Dark Tower

All characters contained in the story, belong to JK Rowling and company.

Chapter One: Staff meeting

Jessica Brown had been employed at Hogwarts for the last three months and as she sat through another long and heated staff meeting, she couldn't help but sigh. The Potions masters was again making off-handed remarks about everything possible. Students mostly, but some were directed toward her in particular. She had been asked to apprenticeship with professor Sprout, sincePomona had made a few comments about wanting to retire at some point. Headmaster Dumbledore had taken her words seriously enough to get her an apprentice, so she could show someone the 'ropes' around the place. That someone, was her.

When she graduated from Hogwarts, a few years back, she had gotten an "O" in Herbology and Potions.Her interest in plants and their magical powers hadmanifested itself. So had her personal loathingfor the Potions Master, who had done his best to pester and drive her insane while in his class. Being part of Hufflepuff hadn't helped her in any way, in his eyes anyway. But she had doggedly gone through the course, determined to get the best grade she could get from the great big bat. Or so she called him then...

But now, as an adult, he had treated her with only indifference and sometimes, a thinly veiled animosity, which she couldn't explain. Her knowledge of plants was excellent and up to par,servicing the potions department whenever needed, with professional care and courtesy.

Her attention drifted back to the meeting. Dumbledore was explaining something to Snape, but he was still ranting about some misdemeanour she had committed. Lifting a well arched brow at him, she couldn't help but smile at him. He was really a "git", as the students usually loved to call him. She turned to Minerva on her left; "Does he really have to go on about it like that? What a terrible personI must be, to warrant such attacks." Minerva had been trying, unsuccessfully, to keep her anger in check when it came to Snape's little tantrums. She had told him numerous times to keep a civil tongue in that head of his, but he had ignored her again and again. The Head gryffindor was getting a little hot under the collar by this time.

"The man is getting a little too arrogant. I wish Albus would end this meeting already. I just want to go to my room, kick off my shoes and maybe have a large firewhiskey. Hopefully, I canforget the whole evening.", she shook her head, then looking back at Jessica, "I'm truly sorry about his behaviour. I don't know what is going on with him these days. He doesn't usually attack fellow staff members like that, usually...", she didn't sound too convincing at this point. Jessica merely nodded her head at the older witch.

Another half hour hadpassed, when Albus closed the meeting. Everyone wastrying toexitthe room rather quickly, including Jessica. But as shewas leaving, the Headmaster called her back in. She groaned inwardlyat his request, but turned on her heel and went back in. "Yes, Headmaster, you wanted to see me?" She asked quietly, her head had started to pound away earlier in the evening, but now it felt like a throng of trolls banging inside her head. She smiled weakly at him, wishing she had a headache potion right now.

The old mans eyes twinkled at her, before he spoke in a low voice to her. "So my dear, how has your return to Hogwarts been?" He motioned her to a couple of low, squashy chairs in a corner. With a wave of his wand, a tea set appeared with a few scones in a plate. He served her a cup of rather strong tea andit hit the spot very well, though she still longed for a certain potion at the moment.

"It has gone well professor, better thanI had anticipated. Apart from a few people, everyone has been quite gracious and helpful. Professor Sprout is a lovely person to work with. I couldn't have chosen a better Herbology Master to learn from." He nodded his head as she spoke, sipping his tea thoughtfully.

"Very good, I'm happy to hear about that my dear." He shifted in his chair and cleared his voice before asking her something else. "And, I am assuming the rest of the staff has been as lovely? As you just said." She knew what he was asking about. The Potions Master's animosity had been anything but discrete and the wizened old man wanted to know why it even existed.

"Most have been a charm to deal with Headmaster. Yes, most have been very agreeable." She tried to avoid his gaze,not wanting to talk about'him'.

Albus had a shrewd look in his eyes now. "Come now, let usbe totally truthful. I have noticed that our Potions Master has been less than courteous with you, since your arrival here. Why is that? ...Scone?" He asked politely as he passed the plate to her. She took one pastry, but merely tore it into little pieces on her own plate. After a moment of awkward silence, she decided to confide herself to him.

"Professor...Albus, I don't understand why he's been so rude to me. I have done nothing to merit this treatment. I've always been most civil and courteous when dealing with him. But still, he comes out lashing at me. I'm at wits end to understand his motivations."

Albus bent over and patted her on the hand: "Ahh...Severus is a very interesting man, of many different moods and motivations." He looked at her as he took back his seat. He considered her words for a moment, then said. "Jessica, I've explained to you his involvement around Hogwarts and the Order. Sometimes, his 'other' activities do tint his ...uhm...interactions with those around him." She stared at him with a look of disbelief. "I'm sorry Albus, but he doesn't seem to be this aggressive with anyone else but me. Even whenI was a student here, he was often quite harsh with me. I thought it was becauseI wasn't from his own house. But now,I don't know anymore." She shrugged her shoulders.

She got up and looked at Dumbledore. "I'm sorry, butI can't forgive his behaviour toward me. HadI been wrong about something, maybeI would of understood." Her eyes reflected the regret she felt, "I'll just keep out of his way for now on, as much asI can. Hopefully, one day he'll be a little more accepting."

"Jessica...", the old man said, "I'm sure it's a simple misunderstanding."

She went to the door andlooked over her shoulder. "Thank you for the tea Albus. I need to forget about this whole evening. Have a good night Headmaster."She left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. She started to walk toward her rooms, unknowingly being looked upon, from the shadows of the corridor.