Chapter Three

Deska ran at full tilt to the potions classroom. she couldn't be late! Not after yesterdays
inccednet. Deska knew that she had escaped with a realtivly mild reaction from Snape..she
knew it could have been alot worse. she had been up late finishing her potions work..she
wanted to give Snape a good impression. Just as the clock struck to begin class Deska slid
onto her stool. Breathless she sat, waiting for Snape to appear. He did, with his usual gloomy
self survaying the class like a vulture. Brandishing his quill and markbook he made the rounds,
checking for work. many groans were heard as snape marked x after x in his book. As he neared
Deska she fought her beating heart. She had dfinished the work...so there was no problem.
But as he neared her terror grew.

Miss Nolan? he asked questioningly

Right here, sir! said Deska nervously

Snape took the scroll with an icy hand. Deska's heart was in her throat as she watched his dark
eyes scan the work she had done. It took an eternity for snape to flip the page...as Deska
braced herself for the cruel words that would follow....

The heavy wooden door burst open with a loud crash. a small platinum blond, almost silver,
head peeked around the doorframe..and saluting the class with a "peace" sign she said
sweetly..."CHEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSUUUUU!"

The happy look on her face turned to one of acute embarassment as she realized there was a
class in the room...then the perky student servaied the room until her eyes alighted upon
Deska, who was trying to make herslef as small as possible.

Deska...hey...it's meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, over here...over more...yeah...me, right here!
she waved excitedly.

Deska groaned inwardly..her chance to apease the vulture of Hogwarts was totally up in
smkoe..thanks to her newfound cousin, Serena.

"Oh, God! It's Serenity!" Muttered Snape under his breath. Deska looked up at him sharply.
it was one thing to pick on Serena herself...it was another to have a teacher do it!

Miss Nolan, said snape tiredly, Will you please see if our univmited guest has something
of value to say to you...she seems rather perterbed.

Deska and snape looked toward the door, along with the rest of the class, to see Serena
hoping excited from one foot to the other. Before Deska could get off her stool, let
alone get to the door, Serena piped up.

Wait a minute, I'm not uninvited! I'm here for detention..'member? 'Member? the last word
had sunk to a questioning tone. Serena lowered her head, embarassed.

Snape rolled his eyes heavenward. "As you can see, I am conducting a class. Come back in one
hour..and I will happily permit you to serve your detention."

"Righto!" Serena said cheerily as she searched in her pckets for something. The music from
her ehadphone was blasting into the classroom, she seem oblivious the the desterbance she
was causing.

"Miss Serenity, if I am not mistaken, muggle "music" makers are not permitted during class
hours" snape finished with a growl.

"Oh, hehehe, I forgot!" Serena said sheepishly...and promptly turned on her heel and fled.
Snape waited for the attention of the clas to return. Deska had forgotten about the homework
she had handed him, and was now cruelly rmeinded of it.

"Class, Miss Nolan has given me the assigment that was due. Please note she is the only one
to do so. I would like to remind you all that if you have not spent the time on your work
to make it presentable...DO NOT WASTE MY TIME BY PASSING IT IN!" Deska sank on her stool..
she had screwed up again! "However" he continued, "Miss Nolan has done an exceptional job,
perfect marks for her..and 10 points to Slytherin!"

Deska sat stunned. Perfect marks? Ten points for Slytherin? She had actually earned her
house points.

Tha-a-ank you, sir", she stuttered as snape returned the scroll to her. Her knees had gone
weak...Deska thanked the powers that be for the stool she was sititng on.

"Do not thank me, you did the work, well done." said Snape as he prceeded to the enxt student.
Copmliments from him were as rare as break in's at Gringotts....and much more valubale. the
whole class was looking at her with grudging admiration. the class finihsed with without incedent and as the other students hurried from the room Deska waited for her cousin to return. She didn't have to wait long.

Serena burst promptly into the room, slauting with her usual peace sign and shouting
"Negi Ramen!"
Snape eyed her darkly and said softly, "No, thank you, I'm not hungry....and you have work
to do."
Serena's ahppy smile drooped. "Start copying this scroll..when you are finished" Snape grinned
evily without grinning, "There are four more over there!" he fininshed, pointing to a becnh
with four think scrolls piled high.

"Can...Ca I listen to my music, onegai sensei ?"
"NO!" was the kirt reply, "And speak english.
Serena couldn't resit. She shouted loudly, "HAI!"

Deska watched this exchange, baffled. Her cousin was obsessed with Japanese...everything!
Months away from computers and television had done nothing to improve her anime adopted
tendencies. Deska watched as Serena started to copy the first huge scroll. she didn't realize
she had "zoned out" until an icy voice interuptted her thoughts.

"Don't you have somewhere to be? Or would you like to stay and assist your cousin?" said Snape
"Ahh, no, sir!" replyed Deska and hurried from the class. She remebered she had a letter to
finish for her parents, so she headed to the common room. She finihsed the letter without
incedent, and was walking to the owlery when she met love and trouble at the same time.

As she rounded a cormer she came upon three students in the middle of an argument. Oliver
Wood, the Captian of the Gryffindor Quiddtich team, was arguing with Malfoy and the Slytherin
team Captian, Marcus Flint. As far as Deska could tell, Malfoy and Flint were trying to
threaten Oliver into allowing some sort of illegal thing. Deska openly admitted she was not
very knowledgable about Quidditch, she didn't like her own team...and actually had a bit of
a crush on Oliver. Deska started towards them, in hopes of defending Oliver, when Malfoy
spotted her.

"Look there's Deska, she may look Slytherin on the outside but I hear she's Gryffindor on
the inside" remarked Malfoy snidely.

Deska focused the most piercing look upon Malfoy, " I'd rather be Slytherin than a Daddy's boy."

Malfoy looked stunned. People rarily spoke back to him, least of all girls.

"Go along and play...Malfoy...I here there's ice cream outside...free scoops for children..now..
run along...Daddy will wonder where you've runoff to." said DEska sweetly as she guided Oliver
away from the two Slytherins. Oliver looked as shocked as the other boys as he watched them
slink away.

"How on earth did you manage that?" he asked incredulouly

"We're in the same house....I could tell Snape on them..." said Deska smiling, "What did they
want you to do?"

"Ack...they wanted me to cheat..as usual. So, you're Slytheirn....I woudna have believed it!"
he answered

"Thank you.... Soooo..ahhhh..when's the next game?" Deska asked..her nerves where making her
slow.

"Day after tomorrow..you'll be there, right? I woudna ask you to cheer for the rival team..but
you dinna look lik you'd be sad if Slytheirn lost." he smiled

Oh, God, he has a beautiful smile! Deska thought

"Oh, right..ah..sure...I'm wear a Gryffindor scarf....good luck!" she ended lamely. She was
just about to speak again when a lovely young woman rounded the other corner.

"Oliver...what have you been doing? We'll be late." she said sweetly as she guided him away...
him on one arm abd a picnic basket on the other.

"oh...ah...bye..." said Deska softly as Oliver was led away. Deska stood still as she felt her
heart shatter into little pieces and fall from her chest. she turned and began to wander
aimlessly. She rounded the corner just as Serena popped out from behind a tapestrie scaring
her half to death, she had her two index fingers behind her head like rabbit ears and chanting
"Puu puu puu puu puu puu."
Deska, annoyed at being startled and furious at anyone in good humour bit back, "What in hell
did you do that for?" Serena's bunny ears drooped
"Puu?"
Deska swallowed the insult she had on the tip of her tongue. she couldn't be mad at Serena, she
was only trying to cheer her up. She turned abruptly and headed to the owlery, where she had
been going before the disastor with Oliver. Serena called after her "oi Deska, matte! wait!"
Deska slowed her pace, Serena sighed "by wait I mean stop!"
"I'm not in the mood for stopping...c'mon I have to post this letter before my parents start
harrassing yours!" Serena sprinted to catch up and walked with Deska in silence.....for about
three seconds. Serena cleared her throat "Did you see Snape today, ohyeahyoumustofbecauseyouwere
inhisclassearlierwhenIwasthere..
"Can't you ever be serious? "
"I can be serious when I want to" Serena said looking down ashamed "anyway" she perked back up
"helooksreallyreallygoodtodayhemustbedoingsomethingdifferentwithhishairorsomethingreallygood"
she sighed "noticehowI'mtheonlystudenthecallsbytheirfirstnameevenifitismyfullnamebutIwouldn't
mindifheuseditinadiferenttone" she sighed again staring off dreamily into space.

"And what tone would that be?" asked Deska, "A soft...romantic tone, perhaps? Face it, it's
never gonna happen..he's just too much of a creep to realize Love is staring him in the face!"

Serena looked downcast and bounced her index fingers together as she looked down at them.
"You didn't have to burst my bubble like that!" she whimpered, "You're so mean!" and she ran off.
Stopping a few feet away she hollered back..."I hope you slip on a banana peel and die!"

Deska frowned after Serena and headed to the Potions class. Snape had been so displeased with
the class he had ordered them all back to repeat the lesson. She was the only on with a perfect
mark, but snape made no expections. As she neared the dungeon she heard an odd sound, laughter.
not that laughter within itself was odd, but coming from Snape's potions class it was certain
not natural. Deska approached the door cautiously. Suspecting somone had found a Bogart, she
took deep breaths, she had a few perticularily nasty fears that wouldn't be good to have known
by the entire class. Enteirng slowly Deska saw all the students huddled in a circle. A pang
flashed through her chest...they were probably tormenting some animal, damn them!
One of the boys spotted her and, pointing, yelled, "here she is....here she is!!!!!!!!"
Deska was immidiatly suspicious and walk toward them slowly.
the circle opened and enfolded her..an expectant silence filled the air. As Deska reaxched the
center she saw one of the popular girls holding a lovely leatherbound book. She gasped as she
realized what it was...her poetry book!