"Today's the big day." Charly whispered to herself as she packed a few last minute things. She was going to Hogwarts for the first time, but not as a student. She was going to be a teaching assistant, and this was her first time in England. She had excelled at Potions and History of Magic, but the potions professor was the one who had requested an assistant. Charly was required to undergo a thorough background check in order to get the job. The staff had asked many questions about her past and whether or not she was or ever had been associated with the Death Eaters. She finished packing and then apparated to Platform nine and three-quarters. She was fifteen minutes early and found an empty compartment in the back of the train. Charly made herself comfortable and saw a flurry of students rushing to the doors as the horn tooted. While she was staring out of her window two boys knocked on the compartment door.
"Excuse me? Do you mind if we sit here?" the messy-haired boy asked.
"Not at all." Charly replied and the two boys sat down, "My name is Charly Chip."
"My name is Harry Potter, and this is Neville Longbottom." He said and Charly merely smiled. She of course knew the importance of Harry, but she did not want to make him feel uncomfortable.
"What year are you in?" Neville asked curiously and Charly stared blankly at him.
"Are you in your 7th year?" Harry added and then Charly started laughing.
"Ha ha, that's very flattering boys!" she laughed and noticed their confused expressions, "I'm going to be an assistant to one of the professors."
"Ohhhhh…then what are you going to be teaching?" Neville asked once he understood what she meant.
"Potions with…I think it's Professor Snape." She said and Harry groaned.
"Snape is the worst professor at Hogwarts." He mumbled and Neville nodded.
"Aw, he can't be that bad!" Charly tried to lighten the mood, but Harry shook his head.
"But he is. He doesn't like anyone who isn't in Slytherin, and he doesn't give us a chance for effort." Harry explained and Charly's stomach churned.
"Could he really be that bad?" she thought to herself then said, "Well, I'll do my best to help you then." And with that, the two boys smiled. The trolley eventually made it to their compartment and they each bought their own candy. Harry and Neville gave Charly the inside scoop on Hogwarts as the train ride progressed, but towards the end the boys left to change into their robes.
"We'll see you at the feast." Harry said as he was leaving.
"You'll love it." Neville commented and then they were gone. Charly looked at she was wearing herself, and saw a purple dress with a white cardigan. She cast a spell on the door to lock it, and another to make sure no one could see inside. As fast as she could, she changed into her best black robes and by the time she finished the train was slowing down. Charly took the charms off the door and bolted to the closest exit. She was the first one off the train and since she was a professor, in a sense, she was transported into the castle before any student stepped foot on the grounds. Charly walked through the enormous double doors into the entry hall and was greeted by Professor McGonagall.
"May I help you?" she asked and Charly was a bit surprised that she didn't already know her.
"Um…hello, my name is Charly Chip. I'm the assistant for potions." She said, and in return received an awkward smile.
"Welcome to Hogwarts…erm…if you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to Severus." McGonagall said and, of course, Charly obeyed. The pair strolled into the Great Hall and Charly was in awe as she looked around. At the front of the room was a long table, and they stopped in front of it.
"Ahem…Severus, this is your assistant." She said and Charly looked at the man that stood before her. He was a good three inches taller than her with pale skin and jet black hair.
"Hello," Charly squeaked putting her hand out, but Snape just looked at her skeptically.
"I thought 'Charlie' was a male name." he said coldly.
"My real name is Charlotte, but I've been called Charly throughout my whole life." She said slightly turning pink and putting her hand back at her side, but then students started coming into the castle. Snape pointed to the seat next to him, and Charly sat down graciously. She watched as the students sat down at their tables and noticed a few taking notice of her and pointing with their friends. After everyone was sitting, a group of very short students followed Professor McGonagall to the front of the staff table. They were each sorted into their houses and then the feast started when Dumbledore clapped his hands twice. Food appeared in front of Charly, and her heart leapt. She made sure everyone else around her had food on their plates before she took some for herself.
"Are you skilled at potions?" Snape asked suddenly and Charly nodded.
"I received top marks in America." She replied, but there was silence in return. It stayed like that between the two the rest of their meal. Charly glanced over at Snape every once in a while, but he didn't seem to notice. Once everyone had finished eating, Dumbledore stood up and nobody spoke.
"Now that we have had yet another wonderful feast I think it wise to give a few announcements. First years will recognize that the dark forest is out of bounds." He announced and continued with a list from Argus Filch. "You will also notice there is a new face upon us, here, at the staff table. Ms. Chip – please stand up – will be assisting Professor Snape in potions." All the students clapped and a few cat calls could be heard. Harry and Neville waved at her and she gave a quick wave of acknowledgment before sitting back down. The students started going back to their dormitories, but Charly was too busy looking at Snape. He was quite intimidating, and the Harry's previous warning was ringing in her head.
"Ms. Chip please follow me." He said with no emotion, trying to ignore the fact that she was blatantly staring at him. Charly followed him down into the dungeons and then into a spacious dormitory. One wall was covered in shelves with books galore, while the other with bottles and vials of potions. There were also two beds, each at one side of the room. Snape noticed her gawking at the books, rolled his eyes, and sighed, "I was expecting a man, but if you would like I could conjure up a wall around your bed." Charly naively took this as a challenge.
"No, no need for a wall. I can handle it." She said and then added, "Unless you need a wall." Snape was a bit taken aback at this comment, but just scoffed.
"I assure you, I can handle much more than you." His lips curled into a cynical smile, but she wouldn't let her confidence falter. She started unpacking her clothes into one of the dressers and continued talking to Snape.
"So, what do you plan on teaching for the first lesson?" she asked as she closed her suitcase.
"I usually do a short review to see what they remember from the previous year, but for the first years I just make them take notes." Snape explained and eyed Charly. She nodded and then sat down on her bed.
"And how do you grade the students?" she asked remembering Harry's comment earlier.
"Unlike most, I grade them on comprehension rather than completion…or, as some would call it, effort." He retorted, and Charly sensed that he knew something.
"Well, how do you know if they really comprehend it," Charly started to ask, but Snape cut her off.
"Are you the new Rita Skeeter, Ms. Chip?"
"No need to snap. Just a question." Charly mumbled and then went into the bathroom to change. She looked around and saw a dark, dreary room with a sink, toilet, and a large shower tub. Charly changed into a two-piece pajama set, brushed her teeth, and stepped out of the bathroom. Snape was nowhere to be found, but she just put her dirty garments into the hamper. "I wonder where he is…" she thought to herself as she crawled into bed. She yawned the idea away until Snape came in and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later he emerged from the bathroom in his black pajamas, and blew out the candles that lit the room. He got into his bed as quietly as possible, thinking Charly was asleep, and adjusted himself under the covers.
"Goodnight Professor." She said loudly breaking the silence, and laughed quietly.
"Goodnight Ms. Chip." He replied and eventually the two of them fell asleep.