My standard disclaimer goes here.

A/N: I'm so glad I have two reviews! Thank you! Enjoy this chap. I had to re-write it because my file got screwed over.

This is the beginning of it all. From here on in it will be different. But it will be great.

Chapter 2: The Taming of the Snake

"Wha-? Care to repeat yourself, Headmaster?" My face went blank.

"You," He repeated clearly, "are the new Head Nurse. Madame Pomfrey retired last year, and you are taking her place. That's not a problem, is it?"

I shook my head. Being a nurse would be extremely . . . interesting. Of course there was no problem. (Except for my hatred of blood.) After shaking hands with Dumbledore, I stepped aside near my friends. Hermione was happy for me, as well as the rest of them. But I just wasn't too thrilled.

"I know why you aren't jumping up and down with joy, Maranda." Ron stated.

I asked, "Oh yeah? Why?"

"Because you realized that the nurse always makes medicinal potions. In order to make them, you have to work with Snape all the time."

"Why wouldn't she be happy to work with Snape?" Neville chimed in.

Ron answered as-a-matter-of-factly, "She's not sure if he hates her yet."

My mouth didn't move. For once, Ron was correct about my emotions. Go figure. Before I could speak, Gwen came to join our group also in a good mood. She was now the Head Chef's assistant after attending culinary school.

"I could always make a cake for Severus that you can give to him, Maranda. Maybe he'll forgive you with cake. I would forgive myself for murder if I gave myself a sweet chocolate cake. Or maybe a marble cake with powdered sugar on top. Mmmm. Or maybe a vanilla cake with strawberry frosting." Gwen was obviously a proud chef, but never concieted.

I chuckled lightly and said, "Thanks, but I don't want to fatten him up."

"Imagine a fat Snape?" Ron said.

Hermione sideglanced at him. "Imagine Snape approaching us and suddenly hearing us discuss his appearance as he stands behind Ron in disgust."

"That's a wild thing to imagine." Ron blurted. It took a moment for him to realize Snape was behind him, sneering.

Severus Snape stood tall with his arms folded. There was no doubt in my mind he was avoiding eye contact with me to pretend I wasn't alive. He stepped aside of Ron, making himself part of our friendly circle. With a half-smirk he congratulated everyone generally for returning to Hogwarts in one piece. He looked over at Dumbledore, who was assigning the last person their job, and quickly glanced at me.

"Madame Maguire," Severus' voice was cool like liquid silver. "I see you've been entitled as the new head nurse. I suppose we'll be working together a lot, for I supply your medicine cabinet with necessary ingredients. I suspect you won't be surprised where your private rooms are. Albus has insisted you stay where you were last comfortable with."

No. "I'm in the dungeons again?" No. no. no.

"Yes, and exactly in the shape you last left it. No one's been in that room since you left."

I'm talking to Snape as if he and I have just met. I guess I have to play the game. "Ok, I guess that's fine."

"Well it has to be fine, for there are no private rooms available near the infirmary. Lockhart unfortunately had to move into the room. His own quarters were infested with pygmies after a prank the Bloody Baron played on the third floor. It was a blasted terrible summer. As for me, ghosts were smart enough to stay far away, as most people did. You're lucky to even have a place to sleep." After Snape spoke, I felt agitated.

And Ron needed to ask, "Why is she so lucky?" He also needed to stupidly add, "It's not like she'd be happy in the dungeons."

My face resembled the shade of a fresh tomato. Severus saw this, ignored me, and glared at Red-Head.

"For your information, Mr. Weasley, I was going to use the room for storage. I couldn't just let a former student sleep in the halls."

"No," Ron added, "you'd probably throw her in a ditch somewhere and tell her to use a rock for a pillow. Of course, she'd be much happier in the halls than in the dungeons."

Snape took Ron's comments lightly. "You are such a child, Mr. Weasely. I expected as much."

"Umm," I finally spoke. "Can we just stop this before you two start fighting or cursing? I'd like my friends to stay alive, thank you."

"I wouldn't harm such an unimportant person. It's a waste of energy." Severus said cooly.

Ron replied, "You don't scare any of us, Snape. So why don't you do us all a favor and leave us alone."

"Please Ron," I spoke up, "stop it already."

Snape smirked as if he'd secretly won a prize.

Hermione jumped into the conversation. "Ok, it's time for us to head to our rooms now. You were obviously too busy arguing to hear Dumbledore announce that."

With that, Snape left the Grand Hall. I was left with my friends, who were very anxious to speak badly of Sev. It was no surprise that Snape would act as he did. I figured this was how it would begin. But I wouldn't allow it to continue this way. If there was one thing I learned from Snape, it was to fight for what you believed in.

"As God is my witness," I declared, "I'm going to talk to that man. If he so much as tries to pin the blame on me, I'm never speaking to him again."

"Damn!" Neville blurted. "You've definitely grown some guts, Maranda."

I smiled. "Guess so. Anyways, I'll catch up with all of you later. I have a snake to tame."

Andrea was the only one who didn't understand my metaphor.

Hermione glanced at our new friend. "You and I should go for a walk. I'll show you the castle and tell you the story, The Snake and the Girl Who was Once Shy."

"Have fun with all the details, Mione." Ron joked.

I took one final look at the Grand Hall before heading out the doors. My journey to the dungeons was worse than ever. I remembered how cold it used to be, but this was worse. I could see my breath. As I walked down the hall, I thought of what to say. The problem with that was I had no idea where to start with him.

The door to my room was open. I peeked in and saw my luggage against the farthest wall. Across from my room was the infamous Potions Classroom. The door was closed. As I stood before it, memories swarmed my mind. I would have to set this straight once and for all. If not, then I was doomed to years of frustration and confusion with the man I had loved.

Which made me wonder if I even loved him anymore. We had been apart for so long, I forgot how kind he really could be. There were so many things I felt unsure of. This visit to his room was more mandatory than I first considered.

I knocked once on the hard surface of the door. I heard it echo, the first gunshot in a battle. No one answered. I knocked again and again, hoping the annoying sound would draw him to me; just to tell me to stop. Nothing. Never anything. I had also forgotten how disappointing he could be.

"Severus," I spoke to the door. "Please let me in. I need to talk to you." My heart stopped. The room inside was dead silent.

I leaned against the wall next to the door. "Maybe it was wrong of me to leave you right after what we'd been through. And you can hate me forever if you want. But I want to talk to you. I need to know if this is really over or not. There were so many things happening before I left that year. I couldn't stay anymore. I needed to escape." I realized was listening to me.

I softened my voice. "Then again, I could've stayed for you. I admit it was selfish to leave, but at the time it was the right thing to do."

"You were right to leave, though. If you stayed, we eventually needed to say farewell." Sev's voice flowed gently from behind the closed door. "I was just hoping it didn't have to happen so fast."

"I loved you."

"And I you."

My hand reached for the doorknob to his room. As I opened it, Snape towered with his usual intimidating appearance.

"What now?" I asked, looking into his dark eyes.

He said, "Now I take you into my arms and tell you that I could not let you back into the school so easily."

"If you don't want to see me anymore, I unders-" My brain processed what was said. "What?"

Snape broke out in laughter. "You think -hahaha- Why would I hate you? I couldn't let you come back without causing a little commotion. You know how long it's been since I've seen you, so why wouldn't I be happy?"

"So that was all an act?" My face fell blank.

He nodded. I slapped his face good and hard.

"I deserved that, but you have to admit it was a little humorous."

"I will not. You're a jackass." I folded my arms and frowned.

Sev stopped laughing. "I am once in awhile. But you love it."

The world melted away as Snape grabbed my arms tightly. He pulled me in and kissed my lips forcefully. Once I felt comfortable feeling his lips on mine after all this time, I gave in. His force loosened and he kissed me tenderly. I missed this feeling so much.

"...and these are the dungeons. ...And that is apparently Snape kissing Maranda." Hermione showed up with Andrea.

They giggled.

Sev and I parted and faced my friends.

Hermione asked, "You made up? I thought you hated Maranda, Severus."

"I appologize, Ms. Granger. I merely had to give her a hard time when she returned. All is forgiven on her part. I know her choice was her choice. There is nothing left to do but live in the present. And that includes loving her with all of my heart."

My eyes widened. I gawked at Snape.

Mione smiled. "I guess I should appologize for thinking lowly of you, Sir. Our entire group of friends thank you for not being a complete asshole. Ron, however, is a little moody today. Excuse him."

"Will do. And who might you be?" Snape noticed Andrea.

She answered shyly. "Andrea, Sir. I came from Pheonixia as well. Before that, I was in Beauxbutons. Mum thought it was best for me to attend a more strict, formal school."

"I see." Sev continued to be friendly. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"We'll be off now. Things to do. Things to show Andrea." Hermione smiled at me and turned to leave the dungeons. Andrea followed after taking one last look at Sev.

I faced Snape in shock. "You're not cold-hearted anymore. Or is this an act too?"

"I'll show you an act!" Sev said. He enveloped me in his arms and dipped me. We started to waltz right there in the hall, no music audible.

Severus held me close before whispering, "This is the beginning of it all. From here on in it will be different. But it will be great."

"I know, and it's wonderful." I kissed him on the cheek. "I should unpack my things, though. I'll have supper with you tonight. We'll enjoy this last week in peace before students start piling in."

"Alright. See you at eight tonight."

I went into my room, feeling his eyes rest upon me. I closed my door and sighed happily. Serenity was asleep on the floor next to a dish of cat food. The house elves had fed her, which gave me some time to breathe.

This was a great start to the year. A new and beautiful chapter to the story of my life. I had finally tamed the once-poisonous snake with a charm more powerful than magic: love.