it may have escaped your notice but life isnt fair

heels demanded attention as she walked down the dark, damp corridor towards the potions room, book in hand, chin high– the classic walk of power that alecto had had since she’d been old enough to master it. her eyes never met those of the students around her, they focused straight ahead, not really caring what they were whispering about or why they felt the need to stare. She needed to stay as close to the top of her class as she possibly could, after all, a witch getting into whatever field she wished was a rarity at best, alecto wanted to have options for when she decided upon a career path, good grades paved that road. 

opening the door, not really expecting anyone to be inside– alecto should have paused but instead made her way in, placing her books down and pulling over a cauldron. “Power, control, the ability to vanquish all those who cross me–” she mused, flicking through her book before looking up at the other. “and to pass with flying colours– hence why I’m here. You can’t possibly think that a woman of my stature spends her time in dark dungeons for fun now, can you?” though, she wouldn’t dive into the darker areas of her thoughts and how the dungeon’s at her family estate were perhaps her most favoured of places. “what’s gotten up your goat, severus?”

Severus didn’t quite smile at her response, but his thin lips did pull into something of a smirk. He could respect her reasons, at least. Even though he didn’t share her opinion on dark dungeons. Ironically, it was precisely because other people didn’t want to spend time in them that he found them to be an ideal location. It was easier to find solitude. 

“This potion,” he admitted with a sigh. “Haven’t gotten the results I want yet. And this interruption means I am going to have to restart with a new batch.”

shit. of course the one time marlene thought to try studying potions without evan’s help she ran into severus. obviously and unfortunately for him, she was very much on lily’s side. instead of sinking back from his bite, marlene walked over to the cabinets. “nothing from you, sev.” her quip came with a smile, a blow softened by her annoying kindness. her eyes skimmed the materials in their jars on the shelves, trying to remember what corrections had been made the last time she was in the library. pulling what she thought she’d need, she turned around and found a free desk a bit away from the others. “you look like someone killed your cat,” she said, eyes daring him to try something, “you’re like freaky good at potions, don’t know why you’re so upset.”

Severus put the vial down and crossed his arms, eyebrows narrowed. He hated that she was giving him a cutesy nickname. He hated that she said it with a cheerful smile. He was left in front of the ruined potion to fume silently.

He was good at potions, and he knew it. That much she had gotten right, at least. As to why he was upset, there were multiple reasons for that. But he decided to answer with just one. “I’m upset,” he sneered, “because your interruption of a very delicate step means that I’ll have to start the whole process over.”

“ is that a way to greet your friends ? ” her tone was exaggeratedly chipper as she walked over to his little experiment station , grace and poise reflecting in every step . she looked over his shoulder , scanning the ingredients and a second or two passed before she pieced it together . “ draught of peace ? ” she voiced her thoughts out loud , unmasking her confusion . “ what do you need that for ? ”

Severus didn’t know whether to roll his eyes or to laugh. But of one thing he was certain: she was wrong. He didn’t have ‘friends’. 

Sirius had been looking for Slughorn when he walked into the potions room. He had looked for the Professor everywhere and this was his last resort. Though he wasn’t really all that surprised to find it was just Snape in here he was still disappointed. “Have you seen Slughorn?” He asked while walking into the room and glanced down at the boys cauldron, his nose scrunching up. “Whatever that is it don’t look right.”

Just her luck, forgetting to bring her notebook and leaving it in the potions room. She didn’t really expect anyone to be in there so when she opened the door, she frowned when she saw Snape standing there. But then again should she really be all that surprised? He seeemed to have a odd love affair with potions. Just making her way towards her seat, she smiled when she saw the book and sighed when he addressed her. “Grabbing my book what does it look like I’m doing?” she muttered.

“You mean apart from distracting me from some very delicate work?” the slytherin retorted, putting the vial down and crossing his arms. He let out a sigh. Despite his frustration at the setback, he was aware he couldn’t rightfully get too angry. Noelia had every right to come in and grab her book. And it wasn’t as if he was the sole owner of the right to use the potion room.

Then the door opened.

Startled, he spilled far too much of the vial into his potion and he watched the color change. He’d have to start over. “What do you want?” he demanded, not bothering to look up from his now ruined evening’s work.