"Ancient Runes" a Severus Snape ff - Snape x OC

Chapter 15

The week leading up to the Christmas holidays passed quietly, at least if measured by the amount of students being petrified or kidnapped, which luckily remained zero.

Lysanna still had one last lesson today. It was Thursday. She had been dreading this lesson all week. She already knew that she was about to have the pleasure of hearing Lockhart's fairytales. This mistake would certainly not happen to her again, next time she would definitely narrow down the selection of books.

"I assume you have all done your homework. If you would please pass the texts clockwise to your neighbours. Miss Patil, would you like to begin deciphering the text Mr. Thomas gave you." Lysanna greeted her students.

In fact, more than a few of her students had had the idea of translating a passage from Lockhart's autobiography, so Lysanna was quite unfortunately bound to be now well informed about the professor's heroic adventures.

She was more than glad when this hour was over. After all, the students had done surprisingly well. Of course there were some difficulties with the translations, but overall Lysanna was happy with the performance.

-

Professor Dumbledore had assigned him to the rounds with Lockhart for the entire week, despite all requests. Most of the time Severus had enough control over him so that he kept his mouth shut, but despite everything he never missed an opportunity to show himself off in front of the students or other teachers.

Severus wasn't in a particularly good mood these days. Also, he hadn't had much of an opportunity to talk to Lysanna. They usually only saw each other briefly at mealtimes, so there was no time for detailed conversations. But at least it was enough for a few words and Severus didn't get the impression, contrary to his fears, that she took offence at his strange behaviour. But after all, today was Friday, the last evening with Lockhart and the last day before the holidays. After all, he now had a few days ahead of him when he would not have to teach students who were completely free of talent.

She was already seated when Severus entered the great hall. Most of the students had already left, and the great hall was pleasantly quiet. She looked pretty as she sat there sipping from her mug. Really pretty, one could have easily underestimated her. Exactly that was probably the secret to her success. People underestimate her, wasn't he, too, initially deceived by her pretty, innocent appearance? She fascinated him, oh yes she did.

"Severus," Lysanna said in greeting as he took his seat next to her.

"Lysanna," he replied curtly, but it wasn't about the words, it was about the barely noticeable smile on her face and his unobtrusive nod. Never before had Severus communicated with anyone in such a subtle way. Words were powerful, but much more powerful was the one who didn't need words. Sometimes Severus wondered if he would ever have been able to strike up a conversation with Lysanna if it wasn't for Lockhart and his silliness. He almost felt as if he ought to be grateful to his colleague for this. But he dismissed the thought faster than he could actually formulate it.

Lysanna wondered when she would finally have the chance to have a private conversation with Severus again. In the great hall there was always someone present who could easily overhear them and neither of them wanted to take that risk. Similar to the attitude towards Lockhart, they had agreed very quickly on this as well.

After all the excerpts from Lockhart's autobiography she'd had to listen to this week, she felt like having a good glass of wine. As she filled her glass, Severus eyed her sceptically.

"Good literature makes you thirsty, doesn't it?" he asked with an ironic grin on his face. She was dying to talk to him about it, not just to vent her anger, but simply to spend time with him.