The Silver Snake
By Belldandy

Part Two

The beginning of Star's second year teaching

"Peeves!" Star cried exasperatedly. She caught the golden plate he threw across the room, while the House Elves looked on in horror. She ran back and forth to try and catch the plates that the naughty ghost tossed. "Peeves! Do I have to fetch the Bloody Baron?"

Peeves blew a raspberry at her and flew off, cackling madly.

Star sighed, setting the plates down. The elves hurried forward, trying to take the plates back to the cabinet. One elf with a particularly long nose and a tea cozy for a hat stayed at her side. "Dobby believes it is nearly time for the students to arrive, Miss." He said squeakily.

"Of course." Star replied. "Thank you, Dobby." She rubbed her hands together nervously. "You're sure that Harry Potter is done with school?"

"Dobby is positive, Miss. Dobby does the math and he is done at Hogwarts, Miss." The elf told her.

Star rummaged through her pockets, and said, "Thanks a lot, Dobby. You've helped to give me one great year here already. Quite hectic, actually, but... Thank you for making it better. Hopefully you can be just as helpful this year." She pulled an orange sock and a yellow-striped one. "These are for you."

Dobby's eyes lit up. "Socks! Socks is being my favorite clothes, Miss! You are too kind to Dobby!" He pulled off his own socks and put on the new ones.

"I'll have to be going, Dobby. If Peeves is troubling you again, just call for me." She smiled down at him as the door to the kitchen opened.

"The students are arriving, Star." Snape stoof there, wearing his usual black robes and sour expression. "Hurry up."

"Just a moment, Severus." She said absentmindedly.

"Since when are we on first name terms, Star?" Snape's lip curled, and he glared at her.

"Fine then. Snape it is," She replied crossly. She turned back to Dobby. "See you later, Dobby." She turned and followed Snape out of the door.

He stopped after the painting closed behind them. "Why, Star?"
"Why what?" She asked.

"The necklace, Star." She looked down and realized the little snake-orb was hanging outside her robes in plain view. She hastily made to stuff it back in, but cried out as Snape grabbed it and ripped it off her neck. "Severus!"

He held it up in front of her. "Have you really been wearing it all this time, Star? How touching." He narrowed his eyes furiously. "Are you trying to mock me?!" He spat.

"I'm not! It's just a necklace, Severus!" Star cried. "Give it back!"
He pursed his lips, and threw it at her feet. He turned away and walked off to the Great Hall.
Star kneeled down, picking up the necklace, and looking into the orb, sighing.

~~

"I am you Magical Sports teacher. I will show you how to play many different Wizarding sports, including Quidditch. Call me Professor Star," Star was telling a first year class.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the castle, followed by silence.
"Stay here, class..." Star told them.

As she ran towards the steps, followed by murmurs and voices, she thought to herself, "That sounded too much like Minerva McGonagall for comfort."

She clutched her necklace tightly.