Author's Note: I do not own the Harry Potter world, or the characters created to live in that world, they belong to J.K. Rowling. Nor am I making any profit off of them. I will, however, do my best to portray them to the best of my ability.

Please review so that I know how I'm doing.

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I was surprised when Professor Sprout came into my office the next day, but happy. I've found that I enjoy Professor Sprout's company a great deal, as she's very good natured but also quite spirited in her own way. Both of which are absolute redeeming qualities in my book.

She sat in front of me, smiling, and handing me a plant. It was a sort of green, stemy, leafy sort of plant with tiny purple flowers.

I smiled slightly and said, "Uh… thank you. Not that your tour wasn't very informative Professor Sprout but… what is it?"

She smile at me and said, "You can call me Pomona dear, and it's a fluxweed plant. It helps with change… and if need be you can use it to get on Professor Snape's good side by letting him use it for polyjuice potion."

I laughed and said, "Well, thank you. I could use the help with change… though I think Professor Snape would rather go pick a plant from the wild rather than ask me to help him by producing some of mine."

She smiled softly at me and tilted her head slightly, "You two rather fancy one another, don't you?"

I blinked and then chuckled awkwardly, "Whatever gave you that idea Pomona? We work together, and I assure you that's all. Whatever caused you to bring me this lovely plant anyway?"

She frowned slightly and said, "I heard about your detention with Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy and thought you could use a bit of cheering up. Now don't lie to me Kathy, if we're to be friends we must be honest with one another."

I blinked. Friends? Whoever said anything about us being friends?

But then I smiled slightly, deciding that being friends with Pomona would be lovely, and said, "I don't know what's going on between Professor Snape and me… I truly don't. It's not that he isn't fairly consistent with the way he treats me… it's all just rather baffling."

She nodded her head in understanding, "He can be that way sometimes. Trust me; I've known the boy a long time. He's a good lad, but agreeable he isn't."

I chuckled and said, "So I've noticed." I sighed and twirled a little hair around my finger, "But I rather like that."

She smiled at me.

I sighed and put a hand to my forehead, "Please don't smile at me like that, it's rather awkward at this point. All this talking about it already makes me feel like I'm sixteen again and have a crush on a boy…" I shook my head and said, "Which is even more awkward… considering I had a boyfriend at that time."

She raised her eyebrows, "Steady?"

I nodded, "Very." I smiled slightly, "We liked each other before we were even supposed to like the opposite sex… when we were fourteen he finally got the courage to ask me out…"

She looked at me sympathetically, "What happened?"

I looked at the plant, reaching out to touch it gently. I didn't really want to talk about this, I didn't even like to think about it. But… maybe I should… Pomona wouldn't talk about it to anyone else, I could tell. "He died. It… it was… it just sort of happened. At first he was fine, just fine… and then he came over and told me he was… he was sick… and he just sort of… wasted away in front of me and there was nothing I could do. He just… died."

She gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh my dear! What… how long ago did this happen?"

I pinched the top of my nose and said, "Three years ago. He died just before we were going to graduate." I shook my head and leaned back, "He made me promise… he said that he knew I loved him… but that he was going to die, and that he wanted me to go on with my life. He didn't want to be responsible for me growing old alone."

She looked at me quietly, with understanding in her eyes, "And did you?"

I smirked, "I like to think so. It took me a while, but… but I'm about as alright with it as I'm ever going to be.'

She shook her head, "And now when you finally start to fancy someone else he's Professor Snape."

I laughed and covered my forehead, "Yes! See! You understand!"

She smiled and nodded, "Yes, and you just admitted that you fancy him too."

I sighed and closed my eyes, "Dear Merlin… I suppose I did."

She reached out and took my hand, patting it, "It's alright Kathy, everything will work out just fine."

I shook my head, "I keep telling myself that over… and over… and over again. I'm waiting for it to work." I sighed and looked at the plant again, "Just to warn you… I'm a horrid gardener. I'm not sure how well your lovely plant will fare."

She just smiled warmly at me, "Not to worry, we'll work something out."

I smiled at her, "Thank you Pomona."

She patted my hand, "You're welcome."

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"I don't see why I should have to get a dress! My other dresses are perfectly acceptable…" I started.

"For day to day wear, Professor! But this is a special occasion! You need something gorgeous, something that will turn heads!" Cho said enthusiastically as she looked through the rack of dresses at the local dress shop in Hogsmede.

Eventually she handed me a dress and I looked at it, frowning, "Miss Chang, this isn't my size."

She shook her head, "It's good to get a dress that's a little too small, it highlights your assets."

I scowled, "I don't even want to know how that thought got into your head… But as it happens, you couldn't get me into this dress if you covered me in butter." I handed it to her, "Here, if I must do this then I'm picking out my own dress."

She smiled and stood back, "Alright."

I went through the racks, and one after one Cho insisted that they were unacceptable. Finally I chose a flowing, white dress that went just below my ankles and had a v-neck with flowing sleeves. "Is this acceptable for me to wear as a chaperone at the Yule Ball?"

She smiled and nodded, "Yes, that will do. Though you should wear something younger…"

I held up my hand, "I'm young enough… thank you." After I'd tried it on to make sure it fit, I purchased the dress and was out of the dress shop as soon as possible.

Cho followed me and said, "What are we going to do next, Professor?"

I scowled, "We are not going to do anything. I am going to enjoy my day at Hogsmede and you are going to find your friends that are your own age to play with."

She frowned, "Don't talk to me like I'm a child!"

I rolled my eyes, "I shall talk to you however I choose young lady. Now do go away. I appreciate your help in finding my dress, but go away."

She studied me for a moment, and then smiled, "You don't mean it Professor." She hugged me.

I was about ready to shove her off, when Remus came up and said, "Professor Tingstrom! Come quick! I need your help!"

I gasped and said, "I'm coming!"

Cho let go, startled, and said, "What's going on?!?"

"No time!" Remus said, waving back at her and running away with me while holding my hand.

When we were finally out of sight of her he slowed down and I looked up at him, "What was the emergency?"

He shrugged, "I've missed you, and Cho didn't seem to want to share."

I blinked at him and then laughed, wrapping my arms around him to hug him close while smiling, "We had tea yesterday."

He hugged me back, "Semantics…"

I looked up at him and he smiled at me, lifting a hand to cup my cheek and look into my eyes.

I blushed and pulled away from him, walking next to him, "The winter holiday is coming soon… any plans?"

He nodded, "I was thinking about spending it with Sirius and Harry… they're fixing up his family home in Grimuald Place. What about you?"

I shrugged, "I bought a flat near Diagon Alley. I have to fix it up as well, but it seems like it'll be very nice in the end."

He smiled, "Good. You deserve to have a nice place to go."

I smiled, taking his hand and squeezing it, "You do too."

He smiled, looking at me for a moment, and then leaned forward as if to kiss me.

I went wide eyed and was about to jump away when I heard a familiar voice growl, "I somehow doubt it would be a good influence on the students to see their professors snogging in the middle of Hogsmede." Snape glared at me, "And I believe it would be rather hypocritical of you Professor Tingstrom."

I glared and pulled away from Remus so that I could yell at Snape, "I'll have you know that we were not snogging, as you so gracefully put it! We were merely talking! And, quite frankly, I don't see how it is any of your business what we do in our free time Professor Snape!"

He scowled fiercely at me, "Trust me, I don't care one way or another what you do in your free time Tingstrom. Just so long as it doesn't interfere with what we are teaching our students.'

I narrowed my eyes and hissed, "It won't, trust me."

He straightened up and narrowed his eyes disgustedly at me, "I should certainly hope not."

I glared at him the entire time he left, not allowing myself to appreciate the view of Snape's nicely formed ass or billowing robes.

When I turned to Remus, he looked hurt. "Why did you do that?"

I blinked, "Do what?"

"You just… pulled away from me. Then you acted as if I wasn't even here as you argued with Severus… what's going on Katherine?" He asked me quietly.

I blinked, and then looked at him apologetically, "I'm sorry Remus I… I was just angry."

He tilted his head, "You seem to get especially angry whenever Severus is involved. What's going on between you two?"

I shook my head, "Nothing Remus we… just argue a lot. And he's just very disagreeable."

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair, then looks up at me, "If there was something going on between you two something… personal… you would tell me right?"

I smiled and said, "Of course Remus, you're my best friend." I wrapped my arm around his.

He nodded solemnly, "Of course… yes, of course I am." We began walking together again. I wished that there was something else I could say, and more than anything I wished I could just return Remus' kiss and feelings instead of harboring feelings for that disagreeable man. But I suppose… we just… can't get what we want, can we?