Before Corina knew it, it was time to board the Hogwarts express back to school. Her family had come back from visiting friends a couple days after the whole Snape thing, and were shocked to hear what had happened. Her father was a Muggle, but he'd heard all about Snape. Her mother snickered a bit while drinking her tea, her younger sister having gone to school with him. Her sister had told her about him, and he seemed troubled at times.

Sitting on the train back with her friends was interesting. A couple of them wanted to hear all about Snape being drunk, but once that was over they moved on. It wasn't like they could talk about it the whole trip, nor did she want to. She'd have to see him again soon, and that itself was too much. However, in order to continue learning about potions, she had to deal with him for one more year.

During the Great Feast, she watched the Sorting Ceremony happily, excited for the next year of students to start their journey. Every year she recalled her first year, being sorted, and worried about where she would end up. In the end, she was sorted into Gryffindor. It was all so scary, but exciting at first. Each year, Dumbledore's speeches received a thundering round of applause, exciting everyone in the room. Except Snape. Corina imagined that you could give him everything in the world and he still wouldn't smile. She wondered if he was missing that part of the brain, or if he was just raised not to show joy.

Afterwards, Corina and her friends made their way back to the commons, joking about how they were just starting their very last year at Hogwarts. One friend was thinking about simply traveling and living off the land. Another was thinking about working for the Ministry. Corina said she was undecided, but would be looking into her options once she graduated.

Her classes that year were Apparition, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Muggle Studies, and Potions. She loved animals, so dealing with magical creatures was right up her ally. If she enjoyed it as much as the previous year, then she would consider it for a career. Muggle Studies was an easy class.


Snape was not looking forward to yet another year of teaching students potions. Almost no one understood it for the art it was, and there was always that one student to blow something up. Now, to top it off, he was sure the news of his drunken night had spread throughout the student body. Something like that could not be kept a secret for long.

As the first class of the day made it's way into his classroom, he watched them like a hawk. They were all first years, and no doubt his reputation preceded him. Once the noise of chairs being scrapped, and bags being shuffled subsided, he began speaking. "Making potions is not only a science, but an art." Snape began, his voice low. "I do not expect you to fully comprehend it's beauty, or succeed. However, I will do my best to teach you how, as long as you are not as dimwitted as most." With that, he turned to the board. "Your first assignment." He pointed. "To be completed by the end of this class." A low groan could be heard throughout the students.

Moving through the desks, he watched many make simple mistakes, some make major mistakes, and others didn't seem to grasp it at all. It didn't help his mood at all. By the end of class, he'd made two kids cry, sent one to the hospital wing for a major burn, and had a headache. "I expect a four parchment essay on the importance of potions by next Wednesday. Dismissed." He said, watching how quickly the young students packed up and exited the room. It never ceased to amaze him how fast they got away from him.

The rest of his day wasn't any better. Each class seemed to add onto his frustration. By his last class of the day, he was ready and willing to give detention for anyone who simply looked at him wrong. Looking around the room, he was surprised at some of the faces he saw. However, he recalled speaking to Corina briefly in Diagon Ally. She had informed him that she would be there. It did nothing for his mood.

"Welcome to potions, yet again. If you are in your seventh year, and taking potions again, I applaud you. Not only for surviving my class thus far, but for showing some proficiency." Snape said in just above a whisper. "From here on out, the potions you will be learning will test what you have learned, and be much more dangerous. Some of you may even decide to drop the class, and I have a feeling I know who." His eyes scanned the class, like a vulture looking for it's next meal. They lingered on Corina for a moment longer.

There were a few daring whispers in the back, catching Snape's attention. "Is there something more important you'd like to discuss with the class?" He snapped. No one spoke during his class unless answering his questions.

"No, sir." Said a sixth year Ravenclaw. "Nothing..." She added, glancing to her friend.

"Then I suggest you refrain from jabbering in my class and pay attention." Snape hissed. "Unless you want to blow up your cauldron, lose your eyebrows, or worse." His glare wasn't even needed to know he meant business. "Now, for your first assignment, I'd like you to brew me a vial of Draught of Living Death as a refresher for the seventh years, and an introduction for sixth years. You have the rest of the class."

Snape turned to sit at his desk before hearing the whispers once more. Whipping around, he glared. "Ten points from Ravenclaw. Any farther outbursts will result in detention." He snapped, causing the girls to stop.

Corina rolled her eyes, knowing that no one was stupid enough to gossip during Snape's class. It was obvious that's what they were doing. Laying out all the ingredients, she sighed. Another year of brewing random potions. She hoped that this year they would do something a bit more fun.

By the end of class, she was fairly confident that she'd succeeded. Sitting back, Corina waited for him to reach her. As he quickly moved through the class, his thoughts could be heard on each vial. "Too red." He muttered to one student, who sulked. "Too clear. Did you not follow the instructions?" To another. A few received praise, getting it right, although many were slightly off. Finally, he reached Corina. "Ms Bates." He began, his gaze moving to her vial. "You've started off on the right track. I suggest you stay on it."

A few giggles could be heard in the back, this time causing Corina to whip around and glare. Slowly turning back in her seat, she shook her head. She was generally quiet, and kept to herself (except for her friends), but wasn't one to take crap.

Snape moved back to the front, barely making a noise. "Many of you failed your first potion. Be prepared to make it up. Your homework is a seven page parchment on the dangers of potion making, citing examples. Due next Tuesday. Class dismissed."

Everyone quickly packed their things, happy to be done for the day. However, with all the home work they had, it wasn't likely that they would be spent doing much socializing. Corina headed towards the door, noticing the Ravenclaw girl and a couple others hovering in the back. Shaking her head, she tried to ignore them. They had other plans.

"Corina, right?" The Ravenclaw asked, walking up to her. "I'm Aimee. So, is it true?" Aimee asked, giggling.

Raising an eyebrow, she shook her head. "I don't know what you're going on about." She said, confused.

"That, ya know, Snape stayed the night at your house and well..." It was obvious where her mind went.

Corina stared at her, wide eyed. "For one, you're insane! Secondly, sod off." With that, she walked out of the classroom, going to find her friends. She knew they would tell, but where the hell had the story changed so much?

Snape heard part of the exchange and sighed, not having the patience to speak to the girls himself. They quickly followed Corina. He hoped that something else would catch the student's attention soon, or that they would simply go back to thinking he was a bat.