The next morning after Freddie got dressed she was about to leave the Common Room when Amelia came running up to her.
"Oh good, I caught you," she said, panting slightly.
"I'm on my way to Herbology – shouldn't you be in class?"
"Yeah, I know – Professor Snape, he gave me a pass. He wants me to walk you down to Herbology, make sure you get there safely."
"What?! That's so – so unnecessary!"
"I think it's sweet," Amelia said with a grin. "He's worried about you."
"Ridiculous," she snorted. "Absolutely ridiculous. Go to class, Amelia, I'll be fine."
"Uh, no," Amelia said, crossing her arms stubbornly. "No offense, but Professor Snape scares me way more than you do."
Freddie couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"Fine. Come on then, I don't want to be late," she said, motioning for her to follow her.
They left the dungeons and crossed the Entrance Hall. As they walked out the castle Freddie glanced back at Amelia. She had her wand out and had a serious, vigilant look on her face.
"You're taking this far too seriously, Amelia," she said, shaking her head.
"I'll hex anyone who so much as looks at you funny," she vowed. "Professor Snape's orders."
"You'll do no such thing," she said sternly. "I can take care of myself and I don't want you getting into trouble."
"Well, at least I get to be late for Transfiguration," she said cheerfully. "Don't you think it's sweet he's looking out for you?"
"It's annoying," Freddie muttered.
"Well I think it's sweet," she said as they approached the greenhouse where the class was gathered. "It's good to know he has a soft side."
"Who has a soft side?" Maggie asked as they joined the crowd.
"Pr-"
Freddie clapped a hand over Amelia's mouth before she could say it.
"No one. Go to class, Avery," she said sternly.
"Yes ma'am," Amelia said, saluting her briefly then hurrying off across the grounds.
"Snape sent a fourth-year to walk you to class?"' Maggie asked dubiously. "What could she do against an attacker? Trip them?"
"She's a good kid," Freddie said, shaking her head. "She's just looking out for me."
"You mean he is," she said, grinning.
"I-"
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," said Professor Sprout loudly as she approached the class, cutting their conversation short. "Let's get started..."
#
When Freddie left the greenhouse a little over an hour later, she was surprised to find Amelia waiting for her.
"Seriously?" Freddie asked incredulously.
"Seriously," Amelia said, nodding. "I'm to escort you to the Potions classroom."
"I'm gonna kill him," she said, shaking her head as she followed Amelia back towards the castle.
"Probably wouldn't let folks hear you saying stuff like that if I were you, Freddie," Maggie said, clapping her on the back. "Folks might get the wrong idea, you talking about killing people."
Freddie and Amelia shared a look. Amelia quickly looked away and Freddie gave Maggie a cold look. Her grin faltered and she stopped short a moment.
"Uh, I'm gonna go get cleaned up. Later, Freddie," Maggie said and quickly hurried off.
"I really hate people," Freddie muttered under her breath.
"Yeah," Amelia said with a sympathetic grimace. "Are you gonna help teach our class today?"
"Looks that way," she said.
When they reached the dungeons a few of Amelia's classmates were waiting outside the classroom in the corridor.
"Get in line, Miss Avery," Freddie said, bypassing the line. She entered the classroom and shut the door firmly behind her. "We need to talk."
Snape looked up at her from his desk, a quill in his hand.
"Good morning, Miss Gray," he said idly, dipping the quill in red ink and marking the paper in front of him.
"Why is there a fourth-year tailing me?" she demanded, leaning across his desk.
He looked up at her, his eyes lingering briefly on her chest – looking down my shirt, she realized – before flicking to her face.
"She's your friend, is she not? It's my understanding girls often travel together-"
"I do not need a babysitter – emphasis on baby. I can take care of myself. And I don't want her or anyone getting hurt if some piece of crap Ravenclaw does decide to try something," she said sternly. "She's just a child."
"So are you," he snorted.
"Call her off," Freddie said sternly.
Snape put his quill down and stood up, towering over her.
"Or what?" he said mockingly.
She glared up at him, knowing she had nothing to threaten him with and wouldn't even if she could. She felt her body flush as he looked down at her and she blew out a sigh. She stepped back from his desk and he sat down, smirking.
"You know they're talking about us – about you," she said.
"Who?"
"The students. Everyone."
"And what are they saying about me?" he asked dryly.
"That you've gotten soft. That you care about me," she teased, smirking.
His face soured.
"Dead students make for tedious paperwork."
"Uh-huh," she said, grinning wider. "You said that last night."
"Get out of my classroom, Miss Gray," he said darkly. "Go brew a potion or something. Away from me."
"Yes sir," she chuckled and turned to go.
"You may take Miss Avery with you," he said before she reached the door.
"Would that make you feel better?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Go," he said. "Teach her something."
Freddie chuckled to herself and left the classroom. She walked past the curious eyes of the young students and motioned to Amelia.
"You're with me, Miss Avery," she said lightly. Amelia picked her bag up off the floor and hurried after her.
"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.
"Private lesson," she said. "Unless you'd rather stay in class?"
"No way," she declared. "What are we going to brew?"
"I haven't decided yet. Any suggestions?"
Amelia dug her Potions textbook out of her bag and started to flip through it. She bumped into Freddie when she stopped outside of Snape's office. Freddie pulled out her wand and lifted the enchantment.
"Wow," Amelia said, following her inside. "He lets you use his office?"
"Yes. Do not tell anyone, understand?"
"I promise," she said solemnly.
Freddie smiled slightly and waved her wand, revealing the entrance to the Brewing Lab.
"Whoa," Amelia said, her blue eyes wide as they walked inside. "What is this place?"
"Professor Snape's private brewing lab. And mine. As his apprentice, I spend a lot of time here concocting complex brews."
"Ah, so this is where you're hiding when I can't find you."
"Probably. How about a Wit-Sharpening Potion?" Freddie suggested. "You won't find the recipe in your textbook. It's one you won't encounter until next year but I believe you can handle it, with my guidance."
I sound like Severus, she thought, amused.
"That'd be awesome!" Amelia declared. "Have you got a book with the recipe?"
"Even better," she said, pulling out a piece of parchment.
She wrote down the ingredients and the recipe. Amelia watched, wide-eyed.
"You have the recipe memorized?" she asked, awestruck.
"This isn't the only one. I repeat them in my head when I get stressed, especially medicinal ones. I plan on working at St Mungo's when I graduate next year."
"Cool!" she declared.
"The store cupboard is there. Start gathering your ingredients," she said, handing her the parchment.
"Yes ma'am."
As Amelia gathered her ingredients, Freddie got out her record player and set it up on the workstation. She put on the Eagles record as Amelia came back with her ingredients.
"You got everything? Then let's get started..."