𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙

Persian lilies

We spent a frustrating amount of time in the library the following days reading all we could find about dragons. We had already identified them thanks to Hagrid so we just had to think about what Harry should have done when facing one of them.
"Are you sure you're only allowed your wand for the first task?" Hermione asked again for the millionth time only that morning.
"Yes, Hermione" Harry snorted "Sorry" he said shortly after.
"It's fine..." she mumbled burying her head again on her book.
"Woah wait maybe I found something!" I said reemerging from my A History of Glory, a book about the best performances in the Tournament throughout the ages.
"Here it says this guy, with a very difficult russian name, once used a spell to blind it!" I said "it's barbaric but this could do... if it can't see you you're automatically a step ahead..." I said hoping this could solve our problem.
"I don't know... it seems too easy..." Hermione reflected.
"Easy to blind a dragon?" Harry asked incredulously.
"I mean... if you were supposed to kill them or damage them it would be too easy... by the logic of the Tournament" said Hermione.
"Hate to admit it but she's probably right Harry, I got excited too soon, sorry" I said seeing him drown in despair again.
"Brilliant! I'm late for Snape, damn the man's going to kill me!" I said.
"You go, we'll let you know if we find something" Harry said and I nodded.
"I hope you'll have more luck than we did until now. And Harry... You have to tell Cedric" I reminded him, it wasn't fair he was the only one who didn't know.
I hurried to the dungeons and didn't even bother to knock on the door, he wouldn't have answered anyway, I just let myself in.
"There you are" he said always giving me the impression he hoped that someday i would simply forget I was his assistant and never bothered him again.
"Wow, keep all that enthusiasm to yourself please" I said.
"...and in a mood I see.." he raised a brow to me, I already knew what that meant but let him ask anyway "Did you find anything?" He asked but he wasn't talking about the tournament.
Honestly?! I thought before I could think he may hear it.
"I suppose it's a no" he said.
"Oh for Merlin' sake give me a break... I didn't find anything, I didn't even look honestly" I said "I'm sorry, I've been a little busy trying to save Harry's life"
"I knew that from the incredible amount of information of Dragons crowding your mind" he said softly.
"Just because we have this... this..."
"Connection?" He said, I would've rather called it something less positive but accepted the suggestion "...this connection, it doesn't mean you're allowed to sneak around and go wherever you like" I said "and also why is it always you to slip into my mind?" I asked annoyed.
"Because you're distracted, of course" He snorted.
"Look I'm sorry, it bothers me as much as it bothers you, but right now I have other priorities" I said.
"Fine" he said "I guess you can study for our problem now" he said slapping an enormous tome in front of me.
"Do I have to solve this thing on my own?" I asked looking up at him.
"You wouldn't find out anything even if you studied just that for all your life" he said, putting another tome in front of himself and sat down on the other side of the desk.
"Right..." I said. Whatever, I just can't stand you today.
"I can hear that, you know?" He sighed rather annoyed.
"Oh yes" I said "it can't be all fun and games just for you Sev..." I froze immediately as I realized what I was about to call him.
"Go on" he said, slightly amused by the look on my face "You already call me that after all, am I wrong?" He continued.
"You know... Of course you know..." I let my head fall on the palm of my hand "now that's embarrassing..."
He didn't say a thing... not a single word or thought, just stared.
"You know if you don't say something I might die of embarrassment" I said.
"Yes, I was waiting just that" he said looking over at me with his usual frown.
"Oh..." I thought back at what he said and for some reason it made me laugh... I tried to control it but I just couldn't stop it, soon enough my eyes started tearing up and the feeling just made me laugh more.
"Should I be concerned about your mental health, miss Avery?" He asked, not even a mild smile on his face.
"Hang on you weren't joking..." I struggled to finish the sentence and gasped before bursting into laughter again.
"I'm so sorry this... this..." I couldn't even finish a simple sentence and I saw he was starting to get annoyed by my behavior but as much as I wanted to I wasn't able to stop so I took a deep breath and tried to hold it until I felt like I didn't have to laugh anymore.
"Are you done?" He asked with a deeply annoyed look.
"Sure..." I paused, held my breath for a second to secure i wouldn't start laughing again "I apologize sir" I saying regaining my cool.
"Obviously I was joking" he stated when I had already put my focus on the book on the desk but I looked slightly up to give him the smallest smile and we both focused on our task.
"I think you picked the wrong book..." I said randomly going through the pages.
"I most certainly didn't" he said.
"No I think you did because this is like legilimency's basics I mean I know this stuff, you obviously know this, who am I reading it for..." I said looking over at him.
He picked the book up from the table and pulled it closer to himself going through some pages. I observed him, his hands were touching the frail pages so softly it was unbelievable that a pair of hands strong as his were capable of such grace. He sustained his head with two fingers while leaning his elbow against the armrest of his chair, his brows furrowed in frustrated look.
I caught myself staring and averted my eyes immediately, it was unnecessary to make him think something strange.
"Well I think you're right this time, I really was mistaken, apparently..." he said standing up to pick another book "You go on with this..." he said passing me his book that was even bigger than the first one.
I sighed "all I've already read it's not relevant for our purposes" he said.
"I'm not relieved" I said looking at what was still left to read
"Why would you be? We didn't solve our problem yet" he looked over at me.
"Listen if you could just bear with me a few more days... I just can't focus on it right now, every word I read a different image of a dragon comes to my mind... I would just slow you down" I said.
"Why do you care more about Potter than our problem? this is serious, why can't you see it?" He asked fairly irritated.
"He's risking his life!" I said.
"So what... why is it important to you?" He looked at me intensely.
"He is my friend, I don't want him to die... isn't that enough?" I asked in awe.
"This is dangerous too... we don't know how it can evolve, we don't know if it's reversible... we don't know anything. You could be in danger..." he said.
"Why... what is it that's so dangerous about it?"
"I can't.."
"I can find out myself"
"If you're just a little bit as smart as I think you are you won't try. I am not playing here, miss Avery" he said gravely "well... as I need you to be focused for this, and unfortunately I can't make you focus, I'll give you until the first task is over, then I will need you to be fully committed into getting us both out of this craziness" he consented and I smiled widely.
"Did I make myself clear miss Avery? Should I find your mind wandering somewhere else..." He left the conclusion to my judgment and I concluded it would've gotten ugly.
"Crystal clear, I'll be on it completely after the first task" I said reassuring him.
"Well... now go, what are you doing still here, I'll work for us both as if I wasn't already busy enough" he said.
Such an attention seeker, are you?
I can still hear you
I am still fully aware of that... thank you
You better leave before I change my mind
As his words echoed into my mind I opened the door and left thinking that maybe, just maybe, that connection wasn't all that bad.
I went to the library and the Great Hall looking for Harry and Hermione but they weren't there so I tried the common room and found them whispering about something.
"What's with all the secrecy?" I said from behind their back making them jump.
"Oh Sue... I told Cedric what I know and then I had an interesting chat with Mad-eye Moody" Harry said "he wasn't very explicit though so we're trying to figure out what he meant"
He then updated me on the details of their chat and by the end I had no idea what he meant until some moments after it all made sense "Summoning charms!" I said in excitement standing up from my chair and then they're faces lit the second they realized.
"Of course! He's good at flying, and how else would a Firebolt come to you?"
"Well that's what you need to do... outsmart it... it is big and fire-breathing while you're fast and hard to catch!"
"Of course" Harry said "so we better get started" he said placing a dictionary in my hands.The first few attempts were unsuccessful though "Harry, concentrate, you're not thinking about it strongly enough" I said after half an hour of me holding a dictionary that wouldn't go anywhere.
"I'm trying but somehow I keep picturing an enormous dragon every time I try" he scoffed sitting down on a chair.
"Might as well picture yourself roasted by his breath then. You don't have to think about that. We found the key, with this simple spell you're almost out of danger Harry, so please make one last effort and let's master this summoning charm"
"I quote every word, you can't give up now that we've almost done it" Hermione said.
"C'mon" I said pulling him up from the chair and standing beside him "now do exactly what I do okay?" I said and he nodded.
"Accio dictionary!" I said and the dictionary flew in my hands and I grabbed it "try it yourself now" I exhorted him.
I backed away a few steps so that he could try and take the dictionary from my hands.
Harry took a deep breath, stretched out his wand and finally said "Accio dictionary" after a few seconds of nothing finally the dictionary flew through the room right in his hands making me and Hermione high five while he stood there in awe.
"I did it..." he said looking at the dictionary in his hands like it was some rare magical object.
"Yes now try again before you forget it" I said pulling out a chair from under the table "slightly more complicated" I said winking at him.
He concentrated, having regained a little confidence, he made the chair fly to him and grabbed it with both hands to stop it.
"Yes!" Hermione said.
We went on trying with smaller and bigger objects until he was fully confident.
"Now... let's take it to the next level... bring it here, your firebolt" I said opening the window to the common room.
"we're going to get in trouble" Hermione said and Harry seemed to agree.
"What if it doesn't come tomorrow? Would you rather be in trouble and alive or not in trouble but dead?" I challenged.
"That's a good point" he said and pulled his wand out of his pocket.
"Figure it clearly in your mind and don't mess it up please" I chuckled.
"Accio Firebolt!" He said. We stayed completely silent for a few seconds until I heard a soft hiss and then I saw something flying in my direction. I backed away from the window immediately, the Firebolt shot in and Harry caught it before it could make any damage.
"Yes! Yes! You did it Harry, you're ready now!" I exulted and then we all hugged.
"Thank you both girls I couldn't have done it without you!" Harry said clearly relieved by the fact he now actually saw a possibility of success for the first task.
"You did amazing Harry" Hermione cheered.
"Okay that was amazing but now you better go put that back in its place because we better not get caught" I said still smiling for the excitement.
"I have an idea..." Harry said.
But I understood right on time and shut the window.
"You're not going to fly out of a window on that thing, Potter" I said.
"You're right it's not the best way to avoid getting caught but it surely is the funniest way"
"Go, Harry, out the door" Hermione said pushing him in the direction of the portrait hole.
Once he was out of the common room she held her hand high and I gave her a high five.
"I'm very glad you helped Harry and helped me to help him, we make a great team" she said with a rather sad, nostalgic smile and the only thing I could think about was just how she was missing their team with Ronald and how I was just a good replacement for the moment. That made me unbelievably sad but I just shook my head "don't even mention it, I'm glad I was able to help a little, now... I've got something I got to do so... see you around" I said and I quickly got out of the common room. I needed some air and more than that I needed to avoid crying in front of her. I didn't know why what she'd said had upset me so much I just felt short of breath and on the verge of tears. I went outside from the front door and as soon as I was met with the chilly winter air I started feeling a little better. At least I could breathe properly again. I found a place quite comfortable and far from anyone of the other students, other gryffindors in particular.
I sat on a rock and pulled out a book from my bag, at least none would bother me, and I picked a random page.
I was far enough from the school I couldn't hear anything at all, not a word, everything was very silent and I enjoyed it. I liked silence.
As i was gazing around from the grey sky, to the green hills and Hagrid's hut, tears started filling my eyes again and I wasn't able to see clearly anymore. I fluttered my lashes a few times so that I could see again and I felt a few warm tears run across my cheeks, I didn't even bother wiping them away. I hadn't been feeling like I was feeling in that very moment for a long time.
I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard someone walking behind me like they were trying not to be caught.
"Just another one of your pranks and I swear you'll regret it for a long time" I said, already imagining some annoying kid behind my back waiting for the right moment to throw Merlin knows what at me.
Careful.
I gulped and turned my back slightly so my eyes met his dark figure.
Well, it's you, thank goodness.
"What are you doing here, miss Avery?" He asked with his soft but rigid voice.
"I just needed some air" I said putting my eyes on my book.
"I thought we weren't working on our problem because you were too caught up on your mission to save Mr Potter from his fate" he said ironically and I hoped he would stop that soon because I wasn't in the best shape to handle his subtle remarks.
"I did... we figured it out, he should be fine" I said.
"Hum so you really are able to complete a task you're given"
I didn't want to snap at him again so I bit down on my bottom lip, my eyes welling up with tears again. Merlin, why am I so unstable today.
"Why are you here Professor?" I asked.
"I needed some air" he quoted me "and my sense of obligation told me to check on you"
"You just came out of that? Sense of obligation?" I said.
"You shouldn't question me" he said irritated by my innuendo.
I sighed and flipped a page of my book to make him understand my intention to ignore him.
"Maybe I wasn't clear enough, you can't be outside when it's getting dark" he said projecting his tall shadow over me. He seemed to be taken aback by my red eyes and tears streamed face.
"Can I stay if I am with a teacher?" I asked.
"I suppose you could" He said already knowing where I was going with this.
"Then can you stay, sir?" I asked and it cost me a whole lot of courage to ask him.
"I suppose I could" he said with my great surprise because I would've bet he would've said no.
"Thank you" I said wiping out some tears from my cheeks.
Care to explain this?
Do I have to?
Actually, yes. I'm told I have to care about my assistant's well-being so...
McGonagall?
Yes
He sat next to me but kept his distance anyway and looked at me.
"It's pretty stupid actually. Since that night... I've struggled a lot controlling how I was feeling and the way it manifested on the outside" I said "I'm very sensitive about things I wouldn't have cared about before and I don't know why that is..."
I caressed the pages of my book.
"It's not like it was all that better before, I didn't care about anything, I was alone all the time and I tricked myself into thinking I was just busy studying..." I said "until someone needed me and it made me realize how lonely I really felt"
"I see" he said like he wanted to add more but didn't, I could read your mind and still not having a clue what you feel like, that's great.
"My years of practice have made me unreadable" he said "It's fascinating how you can literally have someone in your head and still feel lonely".
I had never thought about it that way but his words made something click into my mind, what if this could actually be a good thing? I felt lonely and clearly he did too and had been for far more time than I had. But the idea left me as quickly as it came because I knew he would never accept something like that and I surely wasn't able to make him change his mind even though listening to him sharing little glimpses of himself like he had just done was comforting and made me think we were going in the right direction.
He glanced at the pages of my book for a second "Asphodel" he murmured.
"I just picked a random page honestly I just didn't want to be bothered... That's funny though, I'm crying about being lonely and at the same time I want to look unapproachable..." I said lowering my eyes to avoid his.
"That's a pattern, you wanted to protect yourself from the other students who call you a spy and play pranks on you but you're young and bright and you still need friends, it's a choice between the need to make it all stop by isolating yourself and the human need for bonds such as friendship" he said.
You actually are human then.
More than I care to admit.
So your choice was isolation.
We could say so.
Did it work out well for you?
No... not really, but i'm used to it now.
I don't think i'll ever get used to it. I enjoy being alone like I am enough for myself but sometimes it just becomes overwhelming.
Then do not give up just yet.
He raised a brow at me and I nodded slightly, not a word had been uttered and yet that whole dialogue inside our minds felt different than any other moment we had shared. All the time it was like we were fighting trying to keep each other out but this time it all felt very natural it gave me an unidentified feeling in my stomach. I felt the urge to take the conversation somewhere else.
"This is actually quite the coincidence you know... that the book opened just on this page"
"Why would that be?" He followed probably grateful I decided to shift the matter on something else.
"Asphodel is a member of the lily family" I said.
"I know that" he winced as if this particular piece of information was painful to him.
"Okay, but if you still can't see it then what you don't know is Sue means... lily, it's a particular kind that grew in the city of Susa in Persia it was mentioned in many books and even in the Bible. I confide you know what that is" I chuckled but he didn't look as amused.
"Now that is a coincidence" he whispered
"My mother told me that, persian lilies were her favorite flowers" I said and I felt a sudden feeling of warmth and comfort thinking about her "she cultivated them and watched them grow and bloom with such care I think that's the only thing about her I could never forget"
He was looking at me with the strangest mixture of looks on his face, disbelief, however predominant, was just one of them.

A/N: poor Snape haunted by Lilies 😂
I hope it's getting more interesting and not too boring. Honestly I don't want to rush it, I feel it'd be out of character if it happened too soon both for Snape and Sue too, in some way... I hope you'll trust me and that you want to stay to know what happens next ❤️