Drying in the rain

How his lips turn

/From now on the majority of this story will be in 3rd person with a few exceptions :)/

Anna had finally arrived to class after her eventful duel with Malfoy, snape had been in the middle of his lesson on the differences between ethics and potion making. He had wondered where she had been, knowing that he couldn't possibly know when it came to her. She found ways to surprise him each moment, and it was only his third day knowing she existed. Well, truthfully he had known all along, but it was his third day being in her presence. A presence that was mysteriously damaged, and though he had known of her father's disappearance what he couldn't understand was how wrongly he had preplanned her.
In his mind, she would arrive at Hogwarts with a family that had wanted to know her for years, a family that would've been terribly saddened to let her go again. But that was most definitely not the case.
He had expected a girl from an isolated coastal town, one that had no idea of the rudimentary customs of his world and though she thought of herself as that he knew that somewhere in her mind she remembered the magic of the Hollows family.
"Miss Hollows how kind of you to join us." He snapped, her nose still tingled with the burn of blood, crusted to the outer rim of her nostril. He had to look again to make sure it was truly blood he saw.
"I'm sorry I'm late professor." She stepped out from the doorway, sitting down by herself near a shelf of ingredients, above her head a cast iron rim of candles, dripping and collecting in their respective holders but magically tamed as not to fall upon his students heads.
"We will speak of this after the lesson, now, take out your quill and parchment paper." He began to lecture once more as she rummaged through her bag, pulling out a raven feathered quill and a leather backed notebook no doubt given to her by the headmaster. "Now as I was saying before our interruption." He cleared his throat aggressively. "Throughout the course of history, magical properties have been treated differently. Within many ancient societies proper ritualistic respects were given to the creatures that had to sacrifice themselves or their appendages so that their existence as not in vain. Today the matter is dissolved into two categories, what is morally and ethically correct and what is necessary." He pointed his finger to a diagram he had drawn up on his chalk board, a T square outlining the differences between the two ideas. "As you should see here, the main concern is that the collection of magical properties belonging to non consenting species is a crime. However with the majority of these species, they have no ability to give their consent." He turned to face his class as they began to nod off. "It is extraordinary important we comprehend the severity of our actions, as spells come with a binding punishment so do potions. Wherever there was a soul, it will effect the outcome of your potion. You must handle all ingredients with diligence and honor. Jinxed potions often are not the result of personal error but non pure intent. Now, who could tell me a potion that requires the harm of a creature but is detrimental to the functioning of the Wizarding world?" He paused, waiting for an answer from the uninterested class.
"Professor, Unicorn blood contains properties that can keep a person near death alive, thus giving the individual a form of immortality. It is considered a high crime to collect this blood, however our society relies upon it when a important figurehead falls ill or is injured." Replied one of the five students, a gryffindor girl with light blonde by the name of Georgiana King.
"Ten points to gryffindor, a very good example. You see, there are a great deal of loopholes when referring to these laws which have sparked protest across the Wizarding world. Many believe that if ministry workers are given access to the blood without further punishment whilst their family members are not, it is hypocritical and cruel. To take anything from a unicorn is often frowned upon, but people often forget that they have ways to consent to these practices. However, the debate of animalia specimen usage will most likely continue for a very long time." He finished his sentence, stopping for dramatic effect. The class of course failed to manifest the suspense he had wished for, but he knew how it would go, they never did.
"Professor, the alarm went off, can we go?" Asked Isiah Flint, a Slytherin student with much more of an appetite for quidditch than his advanced potions class.
"Ten points deducted from Slytherin for cheek. Now as I was saying, you're homework is to read and annotate chapters one through ten of your text, now, this book will be essential to this course. It will be your greatest friend, keep it safe and treat it well. I expect to see high quality notes on my desk tomorrow before class. Now you are dismissed." Snape turned to wipe off his board, smudging the picture away into a cloud of dust.
"Professor. I have a question." Whispered Anna, who by now had written as much as she had soaked up down upon her paper.
"By all means go ahead." He sarcastically tuned, stepping back towards his desk, sitting himself elbows down, his chin planted within his hands.
"What qualifies a person to be given unicorn blood?"
"Their position in the ministry." He sharply responded.
"So not just any worker, like say a department of mysteries head?"
"How would I know Miss Hollows? Do I look like I am a ministry member with such highly classified information?" He looked over to her. "Where are you going with this?"
"I was just wondering, my apologies." She bit her tongue. Snapes classroom was filtered with tiny dust particles, they especially glowed within the sunlight that poured in from the hole in the ceiling, floating around snapes head like little flitters of gold. They had made him a prince, his crown of sunlight.
Before her class had begun, he had created a particular brew, emitting a purple haze from the corner of the classroom. It had caught her eye the moment she had entered his classroom.
"That potion is none of your concern." He scolded, putting a lid over it he stepped over into one of the countless stores built into the walls. Anna was fascinated by the versatility of his classroom, each self had certain potions and amenities, each book placement served a specific purpose, each label accurate. She waited for him to emerge, sitting patiently within her chair as she watched the dust float away, he had lost his crown.
"You said for today's detention you would bring me to the forest to help you collect some ingredients, might I ask what they are?" She spoke delicately, knowing that soon he would be told the news of her fight with Draco.
"Wildflowers, before the season ends I need to have a good amount to last until spring."
"But the greenhouse has almost every type of flower you could think of." She was confused, remembering the beautiful gardens she had seen.
"I would rather not deal with Professor sprout." He quickly entered back into the room, an empty pouch and sack in hand. "So, I see there is a slight bruise forming above your lip, care to explain yourself before I find out?"
"I'd rather not, I would rather spend this detention not feeling like you want to literally crucify me." She smiled, it hurt slightly given the injury she had sustained earlier in the day.
"I would rather it come from you than the headmaster or madam pomfrey."
"It's really not that important."
"Fine. Hurry along." He opened and closed his palm, beckoning for her to follow him.
As they walked through the amber fields, the potions master took in a subtle breath. He hadn't been through this land in a long time, he was always stuck up within his own rudimentary world than to venture out into the beauty just outside his classroom. He felt as if his problems are beginning to disintegrate before his own eyes, and for a good moment he had completely lost track of time and of the fact that he wasn't alone in this field. Many things did not surprise him, in all of his miserable life he had seen so much evil, it had in his mind taken away the greatness of the good. He had learned that his guard must always be kept up, and since the age of 21 all he knew was that he no longer had any innocence left within him.
When Lily Potter died, the good that lived within him had died by her side, and as he held her motionless body his tears flooding down his face and onto hers, they were the last reminder that above all else he was a mortal being. Her death, although not directly done by his hands, was ultimately as he believed it, caused by him. Even in this minute in the sun where he had forgotten everything he still remembered his guilt, guilt that held down in him like an anchor. He knew that if Voldemort hadn't murdered her, he would still be a death eater. He knew he was evil, and most days he questioned if helping Dumbledore even mattered anymore, but when he remembered Lily's eyes he realized everything he was doing, he was doing for her.
The clouds lifted above their heads, fluffy and swift, like the strokes of a paint brush. The sky a light blue tone filled with birds and butterflies.
"What flowers are you looking for Professor?" She hinted, Anna's voice was built with tenderness, as she knew he was in a different world than hers.
"Any that you can find." He replied, but what was so honest about his words was the fact that they were not chosen, they were fluid.
Anna trailed away behind him slightly, bending down to pick a bunch of daisies, she knew to pull them by the roots, tugging on them as gently as she could.
"Is this another sacrifice? One that is debated?" She smiled amidst the flowers, the school far behind them small in the distance atop a hill.
"I would truly hope not, no sane man would attempt to gain the consent of a plant." He smirked, spotting a little patch of white clovers, bergamot, buttercups and chicory.
"I really don't think they mind. I think they know their purpose in the chain, either they are eaten by rabbits or used in potions, and becoming a potion seems like a very good way to end a life."
"I think it would be a very beneficial way to be taken care of. All of our lives we are taught to fear death, but these flowers fear nothing. They live, pollinate, blow in a good few breezes, dance in the rain and then they wilt and die. If only our lives could be that simple." He shrugged, out here, so distant from the castle that kept him prisoner, he placed his hand along the stem of one of the lilac asters.
"Thank you for taking me with you, I know how much a burden I am to you." They stood back up, hands stained with the waters from inside the plants. The professor stepped forward, pushing away the brambles covering the forest path. The same magic the forest possessed remained as if frozen since the last time Anna had passed through.
"If you spot any mushrooms, leave them be unless they are cherry red with little white speckles."
"Got it." She cheerfully beamed, scanning through the trees searching for meadows and green pastures. Deep within the heavy evergreens and pines a ringing like a symphony of wind chimes filtered through the woodland. "What is that?" Wondered Anna as she tilted her head towards the noise.
"Pixies, pay them no mind, it does not do us well to dwell on the music of mischievous fairy folk."
"I don't think I've ever heard anything so moving." Responded Anna, her heart filled with joy as the ringing continued. Maybe it was the nature surrounding her, the foliage over her head, the green grasses underneath her or even the flowers she held within her fingertips that brought her so much bliss. Most definitely however it was the sense of completeness she felt here. While within the castle grounds she felt almost as confined as her professor, but here she was wild and young and free again. Here where the wind twirled around her light brown locks, here where the birds truly sang songs and the trees truly danced, where the channel of water below the mountains was the most fresh water she would ever see. The confines of earth ceased not only here in this world but even in its common environment. Yet this water had no oil, no garbage, no chemicals. It's current pushed fish and weathered down rocks instead of pollution. She hadn't noticed a single candy wrapper, a single water bottle or newspaper amiss, simply because the witches and wizards here understood that they were intertwined with the earth and always would be. Respect found it's place growing up the bark of the oaks and pines and in the stems of the pansies and poppies. God she had never been so real, so in the now. Overwhelming the sense of euphoria within this heavenly circle of trees, that down a ways they had stumbled upon a shallow stream, appearing untouched until they had graced it. Peeps from frogs, whistles from the cattails and reeds, the branches and bristles of massive willows bent down to tap the water whilst bees bumbled along the two spell casters heads.
"Did you know of this place?" Anna said softly, letting her fingers disrupt the creeks flow.
"No... I had no idea of it's existence. It's incredible." Lowly admired Snape as he looked into his reflection, his face bouncing with the little current, his nose and eyes swiveling.
"This is the type of place where you cannot ever forget it's existence, to be able to would be wrong in itself, so much beauty is a gift." Reflected the student as she sat herself down, examining the ingredients she and her professor had collected. This perfect place.
"Indeed." The professor crouched further away, letting dragonflies land on his hands. Though science and magic could explain many things, a dragonfly landing on the hand of a man as bruised as him was a miracle.
The day had started to end, the pair finished up collecting their plants and had begun the journey back to the school.
Anna couldn't help but question if she would ever see this part of Hogwarts again, especially after her fight with Draco. If only her professor had known what had happened between herself and Malfoy, would he have still lead her to such a longing place of majesty?
As Anna stumped herself thinking of what his reaction could possibly be Snape tasked himself with divulging which of his students deserved the honor of being his assistant. Her name appeared, but how could he have an assistant like her? So quick witted and quite frankly rude? Like Minerva had told him a few days prior, he required someone with the same brain as him, but no one could ever amount to his incredible mind. They were all too different from him, he would've been frightened to have seen a student with the same mind waves as him. But how much did he actually know of Anna? Only that she was an annoyance, that she knew a great deal about all subjects taught to her, that she was especially gifted in potions, that she drank hazelnut cocoa in the mornings with Evan, that her favorite color had to have been pastel blue, that she was fond of the arts, that she was scarily powerful, that she was the exact opposite of him. From what he could tell he had absolutely nothing in common with his student. He chuckled to himself, thankful that he was so unlikely to ever be like her, and as he smiled, Anna grew to like how his lips turned.