Learning to Love:

Chapter Two: Anything But Normal:

Severus pulled himself reluctantly out of bed, showering and dressing quickly. He checked over his plans for the day, gathering and organizing papers to hand back, papers to grade, lesson plans, potions recipes, experiments, textbooks, and leisure books. Which were still mostly potions-based. Sighing, he ran a hand over his eyes. He was exhausted already. Who knew being a teacher would be so tiring?

He looked in the mirror and put his mask of being the greasy git, dungeon bat, evil Potions Master in place, wondering how many other people wore masks like his in public. The only one who saw him without a mask anymore was Dumbledore. Sighing again, he realized he was a teacher slash Death Eater-turned-spy-for-the-Order-of-the-Phoenix. Of course no one else wore masks like his, like he did. He was anything but normal.

As he headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast, he caught sight of Draco harassing the American girl again. Even he could tell she didn't enjoy the attention. Severus himself did enjoy watching her confuse Draco in order to get away. Really, he should have learned by now they were no match.

He remembered that she was in his first double period after lunch tomorrow and sighed. Not that she wasn't a good student. She was one of the few who showed either talent or interest, and probably the only one who had both. For some reason, he hadn't scared her away from learning more yet. She wasn't a know-it-all show-off like Granger. But he knew she knew the answers. She just waited until no one else answered before raising her hand. Which was exactly what he wished Granger would do.

The day passed normally for him. Little Miss American didn't show up for lunch at all and didn't eat much for dinner. He frowned but said nothing.

Malfoy just wouldn't shut up! Hadn't she made the message clear enough? 'I don't like you!' was in everything she said and did around the boy, but she had to hand it to him, he was nothing if not egotistical, bigheaded, and persistent.

She could feel herself getting pissed and knew it was only a matter of time before she snapped at him. She had left dinner early just to avoid him, and he managed to stalk her all the way out along the lake. Why can't he just get the message, SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!

A red tinge descended over her vision and she growled. Actually growled. Like an animal.

Whipping around, she snarled "Stay away from me!" while raising her hands. A bolt of pure magical energy slammed into the twelve-year-old and threw him all the way back by the entrance to the castle. She couldn't see his face from here, but imagined his shocked look. She herself was pretty surprised. She hadn't been able to use magic as far back as she could remember, yet Dumbledore insisted she had magical blood.

Grinning, she turned and sprinted for the Headmaster's office.

Rose finally arrived at the statue that guarded Dumbledore's office, panting heavily. She stared blankly at the statue, realizing she'd forgotten the password he'd given her just yesterday! Damn!

"Forgotten already?" said a familiar voice, followed by a chuckle.

Rose whipped around. "I did it!"

"Did what, now?" Dumbledore asked calmly, but she caught the twinkle in his blue eyes. He knew.

"Magic!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

"Well, well. And how was it? What, may I ask, did you do with it?" he asked, looking rather amused.

Rose blushed deep red. "I...threw Malfoy from the far end of the lake to the Entrance Hall." she admitted in a rush.

Dumbledore blinked, then chuckled again. "And what did the poor boy do to deserve such a fate?"

"He won't stop flirting with me." Rose muttered bitterly.

"Then I'm afraid you may have just made your situation worse."

"Huh?" she gave him a puzzled look.

"The Malfoys are an ancient pureblood family, Rose. They prize money and power above all else. What you did was raw power, and lots of it." he replied.

Rose growled again. It was the Headmaster's turn to look rather confused.

"Where did you learn to growl like that?"

"...I don't remember." Rose said after a moment. Then she shrugged. "Does it really matter?"

"Not much. I was merely curious." Albus said lightly. "Keep practicing, Rose, but please try to refrain from throwing anyone else around. We don't want any fatalities, however accidental they may be."

"Yes, sir." Rose muttered darkly. "As long as Malfoy stays far away from me." she added quickly before turning and leaving Dumbledore to blink at her sudden departure, and then break out into full laughter for the first time in a long time.

"Young Mr. Malfoy better watch his steps." he muttered. "That look in her eyes...she means business."

Severus stepped back into the Great Hall to see Lockhart striding around like a pompous peacock, bossily directing house-elves and colleagues with minimal difference in how he addressed them.

Sighing, Severus made his way over.

"Why, hello, Severus! Would you mind being my 'assisstant' for the demonstration?" the fool asked, as though he, Severus Snape, should be honored by this position!

Instead he felt nauseous. He just knew something bad was going to happen. Nothing good could possibly come out of anything directed by Lockhart. Absolutely nothing.

"I suppose." he replied as coldly as he could. "At the present moment, however, I must find and speak with the Headmaster. I suppose you wouldn't happen to know his whereabouts?"

"I would try his office before asking, myself. Otherwise he should be somewhere between here and there." Lockhart answered with a garish smile and dramatic wink.

Swallowing the bile that rose in his throat, along with the urge to hex Lockhart into another world, far from him, Severus turned and left.

As he was passing the library, he heard someone sobbing in the girls' lavatory, but passed on by. Probably some heartbroken upperclassman. Whatever kept them away from this ridiculous Dueling Club could very well save their lives. And Severus Snape was anything but dramatic.

Rose gathered her things and left the bathroom where she'd been lying on the floor crying and drowning in homesickness for she didn't know how long. She wandered down towards the library, and met some sixth-year Ravenclaws on their way to the Great Hall for the Dueling Club.

Even though I can't use a wand...why not? I'll go watch. She decided.

By the time she'd wandered down, it had already started. She slipped inside and stood in a corner by the door, watching silently.

Rose got a little frightened when she saw the snake-not that she had anything against snakes, but seeing one unexpectedly in a school was probably not a good sign.

Soft footsteps drew her attention and she looked up. Right in front of her, Professor Snape strode easily forward, brandishing his wand once. The snake disappeared.

But with the snake's disappearance came something else. As Rose looked up, her heart beat faster. The light on his hair, his eyes...what was she thinking? Why was he looking at her like that?

Oh my God! I did not just...NO! I need to get out of here!

Rose did the only sensible thing: She turned and ran. Out to the lake.

Severus felt someone's gaze on him. Okay, everyone was staring at him. But this gaze felt different. He turned, and there she was. That bloody American transfer. A witch without magic. Why had Albus taken her in in the first place was beyond him. And now, the way she was looking at him, well, he'd never felt like this before. Not even close.

Although she did remind him of Lily. A lot. Her red hair, the way she moved, the way she spoke, not so much her accent, but her thought process. Her sweet innocence.

What...she's a student! A STUDENT!

Even as he mentally reprimanded himself for his thoughts, her eyes widened and she turned and fled. Neither noticed Dumbledore standing in the shadows, the sparkle that was normally in his eyes gone. Instead, he looked rather thoughtful.

The next morning passed relatively easily for Rose. She somehow managed to forget about the Dueling Club and Snape until lunchtime. When she realized she had double Potions next hour.

Damn! Of all the times...and why double? Are they trying to drive me insane?

But of course they didn't know. How could they? She had only developed a crush on her teacher yesterday! No one but her knew!

Looking up at the High Table, she caught his eye and quickly turned back to her food. Oh, God, why was he looking at me? Does he know? Is it true he can read minds? I have to get out of here!

She got up and fled, going straight to her next class-which happened to be Potions.

Severus got up and left the table without eating much. He pretended not to notice the worried look Albus gave him. He couldn't tell the Headmaster that after all these years he'd fallen for a fourth-year student! All because of a silly accent!

As he strode off to the classroom, he realized he had her in his next class-which was a double period!

Of all the times...well, I'll get through it somehow. She's normally so quiet. I wonder why?-

he cut off the thought as he entered the dungeons.

All right, since FF has officially decided not to allow me my normal A/N, I will relocate to down here. Sorry DX

Thank you to my beta Dest for doing this for me despite the fact I've been sending her quite a bit of work recently, and I realize school is coming up. Thank you! XD

Please review-I appreciate anything you can give me. If you wish me to continue this story, you probably have to review as school, marching band, and cross country will soon steal away all my writing time. So...*pathetic puppy-dog begging face* I really actually have a plan for this please don't let me drop it!