Rosalind had never been happier than she was at Hogwarts. Not only did her students seem to like her (especially the boys), but the other professors apparently did as well. She had already promised Hagrid and Flitwick dances at the Halloween ball, and even Dumbledore seemed to enjoy dropping in on her periodically. McGonagall was her mentor; Sprout, Hooch and Trelawney were her eccentric but lovable friends. In fact, Rosalind noticed that only one professor seemed to want nothing to do with her: Severus Snape. She wasn't sure whether she was offended by or grateful for the fact that Snape avoided her like the plague. Rosalind had come to enjoy talking to him-more like insulting him-whenever they DID meet. It got under his skin when he couldn't unnerve her, and Rosalind relished his discomfort. The students had come to refer to their arguments as "wit wars," and loved to witness their verbal sparring. Even other professors enjoyed the spectacle- especially at staff meetings.

The students were a reward to Rosalind in themselves. After spending four years as an auror, she had been ready to slow down for quite some time. Besides, who would be more appropriate for a position teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? She'd defended herself multiple times-and had even dabbled in the Dark Arts herself in her youth. Perhaps Snape would have been good for the position, but parents would definitely have a problem with a former Death Eater teaching that type of subject matter to their children. As she pondered this, Rosalind accidentally rounded a corner without looking, crashing into (of all people!) Professor Snape.

"Watch where you're going, woman!" he snarled, brushing past her.

"What, Snape, is it that time of the month again? You could have at least asked me if I was hurt..."

"For your information, I am not particularly concerned with your health, Professor Drake."

"I guess your time of the month is a constant condition for you..."

"Only when you're here, I assure you." Snape fixed her with his most malicious gaze and tried with all his will to make her leave him alone.

"I never knew I had such an effect on people!" Rosalind cried melodramatically.

"Yes, you do have quite an effect on me. If you'll excuse me I need to puke my guts out."

"Make sure to hold your hair out of the way! I can't imagine what would happen if you had to wash it..." She gasped mockingly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I didn't know you cared, Professor," he growled and stalked away, almost bumping into an invisible Hermione.

"God, she's beautiful," he whispered to himself as he moved away, and Hermione barely stifled a giggle. Sneaking behind Professor Drake, she reappeared and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Really, Professor Drake," she smiled when Rosalind jumped, frightened. "One would think that if you could handle Snape nothing could scare you!"

"Oh, be quiet!" laughed Rosalind. "Have you been reading any good books lately?"

"I finished the last Shakespeare play I had left. I've now read all of his works! My last one was my favorite, too-so funny!"

"Which one was it?"

"It was Much Ado About Nothing," Hermione beamed. "My favorite parts are the ones with Beatrice and Benedick going after each other. It's absolutely ingenious!"

"Yes, yes, Beatrice always was my own favorite." Rosalind suddenly got a distant look in her eyes, and Hermione took the opportunity to test the waters.

"So, Professor Drake... what's up with you and Snape?" she asked, innocently. Rosalind looked confused, then horrified, then excited, and then like she didn't know what to feel. Hermione laughed. "The look on your face, Professor! It's priceless! Don't worry, I think he likes you, too!"

"Wait, I don't like him! He's a bastard!" Rosalind looked angry for a moment. "Besides, he does NOT like me! How could he? Hey... do you really think he likes me?" she whispered. Hermione's heart leapt-she'd taken the bait!

"I'll see you later, Professor," Hermione said as she went back to the common room to find Ginny, breaking into a run the moment no one was around. Rosalind looked after her student, a bewildered look on her face.

~~~~ Hermione dashed into the common room to find Ginny, beaming. Practically dragging Ginny to her room, Hermione immediately slammed the door, cast a silencing charm, and began to talk quickly and excitedly.

"Ginny, we were right! I think Professor Drake has a crush on Snape! And I know he thinks she's beautiful-he whispered that to himself as he passed me in the hall! And you've seen the way he looks at her when he thinks no one is noticing!"

"They'll never get together though! Who in their right mind would date Snape? And how could they get him to confess his feelings, even if he had them?"

"Yeah, but maybe they can acknowledge their feelings with a little... help!" Ginny frowned at this, suspicious.

"What kind of help?" Hermione grinned mischievously. "Our help!"

"Oh no! How are we going to help them?"

"How to Slytherins get what they want?"

"Through any means necessary. Everyone knows that. But what does it have to do with-OH! I GET IT! You have a plan already, don't you?"

"Well... yeah. It's kind of manipulative and dishonest, but I'm absolutely positive that it will work! It's not like it'll hurt anybody. Snape is never going to know what hit him!" Ginny shook her head. Hermione was full of ideas these days. "Besides," she added, "Even if they don't become friends, it'll be damn funny trying to get them that way."

When the mail came the next day, both Rosalind and Snape received very mysterious black envelopes, but because they weren't in the habit of examining each other's mail, the similarity went unnoticed. Snape opened his letters in a leisurely fashion, saving the black one for last. Almost gently, he opened the note and read for a moment. Soon he was scowling, obviously annoyed. The letter read:

SS (Although BS would be more appropriate for you),

Let's settle this over a game of Wizard's Chess. Your tongue is fast, but is your brain? If I win, I choose my own prize (within reason, of course). If you win, you choose yours-but don't get your hopes up. Meet me in your classroom after dinner-mine is packed with students at that time, and we both know all about your reaction to students.

Good luck! You're going to need it. --- RD

Rosalind opened her mail a little later, and had received a similar challenge. Soon she and Snape were glaring at each other viciously across the table, and Rosalind mouthed to him, "you're on." The professors just looked at each other, confused. No one noticed the two Gryffindor girls looking triumphant. Their plan had worked! They would, of course, be silent spectators that night. When it came to entertainment value, this chess game would eclipse all of Harry's and Ron's put together!