Torment by Chocolate

Torment by Chocolate
Lanni Weasley

It was hot for a late March day. Students were trying their best to escape the unexpected heat by lounging around the lake and hiding under the shade of trees. But nothing seemed to work as they sweated and sighed huffily. It was the Easter break at Hogwarts. Those same lazy students should've been studying for their upcoming exams or doing an essay for some class, but instead, they were being loud and disruptive. A few girls giggled as they kicked their feet in the water while some boys chased each other around with bewitched water balloons.

Severus wished they'd all just shut up, but he knew that was not going to be happening any time soon.

Severus Snape had turned seventeen on January 9th this year. It was a sad thing that barely anyone had remembered or even cared. Lucius Malfoy had muttered a simple congratulation before turning to gaze at Krystyna Melanie. Idiot - Severus knew that she'd never like Lucius, but nothing seemed to deter his resilience. Narcissa Black had given him a small kiss the on the cheek (that had frightened him more than anything) before chatting away with her friends. Even Lorena Fawcett from Gryffindor had remembered, waving at him with a grin before Melanie poked her in the back of the head.

"Lorena, what are you doing?" Melanie had demanded incredulously.

Lorena had shrugged. "Well, if my parents are to force me to marry the bloke, don't you suppose that I should know his birthday?"

During Christmas break, Severus's parents had explained to him that they had found him a pureblood witch that he was to marry once leaving Hogwarts. Christmas Eve, he'd come face-to-face with his "future wife", a just as moody Fawcett. Neither of them was thrilled with the prospect of spending a lifetime with each other. Severus was intent on finding a way out of it, just as Fawcett was probably.

Today was the Easter holiday so Severus supposed that there was less than zero chance of anyone studying or doing homework. It seemed as if he was the sole student that was doing worthwhile work today; he had holed himself up in the library to do his Potions essay before lunch. Madam Pince did not appear to appreciate his appearance (she was probably also thinking that any normal student should be outside on such a fine day like this), but she said nothing to him.

A faint whistling disrupted the constant scratching of his quill. Severus looked up from his parchment to look up at the doors. Who would be intelligent enough to put school over fun? He watched as the doors swung open and the whistling became louder - only to see Fawcett walking in. She immediately froze and stopped whistling when she saw Madam Pince glaring down at her.

Fawcett opened her mouth, paused for a second, and then muttered a simple, "Sorry, ma'am." She then cleared her throat, ducked her head, and strode to the bookshelves. Severus did not want to be disturbed so he pulled his Potions textbook up and hid behind it. He couldn't help but peer over the top of his book though; Fawcett was right in front of him, fingering the books before she stopped and reached for one that was on the top shelf. She grunted as she stood on her tiptoes, lifting one leg up in an attempt to stretch up even further. It appeared as if she could not reach the book she wanted.

Severus pulled the book back up and ignored her struggle. However, he was stuck on the same line as he continued to overhear Fawcett's height problem. He frowned and tried to press on, only to find himself reading that same line twelve times without it sinking in. There was even less of a chance him helping her than him going outside.

He heard an aggravated huff and then peered over the top of his book again. He saw Fawcett looking at him with her hands on her hip, frowning and looking at him with one raised eyebrow.

"What?" Severus glared at her for disturbing him.

"Oh, you're impossible, Snape!" Fawcett hissed, being careful not to make too much noise because of Madam Pince. "I've been struggling to get a bloody book for at least ten minutes, and you just ignore me!" Her eyebrow dropped as she shot him a glare that made him hide behind his book again. "How in the world am I supposed to marry someone like that?"

She huffed and spun back around to look up at the book, muttering irritably under her breath. Most girls, having said what she just did, would probably be sniffing or crying, but Fawcett was not like most girls; if Severus favoured living without any long-term injuries, he'd stay out of her way until she vented completely. He peered over his book at her again; she was reaching again.

"Well, I suppose that I will just have to do," Severus told her. She glowered at him, turning back around to face him. He set his book down and closed it up, bringing his eyes to her with a bored look on his face. "Of course, I know that you'd much rather have a Gryffindor husband."

"I don't wanta husband at all yet!" Lorena replied. He could see her cheeks turning pink. She pulled on a look of dignity. "I'm sixteen, not the age most people think about the prospect of marriage. And at any rate, I'd like to actually know the person well before I get married to them."

Severus sneered. "I hear Lupin's still single - been like that for a while now."

For the first time, Severus saw Fawcett blush. "Oh shut up, Snape. I don't know what my parents saw in you; they probably just wanted me to have a life filled with pain, monotony, and despair."

"Oh, well, the greatest way to get to know someone is to insult them," Severus said matter-of-factly, lifting one finger in the air and closing his eyes, as if quoting someone. When he opened them again, he saw her scowling.

"You - are - impossible!" Fawcett growled. Severus smirked and picked up a different book up. There was silence; he supposed that she'd gone back to trying to reach her book. Suddenly, the book he was reading was snatched out of his hands.

"Hey!" Severus jumped to his feet, knocking his chair back. Luckily, it didn't fall or Madam Pince would have kicked them out. Fawcett was standing in front of him, holding the book in her left hand and smirking at him. "Give that back to me!"

"No," Fawcett replied simply. She gazed at the book. "It's the same one I've been reaching for." She looked back at him and tilted her head up. "Since you're taller than me, I'm sure you won't have any trouble getting it."

"It's not my fault that you're so short," Severus snapped.

"And it's not my fault that you're such a git," Fawcett said curtly, leaning forward. "If you would have just helped me for once in your life, I would've left you alone and said nothing more."

Severus pressed his hands against the table and leaned over to her. "I don't do favours for people who treat me like dirt," he snarled, "nor do I help people that tease me."

"I do not tease you," Fawcett hissed, leaning closer. "Potter and Black do just fine without my help. I could punch you or hex you though!"

"Go ahead - Madam Pince will have your head; a black eye will be worth seeing you get detention," Severus told her, getting even closer.

"Ugh, I don't know how I'm going to even be able to kiss you on our wedding day if your big fat nose gets in the way!" Fawcett retorted.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "And just how am I supposed to kiss you when you're so ugly that it pains me to even look at you?"

"Ooh, well, you better get used to it because you're going to be looking at this ugly face for a long time, Snape!" Fawcett snapped. She shivered suddenly. "As far as I'm concerned, my life will be as good as over once I get hitched to you."

"And who says that wedding you will be a bunch of roses, you psychotic, temperamental witch!" he shot back.

"At least I have a heart!" Fawcett said furiously.

"As black as it may be," Severus pointed out coldly. Her face was bright red with fury along with her eyes narrowed dangerously. She was huffing angrily, too. But he could barely see her face straight because he was so close to her. He was sure that he looked a tad bit dishevelled, too.

They continued glaring each other down, noses almost touching, until a loud cough startled them; both jumped a little, knocking each other in the head. Groaning and rubbing their heads, they spun around to spot Madam Pince glowering at them reprovingly. They glanced at each other and then back to her.

"Mr. Snape, Miss Fawcett, what is the meaning of all this racket?" she demanded. "I expect better of sixth year students! If you are going to continue to banter, I must ask you to do it outside!"

"I'm sorry, Madam Pince," Fawcett blurted, nodding her head. She held his book up. "I was just about to leave when Severus here stopped me for a little chat."

And without further ado, Fawcett mustered all the dignity she had left in her and walked resolutely out of the library. Severus stared after her, slightly stunned and angry.

"And as for you, Mr. Snape," Madam Pince stated. Severus looked back over to her immediately. "This is a place for quiet studying and work; I will not have any love bickering done in my library!"

She turned and began for her desk.

After gawking at her for a few seconds, her words sank in and Severus loudly said, "I don't love her! I don't even like her! I hate her!" But Madam Pince ignored him and disappeared from his sight. He scowled in the direction of the doors Fawcett had just vanished through, gathered up his things, and stormed out of the library for lunch. There was no way he was going to concentrate.

At lunch, Severus was still so furious with Fawcett that his bad mood hung over him like a cloud. He wanted nothing to do with anyone. He stabbed his food angrily with his knife. Then, he looked up to shoot the Gryffindor table a glare.

His eyes swept the table up and down; he saw James Potter making wide gestures, knife and fork in the air with Peter Pettigrew sniggering and Remus Lupin shaking his head. Sirius Black was nowhere in sight until Severus spotted him warming up to a Ravenclaw seventh year named Ella Cole. They were all prats, even Pettigrew, who worshipped Potter and Black (both of whom tortured Severus) and Lupin, who did nothing to stop the two hooligans.

After shaking his head, Severus brought his eyes back to the Gryffindor table. A few first years were laughing loudly while some seventh years nearly had their noses pressed to parchment (N.E.W.T.s, of course) and many fifth years were looking panicky as they engulfed their food (O.W.L.s, definitely). He saw Lily Evans and Krystyna Melanie chatting avidly while Sara Whitfield wrote something. Severus suddenly connected eyes with Fawcett, who immediately stood up, interrupting Evans and Melanie, and walked out of the Great Hall. If Severus knew better, he would've said that Fawcett looked hurt, but he thought nothing of it as he dug back into his shepherd's pie.

Lucius Malfoy slipped into the Great Hall before his cousin, Fawcett, slammed the doors shut. He immediately walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Severus.

"I wonder what's wrong with Lorena," Lucius sighed uninterestedly as he began to grab food to put on his plate. "I haven't seen her this angry since my father told her that she was getting married to you, Severus." He chuckled and then looked over at Severus when he said nothing. Lucius's face dropped slightly. "Oh, it was you." Severus tried not to snort. "What did you say to her?"

"We just got into an argument," Severus mumbled.

Lucius whistled and shook his head, smirking at him in the same way Fawcett had. It was almost too obvious that they were related; looking like each other was not the only similarity. "Severus, Severus, Severus, you've got to stop this; you know that if you rile her up, there's no stopping her," Lucius said as if he was talking to a five year-old. "She's like the Hogwarts Express; she'll huff and puff, but unlike that nasty big bad wolf" - Severus's eyes flickered to Lupin at the Gryffindor table - "she will blow you down."

"It's not like I didn't know that already," Severus sighed irritably.

Lucius chewed almost thoughtfully on his food and then swallowed. "You know, Severus, by next year, you've got to be on really good terms with her." This time, Severus snorted. "Oh, no, it's possible." He rolled his eyes. "Why, my friend from Durmstrang, Antonin Dolohov, he has her falling over him like he has her under some spell or something!"

"Then why don't her parents have her marry him?" Severus questioned moodily.

Lucius smirked again. "Well, I don't have anything against the poor chap, but he's rather low in the financial area at the moment." Severus took a drink out of his goblet. "Ever since his parents were killed by a Muggle last winter, he's been working over at the Malfoy Manor, and my father is kind enough to offer him lodge there during the summer." Lucius took a deep breath. "Lorena's parents want the best man for her - the one with money - and dear me, the Snape family does have its riches like no other."

"Mmhm, of course," Severus muttered as he stood up and grabbed his pack. Lucius laughed. "If you need me - or any of my apparent riches - I'll be outside-"

The sudden screeching of late owls interrupted Severus. He looked up, watching the few owls come in and drop packages off. Two boxes fell in front of Lucius, but he merely pushed them out of his way with disinterest before he continued to eat. To his amazement, Severus saw his father's owl, which dropped two boxes (one large and the other small) in his hands and then flapped away.

"What were you saying?" Lucius drawled, looking up at him lazily.

"Ah, I'll be outside if you need me," Severus muttered, distracted by the packages in his hands.

"Good for you, Severus" - another nice, patented Malfoy Smirk - "you could do with a bit of sun, maybe get a tan... Besides, you need to get out more often; if you stay doing homework during days off, you'll turn into a vampire and melt every time the sun touches you."

While Lucius cackled, Severus rolled his eyes and walked out of the Great Hall. The only reason he wanted to go outside was to inspect the packages that had been sent to him without being bothered. After finding a spot near the lake away from everyone else, he sat down and peered at the boxes. It was clear that both were from his mother. He opened the large box and found a letter and, to his surprise, a nice-sized chocolate egg.

Severus eyed the chocolate, licking his lips, but set it aside reluctantly to read the small letter. It was hurriedly written (as if letters from his mother were ever written leisurely) and had little of importance in it. The letter merely wished him a happy Easter holiday; gave him good luck for his upcoming exams; and told him what was in the smaller box. Severus groaned; he crumpled up the letter into a ball and tossed it into the lake. A tentacle of the giant squid pulled the paper ball under.

The small box lay ominously near his hands. After glaring it down, Severus picked it up and tossed it between his hands, trying to feel it out before he opened it. When he opened the package up, another chocolate egg, smaller than his, fell into the palm of his hand. His dear old mum had decided to send an extra chocolate egg for him - to give to Miss Lorena Fawcett, of course.

Severus weighed his options. He didn't like disobeying his parents, and to disobey his mother was like a knife to an already injured animal. On the other hand, he did not want to face the humiliation and ruin what little pride he had left. Giving Fawcett the egg - in front of everyone because she usually was with her friends - would be absolutely degrading.

He glanced at the large chocolate egg and then to the smaller one in his hand. His mother wouldn't know if he didn't give it to Fawcett... She'd never find out if he ate it instead or gave to Lucius... It wouldn't hurt anyone...

Finally, Severus decided that he would not give Fawcett the chocolate egg and, when his mother asked him about it, he would just lie to her. It was not an easy decision; he cared about his mother's state of mind and being very much, but he could not bring himself to it. But she'd never find out anything otherwise than what he told her; she didn't get out very often.

Severus was about to eat his chocolate egg when it was suddenly snatched out of his hands. At first, he was about to shout Fawcett's name very loudly, considering what she had done this morning, but then he heard terribly familiar sniggers. He fought another groan as he pulled himself up and turned around to face James Potter and Sirius Black.

"What's this, Snivellus?" Potter questioned, handling the chocolate egg. Severus watched as he tossed it in the air and Black caught it.

"Is this dark or milk?" Black asked. "Honeydukes or not? James, if this is what I think it is, then Snape here has the newest bit of chocolate from Honeydukes!" Black's eyes glittered with glee.

"You're quite right, Black," Severus replied, "but I'm deeply amazed at your knowledge of this! One would come to the conclusion that all you can possibly think about is girls."

Black grinned. "Well, Snivellus," he said, swelling with smugness, "I do pride myself on my extensive knowledge of the extremely complex minds of women. It is, after all, something only a few men have accomplished with grace."

"Not that you're one of those few men," Potter sighed as Black tossed him the egg again.

"I wasn't aware that you needed to snog every girl in sight to be a man," Severus sneered. Black raised an eyebrow. "Besides, if you knew what girls thought, shouldn't Melanie be falling over you right now?" A dark look came over Black's face. "And tell me, Potter, when's the last time you've had a decent conversation with Evans that didn't involve her spitting the truth in your face?"

Potter glared at him. "Agreeing with a Muggle-born, now are you, Snape? What happened to you?"

"I had a near death experience," Severus snapped dryly, scowling at Black, who reddened.

Potter stepped forward, seeing as how Black was currently incapable of spitting something equally nasty out. "Anyways, we were wondering, Snivellus," he said slowly, tossing the egg hand-to-hand now. "Since we're such...close friends and all, can I have a taste of this lovely piece of chocolate? It's in our best concern that you not get food poisoning; after all, something so sweet and good could seriously hurt someone as serious and dark as you, Snivellus."

"And I'm sure that you're sweet enough to be able to eat it, eh, Potter?" Severus retorted. He turned to Black. "He's real sweet, isn't he, Black? What's your nickname for him? Sweet Cheeks? Honey Pie? Goodie, Goodie Gum Drop?"

"Honey Buns, for your information; I'm not very fond of pie," Potter said coolly. "And I'll have you know that I'm very sweet, too." He took a bite out of Severus's chocolate egg, making Severus want to flinch. "Mm, it tastes real good - milk - I'd offer you some, but I'm just so afraid that it'll make you sick." He took another bite. "But I can tell you that it's truly scrumptious; make sure to thank your mum for me."

Black caught a glimpse of the small chocolate egg sitting on top of its box. He smirked at Severus and then snatched it up. In just four large bites, the chocolate egg was gone. Severus tried not to gawk at Black. Well, at least he wouldn't have to lie to his mother; he could just tell her Black ate it before he had the chance to give it to Fawcett.

"Mm, dark chocolate!" Black licked his lips, the smirk still plastered on his face. Severus thought grumpily that Fawcett would have liked it since he'd overheard her saying that she liked dark better than milk chocolate. Not that he cared or anything. "Perhaps you could've had a bit, but too much could've killed you."

"Too much of you can kill anybody, Black," Severus angrily replied.

Potter eyed the partially eaten chocolate egg in his hand. "You know, I thought about giving this back to you since it's the Easter holiday - since I'm such a nice boy-"

"Or perhaps it's because you're running for Head Boy," Severus interjected.

Potter's hazel eyes turned very frosty behind his glasses, which went nicely with the indifferent look on his face. "But I figured that dark arts infested scum don't deserve such good things."

With a sudden flick of the wand, Black had Severus in the air; the smirk on his face was not one of humour, but was uglier than usual. The year had not been kind to Black; Severus knew that he'd run away from home this past summer. Black walked up to Severus and spat in his face. "I thought you'd wizen up-"

"-after you nearly kill me?" Severus interrupted loudly. "By using your friend," he added quietly.

Black's face turned into a few more colours; he gulped and continued to glare. Potter put a firm hand on Black's shoulder. "C'mon," Potter muttered, "let's get out of here - leave this prat here or-"

The cold gleam in his eyes disappeared, instead turning into a mischievous look. Severus tried not to cringe as he squirmed in the air, trying to reach his watch, which had fallen onto the ground when he had been jerked upwards. Potter and Black looked at each other and then to him; his chance of being let off was next to nothing.

Severus looked behind the two Gryffindors and saw a few people watching them. More people had come outside. He saw Melanie and Lupin arguing, probably over Potter and Black (Melanie and Lupin were the sixth year Gryffindor Prefects). A few timid-looking second year Ravenclaws were watching them all avidly. Evans shot Potter a glare before storming off with Whitfield calling after her.

"Hey, Potter, I think you're upsetting your little Mudblood," Severus pointed out snidely. He cursed under his breath when he felt himself jerk backwards; he was now hanging above the lake.

Potter stepped to the very edge of the lake. "Say that again, Snape," he said softly. "I dare you. Let's hope that the giant squid is an herbivore, yeah?"

More people were beginning to watch the scene. Finally, Black seemed to get bored with dangling him over the lake. Black turned to Potter. "What say we get out of here?" he said dully. "I told Ella that I would help her with Defence Against the Dark Arts before dinner because she has Quidditch practice at five thirty."

"A likely story," Severus sneered.

"Ella's not like that!" Black snapped.

"I didn't say that she was like that, but I know that you are," Severus said calmly. "Besides, you should know that her parents want her to marry Branson Nott."

Black flicked his wand, and Severus, regretting his need to retort, fell into the water. As he sputtered while doggy-paddling himself to the surface, he heard Potter and Black laughing as they walked away together.

"Thanks for the chocolate!" Potter laughed before taking another bite of Severus's chocolate egg.

He heard Melanie burst. "Black, you prat, what d'you think you're doing! You could've hurt him!"

"Ah, calm down, Melanie; it's a hot day, and we decided to help Snape cool off," Potter said coolly, waving her off. She huffed. "He's just taking a dip."

Potter laughed, but Severus noted that Black had gone oddly silent. As Melanie raged at them, Black had shrunk back timidly while Potter shook his head and then asked Lupin for his opinion. While Lupin floundered for a bit with both Melanie and Potter looking at him, Black walked back to the castle before breaking into a sprint.

Severus pulled himself onto the bank, dripping wet, and found his wand. He used a Drying Charm, but his robes were still slightly wet. He sighed and found the empty boxes. Anger burned inside his chest, making him throw the boxes out into the lake. When he looked back Melanie was glaring at Potter and Lupin walking back to the castle and then she walked back over to a helpless-looking Whitfield. Once again, he regretfully connected eyes with Fawcett, who immediately looked away; she was lying on her stomach, reading the book she'd taken from him this morning.

It was strange that not once today had she snapped at anyone. Lucius had even flounced his way to flirt with Melanie - to which she ignored him - but Fawcett had remained silent all the while - and this had happened before the library fiasco. But Severus tried not to think about it, much less care, that Fawcett was acting odd.

Instead, Severus fumed at Potter and Black - the gits. He hadn't done anything to them, and yet they continued to torture him! One of these days, he'd be the one laughing last, and they'd wish they had never ridiculed him ever. He'd get revenge of them; they'd see. It wouldn't be so funny then to them when they were the ones cowering and helpless.

They'd eaten the chocolate his mother had sent. It was a rarity that he was sent anything, and the fact that his mother had even thought of him had lightened his spirits. He had never received any chocolate since his first year when his mother had written to him many a times. He had longed so badly for the sweet taste of chocolate. And then, Potter and Black had to take it from him.

As if the day hadn't been bad enough as it was! First, he woke up late; then, Bellatrix Black convinced Ethan Nott to take his Prefect badge; after that, there was the argument with Fawcett; Lucius's "love advice"; and finally, Potter and Black had become bored and taken their boredom out on him. He seriously felt like getting up, following Potter and cursing him. He'd tried giving them detention, but that only made them worse. Melanie gave them detention, but that just drove them even further. And Lupin was not about to do anything to stop them for the life of him. Other Prefects tried, but decided that there was no use or liked them too much.

Severus was just about to stand up when something abnormally happened that took him aback.

"Hey, you," a voice called. Severus spun around just in time to catch something cold in his gut. He looked down at his hands and saw a chocolate egg. It was not as large or delicately made as the large chocolate egg his mother had sent him. He looked up and saw a boy with flaming red hair standing in front of him. "I saw James and Sirius...teasing you a minute ago; I noticed that they took your egg."

"Why would you give it to me?" Severus questioned suspiciously. He wondered if Potter might've put the red-haired boy up to this.

But the redhead merely shrugged his shoulders. "My mum accidentally sent me two," he said. "I could eat both of them, but I don't want to be a glutton and you don't have anything." The suspicious look on Severus's face didn't leave; it only grew more. He was not used to having acts of kindness being done for him. The redhead rolled his eyes. "Listen; I was just trying to do something nice, but if you're not going to trust me, I want the chocolate back right now."

Severus stared into the boy's face, which was now a look of slight annoyance. He held out his hand, but Severus didn't move. He looked back at the chocolate egg in his hand and then back up at the boy. He narrowed his eyes. "What's your name?"

"Okay, well, if that's what it's going to take to get you to stuff that chocolate down your throat..." The redhead sighed and pulled his hand back, crossing his arms across his chest. "Bill Weasley - for your information, I'm a third year Gryffindor." He grabbed his robes and showed the conspicuous Gryffindor crest that Severus had completely missed. "Are you gonna eat that chocolate or do you think I tainted it with poison since I'm an ickle Gryffindor?"

Severus looked back down at the chocolate in his hands. Bill Weasley... Severus had seen the redhead before (it was hard to hide when you had a head covered with red hair), but no younger students usually bothered him, much less a Gryffindor. He might appreciate the act of kindness if he wasn't too stunned or suspicious.

"Are you going to eat it or not?" Weasley demanded, sounding annoyed.

"Yes..." Severus looked up and opened his mouth to say something near a thank you, but then he closed his mouth.

Weasley rolled his eyes and then shook his head. "Just eat it before James comes back," he warned quietly before he turned around. "Lily yelled at him when she came back out of the castle; and he's in a foul mood."

Bill Weasley gave Severus one more glance, rolled his eyes, and walked away with his hands pocketed in his robes. Severus couldn't help but gawk at Weasley as he walked away, confused at the gesture of kindness by a younger Gryffindor. He looked back down at the chocolate egg in his hands. The Weasley boy had never spoken to him before, but had just given him his own chocolate. He said that his mother had accidentally sent him two, but the chances of that happening was very small.

Severus stood up, picked up his pack, and started for the castle when something stopped him. He was halfway to the castle when he paused. His mind kept telling him to keep on walking, to just leave it alone and nothing bad would happen. But the act done by Weasley had triggered something in him, something that he did not welcome.

Groaning, agitated with himself, Severus turned on his heels and took a few steps into the grasp. He stopped when he was standing right above Fawcett, who was still reading out of the Potions book. She was still ignoring him, even as his shadow was cast over the book and her. He dropped the chocolate egg on the book.

She looked at the egg, not at him, as she asked, "What is this?"

"An apology," Severus sighed with much difficulty. She picked up the egg and looked at it. "Potter and Black took mine, as you know, but some Bill Weasley kid gave me his."

Fawcett set the egg down slowly, rolled onto her back, and put her hands behind her head. She gazed up at him with her grey eyes. He felt the urge to squirm, but didn't. She didn't say anything, however, but he wished she would; he was becoming anxious under her gaze. He knew that she was prompting him to continue.

"Ah, well, I was out of line this morning," Severus muttered.

"As was I," Fawcett said, nearly startling him for actually apologizing.

"I should've helped you," Severus grumbled.

"It doesn't matter," Fawcett told him. He raised an eyebrow. "If you would've helped me, I would've been scared that something was wrong with you."

"Thanks," Severus said dryly.

"No problem."

Fawcett continued to gaze at him unblinkingly. Severus pulled at his collar; it was hotter than he'd expected. He stared down at her anyway, knowing that she was probably just waiting for him to look away.

"You might want to eat that chocolate; it's going to melt and ruin that book," Severus pointed out.

Fawcett gave him a faint smirk, this time, making him squirm successfully; he cursed in his mind. "Ah, yes, that reminds me..." She rolled back onto her stomach, tossing her bright blonde hair across her shoulder. Her shoes were knocking into each other as she kept them in the air. Finally, she pulled herself back to her feet and held the book out to him. "It is your book, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's mine." Severus looked at her suspiciously. A girl like Lorena Fawcett just didn't let go of an argument such as theirs this morning for anything; it was likely that she'd put a hex on it.

"Take it; it's not going to bite you or anything," Fawcett abruptly snapped. Severus took it back and then looked at her, feeling confused once again. She sighed, as though she did not want to be saying this at all. "I thought it was the library's book; I didn't know it was yours personally. It wasn't until I opened it up when I came out here did I see your name." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Severus looked up at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Well?" Fawcett put her hands on her hips.

Severus fought a sneer. "Well what?"

Fawcett shook her head. "How in the world-"

"-am I supposed to marry you?" Severus smirked.

"You don't do it right; stick to sneering, Snape," Fawcett told him, smirking the apparent "correct" way. "Just how did our parents figure that we'd live together without killing each other?"

"I don't care what they thought because they're obviously wrong," Severus stated. She rolled her eyes at him. "We are not getting married; I refuse to let that happen."

"Am I that bad?" Fawcett asked.

Severus sighed. "Do you really want an answer?"

Fawcett took a bite of the chocolate egg Severus had given her. "Why would I when I already know the answer?" She laughed as she wandered back into the castle. Severus shook his head and looked at his Potions book.

He really wished he wouldn't have given her the chocolate Weasley had given him. Damn his bloody conscience. Now all he had to do was figure out a potion that would make his parents call off the wedding. But somehow, he doubted that it would come to that. Knowing Fawcett, she'd hex her father before getting thrown into an arranged marriage with anyone.

Well, Severus thought, there's always Lupin...

Severus repressed a grin as he walked back to the sanctity of the library where he could study for his Potions exam in peace.

Finis