No One's Lapdog

No One's Lapdog

Chapter four

The next weeks Rowena went about her business in a stupor. She felt stunned, her insides in turmoil. The good thing was that Snape had been avoiding her ever since their little duelling match in the corridor, so she didn't have to put up with his usual smirks and insults. But deep down she could still feel unresolved emotions seething inside her, just waiting for an excuse to erupt violently.

It was the end of May. Teaching Double Potions with the Slytherin and Gryffindor third-years, Rowena was in the middle of handing out next week's homework when Gavin raised his hand.

'Please, Professor Mulligan.'

'Yes, Gavin?'

'Why are you making us do the Draught of Peace? Professor Snape told me we're not supposed to do that one until our fifth year.'

Rowena ground her teeth. So, Snape was meddling again. Addressing the class she said,

'Why am I teaching you the Draught of Peace? Because I've decided you're up to it, and I happen to be the Potions mistress of this class. End of discussion.' She looked pointedly over at Gavin, who wisely refrained from further questioning.

When the bell rang, she immediately dismissed her class and headed straight for McGonagall's office, muttering angrily under her breath as she hurried along the corridors. When she reached the stone gargoyle, she ran up the revolving stairs, jumping two steps at a time. She didn't bother to knock, but pushed the door open with a bang and marched straight up to McGonagall's desk. The headmistress started visibly at Rowena's sudden appearance.

Furious, Rowena shouted,

'I've had enough! I can't believe I've been putting up with him for so long! I'm at the end of my tether, I'm...'

McGonagall raised her arm warningly, opening her mouth to protest, but Rowena interrupted her.

'For once, aunt Minerva, let me finish!'

McGonagall's jaw dropped at this obvious outburst of disrespect.

'I don't see how anybody can possibly work with him around. Snape's been taunting me...'

'Since you still refuse to call him by his first name, then at least address him as Professor Snape, Rowena!' McGonagall stared at her reproachfully.

Rowena ignored her.

'...Snape's been meddling with my classes, he's been poking his overlarge nose into my affairs ever since I arrived.'

McGonagall frowned, looking exasperatedly at a point on the wall behind Rowena's back, opening her mouth to speak again, but Rowena just ploughed on.

'The ugly git obviously hates me.'

She paused, her anger subsiding a little, a feeling of sadness pouring over her.

'And can you believe it; I actually happen to like the silly old fool? You know; I've admired him ever since I for the very first time watched him proudly enter his classroom, dark eyes flashing, black cloak billowing. I was permanently hooked the moment he opened his mouth, his soft words on the subtle science and exact art of potion-making enchanted me, making me absolutely sure Potions was going to be my favourite subject. And just to watch him work... I've never seen anybody go about his potion-making like he does. I marvel at the elegant touch, the efficiency, the precision at which he makes the result so - damned perfect.' Rowena sighed heavily. 'If only he weren't such a complete idiot...'

McGonagall leant forward a little awkwardly.

'Well, the complete idiot you're referring to - sorry, Severus - happens to be present in this room, Rowena.'

Rowena wheeled around, her face in shock. Right behind her, leaning against the wall, stood Snape, arms crossed, looking inscrutably at her. Rowena turned back to McGonagall, spluttering.

'Why - why didn't you tell me he was here?'

McGonagall shook her head exasperatedly.

'I tried, Rowena, but you wouldn't let me.'

Straightening up, Rowena shot one last, embarrassed glance at Snape before she bolted out the door, her face burning.

*

She threw herself on the sofa in her office and buried her face in her hands. What had she done? She thought things couldn't possibly get worse, but now Snape had overheard her pouring out her frustrations to McGonagall. With her emotions now out in the open, it would give him more weapons with which to bully her with. And she had called him things like an ugly git and a silly old fool; he was surely going to want vengeance.

She jumped at a sharp tap on her door. She stood up, quickly pushing the long hair out of her eyes, trying to compose herself.

'Come in.'

She winced at the sight of Snape standing in the doorway. His piercing black stare was rather intimidating.

'Mulligan,' he spoke softly, his thin lips barely moving. 'I challenge you to a duelling match tonight. Wands only. Let's say midnight, out in the grounds - by that beech at the lake's edge. And come alone; we don't want any spectators.'

'A... d - duel? Why?' Rowena couldn't believe her ears.

'Why?' Snape's black eyes glittered strangely; he almost had an amused look on his face now. 'Because it seems we have a few differences to settle.' He looked imploringly at her. 'By the sound of it you're having second thoughts, Mulligan, which, I must confess, is a little disappointing as you're one of those brave Gryffindors, aren't you...'

His taunting got to her. Sneering, she spat out,

'I'll be there, don't you worry!'

'Good.'

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he was still wearing that amused expression, as if he thought something was very funny. It was not like him at all; it was quite unnerving.

*

It was a clear and windless night; the stars and the moon shone brightly, and the castle cast its sharp shadows on the silvery lawn as Rowena moved cautiously down the front steps and started walking in the direction of the lake. By the strong moonlight she could easily distinguish a thin hooded figure that was waiting silently by the lake's edge, watching her approaching. Rowena shivered slightly despite wearing her warm cloak. Her hand moved involuntarily towards her pocket, feeling the wand. As she was getting closer, Snape lowered his hood, exposing a sallow-skinned face framed by greasy black hair. She was close enough now to see his eyes reflecting the moonlight, shining like black diamonds.

She came to a halt right in front of him. For a moment neither of them spoke. Then his soft voice broke the silence.

'I take it you're familiar with the art of duelling?' Not waiting for her answer, he continued, 'We start with our backs to each other; then each of us walks ten steps, stops and turns around, facing each other.'

Snape motioned her to copy him.

'Right... Then we bow.'

She could discern a slight quiver of suppressed excitement in his voice as they bowed lightly, none of them taking their eyes off each other.

'Ready? Wands out! On the count of three...'

Fear surged through her. Rowena wasn't ready... She was facing a man who was a former Death Eater, a man who had been fascinated by the Dark Arts since he was a little boy... A man who'd had lots of fighting experience last year. She was forced to fight a more than competent Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher...

'... Three!'

Snape flicked his wand before Rowena had even raised hers.

'Rictusempra!'

She bent over, wheezing, doubled up with laughter. It felt like a hundred fingers were tickling her. She couldn't breath, she gasped for air...

'Finite Incantatem.'

Snape pointed his wand at her, and the tickling sensation was gone. He sneered at her.

'What about concentrating a little, Mulligan? I must admit I was hoping for a little more resistance.'

Anger started pounding in her stomach. She had always hated being tickled. She raised her wand, and so did Snape.

'Impedimenta!'

'Acci...!'

Again Snape was faster than Rowena, making her legs lock, falling to the ground with a loud thud. Almost lazily, he waved his wand again, releasing her of the spell's effect. This time he didn't say anything, just smiled haughtily as he waited with his arms crossed. Rowena raised her wand before she had straightened herself up properly, catching Snape off guard. The red beam of the stunning spell missed him by inches as he jumped to avoid it. Snape wiped the smile off his face.

'So,' he whispered dangerously, '...getting serious, are we?'

The next minutes they were raining spells at each other; jumping here and there to avoid the beams, trying to catch the other one off guard. Rowena was steadily getting angrier and more hot-tempered, throwing her spells more fiercely than ever at Snape. He, on the other hand, seemed in perfect control, his eyes darting from Rowena's wand to her face, coolly calculating her next moves. Rowena got the impression he was quite enjoying himself, happy she at last was posing some real challenge to him. When he managed to hit her with the leg-locker curse for the third time, she screamed in frustration.

'Losing control, Mulligan?' he laughed teasingly.

Stubbornly, she scrambled to her feet, and they continued circling another, looking for a weak spot. Rowena shouted triumphantly when she managed to hit him with a Stupefying spell, making Snape look thoroughly annoyed. By now they were both starting to get slightly out of breath.

'Accio wand!' 'Protego!' they shouted simultaneously.

Instead of making Snape's wand fly out of his hand, Rowena's spell hit Snape's shield and backfired on her. Her wand zoomed right into Snape's outstretched hand.

'Aarrgh!!'

Furious now, and with no wand to defend herself, the Quidditch Beater in her surfaced. With the force of a charging bull she ran straight at Snape, catching him off guard and knocking the wind out of him as they both fell over. She could hear him emit a groan as his head hit the ground with a heavy thud. Her nose bleeding, Rowena raised herself up on her elbows, reaching for her wand that had slipped out of Snape's fingers as they crashed into each other. But he was faster than her.

'Enough!' he hissed, gasping for breath.

She could feel the tip of his wand tickling her throat as he pointed it steadily at her.

'One move, and I swear I'll muffle you up with a Silencing Charm.' His eyes flashed threateningly at her.

Panting slightly, Rowena wisely remained still, looking determinedly back into his eyes, forcing herself not to blink. Snape was bleeding too, a deep gash in his forehead.

Seemingly reassured that Rowena was not going to try anything stupid, Snape slowly got up and stepped back, handing Rowena her wand and allowing her to get to her feet as she brushed mud and grass off her cloak. She noticed that the muscles in his face were working, as if he was battling something in his mind. His eyes glittered strangely, wearing an almost curious look.. He stood silently watching her for a moment, then tucked his wand back in his belt and took a step towards her. Slowly, hesitantly, as if doing it took a great deal of effort, he stretched out his hand towards her.

'Friends?'

He spoke so quietly it sounded like the softest breeze had just rustled the leaves of the tree behind him.

Rowena stared dumbstruck at him. His face was hidden in shadows. Warily she reached out her hand, but instead of returning his handshake she grabbed hold of his wrist and pulled him around so the moonlight illuminated his face. She could feel a faint shiver running through his body at her touch. Rowena stared hard at him, wincing slightly at the sight of the blood trickling steadily down his face, searching for the familiar dislike and contempt she was so used to seeing there. But instead she saw him looking warily back at her, his face tense, vulnerability showing in his eyes as he awaited her reaction. Confused, she opened her mouth feebly, then closed it again. Slowly, dreamily, she released her grip around Snape's wrist and let her hand move down to the palm of his hand.

'Friends,' she whispered hoarsely, returning his handshake with a slight tremble, then letting go quickly.

His face relaxed, his black eyes looking gratefully at her for a split second before they resumed their familiar proud gleam.

'Good.'

His voice was even, but she could discern the slightest note of relief in it.

'It's late; let's get back.'

He drew his cloak tighter around him and set off towards the castle.

'Wait!'

Rowena pulled a vial out of her pocket, unscrewing the cork. Snape looked suspiciously at it, grimacing a little.

'Do you still seriously believe I'm that bad at Potions?' she said exasperatedly.

He didn't answer, but grudgingly let her apply some of it to the gash on his forehead. It stung and hissed for a second, then the bleeding stopped. Allowing her to apply the drops to his temple was the closest he had ever been at complementing her on her potion skills, Rowena thought amusingly.

'You better let Madam Pomfrey have a look at that wound for you tomorrow..'

He bared his teeth in what was unmistakeably a snarl.

'I'll manage perfectly fine on my own, thank you.'

Some of the old sting was back in his voice. But for the first time in her life, she didn't mind. She looked up at the sky as they walked silently back towards the castle. She hadn't really noticed before how beautiful the starry sky was. Smiling, she had the feeling life at Hogwarts might turn out slightly different from now on.

Don't get disillusioned - no, don't expect too much

cuz if what you have is all you can get - just keep on tryin'

it just ain't happened yet

So tonight you're gonna wish upon a star

you never wished upon before

(From Bryan Adams's 'Star')