The Silver Cauldron

Chapter 13 - Rumours

"Her - the potions assistant...Her and Snape?!...They were what?...I don't believe a word of it!...I thought he hated her...She'd never do that...In her office?! That's disgusting!"

Whispers followed me all the long, long way to the staff table the following morning. I dread to think what colour my face must have been by the time I reached the table. Madame Hooch seemed strangely cold towards me, and I was denied her usual lively chatter about events on the Quidditch pitch. Snape did not come down to breakfast. This was hardly unusual, but he was more auspicious to the sea of whispering face below by his absence. I ate my breakfast quickly, hoping to get away as soon as possible. However...

"A word, Philoma, if you please."

"Certainly." Professor McGonagall called me to one side. She seemed rather agitated. 'Here it comes' I thought.

"Professor Snape told me this morning how much you have improved lately. However, he did say that you have been giving extra lessons to the less able students. He is concerned that you are over working yourself." I resisted the temptation to laugh. "He asked me to tell you to slow down." She looked very uncomfortable.

"He said that, did he?" I noticed the faintest twinkle of a smile in her eyes.

"Yes."

"Exactly that?"

"Not in those exact words, no." We smiled guiltily at each other.

"I thought not. Professor Snape is afraid I am...exceeding my requirements Miverna" I said.

"He takes his career very seriously indeed. Don't let it put you off though, there will be plenty of other opportunities to shine."

"Oh, I don't intend to." she looked at me shrewdly.

"Hmm...oh yes, there is something else I wanted to advise you on. Don't forget that it is not...prudent to mix your...er, private life with your profession." I opened my mouth to protest but she waved her hand at me.

"Not that I am one to listen to the idle chatter of the students. Good luck with your next class." And she had gone.

On leaving the hall I was confronted with Peeves. As soon as he saw me he gave a whoop of delight.

"Who's been a naughty girl then?"

"Go away Peeves."

"Shocking. In front of your wee ickle students too."

"I didn't..."

"You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Peeves, just get lost." It was the wrong thing to say. Peeves did an elaborate somersault in the air and began to sing at the top of his voice;

"Almanay and Snapey sitting in a tree,

K-I-S-S-I-N-"

"PEEVES!" A voice bellowed from behind me. It was Professor Dumbledore. Peeves dropped his annoying manner at once. He took off his hat smarmily to Dumbledore and zoomed away, still humming the tune.

"Thank you sir" I said, feeling rather foolish. Dumbledore smiled benignly.

"Music is one of the most beautiful things in the world Miss Almanay. In the wrong hands however, I fear it loses much of it's charm."

***

That day' lessons were pure torture. Snape acted ruthlessly to curb the giggled comments that haunted the classroom. By the end of the day sixteen people were in detention and I'd lost count of the number of points that had been confiscated. He was particularly scathing towards me and I decided that just this once it was better to get on with my tasks in silence. When the last class had left he picked up his books.

"Miss Almanay, I want to see you in my office this evening."

"I don't think that is very wise Sir, do you?" I still felt angry with him.

"Come to me at midnight. There will be fewer interruptions."

"No."

"No?" his eyes flashed dangerously.

"No. I don't want to."

"I hope you are not going to disobey me Miss Almanay."

"I most certainly am. I have been humiliated enough for one day, thank you."

"You have humiliated yourself. I expect to see you in my room at twelve."

"I'm not coming." He drew a sharp breath.

"I will see you at midnight, on the dot, or I will have you thrown out of the school."

"What?" I could hardly believe my ears. "You can't sack me for that."

"I can and I assure you I will. Obedience is something you need to be taught" he snapped.

"Only Dumbledore..."

"Dumbledore will listen to me. I only need to suggest, to hint, that I caught you doing black magic and I'll have you out of here before you can say 'Azkaban'".

"I haven't done any black magic!"

"I haven't forgotten that crow, Almanay."

"They often get stuck in my room, I told you..."

"But Dumbledore doesn't know that, does he my darling?" He traced my neckline with icy fingers, his eyes burning into mine. Then he turned and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I stood trembling, staring at the door. I hadn't performed dark magic...well, not intentionally. Would Dumbledore believe me though? Probably not, he seemed to view Snape with the utmost trust. Who could I turn to? I had no one, and he knew it. I was back where I'd always been; bullied, weak and powerless. Why had I expected it to be any different at Hogwarts? I bit my hand in frustration. It was always the same, I thought bitterly. You are semi - impure. You are not entitled to happiness. Why had I trusted Snape in the first place? I remembered what Trelawney had said to me; Love will destroy your soul. The problem was love. I still loved him. I sadly packed my books away and left the dungeon.

***

I paused as I reached my room. There was something not quite right here. The door was shut, but I could hear soft muffled sounds of movement from within. There was somebody in my room. A tiny prickle of fear gripped me. Who was it? Taking a deep breath I swung the door back.

A tall figure shrouded in a hooded travelling cloak was standing by my cauldron, examining it. At my entrance he turned his head to look at me. I recognised him instantly...of course, that was how I knew the name. He swept briskly over to me and moved my hair aside to reveal the ugly red mark Snape had made on me a few nights before.

"As I thought. I had heard your attentions had been somewhat distracted from your task." I struggled to meet the man's cold gaze.

"Sorry" I mumbled.

"Whose child do you want to be? Your mother's...or your father's?" He said this last word with a slight sneer in his voice. I hung my head.

"My mother's. I want to be my mother's child."

"You need to decide where your ambitions lie I think."

My ambitions...once I had been totally clear as to what these were. Now I wasn't so sure. I looked at the bruises on my arms. I looked at the cauldron, glimmering distantly in the firelight. Then I looked straight into the man's eyes.

"I will do my best."