Here is my first attempt at a fan fiction. I want to say thank you to my pals Big C and Big J. You know who you are. I hope you as the reader enjoy my story. If you have any ideas or think something could better. Just say so. Also realize this is `just for fun" and not anything else. It is to be enjoyed. I've given it an "R" rating.
*****Mentioned in this story are alternative life styles. I know some people have problems with this. If you are one, read no further*****
You will see later on. I really don't think children should be reading it. You know your age. Well, enjoy.
All of the know folk mentioned in the Harry Potter series belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely borrowed the folk and the places to create a form of entertainment.
Ch 1--Detentions
Delia Wheelrite was happy she could attend Hogwarts. She was a bit odd. She was an American from Kansas. She was from a small town called Derby that is a suburb of Wichita. Her parents were normal. Her mom worked, as a hair stylist and her father owned a small restaurant on the east side of Wichita. Delia was an only child. She had long brown hair that came down to her waist, blue grey eyes and wasn't exactly tall.
It was the start of her last year at Hogwarts. In a few days time she would be eighteen, voting age in the US. Most students of Hogwarts graduated at the age of seventeen, but since she was technically eleven when she entered, but turned twelve a few days later, it was in her best interest to be held back. She spent her summer learning how to drive. Once she had her license she was driving all over. All of her friends knew she was going to school overseas. They all just thought it was a posh boarding school.
Delia walked into the Great Hall and in the middle of Sorting Ceremony. The reason she was late was her flight had been canceled out of Kansas City, which caused her to miss her connecting flight to London in Houston. In the meantime, her luggage was lost. Because of all this mess, she missed the Hogwarts Express. In the end the Ministry of Magic had met her at Gatwick and personally escorted her to Hogwarts. She was tired and upset. The last thing she wanted to her was the Slytherins making a mockery out of her because she was in Muggle Clothing. She took a seat at the Hufflepuff table in between her friends Josh and Nicola.
"You look a fright!" exclaimed Nicola.
"I'll say," chimed Josh.
"Ha!" Delia said. "You don't the half of it! My flight was canceled in Kansas City. I was supposed to arrive a few days ago. I haven't even got my school supplies! I haven't been to Diagon Alley!"
"Oh my god!" Nicola gasped. "What will you do?"
"Well," Delia said with a tired voice, "The Ministry will see to it that I have supplies by tomorrow afternoon and hopefully my luggage will turn up with my robes and whatnot in them. Well at least I do have a change of clothes here in my backpack along with my wand!"
"Does Dumbledore know what happened?" asked Josh.
"Yep he told me to do the best I can until I have everything," Delia replied with along sigh. "Anyway when do we have Potions?"
"Potions with Ravenclaw is tomorrow afternoon," Josh replied
"Oh great I have to PUT UP WITH SNAPE ON THE FIRST DAY BACK! Oh man! Is there any Mercy in this world? This is a bad omen!"
"Ahhhh Miss Wheelrite," a silky voice from behind said. "I will be pleased to see you on the first day back." And then slinked away.
"Great," Delia said with a grumble. "Just GREAT!"
***
Delia walked into Snape's class. She waited until the last possible minuet. Her luggage hadn't arrived overnight, much to her dismay. So she was wearing the same Jeans she had on last night and a T-Shirt that said CUTIE. She was forced to carry a spiral notebook with Lisa Frank Unicorns with multicolored pages. Her pen was a pink fuzzy feathered pen that wrote on pink bumble gum sparkly ink. Delia had been able to get away with ballpoint pens after several accidents with inkbottles. But she was asked to carry plain old boring Bics. She wrote all of her assignments on parchment, but used a notebook for notes. But on this particular day she had to be carrying her journal of all her personal thoughts. She knew she was in for it today with Snape. She could feel it.
Snape walked in with a flourish. He saw Delia at the back and a small evil smile crossed his face. "Ahhh," he said with a twinge of cynicism in his voice. "Seems Miss Wheelrite had dressed for the occasion. Why you have to go boasting to everyone that you are a cutie when you are not. I'll never know or care to know. I hope you don't plan on using that writing interment in my class."
Delia said in a matter of fact voice. "Well to tell the truth, I do on planning using these items for my educational purposes today." Delia was not in the mood to deal with Snape. She was still tired from her long trip back to Hogwarts.
"Well Miss Wheelrite it seems that you have just lost fifteen points from Hufflepuff for your remark. I can't believe the Headmaster is letting you get away with this."
By now Delia was ready to explode. "Well, at the moment I have no choice concerning my situation do I?"
"Fifteen more points from Hufflepuff! If I hear anymore I will take away thirty! Now I am going to arrange the seating for today. Since Miss Wheelrite is ready for the occasion you may have front row center!"
Delia got up with a screech of her chair, gave Snape a sneer and took her seat upfront. The rest of the class Snape spent every moment picking on Delia. By the end of class she had lost Hufflepuff sixty-five points. Her fellow housemates felt sorry for her. But she remained quite the entire time. She kept thinking one more remark and I am going to go POSTAL!
The bell rang and Delia couldn't wait to break free. When she heard a "Miss Wheelrite you will stay after the bell."
Super she thought just what I need more mocking and ridicule from Snape.
Once everyone had filed out Delia stood there in silence biting her lip. Waiting for Snape to speak. He finally did.
"Miss Wheelrite in lieu of disturbing my class today with your manner and dress you will be serving detention down here tonight. Please report by seven and have appropriate attire, if not detention will be assigned to you again."
"Dude!" she exclaimed in her Midwestern accent. "It wasn't my fault! I can't control what happens at an airport and who or what cancels flights!"
"Detention tomorrow night for that remark," Snape said starkly. "And anyway a witch of your sort shouldn't be traveling by whatever those contraptions are that brought you here."
"Airplanes," she snapped. "What the hell am I supposed to do? Apparate here from Kansas?'
"Ten points from Hufflepuff and detention once again."
"I'm underage. I can't have a license." She was going to let him have it. "Besides the Witches and Wizards Bureau in the US wouldn't let me apparate from Kansas anyway."
"Five points from Hufflepuff and detention all next of the week".
Delia just stormed out. She didn't even bother to go find Josh and Nicola.
***
Later that evening, before dinner, Nicola and Josh joined Delia in the Common room sympathizing with her.
"Well," said Delia in atired voice. "At least I got my school supplies, thanks to the Ministry! That's a bright note on this day. You know I must have set a new record. I deserve an award. Its should be `person who has received detention in the shortest amount of time from Snape.' Its should be put in the trophy room and polished on the 9^th of every month'
"Oh Dee!" remarked Nicola. "I don't that that's funny."
"I do," Josh chimed. "I think it's hilarious."
"I'm glad somebody does," agreed Delia. "Anyway I'm going down to have one last good meal before my instant death in the dungeon. You all are requested to join me."
Delia left dinner and started walking towards Snape's classroom. She was cursing herself for forgetting to grab the sweater she had in her dorm room. Her luggage still hadn't arrived. Oh well, she thought. I'll just have to make do with what I have.
She arrived in Snape's classroom. She looked around. No Snape. She checked her watch. Seven P.M. Hmm, she thought with wonder. Where is he? He's never late. You know I bet he'd never be late for his own wedding. Then she started laughing.
"Miss Wheelrite, I don't know what you find so amusing."
Delia immediately stopped laughing. Turned around looked at Snape and busted up again.
"Well..." Snape said icily
"Oh," she replied quickly. "Just this joke my dad told me before I left home. You know the one about the Priest and the Rabbi?"
"No I don't," he said in a curt voice. "And I really don't care. Muggle humour I'll never understand it."
"You aren't missing much."
"Yes that I see but we must attended to the manner at hand, your detentions. "
"Ahh yes," she said in a mocking tone. "Shall I start licking the floor clean with my tongue and then we can hang me upside down by my big toenails!"
"Miss Wheelrite!" He snapped.
"Sorry," she said softly in an apologetic tone.
"I think your job tonight will be to organize the student supply cupboard. I have had shipments come in the summer and have not tended to them. I suggest you get started."
Delia nodded and walked over to cupboard. She opened it up. From the looks of it the cupboard needed organized. Delia thought with a sigh looks like Aunt Molly's basement with stuff strewn about all over, boxes open and half empty. Only this mess was that of the Potions Master. It contained cauldrons of various sizes, potion bottles and basic ingredients for potions.
Delia started by dragging out the boxes and opening them up. She found that it was more bottles the anything. She went back in counted the boxes that contained bottles. There were a total of nine. Then she counted the boxes that had jars- there. Total number of cauldrons,-seventeen. Total number of boxes with ingredients-twenty. Plus there were all the odd bits out that were already on the shelves.
"Professor Snape, I have a few questions," Delia asked.
"Yes," he replied looking up from his book.
"Do you want everything out on the shelves? Or would you like some stuff on shelves and some in boxes. Do you want your bottles and ingredients arranged in any order?"
"Miss Wheelrite I thought you only had a few questions to ask me," he said with a smirk.
"Guess what, I lied."
"So you did. Well as far as I am concerned just organize the best you can with what space you have. I'll admit it's not a big enough cupboard."
"I'll say so and you want to know something?"
"Not really, but I bet you plan on telling me anyway."
"Well since you don't want to know. I won't," she proceeded to go back to work. So did Snape only he was reading a book and writing out notes.
"All right Miss Wheelrite, what was it you were going to tell me?"
"So now Professor Snape wants to know. I was just going to say that back home we call cupboard like this one here, closets, and cupboards are something you put your dishes in."
"Interesting fact," he said in bored voice.
"I think so too. Cultural differences. Sounds like a paper."
"Yes it does. Good, you can become an Anthropologist, specializing in Linguistics and you can let me know."
She was aghast, "You know about Anthropology?"
"Yes, it's the only good thing Muggles have come up with. I think one way our world can learn about Muggles is look at Anthropology. It would answer a lot of questions."
"Yes it would. I can tell you anything you want to know about Muggles. I did grow up in the muggle world."
"Maybe some other time. But there is one thing I'd like to know."
"Sure, what is it?" she asked.
"How were you discovered as a witch?"
"That's a funny story," she said with a laugh. "I was about eight. My parents wanted me to become an ice skater. So I practiced a lot on cold mornings in a freezing ice rink. One day my coach yelled at me to get on that ice. I didn't want to go. My feet were cold. But I was made to go out on the ice. So I started skating around. Then the next thing I knew where my blades at cut into the ice there was trail of fire!"
"Wow, that's amazing. I know many wizards who go through life trying to cast a spell of Fire and Ice!" Severus said in an impressed voice.
"Wow, my feet were just cold. I thought it was funny. But it didn't last long. Then another thing, I figured out that I could levitate. So when I'd go to a double axel I'd just start going up, but the whole time I made it look like a jump. I thought that was cool."
"Double axel?" he asked puzzled.
"Oh, its a certain jump an ice skater does. It's hard to explain with out showing you."
"You'll have to show me."
"When?"
"No time better then the present!"
"Now?" Delia asked confused.
"Why not?"
"I don't have skates or an ice rink handy."
"Just show me here. With out the ice and skates."
"Oh that I can do." She put down the potion bottles she had in her hand and shoved a table out of the way. "Lets just say I'm on skates ok?" Then she took a deep breath launched herself in the, spun twice and landed. "That is a double axel."
"Amazing!" Snape said taken back. "When did you learn it? How long did it take you to learn it? You do it on ice?"
"I learned at about five or maybe six," Delia said. "But you start with finishing position and a single axel. It only took my a matter of a few days, because I can levitate. My coach who was Russian was amazed. And yes, it's called ice-skating. Ice IS involved."
"You'll have to show me this sometime. I know of a pond I can freeze over. You just need skates-"
"I'll have some as soon as my bags arrive. I have a pair with me, just in case. I don't know why I do. Anyway, how are we going to sneak out of here?" Then she thought a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin sneaking out! Sounds like a bad joke.
"I'll just tell Dumbledore you are my apprentice and we need to go to Diagon Alley to collect a few things."
"Ok. I'm your apprentice," she said confused. "Now, I'll have to be so it won't be lying."
"Yes and so no one else figures it out I'll give you detention a few times a week. You have such a great gift for potions. I don't want to see it go to waste."
"Stop joking," Delia said
"I'm not."
"You just want to see ice-skating!" she fired back at Snape.
"Miss Wheelrite I do not joke about such matters"
"Well, ok. I guess, since I don't have anything better to do with my time..." Delia allowed her voice to trail off.
"You could go back to arranging the cupboard," Snape hinted.
"Yes, I could."
"Why don't you?"
"Ok. Sounds good to me," she said cheerily. Then she started thinking. Why am I his apprentice? Not some Slytherin. I mean, I am OK at potions just not the worlds greatest. But I know better the to argue with Snape. If I didn't agree he'd make my life worse. Man, its cold down here. Would it hurt to put on a fire? Jeez, its so cold in here I could have a meat locker! WHY DID I FORGET MY SWEATER!
"Miss Wheelrite?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know I can hear your teeth clattering from all the way over here?"
"N-Nooo-oooo," she replied through clattering teeth.
"I can. Why didn't you dress for down here?" Snape asked.
"Here we go again," she said with a sigh. "My bags haven't arrived. Everything I know and need its here. Shall I continue?"
"No, I don't want to waste valuable time hearing what you have already told me earlier today. I do have an extra robe that I can lend to you."
"Thanks. But I thought you weren't nice to people."
"You are right. But if I hear that clatter any more I will go completely out of my mind. " he said getting up and going over to his office. He ducked in and returned with a black robe. "Here, put this on," he handed Delia the robe.
"Thanks," Delia said putting it on.
The robe was only 4 times too big. The arms were to long but a foot. The robe dragged on the ground behind her. Its smelled of a dungeon mixed with the smell of a man's cologne. Delia recognized this cologne as the original 4711.
"Professor," Delia said holding out her arm, "it seems as your robe as eaten my arm."
"Stop being silly Miss Wheelrite, roll up the sleeves and get back to what you are supposed to be doing. "
With a sigh she rolled up the sleeves. Then to shorten the robe she gathered it up in a ball on one side and tied a knot in it.
Snape saw this going on and said, "You better watch it, and you'll start a fashion trend. "
"Oh yes, it's the HOTTEST thing for this fall. Ladies it's a must have for all your party needs! And of course it's in a black. A wonderfully stunning color if I may say so! All the men in the room will be drooling over you! This robe was designed by Delia's Dungeon Fashions and is available at the three Dungeon stores in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Salem! Also available at respectable boutiques in London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Berlin, New York, Los Angles and Dallas!
When Delia said this Snape was laughing. She had never heard anyone laugh this before, especially at her jokes.
"Delia you forgot one thing! That should be Delia and Severus's Dungeon Fashions!"
"Oh, so its Delia now and Delia and Severus's Fashions! I swear everybody wants to be a designer!"
"The robe is after all mine," he said in his silky smooth voice
"Yes, true. But who says what ever the robe does or becomes in the fashion world makes it yours?"
"Also whatever is in the robe is mine," he added.
"Oh oh oh! So you are saying these peppermints are yours," she said taking them out of her jeans pocket. "And this pen?"
"Yes."
"Oh and what about this five-dollar bill? This broken charm bracelet? This wand?"
"Yes, yes and yes. Let me see that wand."
"Why?"
"Because, I've never seen an American wand before. "
"Ok," she said handing it to him.
"Interesting what's it made out of?" Snape asked in a curious voice
"It is 12.75 inches, swishy, Californian redwood, with a hair from a buffalo's tail for the core, and a mussel shell handle. Made by the Three Salem Sisters makers of fine American wands since 1676. "
"Wow. I have never seen an American wand before."
"Now you have," Delia said.
"Yes this wand seems to suit you too. It's an odd character. But since it was in my robe, it now belongs to me along with all of this other things," he said gathering up the mints, the bracelet, five-dollar bill and pen and putting them in a desk drawer.
"Hey, wait-a-minute that's my wand! All the rest of the stuff is useless. I'll fight you for my wand. Put up you dukes! Fight like man!"
"I don't fight ladies in that manner, Delia."
"Then how do you fight?" she asked.
"Not that way, Delia."
"Ok then what do I have to do to get my wand back?"
"You find away."
"Fine. I will," she said smugly.
She extended her finger and called out "Accio Wand!" All of a sudden the drawer of Snape's desk burst open and the wand came flying into her hand. She pointed her wand. "Accio five dollars! Accio mints! Accio bracelet! Accio pen!" Before Snape could say anything Delia had all of her belongings back.
"That, Miss Wheelrite, was something else." Snape said taken back.
"Yep. I figured one day being able to summon without my wand would come in handy," she said with a smirk. She was rejoicing that she had won over Snape. Snape on the other hand wouldn't be defeated so easily.
"Ah Miss Wheelrite you forgot one thing!"
"What did I forget?" she asked innocently.
"Remember how I said whatever is in the robe is mine," he said walking over to her.
"Vaguely, you still aren't getting the mints! They are mine. I stole them from a candy dish fair and square! You can have the pen. That came from a hotel in Kansas City. Get your own five bucks! You have a job. I also think you already have a wand. So ya can't have mine!"
"I don't want your belongings," he said in his silky voice only softer. The only reason Delia heard him was he was standing so close. Her heart began to pound.
"Then what do you want?" she asked absentmindedly. "I don't think you want my shirt. It's too small. It's not your style, anyway. Other then that I don't own much. If I gave you the five bucks would you go away?"
He reached out and took a strand of her hair. "I could use a strand of your hair in a new wand."
"If you are looking for a veela, you'll have to look elsewhere. I'm not a veela. I'm just...I don't have a word to describe myself."
"I can think of a few," he said still fondling Delia's brown tress.
Delia was getting nervous. Her heart was pounding harder. She was notorious for rambling under pressure. She spoke fast. "Let's see, annoying, bratty, comedian, headache maker, Kansan, weirdo-"
"Radiant, charming, fascinating, alluring, appealing, easy going, mesmerizing and attractive."
Delia gave him a crossed eyed look and in her Kansas drawl she said, "You, Professor Snape are-" before she could say anymore Snape and pulled her into an embrace. Then before Delia could say anymore Snape had put his mouth on hers and started kissing Delia. The kiss was gentle one, filed with passion. Snape stopped the kiss. Delia laid her head on Snape's chest, putting her arms around his waist, hugging him. Snape was running his fingers through her long brown hair. All of a sudden Delia pushed Snape away and said irately. "You can't do that!"
"I just did," Snape said bluntly.
"Well you aren't supposed to!" Delia said in an angry tone. "Do you realize I am your student? I am almost eighteen and you are like...twice my age! And you are my teacher. I'm your student! What would Dumbledore say? My parents for Pete's Sake if the found out!
"Are you finished ranting, Delia?"
"Oh course not! I'm a woman. Did you know that?"
"Yes you are a woman; actually you are a young lady."
These words made Delia think out loud "I guess I'm not a child am I? I mean in a few days time I'll be able to vote in the US and I do have a driver's license. So I guess that makes me an adult, wouldn't you say so?"
"Yes."
"So-so that would make me responsible for my own actions. But I'm still a student here. "
"Yes, that you are," he agreed.
"Soooooo I'm in a state of inbetweeness. Oh great, just where I need to be. It's only the first day back and already my life is far too complicated!" Delia walked over to the wall took a look at it and considered banging her head against it.
"What are you doing?" Snape asked.
"Thinking about banging my head against the wall."
"You'll get a headache."
"So? I can deal with that, easily," she said in a curt voice.
"Don't cause more problems to yourself Delia," he said walking over to her and putting his hand on her shoulder. Delia leaned forward onto the wall her forehead just resting lightly on the wall and let out a long sigh. The dungeon wall felt cool against her brow. She closed her eyes, ignoring Snape's hand resting gently on her shoulder. Then Delia felt her shoulders being massaged tenderly. She began to relax.
"I want to tell you a few things," Snape said continuing the massage. "You don't have to look at me, you can keep your head against the wall." She didn't reply or move. "Delia you are a striking young lady, you are smart, funny, and intelligent. When I first saw you at eleven, I thought you were a mousy kid. Now you are this gorgeous, radiant woman. I noticed that at the end of last term. And when you came back all I could do was hold it in. I wanted to run onto the platform at Hogsmeade and tell you that. But I better knew I hadn't."
Delia turned around and looked at Snape. She was lost. "So you are saying-"
"Shhhh shhh let me finish. Then when I didn't see you come in with your classmates into the feast, I thought the worst. Then I later saw you walk in and sit with your friends. I over heard what happened. Then you said that remark about my class."
"I'm surprised you didn't chew me out for that"
"Well, I didn't. I thought you had enough for the day," Snape said.
"Oh my goodness, you are actually human. Wow."
"I just want to say to you, young lady, have given me a new outlook on life. You have taught an old cold man how to feel. I wasn't planning on telling you. But I changed my mind."
"What made you change your mind?" Delia asked.
"I overheard you talking to Josh and Nicola in the hall last night about that if you liked somebody that you should tell them no matter what. That person has a right to know. I thought about it last night and you don't know how true you are."
Delia was silent. She didn't know what to think. Snape gently started embracing her. "Delia I expect this to be shock. You didn't expect the first person to have feelings for you to be a greasy haired git, who is twice your age, sallow skinned, with no apparent life outside his dungeon, yellow teeth and no sympathy towards anyone."
"Yes your right. I expected it to be...well I don't know the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team?" Thomas Fint has secretly been Delia's crush for two years.
Snape laughed. Delia had never heard him laugh. "I played Quidditch!"
"I know. Your name is in the trophy hall."
"You play Quidditch very well. I think you are the best Chaser Hufflepuff has ever seen. "
"Get out!" she cried, "You are only supposed to like Slytherin. Hufflepuff is the butt of all your jokes. In your opinion Hufflepuffs are weak."
"Ahh, so that's what I say. What I say isn't always what I think." he said stroking her hair.
"Then what do you think?"
"Many things you would never expect, my dear."
"Like what?" she said sleepily
"Another time. I'll walk you back to your dormitory. It's after mid night."
"Opps, I'm out past curfew. Shouldn't you be yanking points away?" Delia asked.
"Not this time. I kept you out. I'll take the blame."
"I am shocked at you Professor Snape!"
"Please, when we are alone, call me Severus."
"All right Profes...Severus." His name didn't quite roll off Delia's tongue.
The walk to Hufflepuff Dormitory was a quiet one. Severus was holding Delia's hand. He was thinking how soft and warm it was in his rough callused hand. When they finally reached the dorm he let go of her hand and pulled her into an embrace and kissed her gently.
"Goodnight, Delia"
"Goodnight, Severus." she said softly and turned and walked into the portrait hole after she said the password.
*****Mentioned in this story are alternative life styles. I know some people have problems with this. If you are one, read no further*****
You will see later on. I really don't think children should be reading it. You know your age. Well, enjoy.
All of the know folk mentioned in the Harry Potter series belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely borrowed the folk and the places to create a form of entertainment.
Ch 1--Detentions
Delia Wheelrite was happy she could attend Hogwarts. She was a bit odd. She was an American from Kansas. She was from a small town called Derby that is a suburb of Wichita. Her parents were normal. Her mom worked, as a hair stylist and her father owned a small restaurant on the east side of Wichita. Delia was an only child. She had long brown hair that came down to her waist, blue grey eyes and wasn't exactly tall.
It was the start of her last year at Hogwarts. In a few days time she would be eighteen, voting age in the US. Most students of Hogwarts graduated at the age of seventeen, but since she was technically eleven when she entered, but turned twelve a few days later, it was in her best interest to be held back. She spent her summer learning how to drive. Once she had her license she was driving all over. All of her friends knew she was going to school overseas. They all just thought it was a posh boarding school.
Delia walked into the Great Hall and in the middle of Sorting Ceremony. The reason she was late was her flight had been canceled out of Kansas City, which caused her to miss her connecting flight to London in Houston. In the meantime, her luggage was lost. Because of all this mess, she missed the Hogwarts Express. In the end the Ministry of Magic had met her at Gatwick and personally escorted her to Hogwarts. She was tired and upset. The last thing she wanted to her was the Slytherins making a mockery out of her because she was in Muggle Clothing. She took a seat at the Hufflepuff table in between her friends Josh and Nicola.
"You look a fright!" exclaimed Nicola.
"I'll say," chimed Josh.
"Ha!" Delia said. "You don't the half of it! My flight was canceled in Kansas City. I was supposed to arrive a few days ago. I haven't even got my school supplies! I haven't been to Diagon Alley!"
"Oh my god!" Nicola gasped. "What will you do?"
"Well," Delia said with a tired voice, "The Ministry will see to it that I have supplies by tomorrow afternoon and hopefully my luggage will turn up with my robes and whatnot in them. Well at least I do have a change of clothes here in my backpack along with my wand!"
"Does Dumbledore know what happened?" asked Josh.
"Yep he told me to do the best I can until I have everything," Delia replied with along sigh. "Anyway when do we have Potions?"
"Potions with Ravenclaw is tomorrow afternoon," Josh replied
"Oh great I have to PUT UP WITH SNAPE ON THE FIRST DAY BACK! Oh man! Is there any Mercy in this world? This is a bad omen!"
"Ahhhh Miss Wheelrite," a silky voice from behind said. "I will be pleased to see you on the first day back." And then slinked away.
"Great," Delia said with a grumble. "Just GREAT!"
***
Delia walked into Snape's class. She waited until the last possible minuet. Her luggage hadn't arrived overnight, much to her dismay. So she was wearing the same Jeans she had on last night and a T-Shirt that said CUTIE. She was forced to carry a spiral notebook with Lisa Frank Unicorns with multicolored pages. Her pen was a pink fuzzy feathered pen that wrote on pink bumble gum sparkly ink. Delia had been able to get away with ballpoint pens after several accidents with inkbottles. But she was asked to carry plain old boring Bics. She wrote all of her assignments on parchment, but used a notebook for notes. But on this particular day she had to be carrying her journal of all her personal thoughts. She knew she was in for it today with Snape. She could feel it.
Snape walked in with a flourish. He saw Delia at the back and a small evil smile crossed his face. "Ahhh," he said with a twinge of cynicism in his voice. "Seems Miss Wheelrite had dressed for the occasion. Why you have to go boasting to everyone that you are a cutie when you are not. I'll never know or care to know. I hope you don't plan on using that writing interment in my class."
Delia said in a matter of fact voice. "Well to tell the truth, I do on planning using these items for my educational purposes today." Delia was not in the mood to deal with Snape. She was still tired from her long trip back to Hogwarts.
"Well Miss Wheelrite it seems that you have just lost fifteen points from Hufflepuff for your remark. I can't believe the Headmaster is letting you get away with this."
By now Delia was ready to explode. "Well, at the moment I have no choice concerning my situation do I?"
"Fifteen more points from Hufflepuff! If I hear anymore I will take away thirty! Now I am going to arrange the seating for today. Since Miss Wheelrite is ready for the occasion you may have front row center!"
Delia got up with a screech of her chair, gave Snape a sneer and took her seat upfront. The rest of the class Snape spent every moment picking on Delia. By the end of class she had lost Hufflepuff sixty-five points. Her fellow housemates felt sorry for her. But she remained quite the entire time. She kept thinking one more remark and I am going to go POSTAL!
The bell rang and Delia couldn't wait to break free. When she heard a "Miss Wheelrite you will stay after the bell."
Super she thought just what I need more mocking and ridicule from Snape.
Once everyone had filed out Delia stood there in silence biting her lip. Waiting for Snape to speak. He finally did.
"Miss Wheelrite in lieu of disturbing my class today with your manner and dress you will be serving detention down here tonight. Please report by seven and have appropriate attire, if not detention will be assigned to you again."
"Dude!" she exclaimed in her Midwestern accent. "It wasn't my fault! I can't control what happens at an airport and who or what cancels flights!"
"Detention tomorrow night for that remark," Snape said starkly. "And anyway a witch of your sort shouldn't be traveling by whatever those contraptions are that brought you here."
"Airplanes," she snapped. "What the hell am I supposed to do? Apparate here from Kansas?'
"Ten points from Hufflepuff and detention once again."
"I'm underage. I can't have a license." She was going to let him have it. "Besides the Witches and Wizards Bureau in the US wouldn't let me apparate from Kansas anyway."
"Five points from Hufflepuff and detention all next of the week".
Delia just stormed out. She didn't even bother to go find Josh and Nicola.
***
Later that evening, before dinner, Nicola and Josh joined Delia in the Common room sympathizing with her.
"Well," said Delia in atired voice. "At least I got my school supplies, thanks to the Ministry! That's a bright note on this day. You know I must have set a new record. I deserve an award. Its should be `person who has received detention in the shortest amount of time from Snape.' Its should be put in the trophy room and polished on the 9^th of every month'
"Oh Dee!" remarked Nicola. "I don't that that's funny."
"I do," Josh chimed. "I think it's hilarious."
"I'm glad somebody does," agreed Delia. "Anyway I'm going down to have one last good meal before my instant death in the dungeon. You all are requested to join me."
Delia left dinner and started walking towards Snape's classroom. She was cursing herself for forgetting to grab the sweater she had in her dorm room. Her luggage still hadn't arrived. Oh well, she thought. I'll just have to make do with what I have.
She arrived in Snape's classroom. She looked around. No Snape. She checked her watch. Seven P.M. Hmm, she thought with wonder. Where is he? He's never late. You know I bet he'd never be late for his own wedding. Then she started laughing.
"Miss Wheelrite, I don't know what you find so amusing."
Delia immediately stopped laughing. Turned around looked at Snape and busted up again.
"Well..." Snape said icily
"Oh," she replied quickly. "Just this joke my dad told me before I left home. You know the one about the Priest and the Rabbi?"
"No I don't," he said in a curt voice. "And I really don't care. Muggle humour I'll never understand it."
"You aren't missing much."
"Yes that I see but we must attended to the manner at hand, your detentions. "
"Ahh yes," she said in a mocking tone. "Shall I start licking the floor clean with my tongue and then we can hang me upside down by my big toenails!"
"Miss Wheelrite!" He snapped.
"Sorry," she said softly in an apologetic tone.
"I think your job tonight will be to organize the student supply cupboard. I have had shipments come in the summer and have not tended to them. I suggest you get started."
Delia nodded and walked over to cupboard. She opened it up. From the looks of it the cupboard needed organized. Delia thought with a sigh looks like Aunt Molly's basement with stuff strewn about all over, boxes open and half empty. Only this mess was that of the Potions Master. It contained cauldrons of various sizes, potion bottles and basic ingredients for potions.
Delia started by dragging out the boxes and opening them up. She found that it was more bottles the anything. She went back in counted the boxes that contained bottles. There were a total of nine. Then she counted the boxes that had jars- there. Total number of cauldrons,-seventeen. Total number of boxes with ingredients-twenty. Plus there were all the odd bits out that were already on the shelves.
"Professor Snape, I have a few questions," Delia asked.
"Yes," he replied looking up from his book.
"Do you want everything out on the shelves? Or would you like some stuff on shelves and some in boxes. Do you want your bottles and ingredients arranged in any order?"
"Miss Wheelrite I thought you only had a few questions to ask me," he said with a smirk.
"Guess what, I lied."
"So you did. Well as far as I am concerned just organize the best you can with what space you have. I'll admit it's not a big enough cupboard."
"I'll say so and you want to know something?"
"Not really, but I bet you plan on telling me anyway."
"Well since you don't want to know. I won't," she proceeded to go back to work. So did Snape only he was reading a book and writing out notes.
"All right Miss Wheelrite, what was it you were going to tell me?"
"So now Professor Snape wants to know. I was just going to say that back home we call cupboard like this one here, closets, and cupboards are something you put your dishes in."
"Interesting fact," he said in bored voice.
"I think so too. Cultural differences. Sounds like a paper."
"Yes it does. Good, you can become an Anthropologist, specializing in Linguistics and you can let me know."
She was aghast, "You know about Anthropology?"
"Yes, it's the only good thing Muggles have come up with. I think one way our world can learn about Muggles is look at Anthropology. It would answer a lot of questions."
"Yes it would. I can tell you anything you want to know about Muggles. I did grow up in the muggle world."
"Maybe some other time. But there is one thing I'd like to know."
"Sure, what is it?" she asked.
"How were you discovered as a witch?"
"That's a funny story," she said with a laugh. "I was about eight. My parents wanted me to become an ice skater. So I practiced a lot on cold mornings in a freezing ice rink. One day my coach yelled at me to get on that ice. I didn't want to go. My feet were cold. But I was made to go out on the ice. So I started skating around. Then the next thing I knew where my blades at cut into the ice there was trail of fire!"
"Wow, that's amazing. I know many wizards who go through life trying to cast a spell of Fire and Ice!" Severus said in an impressed voice.
"Wow, my feet were just cold. I thought it was funny. But it didn't last long. Then another thing, I figured out that I could levitate. So when I'd go to a double axel I'd just start going up, but the whole time I made it look like a jump. I thought that was cool."
"Double axel?" he asked puzzled.
"Oh, its a certain jump an ice skater does. It's hard to explain with out showing you."
"You'll have to show me."
"When?"
"No time better then the present!"
"Now?" Delia asked confused.
"Why not?"
"I don't have skates or an ice rink handy."
"Just show me here. With out the ice and skates."
"Oh that I can do." She put down the potion bottles she had in her hand and shoved a table out of the way. "Lets just say I'm on skates ok?" Then she took a deep breath launched herself in the, spun twice and landed. "That is a double axel."
"Amazing!" Snape said taken back. "When did you learn it? How long did it take you to learn it? You do it on ice?"
"I learned at about five or maybe six," Delia said. "But you start with finishing position and a single axel. It only took my a matter of a few days, because I can levitate. My coach who was Russian was amazed. And yes, it's called ice-skating. Ice IS involved."
"You'll have to show me this sometime. I know of a pond I can freeze over. You just need skates-"
"I'll have some as soon as my bags arrive. I have a pair with me, just in case. I don't know why I do. Anyway, how are we going to sneak out of here?" Then she thought a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin sneaking out! Sounds like a bad joke.
"I'll just tell Dumbledore you are my apprentice and we need to go to Diagon Alley to collect a few things."
"Ok. I'm your apprentice," she said confused. "Now, I'll have to be so it won't be lying."
"Yes and so no one else figures it out I'll give you detention a few times a week. You have such a great gift for potions. I don't want to see it go to waste."
"Stop joking," Delia said
"I'm not."
"You just want to see ice-skating!" she fired back at Snape.
"Miss Wheelrite I do not joke about such matters"
"Well, ok. I guess, since I don't have anything better to do with my time..." Delia allowed her voice to trail off.
"You could go back to arranging the cupboard," Snape hinted.
"Yes, I could."
"Why don't you?"
"Ok. Sounds good to me," she said cheerily. Then she started thinking. Why am I his apprentice? Not some Slytherin. I mean, I am OK at potions just not the worlds greatest. But I know better the to argue with Snape. If I didn't agree he'd make my life worse. Man, its cold down here. Would it hurt to put on a fire? Jeez, its so cold in here I could have a meat locker! WHY DID I FORGET MY SWEATER!
"Miss Wheelrite?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know I can hear your teeth clattering from all the way over here?"
"N-Nooo-oooo," she replied through clattering teeth.
"I can. Why didn't you dress for down here?" Snape asked.
"Here we go again," she said with a sigh. "My bags haven't arrived. Everything I know and need its here. Shall I continue?"
"No, I don't want to waste valuable time hearing what you have already told me earlier today. I do have an extra robe that I can lend to you."
"Thanks. But I thought you weren't nice to people."
"You are right. But if I hear that clatter any more I will go completely out of my mind. " he said getting up and going over to his office. He ducked in and returned with a black robe. "Here, put this on," he handed Delia the robe.
"Thanks," Delia said putting it on.
The robe was only 4 times too big. The arms were to long but a foot. The robe dragged on the ground behind her. Its smelled of a dungeon mixed with the smell of a man's cologne. Delia recognized this cologne as the original 4711.
"Professor," Delia said holding out her arm, "it seems as your robe as eaten my arm."
"Stop being silly Miss Wheelrite, roll up the sleeves and get back to what you are supposed to be doing. "
With a sigh she rolled up the sleeves. Then to shorten the robe she gathered it up in a ball on one side and tied a knot in it.
Snape saw this going on and said, "You better watch it, and you'll start a fashion trend. "
"Oh yes, it's the HOTTEST thing for this fall. Ladies it's a must have for all your party needs! And of course it's in a black. A wonderfully stunning color if I may say so! All the men in the room will be drooling over you! This robe was designed by Delia's Dungeon Fashions and is available at the three Dungeon stores in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Salem! Also available at respectable boutiques in London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Berlin, New York, Los Angles and Dallas!
When Delia said this Snape was laughing. She had never heard anyone laugh this before, especially at her jokes.
"Delia you forgot one thing! That should be Delia and Severus's Dungeon Fashions!"
"Oh, so its Delia now and Delia and Severus's Fashions! I swear everybody wants to be a designer!"
"The robe is after all mine," he said in his silky smooth voice
"Yes, true. But who says what ever the robe does or becomes in the fashion world makes it yours?"
"Also whatever is in the robe is mine," he added.
"Oh oh oh! So you are saying these peppermints are yours," she said taking them out of her jeans pocket. "And this pen?"
"Yes."
"Oh and what about this five-dollar bill? This broken charm bracelet? This wand?"
"Yes, yes and yes. Let me see that wand."
"Why?"
"Because, I've never seen an American wand before. "
"Ok," she said handing it to him.
"Interesting what's it made out of?" Snape asked in a curious voice
"It is 12.75 inches, swishy, Californian redwood, with a hair from a buffalo's tail for the core, and a mussel shell handle. Made by the Three Salem Sisters makers of fine American wands since 1676. "
"Wow. I have never seen an American wand before."
"Now you have," Delia said.
"Yes this wand seems to suit you too. It's an odd character. But since it was in my robe, it now belongs to me along with all of this other things," he said gathering up the mints, the bracelet, five-dollar bill and pen and putting them in a desk drawer.
"Hey, wait-a-minute that's my wand! All the rest of the stuff is useless. I'll fight you for my wand. Put up you dukes! Fight like man!"
"I don't fight ladies in that manner, Delia."
"Then how do you fight?" she asked.
"Not that way, Delia."
"Ok then what do I have to do to get my wand back?"
"You find away."
"Fine. I will," she said smugly.
She extended her finger and called out "Accio Wand!" All of a sudden the drawer of Snape's desk burst open and the wand came flying into her hand. She pointed her wand. "Accio five dollars! Accio mints! Accio bracelet! Accio pen!" Before Snape could say anything Delia had all of her belongings back.
"That, Miss Wheelrite, was something else." Snape said taken back.
"Yep. I figured one day being able to summon without my wand would come in handy," she said with a smirk. She was rejoicing that she had won over Snape. Snape on the other hand wouldn't be defeated so easily.
"Ah Miss Wheelrite you forgot one thing!"
"What did I forget?" she asked innocently.
"Remember how I said whatever is in the robe is mine," he said walking over to her.
"Vaguely, you still aren't getting the mints! They are mine. I stole them from a candy dish fair and square! You can have the pen. That came from a hotel in Kansas City. Get your own five bucks! You have a job. I also think you already have a wand. So ya can't have mine!"
"I don't want your belongings," he said in his silky voice only softer. The only reason Delia heard him was he was standing so close. Her heart began to pound.
"Then what do you want?" she asked absentmindedly. "I don't think you want my shirt. It's too small. It's not your style, anyway. Other then that I don't own much. If I gave you the five bucks would you go away?"
He reached out and took a strand of her hair. "I could use a strand of your hair in a new wand."
"If you are looking for a veela, you'll have to look elsewhere. I'm not a veela. I'm just...I don't have a word to describe myself."
"I can think of a few," he said still fondling Delia's brown tress.
Delia was getting nervous. Her heart was pounding harder. She was notorious for rambling under pressure. She spoke fast. "Let's see, annoying, bratty, comedian, headache maker, Kansan, weirdo-"
"Radiant, charming, fascinating, alluring, appealing, easy going, mesmerizing and attractive."
Delia gave him a crossed eyed look and in her Kansas drawl she said, "You, Professor Snape are-" before she could say anymore Snape and pulled her into an embrace. Then before Delia could say anymore Snape had put his mouth on hers and started kissing Delia. The kiss was gentle one, filed with passion. Snape stopped the kiss. Delia laid her head on Snape's chest, putting her arms around his waist, hugging him. Snape was running his fingers through her long brown hair. All of a sudden Delia pushed Snape away and said irately. "You can't do that!"
"I just did," Snape said bluntly.
"Well you aren't supposed to!" Delia said in an angry tone. "Do you realize I am your student? I am almost eighteen and you are like...twice my age! And you are my teacher. I'm your student! What would Dumbledore say? My parents for Pete's Sake if the found out!
"Are you finished ranting, Delia?"
"Oh course not! I'm a woman. Did you know that?"
"Yes you are a woman; actually you are a young lady."
These words made Delia think out loud "I guess I'm not a child am I? I mean in a few days time I'll be able to vote in the US and I do have a driver's license. So I guess that makes me an adult, wouldn't you say so?"
"Yes."
"So-so that would make me responsible for my own actions. But I'm still a student here. "
"Yes, that you are," he agreed.
"Soooooo I'm in a state of inbetweeness. Oh great, just where I need to be. It's only the first day back and already my life is far too complicated!" Delia walked over to the wall took a look at it and considered banging her head against it.
"What are you doing?" Snape asked.
"Thinking about banging my head against the wall."
"You'll get a headache."
"So? I can deal with that, easily," she said in a curt voice.
"Don't cause more problems to yourself Delia," he said walking over to her and putting his hand on her shoulder. Delia leaned forward onto the wall her forehead just resting lightly on the wall and let out a long sigh. The dungeon wall felt cool against her brow. She closed her eyes, ignoring Snape's hand resting gently on her shoulder. Then Delia felt her shoulders being massaged tenderly. She began to relax.
"I want to tell you a few things," Snape said continuing the massage. "You don't have to look at me, you can keep your head against the wall." She didn't reply or move. "Delia you are a striking young lady, you are smart, funny, and intelligent. When I first saw you at eleven, I thought you were a mousy kid. Now you are this gorgeous, radiant woman. I noticed that at the end of last term. And when you came back all I could do was hold it in. I wanted to run onto the platform at Hogsmeade and tell you that. But I better knew I hadn't."
Delia turned around and looked at Snape. She was lost. "So you are saying-"
"Shhhh shhh let me finish. Then when I didn't see you come in with your classmates into the feast, I thought the worst. Then I later saw you walk in and sit with your friends. I over heard what happened. Then you said that remark about my class."
"I'm surprised you didn't chew me out for that"
"Well, I didn't. I thought you had enough for the day," Snape said.
"Oh my goodness, you are actually human. Wow."
"I just want to say to you, young lady, have given me a new outlook on life. You have taught an old cold man how to feel. I wasn't planning on telling you. But I changed my mind."
"What made you change your mind?" Delia asked.
"I overheard you talking to Josh and Nicola in the hall last night about that if you liked somebody that you should tell them no matter what. That person has a right to know. I thought about it last night and you don't know how true you are."
Delia was silent. She didn't know what to think. Snape gently started embracing her. "Delia I expect this to be shock. You didn't expect the first person to have feelings for you to be a greasy haired git, who is twice your age, sallow skinned, with no apparent life outside his dungeon, yellow teeth and no sympathy towards anyone."
"Yes your right. I expected it to be...well I don't know the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team?" Thomas Fint has secretly been Delia's crush for two years.
Snape laughed. Delia had never heard him laugh. "I played Quidditch!"
"I know. Your name is in the trophy hall."
"You play Quidditch very well. I think you are the best Chaser Hufflepuff has ever seen. "
"Get out!" she cried, "You are only supposed to like Slytherin. Hufflepuff is the butt of all your jokes. In your opinion Hufflepuffs are weak."
"Ahh, so that's what I say. What I say isn't always what I think." he said stroking her hair.
"Then what do you think?"
"Many things you would never expect, my dear."
"Like what?" she said sleepily
"Another time. I'll walk you back to your dormitory. It's after mid night."
"Opps, I'm out past curfew. Shouldn't you be yanking points away?" Delia asked.
"Not this time. I kept you out. I'll take the blame."
"I am shocked at you Professor Snape!"
"Please, when we are alone, call me Severus."
"All right Profes...Severus." His name didn't quite roll off Delia's tongue.
The walk to Hufflepuff Dormitory was a quiet one. Severus was holding Delia's hand. He was thinking how soft and warm it was in his rough callused hand. When they finally reached the dorm he let go of her hand and pulled her into an embrace and kissed her gently.
"Goodnight, Delia"
"Goodnight, Severus." she said softly and turned and walked into the portrait hole after she said the password.