Chapter Two

A monotonous sound slowly penetrated Deska's fuzzy head. She didn't want to wake up, to open
her eyes, but she suspected she had to. She felt as though she were climbing steps...massive
steps. With a unintelligible sound coming from her throat, Deska opened her eyes. To find
herself under the penetrating stare of her most hated professor, Severus Snape. Another sound
escaped her throat and Deska closed her eyes again, hoping the vision to which she awoken
was just a very very bad dream. Deska fought to open her eyes again, this time to find
Professor Snape standing with Headmaster Dumbledore, speaking quietly, but animatedly.
He kept pointing and gesturing towards her, and Deska suspected Snape was trying to have
her expelled. Well, I would expel myself too! She thought. It's pointless having a student
in your house that loses you lots of points, which Deska suspected her nightly adventure
had done. She grinned to herself...pointless to have a student that loses points..hehehe.
Her internal humor was short lived. Snape and Dumbledore had approached the bed, and neither
looked pleased.
Explain yourself! was all Snape barked out.
Deska sighed and quietly told the whole story.
Unacceptable! barked Snape when she had finished. Detention! For two weeks!
Now, professor...chided Dumbledore softly...I think a bit of leniency is called for. After all
Deska had, until now, an exemplary record. I think a sufficient punishment would be to assist
in the cleaning of the Potions dungeon during the next Quidditch Match..what do you think?
Dumbledore addressed Deska, not Snape.
She nodded stiffly. Snape jerked his head in what approximated a nod of agreement and stalked
out of the room, robes billowing behind him. Dumbledore said something about resting and left,
but Deska didn't notice, she was fast asleep.
Deska woke later...utterly confused as to where she was. She found only a slight stiffness
remained in her body..but her mind was something else. Slowly she remembered the events of
the night before..not good. She was told the spell to stop her fall had been cast so quickly
that it had sent her body into a state of flux. That's why she was blacked out for so long.
Deska nodded automatically to the advice about resting for awhile..and collected her things.
She had classes to make up for. She deliberately went to Snape's class last. Hoping a day of
torturing the other students had put him in a better mood she knocked softly on the open door
to the potions class.
The door is open. Knocking is unnecessary. Snape said coldly as he continued to work at one of
the benches without looking up.
Deska couldn't help but rile against the comment and replied, I was taught it is polite to
knock when entering the room of an adult. It's a sign of respect and gives the elder the
courtesy of not being startled.
Who taught you? Snape asked, finally looking up.
My parents. Deska replied softly, she missed them.
Ahh...did they? Snape smirked and continued to work.
Deska stared @ the professor, speechless. He had just openly insulted her parents..the greasy
haired git!
My parents taught me manners, and sadly, I must use them upon everyone....even those
undeserving few who have none! Deska bit out, furious.
Tell me, do all Canadian youth imply insults in their elders, or do I have the fortune
of knowing the only one? Snape said softly, dangerously.
My nationality has nothing to do with it! Deska yelled, slightly louder then she had intended.
I respect those who respect me..and you don't! You don't use my name, you insult my parents,
belittle my intelligence and treat your job like a chore! If you hate teaching so much then
why don't you get another job? Surely a potions master with your education would have the sense
to choose a fulfilling profession! Deska stopped, surprised at herself. She had intended to
keep her cool, stay calm and not let him infuriate her, but she had failed. And now she was in
trouble. Well, she thought, I'm in this deep I might as well go all the way.
You know what professor? I came to get the work I missed...to at least finish this class with a
passing mark. But now I don't care. Do you want to know why I was out last night? Because I
was lonely! No one wants to be my friend. The Slytherin attitude you promote makes everyone
dislike me because I'm not bloodthirsty enough for them. I don't speak to my room mates...but
you wouldn't know that, now would you? Because you never ask about your House. You make sure
we're fed and clothed and alive and that's it. You don't care about the students, you just
don't care. As long as we can win points for you to feel bigger than everyone else and win
praise from the staff you're happy. We're your little point slaves, that's all we are to you!
You're just a power tripping bully, making yourself feel bigger by picking on students!
Deska finished her rant, slightly breathless. Now she was in trouble, big trouble. And she
didn't care! An elation filled her, she had stood up to the teacher and spoken her mind,
and she was no longer afraid! She wasn't afraid of this bully anymore!
Snape had not moved during her tirade. He had sat completely still, watching her. The moment
that passed between Deska's finishing and Snape's chest moving to take a breath to speak was
an eternity. Finally he focused his eyes more intently on her and asked softly, Are you
finished?
Yes, Professor. said Deska confidently. Whatever he did to her now didn't matter, at least,
she hoped it didn't. Snape continued to stare at her, nothing moving but the long white
fingers of his left hand, which rested on the bench. They taped softly, first the little and
ring finger at almost the same time, then the middle, and finally the index finger. Over
and over again. He has such artistic hands. Mused a part of Deska's brain. No! I will not
fall for that..absolutely not! Deska sternly admonished herself.
How old are you? Asked Snape, almost conversationally.
Seventeen, sir. She replied.
Snape mused for a few moments more, before moving like lightning from his stool at the bench
to his desk.
I will take your criticisms under advisement. You may go. He stated, settling himself behind
his desk. Deska stood, not entirely sure what to do. She still hadn't gotten the missed work,
but she didn't want to ignite the situation. Snape could loose his temper at any moment.
Well, what do you want? I told you to leave! He growled, looking up.
The work I missed, sir? Deska asked questioningly.
Over there, he pointed to the end of the bench where he had been working, in the green book.
Deska cautiously opened the green book to find parchment sheets with the laboratory work
written on them. Taking one, she tucked it among her armload of papers and books and walked
calmly to the door. Every fiber in her body was screaming for her to run away, very fast,
but she would not give him the satisfaction. As her foot crossed the threshold the icy voice
addressed her a last time.
Deska, said Snape in a voice that indicated it was not a question, I don't appreciate being
dragged from my bed in the middle of the night to search the grounds of Hogwarts for restless
students. If you feel the unstoppable urge to wander because you are distressed, please do
me the courtesy of at least coming to speak with me. As your House leader I would rather solve
problems from the warmth of inside Hogwarts, than deal with their possibly disastrous results
in the middle of the cold night.
Deska stood, unsure. Was he genuinely offering to help her, or was he mocking her? When the
obsidian head did not lift to offer an explanation Deska walked quickly out the door and began
to run. She did not stop until she had reached the sunlit corridors of upper Hogwarts.
Heart pounding, Deska tried to organize her work, first by subject, and then by priority. She
couldn't! Her mind was spinning with questions. Had he meant it? Did he really want to help
her? Or, was he just being selfish and annoyed about having to get out of bed in the middle
of the night? Oh, God! That man is so confusing! and so damned attractive! No, he wasn't
attractive, he was sexy! He oozed sex appeal like a panther. Right, Deska smiled to herself,
a stalking black panther sliding among the tall grasses of Africa, searching with those glinting
jet eyes for prey. Deska stood, transfixed for a moment in her daydreams. Loud voices brought
her out of her revery. As the other girls entered the room Deska tried to hide the bright red
blush that scalded her cheeks. She needn't have bothered. The other girls looked past her as
if she were a piece of furniture. After they left Deska finished arranging her books and papers.
She didn't want to work. Glancing at the work she spied a research project she had to start.
Thinking she would enjoy getting lost in the library she grabbed her messenger style canvas bag,
from her father, and stuffed the books and some extra parchment inside. Checking to see that
her wand was still in its proper place against her left forearm, and grabbing a pen..she always
used pen when she could, she headed to library.
Deska stayed until suppertime, and then headed to the evening meal with the rest of the students.
As usual she sat alone, near the end closest to the main doors exiting the hall. She ate
quietly, sneaking glances toward the head table. Snape was there, looking like his usual stormy
self, and Deska was again struck by doubt and confusion. She ate quickly and returned to the
Slytherin wing. She had so much bottled up inside, she had to write. Deska searched through
her bag in the empty bedroom, with no results. She couldn't find her blank poetry book! She had
a few of them around, but she attempted to write in them one at a time. She released her stress
through writing. Poetry, stories and other writing let her express her feelings, get them out.
But she couldn't find the book! Damn! she though,. Well, it's just my luck I can't find it. She
decided to go to the tower anyway, without the book. The cool air would clear her head just as
well. Deska encountered no problems going to the tower, and nothing bared her way in returning to
the Slytherin wing. She crawled into bed without a sound. Closing her eyes she sent an earnest
prayer heavenward.
Please God, let me survive this, please