I'm back, Sorry I haven't ben updating as much but Between Summer School work and then an online sign language course I haven't had much time. But here we go! Hope you enjoy! I still own nothing other than Veronica.

The next morning began as usual, Veronica was up at the crack of dawn, dressed and ready before everyone else as usual. With her long hair brushed, pinned, sprayed, tucked, twisted and tied into her usual tight bun, and dressed in a Navy blazer, matching pencil skirt with a misty grey blouse, and two silver cuff bracelets, one on each wrist.

After making sure Lockhart was up and ready she grabbed her day planner, her pencil and waited for him to go first so she could follow him to the grand hall, sense he knew the way and she, having skipped lunch and dinner yesterday, did not.

"Now sir, You acquired a letter from…" She looked back down at the note "Le magasin de Sir Thénardier du magiques livres et les albums, In Paris about a Book signing in honor of Magical Me reaching the top of the Charts in France, I told him you would get back to him as soon as you could but they need a fast answer since the grand re-opening is on the Tenth of October. ''

Lockhart, who wasn't truly listening simply hummed and Veronica rolled her eyes, "Sir with all due respect I think you should do it, after all it is the oldest Magical book store in France and such publicity could open even more doors for you" Lockhart turned with a chuckle. "Ronnie, Ronnie" he tutted, "You worry far too much for a pretty girl." Veronica's blood boiled, she hated it when he chided her for doing exactly what he was paying her to do.

He looked at her with a pondering expression, "You should really smile more, or you'll get frown lines" Veronica's line thinned into a straight line as he turned and sauntered down the halls, whistling merrily. Veronica opened her mouth, then closed it , then opened it again only to close it futilely with a sigh.

"I don't get paid enough for this crap" she muttered to herself in a seemingly empty hall.

"None of us do"

Veronica jumped about a foot in the air and her hand flew to her chest. "Oh my Giddy aunt!" She muttered, "Professor Snape, Sir. Good Morning" She turned and found the grim looking man walking briskly. "I trust you slept well?" Severus simply grunted. "You ran off quite suddenly last night I thought I might have frightened you." He stated plainly. Veronica shook her head, "No sir, of course not. I just…" She didn't finished and Severus cast her a look that said, you're a horrible liar, you know that?

"I just had a lot more work to do, that's all." She stated firmly. Severus nodded curtly, not buying it for a single second. "Well I would love to chat but I have to get back to Lockhart before he accidentally drowns himself in his coffee." She muttered the last part but Severus still picked up on it and one side of his lips quirked up for a split second.

"He does seem to be something of an Airhead, doesn't he?"

Veronica shook her head, "He's truly…Brilliant, most of the time. It's just sometimes he's a bit… ditzy." Severus gave her that look again and she sighed in defeat. "Okay, so he's a bit of a dolt. But what can I do? I…"

"Ronnie!"

Veronica softly growled through her teeth, every Freaking time! She thought as she turned. "Coming Sir!" she called and turned back halfheartedly to Severus, "I have to go."

Veronica trotted after Lockhart, her heels clipping on the tile and echoing off the walls. "Don't dawdle Ronnie, we have a big day ahead of us."

"Yes sir."

Unfortunately for Veronica, Her chair was right between Lockhart's and Snape, talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. Lockhart babbled on and on, not that Veronica hadn't tuned out as soon as he opened his mouth.

"You know I was thinking about what we spoke about a few days ago…"

"Yes sir?"

"I've decided you're right."

That got her attention, or at least her curiosity. Lockhart didn't often give her credit for her good ideas, so she wanted to know what exactly she was getting credit for. "You have been working for me for quite some time now, and it's time I give credit where credit is due…" Veronica straightened up, her eyes not wide. "Sir I…"

"Now, now let me finish" he hushed her. "You have proven yourself skilled in everything I have required of you and it's time I show you my appreciation." Veronica's heart was pounding, she was finally getting that raise she wanted, no deserved.

"I've decided to…Make you my Manager. You'd be in charge of everything, profits, publicity, everything. Of course it would mean a fair bit more work but think of the experience you will earn."

"And the raise sir?" she asked meekly, And Lockhart shrugged, "yes yes I looked into that but I'm afraid there's just no room in the budget."

Veronica's hope couldn't have deflated faster if he had stuck it with a pin. "Oh" she said flatly. "Look at you, speechless. I knew you would be." Veronica swallowed the lump in her throat. "If you don't mind sir I think I should get back to the class room." She said in a husky whisper. "Excuse me"

Severus watched her go slowly, "What a sweet girl" Lockhart noted and returned to his meal. It was obvious that Snape was the only one among them who had noticed Veronica's white-knuckle grip on her napkin.

(Later)

And as promised, Veronica did act at Lockhart's assistant teacher…Sort of

From the point of view of the student's the roles seemed switched, because as usual Veronica did nine tenths of the work. It got to the point that when a Student asked a question, it was aimed at Veronica who would eye Lockhart briefly before answering.

"I must say this teaching thing is much easier than I expected" Lockhart noted during the passing period after the class with the fifth years. Veronica didn't say a word as she wiped down the black board and wrote the lesson with the small stick of white chalk.

"You've been very quiet today, Are you feeling well?" Veronica tensed every time he spoke and swallowed every foul thing she wanted to say, "Actually sir since this morning I've had the most awful headache" She explained out it came out a bit sharper than she had meant it to. "Hmm, well we have a free period after this one, maybe you should see Madame Pomfrey then." Veronica nodded, "Maybe"

Second years began to file into the room, and a group of girls scrambled for the front row, nearly rioting to get there until the "lucky" few managed to snag the first seats and the others slunk to the second and third rows. Meanwhile the boys seemed like they couldn't care less about Lockhart and simply scattered themselves about.

Lockhart was at the top of the staircase when he greeted the class. "Let me introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher..." He began and then smiled charmingly, " me!" in the sour mood she was in Veronica was less careful to cover her sickened expression behind her hand. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class…" He began to walk down the stairs, sure to put on a show. "Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League," Veronica, who had heard this, over, and over, and over again discretely mimicked the words as he said them

"and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award," Veronica was glad to see a few students not caught up in Lockhart's act, however the majority of them were boys "but I don't talk about that." Lockhart waved his hand dismissively as Veronica resisted the urge to snort "I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at him" He flashed the class that five time award winning smile with a chuckle but no one else laughed with him.

Veronica broke the awkward silence by clearing her throat, and Lockhart remembered he wasn't alone. "Oh yes, and this is my assistant Madame Largo. She will be helping me throughout the course." He whipped out his wand and tensed up, "Now." He said seriously.

"be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind." He tapped a covered with his wand and it squealed loudly and rattled violently. "You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room." In truth Veronica didn't know what was in the cage, Lockhart insisted that this particular class be extra special "Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. I must ask you not to scream. It might... provoke them!"

He whipped off the cover spectacularly to reveal a large metal cage of tiny, purple humanoid beings. That laughed and babbled and zipped around their confined space with their tiny, bat like wings.

"Cornish Pixies?" Seamus Finnegan, a boy with a heavy Irish accent laughed with the rest of the class. "Freshly caught Cornish Pixies" this sent the class into fresh peels of laugher, but Veronica didn't laugh, because funny as it was, she knew that this wouldn't end well.

"Laugh if you will Mr. Finnegan but Pixies can be devilishly tricky little blighters." Lockhart grinned, "Let's see what you make of them." He quickly pulled the pin out of the lock and let loose the proverbial Pandora's Box. The Purple Pixies darted and swarmed around the room. Dive bombing students while Lockhart smiled cheerfully. "Go on, round them up, round them up they're only pixies." He urged them. Veronica ducked and yelped as dozens of them swarmed her like bees. She yanked her wand from her pocket. "Stupify" She stunned them in threes.

Things really got out of control when the Pixies ganged up on poor Neville Longbottom and lifted him in the air, only to deposit him on the chandelier where he hung by the back of his cloak.

"Sir! I must insist you Intervene!" Veronica yelled over the chaos. "right, uh" Lockhart pulled out his wand, "Peskipiski Pestinomi!" He chanted, only resulting in a pixie flying off with his wand. He grew pale and the Students began to dash out the door with various things shielding their heads. Veronica began to usher them out and make sure the imps didn't hurt any of them as they fled.

Once all the students left except Ron, Harry and Hermione, not to mention Neville who was still hanging above them Lockhart himself began to Flee. "I'll just asked you all to nip the rest of them back into their cage."

"Bloody Coward" Veronica muttered as she made for the other children, "Head down to the infirmary with the others. I'll handle this" she told them while avoiding two other pixies who had dived at her and were currently tugging at her hair. Hermione stood up quickly with her wand in the air, "Immobulous!" She cried and suddenly at the Pixies froze like tiny flying statues.

"Well done Miss. Granger. Now you three should head down to the Infirmary with the others."

"Hey!" They all looked up, "What about me?" Veronica gasped, "Oh my goodness. Uh. Mr Longbottom just relax I will get you down promptly." She straightened up and made for the front of the room. "LeviCorpus" she chanted and slowly Longbottom began to unhook from the fixture and float down to the ground.

"Come now, come now." She ushered them out quickly and down to the Infirmary. "What happened here?!" the Nurse Asked, looking them all over. "A slight Pixie Problem in the Defense class. I didn't know where else to send them."

Madame Pomfrey looked around, "Where's Professor Lockhart?" Veronica sighed through her teeth and closed her eyes, "He is indisposed at the moment." She turned to the class. "Alright, those of you bitten or otherwise seriously harmed, please stay with Madame Pomfrey, the rest of you follow me to the Library." She instructed them with surprising authority.

One Third of the Class stayed behind to be treated for the tiny teeth marks all over their arms, necks and faces. Pixies carry dozens of bacteria and the bites needed to be treated quickly before they got infected. Veronica settled the class in the empty Library and began a brief study hall until the bell to be release. After all the students left she made her way down to the Hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey was rubbing sticky, clear salve on the rest of the bite wounds.

"Pardon Me Ma'am, you wouldn't happen to have anything for Headaches would you?" The nurse stood and readjusted her paper hat. "Just a moment dear, cold seasons coming around and I have to give some poor hufflepuff some Pepper Up Potion."

Veronica wrinkled her nose, she remembered Pepper Up Potion, it worked almost instantaneously for colds but it was a fiery liquid that burnt your throat and made puffs of smoke blow out your ears for an hour afterwards. Her Father had always kept a bottle of the stuff on the top shelve above the ice box and Veronica and Her siblings prayed against colds and flues very fall and winter. They also never missed a day of school in their lives.

After dosing the poor first year with the medicine the Nurse returned, "A Headache huh, Chronic or random?" I work for one every day Veronica wanted to say, "Chronic" she replied and The boney woman pulled up a wooden step stool and reached for a purple glass bottle of small white pills.

"Here we are" She grunted and closed the molding wooden door. "Take three of these as needed" She handed Veronica the bottle which fit comfortably in her palm. "Thank you ma'am" She popped the top off and poured three of the tablets in her palm before downing them in one gulp.

"I suppose I had better get back and clean up before those Pixies unfreeze." She sighed and thanked the old nurse before returning to the class room. It was easy to get them in the cage when they were frozen and took less than ten minutes. Then she began to repair the fallen Dragon Skeleton that had been hanging from the ceiling.

Lockhart emerged cautiously from his office, eyes darting this way and that on the lookout for any pixies, "They're all gone" she called from before, having heard the door open. The sound of wind whisking through the air cause them both to duck suddenly until Veronica noticed it was only a paper airplane. Like the ones used to carry messages at the Ministry.

Veronica plucked it from the air and unfolded up. She read it quickly and forced herself to keep the smile out of her voice. "Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office sir…Now" She informed the blonde who paled but nodded. "Yes, right. Thank you Ronnie." He sighed as he made for the door. Someone's in trouble she sang in her childishly.

After He left she sat in one of the student Chairs for a little peace and quiet. "That didn't take long." She opened her eyes and looked up. Finding Professor Snape in the door way. "Good Afternoon Professor. Something I can Help you with?" she offered and He shook his head. "No, no I just wanted to see if the damage is as bad as it sounded in the gossip." Veronica smiled bitterly, "You heard?"

"I was sent to cover his class while he gets chewed out." Severus seemed almost smug about it. "I'm guessing you won't be needing my help than" she began to stand up. "Actually if you don't mind, I wouldn't object to you lending a hand. That way at least you can relay the progress to Lockhart and I don't have to be around him"

Veronica nodded, wishing she had that option. "The lesson plan is in the maroon folder on the able in the front" She informed him. Severus picked up the folder, read three lines into it and sneered. "Good Lord, this man is worse than I imagined. This lesson plan is inept at best. No, no, no, I think not." He shook his head. I got passed over for this dunderheaded nitwit? He thought bitterly.

"Don't look at me, I just do the filing" Veronica propped her chin in her palm. "Well, I have an hour to make this lesson less clumsy, and… blatantly Narcissistic, Gilderoy Lockhart, Magical Me Pop Quiz, please tell me that isn't what I think it is." Veronica smirked a little, "I'm afraid so, sir. "

Severus frowned deeply and began revising to make the lesson less of an embarrassment. "Well, I may have to improvise a few things, but After getting a general Idea of, I will go over a lesson on minor imps and fey creatures then assign a short writing assignment over the material." He determined and snapped the file shut.

"The students will arrive in Twenty minutes." Veronica glanced at the clock. "What exactly do you want me to do, sir?" she asked and Severus gave her a side-long glance, "Just stand there until I need you and try not to talk too much" Veronica nodded, "I can do that." She agreed.

So That Happened! So Lockhart to starting to grate on Veronica's nerve (Hey if you worked for that for three year I think you get a pass), but Her acquaintanceship with Severus is growing due to their mutual distain for Lockhart. But don't worry, Things will be looking up for her soon enough. I added the last part because I always wanted to imagine Snape's reaction to Lockhart's teaching. Don't forget R&R.

Ps: I apologize for any grammatical errors, it would seem that no matter how many times I read through it I always miss something. But I edit the best I can