malice and misery

It was clear that Severus Snape was not in a good mood, but that was not news to Regulus, and it shouldn’t be to anyone else either. Regulus wondered where his housemate had come from, and if his mood had something to do with the pack of Gryffindors that they both tried to avoid. Why they all felt the need to act so entitled and as if they were the darlings of the whole school, Regulus could not fathom. However, he knew his brother, and Sirius thrived on attention. 

Severus wasn’t impressed by the condescending speech patterns Regulus utilized under the guise of ‘being helpful’, but he accepted the younger man’s act all the same. He sat down - leaving his own books behind - simply to show that the gesture wasn’t unappreciated. “Giving direct orders to an upper class-man, Black ? You’re not so unlike your brother after all.” He attempted to sound light in his tone, to act as though he was speaking in  jest, but there was a hint of seriousness to his voice that couldn’t be overlooked. “Not that I’m under any obligation to explain myself to you, but I had a ... situation that held me up after my most recent lesson. As a result, my day won’t be made any more insufferable by Professor Lee’s pathetic take on a useless subject. What a pity ...”

James Potter wasn’t one to be found in the library often. While he excelled in his courses, he chalked his abilities up to nature, and thanked his parents every night before he fell asleep. Today, however, was a rare day that he found himself without Remus’ company, and since he couldn’t pick at the brainiest person he knew, decided an overdue trip was needed. After horsing around for ages with a couple mates he had seen from his quidditch team, the brunet simply settled himself into one of the many seats provided at an emptied table, and begun his coursework.

Severus’ lips were shaking ; the sickly hue of his face became several shades pastier as he stared at James. He could feel the eyes of those around them burning holes into his back, and but he realized in that moment that making the first move spared him from the humiliation of having Potter approach him on his way out of the library, smug and full of giddiness over being swift enough to complete his coursework. A satisfied James Potter was certainly the worst kind to face off against. At least now, he had the edge that came with interrupting the Gryffindor while he was settled down working.  “How revolting,” Severus cringed. “Surely you’d only come up with such a grotesque idea of my friends and I spend our evenings because that’s what you and your lot are keen on. How ... revolting,” he sneered. Disgust was dripping thick from his tone of voice. “After all, you lack the creativity ... the initiative ... to come up with that disturbingly specific scenario on the spot.” He glanced away. Building the walls around his emotions was a nearly complete process, but his blood still went cold whenever he heard James call him ‘Snivellus’. What was once just a childish insult was now triggering. It left him feeling exposed, vulnerable ... ... completely naked.  There was something unsettling about being left alone with James. This was, after all, a man who recently saved his life - while Severus was skeptical over his motives behind the rescue, it was still a debt he had hanging over his head no less, so he had a bit of a disadvantage if things escalated between them. After all, not only was James the man who saved him, but he was also the man who, more recently, destroyed his pride as he raised him up in the air and stripped him nude in front of the entire school. It was something he’d never forget, and the manner in which James was licking his chops like the cat who ate the canary was not soothing.  “You really can be humorous after all ; and here I thought that you bragging about your comedic timing was just another one of the  pathetic methods you so notoriously use to make yourself seem more impressive than you actually are. So the shameless thief and cheats accuses the very person he steals from of needing his assistance ; how ... amusing.” Severus shook his head, not moving to retreat back to his table. He didn’t want to carry on, but he wasn’t about to back away. 

“Oi! Pretty sure that’s mine, what’re you doing trying to scarper off with it.” 

“Your sense of entitlement exceeds your worth as always, Black,” Severus told him cooly. His long, bony fingers curled around vile of liquid he needed for his Potion - an ingredient that was meant to be shared among the class - as Sirius complained. The Gryffindor was stronger than he was physically, but there was nothing he could do to snatch the vile away from him with Slughorn so close. “You’ll get it when I’m through with it,” he continued, before sneaking a glance toward Remus Lupin across the classroom. “Might I say, Lupin is looking peaky lately. Has he been skipping meals ? I’m sure if you put a piece of raw meat in front of him, he’d devour it. Wolvishly.”

“Shh…you don’t see me.”

“You’re not even remotely amusing,” Severus uttered, his voice dry. He was,. deep down, thankful to be noticed ; the tell-tale signs of her intoxication were glaring at him, but most in her state would carry on walking past him as though he didn’t exist. 

“I’m sorry, did you say something? I must have spaced out.”

I’m sorry,      He tensed up, longing to hear her voice. did you say something ?          His expression hardened as his heart sunk. I must have spaced out. It was as though the tendrils of a Devil’s Snare were wrapped around his throat ; Severus always felt invisible, but Lily never failed to acknowledge him. Even if their friendship had become strained, she had yet to fully dismiss him. He’d be thrilled with negative attention, as long as she was there to give it. It was like the last thread linking him to humanity was being plucked by her dainty fingers, and all he could do was watch as her beautiful lips moved to utter such horrible words. His broken heart wasn’t evident as his lip curled into a snarl. There was no indication that he was feeling anything, aside from disgust, at all.

“Anyone want to put money on Puddlemere in their game against the Wasps?”

Why does McGonagall have to give us such a long bleeding essay?