Severus Snape: The Half Blood Prince

*(79) A Big Surprise

The castle seemed to buzz with anticipation, unaware of the surprise brewing behind the scenes, which would soon unfold in just two weeks' time.

The week passed at an alarming rate, leaving Sophie with a sense of growing distance between her and Severus every time they found themselves in each other's presence, be it in Potions class or during meals in the Great Hall. Following her suggestion to maintain proper boundaries during the school year, Severus never once invited her into his office. Though she had meant for them to remain respectful and not overly intimate, she didn't intend for complete ignorance of each other.

Now it was October 19th, a Sunday, and Potions class was the first on her schedule. Sophie found herself arriving early, hoping to catch a moment with Severus, even though she mentally prepared herself for the continued avoidance. As she entered the classroom, she noticed a few classmates engaged in conversation with Slughorn.

Next to Slughorn's desk, a man was engrossed in reading the Daily Prophet, and on the front cover was an ominous image of a snake coiling around a skull—the Dark Mark. Curiosity getting the better of her, she inched closer and began reading the small font, learning about another recent attack by Death Eaters, resulting in several casualties, including a fellow Death Eater named Wilkes, whom she vaguely recognized as a fellow Slytherin.

Gathering her courage, Sophie cleared her throat to get Severus's attention, trying to keep it discreet from the others in the room. "Professor Snape," she mentally called out, "I have a few questions about this potion I'm studying. Can you possibly help me?"

The newspaper in his rough hands folded in half, and their eyes locked in a tense moment that felt like an eternity, though it lasted only a few seconds. Severus's response came in a vigorous tone, one she was all too familiar with from her world in the future. "You're... adequate in this classroom, so I'm pretty sure you can figure it out yourself. If you insist on needing help, I assure you Professor Slughorn is willing to help, as you can see, I am rather busy."

Internally, Sophie was confounded by the man before her, knowing this demeanor was likely a facade to preserve his dignity in front of the staff and students. Yet, she couldn't help but feel he was taking it too far. Refusing to back down, she replied, "I guess you're right, Professor. After all... at least he pays attention to his students." The subtle retort rolled off her tongue as she walked back to her desk, determined to focus on her potion for the day.

To her surprise, she finished the potion before the class filled with all the students, thanks to a clever charm that allowed her to complete the task in record time.

With a lingering frustration from the earlier encounter with Severus, Sophie bottled her completed potion and left it on Slughorn's desk without glancing at her love-turned-professor. The mental turmoil left her feeling slightly feverish, but she shook it off as she brewed herself a strong cup of coffee and downed it before seeking solace in a nap before dinner in the Great Hall.

Around 5 PM, she roused from her slumber and headed to the Great Hall early, carrying a rare find from the Room of Requirement: "Soaring Through Time" by Nicholas Flamel. Intrigued by its scarcity, she discovered that only thirteen copies existed in the world, and the Room of Requirement had managed to procure one for her. The book chronicled the entire history of the wizarding world, with every bit of magic ever created, and was said to write itself until Nicholas Flamel's eventual demise. The allure of such ancient knowledge called to Sophie, and she was eager to immerse herself in its pages.

As the hour passed and students filtered into the Great Hall, it felt more crowded than usual. Sophie even thought she saw a few familiar Gryffindors, but she brushed it off as her mind still engrossed in her reading.