A/N: All characters in this story (other than my own OC creations) are the property of JKR. I am happily borrowing her wonderful world. Updated 072812

Chapter 2 – A Potion's Lesson

October arrived with unusually pleasant weather, the Whomping Willow having changed its shading gradually to a beautiful saffron yellow. The forests and hills surrounding the school had followed suit allowing the landscape to display a plethora of rustic colors. With the crispness of fall definitely in the air, the students and teachers of Hogwarts began to look forward to a stimulating weekend of autumn enjoyment, and Andrea was no exception. In fact, she was particularly eager.

Early on, Andrea discovered the local wizarding village of Hogsmeade situated only a short distance away from the school grounds, and due to similar interests, she'd made friends with the owner of a newly opened wand shop. With the weekend upon her, and the sun shining brightly in a cloudless sky, Andrea decided it was time to visit her new friend.

"You're a tough little lady, I'll say that for you," Russell Plover admitted. He watched as Andrea's eyes lit up warily. She loved a challenge, and the shop owner certainly fit the bill.

The owner of Russell's Wand Emporium was a young, capable wizard who'd moved recently to Hogsmeade from his home in New Zealand. Like Andrea, Russell hadn't yet made many acquaintances, but he wanted very much to know this beautiful and talented wand maker. Agreeing to accept Andrea's handcrafted wands on a consignment basis, Russell hoped to take advantage of a situation that could bring him both personal and financial success, at least that was his hope. After some stiff but pleasant negotiations, the two finally came to terms.

"You sure strike a hard bargain," he continued, his dark blue eyes laced with a lively teasing sparkle.

"Yes, I do drive a hard bargain, and my wands are worth it," Andrea assured him. "Just look at this one." Proudly she showed him one of her creations as she ran her finger gently along the intricately carved tool. "Your customers are going to love these. After word gets around, you'll have people camping out on your doorstep to get one."

Andrea continued to explain the special features of each wand, and while she talked, Russell was using the opportunity to move closer. Carefully, Andrea flicked her eyes in his direction. His looks, she observed, were quite charming, his eyes a vortex of complexity as they gazed at her from beneath a mop of thick, curly brown hair. Most women, she thought, would have viewed him as somewhere between good looking and handsome, but despite his physical appeal, his persistence made her uneasy. In an effort to be cautious, Andrea took a half step back and placed the sample wand on the table between them.

Russell wasn't looking at the wand at all. Instead, he was busy gazing at Andrea's moist lips and the curve of her shapely body. "Yes, very attractive," he murmured. With an easy, practiced movement, he reached out to touch her hand, but Andrea pulled the wand back, intent on showing him another example of her work.

"I can add almost any decoration, but sometimes the metal work gives me a bit of trouble," she admitted.

"These look fine to me," Russell smiled and leaned in again, his nose catching a generous whiff of her jasmine perfume.

Andrea stared up at him uneasily only to realize with surprise that Russell had bridged the gap between them. Although he'd moved close enough to attempt a kiss, he hesitated, allowing a heated look to communicate his intentions.

Annoyed by the man's advances, Andrea felt a sudden blush of anger rise steadily to her already pink cheeks. Up until now, Russell had been a perfect gentleman, but his intentions had clearly strayed. With flashing eyes she took a step back. Why couldn't men take her seriously? They all seemed to have the same objective, getting a bit of easy trim. She'd never fallen for it before, and she'd be darned if she'd do it now. Before Russell could make another move, Andrea had slipped away.

"Hey, what's the hurry?" he asked.

"Oh, I just remembered," she lied, barely managing to hold her temper. "I have to get back to the school, but thanks … thanks for—"

"Being such a helpful bloke?" Russell grinned back. Observing her reddened face, he couldn't help but smile. He must have made quite an impression on the lady. Either that, or she was as shy as a dormouse.

Andrea rolled her eyes, and without another word, she disappeared out the door. Merlin, he thought, shaking his head, she sure is pretty.

As the weeks went by, Russell's business began to grow, and thanks to his easygoing personality he'd found a multitude of clients. In no time at all, the entire village had taken him under their wing, and the shop was quickly bustling with activity. Andrea too, had reason to be optimistic. The initial swell of business was a hopeful indicator that the season would be a good one. Unfortunately, as their partnership became more established, Andrea grew increasingly intolerant of Russell's flirting. She wasn't at all interested, but Russell was a persistent man.

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For the second time that month, Andrea found she needed to restock her ever-diminishing classroom supplies, and it had to be done that afternoon in preparation for the next day's lesson. After packing several boxes of wand-making materials from the stock cupboard, she proceeded carefully back to her workshop, levitating the awkward load with her wand. She would have easily completed her task if not for the approaching stampede.

Startled by the sound of trampling feet, Andrea glanced up to see an energetic group of Hufflepuffs tearing down the main corridor. Unable to stop, the group of bodies slammed headlong into the Wand mistress, their momentum causing a dangerous chain reaction. Andrea could only watch as the contents of her precious storage boxes exploded. They flew across the stone floor in a horizontal blast looking oddly like a barrage of flattened fireworks. By the time the debris settled, the students had already fled, and Andrea was left flat on her back. From her rather ungainly position on the floor, she looked up to see Severus leaning lazily against the wall, his arms crossed and a slight smirk set upon his angular features.

"Do you just invite trouble or does it follow you like a swarm of flies?" Severus asked with a glint in his eyes. Clearly, he was enjoying the spectacle in front of him. "Perhaps if you'd applied some discipline, your students would learn to be more careful. On the other hand, perhaps you enjoy having a score of unruly dunderheads run you down like a herd of elephants?"

"They didn't run me down; they just ran into me. And they are not my students. I don't even recognize them," Andrea replied with some irritation.

"As you say," Snape said almost lazily as he scanned the mess. With a flick of his wand, he wordlessly began to replace the spilled material back into the proper boxes. Andrea was quick to assist and soon the task was complete. Afterward, she brushed off her robes and stood up to look him straight in the eye.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "You didn't have to do that."

"On the contrary. From what I've observed, you seem to have a talent for causing mishaps. A hazard like this left unattended is a baited trap for the unsuspecting," he explained as if speaking to a child. "It needed immediate attention."

"Well, thank you for pointing that out," she replied sarcastically. "I suppose you could do better?"

"Of course. A direct reprimand would have been the proper course of action. At the very least the guilty parties would have been made to clean up their path of destruction saving us the trouble. Did you even think to try?"

"No, I did not," she replied. "I was a little busy." The frustration that had gripped her only moments before, however, was quickly evaporating, and in its place, she felt a grin erupt on her face as she returned his challenging gaze. For the life of her, she couldn't understand why she suddenly felt like laughing.

"Too bad, it seems they have gotten away," he teased, seeming to enjoy her discomfort.

Andrea collected the boxes again and began to levitate them, but as she prepared to go, she noticed that Severus had quietly stepped closer. With his cloak drawn tightly around his body, he stood at arms length silently staring back at her. Perhaps it was the look in his glittering black eyes, or the firm set of his jaw that made her stomach squirm like a worm on a hot griddle. His closeness was affecting her much more than she expected.

Merlin, she thought, his gaze is so intense. With great determination, she tried to shake off the unfamiliar feeling of desire that suddenly flowed through her body and regain control of herself. But as she looked into those dark, glistening eyes, she began to feel oddly warm. Shocked by the intensity of her body's reaction, she quickly looked away.

"Well, thank you anyway," Andrea said politely, forcing herself to remain calm. "I … ah … I'd better be getting back to my workshop. If you'll excuse me, Professor." She moved to the side to walk past him, but in doing so, she couldn't help but look again into his coal black eyes. The resulting surge of attraction took her breath away.

Severus's only response was a slightly raised eyebrow. He waited only a moment more, but the delay caused Andrea's heart to skip a beat. She couldn't move. Instead, she watched him in silence as he turned and strode quickly away, his cloak fluttering ominously behind him.

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The success of Andrea's wand sales at Russell's shop had created a frustrating backlog of orders. Although welcome, it was difficult to manage. Between teaching and wand creation responsibilities, Andrea found she had little free time left. The best part of the situation was that the work kept her hands busy and her mind off of Professor Snape.

As Halloween approached, the Wand mistress decided to mix a bit of work with pleasure and began to look for a convenient outdoor testing area for her finished wands. She found one near an open patch of lawn behind the school, located next to a small garden. It contained the last of the season's flowers, and on this particular day, the beauty of it easily tempted her into the outside air.

It had been an altogether pleasant afternoon, but as she finished her work, an icy wind blew up across the lake. It came in a torturous series of gusts that spiraled around her like an angry tempest tearing ruthlessly at her clothes. She had no choice but to tuck the bundle of wands under her arm and head back inside, hastily drawing her hood over her head. In her haste, she rounded the corner only to come face to face with Professor Snape. Startled, she took a step backward.

"Professor Smith," he addressed her in a lazy drawl. "Are you determined, yet again, to cause another accident?" Andrea stopped dead in her tracks, quite conscious that she was only inches away from him. His expression dour, Snape took his time sweeping his eyes back and forth across her body like a dissecting pendulum.

"Severus, I didn't see you there," she replied breathlessly, her face red from the cold. Again his actions caused an unexpected feeling of desire to engulf her. The intensity of it made her gasp in surprise. What the heck was the matter with her, she thought? Perplexed, she tried to understand why he was in this corridor so far from the dungeons, and how had he known she'd be in the garden? Had he been spying on her?

"Evidently," he quipped, inexplicably answering her unvoiced question. As if to taunt her, she saw the traces of a smile hidden slyly in the corners of his mouth. "Are you in need of assistance?"

"No, I'm fine." Andrea said uncomfortably. Smiling shyly, she felt an uncomfortable blush rise to her cheeks.

Severus wasn't expecting the feeling that surged through him. He'd been ready for the usual verbal battle, but when he saw that smile, he felt a silly urge to return it. Just in time he suppressed the response and instead, simply continued to stare, his face unreadable. Mentally, he berated himself. He was acting weak, letting his emotions control his actions. That would never do.

"Well, thank you for asking. Good night," she said. Turning suddenly, she took off down the corridor almost running away in her haste.

Severus stood for quite some time staring at the empty hallway, deep in thought. Something had begun to stir inside him. Something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Although the sensation was quite pleasant, he fought to dismiss it. He had far too much on his mind to let a woman interfere with his work. Control, as always, was the key. Satisfied with his decision, he took one last look down the corridor before striding briskly away.

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The roast chicken that night had been wonderful. Along with the gravy and mashed potatoes, it was the perfect comfort food for such a blustery November evening. Tugging her shawl tightly around her shoulders, Andrea hurried back to her rooms after dinner anticipating the warm fire in her office and an evening of marking papers.

As soon as she opened the door, an agitated ball of fur fell onto her feet. It was her cat, Alex. Immediately, the Siamese began to rise before bounding away into the workshop, but as she watched him, she realized something was terribly wrong. The feline began to march in a circle. Over and over it wound itself around, until it could no longer stand. In a pitiful state, it fell helplessly onto the stone floor.

Concerned, Andrea picked up the cat and was pleased to hear the familiar purr, but when she examined the feline, its head continued to move in a circle as if spinning on a merry-go-round. Her first thought was to apply a common counter-jinx, but after casting the spell there was no reaction. Searching her memory, she tried a few more spells, but each one failed as miserably as the first. With the tip of her finger, she stroked the animal's fur trying to decide what to do next. Finally, she had an idea.

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"Madame Pomfrey?" Andrea called out into the deserted hospital wing.

"Yes," Poppy replied. "I'm in my office. Can I help you?" She met Andrea directly at the door.

"Good evening," Andrea began politely. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering …" she began before pausing to pull the skinny feline out of a large, plaid carpet bag. "Do you think you could help me with my cat? He's developed an odd sort of balance problem." Andrea set the animal on the desk, and it immediately started weaving.

"Yes, I can see that," Poppy agreed. "He doesn't look well at all, but I'm sorry. I don't think there's anything I can do. I'm not trained in animal care."

"Oh," Andrea replied sadly. "That's okay. I understand. Thank you anyway." She knew asking Poppy had been a long shot, but she had no idea where else to go.

"Really, I am sorry, but why don't you try Hagrid?" Poppy suggested. "He's quite knowledgeable when it comes to magical creatures, and I'm sure he's had a lot of experience with cats." Poppy smiled and patted Andrea's arm sympathetically.

Andrea nodded and placed the cat back in the bag, glancing at Poppy's office clock. "Do you think he'd mind? It's pretty late."

"I can't say, but I know he's up most nights. But, you should probably hurry."

"Okay, thanks," Andrea smiled and took off toward the door. Hagrid, she thought. That's an excellent idea.

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It was after ten o'clock by the time Andrea found her way down to the groundskeeper's hut. Carrying the animal awkwardly in her carpetbag, she rapped loudly on the door, anxious to get an answer.

"Well, hello there, Professor Smith," Hagrid greeted her with a welcoming smile. Pleased to have company, he ushered Andrea into his hut and offered her a large cup of tea sprinkled with a liberal dose of sugar. She picked up the oversized cup with both hands, and between sips of the strong mixture, Andrea described the situation to Hagrid.

"Do you think you can help him?" she asked.

"Well, blimey, I've not seen anythin' quite like that before," he confessed. "I've got nothin' to give the little feller, except maybe some warm milk."

"I'm sure he'd like that, but ..." she paused and sighed. Shaking her head sadly she stroked the cat's ear. "I'd better take him back. It's getting pretty late."

"Sorry I couldn't help," he apologized politely.

"Well, thank you anyway. It was worth a try." When Andrea rose to leave, Hagrid followed her to the door.

"You know, maybe you should try Professor Snape," Hagrid offered suddenly. "He's got a grand knowledge of potions, and lots o' real interestin' books from what I hear. I'm sure he'd know exactly what to do."

As soon as Hagrid mentioned Severus's name, Andrea felt an annoyingly warm blush explode on her cheeks. Drat, she thought. The physical attraction that she'd innocently begun to feel for the Potions master was starting to interfere with her day-to-day activities. This was ridiculous, she chastised herself. Somehow, Andrea knew she had to get a better grip on her emotions.

Once again, she thanked Hagrid and hurriedly marched through the door, ready to make her way back to the castle. It was quite late, but she hoped Severus would still be in his office. It wouldn't hurt to ask him.

With little hope, Andrea descended the long spiral staircase leading to the Potions classroom and Professor Snape's office. Expecting a cool welcome at best, Andrea took a deep breath, clamped down on her unreasonable emotions and knocked soundly on the door. As she waited, she began to wonder if Severus might have already gone to bed. But after a long minute, she heard his uniquely resonant voice cautiously answer, "Come in." Immediately, Andrea's optimistic nature rose to the surface. Perhaps after all, Severus hadn't minded the late interruption.

Confidently, she opened the door and walked in taking a quick glance around. Her eyes found him at once. At the back of the gloomy, candlelit room the Potions master sat writing behind a large, oak desk. The walls of his office, Andrea noticed, were covered with shelves that held numerous bottles of grotesque objects soaked in a myriad of colored liquids. In places not reserved for exotic specimens, the walls were crammed with old tomes and ancient texts. With a slight smile, Andrea surmised that Severus was indeed a neat and orderly man, almost to the point of obsession. Every bottle and book was meticulously labeled and placed in precise rows upon the shelves.

Hearing nothing from Andrea's mute entrance, Severus looked up and seemed almost surprised to see her. The scowl gracing his face only moments before had immediately lifted. The reserved expression, however, that replaced the scowl did nothing to reassure his guest. "Ah. Professor Smith. Do come in."

Severus narrowed his eyes as he studied Andrea, trying his best to remain unaffected by her presence, but his pulse had involuntarily quickened. Although it was slight, he couldn't understand why he was reacting like this. Closing his mind to the temptation, he forced his feelings aside, understanding too well how dangerous it was to reveal his thoughts. Years of deception had taught him the importance of keeping his mind and expression unreadable.

"Severus, I hate to bother you, but my cat, Alex … he's acting very strange," Andrea began with a tentative smile. Without asking for permission, she pulled the feline out of her satchel and placed it directly on the desk. Reflexively, Snape leaned away and sat back in his chair, his eyebrows lifting in unison as he stared at the cat. He'd never been particularly fond of animals.

"He's walking in circles. I think there's something wrong with his equilibrium. Do you see how his head moves?" she explained worriedly. "I know you're probably wondering why I came to you this evening, but Hagrid thought you might be able to help."

"Hmmm," he replied. "Is that so?" His tone revealed neither interest nor disdain.

"Yes. Is there anything you can do for him, maybe a potion, an elixir or something? I've tried several anti-hex spells, but nothing seems to work."

As Andrea continued to describe the symptoms, Snape perused the shelves behind his desk examining the familiar, well-thumbed books. Finally, he selected a thin volume from a lower shelf.

"Your spells did nothing because your cat has not been jinxed," Snape pronounced. "He's been poisoned."

"Oh, Merlin," Andrea sighed and closed her eyes. "What can I do?"

"Perhaps," Snape said slowly. "I might have an answer for you."

He opened the book he'd been holding and read quickly, his eyes briskly moving across the pages. "Your cat has been fed a Spinning Potion. However, it doesn't seem to have been made by even a semi-decent brewer, from what you're describing. It was probably one of my third years experimenting again. And if I find out whom, the culprit will serve detention for a month. No matter. I could make an antidote."

"Oh that's wonderful! What do I owe you?"

"I said that I 'could.' Not that I 'would.'" Snape looked directly into Professor Smith's eyes, and in that moment, he lost control of his thoughts. Perceptively, Andrea saw a flash of something in his eyes, although only for a fleeting moment. They both seemed surprised, and Severus quickly looked away.

"Okay," Andrea answered, seemingly taken aback by his answer. "If you won't, can I at least borrow your book? I'm sure I can make the potion myself."

Snape sniffed in disbelief, but he held his tongue.

"Actually, I'm fascinated by the art of potions," she said. "Our school in Chicago had a very limited potions curriculum. I have to confess that I probably know less about that branch of magic that any other, but I'm sure the instructions are adequate."

Snape stepped closer, and then walked past her as he spoke. "Have you considered the possibility that your school's administrators adjusted their curriculum to match the caliber of your American students? Only a brilliant mind, or one that has the 'predisposition,' could possibly understand the subtle and complex art of potion-making."

"Hardly," Andrea replied. A frown crossed her face as she glared back. "Teaching Potions is dangerous, as you well know. We believe it's more appropriately taught at the University level with students that understand the risks." She pressed her lips together before adding, "We're not stupid."

Snape paused a moment to consider her response before providing an answer. "I will agree to loan you the instructions, however …" He let his hair cover one eye and his nose partially obscure the other as he examined her. "Where will you brew the mixture? Your classroom has no lab that I'm aware. Have you a cauldron and the appropriate equipment? And what of the ingredients? Will you be asking to obtain those as well?"

Andrea opened her mouth to reply, but closed it again, her eyes dancing angrily. "Alright. Can you refer me to another Potions master in the area? Or perhaps one of your Newt students—"

Snape held up his hand to temporarily silence Andrea's questions. He then walked slowly around to her other side, finally stopping in front of her. "Are you truly fascinated by the art of Potions?"

"Yes, I think so—"

"Are you willing to take the risks of such a dangerous subject?" Snape asked smoothly. "A subject so dangerous that it is not fit for students outside your American University?"

"Well, I—" Andrea gulped uncertainly as Snape took another half step closer, his movement forcing her to lean back.

"If you like," he said softly, "I could help improve your understanding." Without moving, he waited for her response fully anticipating her to run like a scared rabbit. With his glittering eyes he pierced her with the twin daggers, the fathomless depths pinning her securely to the floor. He was very good at intimidation.

"You'll do it?" Andrea asked uncertainly. "Despite my lack of training?"

"Yes ..." he drawled.

"Excellent!" Andrea blurted. Unable to stop herself, she grinned broadly. "This is so exciting. You'll have to take it slowly at first, but I'm sure with your help, I'll catch on quickly. You won't be disappointed. I can study the book tonight, and then tomorrow we could—"

"Stop!" he ordered. "I can't teach you in a hour, or a day, that which takes students years to accomplish. This is a subtly complex brew. I will not be responsible for another one of your accidents."

"But, you said—"

"I said I could improve your understanding. I never said I'd help you brew the antidote for the spinning potion. I will need to start you out simply. Perhaps a cure for boils." He said the last word with a small expulsion of breath from his this lips. The effect was as intended as Andrea reached up and touched her face imaging it covered with puss-filled blisters.

"But what about the cure for my cat?"

"I'll make the required dose for you this evening. We shouldn't delay. I'll have it delivered to you by morning."

Andrea's eyes widened as she realized Snape had simply been toying with her. "You were going to do it all along. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You never asked if I would." His mouth twitched in triumph. "You simply assumed that I would not."

Andrea shook her head and bit her lip as he finally broke his gaze and swept behind his desk.

"I have time on Wednesday evening," he stated flatly. "Or, perhaps …" He cleared his throat. Oddly, he was having trouble making a coherent sentence. What was the matter with him?

"Yes, yes," Andrea answered eagerly. "Wednesday evening would be fine. After dinner? I could come about eight. Do I need to bring anything?" Andrea's sudden enthusiasm had caught him off guard.

"No. No," he repeated, speaking the second word noticeably louder than the first. "I have spare cauldrons and all the necessary ingredients."

Surprisingly, Andrea didn't seem to notice and smiled brightly. "That's … that's wonderful. How can I thank you?"

Flustered, Severus cleared his throat again, his mind struggling for a response, but each quip that came to mind seemed a little too harsh, or a touch inappropriate for these circumstances, very unusual circumstances, indeed. Instead, he said nothing, letting his eyes drift downward from her shapely body to the small green sandals that peeped out from beneath her robes.

"Don't worry," she said over his desk. "I'll try to think of some way to repay you." Turning, she added, "Well, thank you and have a good evening." She spun around, picked up her cat and ran up the steps to the main corridor.

After she'd left, Severus cursed himself. What was happening to him? She was a minx – a dangerous, poisonous minx. He'd always been able to control himself before, to let his mind rise above his emotions. Why was he unable to do it now? There were so many more important things that needed to be considered.

Snape closed his eyes and immediately began to think about Lily, his beautiful Lily. It had been a decade since she'd died, but after all that time, he could still picture her face as if it were yesterday. The memory of those laughing green eyes and the dark red hair seemed so vivid, but tonight he was having trouble remembering the details. Was the memory beginning to fade? Had he lost the ability to remember? Perhaps he was trying too hard.

Disgusted with himself, Snape rubbed his temple with his long fingers. He tried to think, logically trying to gain control, but somehow, instead of seeing Lily, he saw Andrea smiling up at him. The vision was not unpleasant, he had to admit, yet why was this happening and where would it lead? He examined himself in the small mirror above the fireplace, his black eyes staring back at him demanding answers.

What was he thinking? He didn't have time for this! He needed to be vigilant. The Dark Lord was still out there somewhere, biding his time. It was Severus's duty to help Dumbledore destroy the Dark Lord. He'd promised – a promise he was going to keep, and he needed to do this without other diversions getting in the way.

And yet, he wondered, was the Dark Lord truly ever coming back? And didn't Severus deserve some happiness after all these years? Uneasy with the way his thoughts were progressing, Snape retreated to his lab and began the task of creating the antidote. Putting himself to work was the solution – feeding his passion, he made the special healing liquid and blessedly refocused his thoughts.

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Before class started the next day, Severus delivered the potion to Andrea's workshop himself. While he was there, she took the time to show him her studio and extensive wand collection. With a glowing enthusiasm, Andrea described many of them – how the cores were made, how the different kinds of wood allowed for the flow of energy between a wizard and his magic.

In truth, Severus was impressed, but he didn't show it. Instead, he walked silently next to her watching as she moved through her storeroom to show him the various wand components and their functions. Andrea was obviously a witch whose passion for her wands was as intense as his was for potions.

After Andrea was through, he turned to leave. But after he'd taken a few long strides toward the door, she called to him, "Thank you, Severus."

He looked back over his shoulder and gave her only slight nod before quickly made his exit, a scowl returning to his face.

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After checking on her cat a few hours later, Andrea found the Siamese was already much better. Because she wanted to thank Severus in some way, she consulted with Dumbledore over lunch. As usual, the headmaster was very helpful suggesting she bring Severus a fresh crumpet with raspberry jam along with some Earl Gray tea.

The next morning, Andrea made her way to the Potions office arriving a few minutes before Snape's first class of the day. Before she even had a chance to knock however, Severus had opened the door and stared down at her, clearly startled by her presence. He gave a valiant effort to mask his surprise, but it was too late. Andrea had seen the slight twitch of his lips as he suppressed a smile. Knowing she'd caught him off guard, she grinned up at him in response.

"Good morning," she offered brightly. "Are you leaving? I won't be long. I just wanted to give you this." She handed him the small bag containing the crumpet and the box of tea. "And to say thank you. You saved my cat's life. I'm really very grateful."

Severus stood immobile in the doorway, his hand holding the gifts she'd given him. As she watched, he pressed his lips together in a tight line and said nothing. His expression was uncharacteristically uncertain.

"Well, thank you again," Andrea continued. "Are we still on for this evening?"

"Yes. I believe we said eight o'clock." He swallowed visibly before continuing. "Is that still acceptable?"

"Sure! That's fine." She blushed uncomfortably at the intensity of his gaze. "Well, good-bye. Have a nice day!" Quickly, she spun on her heels and hurriedly exited the office.

Severus sighed. Have a nice day? What a decidedly ridiculous statement. Beside the fact that it was an overused meaningless American slang, Severus reasoned, how could he? It would seem like an eternity, especially the evening. Why had he been such a fool to offer his assistance? Growling, he made his way toward the classroom knowing that the waiting first years would not be having a 'nice day' either.

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Every time Severus thought about the evening ahead, his stomach would contract. It didn't help that the elves were serving tuna sandwiches. He hated tuna. The smell alone was making him nauseous.

It was no better for Andrea. She simply stared at her lunch, the tuna sandwich sitting untouched on her plate. Occasionally, she would glance up at the dark, brooding professor next to her, and if she caught his eye, she would quickly look away. His hand was resting on the table, and as she stared at long, dexterous fingers, her heart began to pound against her ribs. What was the matter with her?

Snape looked down at his empty plate and sighed, thinking about the woman next to him. He'd grown used to their mealtime debates, but it seemed that lately, every time he saw Andrea outside the familiar atmosphere of the Great Hall, his mind would turn into a bowl of soggy oatmeal, and he would lose the skill of proper speech. It was so unlike him that the feeling caused a cloud of suspicion to blanket his swirling thoughts. And today, knowing that their little rendezvous was fast approaching, he was having trouble controlling his thoughts. His awareness of her closeness had intensified as if it were shining through a magnifying glass.

Professor Sprout thought the couple way too silent. "Severus, is everything all right? You don't seem very hungry today."

He flicked his eyes at her and then crossed his arms. "I'm fine," was all that he could muster.

Snape normally shied away from personal relationships, and he had few, if any, friends; however, Professor Sprout was more of a friend to him than any of the other professors. She'd been kind to him in the past, always sharing fresh ingredients from her greenhouses for his potions. Widowed for almost thirty years, she still missed her husband. They'd been very much in love, and Pomona wanted to assist in any way she could to help other people find that kind of happiness. Deciding to play matchmaker with the challenging pair beside her, Pomona leaned toward Severus, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Ah, now I see." Pomona smiled. "Those are tuna sandwiches."

Andrea glanced over, and a grin appeared on her face too.

Pomona slid the serving platter closer to Severus. "Don't you want one?" She picked up a triangle and offered it to him. "This one's absolutely packed with tuna."

The look on Severus's face reflected his disgust as his lips curled, and his eyes widened. "Keep that foul smelling cat food away from me," he spat as he leaned away from her.

Andrea had quickly caught on and now saw her chance. Lifting her own sandwich, she placed it right under his nose. "But, Severus, it's delicious. Just take a bite. You'll love it," she teased.

"I do not eat food fit only for animals. If I'm not mistaken, I see your eyes have turned as yellow as a cat's. And do I detect a tail growing from your backside?"

Andrea took a bite of the sandwich right in the middle, leaving a half moon hole. "This tastes great, not like the cement gravy we had the other day. I bet the elves stole some of your potions ingredients to make it solidify like that. Do you give them your recipes?" She smiled up at him with a twinkle in her eye. The resulting expression on his face spoke volumes. The wand mistress was slowly chipping away at the ice.

Ah, that's better, Pomona thought as she began to eat her lunch.

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That evening, Andrea arrived at the Potions lab at exactly eight o'clock. Severus had laid out all the ingredients on her worktable, and an identical set appeared in front of his own desk. The cauldrons were already simmering, and a filmy, blue steam was rising ominously from the contents.

As Andrea approached Snape's desk, she held a tiny notebook in her left hand and clutched the edges of her shawl with the other. The fabric was made of purple lace that slid off her shoulders, revealing the creamy, pale pink skin beneath it. The dungeon was damp and exceptionally chilly that evening, making Andrea shiver, and the cold caused rows of goose bumps to appear along her arms.

Snape tried not to be obvious as his eyes wandered to her chest. Was she unaware that her blouse gaped slightly with her movements? Her attire was entirely inappropriate for the dangers of the lab, but something stopped him from delivering a scathing comment. Without saying a word, he pointed to the stool in front of her cauldron, and she moved briskly to obey. Walking around the table, she sat down, and in a very precise manner, she opened her notebook and placed the bottle of ink in the inkwell. Unable to stop himself, he watched silently as she removed the stopper before taking out a small yellow and black striped quill from her bag. Once everything was set up exactly to her liking, she looked up at him expectantly, a shy smile spreading across her face.

"You keep it pretty cold down here. Does that help to preserve your ingredients?" she asked, trying to start a conversation.

Severus realized he'd been staring at her; he was almost hypnotized by her movements, but as she spoke, he instantly became aware, and his mind leapt into action.

"Ahem," Snape began as he adjusted his sleeves. "Yes, you are correct that the atmosphere in the classroom is exactly the correct temperature for the proper preservation of the active ingredients required in most potions."

Severus paused, and Andrea met his gaze with an eager, rapt expression. Satisfied that she was paying attention, he continued, "I keep the student storeroom, along with my private collections, on this level so that they will benefit from the natural climactic conditions at this depth. Naturally, the humidity ensures that dryness will be kept to a minimum. The only special adaptation that I've made is with the prevention of certain types of mold …"

A little uncomfortable at first, Snape's strong and steady voice never betrayed him, and as he continued to speak, he began to relax, falling into his 'teaching persona.'

Andrea learned quickly that every ingredient had unique properties and needed to be prepared in just the right manner, not unlike her wand components. Clearly, Severus was dedicated to his work. She marveled at his knowledge and extreme attention to detail. While he took her slowly through the process, Andrea tried to absorb every word, taking pages of notes and asking a myriad of questions as they went along.

Andrea couldn't help smiling. She enjoyed listening to Severus's silky voice, and every once in a while, as he glanced down at her, she returned his look with a steady gaze and a nod of her head.

Trying his best Snape attempted to ignore the tingling sensations that shot through his groin every time their eyes met, but when it happened for the third time, Severus completely lost his concentration. He stopped in mid-sentence and simply stared back into Andrea's eyes.

"Is there something wrong, professor?" Andrea asked and tilted her head to the side allowing her unruly hair to fall in a jumble onto the table, almost dropping into her cauldron. Embarrassed, she refastened the hair clasp, and once again refocused her attention on the Potions master.

"Ah …" Severus said softly, a frown replacing the blank look on his face. "Are you getting all of this or should I slow down?"

"Oh, yes," Andrea replied grinning impishly. "Actually, you could go a little faster."

Snape's lips curled at the corners into an irritated sneer, but then he crossed his arms and rose to the challenge. His instructions came measurably faster as he leaned over his cauldron. "Now, the spoon we'll be using is copper-plated with sterling silver. The conductive qualities of the copper will react slightly with the dried nettles. You must make sure to stir the liquid constantly, so that the small amount of leached silver will be distributed evenly within the mixture. Now, watch how I move my wrist," he said, glancing at her as he began to stir the thin liquid in a figure-eight motion, with the spoon being twisted slightly clockwise each time.

Trying hard to imitate his movements, Andrea stood up next to the caldron and began to stir. The tip of her tongue extended slightly from her mouth, running over her protruding canines as she concentrated on her task, slowly moving the spoon. However, as hard as Andrea tried, she could not get it right. Her liquid was turning a peculiar orange color, instead of the blue in Snape's cauldron.

"No, no, no!" Severus snapped irritably. "For the fourth time, you must twist your wrist clockwise and then up, but you must keep the spoon moving." He tried to demonstrate again as his eyes flicked at her impatiently. Andrea, too, was getting frustrated, and she tried once more, but the exaggerated movements she was making caused the contents to spill across the worktable.

Swiftly, Snape swooped to Andrea's side and watched her impatiently with a penetrating gaze. But instead of looking at her cauldron, he was mesmerized by her tiny hands as they lifted the spoon high into the air. With a sigh, he smelled her Jasmine perfume, and once again he lost his concentration. His body's betrayal had almost overwhelmed his finely trained mind.

Andrea had no idea what to do. She looked up into Severus's black eyes with an odd expression, her spoon hanging uselessly in mid air, and as their eyes met, they both felt something stir within them. Andrea broke their gaze first and promptly lowered her hand. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I understand …" Although her meaning could easily have applied to the wild beating of her heart, Andrea held out the spoon and looked down at her hand.

Snape felt an overpowering impulse as he reached out tentatively, his hand moving toward hers. Just as he was about to grasp it, he stopped and looked into her blue eyes. Once again, their eyes met for a few moments. Softly, he said, "May I?"

Wordlessly, Andrea nodded.

Consent given, Severus moved to stand behind Andrea and gently grasped the hand that held the spoon. In a sudden gust of wind, the damp dungeon air began to whirl through the room. The stone floor beneath their feet began to shake with the intensity of an earthquake. At the same time that Severus touched her, a powerful, shocking bolt of magical energy passed between them; it was like nothing they'd ever experienced. Shocked with fear, Andrea jerked her hand away and stared at the offending appendage. Severus was speechless. He could only stare in astonishment, his eyes wide in disbelief. Rubbing his hand, he quickly took a step back.

Flooded with fear, Andrea scrambled out of her chair, looking first at her hand and then back at Snape. Stepping backward, she stumbled into one of the classroom desks. The momentum caused her to lose her balance and with a sudden flop, she rolled onto the floor. Instantly, she scrambled up, grabbed her things and ran toward the steps. She turned, and as if in an afterthought, she said in a shaking voice, "Um … look at the time. It's getting late. I'm so sorry; I truly do have to go."

Severus stared at the chair, which was now empty. Andrea was no longer there. She'd run up the long spiral staircase, her slipper-clad feet pumping her legs out of the dungeons as fast as she could go. Finally coming to his senses Snape called out to her, "Wait. Andrea, stop! Come back."

As she reached the top, Andrea yelled down the stairs, "No. I can't. I'm sorry. I really have to be on my way." Then, she dashed out into the upper corridor as if something was chasing her.

She ran the entire way back to her workshop and slammed the door behind her, her heart pounding. What had just happened? She tried to calm herself and think, but the wild feelings that spun uncontrollably through her mind consumed her rational thought. Looking at her hand, she began to rub it vigorously. A tingling sensation remained and spread across the skin, certainly a residual effect from the bolt of magical energy, if that's what it was. Her face was warm and flushed, and when she thought of Severus, she felt a strong desire that made her weak. What had he done to her?

Severus, however, was just as perplexed. He'd looked up at the empty staircase after she'd gone and turned slowly back to look at his lab. The whirlwind and the shaking had smashed several bottles, and papers were scattered like oversized snowflakes across the floor. Carefully, he examined the spot where she'd touched the palm of his hand. After he rubbed it, there remained a vivid, tingling sensation. What had she done to him, and why did he feel so strange? He was sure he'd never heard of such a thing happening before. Had Andrea caused this? Somehow, it didn't seem possible. Perhaps it was a curse.

Later that night, as Severus lay in bed, he puzzled over the evenings events. He laid awake most of the night, replaying the scene over and over in his mind, but there were no answers. Tomorrow, he decided, he'd find out the truth. He'd force Andrea to explain, if she could. Despite his convictions, Snape had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning.

A/N: Comments welcome. Thank you to my beta Fainting Fancies. Also thanks to my reviewers: Lochlyn, Lola, GisselleRain, sueallenparker, SaborToothTiger, Elliegirl, wendywaddles, KellieGreen, animalwriter, Sally, Ariana Ethaitrius, , CommanderValeria and Jemennuie