“I dunno. I don’t know what’s considered a joke and what’s not with you and your lot.” Sev replied dryly, his eyes dropping to James’ bag, though he immediately tensed as he got closer. If he was going as far as letting him search him, he clearly didn’t have it.
“That figures,” he mumbled as James went on about how he actually caught him on a day when he was innocent. His angered expression changed to one that was simply tired. “Sorry,” he mumbled under his breath as he began to turn away, almost embarrassed now. This book was giving him the worst of trouble and yet he couldn’t allow himself to give it up. It had too much of himself in it.
James swung his bag away, satisfied that he’d been cleared as innocent. The embarrassed look on Snape’s face, usually, would leave a smirk on his face. This time, though, James’ occasionally appearing conscience nagged at him at the sight of the Slytherin’s distress.
He sighed, knowing he’d likely regret this, and cast a look over his shoulder to make sure his friends weren’t around. “Look, you need help finding it? I’ve got a free period.” He fidgeted awkwardly. “Only if you want, of course.”
Severus felt his face twist into a full-blown glare, immediately set off by the typical nickname that he had always despised. How was it even possible to be civil to someone when they made you so angry that you couldn’t see straight?
“Earlier. When one of you pushed me over, my books went everywhere. One is… missing. I don’t know why the bloody hell you would take it, but I’ve looked… everywhere. Believe me, I would never initiate conversation with you unless I was absolutely sure that it was a possibility.”
The Slytherin glanced downward at the question, though his expression stayed the same. He hadn’t quite perfected the art of lying, be it a good thing or not. “It’s just a potions book. With… just a few notes inside. Nothing special.”
“Trust me,” James snorted, “I have no need for some old potions book.” He ran a hand through his hair casually. “I have my own book. Why, prey tell, would you think I would have any need for yours?” He stepped closer, offering his bag. “Search me if you want. I have nothing to hide. Today, at least. You’ve actually caught me on a day that I’m clean as a whistle. So to speak, anyway.”
Severus huffed softly, gathering his books after class was dismissed and heading back down the hallway. Since the weather was so nice, mostly everyone was outside enjoying the rest of their day now that classes were over.
Sev, on the other hand, felt utterly lost without his book. All of his notes were in it, every single one, and not all of them involved Potions specifically. In fact, there was some stuff in there that he really preferred that no one else read. Not that it was necessarily bad, but still. He kept himself closed of from people by preference, and he didn’t want that to be ruined by someone literally opening him like a book.
His dark eyes caught another presence at the other side of the hall. James Potter. Even more brilliant. This was his chance, however, since he wasn’t with his friends; maybe he could get an honest answer about his book.
“Potter,” Severus called out, his voice sounding surprisingly emotionless when it would generally sound pissed off, especially considering the person he was talking to. ”If you took my book, I would really, really like it back now,” despite how well it started out, his voice dripped with bitterness towards the end, almost with desperation.
James looked up from where he’d been laughing with his friends at the sound of his name being called. He waved off the snickers and jokes from the other marauders, insisting they go ahead and let him handle this. If only for his own amusement, anyway.
He approached with his usual swaggered walk, eyebrow lifted curiously. “Book? Honestly, Sniv. I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about. But please, do enlighten me on this accusation.”
He folded his arms over his chest, more in a lazy manor than hostile, eyeing the Slytherin. “Something special about this… book?”
Where’s my Potions book…?
I’ve looked everywhere, even in the sketchy part of the dungeon, and I still can’t find it…
Spectacular. All of my notes are in it…
I must have dropped it after being knocked into.
Idiot Gryffindors.
I mean, your book’s missing?
Potter. You didn’t take it, did you? So help me, if you did…
I’m sorry, are you accusing me of something?
Should I put on my offended-accused face?
Where’s my Potions book…?
I’ve looked everywhere, even in the sketchy part of the dungeon, and I still can’t find it…
Spectacular. All of my notes are in it…
I must have dropped it after being knocked into.
Idiot Gryffindors.
I mean, your book’s missing?
Potter. You didn’t take it, did you? So help me, if you did…
I’m sorry, are you accusing me of something?
Should I put on my offended-accused face?
Where’s my Potions book…?
I’ve looked everywhere, even in the sketchy part of the dungeon, and I still can’t find it…
Spectacular. All of my notes are in it…
I must have dropped it after being knocked into.
Idiot Gryffindors.
I mean, your book’s missing?
