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Hmph," Severus rolls his eyes, actually focusing on the white chalk scribbling itself across the board if only to escape this conversation. "I don't see the big deal. He's simply a new teacher, nothing special,"

"He's the Boy Who Lived!" Lily contradicts with a slight squeal, bottling her excitement in tightly squeezed fists. "And he's James' father, did you know?"

"No, but you would, wouldn't you," he seethes a little, glaring at the glaring Gryffindor tie so visible against her shirt. No, that isn't fair, she can't help her House, nor her misplaced feelings towards what seems to be the entire Potter family. "How could you like someone like James Potter?" he asks, for the ten millionth time that week.

"Severus, he's... I don't know, empathetic. Sure he's an idiot, but nowhere near what he was last year. He's matured so much!"

"If Hogwarts gave medals for self-improvement that might actually be worth something," Severus groans, closing his book and harshly sliding his quill across the desk with anti-climactic effect. He's too distracted to work, for reasons he frustratingly can't express. "Sorry, I just don't understand you sometimes,"