Chapter 9

The chill of the coming winter sent crumbling and dead leafs into the wind, as Annette wrapped her scarf tighter around herself and desperately tried to warm her hands while rubbing them together. Why was she always forgetting things? She was sitting cross-legged in front of the lake, she had a Transfiguration, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures essays that were going to be due in two days. She was not really worried about those grades; it was Potions and Muggle Studies that were giving her a migraine. The Hufflepuff glanced down at the blank parchment and then at her Muggle Studies book with distain, she was supposed to be writing about an invention called the VCR, invented by a Muggle named Sony. Maybe it would be better if she worked on her Potions essay instead? Holding back a sigh of frustration, she cracked open her textbook and glanced over the page that her assigned potion was on, the Pepperup Potion.

Just as she was about to dip her quill into the bottle that held her ink, a familiar voice stopped her as the ink made a drop-splatter appear on her parchment.

"Why are you out here?" Severus questioned, and sat down beside her, his own satchel now resting on his lap.

"I was hoping the cold air would revive my brain." Annette admitted, "I think it is fried from all of the other homework."

The Slytherin dug out his Defense Against the Dark Arts book, and began to take notes on the chapter that was assigned. "Perhaps if you weren't procrastinating…" he smirked, and Annette's cheeks flared pink.

"I'm not, it's just that I have to write an essay that explains in detail the differences and similarities between a Muggle cough drop, and the Pepperup Potion." Annette retorted.

"I can help you with the essay, are you doing the Potion as well?" Severus was already tucking his supplies back into his satchel.

Annette nodded and with a flick of her wand, all of her textbooks, parchment and writing supplies went back her own. Snape waited for her, as they walked back inside Hogwarts and began to make their way down into the dungeons, Annette nearly slipped on one of the slick stone steps, when Severus grabbed her by the elbow before she landed on her backside. His eyes were soft, not as cold as they used to be. She smiled in thanks, and gave her a nod, as if it was no big deal. His eyes suddenly went from soft to being hardened like coal when she saw, who he was glaring at. James Potter and Sirius Black were in the Potions supply closet, switching the labels on the ingredients that were being held in the clear glass bottles.

"Bloody gits, do you know what kind of danger you are causing?" Severus snapped, his wand gripped tightly in his hand.

"Don't get your gritty knickers in a twist, Snivelly. It's just a bit of fun." Sirius replied with a smirk, which resembled a fox in a coop full of chickens.

Annette also untucked her wand from where she had in the sleeve of her robe, her wand already lighting up with magic. "Herbifors." She cast the spell the same time that Severus said aloud the disarming charm, both Sirius and James's wands went flying out of their hands, skittering on to the floor, while flowers also sprouted out of their hair.

Professor Slughorn could be heard shuffling out of his office and out into the hallway, he had scrolls of parchment tucked under his arm, and his wand was out. He glared at the foursome, "What do you four think you are doing casting spells in the halls, you know that that is not allowed." His face was almost has red as a cherry with anger.

Annette could feel herself shaking nervously as she tried to speak, but it was Severus who put his hand on her shoulder and looked at Professor Slughorn. "We were stopping Potter and Black from messing with the Potion ingredients, Sir."

Professor Slughorn glanced at the Hufflepuff girl and his Potions Protégé, before looking at Sirius and James Potter. James who now had flowers sprouting, out of his unruly hair, and Sirius who was now glaring at Annette and Severus. He then went into the closet where most of the ingredients were kept and came back out. Slughorn dug out two pink detention slips for Sirius and James, from what it said on the slips, it looks like they would be helping Madame Pomfrey with scrubbing out the chamber pots in the Hospital Wing.

Padfoot and Prongs began their walk toward the library, they could not be they had just lost twenty points for Gryffindor, while Slytherin and Hufflepuff had gained twenty. They walked into Potions classroom, and Annette let out a sigh, it was a shaky sigh of disbelief. "I cannot believe I grew plants into James Potter's hair."

Severus Snape was actually smiling, nearly laughing, "It was quiet amusing."

Annette dug around in her satchel for her Potions book, the ingredients to make the Pepperup Potion and a tiny bag that had several Muggle cough drops in it. She carefully sliced the cough drops in half and with Severus's help, they were able to analyze and get the ingredients that made it. He then watched her as she nervously made the Pepperup Potion, helped her get it into a vile without spilling it. She labeled it with her last name, year, and house, and then began to write her essay. Severus stayed by her side, scribbling away in his Potions notebook, until her essay was completed. She set both vials of the cough drop and Pepperup Potion, and her essay in to her labeled cupboard for Professor Slughorn to pick up later. She then glanced over at Severus, who was still scribbling away with a quill in his Potions book.

She then hugged Severus from behind, her clasped together hands resting against his chest, she whispered a thank you into his ear, and then walked out of the classroom, leaving Severus to listen as her footsteps faded down the hall. The Slytherin waited another minute or two, before he gathered up his work, and put it in his satchel, he then hastily made his way to the library where he found Lily Evans, working on a Charms essay, the female Gryffindor looked up from her work as the troubled Slytherin sat down across from her.

Lily smiled, and it nearly took Severus's breath away, but he did not want to her know how he felt about her, and simply plastered on his normal "humbug" face. It was Lily's face which contorted into confusion when she saw James Potter come in with flowers still growing out of his hair, and a snickering Sirius right behind him. Remus was already sitting at a table, helping Peter with his Charms homework.

Lily glanced over at James Potter and then back to Severus. "Did you do that to James?"

Severus smirked, "No, I did not. He did deserve it though."

Lily's face was now creased with anger, as Severus left the library and walked his way toward the Greenhouses.