Just so you know, I do not own Severus Snape nor any other of the Harry Potter characters, concepts, or ... well anything besides the idea of this story and the original character. So, disclaimer: J. K. Rowlings owns Harry Potter; not I.

The armored suits stood at attention on either side of the Headmaster's office door. If they had eyes, they would have been staring down the witch before them. The knights had their weapons at ready. The witch hadn't given them any reason to attack her... yet.

The doors opened of their own accord and gave way to a magnificently spacious office. A elder man in long, silk blue robes sat behind the enormous desk. He also wore a peculiar little hat, along with glasses in the shape of crescent moons. The man bared a tentative smile. "Miss Agnes Blackwood, I presume?"

Agnes walked into the room, almost tripping over a rug. She tried to ignore the armored suits' figurative glare. Agnes bowed before her elder. "This is she, sir."

"Please, please; call me Albus." Albus dismissed her formalities with the wave of his hand. "Now, please, have a seat."

Agnes wordlessly obeyed. Her eyes wandered and roamed through the room from nervousness. She was brought back to reality from the shifting of robes. Albus placed his elbows upon the top of the desk, resting his chin atop of his hands.

"Let us skip the pleasantries, if you will, and get down to the business of the matter."

Agnes nodded. A new fierce determination apparent in her eyes.

Albus pulled some papers out of his desk. He flipped through the pages as he spoke.

"You, Agnes Blackwood, are here in the Headmaster's office at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for an interview pertaining to the Magical Theory professor's position. Is this information correct?"

Agnes nodded. "Yes sir, that would be correct." The nervousness in her voice was gone.

"Getting to the point, would you be so kind as to demonstrate your knowledge?" Albus dropped the paper on the desk before him as he gave Agnes his complete attention.

"Right..." Agnes sighed. "I expected that a demonstration would be in order. All the same, I was having trouble thinking of the words. I suppose I shall... as the kids are saying these days, 'wing it.'"

Agnes stood up and made her way behind her chair. She paced as she spoke.

"As is the nature to Magical Theory, as is the vitality of understanding magic itself. Knowing and understanding Magical Theory allows one to cast more advanced spells, and allows the casting of these spells to become easier. Without a true understanding of magic, one's skill of practing and performing magic is limited, if not beyond one's reach."

Albus again rested his head upon hands to show Agnes his piqued interest.

"Skill, as it were, is the term used to refer to one's Magical Ability. It is said one's Ability can be separated to two components: active and passive.

"Active Magical Ability pertains to the incantation, the wand movement, and ultimately the caster's mental performance at the time of casting. In example, happy memories for the success of the Patronus; in contrast, one's sadistic pleasure for completion of Cruciatus (or Crucio).

" The passive component of skill resolves in the definition of one's strength. As to why this class is so important: one passive component being the knowledge of Magical Theory. This could pertain to Magical Theory as a whole, or the Theory underlying a specific spell."

Agnes stopped in her pacing and turned to face Albus. A cheeky smirk had planted itself upon her lips. She made her way back to standing directly behind her chair. Her arm outstretched to place her hand on the chair as it supported her weight.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I must refuse to go further. If I were to continue, this would be more than a demonstration and evolve into a full lecture."

Albus Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eye. He neatly arranged the papers he had been skimming before, again, setting them down. He removed his spectacles before speaking.

"That was far beyond the expectations of a demonstration, Miss Blackwood. Your passion for Magical Theory is obvious and admirable. If you would please return to your seat." Dumbledore gestured to the chair.

Again, Agnes obeyed. Her body filled with pride. However, her breath caught. In Albus's eyes, she knew she had seen something just now. She knew she had messed up. She had looked him directly in the eyes. She had directly looked at him when she had finished her brief summary. She mentally cursed herself for it.

Albus' face grew serious. A frown descended his features. "Why, Miss Blackwood? What has inspired you to come to Hogwarts seeking employment?"

Agnes sighed and averted her attention to the corner of the desk. "I want to get away from that life... it was... one I was forced upon against my will. The rest I suspect that you already know."

Dumbledore's grave nod spoke wonders. Yet somehow, it gave Agnes hope.

"Of course, you understand the consequences regarding in the occurrence of..."

He didn't have to finish his sentence. Agnes had expected as such. She suspected he'd be able to see right through her. She was dealing with a legilimens, after all. Agnes sighed, "Yes... I do. And I'm willing to face the consequences in the instance that such happens."

Albus flashed a tight, apologetic smile. He discarded the paperwork somewhere into his desk. "Very well. You are hired Miss Blackwood. You are expected to arrive a week before term starts to settle in. Congratulations, and welcome to Hogwarts."