Closed with @paddyfootmulti
Muses: James and Severus
The clock struck three in the afternoon and reminded Severus that he was late. As if he needed a reminder -- he hated being late. He picked up the pace and ran up the stairs from the dungeons two steps at a time. It wasn’t enough, he still arrived to Professor McGonagall’s classroom ten minutes late, when the air was already filled by the sound of scraping pens on parchment.
Stooping his gaze, he hurriedly made it past the Gryffindor tables, ignoring the jeers they whispered as he passed by, and settled on an empty bench. Despite his better judgement he glanced back at Lily’s seat, only to lock eyes with Potter. He wished his eyes could enchant him into a toad. McGonagal seemed to have read his mind as she approached and asked Severus to perform a transfiguration spell on the goblet she placed before him. Severus looked dumbfounded for a moment, then whipped out his wand and pointed it at the goblet. Nothing happened. To the goblet that is. The air filled with laughter until it died away under the professor’s sharp gaze.
“That will be homework, Mr Snape,” she remarked pointedly. “For all of you,” she continued turning to the rest of the class, “I would like to see each and every one of you transform the goblet into a dove and then back into its original form. And you will be working in pairs.”
She waved her wand and goblets floated out to every second person in the classroom. Severus, who was sitting alone at his table felt that he might have lucked out and could work on his own, but he would have to think twice. “And since you might need some extra help, Snape, I propose you work with Mr Potter.”
Severus could feel his stomach drop. The frustration and helplessness was evident in his eyes, but he didn’t dare object and lose points for his house. “Yes, professor,” he said gloomily.