A/N: This story came to me in a dream. No really, it did. It was so weird, like, it was complete, in story form and everything. But I forgot the girl's name, so I just made one up. Whatever, that wasn't even important.

Oh yes, this is also pre-trio.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She was weird to them. No one really knew why she was in Gryffindor. She certainly wasn't a Hufflepuff. But, she was so intelligent and pushed herself harder than the normal seventeen year olds, which would have placed her in Ravenclaw. Most of her characteristics would have placed her in Slytherin. Very logical, and loyal to anyone who was kind to her. The only thing that kept her from that house was the fact that she was a half-blood. Muggle father, witch mother. Though, she did have one strong Gryffindor quality, and that was bravery. The Gryffindor bravery. The kind where you do something with good intentions, but you don't necessarily think before you act. Some may call it stupidity at times. It was a weakness, but yet a strength in itself.

So, having so few of the qualities that make Gryffindors get along so well, she was weird to them.

Her name was Juliette, and she had transferred from Durmstrang for her last year of schooling. Her father, a muggle, took up a job in London. So she had no choice but to move to London with him, and decided it was best to go to a school that was closer. Normally, she would have gone to live with her mother, since she lived closer to Durmstrang, but her father would not allow it. Her mother was a sinister person, a very loyal Death Eater he said. They divorced soon after her birth, and her father took her. Her mother said the Dark Lord's calling would not allow her to spend her time tending to a child. Her father was always afraid of her mother coming to kill them. She was aware of who her mother was, but she never spoke of her, ever. It not only put her in danger, but her father, and everyone around her. If anyone knew who her mother was...... She just couldn't even think about it.

Juliette pushed herself as far as she could go in every subject, making her a favorite among all the teachers. Well, for the most part. There was one class she worked extra hard in, but there was never a real reaction from the teacher. Juliette had a true interest in Potions. She loved the fact that it involved real thinking, and she definitely had a knack for it. A true passion that was hard to miss. She figured he never praised her for her efforts, like he did to other students, because she was from a rival house. She slowly began to realize the ways of all the teachers. Which ones were okay to talk to, which ones favored their houses, and so on. She found it easiest to talk to Professor McGonagall, and luckily, the head of her house, though she was very strict and fair. She knew Professor Sprout to be very easy to get points from for correct answers. She that she could easily be Professor Flitwick's pet if she just helped him carry his books to his desk once in a while. And she knew Professor Snape to be a bit intimidating (nothing she couldn't handle), hard to please, to favor his own house....... and to have some mysterious aura about him.

She wanted to please him. She wanted him to look at her and be proud. Her cursed father had to be muggle. She had to be in Gryffindor where everyone looked at her and rolled their eyes. She just had to be this way. She wanted him to see her so badly. She wasn't sure if she liked the challenge he presented her with, or if there was something more behind those beady black eyes that she wanted to find. Whatever it was, there was something that made her feel so competitive when he walked by to check her simmering concoction. It was a feisty feeling, almost aggression. He smiled at a girl with long blonde braids from his own house, and she felt rage. He gave 5 points to a zit-faced Slytherin boy, and she felt jealousy. It was something that fluttered and burned deep inside her every time his robes billowed out behind him as he waltzed around the classroom. It was a feeling she'd never had before, even at 17. But it wasn't love. Not necessarily. She realized it could just be the feeling of wanting. She wanted every teacher to love her. She pleaded for the attention she never received from a single working father. And the one teacher that wasn't giving her the sensation of being adored was the teacher of the one subject that she happened to excel in.

A month passed, and still she could never get a single nod of satisfaction from him. But, at least he never said anything to signal that she was incorrect. It was progress from the notions that her fellow Gryffindors got from him as he glanced into their cauldron. She also hadn't made many friends. Well, actually she hadn't really made any. Most people either hated her for how antisocial she was, or hated her for her intellect, because perhaps they used to be the beloved teacher's pet before she came along. But she wouldn't settle for being a second thought in a teacher's mind. It was her before everyone else. Most people would call that selfishness. She just considered it drive.

She also enjoyed asking Professor McGonagall difficult advanced questions that supposedly were beyond a normal student's level of thinking. Therefore, she would read a lot of books recommended by her to answer the questions all at once. And reading those books often started a lot of interesting conversations between student and professor.

I am often amazed by how much you understand in my class, Ms. Morris, McGonagall said one day to her after class. I'm very excited you came to Hogwarts. Oh, how I wish I had more students who applied themselves as much as you. Did you read the book I recommended?Yes, I did! Juliette said, taking a seat in a nearby desk. I was so shocked when I read the chapter on the different levels of animagi molecules. I had no idea! I'm really quite fascinated by animagi in general.Then maybe you will register yourself as an animagus one day? asked McGonagall, looking out at her keening through her spectacles.

I might, actually, she replied. I love the idea, I truly do. I just have no idea what I would transform into!

Professor McGonagall smiled, and leaned her chin on both palms. Deciding really is the tricky part. I don't even remember why I chose a cat. I was young back then, but I'm still pleased with the decision. I think I just loved the idea of always being able to land on my feet!A very nice skill to have, said Juliette in agreement. I should choose an insect or something!

They laughed comfortably. Then, Juliette's smile faded.

May I ask you something? she said, looking a bit unsettled. I don't really have anyone else to ask. I would ask one of my friends, if I had any, and I would ask my mom, if she wasn't...... Well yeah, I suppose you are the only person I could really ask.Of course, what is it Ms. Morris?I'm really quite confused about these feelings I have towards this person. I like to..... to please people, and this person is very hard to please. I don't know if I get this weird feeling from the fact that I want to please him..... Or maybe do I want to please him for a different reason. Am I making any sense at all?A bit, though a very vague bit of information you gave me. So you're saying maybe you don't want to please this person just for the sake of pleasing him? Maybe there are some feelings of attraction?Yes! That exactly. I don't know if it's attraction or not. I just don't know anymore.Well, I really don't know what to tell you. Only you can decide what you feel, I can't feel for you, Ms. Morris. But to me, it sounds like you do like him.

She looked up, and blushed violently.

So, who is it? she asked, genuine curiosity shinning in her eyes.

This just made her blush harder as she whispered the words, Professor Snape, under her breath.

Professor Snape, she said irritably, but then covered her mouth, eyes wide.

But Professor McGonagall just laughed, which made her smile.

I can understand that..... sort of. Maybe you just see him differently. You see something inside, perhaps. But I would be careful, and don't expect any type of relationship. The last thing we need is for him to get let go, and for you to get expelled.I know, I know! Don't worry, I don't expect anything. I don't, really. But in her mind, she knew that if she did love him, she wouldn't settle for no expectations. She expected something to happen, but she just didn't know what.