16 Chapter 16 - Severus

After the long double lesson with his Fifth Year class, Severus was still outraged by the thought of the deadly potion Miss Black made by mere accident. He had no idea why the girl was stupid enough to not follow his instructions and add ingredients to excess. It was almost as if she knew how much to add of everything to make the forbidden potion... But how could she possibly know? She was in Fifth Year, and hardly had any knowledge of the curriculum of the previous years. Not that this potion was taught at any point, he scoffed to himself.

The Potions Master threw his quill aside, knowing he could not focus on grading anyway. He decided to make his way to dinner early. It was quarter to five, and knowing his fellow colleagues, he was sire that at least two - if not all - we're to already be in the Great Hall. He strolled in, past the empty house tables, which house-elves were running around frantically. By the time he got to his seat, all of the other professors greeted him (Albus still being absent).

"So how come you missed lunch?" Minerva turned to him, on his right.

"I was stocking up some potions. Forgot the time is all." he half-lied smoothly.

He did not forget the time. He simply didn't wish to leave a bubbling cauldron unattended. Plus he had no appetite then anyway; not like he had more now.

"You shouldn't go skipping meals, Severus." Poppy scolded from a few seats away, seeing through his fib, "You are getting a bit thin."

The dark man decided to shake his head at the mother hens, and filled his plate. Soon enough, the Great Hall started to overcrowd with students. The professor also chatted to each other quietly. Severus ate to not have to speak, but when Flitwick took the seat next to him, the little man started talking, forcing him to listen.

"Oh you'll never believe what wonderful news I have Severus!" he squeaked excitedly.

"I'll believe you'll tell me soon, Filius."

"Of course! Well you know I have this wonderful student in one of my classes, and I asked if I could perhaps train her further."

"That's great." the Potions Master's dismissive tone went unnoticed.

"Oh it is! Although she kindly declined my offer. She said she has too much on her plate at the moment, having only just started."

The last words caught Severus attention.

"You wanted to train a First Year? No doubt a Ravenclaw then."

"Oh no! Actually, I think she's in your house. Fifth year." Severus dropped his fork, "Candice Black I believe her name is. Lovely student and very clever. You should be proud."

The man in black clenched his fists. So it was only in his class that the girl acted like dull-witted individual? Was she provoking him on purpose? Not sensing Snape's anger, the Charms Master continued.

"Though that's not the big deal. I told her about being an duel champion back in my day, and she asked if I could perhaps tutor her in Defence against the Dark Arts!"

The glass in Severus' hand smashed loudly, catching the attention of many people.

"Oh my!" Minerva exclaimed, then swished her wand for the pieces to disappear.

His hand was bleeding, and fragments clearly stuck out from his skin. Trelawney let out a scream at the sight of the blood, and ran out the back door. The Potions Master took a deep breath, before he stood too. Silence filled the Hall.

"Severus, surely you want help with that. Come along." Poppy jumped to her feet and took the man by his shoulder leading him out.

"Whatever has made you act such a way?" she muttered under her breath, Snape not hearing.

He was too concentrated on repeating the little man's words. Miss Black asked him to tutor her in DADA. Severus was angered by the fact that she came to him first, just that morning, asking to be tutored and he had agreed. His two best subjects were potions and of course DADA. Secretly, he was almost excited to tutor her in the latter subject, having wanted to teach that for years. But no! She had to involve another professor. Maybe she believed that Severus was only planning to help her with Potions. She thought wrong, the man's anger flared again.

"Honestly. Calm yourself. Whatever has your knickers in a twist, I'm sure we can find a solution." Poppy came back from her office; Severus already seated on a bed.

He rolled his eyes at her unwanted joking tone. Truthfully, he didn't understand why he had gotten angry. Miss Black had the right to choose her own tutors. Haply, it was his weakness: the fear of rejection, that got better of him.

"It's nothing." he mumbled to the mediwitch who just about finished fixing up his hand.

"Lying is too bad for you, Severus." Minerva walked through the Infirmary door.

He sighed at the fact he was technically ganged upon by the two women he classed as his mothers. The healer and the Transfiguration professor took a seat near him, and gestured him to speak. He gave in and confessed.

The Grand clock chimed six and Severus remember the insufferable girl's detention. He excused himself from the ladies, and nearly jogged to his classroom. Candice was already there, waiting patiently, although her face was hidden by a curtain of her hair. He unlocked his door and motioned the Slytherin to go first. She did, and waited for him by his desk. The professor took his seat and noted how still the girl stood.

"It w-wasn't m-me." she said, before the man could speak.

She looked up for the first time since she entered. Her eyes slightly red, and her cheeks pale.

"What did you say?" he seethed.

However his current anger was not directed at her but at himself and whoever did mess up her potion. Severus' mind clicked on how quickly he assumed bad of the girl, being blind to the fact she was innocent. Of course, Miss Black hadn't done it on purpose, he thought exasperatedly. He stood demanding to know the culprit who let the Slytherin be told off without any fault in her actions. Unexpectedly, she flinched and guilt washed over the man.

"Who was it?" he asked in a calmer tone, sliding back into his seat and trying to think back who she was working with in class.

To his surprise, he couldn't remember seeing anyone else work on her cauldron after their little incident. Before that, he wasn't paying much attention. After, he didn't want another endangering slip up. By the end, she gave him a perfect potion, he remembered.

"It d-doesn't matter. I j-just wanted y-you to know it w-wasn't me." she spoke in a monotonous tone, "And I'm s-sorry." she added.

"You are dismissed."

"W-what? W-why?" she stared into his eyes, alert and desperate.

"You shan't be punished for a deed you have not committed. I will see you for your tutoring tomorrow at 6pm."

"Okay." she hesitantly breathed, then left.

Severus Snape made another vow to himself, to pay more attention in his classes.