At Madame Malkin's, a mauve-robed saleswitch greeted them graciously, purposefully ignoring the strange sight Veronica presented in her too-small robe and bare feet. "Miss Stuart needs a complete set of school uniforms," Snape informed the woman. Her eyes lit up, no doubt in anticipation of the large commission she would earn.

"We also stock a full variety of shoes," the sales-witch hinted diplomatically.

"Of course. She needs everything," Snape ordered. Did the infernal woman expect him to spell it out for her ?

"We have quite a nice selection of Muggle-style outfits too." Her eyes positively glowed; Snape could imagine gold galleons reflected in them. "Very popular with the young people nowadays..."

"Whatever she needs." An unwelcome thought occurred to him. "Conservative styles. Modest clothing," he insisted, ignoring Veronica's giggle. His lip curled with distaste. "No bare midriffs."

"Of course, sir, I understand completely. Let me just show you some of our-"

"That won't be necessary," Snape glowered. The fool witch actually thought he wanted a fashion show ? "I'll just leave Miss Stuart in your capable hands," he told her. "Bill my account at Gringotts." He turned to Veronica. "I have some errands of my own to attend to. Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron when you've finished here."

-----

Snape was browsing through the latest issue of Potions Illustrated when Veronica finally arrived in the Leaky Cauldron, bags filled with all her new belongings floating behind her. "You look very distinguished, Professor," she greeted him. Snape scowled at her over his new half-moon reading glasses. Was the child mocking him ? "Really, you do," Veronica assured him solemnly. She twirled, showing off her Hogwarts uniform. "What do you think ?"

Snape returned his attention to the magazine. "You don't look bad for four hundred and forty-four," he smirked. "We'll have dinner here," he informed her, "rather than walk in late and cause another stir back at the school."

As soon as they placed their orders, she pulled out her own book – Achievement in Charming - and began to page through it avidly. Silence reigned all through dinner, broken only by the clink of cutlery or the faint whisper of a page turning. "I can't wait to get my first homework assignments," Veronica said as the plates were cleared away. "I suppose that sounds funny."

Looking at her bright, eager expression, Snape felt a cold knot form in the pit of his stomach. How would the rest of the student body react to her ? "Were the Gryffindors much the same in your day as they are now ?" he asked tentatively.

"Hot-headed and full of themselves, you mean ?" Her voice was wry. "Oh, yes. And the Ravenclaws were just as moody and the Slytherins were just as sly... and quick to take offense at any perceived slight." She smiled that brief, brilliant smile. "Don't even get me started about the Hufflepuffs."

"How do you intend to explain yourself to your peers ?"

"I'll tell them the truth, Professor Snape. That's the best way, don't you think ?"

He shook his head. "I honestly have no idea what you should do." At least he would be able to protect her. He would assign such onerous detentions that no Gryffindor would dare to even look at her, not as long as Professor Severus Snape was around... but he couldn't be there every second, could he ? The knot in his belly tightened. He couldn't really protect the child - they would torment her whenever his back was turned.

"Did you ever wonder what it would be like to go back to school, knowing what you know now, Professor Snape ?"

He blinked at the unexpected question. "No, why should I ? What do you mean ?"

"Well, if you could somehow return to your school days, knowing everything you know now, you'd handle things differently, wouldn't you ? Potter and his friends, for example..."

Snape glared. It was decidedly uncomfortable having a student who knew so much about his past. "Blackmail, Miss Stuart," he said finally. "I'd threaten to tell everyone that Lupin was a werewolf if they didn't leave me alone."

Veronica shook her head. Snape could tell she was struggling to keep a straight face. "You might try just ignoring them, Professor. If you hadn't started hexing James Potter in the first place, he and his friends would most likely have left you alone." Snape was taken aback by her words. It was as though their roles were reversed – she was the teacher and he the student. A particularly dull-witted student. He collected himself and favored her with a sneer.

"Let's get back to Hogwarts, Miss Stuart. I can't wait to see you put your theories of human social behavior to the test."