DISCLAIMER: If you are reading this then you should know who the characters and stuff from Harry Potter are so therefore you would now that they aren't mine but the talented J.K.Rowling's!

AN (yes in fact I am still alive):

OK, OK… I'm sorry for not updating for sooooooooooooooo long!!! Please don't hate me… Despite of what you might think I have not given up on this story but… well with holidays, final year at school, domestic crisis' and many other unexpected events I just haven't had the time to update. But to all you who are in fact still reading now – my extended gratitude towards you and many millions of thanks for sticking by it.

Now the other reason why this update has been postponed so drastically (and this is probably the more valid reason) is because I was scared of posting it because I don't know how it will be taken. Just a warning – this chapter is a little ….. creepy! But there is a reason and it is necessary so don't hate me!!! Sorry in advance – but please review with your thoughts. This chapter is also dedicated to the talented Ed-Wood (see my fav authors list) who supplied the pressure for me to finally post this. Well Ed here it is – don't say I didn't warn you!!!

Anyway… enough babble… on with the severely overdue chapter…

CHAPTER 10: Lost for words

I knocked loudly on Snape's door. I didn't want him to think that I was scared of him or anything.

"Come in Johnson!" I heard him say through the door. I opened the door and walked in. His office was pretty cramped with shelves packed with bottle and jars of all sorts of things. He had a huge wooden desk full of parchment and books.

"Sit down please," he said gesturing to a chair and table in the corner. I did as I was told. "Now," he said giving me a piercing stare, "how valuable do you think dragon's blood is?"

I didn't have a clue. "Quite valuable, sir" I said looking down.

"Quite," he repeated with a smirk. "Quite doesn't even begin to describe it." He got up and walked over to me. "Tell me," he said standing over me, "How valuable are you're Potions marks to you?"

What was he doing? "Very!" I said shakily but without looking up at him. He walked to the front of my desk and bent down so his disgusting face was right in front of me.

"I see," he said hardly moving his thin lips. "And how are you're marks at the moment?"

Why was he asking this? "Not so good." I said with a sigh.

"Clearly" he said with a sinister tone but a grin on his face and he stood up again. He started pacing around the room. "Well, at least you still have time to improve them." He turned and looked at me. "Other students are doing their NEWTS this year and they don't have much of a chance. Other students like, oh lets see, Oliver Wood!" At the mention of his name Snape looked deeply into my eyes and I saw his eyes twinkle. Why had he mentioned Wood? Did he know? He walked up behind me.

"It would be a shame if your NEWTS grades went down just because of your Potions marks, wouldn't it?

He was right. My marks weren't very good. If I didn't bring them up I wouldn't be able to become and Auror like I wanted. And it was only Potions that would bring me down. And Wood. Was he saying that his marks were bad too? What if Wood didn't get signed up to and international Quidditch team, and then didn't have good NEWTS to start a decent career. He was stuck. After all it was his last year.

"It is ironic is it not," Snape continued, "That I am the one that possesses the power to change that." With his words he placed his hands on my shoulders. I shuddered at his touch. What was he doing? "You and that Wood boy have no chance except me," he said bring his face next to mine. Suddenly he pulled me up out of the chair so I was standing facing him. "I," he said emphasizing the word dramatically, "can change your futures."

Again, he was right. I couldn't fail Potions. I just couldn't.

"It's up to you," he said, his oily face now very close to mine. A feeling of intense sickness was spreading over me. I was stuck. "Do you want to pass Potions?" he said evilly.

I nodded.

"And I don't think you want Oliver Wood to fail do you?" he asked staring intensely into my eyes.

I shook my head with an overwhelming feeling of dread.

"I didn't think so." He said with a sigh. And with that, before I could even react, he bent down and pressed his lips against mine. I made a short sound and pulled away from him. Disgust and hatred filling my mind. He grabbed me in his arms.

"This is fair Johnson" he said angrily. "I give you what you want and you give me what I want. Unless of course you changed your mind and want to fail? Huh?"

I couldn't do anything. I was trapped. I didn't want to be anywhere near Snape but what could I do. I could sacrifice my future but he had pulled Oliver into it too. I couldn't do that to Wood. I had no choice. I shook my head weakly.

"There, you see?" he said in a sickeningly false voice, "I knew you would see reason." He stroked my hair out of my face and kissed me again. I had to fight all my instincts and feelings to stop from pulling back or throwing up. I didn't kiss him back I just let him. Tears were streaming down my face. Snape ran his hands up my robes. I felt so utterly disgusted and so very helpless. All I could do was let him do what he wanted. I closed my eyes and just prayed for it to be over. I was more than half and hour before it finally was.

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AN #2: I thoroughly apologise to all those people who have now been mentally scarred for life. Maybe it was a little uncalled for? I needed something to push the story along and, along with the advice I got from a friend might I add, this was the finished product. Quite disgusting is it not? Well I did tone it down but hopefully it wasn't too bad. Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter, it shouldn't be as bad… and it will be posted much earlier this time… that is if in fact anyone is still reading… Please review and let me know if you're still interested. Thanks for reading –

L.A