A/N: Come on lets keep those votes coming! Also, please read my story Cocytus, I think y'all enjoy it. Its in my classic dark brooding fashion. *winks* And a last bit of shameless advertising: I've begun writing the sequel to "The Coven House" its called "A Treasure Never Yours." and it chronciles the relationship between Snape and Kaiya. So without further adieu- on with the story!

Potions was double blocked again for Gryffindors this year. But at least it wasn't with Slytherin but with Hufflepuff. Harry felt a pang of unease when he watched the Hufflepuffs file into the dungeon before him. Hermione took his arm and smiled at him softly. "Come on, Ron's already in there- don't want Snape to take off points first thing do you?"

"Why not? He usually does." Harry joked. He smiled back as she groaned and forced him. He laughed and looked up at the teacher's desk. "That's not Snape." He exclaimed.

"Very perceptive Mr. Potter." The woman teacher from last night said. She was sitting in Snape's seat, looking just as dangerous as he would have. "You're right, I'm not your usual Potions Master." She rose and walked towards the tables. "I'm his replacement for an undisclosed amount of time. My name is Kaiya Snape and I'm sure you clever Gryffindors will pretty soon figure out I'm his daughter." She smiled for the first time and it seemed to light up her face. Her face registered a look of admiration and guilt. "Clever Gryffindors." She exclaimed as if they had just stumbled across the answer.

The class chuckled and it echoed in the room. Kaiya remarked the classroom didn't seem accustomed to laughter. "Alright boyos, everyone up!" She stood and walked towards the door. "Professor Lupin wants you guys out there about now...everyone to the main yard. You should see Lupin's class already out there."

"Professor..." Pavati trailed off.

"Snape." Kaiya said softly. "You will all address me as Professor Snape but hopefully without the same loathing his name incurred."

"Professor Snape, why are we going to help Lupin's class?"

Kaiya's face darkened for a moment. "Yes, I suppose you all should know. Because we decided to connect the two classes, a new danger has arisen recently and the weapon of choice for this danger is poison. I'm going to teach you his brands and how to cure them while Lupin is going to teach you some basic counter spells." She smirked. "But first were are going learn how to collect spider venom."

A few shivers ran down various spines but Kaiya laughed. "Don't worry hopefully they spiders won't be too angry."

The fall sun was lovely but the wind in the air added a crisp chill. Two large spiders, as big as small elephants, lied inert on the ground. Gold, glittering ropes were cris-crossed over their mid-sections as Kaiya and Remus taught the children how to ease the poison from the spider's huge jaws. Remus liked watching Kaiya as she worked with the students. She seemed to have a natural skill with them, even Ron who was terrified of spiders seemed to be enjoying her lesson. Or, as Remus noted, maybe he just liked the way Kaiya guided his hands with hers.

Remus wondered if those hands were soft or callused from years of hard work. He noticed her fingernails were painted with old red polished that looked like if it had been gnawed off. He painted an image in his head of her in bed. She had her hair pulled away from her narrow face to reveal those deep pools that were her eyes. He imagined her nibbling absent-mindedly on a nail as she became engrossed with the book she was reading. Then his mind eye drifted down her body, to the silky nightgown she wore...

A startled yelp broke off Remus' daydream as he looked up just in time to see one of the spider's break it's tether. The students cried out and backed away as he ran to join Kaiya who was trying to calm the beast down. The spider would have none of it though, he flung a great leg up in the air and sent it aiming at Kaiya like an arrow.

The Potions Mistress leap out of the way but not before the spider's leg tore into her back. Remus jumped forward eager to help Kaiya. His wand was out and on his lips were the killing curse but before his voice would obey his brain he heard Dumbledore's soothing voice.

The Headmaster was rubbing the underside of the spider as he would a dog. Dumbledore was smiling and whispering to the spider in a gentle voice. He glanced up at Remus and grinned. "I suppose Kaiya eased the dosage of the sleeping powder correct?"

"Yes, Headmaster I did." said Kaiya rubbing her bleeding back. She looked shaken but without serious injury. Her pride looked fatally wounded though. "I was concerned about the spider's well-being. I promised Hagrid and Aragog that the yearling wouldn't be hurt."

"Nor should it be." Dumbledore agreed. "However it is better the spider take a extended nap then one of my students be harmed." There was no mistaking the rebuke in his voice. He was being gentle but Remus saw Kaiya tense and set her jaw.

"I understand Headmaster."

"Severus would not have made such a mistake." Dumbledore added under his breath. Remus saw Kaiya's cheeks redden. "Remus, why don't you take Professor Snape to the hospital wing- Hagrid and I will finish up here."

"I know the way." Kaiya muttered. She threw off her torn robe and stalked towards the castle. Dumbledore motioned for him to follow her which Remus reluctantly did.

He had to run to catch up. "Professor! Professor Snape! Kaiya!"

Kaiya stopped and turned. "Alchemy."

"What?"

"My name. Call me Alchemy."

"Alright Alchemy." His eyes trailed down to her bloodied tunic. "Are you hurt bad?"

"Only my feelings." She rubbed her forehead. "I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm an Auror not a teacher! I don't know the first thing about teaching!"

"Don't worry, neither did Severus."

She laughed. "It's not funny Remus." She whispered then looked up with scared eyes. "That's another thing...I mean how am I suppose to compete with him? Dumbledore is pressing on me to be him but I could never have his skill. Not in a million years could I ever have the knowledge he has. I only carry his name, I don't have anymore insights into how he thinks then you do. I haven't a clue how he plans or how to fight him. Albus is so certain I can do it he hasn't even asked me if I thought I could."

"It's because you don't have a choice." She looked at him curiously. "Alchemy," Remus began. "Albus is dying."

She took a step back. "How...how long?"

"This year, maybe next. Only a few know- Minerva, me, you" He paused. "And Severus."

"If he's told Voldemort..."

"I know." Remus grimaced. He helped her up the stairs to the hospital wing. "That's why he's pushing you so hard. He's hoping you can take your father's place as a spy."

Kaiya looked down at her left forearm, where the Dark Mark had been burned into her skin last summer against her will. She and her fiancee had both been members of the Coven and last summer when Voldemort had came to power; they both had been called back to their Master. But she had been hidden from Voldemort by Severus.

William Choice Blade, her fiancee, now played the role of mole within Voldemort's ranks. He bided his time, relying on Severus to protect his anonymity. She hadn't seen Choice in months and now, with Severus' recent betrayal, she wasn't even sure if her lover was still alive.

She covered her mark with her hand and looked up. "I'm not sure, I'm strong enough."

"Sure you are." Remus said, sitting besides her. He fought the urge to take her into his arms and wondered at the same time why he felt that way. Alchemy was a child. "You're a Snape."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, nuzzling her head into his chest. "I'll have to trust you'll protect me then." She whispered.

Remus buried his nose into her hair and inhaled her scent. She slid her hands into his. "No," he mumbled, caressing her soft tender hands.. "I won't let anything hurt you."

"I know why Professor Kaiya is here." Susan Bones said over the chatter.

Dumbledore had asked the children to bottle and label the venom as he, Hagrid, and Harry escorted the spiders back to the Forest. Ron had brought up the topic of Snape's replacement. Lavender Brown had said she thought Kaiya was smarter then Severus and he was probably fired. Neville wanted to believe that or that Severus had been caught doing something and promptly banished to Azkaban. Hermione thought Severus was just taking a sabbatical.

"I know why Professor Snape is gone." She said, her eyes cold. Susan looked ten years older then she had last year. Some said it was because Cedric had been in her house, others because she was a timid, easily frightened. No one knew about what the girl with hair the color of a new dawn had saw one night. Little Day had inched over to Ron and Hermione. "He joined You-Know-Who." She whispered to them.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so..."

"I know so," Susan exclaimed. "I was there when that new danger Professor Kaiya talked about emerged. He attacked Hogsmeade a few weeks ago. That's why Dumbledore cancelled the visits to town until Christmas. He's scared. He's scared because Snape joined the Death Eaters."

Ron was listening with excitement. He had always known Snape was cold and dark. Last year the truth about Snape's past had come out. He had been there when Snape flung his arm, emblazoned with the Dark Mark, for Minister Fudge to see. He had heard the words Snape had hissed and saw the fire and contempt for Fudge in the dark man's voice.

Hermione was shaking her head and muttering to herself it wasn't true. She wanted to believe that Snape had redeemed himself. She was a romantic, wanting to see the good in man- even in him. She leaned a little closer to Ron, wanting to feel safe, long after Susan had gathered her things and retreated with her friends back into the castle. "She's lying...right?"

Ron shrugged. "Come on, I'll walk you to class."

"We need to tell Harry, he'll know for certain." She whispered.

He turned back and studied the forbidden forest where Harry was at. He knew Hermione would tell him and then be at ease. Of course, he thought bitterly, why shouldn't she be at ease? Harry Potter, the wonder boy would be on the case. After all, he always saved the day. "Sure he will." Ron muttered. "Sure he will."