To Have Your Trust

The man's dark, hostile eyes, blazed with impatience and unusually foul disposition as he strode purposely down the corridor towards his office. Seeing him coming, students quickly scampered out of the hallway and out of sight, least they evoke his temper. His raven black robes billowed behind him as he hurried down the stone steps to the dungeons.

He had just come from a meeting with Dumbledore and Severus was not pleased.

For his ghastly moods and harsh, prickly charm, Professor Severus Snape had gained a legendary reputation as the most feared teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Severus didn't care much for what people thought of him, though. Well, to be quite honest, he didn't care much for people either.

This was exactly why he didn't want to honor Dumbledore's latest request. Also, it didn't leave very much time to prepare. Class would start day after next.

The headmaster wanted to combine Potions and Dark Arts classes twice a week! That would mean he would have to not only rearrange all of his lesson plans, but also spend extra time with some dunderhead (probably evil or incompetent) teacher to prepare for class.

Forming relationships and socializing: what a terrible waste of time. People were just so damn needy. They always wanted time or money, or worse: trust, love and companionship. Too often they let their irrational passions and emotions dictate their actions. Emotions were dangerous. People got hurt when emotions were involved. He continued his stride through the corridor.

It used to be well, convenient when he didn't have anyone depending on him, needing him, trusting him. Yet, now, lots of people depended on him, needed and trusted him. Severus didn't want to be trusted; and no one had during his time as a Death Eater, nor had any one had seen the spark of goodness in him; except for Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore had given him so much more than a teaching position and lodging; he offered complete confidence and a second chance. He owed Dumbledore everything. So he would honor the wise man's request, but that didn't mean he was happy about it.

How curious to harbor such conflicting emotions: to want so desperately to be worthy of this great man's trust, and yet equally itchy to betray them all. His black tattoo, burned on his forearm by Voldemort, serving as a constant reminder of his options.

Severus, leaning his head against the closed door to his office, had not realized he'd stopped until a woman's voice from behind him broke his reminiscence.

"Excuse me, Professor Snape? May I have a moment of your time, sir?"

"What do you want?" he snapped, as he turned around expecting to see a student. Instead, he looked down into the face of an attractive woman with a spark of intelligence and quick wit in her clear blue eyes.

"I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, Professor. My name is Sarah Darcy. I'm the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." She firmly shook his hand. "Headmaster Dumbledore informed me that we will be working together this term in joint Potions, Dark Arts class. Also, he said you would be just delighted to show me around for the next few days and help me get settled in."

This woman showed no sign of intimidation of him. If anything, she actually challenged him to deny her. Severus was impressed. It had been forever since someone had the nerve to pick a quarrel with him. He hated to admit it to himself, but he thought perhaps Dumbledore had finally hired a Defense against the Dark Arts' teacher that he wouldn't despise. At the moment, he wasn't even dismayed that his schedule would be disrupted. Of course, the moment quickly passed and Snape became displeased and suspicious again.

He frowned. "Well, I suppose I must if Dumbledore offered my company," Severus replied rather coldly with some irritation in his voice.

"Good, I'm glad," she countered cheerfully, disarmingly playing with the ribbon in her hair that matched her green jumper peeking out from under her black teaching robes. She stood and waited for him to make the next move.

She'd seen much in her line of work and it took a lot to frighten her. However, the professor's reputation as an intimidating, heartless bloke preceded him, and Sarah was unnerved long before she ever set eyes on him. Yet, standing before her now, this man didn't seem so frightening. She rather liked him. She immediately saw something she couldn't quite put her finger on yet; a hint of something fascinating and charming about the man under the rather disagreeable exterior.

"Well, why are you just standing there?" he asked venomously, brushing a stray lock of coal black hair from his chiseled face.

She glanced down at her bags and two medium-sized trunks and then back at him, expectantly.

Severus muttered, "Bloody hell. She must think she's the ruddy Queen of England," to himself before taking her bags and raising his wand. "Mobiliriscus," he levitated her trunks in a fury of subtle hostility. Then he escorted her just down the dimly lit hall to her rooms and helped get her belonging inside the beige, unfurnished room.

"I trust you'll be comfortable. Breakfast is in the Great Hall at eight. If you require anything, I am just down the hall or the house elves will assist you," he stated formally before departing. He stalked back to his chambers, all the while muttering to himself and speculating about Sarah Darcy having been a Gryffindor. As he approached his door, his eye caught sight of her green ribbon lying limply on the floor. He pocketed it, not quite ready to deal with her again. Snape then entered his office to finish his potions ingredients inventory.