Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter or any characters, places, objects, spells, etc. associated with it, nor do I profit from the use of them. But Marya Nadine is my character, and if you take her from me, DOOM ON YOU!

"Another Side to Snape"

Chapter 1

Professor Snape strode into the classroom, uncharacteristically early and very angry. He was going to face Potter for the first time since he had caught him looking into his Pensieve. Potter was lucky he hadn't been murdered for what he'd seen. Snape tried to put the thought from his head. As he looked around at the class, he spotted Potter scribbling with his quill.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. Would you like to bring that parchment up to me?" he asked evilly. Potter looked at Weasley and slowly stood, then made his way to the front of the class.

"Sorry, Professor," he muttered, then returned to his seat.

"Indeed," mocked Snape. "Malfoy, would you care to come here and read this note aloud? I seem to have forgotten my glasses."

Malfoy, knowing full well that Snape didn't need his glasses to read the note, jumped up.

"Well, sir, it looks as though Potter started the note with, 'D'you think Snape is sick?' and then Weasley wrote, 'I hope so. Maybe he's come down with the mumps.' and then Potter wrote..." he paused, making a show of squinting at the paper. "Then Potter wrote, ' Promise you won't tell anyone I fancy Hermudblood?'" he lied.

"That's enough, Draco, thank you." said Snape, snatching the paper from his hand and muttering a spell which incinerated it. "Today we will be attempting to create a Pacideer Potion, named after the infamous Bartok Pacideer. The potion that he created is intended to turn objects any color you desire, but I doubt most of you will get very far..."

Marya Nadine looked up at Professor Snape. She sometimes daydreamed that he would profess his never-ending love to her, but she knew that would never happen. Vaguely aware that Draco had called Snape's attention, Marya molested Snape with her eyes. He ran his fingers through his greasy black hair as he explained to Malfoy the difference between making a black Pacideer Potion and a grey one. Marya let a small sigh escape her lips. She loved him, in every way, and it made her miserable to know that their love would never be.

"Psst," whispered the girl next to her, "did you hear Malfoy call Granger a mudblood? And Snape didn't even say anything! Can you believe it? I can't. What d'you think will happen if she tells? D'you think Snape will get in trouble or just Malfoy? Isn't Draco just adorable? I wish he liked me like he likes you... you do know he likes you, don't you? I heard he's going to ask you out. D'you think he will? What'll you say? Will you-"

The girl didn't get to finish her question, because Marya pointed her wand at her and whispered an incantation that turned the girl's mouth into a giant zipper, which was stuck shut.

"Ms. Djak, what have you done to Ms. Blair?" intoned Snape as he sighed and approached their table.

"Aberos Demezzos," he muttered, and Pearl Blair's mouth returned to normal.

"She did that! Yell at her! Suspend her! Give her detention! Do some-" she yelled, but was cut off when Snape raised his hand to quiet her.

"How long have you been teaching here at Hogwarts, Ms. Blair?" he asked.

"I haven't. I'm only a fifth year," she replied, hanging her head.

"Then I think it's safe to say that I know what I'm talking about and that you can rest assured that I will not disregard my duties as a Professor every time a teeny injustice befalls you, young lady. Now I don't want to hear another word from you the rest of this class. Is that understood?"

The girl nodded, her head still hung.

"Ms. Djak, you shall stay after class." stated Snape, and he headed towards the front of the classroom. "Now, students, if you would all pass up your homework scrolls, I will collect them and you may be on your way."

As the rest of the class shuffled around to retrieve their scrolls from their knapsacks, Marya remained still.

"No homework, Ms. Djak?" he asked with mock surprise. She replied with a mere shake of her head.

"You haven't had your homework for ages," he reprimanded. "I want to see you after class."

"You're already keeping me after class," she said.

"You can stay in my office all day, if you like," he threatened, and then began collecting homework.

"I would," she whispered, to softly for anyone to hear, "I really truly would."

Snape looked down at the fifth year girl sitting in his office. He was surprised with himself; he had never before been so outwardly disappointed in a Slytherin.

"Marya, you are one of my brightest students. As such, I expect a lot more effort from you than what you've been displaying lately. You have not handed in any homework in the past three weeks. It is completely unacceptable. Why do you ignore Potions, Ms. Djak? I thought you liked my class."

"I do...it's my favorite." she replied.

"Then why do you insist on ignoring your work? Perhaps it's me that you don't like." Snape continued.

"No...you're my favorite teacher." she answered.

"Then why, Marya? Is there no explanation?" he asked.

Marya didn't answer. In truth, she had not been doing any homework lately...not for any of her classes. How could she, with all these thoughts of Snape dancing through her head? He haunted her, and she wanted only to be with him. But she could never tell him that. Never.

"A response might be nice, Ms. Djak."

"I don't know, sir." she murmured.

"Well, you had better figure it out, Ms. Djak. In the meantime, I must think of a suitable punishment for you. Detention, I think. Every night this week."

"No! I mean, how am I to make up any homework if I have detention?" she argued.

"That's precisely my point...during the detention I shall help you to complete your homework. But you may also help me to organize my Supply Cabinet." he said with a tone of finality.

"Starting tonight?"

"Yes. Now, about that stunt you pulled in class today, I highly -" Snape was cut off by screams that were coming towards his classroom. Pearl Blair ran into the room, red in the face.

"Sir, my sister, Alina, she- eew... blisters all over her...Malfoy...Help!" she gasped.

"Excuse me, Ms. Djak." Snape called on his way out the door.

Marya sat and waited. It had been several minutes and Snape had not returned. She got up and began pacing the classroom.

"Do sit down, Ms. Djak!" Snape said as he reentered the room. Daegana was so startled that she fell face-first into Snape's Pensieve. She saw all the things that Harry Potter had seen the previous day; Harry's father, Lupin and Black, and - worst of all - the bit with Snape suspended upside down in the air.

Before she knew what was happening, Snape had pulled her back into his office.

To be continued...