It was cold and pouring down rain at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Severus Snape sat in his dungeon office, a fire blazing to his back and raindrops pelting his half buried window. A teacher's assistant. How could Dumbledoor do this to him? Was it not enough that he had been denied the Defense Against the Dark Arts job for so many years? Was it really necessary to add insult to injury by sticking him with a bright eyed bushy tailed nauseatingly happy twenty one year old girl who would be following his every move and interrupting his classes? It was not the first time Snape had wondered if his life could possibly go any more wrong. As he sat with his head in his palm, eyeing a book without reading it, he heard a rap at his thick wooden door.

"What is it," Snape spat without looking up.

"It's Dumbledoor, Severus. I've come to shepherd you up to the start of term banquet."

'I regret to inform you that I will be unable to attend your charming gala. But here's an idea. Why don't you have my new assistant represent me?"

As Snape was speaking, Dumbledoor had opened the door without being invited and helped himself to a seat across the way from Snape's mahogany desk. "Severus, will you ever outgrow these temper tantrums? I brought Selene here to help you, as well as to remove her from a perilous situation."

"Headmaster, I doubt that anything could be as perilous as being appointed to me against my will."

"I'll not have threats, Severus."

"You know I'm only half serious."

"It makes no difference. I'll leave it up to Selene to tell you the details of her past if she wishes, but for now suffice it to say that the things that you're 'only half serious' about are things that others have been all too serious about. Selene has had a hard go of it Severus, and you will do well to remember that she is to be treated with the utmost respect."

Snape sulked at these words. Although his interest was piqued – what exactly had happened to this girl that had been so terrible – he was incensed at having to treat anyone with respect. At this rate she'd be treated better than anyone who had ever had the misfortune of crossing his path.

"Do I make myself clear," Dumbledoor asked, his voice full of intent.

"Most certainly," Snape answered sulkily.

"Very well then," Dumbledoor concluded, his spirits immediately lifted. "Off we go then."

"Off we go. Woo hoo," Snape muttered to himself.