SUPPLIES AND Biter-sweet Surprises

As she walked along the hall she could her footsteps echoing loudly. The school was still deserted, as it was another two weeks before the term started. Vexus had received a letter from Dumbledore the prior week asking her if she could come to Hogwarts a little earlier than usual this year. It seemed that Professor Snape hadn't made it back from Romania yet and with the term fast approaching somebody had to get the potions classes together. Since Vexus had been working closely with the professor the year before and was familiar with his lesson plans and classes Dumbledore asked her.

"Isn't there another professor who can do this? I mean, Potions is my best subject and I did assist professor Snape last year, but I don't know about holding down the fort until he gets back from...where is he again?" she asked.

Dumbledore had met her in the corridor and they were headed to his office (at his request) before Vexus headed off to the dungeons (which she wanted to do first, but you can't just tell the headmaster no.)

"He is in Romania." Dumbledore paused and then continued "There have been some rumors going around about Voldemort and I asked if he would check them out for me. I need you here because with Professor Quirell on sabbatical there really isn't anyone else who is as familiar with Professor Snape's lessons. At least no one who doesn't already have a million things to do."  He smiled at her as they entered his office finally. He motioned for her to sit. As soon as she did a house elf came in with a tray of food. "Ah, lunch!" said Dumbledore.

'Well its obvious that he wants to chit-chat for a little bit.' Vexus settled back into the chair with a sandwich off of the tray and decided that she'd just have to sit through it when the headmaster said something that made her drop the sandwich. "What do you know about your parents, Vexus?"

Vexus stared at the Professor. She felt something like electricity shoot through every nerve in her body. That was probably the very last thing that she thought she'd hear from him. After a moment she realized that she had dropped the sandwich and that she had been staring. She regained her composure and spoke "Not much, Professor. I have always considered Daniel and Sharon my parents. But when I was younger I used to pretend that my birth parents wanted me to know who they were and that's why they named me what they did." It was coming out in a rush and at the last statement Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up.

"Why do you think that about your name? He kept his voice light.

"Well, I mean how many kids named 'Vexus' do you come across? I would bet that right now you couldn't think of any other girls, or boys for that matter, named 'Vexus" That have come through this school." She was calmer now that they had started talking.

"You are right about that" Dumbledore's smile seemed to have an additional calming effect on her. "I haven't ever met anyone quite like you. And I wanted to bring this up because I knew your mother when she attended Hogwarts and before she died she left something of hers with me. She wanted you to have it one day." He stood and walked over to a bookcase and picked up a long slender wooden box. It looked like a wand box thought Vexus.

"Your mother was a very talented student in her day. She was a student here at the time as Professor Snape. I think that they knew each other then. Either way she left this with me and asked that I give it to you when I thought you were ready for it."

"And I'm ready?" She didn't let the tremor in her hands get into her voice. "Who was she?" There were a thousand questions boiling up but that was the one that made it to the surface first.

"Well, her name was Renai Scott and she was student at Hogwarts when I was a teacher here. She was an excellent student and she also excelled at Potions." He paused here, " you know about Voldemort of course," He looked at her over the top of glasses.

"I have read all about him and other than what I have read there hasn't been to much discussion about You-Know-Who, even in our Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. At least there wasn't when I still took that class." She wondered what Voldemort had to do with her mother.

"Well, when Voldemort was gaining power she fell in with him and became a Death Eater. Before it was over she was killed and you were saved. Voldemort thought you were dead and you were moved to the orphanage." He stopped and took a sip of tea. She was holding up well considering the circumstances. "Your mother approached me and we helped her get you to safety."

The one thing that Dumbledore had decided for sure was that the identity of her father would remain a secret. There was no reason to temp fate that much. "Are there any other questions, please know that I don't know everything that happened of course?" he said.

"My father..." Her voice was still steady but he could see the emotions raging behind her eyes. "Do you know who my father was?"

The only answer he could give was none at all, he shook his head and said "I can not answer all the questions, you understand."

"Why did he, You-Know-Who that is, think I was dead?" she was full of questions and was trying to ask the most important ones while she could.

At this Albus smiled "Our Professor Snape was instrumental in killing you. He prepared a potion and made sure that Voldemort thought that you were dead. He recovered your body and administered the antidote as well."

"Wait, How was he able to do that and not be killed himself? He wasn't a... She hesitated.

"Death Eater?" Dumbledore finished for her. "Yes there was a time when he went to Voldemort, but he saw the error and turned back. He was a valuable spy for us at great personal risk." he grew serious "What is important is that your mother also saw the mistake she had made and gave herself to save you. The last thing she asked of me was that I made sure you received her wand one day."

 Dumbledore had waited this long to give her the wand because he, like Snape was concerned about the safety of her being here. He just hid it better. He also knew what Severus did not. He knew that Vexus was capable of plenty of magic with or WITHOUT a wand. But she had proven herself and this was her last year at the school.

"In that case I will only ask one more question," She had to know that one thing that had puzzled her since she was old enough to think "which one of my parents named me?"

Dumbledore thought for a long moment. "Your father."

He rose and came around the desk with the box. He handed it to Vexus and spoke "Use this well, I know that you can focus your talent without a wand but I have a feeling that you'll cherish this anyway."

Vexus had no idea how he knew about what she had been doing, but it didn't surprise her that he knew. "Thank you Headmaster, you're right, this does mean a lot to me." She rose and left the room.

Once she arrived in the dungeons she knew why nobody else wanted to do this. It was colder than usual and it looked like whenever Snape left he had packed in a hurry. The place was a god-awful mess. "O.K. So first I am going to go to the dorms and put you up." the last was addressed to the wand-box "and then we'll see what we can do in here."

Snape arrived at the school two days later and went straight to Dumbledore with the information (what little there was) he had gathered over the past two months. "So there you go, nothing but rumors and half truths. No one has any definite sighting or encounter."

"We'll just have to watch and keep our eyes and ears open. I believe that Professor Quirell will be going through there while he is on sabbatical. I'll ask him to keep a eye out as well." Dumbledore stopped to take a sip of tea and Severus thought they were finished.

As Snape rose to leave the office Dumbledore spoke again "Severus, I have given her Renai's wand." the statement hung there for a moment.

"Are you serious? What does she know?" Snape had gone pale and was frozen where he had stopped when Albus spoke. "Does she know about Voldemort?" His mind reeled with questions.

Dumbledore motioned for him to sit again "She knows her mother's name and that she died to save her baby. She knows that you and I were involved in getting her away. She knows about you, the potion" he paused for emphasis "and the antidote."

The old wizard watched the younger one intently "She knows that Voldemort killed her mother and that her parents are dead"

Snape sat bolt upright "You know as well as I do that there is no guarantee that Voldemort is dead. I just spent two months trying to find out about him." He was so tired and to have this first thing was almost too much. He just wanted to go to his dungeon and sit among his things. Peacefully. Quietly. Alone.

"Severus, I think that she'll be fine, She took the news rather well and she is so much stronger that we give her credit for. You know Slytherin used to be the home of the cunning and the ambitious. Before certain things changed its reputation. She is very close to what the ideal Slytherin used to be." He started messing with a roll of parchment of his desk. Snape rose again to head to the dungeon. "One last thing Severus, well actually two things," Snape hated it when the Headmaster did this, Dumbledore continued, "She asked who named her, I thought that you might be able to offer some insight on that. If you want to discuss it with her." the color drained from Severus' face and Dumbledore continued "And she's already here."

Severus knew then that he had been excused and headed out of the office for the dungeons.

Why had Albus decided to tell her about his now? 'Stupid question' he thought 'this is her last year.' Sometimes he forgot that Vexus would be leaving the school at the end of this year. For all the problems there'd been between them, nearly all of them his doing, he still recognized that she was an exceptional student. He had always said that having an assistant would make him soft. Having Vexus as his assistant had outright spoiled him. Even now she was in his class doing his work for him. 'Well, if she thinks that she can be potions mistress' he smirked as he thought to himself 'she has another think coming.

Vexus had spent the last two days putting everything up and was now scrubbing up what looked like the residue of several exploded cauldrons. "I don't think I even want to know what he was doing in here." She muttered, as she wiped off a desk at the front of the class that had something blue and sticky all over it.

"Still talking to yourself?" the familiar coldness of the voice told her who it was before she turned.

'And since I know who is standing there I'll take my sweet time turning around.' she thought. Slowly she stopped scrubbing, put the rag down on the desk and turned around. Snape stood in the doorway looking, well plain awful.

"What happened to you?" she sneered it at him suddenly remembering that he had been exceptionally nasty to her the last time she saw him. His hair was a little longer than usual and was a horrible mess. His skin was still pale, but now there was a kind of gauntness to his face.

"You seem to have forgotten that you are still the student and I am still the teacher. You will not take that tone with me. I tolerate no disrespect from my students, even the rare intelligent ones." He was angry, but she could see that he was too tired to really get fumed up about it.

"Sorry, Professor." she said. "What I meant to say was: How was your summer?"  He's going to curse me for that she thought. Instead Snape walked to his desk and began looking through the papers.

"I see that you have started the inventory, excellent. When will you have it finished?" he didn't really want to get started with her right now he realized.

"I expect to have it completed by the morning. I had to clean this first. Couldn't stand it anymore. May I ask what happened in here?" she decided it was worth a shot. Snape did not even look up at her "No you may not."

She bit her tongue and went back to scrubbing the desk. She was really getting into it when Snape suddenly looked up and asked, "Why are you doing that by hand?"

Vexus stopped and looked up, surprised. "Since we aren't allowed to use magic over the summer, I just get used to doing things this way." She took out her wand and started muttering as she went along the desks. In a few moments they were clean. She looked at Snape and blushed, "I suppose I should've done it that way from the start." He didn't smile, but asked, "That's taken care of, now why aren't you wearing your school attire? Did you forget your robes?" She was wearing her muggle jeans and a t-shirt with the word "Beatles" on it with a picture of four men. 'Although they spelled "beetles" wrong and the men on the shirt don't look like insects.' thought Snape. He watched as Vexus looked down at her clothes and then back up at him, her eyes flashing.

She was getting angry now "Since the term has not yet started and due to the state of this classroom," the last was hissed "I decided not to wear my robes. I checked with the Headmaster and he approved it."

There was a brief face off before Snape spoke "You are excused. Be back in two hours, you need to finish the inventory."

"Fine." she turned to leave "Always a pleasure to be near you Professor." was the last thing he heard before she was gone. Had he been less tired he might've said something back.

'What is wrong with me? I keep on snapping at Professor Snape like this and I am going to get expelled.' she thought as she made her way to the dorm to change. She didn't even see Dumbledore until she had run right into him. "I'm sorry Professor!" He smiled at her and asked, "What's the big hurry? Have you seen Professor Snape?"

"Yes sir, he told me to leave and he asked about my robes. Or rather why I wasn't in them. So I decided to change." She was still angry but as always the old wizard had a claming effect on her.

"The term hasn't started. You don't need to be in your robes yet. Don't worry about him. He's had a busy summer. You may wear your robes if you wish, but there is no requirement for you to do so until the other students arrive." Dumbledore smiled at her again and headed off. "Don't forget, Professor Snape is a complicated man. Good Luck."

Vexus stood there for a while and decided that since she had two hours before she had to be back in the dungeons she would take her broom for a spin. She was Quidditch captain for Slytherin this year and wanted to be in top form. Plus she really liked zipping around the stadium and school grounds.

She was practicing barrel rolls when she spotted the form of Severus Snape on the ground below. She quickly landed and approached him. "It hasn't been two hours has it? I am sure that it hasn't." She said. She stood there waiting for him to say something, instead of just looking at her.

"How long is your hair, Vexus?" he may as well ask about the weather it was said so casually. This caught her off guard and instinctively her hand went to her hair. She had undone it while she was flying. She liked to feel the wind, and if you're gonna go fast, it should FEEL like you're going fast. "Um, I think it's about thirty inches or so. I don't make it a habit to measure my hair often," she said. "That was an interesting question, Professor. Why do you ask?"

He didn't answer but instead said, "I see you didn't change clothes."

"I ran into the Headmaster and he said that until the term starts I don't have to wear the robes unless I want to." there was a note of defiance in her voice. 'If this keeps arguing keeps up this year is going to suck' she thought. His gaze shifted to the empty stadium. "How does Slytherin look for Quidditch this year?"

Glad for the change of subject she answered, "I think that we're going to wipe up the stadium with the other teams, again. Even though we lost Toby, Steven, and Tara I think we still have a good chance. There is a third year named Daniel that I want to move up into Steven's Seeker position. I have a set of fifth years named Rupert and Emma that can take over the vacated Beater and Chaser positions. Should be good. Rupert has a definite mean streak and I can't wait to see who he takes out first." there was a wicked smile on her face when she finished.

Snape looked at her and said, "I don't think he's the only one with a mean streak." he allowed a small smile "that is a good quality in the captain of my house's Quidditch team. If we can do well this year it'll the fifth year in a row that Slytherin has won. I like it when my house wins."

"Why Professor, I didn't think that you liked anything." her voice was dry but he could appreciate the joke.

"Indeed. Well your two hours are up and I need you to finish your work." He walked back up towards the school and she followed.

They worked in silence for the rest of the afternoon. They were used to each other and didn't really need to speak. Soon Vexus had finished the inventory and was checking over a list of supplies when two house elves came in with trays of food. "The headmaster said to bring some food to Professor Snape and Miss Vexus since they missed supper." said one of them. They set down the trays and left. Vexus rose and walked over to inspect the food. There was a little bit of everything on the trays, or so it seemed. She took a plate and began pilling it high with food. Snape watched her before he spoke "Hungry?"

"Yes. Daniel and Sharon have been doing this low-carb thing and I haven't had pasta or rice or bread or potatoes in two months." She sat down and began eating. Snape walked to the table and filled a plate of his own. After a moment of hesitation he sat at the table with Vexus. She raised and eyebrow but didn't say anything. "What time are you going to Hogsmead in the morning?" he finally asked.

She washed down a rather large forkful of rice with a sip of pumpkin juice then answered "About 8 or so. Nothing much is open before then. Whatever I can't find I'll send for when I get back to the castle." Many of the potions supplies could be obtained in Hogsmead and Vexus was going to go get everything she could tomorrow. Some things would have to be ordered from the shops and some ordered by owl.

A thought hit her suddenly "Professor, would you like to go with me? There really isn't much to do here until I return with the supplies and if you go with me you can make sure I don't have any fun while I'm there." She managed to keep a straight face until the end. Snape stared at her for a moment.

"Was that a joke?" he asked.

"Actually, now that I think about it," she said "no it wasn't. It would be nice to have some company and you look like you just need a relatively stress free day."  She had been thinking all day that he looked miserable, at least more so than usual. "Really Professor, would it hurt you to enjoy a single day out of life?"

The remark hit hard, 'I am sure that she has no idea what she just said' he thought

"I will go with you, but it will be to make sure that you do not use all of the class funds in Honeydukes." he kept his voice neutral. She smiled.

"Was that a joke?"

The next morning they were supposed to meet in the Great Hall at 6:30 for breakfast and a final run-through of the supplies list. By 7:00 Professor Snape hadn't shown and Vexus was pissed. 'I swear sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to put up with him.' she fumed as she headed off to look for him. She checked the classroom, his office and library, the staff room and the dungeons: nothing. By now it was 7:30 and if they were going to make it they needed to leave now. Finally she decided that he must still be in his chambers. "Do I want to go there? Maybe I should just go to Hogsmead with out him." She was speaking quietly to herself as she approached his door. She raised her hand to knock and stopped.  She was suddenly filled with a weird kind of anticipation. She was muttering again "Bloody-hell, Vexus, you've knocked on doors before. JUST DO IT." She knocked loudly three times and waited. After about 10 seconds there had been no answer. "Alright, you came, you knocked, and he didn't answer. You were forced to go with out him."

She had turned around to leave when the doors were flung open; she jumped and spun around to look. Snape stood before her fully dressed (in what looked like yesterday's robes she thought) his hair was worse than usual and he looked like he had just woke up. "What time is it?" his voice didn't sound different but she could tell he had been caught off guard.

"It is now 7:40 a.m. Professor." She stopped the smart-ass remark that was on her tongue. He didn't look like he would be in such a good mood about things today. "Professor, if you would rather stay in I can take care of the supplies by myself."

"No, lets go." he stepped out into the corridor, turned locked the door and strode off.

They didn't say anything on the way to the village and when they reached Hogsmead they decide to split up and each one handle half of the list. By noon Vexus had everything that she could get in the village. She was waiting outside The Three Broomsticks for Snape when he approached. "Did you get everything?" he asked

"Nearly, I had to order the newt eyes and when we get back to the school I'll have to send an owl for the wolfs bane, unicorn horn and the milkwood essence. Other than that I got it all. Even picked up a couple extra cauldrons that will come in handy when the first years start melting theirs down." She knew that it was not his policy to keep extra cauldrons on hand for students who messed their up. His theory was they just loose credit and points until they secure a new one on their own.

"You know what I think about that."

Vexus smiled "But Professor, wouldn't it be nice to have some extras around. Just in case?" She was going to win this one. She watched him sneer and say "Fine. What's done is done. Then we are finished."

An idea popped into Vexus' head and she said it before she thought, "Why don't we go inside and have lunch. And I would like to stop by Honeydukes."  Ever since he had mentioned it the previous night she had a craving for chocolate frogs.

While Vexus was thinking about chocolate Snape was wondering if she was being insolent or was just trying to be nice, that would be preferable to the prior year. "Alright, we'll eat and stop for some chocolate frogs." he sneered at her and enjoyed the look of surprise when he said "chocolate frogs." He knew that she loved chocolate in any form, and that she had a weakness for the frogs. He had seen her eating them too often.

They had a good if, quiet meal. When they had finished they headed towards Honeydukes. Snape stopped outside the door and Vexus realized that he wasn't coming in. "What's the matter Professor? Don't want to be seen in a candy shop?" she teased. He scowled and followed her in. She immediately went to the chocolate section and began filling a small bag with every kind of chocolate available. He watched and tried to ignore the shopkeeper looking at him. It had been many years since he had set foot in this shop. Finally she finished and paid for the now bulging bag of sweets. The shopkeeper whispered something to Vexus and she smirked. He followed her out of the shop and they set out for the castle. All of the supplies had been sent on ahead of them and would be waiting when they got back to the class.

Vexus was in a good mood, despite the fact that the sky looked like it was going to pour forth a torrent of rain any second. She had even insisted on walking, with or without the Professor. Grudgingly he walked with her. She had left her hair down again today, though she wasn't sure why. After a while he broke the silence "What did the shopkeeper in Honeydukes say to you?" It had been agonizing him since it happened.

"She was just telling me that had been at least 15 years since she had seen you in the shop." Vexus smirked again "and she wanted to know if you were well."

Snape wasn't surprised; he didn't make a habit of buying or eating sweets. Her next words caught him off guard "But don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I'll never tell that the 'dark, brooding Potions Master' was in a candy shop." She shot him a glance and he could see that she really wouldn't tell anyone. He couldn't help but smile, a little bit. "Glad to see my reputation is intact."

Later on in the dungeons again, they were both busy measuring out ingredients into bottles and had nearly finished getting everything put away when they stopped to go over what was left to do. Vexus had worn her robes into Hogsmead but has changed back into the jeans when they got back, mainly to aggravate Snape.

"Are we through, Professor?" She was tired and wanted to take a long hot bath to get the residue of a number of things off her skin. Snape looked worn out too and after taking a moment to check over their lists again he said, "Yes we are finished. I would like to get an early start tomorrow, so please be here by 6:00 a.m." She didn't protest and started towards the door.

"Vexus," he paused when she turned around "would you like to have diner with me again this evening?" An expression of shock spread across her face. Quickly he continued, "I would like to discuss several new potions for the second-years."

She had resumed an air of nonchalance "Of course, what time?"

"6:30 and I had planned on eating in my office."

"Fine Professor, 6:30 it is." She left the room and headed for the dorms for a quick bath (instead of the long one she hoped for) and to change clothes.

Snape meanwhile went to the kitchen to let the elves know that Vexus was eating with him. He then returned to his chambers and decided that he too could do with a bath. 'I hope she leaves her hair down again' was the last thing he thought as he sank into the tub.

The bath had rejuvenated Vexus and she felt like she had much more energy than she had an hour ago. She was finishing getting dressed again. She had decided on a skirt and simple button down shirt. At the moment she was trying to decide if she should put her hair up now or before she went to bed. She knew that eating with Snape was going to be an ordeal and she might be too tired afterwards to spend the time braiding her hair and putting it into it's customary bun. She glanced behind her at the small clock on her nightstand. It read 6:27 p.m.

"Holy Shit!" She cursed before she realized what she'd said. She grabbed her shoes and left the dorm at a run her hair flying behind her. She ran all the way down to the dungeons in her stockings and slipped the shoes on as she rounded the last corner. Panting she burst into Snape's office "Sorry-Professor. I was-getting-uh-dressed-and-I-uh..."

He was sitting at the desk with several covered trays before him. "You're only 4 minutes late. I don't think that any grave damage has been done. Sit down and get something to drink, you're out of breath." He motioned for her to sit and watched as she poured herself a goblet of the (still, thankfully) ice-cold pumpkin juice. After she had collected herself she spoke again, "O.K., that's better. I am sorry about being late. You didn't have to wait."  She looked at him and noticed the cold expression. 'Oh no, this is going to be a long evening. He's already glaring at me.' She sighed and decided to get through this as quickly as possible. "Are we going to eat or glare at each other all night?" She said it in, what she hoped was a light manner.

"Yes, lets eat. I know you don't want to be here any longer than you must." He removed the tray lids and began filling his plate. 'So she wants to get this over with. It doesn't surprise me at all she would rather not be here' he thought 'at least she left her hair down.'

They ate quietly until Snape spoke "I have been planning on adding some more difficult potions to my second year classes. I have reached a point though where I need to narrow the list. This is where you come in." He slid a piece of parchment across the desk. "Look this over and give me your assessment of which ones would be best."

Vexus set her fork down; she was finished anyway, and picked up the list. "May I look these over and let you know in the morning?" She wanted to discuss something else with the Professor. He conversation with Professor Dumbledore had been running around he mind since it took place and she wanted to know more about what happened. Since Snape was so "instrumental" in what happened she had decided to bring it up with him. This was the first opportunity to do so.

Snape spoke before she could proceed "The point of this" he waved his hands at the trays of food "was to 'Discuss' the addition of more difficult potions to the second-year class. However, if you feel that it's not necessary to discuss the list, by all means tell me in the morning." he couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Vexus was furious. She picked up the list again and said through clenched teeth "Fine." She looked over the list again and put it down. "I think you should add them all to the course."

He raised his eyebrows and shot back "Some of those are rather difficult for a second-year"

It was turning into an argument "In that case professor, add them all. If the students blow up the classroom, they're all idiots. If they get them right, they're geniuses."

Snape realized he had been leaning forward in his chair and sat back. With a sigh he rubbed the bridge of his nose. He should've known this was going to turn out terribly. He was feeling so tired and to be sitting here arguing over a list of potions. It was ridiculous. Vexus picked up on his exasperation and took a deep breath. They sat that way for a few moments.

Eventually Snape addressed her again "I do not want to fight with you." it was as close as her was going to get to an apology "If you want to look over this list on your own, then it's fine with me. I just don't feel like sitting here and arguing over it."

"I agree." she had calmed down and was sitting with her elbow on the arm of the chair, her chin in her hand. She looked at him and decided it was now or never. "Professor, I don't know if you are aware of this, but Professor Dumbledore has told me about my mother." She let it hang between them watching his face for a reaction. He looked up at her and then down at the desk "Vexus, he did mention to me that he had given you your mothers wand and told you about her. And I will answer your questions, to a point. There are some things that I cannot answer and you're just going to have to accept that." He looked up at her again to see her nod and he said "Alright. Go ahead."

Vexus had been running over a list of questions and they had all slipped away in her nervousness. And so the first thing she said was "Did you know my mother?"

"Your mother was a student here at the same time I was. She was two years ahead of me though, so I do not know much of her activities. From what I remember she was a good student, she did not follow Quidditch. She was always nice to me and from what I could see everybody else." He said it fast to just get it out.

"What house was she in?" asked Vexus

"Slytherin."

"Who was my father?" She asked it the same way she had asked the previous questions and it took the Professor off guard. "I can't answer that one."

Vexus narrowed her eyes and asked "Why? Because you don't know or because you do know?"

'Good question' thought Snape. He decided on his answer "I cannot tell you who he was, but I did know him."

This was what she had been waiting for "Professor Dumbledore said that my father named me. Do you know why he chose Vexus?" She held her breath and waited as Snape thought.

How safe was it to even tell her part of the truth? 'Vexus. You have no idea about the significance that name holds to me.' he thought.

He spoke,  "I don't' know what significance it held for him. That isn't' a good answer but it's all you're going to get." he paused "What do you think it means?" He hadn't even asked her about, well, anything this personal. Her eyes focused on some distant point over his shoulder for a moment. "To be honest with you, I've always thought it was a riddle." she said.

He was careful to not let his face betray how close she was to the truth. 'Riddle. Tom Riddle. Yes,' he thought 'you're right about being a Riddle.' to her he said "Well that is an interesting theory. Any progress towards figuring it out?"

"None so far. I don't think about it much anymore. Professor, Why did you help to save me?" This was the big question.

"I knew your mother and was with Professor Dumbledore when she came to ask for help. We knew that Voldemort was going to be coming for her in the next day or so. We decided that the best thing to do was, make him think you were dead. After he left we could recover your body and administer the antidote." he kept his face blank. Too many things about those days he regretted and he didn't like to think about his time with Voldemort anymore than was necessary. "I prepared the potion and passed it to your mother. After she had been killed, I found you and administered the antidote. You were then passed to the orphanage."

She was close to tears but kept herself in check "So my mother died to get me to safety. I suppose Voldemort killed her because he found out about her turning back from him." Snape nodded.

"o.k. Professor, that's all. It's more than I knew before and it's enough, May I be excused. I want to go to bed." she rose and addressed him.

"Certainly. I will see you at 6:30 in the morning." He stood as well and watched her back as she walked towards the door. With her hand on the doorknob she turned back to him "Which one was it?"

"I beg your pardon? Which one was what?" He was thrown by the question.

"What potion did you use to make me look dead?" she asked.

"The Draught of Living Death."

She wrinkled her nose "I would've picked that one too. Good night Professor." Once she was gone he took a bottle off of the shelf behind him and poured a few drops into his goblet. He drained it in one gulp and slumped down into the chair. It was a long time before he left the room and retreated to his chambers.