Leah Hightower was deep in the throes of nostalgia. She had not set foot in Hogwarts since her N.E.W.T.s, and here she was walking the halls again, eight years later. She was carrying a professional-looking leather binder full of papers, and more than a bit excited that it was the first day of her new job. Every time Madam Pomfrey needed something, Leah volunteered to chase it down, each errand taking her to different parts of the castle where she could reminisce to herself about her time there, gawk at the students (was I ever that young? she asked herself) and gaze at familiar portraits and architecture.

She was still turning her head at every corner as her feet flew down the hall, her robes billowing out behind her. This particular errand took her deeper and deeper into the bottom of the castle, until at last she had reached the dungeon corridor. She shivered a little. On the upper floors she had felt so much older and stronger, but now here, even as a confident, professional woman and full-fledged witch, she could still vividly remember the trepidation and gloominess that seemed to permeate every part of the dungeon area.

Turning another corner, she spied her destination: his office. She wondered if he would remember her. The door was open, and so she tipped her head around the door post and looked in. Severus Snape was seated at his desk, testing potions. He looked just as she had remembered him-long black hair, long black robes, no skin visible but his white face and hands. He looked up and saw her and she quickly took that as her cue to enter.

"Good morning, Professor Snape!" she said cheerfully, and she waltzed in.

"Who are you?" he asked, skeptically.

"My name is Leah Hightower. I've just started working here. You had me as a student, if you remember?"

A light of realization seemed to dawn on him. "Ah, yes, I do remember you. You did quite well in my N.E.W.T. class, if I recall."

"Yes, I did," she smiled modestly.

"So what are you doing back here?" he asked, not unkindly, but not warmly either. His face was stony as always. She should have known not to count on a smile or a handshake after all this time. This was Professor Snape, after all.

"I am an assistant healer in the infirmary. But I'm also working as something of a liaison between Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout. I'll be handling inventory as far as plants and any other ingredients go. So, I was wondering if you had a minute so I could go over the new order forms with you, since I'm sure you'll be using them quite a bit."

"I suppose so," he allowed. "I'm teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, so my orders will be smaller, but still necessary."

"Oh, goodness, I didn't realize that! Is this your first year at it?"

"Yes."

"Who has potions now?"

"Professor Slughorn has come out of retirement. He would have been before your time."

"Ah, okay. I've heard stories." There was a pause. "Anyway, I'll show you the form."

Leah walked up to his desk as he moved his potion out of the way to allow her to place a paper down in front of him. She held it upside down to her and deftly pointed and explained each box and requirement quickly, knowing that he was following her closely, his dark eyes darting after her finger and taking in everything she said. It gave her an odd kind of pleasure to suddenly play the role of teacher to him even for a few moments, after so many classes where she had felt she was barely keeping up with his knowledgeable, fast-moving instructions. But she knew he had prepared her well for her future work.

"Does that make sense?" she asked, almost breathless by the end of it.

"Yes, it seems straightforward enough. When do I need to start using these?"

"Today. That's why I brought a whole stack of them for you." She opened up her folder and handed the papers to him.

"I see." He took them and placed them on the other side of his desk.

"Madam Pomfrey has more, or you can always let me know when you're getting low when I'm down here making deliveries."

"Yes, of course."

She paused for a moment. He stared at her.

"Well," she fumbled. "I guess that's all. Uh, see you later." She smiled and left the office.

That was an awkward exit, she said to herself as she walked back down the hallway, her shoes clicking loudly on the stone floors.

Out of everything she had been reminded of on this lovely first day back at Hogwarts, Professor Snape was certainly still the most mysterious.