Silent Revision {Rose}

[Blair Snape]

Curled up in the back corner of the library, a darkly clad figure buried his face behind an oversized Potions book. The tattered cover of the book matched with the dingy attire of the boy in the dimly lit corner and the fact that he was all alone almost gave off the appearance of someone who might be up to something sinister. That couldn't have been any further from the truth. On this particular afternoon, Blair Snape was doing revising for the upcoming potions exam. Sure, the test wasn't for a few weeks but there was no way that he'd dream of getting anything less than a nearly perfect score on it.

Pale, slender fingers brushed against the edge of the pages as dark, stormy orbs scanned the words all scrawled out in dulling ink. The only sound that reached Blair's observant ears was that of a quill scratching against parchment as someone, in an unknown space of the library, jotted down revision notes. Scratch. Scratch. Tap. The crumpling sound of parchment was soon accompanied by a book snapping shut. Still, though, Blair remained motionless aside from the constant back and forth of his eyes as they moved further and further down the page.

A puff of dust rose up and the sound of feet clunking against the floor of the library finally tore Blair from his revision. Glancing over the top edge of the book in irritation, he made an inaudible huffing sound and glared at the still air before him. The noise-maker remained hidden, likely among the vast shelves of the library, but that did not stop him from looking daggers the empty space. It was easy to concentrate through the mealtime chatter of the Great Hall but the little repetitive noises in what was supposed to be a silent library really got on his nerves. Grumbling quietly to himself, Blair lifted the book up higher again and went back to scanning page four hundred and ninety-seven.

[Rosie Weasley]

The disheartened look of a girl who was no more than sixteen was apparent as she quietly let herself into the library. It had been a frustrating couple of weeks; first, Alby had seemed to disappear without a second glance, and then James had shortly followed. She missed her partner-in-crime of Alby, and although James was one of the few people she wished would disappear off of the face of the planet, he was still her cousin. Rose had wished for Lily to talk to, but even the chatterbox flirt had been absent. In a family as big as hers, Rosie was surprised to know that Vic had been hiding as of late, also. What was happening to the numerous Weasley clan? Why did their number seem to be suddenly dwindling at the school?

She was looking forward to diving into yet another classic. One regarding a secret love was a must, of course, and with a misleading cover, as always. Unfortunately, her new shoes that her mother had insisted on buying made an irritating amount of sound around the bookcases. Why anyone would want to wear platforms that caused quite a ruckus was beyond her, but she had been without a choice.

Rosie attempted to tiptoe past the numerous shelves, but was not successful. After being noisy enough for even New Zealand to hear, she finally decided to just remove the burdensome shoes. Walking barefoot would not be an option, as much as she would like it to be, and so she felt some pleasure at knowing she always carried spare flipflops in her bookbag.

It was perhaps a good idea for her to don the flipflops, she realized as her gaze connected with that of Blair Snape's. He did not look too happy about the shuffling of sound, and so Rose was instantly embarrassed. And, as what seemed to be a routine of hers, she blushed crimson.

Gathering up a hard-bound copy, Rosie mouthed an apology to the boy. Causing a scene was the last thing she needed, and, hurriedly, she rushed to a window seat to begin the novel.

[Blair Snape]

There was always a peaceful silence and the library air tended to seem still enough on any given day. The musk of old books and the solitude of Snape's little corner were just what he needed to relax and enjoy his afternoon. Had he not been so involved with the words in his book, Blair might have hoped more than anything that the noisy person would simply leave the library, his quiet library, alone. Not that it really mattered much to him anyway. Just as long as he was left alone to finish his revision...and maybe a little extra reading on the side, he couldn't care any less what anyone else did.

Flipping the page listlessly, he covered a careless yawn with his right hand and then replaced his fingers over the edge of the tattered volume that held insurmountable information on potion after potion. It wasn't as though Blair actually needed to revise as he was a natural born potion-maker but it was his favourite subject so he insisted upon being meticulous and perfect with both the practical and written bits of the subject. If he was anything less, his father would have his arse. Of course, Father wasn't half as brutal as the woman whom he was supposed to call Mother. Nonetheless, he wanted to make them both proud and the only way to do it was prove just how perfect he honestly was at that subject and any other which he was taking.

As Blair's eyes slid further down the page, he heard the stomping and shuffling sound slowly getting nearer. Still, he refused to look away from his book. It mattered not whom the loud, obnoxious steps belonged to. The only thing he wanted was for them to disappear and leave him to his cold silence once more. The sound stopped. But, in the silence, the Snape boy's alert ears picked up the distinct sound of someone breathing nearby. What in Merlin's name are you bloody waiting for?! his mind snapped bitterly as his eyes tore themselves from the age-stained page to see a female looking back at him. It was not just any female but one Miss Rose Weasley.

How did he know who the young lady was? Of the eleven Weasleys currently attending Hogwarts, she was the only one which had been in the same year as Blair. If he recalled correctly, they had always been in the same History class throughout their school years and had shared the occasional other subject here and there. Silently acknowledging her mouthed apology and the crimson embarrassment covering her face, Snape gave a slight nod and shifted his gaze back toward the volume in his hands. Even though his dark, hazy orbs returned to the written words, his mind was elsewhere now. Try as he might, Blair could not force his focus to the subject of potion-making for more than a few brief moments. Alas, his revision session had been entirely ruined!