A/N: Hellooooo!

Don't have much to say today.

For anyone who's been waiting for it, Snape actually talks to Danielle in this chapter, though there isn't much of him.

Once again, I'm easing into it. I've read a lot of fanfiction that just jump straight into the relationship, and I can't stand that. But, I might try to fix the sequel so that people who don't like to wait forever for them to get together can just read the sequel. But that's a long way from now.

Review?

Chapter 2

Danielle sat alone at the Gryffindor table on her first morning at Hogwarts. She had woken up at 4 due to pure anxiety, and now, at 6, was one of the only students in the Great Hall. Though she was a sixth year student, she hadn't signed up for any more classes than the five she needed to become an Auror, and even then she wasn't sure if she would be accepted into all of those classes. At Hechicería, her daily grades were dismal, but she had managed to receive an E in every class's O.W.L. because she knew the material very well. She just chose not to put forth much effort in classes.

And now, Danielle was waiting nervously to receive her schedule. Ever since she was a child, she had a desire to do something to better the world, and becoming an Auror would be a good way to start. But her grades... For perhaps the fiftieth time that morning, a small pang of worry shot through her stomach at the thought of her schedule. Danielle knew nothing about what the teachers here expected of their students.

Just then, Professor McGonagall walked up and handed her a small card with a list of classes on it, "You're up early Miss Turner," she remarked, "You'll find that you've been accepted into all the classes you signed up for."

"Sweet!" yelled Danielle, the worry disappearing quickly. McGonagall shot her a harsh look at her outburst.

"Though, Miss Turner, I would advise you to put a little more effort into my classes than you did back at Hechicería," Professor McGonagall continued, "Your old teachers have told me quite a bit about you, and I'll tell you now that I will not tolerate any immaturity in my classroom. You are sixteen years old and I expect you to act like it."

"Yes ma'am," Danielle replied quietly, even though she had no idea what the Professor had said to her. She had stopped listening as soon as Professor McGonagall had said 'Miss Turner'. Seriously? Why did all the teachers call her 'Miss'? At first she didn't notice it, but the more she heard it, the more it bothered her. The people here just needed to loosen up a little.

"Good," replied Professor McGonagall with a small smile, and she walked away. Danielle quickly took her chance and made a beastly face at her Profesr's retreating back.

"Is that what you look like every morning?" asked a grinning Harry as he sat in the seat next to her. Ron and Hermione sat down opposite them.

"Yes," she replied in mock-seriousness, "Please stay friends with me despite my hideous face...though I guess I have nothing to worry about." She turned to Ron with a sly smile.

Ron emerged from a towering pile of food and said with his mouth full, "Fwhut?"

"Nothing," she replied, waving a hand at him.

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed when she saw the card in Danielle's hand, "What classes are you taking? Professor McGonagall gave me my schedule in the train, I'm taking Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Ancient Runes, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Tranfiguration, Astronomy, and Arithmancy."

Danielle jumped a little as she remembered the card, and took her first look at it. But she knew exactly what was on it anyway.

"Uh... Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbology," she told Hermione.

"The bare minimum, I see," remarked Hermione with a trace of disappointment in her voice.

"Well, what else did you expect?" countered Danielle, "Fortunately, I don't have a stick up my ass, and I wish I could say the same for you. I suggest you take your nose out of a textbook for once and enjoy life."

Hermione huffed. "Not that it's any of your business, but I love my life. And I don't have to take cheap shots at people to have fun." With that, Hermione stood and stomped off, muttering about childishness as she went.

"Well, that was pretty harsh," Ron muttered. Harry nodded in agreement.

Danielle raised her eyebrows at the two boys, "Well, she was asking for it. If you didn't notice, she's the one who threw the first blow."

"Still..." Harry began, but Danielle interrupted him.

"I just won't hang around you two when she's around, that's all."

Without waiting for an answer, she got to her feet and walked quickly from the hall to her first class. Danielle didn't want to push Harry and Ron away from Hermione simply because she had shown up, but she also wasn't looking forward to losing anymore of the few friends she had ever had. She stopped suddenly as the bell rang.

'Wait, where is my first class?' she wondered.

After consulting her schedule and map, she headed off again, this time with a destination: Transfiguration. This was exactly why she tried to avoid making friends. She always had to do something to drive them away. Danielle bopped herself on the forehead at her stupidity, and regretted it immediately.

"Ow!" she shrieked. Why in the world had she even done that? What kind of moron would deliberately smack themselves on the head? 'Danielle Turner,' she thought.

"Boogle!, now I have a headache. And I can't find the damn Transfiguration classroom!" she barked to the statue of a fat cyclops next to her. The bell rang 15 minutes ago, and she had no idea where she was. "What a great first day, huh?"

"Well well," drawled a calm voice from behind her. Danielle spun around in an immediate reaction to danger with her wand at the ready to see the pale man she'd seen at the staff table the night before.

"Talking to a statue?" he continued with a sneer. He was taller than she imagined, towering over her, clearly attempting to use his height to scare her. "You obviously lack the mental capacity to deal with even one hour at a new school. Perhaps we should send you back to that imbecile school Hechicería, I'm sure none of the teachers want to waste their time trying to teach a lost cause, Miss...?" He gave her a questioning look.

"Turner. Danielle Turner. And I don't think I'll need to go back," she replied icily, his words had made something bubble up inside of her, "As I'm sure you know, today is in fact my first day here, and even a complete dumbass," she gave him a suggestive look, "could understand that I have yet to learn my way around the school."

His eyes narrowed in fury and his voice was dangerously quiet, "You little-"

"Severus!" cried a cheerful voice. Danielle recognized the Headmaster as he walked up to the two.

"I see you've finally met our new student, Severus," Dumbledore observed kindly, "Miss Turner, this is Professor Snape, our Potions Master. I believe you have your first class with him tomorrow?"

She looked at him quizzically before pulling out her schedule. She gasped, he was right. How did he know?

"Y-yes, I do," she replied softly.

"Ah, good good," he said happily, I'm sure you are looking forward to it." His eyes twinkled mischeiviously and Professor Snape groaned.

"Of course," she answered. And it was the truth. Professor Snape seemed to have a terrible temper, and she couldn't wait to explore it further. She grinned to herself.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore said excitedly, "Oh Severus. There is something I found on the underside of my desk that you must see. I can't decide if it is shaped more like a gingerbread man or Mongolia..." Dumbledore grabbed Snape's arm and led him away. But before they turned the corner, Dumbledore looked back at Danielle and said, "Oh, and the Transfiguration classroom is right down the hall. Tell Professor McGonagall that I send my apologies, but I just had to have a word with the new student before class and the conversation went on longer than expected." He winked at her and turned back to Snape, "Come Severus, the mystery object awaits!" And with that, they both disappeared around the corner, but not before Snape sent one last glare in Danielle's direction.

Yes, he was just begging for another confrontation.

Danielle's first classes went much better than her morning. During her second class, Charms, she had found Hermione and talked to her about their fight. Though neither of them were willing to apologize, they did agree to be a little nicer to each other. Danielle was so relieved that she would be able to keep her new friends, that she actually had fun in her least favorite class, Herbology.

She was also very happy with her schedule. Wednesday was her fullest day, with all five of her classes assigned for that day. On Mondays and Thursdays she had Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology. And on Tuesdays and Fridays she only had Defense and Potions. Two days of the week with only two classes! It was loads better than Hermione's schedule, as she was taking eight different subjects and had six classes a day, every day. It was a stroke of luck that Hermione was so busy, that way, Danielle wouldn't have to be around her so much. Hermione was nice and all, but Danielle surely didn't want to spend her afternoon with her. They were too different. In fact, the only thing they had in common was their stubbornness, which could lead to excessive fighting. And as much as Danielle enjoyed a good arguement, she liked her new friendships too much to risk them again.

True, she never did like to have close friends. Since that incident when she was six, she avoided close friendships. It wasn't a big deal now that she thought back on it, but back then, it had burnt her cookies big time. See, she and her best friend at the time, Cynthia Lopez, were on the playground at her elementary school and Danielle's long-time crush, Michael, walked by. The week before, Danielle had confided in Cynthia that she was madly in love with him, but when Michael walked by that day, Cynthia called him over and asked him to be her boyfriend. 'What a bitch!' thought Danielle as she recalled the moment. And since then, Danielle had a hard time letting people close. Sure, it was a silly reason, but hey, heartbreak can really change a girl. Besides, after her father started drinking and became violent, Danielle alienated herself even more because she knew that if she was too close to anyone, they would eventually find out her deepest secret. Not only would it be humiliating for anybody to know that Danielle Turner, the tough-skinned and sarcastic jokester, was being tormented by her own father, Danielle couldn't stand the thought of having to listen to their pity. She knew that if even one person found out, word would spread like the flu and she would drown in a pity-shower. Danielle cringed at the thought. She didn't want it, and she didn't need it.

Now, Danielle was sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room, waiting for her friends to finish their classes for the day. Her last class was right after lunch, and she had the whole afternoon to herself. To tell the truth, she enjoyed it immensly. And she would have four days like this a week! This was the most relaxing day she'd had since... well, ever!

As she sighed in happiness, the Common Room door burst open and Harry and Ron strolled in.

"Hey," Harry said, smiling, "'Mione still has Ancient Runes, she'll be here in an hour."

"Great," Danielle moaned.

"Wait, I thought you two made up this morning," Ron interjected, "She told me in Professor Binns' class."

"Yeah, we did...kind of," answered Danielle, "We only agreed to be civil to each other."

"Figures," said Harry, plopping down in the chair next to Danielle, "'Mione stands her ground... unless Professor Snape's involved."

"Oh, I ran into him this morning on the way to Transfiguration," Danielle stated, smiling a little as she remembered the look on Snape's face, "He seems like a total jerk-off."

Harry laughed, "That's because he is a...jerk-off."

Harry and Ron started to count off all the reasons why Snape was the most feared teacher at Hogwarts and why he should be avoided at all costs. They hadn't even finished when Hermione walked through the portrait hole an hour later, and Danielle decided to go off to bed.

Once she was alone in the dormitory, Danielle reflected on her first day. Hogwarts was much better than she expected. She actually felt like an adult. Back at Hechicería, there were about 10 times as many rules, and they were 10 times as strict. What she appreciated the most was the freedom she had to walk around the grounds during her free periods and lunch time. Danielle sighed and thought of her mother, and hoped she was happier now that she was away from him. Her mother's decision to move to Europe was a wonderful idea, though Danielle hadn't seen it's greatness when she was told about it. As Danielle closed her eyes, she made a mental note to write her mother a thank you letter.