Disclaimer: Yup, you guessed it.
**************************



"Let's see... I can get plenty of Fizzing Whizbees in Hogsmeade, so I needn't look for them here...I already stopped at that Muggle bookstore and got those psychology books... I've got enough robes that look like ones that a real professor would wear...All I need now is some ingredients for my Cold-Prevention Potion and I'm all set," Thera murmured to herself as she checked items off a list written on a piece of parchment.

Her golden-brown eyes glanced around the busy street of Diagon Alley, taking in all of the strange sights that was part of European charm. She hoped she didn't stick out too much as a rude American, but Thera was too happy to care even if she did. The next day, she was going to be at Hogwarts... as a teacher!

Thera smiled at the thought. The past couple of weeks had been a whirlwind of events and Thera could hardly believe that any of it was real. Recalling her conversation with Professor Dumbledore at the tea shop, her excitement level rose a few notches. Thera Lenox, teacher and designer of a new course at Hogwarts: Reading the Literature of the Human Psyche. Silent laughter was forming in Thera's throat at the thought of the title of her course. She had suggested plain old "Psychology", but Dumbledore had said he already had too many one word courses in his school and he wanted this new one to have the longest name. Dumbledore is a brilliant man, Thera thought, but a little quirky at times.

Thera suddenly stopped on the sidewalk and backtracked because she realized she had passed the shop she had wanted to stop in. Sir Salvatore's Shoppe of Simmering Potions was the best store in Diagon Alley for strange and unusual ingredients. As she walked in the door, Thera heard the faint tinkling of the bell above the door as her sensed were immersed with all of the wonderful things inside the shop.

Brightly colored flowers, brighter than any other flower Thera had ever seen, were growing in pots near the window; clicking noises could be heard coming from a large barrel in the corner; strange smells wafted through the air. Seeing no employee in the shop, Thera began to explore on her own. Others were doing the same. An old witch had a piece of fruit in each hand, weighing each by slightly moving her hands up and down. The fruit looked like normal apples, except for the fact that one was a bright gold and the other was sparkling silver. Thera heard the woman mumble to her self, "Think, Darcy, think! You learned this in school years ago. The gold one turns poisonous when mixed with sugar, but beneficial when with salt. The silver is dangerous when heated, but can save a life if it is eaten when chilled. Or.....is it the other way around?"

Thera didn't know the answer to this question, so she continued her way round the store. She observed a small boy muttering as he pointed to each one of his fingers on his left hand. "Now, Mother wanted me to get amberseed, wolfsbane, nectar from the fire flower, some Phoenix cinnamon and.... and.... what was the last one? Jeweled strawberries? No, maybe it was gillyweed. No, that's not it..... Maybe it was just a loaf of bread....."

Thera was examining a lotus flower that kept changing colors when someone bumped into her. Surprised, Thera looked next to her to see a man looking just as surprised as she did. His black hair had fallen into his eyes, and as he pushed it back from his pale face, he looked at Thera with his eyes that were twice as black as his hair.

"Excuse me," he said apologetically. "I didn't mean to push you."

Thera was slightly taken aback at his silky cool voice, but she realized how well it fit his demeanor. "Oh, no harm done," she said, unable to remove her eyes from the man.

He held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded and turned away.

Thera realized that her heart was beating quickly. Breathing hard, she scolded herself mentally for acting in such a stupid way. It was just a guy, she told herself. A guy who accidentally bumped into you....He didn't ask you to dinner or anything, so just calm down.

But she couldn't. The man was still in the shop and Thera found herself stealing glances at him as often as she could. She saw his long white fingers delicately handle fairy wings. She watched as his dark eyes glanced over the names of many ingredients that she herself had never heard of. The way his black robes moved as he walked; the way Thera could not tell what he was thinking; it all appealed to her. Why am I doing this? Thera thought. Listen to yourself. You sound like a lovesick teenager. Face reality and don't think about him anymore. Thera felt her face screw up with determination as she tried to find faults with this mystery man so she wouldn't want to think about him anymore.

Let's see, she thought, there has to be something wrong with him. Look, his hair is greasy; he probably doesn't wash it......His complexion is so sallow that he probably never goes outside....And those eyes, they're just too cold....and black....and deep.....and intriguing.......

"Can I help you, miss?"

Thera jumped and saw a short old man to her left. She had been so immersed in her own thoughts about the man that she hadn't realized that an employee had appeared to assist her.

"Uh, yes...yes," Thera stumbled, a little flustered from the surprise of the man right next to her. "I need two Galleons worth of sorcha leaves."

"Right, miss. They'll be ready in a moment at the front counter," said the little man as he walked away.

Angry with herself, Thera resolved to never let her mind wander again about any guy, no matter how mysterious and intriguing he might be. Although, thought Thera, I haven't met anyone quite like that man in quite a long time. Not with eyes like that....not since.....

"Sorcha leaves ready at the front," Thera heard a voice say.

Drat it! I just did it again! Thera realized as she made her way up to the counter. She saw a orange silk bag tied with a string sitting on the counter and knew it must be her sorcha leaves. Just as she placed her hand on it to take it, another pale, long-fingered hand was placed on top of hers.

Recognizing it, Thera turned to look at its owner, and sure enough, it was the man who had bumped into her earlier. He was looking at her with a faint look of surprise on his face.

"Well, it seems as thought we keep bumping into each other, doesn't it," Thera asked him, emitting a giggle. She gasped silently as she thought with horror: Did I just giggle?

With an unreadable expression, the man said, "It certainly does."

"Here you go, Professor. I have your sorcha leaves right here," said a plump woman behind the counter to the man who still had his hand on Thera's, to her delight.

"Thank you," he said, removing his hand from over Thera's.

"Are you going to be using these in your classes, Professor?" the woman inquired.

"Yes" was his short reply.

Gathering up her courage, Thera cleared her throat and asked, "Excuse me, Professor, but would you happen to be a teacher at Hogwarts?"
Turning a raised eyebrow to Thera, the professor said, "I am. Why do you ask?"

"Well," Thera said matter-of-factly, "I happen to be the new teacher at Hogwarts. I'm just glad I met a fellow colleague before tomorrow. I'm Thera Lenox," she said extending her hand.

With a slightly amused expression on his face, the man took her hand and said, "Severus Snape. I'm guessing you would be our new, er, psychology professor, then, would you?"

Confused at Snape's tone of amusement, Thera confirmed his suspicions.

Still looking amused, Professor Severus Snape bowed slightly as said, "Then I shall see you tomorrow, Miss Lenox." He paid for his sorcha leaves and walked briskly out of the shop.

Thera looked after him for a few moments, then turned back to the woman at the counter. She paid her two Galleons and said goodbye to the woman who had a knowing smile on her face.

Sorcha leaves in hand, Thera walked out of the shop and onto Diagon Alley once again.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in various stores, and Thera caught herself several times thinking about Severus Snape. Why am I attracted to him? she thought to herself as she made her way back to the Leaky Cauldron, where she had booked a room for the night. He looks as though he doesn't take care of himself at all, and he doesn't some off as overly friendly either. I can't figure out anything about him, so maybe that's why I like him......Or I'm just going crazy, Thera concluded.

She took out her key, opened up the door to her room, tossed her bags to the floor and flopped down onto her bed. Exasperated, she asked out loud, "Why can't I just stop thinking about him?"

"Because you don't want to stop thinking about him, dearie," Thera heard her mirror say.

"You're right," she sighed resignedly. "I should just admit that I'm attracted to him for some unknown reason and let it go. I probably shouldn't like him if we will be working together for the next ten months."

"What ever you want, dear," the mirror said sleepily.

Rolling over without changing into her pajamas, Thera whispered, "Well, at least it will be an interesting year," and promptly fell asleep.



Author's note: Thanks for reading!