div id="content" style="max-height: 999999px; margin: 0.2em 0.5em 0.8em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"br /hr style="margin: 5px 0px; border: 0px; background-color: #cbcbcb; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 100%, 100% 100%, from(#ffffff), color-stop(0.1, #cbcbcb), color-stop(0.9, #cbcbcb), to(#ffffff));" noshade="noshade" size="1" /strong style="font-style: italic; font-size: 1.1em;"Sunlight streamed into my dorm the next morning. I jumped out of bed. I realized the clock read 11:04 am. I took my nightgown off and the hanger with my uniform on it. Someone was not going to be happy about this. I heard a knock at my door. "Who is it?"/strong/div
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p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Are you all right, Miss Jones?" The familiar silk voice of the Professor asked me through the door. "Why are you not in class?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI opened the door to see a concerned Severus Snape. "I overslept. Just give me a minute to get dressed."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe sighed. "When I did not see you at breakfast, I supposed this was the case. However, missing my class-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI smiled through the cracked open door. "I said give me a minute. I don't have anything on, Severus."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe black-haired man turned beet red. He took a deep breath. "Very well. Get dressed. I will be waiting."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI dressed into my school uniform and left the dorm. Severus was waiting outside in the corridor. "You know, it's not your job to come look after me. It's McGonagall's." I faced him pointedly. "You got worried, didn't you?" I flashed a smile at him as we began walking the abandoned hall./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked unsure of what to say. The Potions Master just sighed. "Miss Jones-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Winter. Remember?" I corrected him./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked at me with another unreadable expression. "Winter, you know you are to be on time for class. Professor McGonagall should not have to come looking for you. Neither should I. You of all people know how busy I am. I have classes to teach, potions to brew, ingredients to gather and parchment to grade. I do not have time to go galavanting all over the castle-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"So let me help you." I cut in meekly./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus stopped walking suddenly. He eyed me cautiously. "When you say help me, are you referring to aiding me in completing these tasks?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI nodded solemnly. "Yes."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed. "Are you certain about this, Winter? Most students detest aiding me in anything."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Of course I want to. You're my friend." I told him with a smile./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus breathed out loudly. "Oh...that again."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThis time I stopped. "What do you mean, oh that again?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus's eyes flashed. "It is not a good idea. You do not know what you are getting into, Miss Jones." He huffed. "Let me remind you of that."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Good. Now that you've reminded me, I'll know." I snapped back and stormed ahead of him into the Potions classroom./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI heard him sigh deeply in regret before entering the full classroom of students. The Slytherins giggled as I sat down at my table./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Looks like someone will get a big deduction of points." Draco Malfoy hissed in my direction./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry Potter yelled./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Anyone speaking will receive detention this evening with me and a significant deduction of house points. Would you care to start, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus asked vehemently./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongDraco glared but closed his mouth./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongBlack eyes stopped on me for a few moments as he scanned the room. "I thought not."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe class dragged on for the remaining forty minutes that were left. When class dismissed, I left with Harry, Hermione and Ron./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI felt Severus watching the back of my head as I got to the door. "Miss Jones."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongMy stomach was in knots. My face must have been white as a ghost. "Yes, sir?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHarry gave me a sympathetic look and then went on with his friends./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus studied me. "Miss Jones, it is not that I do not enjoy your company. I owe you much. If you truly meant what you offered, then I shall accept your aid beginning tonight."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI shook my head. "You owe me your life. You are quite possibly the worst person I have ever met."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed heavily, standing and circling his desk. "Winter, I apologize for my temper. However, you are very ignorant in your assumptions of me. I told you this was not a grand suggestion. We are very different people and we have nothing in common."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"But you agreed to it." I told him. "I just want to be your friend, Severus. I want to help you."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus held his gaze on me. "Meet me after dinner this evening, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI nodded and left for my next class./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus let out a breath./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"What am I going to do here alone with Winter Jones tonight?/span/strong/p
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div style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em;" role="main" aria-label="story content"
div id="storycontent" class="storycontent nocopy" style="max-height: 999999px; padding: 5px 10px;"
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Are you all right, Miss Jones?" The familiar silk voice of the Professor asked me through the door. "Why are you not in class?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI opened the door to see a concerned Severus Snape. "I overslept. Just give me a minute to get dressed."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe sighed. "When I did not see you at breakfast, I supposed this was the case. However, missing my class-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI smiled through the cracked open door. "I said give me a minute. I don't have anything on, Severus."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe black-haired man turned beet red. He took a deep breath. "Very well. Get dressed. I will be waiting."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI dressed into my school uniform and left the dorm. Severus was waiting outside in the corridor. "You know, it's not your job to come look after me. It's McGonagall's." I faced him pointedly. "You got worried, didn't you?" I flashed a smile at him as we began walking the abandoned hall./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked unsure of what to say. The Potions Master just sighed. "Miss Jones-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Winter. Remember?" I corrected him./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked at me with another unreadable expression. "Winter, you know you are to be on time for class. Professor McGonagall should not have to come looking for you. Neither should I. You of all people know how busy I am. I have classes to teach, potions to brew, ingredients to gather and parchment to grade. I do not have time to go galavanting all over the castle-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"So let me help you." I cut in meekly./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus stopped walking suddenly. He eyed me cautiously. "When you say help me, are you referring to aiding me in completing these tasks?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI nodded solemnly. "Yes."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed. "Are you certain about this, Winter? Most students detest aiding me in anything."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Of course I want to. You're my friend." I told him with a smile./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus breathed out loudly. "Oh...that again."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThis time I stopped. "What do you mean, oh that again?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus's eyes flashed. "It is not a good idea. You do not know what you are getting into, Miss Jones." He huffed. "Let me remind you of that."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Good. Now that you've reminded me, I'll know." I snapped back and stormed ahead of him into the Potions classroom./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI heard him sigh deeply in regret before entering the full classroom of students. The Slytherins giggled as I sat down at my table./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Looks like someone will get a big deduction of points." Draco Malfoy hissed in my direction./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry Potter yelled./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Anyone speaking will receive detention this evening with me and a significant deduction of house points. Would you care to start, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus asked vehemently./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongDraco glared but closed his mouth./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongBlack eyes stopped on me for a few moments as he scanned the room. "I thought not."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe class dragged on for the remaining forty minutes that were left. When class dismissed, I left with Harry, Hermione and Ron./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI felt Severus watching the back of my head as I got to the door. "Miss Jones."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongMy stomach was in knots. My face must have been white as a ghost. "Yes, sir?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHarry gave me a sympathetic look and then went on with his friends./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus studied me. "Miss Jones, it is not that I do not enjoy your company. I owe you much. If you truly meant what you offered, then I shall accept your aid beginning tonight."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI shook my head. "You owe me your life. You are quite possibly the worst person I have ever met."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed heavily, standing and circling his desk. "Winter, I apologize for my temper. However, you are very ignorant in your assumptions of me. I told you this was not a grand suggestion. We are very different people and we have nothing in common."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"But you agreed to it." I told him. "I just want to be your friend, Severus. I want to help you."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus held his gaze on me. "Meet me after dinner this evening, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI nodded and left for my next class./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus let out a breath./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"What am I going to do here alone with Winter Jones tonight?/span/strong/p
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