The Potions Master's Apprentice {Severus Snape x OC}

Chapter Six: Rumours and Reputations

The disorderly chattering of the staff only became more and more rowdy as the feast resumed.

 Professor Dumbledore was the first to speak, engaging with Minerva McGonagall, the two catching up as old friends do. Meanwhile Filius Flitwick twittered on proudly claiming he had grown two inches this past summer to the uninterested ghost of Cuthbert Binns.
Professor Sybil Trewlaney rambled on to no one in particular about the visions she had recently dreamt the night before. But mostly Hagrid's booming could be heard above the rest announcing he had recently won a rare egg of an unknown creature from Bulgaria in a shady card game.
However all of this information fell on the deaf ears of both Professor Severus Snape and one Miss Aria Dumbledore. They ate in silence, neither daring to look up from their plate, in fear of risking catching the others eye. Both as eager as the other to leave the feast early, though they both sadly knew that even once the food was cleared and the meal had ended they were in for the long haul, as the Professors would continue to gab to one another for hours on end.

Aria had gotten so lost in her own thoughts she had almost failed to notice a slightly tipsy Professor McGonagall begin to converse with Professor Snape.

"And how have you been Severus?" Minerva asked the Potions Master who didn't even attempt to look up from his soup.
"What have you been up to these past few weeks."

"Not much." He grumbled, eyes fixated on the spoon he slowly brought up to his mouth.
"You know me, Professor McGonagall, I always arrive early to prepare for the students arrival."

"Yes, yes, we know you like to spend a few days settling in here before the start of term. However I was under the impression you arrived early to show young Miss Dumbledore here the ropes. Spend a few weeks showing her around, have some quality time together to get to know each other." She rambled. The mention of Aria's name caused her to look up and catch Professor McGonagall's eye just in time to see her send a cheeky wink her way.

Slowly each Professor turned their attention to the Head of Gryffindor as she addressed the Potions Master, knowing things were about to get interesting.

"Then you have unfortunately been misinformed Professor. I am under no contractual obligation to entertain, or rather 'babysit' Miss Dumbeldore, that is until term begins and I am forced to train the girl." Snape huffed, briefly raising his eyes to meet the woman in question.

Hurt at the comments from her coworker Aria decided it was time to break her silence.

"You do know I am sitting right here Professor Snape, I would greatly appreciate it if you would not talk bad about me in front of my colleagues, especially when you're insinuating I am a child, no less." A slight sharpness to her tone apparent to everyone listening.

Severus sent a glare her way, but chose not to respond and instead turned his focus to dunking a huge crust of bread into his soup before shoving it into his mouth rather angrily.

"Don't be so hostile, Severus." Minerva tutted, taking another large swig of wine.
"Besides I don't think you're being completely honest, are you?" By now the attention of the whole room was focused in on the conversation surrounding Severus Snape and Aria Dumbledore.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Snape mumbled, small particles of bread flying from his mouth, his temper rising the more Minerva divulged to the staff.

"Well according to Miss Aria here, the two of you enjoyed a trip to Hogsmeade no less than a fortnight ago. I might even go as far as to call it a date, if it weren't for your track record."

"Excuse me?" Severus choked, swallowing down the last of his bread, sitting to attention, throwing glares between the two female Professors sitting across from him.
"What are you suggesting, Minerva." He spat.