The weeks after the incident, Florence tried to be a nicer to Severus. She kept Misty to her left rather than the small gap between hers and Severus' seats. She also took to smiling and greeting him when she saw him around the castle.

Her attempts to be friendlier did not go unnoticed by Severus, who had grown accustomed to the mild animosity between them, 'Is there anything wrong with Ms Mountfield?' he asked Minerva during dinner.

She frowned, 'I don't believe so. Is there a reason why you would think so?'

'She's been acting strange. She keeps smiling and has been acting differently.' Severus said.

Minerva raised an eyebrow, 'Rubeus did mention you were rather concerned about her when went swimming. Perhaps she has realised you don't hate her.'

Severus rolled his eyes his, 'She was being aggravating. Besides that blasted dog is always with her so why would it be strange that she left it on the side of the lake with some items of clothing next to it?'

Minerva shrugged, 'I guess that would be concerning. Anyway, don't blow this chance to make friends with her. She's the only person your age besides some of the older students and Albus thinks it'll be nice for you to have someone to talk to.'

Severus sighed and shook his head, 'I do not need a 'friend'. I'm perfectly happy to be on my own, doing whatever I please without someone hounding me.' He looked up and noticed Florence enter the Hall. He watched walk down the tables and she stopped to talk to some of the students. He hadn't noticed that she had a pretty smile and that her hair had soft curls that framed her face. Misty, as always, was trotting behind her happily.

'I think you've just proven you would like to get to know Florence.' Minerva whispered, pulling Severus out of his daydream.

'Be quiet.' Severus hissed.

Minerva chuckled, 'as you wish Severus, but you know I'm right.'

Severus did not reply to Minerva's comment but instead fixed his gaze onto his plate of food. He chose to reject her comment. He stuck to his belief it would be easier for him to keep himself to himself and to keep any form of relationship, friend or otherwise, professional. He doubted Florence would accept his past. A lovely woman would not want to involve herself with a former Death Eater.

'Hi Severus! How has your day been?' Florence beamed as she sat down.

Severus shrugged, 'Nothing interesting. Classes were average. Gave out some detentions.'

Her smile fell, 'Oh. Are the detentions this evening?'

He nodded, 'A Weasley and Tonks.'

'Tonks? She's a lovely girl and hasn't caused any problems in my classes.'

'She caused a significant explosion in class today and I had to send several students to the Medical Wing.' He spat out the words and Florence frowned.

'She is a little clumsy but she doesn't mean any harm.'

Severus sighed, 'At least three cauldrons, that I bought, were destroyed not to mention students were injured.'

'What are you making her do for her detention?'

'To clean the potions room.'

Florence's eyes widened, 'that's rather unfair! You can easily use a spell to clean the room.'

Severus shrugged, 'it will make sure Tonks won't make the same mistake again, wouldn't it?'

Florence frowned, 'Poor girl.'

'She shouldn't have had essentially destroyed my classroom then.'

'You can be so cruel. I would never give out such horrible punishment for an accident!'

'Please keep your voice down, Miss Mountfield.' Severus said calmly.

Florence sighed and ate her dinner quietly. Minerva nudged Severus and tilted her head towards Florence and mouthed 'apologise' to Severus. He shook his head and Minerva's face hardened and she mouthed 'apologise' again. He rolled his eyes and turned towards Florence. He sighed inwardly and prepared himself for any anger.

'Florence? I'm sorry for how I acted.' Severus said, as calmly and politely as he could.

'Thank you for the apology.' She replied, smiling.

The rest of the dinner was in a comfortable silence. Severus stayed quiet in order to keep himself from saying something that would upset or insult Florence and he wanted to avoid Minerva scolding him for a second time.

It wasn't long before Florence got up to leave, 'I have some marking to get on with. I'll see you later.' She patted her side and Misty followed suit. He noticed she went past the Hufflepuff table and she stopped to talk to Tonks. Severus gathered it was about Tonks' detention. She touched Tonks' shoulder, smiled and left, with her dog close behind.

Florence had hoped her polite conversation starters would allow her to start frequent conversations with Severus during meal times, but it had fallen flat. She was upset about Severus' attitude towards Tonks' accident and the fact he blamed her solely for it. Tonks was an incredibly clumsy individual and there had been occasions where she would walk into tables or trip over nothing. It was hardly Tonks' fault.

When Florence had got up to leave she stopped to quickly speak to Tonks.

'It wasn't your fault, Dora.'

Tonks sadly shrugged. Her hair a dark grey, 'It was. I shouldn't have volunteered myself to help Franklin.'

Florence frowned, 'There is nothing wrong with wanting to help others when you know you can. Professor Snape is just being harsh and I've told him I think he's wrong. You're simply clumsy and you didn't want to, nor would you be stupid enough to destroy his classroom. Keep your chin up.'

Tonks' hair went to a bright blue, 'cheers, Professor. You're too nice to be friends with Snape.'

Florence patted Tonks' shoulder, 'I'm nice to everyone, Dora.'

Tonks ruffled Misty's fur and Florence left the Hall. Florence looked around the castle as she made her way to her quarters. She found it beautiful and she thought the students lucky to study in such a wonderful place. She would've enjoyed studying at Hogwarts, had she had the opportunity and she wondered what the Professors would've been like. Would they have all been as strict as Severus or taken a more relaxed approach like Minerva?

Dumbledore had given her the chance to be Sorted when she arrived at Hogwarts and she was delighted to Sorted into Ravenclaw. She'd figured it was the only House that she would had fit into. The Hat had taken less than ten seconds to decide. She'd felt a pang of sadness that she was not able to relive the full Hogwarts experience but being Sorted gave an identity in the School as well as an alliance amongst students. Not to mention, it created the illusion she was not an outsider to the wizarding world.

She knew she wasn't. She was from a long line of witches, none of which were educated in the formal manner. Her mother had told her instincts were all that were needed for her to succeed. To an extent her mother was right. Her instincts to focus on magical history had bought her relative success and had made herself a name and had bought her to Hogwarts. She wondered what her mother would had thought of Hogwarts. It had a vibrant atmosphere, but it was a confined space which her family traditionally found stifling.

Florence managed to mark over thirty assessments before her head started to pound. She gazed at her watch and yawned as the time read half eleven. She hummed as she noticed it was the day before Halloween. It would be her first Halloween without following her family traditions, but she convinced herself there was no way to do so without her lengthy trip to the south of England, something that would be too time consuming with the remaining forty assessments to mark.

She quickly changed out of her clothes and climbed into her bed, excited about what Hogwarts would do for Halloween.

Severus gripped a bottle of whisky and sat in the darkness of his quarters. The memories of 1981 haunting him again. He finished the bottle and conjured another, hoping to block out the memories.