They Call Me Mr. Sniv – Sequel to Two Views

A Ravenclaw girl befriends Snape. How long can it last?

(If you didn't figure it out in the first story, Corona is supposed to be Luna's mother. I don't think she was ever named. And I came up with another librarian, because I don't think Pince was that old. I could be wrong. )

Chapter 1

Nose Out Of Book

It was Saturday, a free day. So Snape was doing his favorite thing; checking out material from the library.

"Can you find me these?" he asked Mr. Tome the librarian.

"Very interesting choice," Tome commented. "You may need a spell of your own to carry them."

As Severus waited for the librarian to find the requested items he impatiently rocked back and forth on his heals. It didn't seem silly to him until a familiar face showed up. He stopped and straitened up.

"Just the man I'm looking for," Corona said with her airy voice.

"You were looking for me Ms. Solaris?"

A nod was accompanied by a, "Uhhu."

Snape hadn't really thought Corona was serious when they had parted a week ago. He thought she had just said they'd be friends to stop him doing something he was glad she had stopped him doing.

"Some friends and I are going into Hogsmead. I'd like you to go with us."

Snape straitened even more before starting, "That is very kind of you Ms. Solaris - - "

"Corona," the girl insisted.

"Ms. Solaris, but you mustn't feel any obligation to - - "

Corona wasn't going to let Snape finish. "Oh so serious, Mr. Snape," Rona said. A smile danced on her face. "It's not a feeling of obligation Severus, I want you to go with us."

Severus searched for any signs of deception, or pity, in Corona's presence; he'd have neither. There wasn't any. This young lady was serious. The only question he had, that he couldn't find out was why. He told her, "Can't. I'm studying."

"And you can't study later?"

"No, it's a rather obscure text."

As Snape said this, Corona snatched the request slip out of his hand. "Of course it is. Or you wouldn't be in this part of the library." She read the slip. "Hittite spells." She cocked her head in thought. "I have a copy of that: First Spells, the Hittite Empire."

Snape took back the slip. "I'm quite sure it's not the same."

Mr. Tome returned with ten clay slabs and Sev explained, "These are the original cuneiform." He showed Rona one of the clay tablets. It was indented with triangular shapes pointing in different directions and combinations.

"You - - can read that?"

Snape took a deep breath before going into snark mode. "We see all manner of miraculous magic every day in this school, and what amazes you is that I can read this?"

Corona wasn't hurt by Severus' sarcasm. She laughed. "That's why you should join us today. You're quite funny."

"Funny?"

"The things you say. They're really humorous."

Not sure what to think, the Slytherin boy muttered, "Thanks?"

"Really now, you're going to Hogsmead with me and my friends today." She noticed a worried look cross Severus' face. "You would like to go?"

"To be honest, I would," Snape admitted, not sure why he had. "It's not much fun if one doesn't have money." He tried not to look too embarrassed, but it showed.

Corona picked up on his meaning. "Oh, I didn't realize." An idea popped into Rona's mind. "What if - - I give you - - "

"No," Sev cut her short. "I don't take offerings from anyone, no matter how nice they are."

"Let me finish; I'll give you say a galleon if you show me how to read these." She pointed to the tablets. She could see Sev's eyes going back and forth. He was considering the proposal. "Today you spend with me and my friends, tomorrow you show me what these say. Deal?"

One part of Severus' mind was thinking why should be bother. Another part was starting to feel something he hadn't felt in a while. It was nice to know someone else was interested in some of the same things he was. His Slytherin friends were Quidditch-heads, it could get tiring dealing with them. He was leery, but Corona still appeared - - genuine. Against his natural instincts, Snape thought he'd take the chance. It might actually be fun. It might not be a trick, like when one of the Gryffindor feigned friendship only to tell Potter and the others what kind of 'geeky' things Severus thought were fun. "Deal."

"Great. Let's go." Corona grabbed Sev's hand and started to drag him away from the library.

"Hang on." Sev pulled back. "I have to get the tablets. The library will be locked up tomorrow. I can't lug these all the way to Hogsmead with me."

"Okay. I told my friends to meet me at the gate by the road to Hogsmead. You go put these away and meet us there."

"Okay."

"I'd change into something other than your robes. It'd be conspicuous." Rona then skipped off. Severus couldn't believe he found himself thinking, 'It's nice to be around someone who still skips. Did I just think that? I didn't just think that." All the way down to the Slytherin dorm Snape was feeling confused. It felt great to have a new friend, but his darker instincts were making him think he was being foolish. Thinking about what he had almost done a week ago made him not care if it was foolish. It felt good to feel good again. He needed to forget the friend he didn't have anymore.

tbc