Monday morning, Nikki saw Goyle alone and waved at him, smiling. He blushed and hurried away. Nikki laughed, entering the Great Hall. She joined Ron and Harry. "Quidditch practice today," she said happily. "And it looks like rain. guess what else is tonight--full moon, so we'll have to be careful." She grabbed a book from her bag and opened it.

"Book of Healing Potions?" Ron read.

"Yeah, I thought I should study up on 'em. Dad'll kill me if I don't. And there's quite a bit of information on Milkbutter in here. We have a big essay due on Healing Potions Friday. If I do better this time, Dad'll loosen up a bit. Besides, it's quite interesting."

"Potions--Interesting?" Ron inquired. "I never thought so."

"Ron, Potions is a difficult subject, but you can do nearly everything with the right Potion. You can do Transfiguration, stop someone from dying, heal the most poisonous baskalisk bite, poison someone, bewitch someone. I find it fascinating."

"Your dad's brainwashed you then," Ron muttered.

Nikki laughed. "No, nothing like that. And even if he did, it's still interesting. Besides, he likes Defense against the Dark Arts more than Potions. Potions is just... his natural talent. He's a genius when it comes to Potions."

"Genius when it comes to insulting people too."

"Perhaps, but there's a reason for that, and you should be used to it by now."

"Well, I'm NOT used to it because it's not normal."

Nikki smiled and turned to her book. Throughout the rest of breakfast, she read diligently. She looked up when the Hall began to empty. "Come on, Ginny, we'd better get going," she said, standing. they walked out of the hall together and down to the dungeons. Nikki sat down and began reading again. "Have you done Lockhart's essay yet?" she asked.

"I started it last night," Ginny answered. "You?"

"No. I was studying for our History of Magic test last night. I figured it was more important."

"Yeah, but Lockhart seems to get really mad if we do something wrong on his tests and homework."

"It's a class of Lockhart, not Defense against the Dark Arts. Hey, Lockhart might have a great smile, but he's wasting my time."

Snape walked in then. He looked surprised to see her sitting and reading. He sat down at his own desk, staring at her for a moment.

"Mum and Dad are going to visit my brother Charlie in Romania," Ginny announced, taking her seat on Nikki's right. "We'll probably stay here for Christmas."

Nikki grabbed a piece of parchment from her bag and wrote quickly. She handed it to Nikki. You should come stay at my house so you all can come to my concert. Dad could work it out with Dumbledore, Ginny read silently.

"Really? Where is it?"

"Somewhere in London. Wish I could have it at the Leaky Cauldron, but Mum would never let me."

"Nikki, can I talk to you for a moment?" Snape asked from his desk. There was no emotion in his voice, and Nikki knew what that usually meant, but she didn't care.

"Of course," Nikki said with a fake pleasantness and stood. She walked over, giving Ginny a glance over her shoulder. She forced herself not to demand what Snape wanted. "Yes?"

Snape glared at her. "I would appreciate it if you didn't speak to me like that."

Nikki looked away angrily. everything she did seemed wrong to him. No matter how she said it, she got yelled at or reprimanded. It was just frustrating and she didn't like it!

"Now, what are you doing? I'm getting tired of your attitude. You've been in a bad mood for too long now. You've been disrespectful and disobedient. If I don't see a change in your attitude and behavior IMMEDIATELY, there will be no Quidditch, no running around with your friends. You'll be restricted from all privileges until I see there has been obvious changes. You'll go to breakfast, go to your classes, then come to my office and sit, doing homework until I say you can leave. Am I understood?"

Nikki nodded, still looking away. "Yeah."

"Good." Snape watched her walk away and sit back down. Her shoulders were squared defiantly. After a sigh though, Nikki returned to her book. She slouched in her chair, as she usually did, for the last few minutes before school started.

When class ended, Nikki stayed seated for a moment. Then she stood and grabbed her books. "Nikki," Snape called.

She turned to face him, feeling slightly annoyed.

"You okay?"

Nikki nodded. "Fine." She started to turn, then paused. "Hey, Daddy, I'm sorry about everything. I've been horrible, I know, and I'm sorry about the bloody essay too. But you've not exactly been easy to live with. No offense."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "I guess we're even. Get going to your next class."

Nikki nodded again with a smile. "Yes, sir."