You woke the next morning surprisingly calm. Intrigued. Something about you had worried Snape and you decided to make it your goal to figure out what that was. A need to understand his behaviour from last night firmly set in your mind. Lying on your back you stared at the ceiling playing the night over in your head.

Yes, you were a Legilimens. So was he. In your opinion any smart Legilimens should learn Occlumency; once you've been allowed to wander through someone's thoughts and memories, you realise how much your own need protecting. You were born a Legilimens but you had painstakingly trained your Occlumency. So had he, clearly. At least you were on equal footing, you thought.

Suspiciousness around the skill was of course understandable considering the invasiveness of the practice. Admittedly you shouldn't have tried to use it on him but then he shouldn't have tried it with you either. What was he trying to find? Shifting your position in bed your forehead creased with thought.

You were just going to have to be blunt about it. You said you would discuss it and he better give you answers in return. First things first though, you thought, you need to make him regret his little display of strength last night. Even though you quite liked it? You bit your bottom lip and closed your eyes. No. Time to get up.

Throwing off the covers your skin developed goosebumps from the chill of the dungeon air. You stretched out the stiffness in your leg and headed for the bathroom to shower. It was probably going to have to be a cold one.

Primed and ready for the day you arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast, saying hello to students you had met through the week so far. Your reception to the school had been warm. Okay, they thought you might be Lockhart's girlfriend but you knew that rumour would die down soon enough; if not, you'd just have to do something about it.

You don't know why but you felt confident; you probably shouldn't after last night but your body hummed with energy as student and staff alike greeted you. With that confidence filling your veins you headed straight for Snape and sat down next to him, "Good morning, Professor, lovely morning isn't it?" You flashed him a smile.

He looked surprised, "Is it, Miss l/n?" He asked suspiciously.

"I think so." You replied simply and smiled again.

He let out a throaty gruff and carried on eating. You looked around, teachers were eating and talking and no one had yet to occupy the seat next to you. Students wouldn't be able to see you due to the table blocking their view. Perfect timing.

You poured some coffee into a mug and sipped at it, side-eyeing Snape, who was doing his best to not pay attention to you. Slowly you lowered your hand down to your boot and slid your wand out, another quick glance at Snape and you could see he was throwing daggers at Harry Potter. Poor kid.

Now's your chance.

You raked your wand up the outside of Snape's leg, he tensed immediately and reached for his own. "Don't bother," you whispered; your voice sounded far more thick than intended. You continued the path over his knee, his thigh, and pushed it towards his groin. He squirmed in his seat and as his face turned a shade paler and he clenched his jaw tight. Whispering again to your now, very tense, colleague, you felt a buzz go through you, "Strangely I quite like you, Severus, but if you ever lay a hand on me, without consent, again, I won't be so self-controlled with my wand." You pressed slightly harder for effect. It worked. Snape nodded his head in response and his cheeks flushed with crimson.

Withdrawing your wand you slipped it back into your boot and began plating yourself breakfast. Hungry work. You saw Snape's hand twitching from the corner of your eye, not a nervous twitch but more of an itch to react. "That's the second time you have drawn your wand on me in the last 24 hours, Miss l/n. If I wanted to, I could have you dismissed from Hogwarts altogether for that." He didn't sound quite as angry as you thought he might and he stared ahead as he talked.

You nodded your head, "You could but you'd also have to explain why I did it."

He huffed, "I admit I owe you an apology for my lack of physical control last night," his voice was quiet, you imagined admitting being wrong didn't come easy to the man, - "but that being said.."

"Ah good morning, Professors." Lockhart interrupted Snape. It was funny, he looked more annoyed at Lockhart's disturbance than he did at you pointing your wand at his crotch.

"Good morning, " you chimed back. Lockhart filled his plate, sending charming smiles and raised eyebrows to the pupils; it made you feel uncomfortable. There was just something off about him. Something wrong radiating from his perfect pores.

Lockhart spoke on for a while, discussing something or other about a vampire. You were only vaguely paying attention. Snape had left 5 minutes after Lockhart sat down; his tolerance for the man was low and he made little effort to hide it. However, as always, Lockhart was completely oblivious.

You left quickly after you were finished eating wanting to get to the potions classroom to set up for the day. When you got there Snape was setting up for the class. First years: Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Let me guess, " you cleared your throat, ready to deepen it, "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death.." you mimicked as you ran your hand over your old desk. He looked at you with an incredulous stare.

"Don't be so surprised, Professor, I do remember my school days well. I was sat right here when you said it," you tapped your finger lightly on the marked wood, - "I imagine it has more of an effect on the first years but I liked it all the same." When you heard a first-year Hufflepuff student repeat the speech on Tuesday, you just gathered it was always his opening for new students. You let the memories of your school days sit in your head; how you'd sat up straight at the brooding, young potions professor's dramatic entrance. Now here he was, 10 years later, Potions Master and your colleague.

"Hmmm. I believe it was your year who first coined me, the dungeon bat, Miss l/n. Do you remember that too?" He mused bitterly.

You let out a small chuckle, you did remember that too. "I do. Some boys trying to look tough but they were actually very scared of you." He smirked. Of course you'd find that amusing.

"And yourself?" What are you asking? Was I scared of you or am I scared of you? This conversation had turned out quite amusing.

"I'm not scared of you." Your eyes locked briefly, "Have a drink with me Saturday night, you clearly have some doubts about me and I said I would talk to you about the Legilimency." He nodded an acceptance and turned to the storeroom.

"I believe you said you owe me an apology." You were smirking, enjoying the little power play that was happening. What on earth has gotten into you?

You watched as his tongue darted over his bottom lip as if the idea of apologising had completely dried out his mouth. His face remained unmoving but the usual edge in his voice seemed to soften, "I'm sorry," he conceded.

The tension was broken by the bell ringing to signal class time. The both of you finishing up preparation quickly.