Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and the twins sat closely together in the common room discussing the cause of the tension among the Gryffindors.

"I don't believe it," said Neville. "Lindsay would never turn on us."

"Fred and I don't believe it either."

"It is rather odd," began Hermione. Six pairs of eyes narrowed slightly as they looked at her. "I'm not taking Jackson's side. I'm just stating the obvious. It's odd how much time she spends with Snape. It could be perceived as suspicious, especially with the drastic rise in detentions everyone's been getting."

"Filch caught Ron and I going to the kitchens and Lindsay covered for us."

"We never got in trouble, so she mustn't have told anyone," said Ron.

"If she was going to turn spy," said Ginny, "that would've been the perfect opportunity."

"Not really," said Hermione. "If I were a spy, I wouldn't want anyone to find out. If I'd caught Ron and Harry, and they got in trouble later, it would be obvious who told. It would have to be me as I would've been the only witness, other than Filch."

"So what are you saying, Granger?" said Fred.

"Are you for or against?" said George.

"Neither really, there aren't enough facts."

"Well, I like her," stated Ginny.

"I like her too," said Hermione, "and I'm not blaming her. I'm just saying that something peculiar is going on."

"George and I are going to fetch her. She needs to stop avoiding the common room."

Twenty minutes later the twins re-entered the common room, dragging Lindsay by her arms. "This is a mistake, guys."

"Nonsense," said George.

"Everyone misses you," said Fred.

"Not everyone." Numerous hate-filled glares turned in Lindsay's direction. The twins stared back, challenging anyone to speak. Many of the students rose and went to their dormitories. The tension in the air was thick. Fred and George plopped her down in a chair next to Neville. "I promise all of you that I'm not spying…."

"We believe you," said Neville.

"All of us," said George.

The common room was now mostly full of younger students as many of the older ones preferred the privacy of their dormitories rather than be in Lindsay's company. There were a few older students who approached her to state their belief that Snape had set her up, and that they had no hard feelings toward her. This prompted a lively exchange of theories among the small group of supporters as to how Snape had managed to catch so many students, and what might be his ultimate goal.

"Where did Fred and George go?" said Ron. "They were just here a minute ago. Did you see them, Ginny?"

"No, I wasn't paying attention."

Lindsay was facing the direction of the hallway that led to her rooms, so she was one of the first to see the menacing black form of the Potions Master silently enter the common room. Many of the students dashed to the safety of their dormitories. Others hesitated, unable to decide whether to run or hide. Lindsay's attention was immediately drawn to a fleeting expression on Snape's face. A mischievous twinkle glinted in his dark eyes, and was accompanied by a short-lived devilish grin. She finally saw his moment.

"Miss Gray, I've come to sit for you."

"That's wonderful, Professor. Excuse me, everyone, I have some sketching to do." Lindsay's excitement was obvious. She made no attempt to hide it, but some observers found it a bit disconcerting.

"That wasn't suspicious in the least," remarked Hermione as the two adults left the common room.

###

"I hope tea is acceptable, Professor. I'm not a drinker, so I don't keep alcohol in."

"Tea is fine," replied Snape.

Lindsay moved to her kitchenette. "Make yourself at home…did you hear that?" She went to her bedroom door, which was open. She never left it open. "Anyone in there?"

Two werewolves jumped out at her, growling and snarling. Lindsay yelled and jumped away. She felt herself being jerked backwards by a pincer-like grip on her arm. Snape stood in front of her. His wand was drawn and aimed.

Both werewolves raised their hands above their heads. "Don't shoot! It's us, Fred and George!"

Lindsay laughed hysterically. "You scared the hell out of me!"

"That was the idea," said Fred. Lindsay pulled at Fred's snout. "Ow!"

"Is that your skin?"

"Of course," answered Fred. "What good is a costume that comes off?"

"They look so realistic," said Lindsay.

"We haven't perfected them yet," replied George, "but we're nearly there."

Snape holstered his wand, looking greatly relieved. "Out! You'll both be seeing Filch tomorrow evening. Twenty points each from Gryffindor for endangering the safety of others…and yourselves."

The twins left in single file, dropping white feathers as they went. Their fronts were near perfect replicas of werewolves, but the backs of their costumes looked like ducks.

"You're dropping feathers, Fred."

"I'm molting, George."

"Those are two more reasons why I don't keep alcohol in here. They didn't mean any harm, Professor. They were just having some fun."

"I could have injured them quite badly as could anyone else with a wand and good reflexes."

It wasn't Lindsay's place to challenge Snape's authority, so she let the matter rest. She rubbed her right arm. "You have a surprisingly strong grip, Professor."

"I apologize if I've injured you. I can come back another time."

"No need to apologize. I can handle a bruise. I'm left-handed anyway, so it's not a problem. If you would sit there next to my easel, we can get started." Lindsay moved to her desk to get her sketchpad. She stooped to pick up a soft, yellow, baby blanket from the floor. A plant, hopping along in its pot, rushed out from the dark space between her desk and the wall, and bit at her hands. "Did you drop your blankie, Herbie?" She put the blanket over the nasty plant's head. "Night-night, Herbie, night-night." It hopped back into the corner and pulled the blanket around itself. She turned back to Snape who was scowling. "Neville brought him in. The bigger plants were picking on him. He'll be able to go back when he's done teething. He's growing so quickly-eats coffee grounds like there's no tomorrow. He'll go to sleep if I sing to him. You don't mind, do you?"

Snape didn't reply. Lindsay began to softly sing a lullaby as she set up her easel and pencils. She looked at Snape and rose to position his face. He hadn't expected that she'd be touching him. She pushed his hair behind his ears and turned his head. She stepped back, observed his features, and then repositioned him. She did this several times before sitting in front of her easel. All the contact made him very uncomfortable, and he resisted the urge to scratch his suddenly itchy face. She finished singing the lullaby and immediately carried on singing something else. Snape didn't recognize the lyrics, but it sounded like the melody she'd played for him a few nights ago. He'd had a headache then, and asked her to play something softer than the Paganini piece she usually played for him. She had a lovely singing voice.

He thought her habit of blathering to him was annoying, but he now found himself wishing she'd speak to him. Singing to him made him uncomfortable for reasons he couldn't identify. He began to sweat. Lindsay apparently had quite good peripheral vision as her eyes rarely left his face. She'd never observed him so intensely before, and he didn't like it at all.

Lindsay abruptly stopped singing and set down her pencil. She rose and approached him, pulling a white handkerchief from her pocket to pat his face. "It's unnerving to be scrutinized, isn't it, Professor?"

He turned away from her and wiped his face with is sleeve. "Do you have what you need, Miss Gray?"

"Yes, thank you…." Snape rose and quickly left. He passed Dumbledore, who entered as Snape left. "He has the most unusual personality. I don't know what to make of him."

"Severus is a rare rose too shy to bloom," said Dumbledore.

"How poetic," said Lindsay cheerily.

"Quite." To Dumbledore, Severus was a beautifully imperfect creature. Try as he might, he just couldn't make the boy understand that love in all its myriad forms was the key to happiness and the true purpose of life. To find it, one must open oneself to another; one must trust deeply and unreservedly. Dumbledore had remarked upon the subject of love quite often over the years, but Severus had never shown any interest whatsoever in the topic. He remained silent and secretive. "You've finally managed to sketch him."

"Yes, I think I'll be able to start painting his portrait now."

"You don't mind if I put the kettle on, do you?"

"Of course not, help yourself. I'll just get tidied up over here."

"You still insist on doing things manually, I see," remarked Dumbledore, who'd opted to use magic to get the tea started.

"It's habit, I guess. I'm tactile, I need to touch things."

"Perhaps a wand might help to curb that tendency. I believe Severus has to run some errands in the morning. I wonder if he wouldn't mind taking you to Ollivander's."

"That would be nice. I love shopping trips. What is our objective for the evening, Professor?"

"Are you familiar with Occlumency?"

###

Lindsay waited by the castle's main entrance. A seventh-year boy sat next to her with his arm draped lazily across her shoulders. She sat cross legged with her hands folded over her knee. The boy was showing her a trick that was clearly intended to impress her, and she was obviously feigning an interest. Snape arrived at precisely nine a.m., just as he'd said. "Mr. Caldwell!" The boy jumped to his feet. "Ten points from Ravenclaw for inappropriate contact with a female. You'll see me this evening for your detention."

"Yes, sir." Caldwell disappeared, with great speed, in the direction of the library.

"Are you ready, Miss Gray?"

"I certainly am."

"We'll be walking to the gates."

"Are we going to Hogsmeade?"

"No." Snape didn't say another word to her until they were on the other side of the castle's gates. "Take my arm."

Lindsay did as instructed and instantly wished she hadn't. She could see nothing, but felt the sensation of rapid movement. She gripped Snape's arm tightly. She felt like her body was being compressed and expanded, like a rubber band being shot across a room. She landed heavily, but stayed on her feet. "That was unpleasant."

"That was apparition," replied Snape. He moved Lindsay to stand in front of a shop window. "Stay here. I won't be long."

Snape disappeared into the bowels of the dark shop. Lindsay peered through the dirty glass of the shop window for a moment. She stepped back and read the sign above it-"Slug & Jiggers Apothecary". Lindsay turned around to view the rest of the shops. They all appeared unwelcoming; in fact, the entire street as far as she could see was dark and dreary, not cheerful and sunny like Diagon Alley. Even the patrons that walked the avenue were very shady looking folks, most of whom appeared as though they had great secrets to hide. She had no idea where she was and wasn't the least bit nervous about it. Lindsay loved new places and new faces. As found in most localities, there were people who were poorly dressed; others who were moderately well-dressed; and still others, the least common type, were dressed in expensive fabrics. Lindsay was the only one dressed in Muggle fashion, which drew many a curious stare.

From one of the nearby shops, exited a tall handsome wizard. He was very well-dressed with black trousers, burgundy velvet frock-coat, and a double-breasted, black and silver brocade waistcoat. Lindsay thought he looked like a character out of a cheap romance novel. He had long dark-brown hair that was greying at his temples and wore a neatly trimmed beard. The wizard noticed Lindsay immediately and asked if she was lost.

"No, I'm waiting on a friend."

"With your permission, I'd like to keep you company until she returns."

The wizard moved closer. He was indeed very tall. Lindsay didn't often have to raise her head to look a man in the eyes. "That's very nice of you, but he's just in there. He won't be long."

"He? A gentleman who leaves his lady unattended?"

"She's not interested, Arkaidus."

"Severus! The young lady is with you then?"

Snape didn't answer him. He just pushed him aside, grabbed Lindsay's arm, and shoved her into the shop. He dragged her to the counter and stood her in a corner. "Don't move. Touch nothing. Speak to no one."

Lindsay found Snape's behavior bizarrely amusing and made a mental note to tell Dumbledore about it thinking he'd find it amusing too. Snape stood in front of the sales counter and spoke to an older bespectacled man standing behind it. The older wizard kept shooting glances over at Lindsay. He appeared to be very amused. He casually tilted his head in her direction. "That's quite an expense for a teacher's salary."

Snape's jaw set. He glared malevolently at the older man. Through his teeth he said, "Get it, now!" The older wizard didn't shrink away, but placidly disappeared into the back of the store. He reappeared with a small parcel, which he handed to Snape. A lascivious smile still graced his face. Snape turned from him without a word, grabbed Lindsay again, and shoved her out the door.

"Did that man just call me a hooker?" Snape didn't answer. His cheeks were a little flushed, and Lindsay thought he looked embarrassed. "At least he said I look expensive. I suppose that's a compliment of sorts. Where to now?"

"Ollivander's."

Snape led her to the more familiar and much more cheerful shopping area of Diagon Alley. They entered a quaint old shop that was stacked floor to ceiling with long thin boxes. Something about the place reminded Lindsay of a tobacco shop. They were greeted by an elderly man with large pale eyes.

"Ah, Mr. Snape, I haven't seen you since you were a teenager. A birch wand, somewhat rigid, and made by my associate-I never developed an affinity for birch. The core is dragon heartstring from a Peruvian Vipertooth, fourteen inches; a more dextrous wand than your grandfather's. Cassian Prince was the proud owner of an acacia and dragon heartstring wand, sixteen-and-quarter inches, very unyielding. The core for that wand came from an Hungarian Horntail. The wizard that collected it died from severe burns. A more reserved wand chose your mother; walnut, nine-and-a-quarter inches, unicorn hair—a bit delicate, a near copy of her own mother's wand…."

"It is the young lady who needs your assistance, Mr. Ollivander."

"Oh, yes? And you are?"

"Lindsay Gray, Mr. Ollivander."

"An American? May I ask where you purchased your first wand? I have a very talented colleague in Salem. I admire her work very much."

"This will be my first wand, sir. I'm a late bloomer."

"Latent magic is uncommon. I have only met two whose magic developed late, and both were wizards." Ollivander peered very closely at Lindsay for a few seconds before turning to a stack of boxes. "Let's try a walnut with dragon heartstring." Lindsay took the wand that was offered to her and quickly dropped it. "Very bad core choice for you. Let's try the same with unicorn hair." This wand emitted a very offensive odor. "No, no," mumbled Ollivander. "Here we are. Let's try this, same core, made of pear wood." After twenty minutes, Snape moved to the other side of the room to sit in a chair. Two hours later, he was bouncing his knee and drumming his fingers on the arm-rest. Ollivander was flushed with excitement, and mopped his sweaty brow with an old handkerchief. Open boxes were strewn everywhere.

Judging by Snape's reaction, Lindsay surmised that it wasn't typical to take so long to find an appropriate wand. She was quickly becoming very self-conscious. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ollivander…."

Ollivander put up his hand, "Hush, hush." He tapped his chin with his index finger as he surveyed his mountain of open boxes. "Would it?" he mumbled to himself. He looked over to Lindsay and back at his stack of boxes. He disappeared into the back of his store and returned with a very dusty box. "In the days of my dear father, Gervaise Ollivander, it was common for witches and wizards to bring cores of their choosing to be fitted into wand shafts. The results were often unsatisfactory." He set the box down and gingerly opened it. "The core of this wand is a tuft of ear-hair from a very ancient and beloved house-elf. The wand was intended as a memorial, but it disliked its owner intensely and was returned. As you can see the shaft is heavily carved and ornate. This is some of my father's finest work. The shaft is cedar, very supple; thirteen inches."

"Here goes," said Lindsay as she picked up the wand. A strangely familiar feeling of warmth gently moved through her body. A burst of blue sparks shot from the wand's tip.

Ollivander clapped his hands together in unrestrained merriment. "Yes, yes, that's the one! How remarkable, a very unique wand indeed. And a cedar; I'm always honored to meet a cedar carrier."

"Not to rush you, Mr. Ollivander," said Snape, "but we are in a hurry."

"Oh, yes, that'll be twenty galleons."

Lindsay thanked Mr. Ollivander as Snape shoved her out the door. "We should stop for lunch, Professor."

"We can have lunch at Hogwarts."

"Is that a beauty shop? I need to go in there, Professor."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a girl and I'm vain. I'm hypnotically drawn to pretty colors, pleasant fragrances, and shiny objects."

Snape tried to hold her back, but this time she wasn't cooperating. She disappeared into the shop, leaving Snape waiting outside. He was looking more and more unpleasant by the second. Lindsay was greeted by a petite fair-haired witch with hazel-green eyes.

"Hello," said Lindsay. "I was just wondering if you had any gardenia perfume."

"I do," replied the little witch. She showed Lindsay a row of shelves lined with decorative glass bottles of varying sizes and colors. She picked up a small bottle of gardenia perfume and handed it to Lindsay.

"That's very nice. Oh, it comes in larger bottles? I'll take two."

"Would you like to try the honeysuckle, or perhaps mimosa?"

"Since I'm here, I'll try both. The mimosa's very nice. I'll take a small bottle of it." The witch next handed her a small bottle of honeysuckle perfume. "That is so accurate. Honeysuckle is usually too sweet and strong for me, but this is just like the actual plant. I'll take a bottle of it, and I must leave before I buy up the whole store." They returned to the sales counter and the witch packaged Lindsay's bottles for her. "May I ask what part of France you're from?" said Lindsay.

The witch smiled pleasantly and replied, "Bordeaux."

"I love Bordeaux," proclaimed Lindsay. "I haven't been back in years, but I enyoyed my time there. It's such a beautiful city."

Snape's arms were folded across his chest as he paced in front of the shop. He drummed his fingers on his bicep. He peered through the shop window and wondered what was taking Lindsay so long. The little witch looked beyond Lindsay to the storefront. "I can get someone to clear that wizard away for you."

"Oh, no, we're together."

The witch appeared concerned. "He seems very annoyed."

"I probably shouldn't say this, but just between us girls. He gets a bit, um, agitated when he has to wait, if you know what I mean."

The witch's eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. "You are a couple then?"

"Of a sort, I guess you could say. We're not emotionally attached. I think of him more as an instructor." The witch frowned. "Oh, we're not involved in the commercial sense, if you follow me. Well, the truth is I've led a somewhat sheltered life and haven't had time for romance, so he's helping me find my way." The witch leaned a little and looked past Lindsay to get a better look at Snape. A flush of color was rising in her cheeks. Snape saw her inspecting him and scowled. Lindsay turned with her and continued speaking. "You'd never know just by looking at him, but he's remarkably athletic. To be perfectly honest, he exhausts me. I just wish I knew someone who could help take some of the burden from me."

Convinced that they were talking about him, Snape flung open the shop door and stalked up to the sales counter. "What is taking so long?"

"Hi, Professor, we were just talking about the city of Bordeaux. This lovely lady is from there."

Snape scowled more deeply and looked at the little witch with antipathy. She was clearly interested in his company, and her welcoming smile shocked him. His eyes widened as he gazed into hers, and he swallowed hard. His whole body seemed to shrink. He grabbed Lindsay's arm and pulled her away from the counter as he backed away from it. "We're leaving, now…hurry...go!"

Lindsay thought the entire spectacle to be quite amusing. She left the shop with him, but didn't allow him to drag her away. "She likes you, Professor. Go talk to her." Snape didn't reply; he didn't even turn to face her. "You have nothing to be shy about. You're very cute. You're beyond cute, in fact, you're like cuteness cubed." Snape's eyes darted from side to side as if he were afraid someone might overhear her. He grabbed her abruptly, and they disappeared with a tiny pop. They reappeared in front of the Leaky Cauldron.

"I thought we weren't stopping for lunch."

"I changed my mind." He opened the door for her. She'd been here with McGonagall. It was a nice, charming place with friendly service. Snape motioned to an empty table in a dark corner.

"So romantic, Professor."

"Sit!" Snape tucked himself in the corner with his back to the wall. He had a good view of the entire room. His hands were shaking, which made Lindsay smile to herself.

There were two waiters seated at the bar. One was waiting for his customers' orders, the other waited for a new customer to occupy one of his tables. "Look at what just sat at table five."

"Danny, you lucky bastard, you always get the pretty ones," said the second waiter as Danny walked confidently away. Tom snickered behind the bar as he ran a towel over it. "What's so funny?"

"You didn't see who came in with her, did you, Jack?" Jack leaned and saw none other than Professor Snape scowling in the dark corner.

"Oh, I've got to see this."

"What can I get for you today?" said Danny in his most inviting tone.

"After you, you mean?" replied Lindsay with a broad toothy smile.

Danny chuckled, his eyes focused solely on Lindsay. He leaned his elbows on the table next to her. "I've never seen you in here before. You must be new to the area. I'd be happy to show you…."

"Flotsam," said Snape silkily.

Danny stood up quickly, his back rigid. He swallowed hard. The icy voice that haunted his childhood nightmares just sounded in his ears. "Professor Snape, I didn't see you there."

"That's because you didn't look, Flotsam."

"It's Flott, sir, Daniel Flott."

"We'll have the day's special. And don't spit in it, Flotsam. I will know if you do."

Danny practically ran back to the bar. Tom and Jack were laughing so hard that tears streaked their cheeks. "Thank you very much! You could've told me she was with the Greasy Git! Bastards!"

Jack wiped the tears from his eyes. "She must be his niece or something, Tom. There's no way he'd get a date that looked that good."

"Nobody in his family ever looked that good either," replied Tom. "She was in here with Minerva McGonagall. She's stayin' at Hogwarts; a guest of Dumbledore's."

###

"Your behavior was most inappropriate, Miss Gray. No wonder so many of the students follow you about."

"I don't flirt with kids, Professor. They take things too seriously. Most people realize that it's all in fun. It would do you some good to let your hair down once in a while." Snape raised an eyebrow at her and pointed at his long, lank hair. Lindsay laughed aloud. "That witch was very interested in you, Professor. I would've happily waited outside while you talked to her."

"I don't want to talk to her," growled Snape.

"Why not, you're not married, are you?"

"No, I'm not married!"

"Do you prefer men?"

"Of course not!"

"What's the problem then? You have to admit she was attractive and the French accent was fabulous. I love French people."

"I hate the French. They…smell…like croissants."

"That's the best lie you could come up with? And you're Head of Slytherin House?"

"Are you suggesting that Slytherins are liars, Miss Gray?"

"No, I'm stating outright that a cunning Slytherin should be able to come up with a believable lie when he needs to."

"I'm having an off day!"

Lindsay laughed so hard that tears filled her eyes. Snape even allowed himself a small smile. He thought how beautiful she looked as she smiled at him. His gaze was a little too focused and lingered on her a little too long. He let his façade down for only a moment. He realized his mistake and instantly regained his composure, but it was too late. Lindsay had seen the seen the way he looked at her and understood what it meant. She'd seen the lustful way he looked at her before and had no intention of entertaining him, but there was something else in his gaze that she hadn't previously noticed. "I apologize, Professor. I didn't intend to make you so uncomfortable. I promise you that I'll never do it again." He nodded, but said nothing. He did notice, however, that she didn't flirt with the waiter upon his return.

They didn't return to Hogwarts immediately after lunch as Lindsay had expected. Instead, Snape walked her around some of the shops explaining the functions of numerous magical items that she had never seen before. She hooked her arm around his, as was her habit, as they slowly strolled up and down Diagon Alley. Snape stiffened with the unaccustomed contact, but didn't pull away. It was the first time that she'd done that with him. Although he'd seen her take other people's arms, he never expected her to be so familiar with him.

Snape's companion drew the appreciative glances of many wizards as they walked along. She didn't seem to notice them looking her way. She listened to Snape, and occasionally asked a question or two. He'd never known Lindsay to be so quiet. He felt a strange sort of pride as other men gawked at her clutching his arm. An arrogant smirk appeared on his face. His eyes glittered as he picked thoughts from passersby. He knew what to expect from them; he knew what people thought of him. Some were even bold and crass enough to say it to his face, but only when he was a child. Most didn't have the courage to face Severus the man, the fully grown wizard. He was hideously ugly, and he knew it. But right now, he was the one with a beautiful woman happily clinging to his arm.

They disapparated and appeared just outside of Hogsmeade instead of at the castle's gates. Lindsay knew precisely what was going on, but said nothing. She was happy to enjoy the moment. They strolled back to the castle with Lindsay still holding his arm. She was sure that Snape had never walked this slowly in his life. He appeared more nervous now. There were no shops with curious wares that he could explain to her. After some moments of silence, he began pointing out plants to her and telling her their names and magical properties. His posture stiffened, and his tone became icy as they approached the castle.

"Here we are," he said abruptly.

Lindsay released his arm. "I had a nice time today, Professor, and thank you for lunch."

Snape nodded curtly and left for the Headmaster's office.

Lindsay returned to her rooms. She had to admit to herself that she was surprised by Snape's courteous behavior. His leering stares that she'd been politely ignoring suggested that he'd behave very differently in private and at a safe distance from Hogwarts virtually omniscient Headmaster. Much to her shock, Snape was quite gentlemanly in private company. He was old fashioned almost to the point of prudishness. Lindsay was initially quite happy to shove him off onto that very willing little witch until she noticed the change in the way he looked at her. He showed her a genuine attraction untainted with anything untoward, and that deserved to be treated with respect.

###

Dumbledore was standing at a long table covered with variously sized silver mechanisms, all of which were performing academic duties; some were moving, some were lighting up, and some were filled with colored bubbling liquids. The Headmaster was tinkering with a newly acquired instrument when Snape entered and handed him the magazines he'd requested.

"You're much later than expected, Severus."

"The young lady showed interest in some lesser known magical wares. I indulged her curiosity."

"'The young lady,'" repeated Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Hmm, I recall you referring to her as a girl not so very long ago. What was it you said? Ah, yes, 'the girl performs adequately'".

"A turn of phrase, Headmaster," replied Snape firmly.

"If you insist." Dumbledore moved to a cozy pair of chairs with a small table set between them. "Come and sit, Severus. We have important issues to discuss before dinner."