Better Than This
by EbonyQuill
Summary: When Sinistra convinces an old flame that she's better off, he wants her to attend his wedding. Being desperate, boyfriend-less, and arguably under the influence of insanity she begs a colleague to help her out. It's everything she needs - not to mention everything she despises. Does she want it? More than you know. SS/Sinistra.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. You know it.
A/N: Inspired after reading a plethora of Snape/Sinistra fanfictions. I used Anise as her first name because - I spent fifteen minutes and you better like it. Er.. Enjoy!
Anise Sinistra greeted her owl delicately, stroking its feathers with her index finger and fed it a piece of her biscuit. When it flew off she took the letters and sifted through them quickly. She muttered a little loudly,
"Letter from Mum, obviously criticizing my single status. Letter from Lux, same subject. Letter from Rini - from Aruba on her honeymoon! Scribble from Davi - ." She was interrupted by the rude ramblings of a certain Potions professor.
"Really Sinistra, if I wanted to know about your personal life or lack of, we would - actually I think I would have to question my sanity," Severus said with a perturbed look on his face.
Anise glared mental daggers at him, "You don't question your own sanity yet? My - are we in some sort of denial? I recall Dumbledore issuing you a psychiatrist to solve these problems. And why the bloody hell are you listening to me anyway?"
"Obviously you should be questioning yourself, you know, once you are finished with the conversation about how your mother thinks you're pathetic," Severus replied gripping his fork until his knuckles turned white.
Anise shrieked at him as if she were being scandalized, "So you were listening in on my conversation!"
"Conversation? What conversation? With yourself? Honestly - I'm sitting right next to you and you speak in a volume that promotes the idea that you're commentating a Quidditch game!" Severus said through gritted teeth, seething. Professor McGonagall snipped at them both,
"Honestly! Can we go through one breakfast without you two fighting about something that won't matter the next morning when you find something new to fight about!"
Anise became very interested in her hands and Severus picked at his scrambled eggs. Both were previous students of Minerva and still hated being reprimanded by her. Anise said in a small voice,
"He started it." Severus opened his mouth to protest, took one look at Minerva, and shut his mouth.
"Honestly you two act as if you're still children!" Anise crossed her arms over her chest and pushed her plate away from her.
"I think I'll retire." Severus coughed, saying incoherently,
"Loon." Anise glared at him and paced out of the Great Hall, hands placed stiffly at her sides. She nodded at the few students who greeted her and slowed her pace as she reached the Astronomy Tower. Lividly she slammed open the door to her office and positive that no one was there (her classes took place at midnight), she screamed and stomped her foot in rage. Throwing her letters in the wastebasket she slammed her fists on her desk a number of times.
"I hate him! That sorry excuse of a Professor! That sorry excuse of a human being! That - that bastard!" she sputtered throwing a book at her door after closing it. Unfortunately it almost hit the unexpected visitor square in the stomach. He caught it with fine-tuned reflexes and gave a chuckle.
"Nice to see you too Anise." The Astronomy professor put her hands up to her mouth in surprise and horror, mentally hitting herself.
"Davis Whittier! I am so sorry. A million apologies! Oh Merlin - are you alright?"
Davis chuckled, "I'm fine. It's alright - actually I'm feeling worse for the 'bastard' who has to be victim to your rage. You always were the fiery one Anise."
Sinistra gave a weak laugh, "At least er - he deserves it."
Davis smiled, "Oh - I bet."
"What are you doing here? At Hogwarts? In the middle of the school year, " she asked, acting a little zanier than usual. When she reviewed her words she mentally slapped herself upside the head, feeling completely stupid.
Davis leaned on the wall and crossed his arms across his chest, "Well - actually. I just came to see if you got my wedding invitation."
Anise turned an unflattering pink color. She had recieved it, but threw it away immediately. She was engaged to Davis in the far distant past and they broke up on the best of terms. Why had she not pinned it to her corkboard like all her other important events? The invitation had said Anise Sinistra plus one. Anise Sinistra had not had a plus one for quite a number of years now. She did not want to be embarassed in front of one of her ex-fiances (she had only had three boyfriends in her entire lifetime, including Davis Whittier) and his snobby fiancee. She personally hated the woman, but had no spine to pour her bitter heart out to him.
"Actually - I think I might've lost it," Anise said becoming very intrigued with the graded papers on her desk.
'The Moons of Jupiter? Oh come on - I could've at least assigned a more exciting assignment for a time like this. Time like this you ask? Time when I actually need interesting reading material to distract me. Oh god - I'm arguing with myself. Again! You are a loon Anise. Oh no! You're agreeing with Severus Snape! Bastard! Prick! Bloody scum of the world! That's better. Oh - did Davis say something!'
"Sorry.. didn't catch that," she replied quickly. Davis smiled warmly and repeated himself,
"I said.. that you're invited. Obviously. I would really appreciate it Annie. And you can even invite one of your friends! You've truly been one of my best friends over the years. I would really like it if you came."
She looked at him skeptically, taking in his lean build, hazel eyes, and light blonde hair. She wanted him now and there, but she would never admit it to him or to herself. Then something he had said hit her, "Bring one of my friends? Really Davis - do you really think I'm uncapable of bringing an individual that I am romantically involved with? I happen to be in a very healthy relationship."
Davis shifted his weight uncomftorablly, "Well.. I wasn't aware that you.. with who?"
Anise fiddled with her robes, "Er - a friend of mine."
"Obviously, " Davis stated, his voice laced with humor.
"A colleague actually, " Anise finished quickly.
Davis raised both eyebrows, "Oh?"
Anise looked up at the ceiling hoping some answers would appear magically. "Yes. We started the whole affair - I mean relationship over summer break."
"That sounds.. interesting. I can't wait to meet him," Davis replied enthusiastically, "I really wasn't aware that you were involved with someone."
'Neither can I.' Sinistra thought to herself.
"Well now you know," Anise huffed.
"I didn't mean to offend you," Davis almost sighed out.
Anise calmed her face and said softly, "You didn't. I don't think I'll be able to make the wedding."
Davis walked towards her and took her hands in his, "Please Annie, it would mean the world to me and Sofia."
She cringed a little and muttered awkwardly, "Alright."
Davis flashed a brilliantly white smile, "Great! I can't wait to meet your er - the individual you are romantically."
"Er - great!" she exclaimed faking her excitement. Anise was a horrible liar and her blush hadn't left her face.
"Maybe sometime we could double date?" He asked expectantly.
She widened her eyes, then blinked quickly twice in a row. "I don't think that's possible before the wedding. You know - with the yearlong teaching thing and all."
"So it's not Filch?" Davis joked. Anise mock-glared at him,
"Ha. Ha. Ha. I'm afraid I'm more capable than that Davis." Davis laughed and walked halfway through the door when he said,
"Bye Anise. Oh - and I suppose you have the setting of the wedding. Since it appeared so gracefully in the wastebasket. See you."
Her ex-fiance left before she could redeem herself so she sat in front of her desk and set her head gingerly on the desk. Then she picked up her head and violently put it back down again. She picked up her head and rubbed where she had tried to inflict pain on it.
"Even though I enjoy seeing you cause physical pain to yourself whereas I cannot, you forgot this in the Great Hall," Severus Snape looked at her as if she were the most pathetic thing on the planet. He threw a book at her hands and Anise looked at it scanning the title.
'Star-crossed Lovers! Oh great - the one time I borrow pornographic literature from the Ancient Runes teacher and of course, I forget it in the Great Hall only to be found by my immature mortal enemy bastard of a thing!'
She slowly muttered an incoherent, "Thanks," and left it at that. Then she stiffed her sitting position then spoke to Severus' retreating figure.
"Aren't you at all curious why I'm trying to commit almost-suicide by bashing my head on my very hard oak/maple wood desk?" Severus looked at her strangely,
"No. I don't."
Anise let out a low growl, "Very well. Since you're so eager to know. I'll tell you. My gorgeous ex-fiance just invited to me to his wedding to his ten times more gorgeous-slash-high maintenance than me. You know what he put on my invitation?"
"I have no idea, tell me," Severus said sarcastically.
"Anise Sinistra," she started.
Severus rose an eyebrow, "That is your name. Did he have a pet name for you or something? Upset that he didn't address the invitation to
Miss Fluffy Pants?"
Anise glared at him. "Miss Fluffy Pants? You have some strange taste. Anyway - the invitation said Anise Sinistra plus one! And you know what I did?"
Severus looked at her with a bored face, "I'm dying to know."
"I told him I had a plus one! A romantic interest! A bloody colleague of mine! And we both know what a horrible selection of bachelors our school has!" Severus looked insulted then nodded in agreement.
"Really the only options I have are you and that bumbling boy Quirrel! I am beyond screwed! I am royally screwed, Severus Snape," Anise screamed, then banged her head on the desk another time. Severus winced,
"Don't do that. It's disturbing. Why don't you just - I don't know. Don't go to the wedding."
"I already said I was going to go! What kind of friend am I if I say I'm going and then not go?" Anise whined, resting her head on the cool desk.
"Er - say you're dying?" Severus asked fidgeting. Anise rose her eyebrows at him and was about to shout obscenities when he said, "Alright, I take it back. Sorry. Merlin. Women."
Anise muttered back, "Men." Her eyes lit up for a second, sized Severus up and down. Almost shouting she exclaimed, "You're a man!"
Severus backed away slowly, looking a little scared, "I realize that."
She stood up slowly. "Snape - what I'm going to ask you is going to be painful, but -."
"Bloody hell. Then don't ask!" Severus replied as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"Will you pose as my fiance at Davis Whittier's wedding?" Sinistra closed her eyes and twitched horribly as if she were in pain. Severus looked at her if she were mad and stated so,
"You're mad. You're a bloody mad vindictive woman." Sinistra sneered and commented cruelly,
"Your type, right?" Severus huffed.
"I will not."
"Not what?"
"Pose."
"Well no one really wants you to pose for anything, do they?" Anise stated sarcastically. Severus glared at her and walked through the door. Anise sighed and went after him. She grabbed his arm and turned him around.
"I'll pay you." Severus looked at her disgustedley,
"I'm not a whore."
"I won't pay you?"
"I still won't do it," Severus started down the stairs, Anise following him like a bad virus.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No!"
"Pretty, pretty please?" Severus turned around and shouted with a regal finality,
"NO!" Anise stomped her foot.
"I'll tell everyone about the time you kissed Minerva and claimed your undying love for her and her navy blue stockings! Not to mention - you poked your head up her dress!" Severus widened his eyes in horror.
"You wouldn't."
"Of course I would. And I quote I am a 'bloody mad vindictive woman.' " Sinistra threatened. It wasn't in her manner at all, but considering it was Snape, she kept her options open.
Severus closed his eyes, "When is it?" Anise squealed like a little girl and jumped up and down, almost attempting to hug him. She looked at him grotesquely and backed away.
"It's in two months. Christmas vacation. I assume you have no plans."
"Now I do. I'll ask for more details later.. I'm too shocked to function. Damn - I have a class in five minutes. Goodbye. You are bloody mad, by the way, if I haven't made it clear already, " with that Severus left a gleefull Anise behind. Once it sank in she returned to her office and banged her head on her desk some more.
"Oh Merlin."
A/N: I'll update if I get positive feedback, actually, if I get any feedback. Mind you my grammar is horrible and I don't have a beta yet. So I guess this is a nice time to add that I'm looking for one for this story? If you're interested just say so in the review and leave your email. Or you can email me at heartalison at gmail dot com. :) Thanks.
Alison