"Today we will be working with a very…special ingredient," I said as I strode before the class. "Mermaid scales." I gestured to Serena, who was swimming playfully in the tank I had conjured for her in the corner.
"Serena has graciously given up one scale for each of you."
She climbed up and sat on the rim of the tank, spinning herself so that she no longer touched the water. The class watched in awe as her tail melted away into a pair of pale, skinny legs and a pearly dress.
"You're a changeling." said a voice.
"Incorrect Miss Granger. Despite her current appearance, Serena is indeed full-mer. Five points from Gryffindor for talking out of turn."
"Now Severus." said Serena sweetly. "Be nice." I watched as she winked at me before turning to the class.
"While that was a good guess miss-"
"Granger. Hermione Granger." she said matter-o-factly.
"Hermione-that's pretty. As Severus said, I am full mer. The only way to tell a changeling from a mermaid is to ask them. A mermaid is-
"Born with it, miss. A changeling is changed by a mermaid later in life."
"Very good. Ten points to Gryffindor."
"You may begin." I said curtly, giving a half smile as Serena crossed the room. She walked around, watching painlessly as her scales were dropped one by one into the cauldrons. Her beautiful brown curls cascaded over her shoulders, bouncing lightly as she walked where they ended at the small of her back. She came back and stood next to me once more, scanning the tables with her fierce green eyes. Cauldrons smoked and bubbled softly all around the room, sending clouds of different colored smoke into the air. A loud crash broke the faint sound of glass phials tinkling and cauldrons bubbling. I turned on my heel and walked swiftly toward Neville Longbottom's station, where a large amount of foul smelling steam was dissipating into the already smoky air.
"Please, Severus, allow me," said Serena. She lifted her hand and waved it a few times over the cauldron. The bubbling liquid inside seized up and then fell into what looked to be a flawless sleeping draught.
"Thank you, Miss," stuttered Neville, his cheeks flushing a hot red.
"You're very welcome," Serena replied, smiling at him.
When she turned away and walked back toward the front of the room, all students were focused on me. There were so many questions twinkling behind their eyes. I dismissed their inquisitive expressions and slowly made my way to my desk.
"Class dismissed. Pack your things," I said.
After a few minutes of shuffling around and hasty runs for the heavy wooden door, I turned to face Serena.
"How is it that you can do magic without a wand?"
"Maybe it's not the fact that I can, it's the fact that I thought to. Anyone can do it, they just have to try," she replied. "If you think about it, a wand is just a stable way to channel your own magic. It can be channeled in other ways. I figured out how to do it with my hands."
"How, exactly?" I asked, astonished.
"Well, say I wanted to move that flask just there," she said, pointing to an empty flask on a nearby table. "You just use Wingardium Leviosa. It's the same principle without the hassle of a wand."
"Show me."
She took a breath and lifted her hand. Then, with one smooth motion of her wrist, the flask began to rise from the table and floated onto the next one.
"That's amazing," I said. "You're amazing."
"I'd be happy to teach you," she said smiling.
"I'd like that." I reached down to brush a stray curl from her face. She blushed lightly, staring into my eyes.
A knock came from the door.
"Professor?"
"Come in," I said, stepping away from Serena to face the door.
Hermione ducked in and walked toward her usual seat in the front of the room.
"I just forgot my inkwell." She took the tiny bottle of ink in her hand and smiled at the floor, glancing up at us.
"Thank you, sir."
I nodded at her, and she shut the door behind her.
"She seems nice," Serena commented.
"She is one of my top students. She gets better marks than most of the prefects."
"So what do you have planned for tomorrow's lesson?"
"I was going to work with them on the bases for Wolfsbane. They are fifth years, they should be able to handle it."
"I always liked Wolfsbane. I liked to fantasize how it worked, how it must feel to go through a full moon without it."
"Remus Lupin. He was a professor here, and a werewolf. I brewed it for him a few years ago."
"I knew Remus. He used to come and talk to me often, talk about the students. He always used to speak of Harry fondly."
I shuddered. Potter had completely slipped my mind. Albus had asked me to start teaching him defense against the dark arts since Umbridge had started teaching.
"I was - well - commissioned to aid Mr. Potter in his studies. It seems that our current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is not up to the task."
"Do you think maybe I could help? I could teach him hand magic. It comes in handy if you misplace your wand. Gives you one up on whoever you're fighting."
"Of course, if you don't mind. Potter isn't exactly the best learner, but he needs all the help he can get."
"Settled, then." She moved closer and touched a few of the buttons on my shirt. I placed my hand on her soft cheek and moved so that my lips were just inches from hers.
"Settled," I said. With that final word, I leaned in and kissed her. She kissed back, and I allowed my tongue to trace the outside of her lips lightly. The kiss grew more passionate, and our tongues tied together. In a final kiss, I pulled away slowly. She smiled a sweet smile.
Once more, the click of the door broke us apart. With his black hair in it's usual mess, Harry Potter strode into the room. He seemed taken aback by the scene in front of him, but continued to walk forward.
"Excuse me, Professor Snape. I brought a message from Professor Dumbledore. For Serena?"
"I'm Serena. How are you, Harry?" she said warmly, as if she had met him before.
"Fine, thanks." He blushed and looked at the floor. "Er- Dumbledore requested you go and see the nurse - Madam Pomfrey - straight away."
"Yes, of course. He said - just me?"
"Yes," he said, glancing at me. I shot him a nasty glare.
"Is that all?" I asked with a cold sneer.
"No sir. He also sent for you to come up and see him in his study."
"Right. Get to your next class, Potter."
"Yes sir." He ducked quickly from the room, shutting the door loudly as he went.
"Well, I suppose we go our separate ways," she said nervously.
"Can you find your way there alright?"
"I suppose."
"Go catch up with Harry. He'll show you. He's certainly been there enough in his time here to know where it is."
"Alright," she said. She leaned up and placed a last kiss on my lips. Then, she hurried from the room and left me standing alone, heart skipping, in front of a ghostly classroom.
