Chapter Four: The Potions Master

Addy followed Dumbledore down to the dungeons where the Potions Master worked. She was walking on air, admiring how truly majestic the Hogwarts castle was, when it dawned on her that this was to be her new home. Portraits smiled down at her, introducing themselves and calling out welcomes, and she would swear she'd heard a whistle from an armored knight they passed as they rounded a corner. When the stairways switched mischievously, Dumbledore smiled and commented that they- - the staircases- - were warming up for the arrival of the students.

There was indeed an electricity in the air, as the whole castle seemed to ready itself for another term. She was nearly knocked down by Filch, the caretaker, and two steps later nearly tripped over his cat, as the two of them chased Peeves the resident poltergeist down a corridor. Finally they made their way down into the bowels of the school, and, with her head still spinning, Addy tried to smooth down her hair as Dumbledore knocked on a door that said "Potions Laboratory." She figured she must look like quite the wild child, since it had been a long and grueling day, and even under the best of circumstances her curly auburn hair had a mind of its own. She wanted to make a good impression on the first new colleague she was to meet.

Severus Snape had been in his office all day preparing mixtures and potion samples for the new term. He had so treasured the quiet, solitary days of summer, during which he'd spent day after day in the cool air of his laboratory, testing his theories for new potions and trying to perfect his lycanthropy cure. He sighed sadly, knowing that his peaceful days were numbered, and in just a short time he'd be picking dragon scales out of his hair when yet another inept first-year exploded yet another cauldron.

Just then he heard a knock on his door, and as he moved his wand away from a violently bubbling cauldron, he called out, "Enter."

Addy heard the deep, resonant growl from behind the closed door and reminded herself to stand up straight. 'You're a good witch," she reminded herself. 'Well, you're an accomplished witch, anyway.' With that, the headmaster opened the door and they went inside.

Addy saw a tall, lean wizard standing over a cauldron, his black hair concealing his face as he stared down into a bubbling, black mixture. His right hand was splayed out on the table. His left hand held his wand delicately with long, slender fingers.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and the potions master looked up at them. When he glared briefly in her direction, she noticed his dark, piercing eyes, and his lips, which were twisted into a scowl - -or was that a pout?

"Headmaster," he said politely yet firmly, "I'm just finishing up here and will be in your office in 15 minutes for the staff meeting. You know I am never late." His voice was deep and soft, yet somehow carried the full length of the classroom. There was just the slightest hint of impatience in it, and Addy surmised that only his immense respect for Dumbledore was keeping in check his irritation at having his work interrupted. Growing up with Death Eaters, she'd learned the value of being observant, and knew how to read people between the lines. She was pretty good at it, although her assumptions weren't always correct.

"Yes, I know, but there is someone I'd like you to meet first," responded Dumbledore. "She has just arrived at Hogwarts and will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor - - I'll explain everything at the staff meeting. In the meantime, Miss Adelaide Mayhem, meet our Potions Master extraordinaire. . . Professor Severus Snape."

Addy froze. Severus Snape! Since she was a little girl, she'd heard the name hundreds, if not thousands of times - - from Voldemort himself! Although only a few years older than she, Snape had been some sort of child prodigy who'd been sent to Voldemort when he was not yet twenty to study under the master. Back in the old days, Voldemort had never stopped talking about his precious Severus Snape, his star Death Eater. Snape, the most promising young wizard in the wizarding world. Snape, destined to become the best potions brewer ever to walk the earth. Snape, the greatest chess opponent. Snape, the utter genius. It had driven her father nearly crazy.

She'd never met him in person, for her father had been extremely protective of her as she was growing up in Voldemort's compound. She had not been allowed to mingle with any wizards and very few witches, even, much less a celebrity like Severus Snape. After Voldemort's return, she'd heard rumors that Snape had come back, and had been tortured for his infidelity following Falling Day, until Voldemort was convinced that his present devotion was sincere. He had never been a patient of hers, though, and since patients were the only witches or wizards she'd been allowed to see for the past two years, she still had never met him.

And here was Voldemort's precious Snape, one of the greatest dark wizards in the whole evil empire, standing before her in the Hogwarts potions lab. So, she thought, THIS is the other Death Eater involved at Hogwarts . . . it wasn't just Lucius after all. Adelaide quickly deduced that Snape had fooled Dumbledore into believing that his Death Eater days were over, while all the while he was plotting with Voldemort on how to do away with the headmaster, deliver Harry Potter, and destroy the school. "Well, Snape," she thought to herself as she reached for her wand, "Your little ruse is over."

In a flash, she jumped in front of Dumbledore, whipping out her wand and pointing it at Snape. "Expelliarmus!" she cried, sending Snape's wand flying into her outstretched hand while he sailed backwards, crashing into the blackboard with a dull thud. Then, her wand still aiming squarely at the potions master, she said in a calm and triumphant voice, "Restringere ed elevare." Instantly, Snape was bound up in thick black leather straps from the tip of his toes to the top of his head, with nothing but his eyes showing - - and, oh, the expression in those eyes! They glowered at Adelaide in fury and disbelief, as he levitated into the air. Then, just for good measure, Adelaide added, "Eversum ed turbinem." With that, Snape flipped head over heels until he was hanging upside down, and started spinning slowly in mid-air.

Adelaide didn't take her eyes, or her wand, off Snape. "Headmaster!" she cried, "He works for Voldemort! He's a top Death Eater! Snape's a spy!!!"

Snape's eyes narrowed into venomous slits. Each time he spun around so that he was facing her, he fixed his gaze on Adelaide, shifting his eyes in their sockets so that they lingered on her for as long as possible, before coming round again. His mind was calmly busy cataloguing what he would do to her when Albus righted the present situation. Had he been able to move his fingers, he would have been drumming them on his thigh, as he mentally ticked off the many curses he knew, rejecting most as being too kind.

Dumbledore's first thought had been, 'That's some impressive magic, and she hasn't even broken a sweat. This girl IS good." Then he thought about how much Snape's bellowing was going to hurt his ears when he got him out of those straps.

Adelaide was still standing in front of her headmaster, and he was touched that she had thrown herself between him and 'the spy' so as to protect him. He bent down and said softly in her ear, "You're quite right, Miss Mayhem. Severus IS a spy. But he's a spy for US. With that, he pointed his wand over her shoulder at Snape and calmly said, "Finite incantatem."

Snape was gently turned right-side-up and floated to the ground, his leather straps falling away and vanishing into thin air with a soft snapping sound.

Adelaide's mouth hung open, as she slowly lowered her wand. Her mind was racing to catch up. She snapped her head from Snape to Dumbledore and back several times, and finally said, "A double agent???"

"That's right, my dear," responded Albus. "Not to mention the best Potions teacher I've ever seen." Adelaide groaned inside at the familiarity of Albus' statement. "I cherish our friendship and trust him as I do the rest of our meager group - - with my life," he added, giving Adelaide a meaningful look that was meant to remind her of the discussion they'd had earlier in his office.

Meanwhile, Severus was walking toward them, slowly yet purposefully. His eyes were still slits that never left Adelaide, his jaw was set, and his lips pursed. His hands balled themselves in and out of fists, his long fingers stretching and flexing. Adelaide thought to herself how she'd never seen such long fingers on anyone, and felt quite sure that they would easily fit around her neck. As he approached, she could see a rather large vein, throbbing at his temple.

Dumbstruck, Adelaide couldn't take her eyes off him. "Way to go, Addy old girl," she thought to herself. "You had to add the upside-down-spinning curse too, didn't you? You had to show off." She heard Dumbledore tell the approaching Snape, "Remember Severus, Miss Mayhem is new here. She's come to help and we do want her to feel welcome."

Snape continued until he was standing about four inches away and directly in front of Adelaide. He stared down at her, for he was nearly a foot taller than she.

"Um . . . so sorry," she said, peering up at him and trying - - unsuccessfully - - not to look and feel ridiculous. She tried to give him a charming smile, but she realized it probably just looked like she was about to be sick. And for good reason.

"My wand," was all he said, ever so softly and clearly. His teeth were still clenched, and she watched his lips curl slowly around every vowel and consonant. He stiffly bent his arm at the elbow, palm facing upward.

"Huh?" said Adelaide.

"You are holding my wand in your left hand, and I would like it back." Eyes still glowering, jaw still set.

"Oh, yes of course," she responded. And didn't move.

"NOW!!!" he roared, and Adelaide felt the force of his holler blow back her hair. She soundlessly handed him his wand. He twitched his head towards Dumbledore saying, "I'll see you in exactly five minutes at the staff meeting," spun on his heels, and in a few quick strides had crossed the room and stormed off into his office at the back of the laboratory, his black robes whipping and swirling around his long legs. The door to his office closed behind him with a resounding crash.

"Oh, and Severus . . ." called Dumbledore after him.

"WHAT?" came the snarl from behind the closed office door.

"You will be Miss Mayhem's mentor, until she . . . well . . . finds her feet here," he called over his shoulder, as he quickly ushered Adelaide out the door of the laboratory and into the hallway.

. . . To be continued . . .