A/N: Woo Hoo! No longer have to bite your nails wondering what the outcome of that cliffhanger is! Ah, and for those who remember Sevvie's dream from the last chapter. It's actually based off a dream I had a month ago. The only thing different is that it took place at my real school and it was my friend, Anna, and the Chemistry teacher, not Iphi and Binns. J

VI

Iphi sat in her room, biting her lower lip nervously. It had been three hours since potions class and still no sign of her dear friend, Severa. Iphi could not fathom what had happen. She just knew that whatever the outcome was it wasn't faring well for Sevvie.

Suddenly the dorm door opened and Severa walked in, head dead. "Oh my goodness!" Iphi jumped off the bed and got Sevvie in a big hug. "I thought they sent you to Azkaban, executed you, or at least expelled you!" Sev looked at her glumly. "Oh, they expelled you! No no no no no no!"

Severa patted Iphi on the back. "Calm down, I'm not leaving...technically."

"Technically?"

"A compromise has been made. It was rather nice how Professor Snape tried to defend me and keep me from being expelled. Anyway, here's my punishment: A week of isolation from the rest of the student body. I'll have classes after normal hours making all the teachers cranky you can imagine, and be put under Snape's direct responsibility."

Iphi looked confused. "What does that mean?"

Severa sighed. "More or less, he's my warden. He has to get me up, make sure I'm in my room and candles out by my curfew, and that I don't sneak off to see you or anyone else. With one exception."

"What's that?"

Severa grimaced. "During the week I have to see Fred Weasley and apologise."

Iphi's eyes grew wide. "You've never apologised to a Gryff in your life!"

"And it's not starting now!"

"But if you don't see him during your week, then what?"

"Expelled."

Iphi shook the blonde violently. "Idiot! Then just do it! Why throw the rest of your school year away because of your pride?"

Sev moved away from Iphi and started to pack up some of her belongings. "Look, Snape and Dumbledore said I had one hour to get back down there. I don't have time to discuss this. Look on the bright side! For one week you can go off snogging Lee Jordan without having to hear me nag about it!"

Iphi smiled. "You're right, that is a blessing." She stopped Sev for one more hug before she left for the dungeons. "See you in a week. And apologise to Fred for pity's sake!"

Sev scowled and left the dorm room.

~~~~~~~~~

With her bag slung over her shoulder, Severa for the first time begrudgingly went to meet Snape. He was standing outside the classroom, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. Without a word he turned and led her down a corridor she had never been to. They stopped in front of a rather gnarled looking wooden door. He turned and finally spoke.

"You will be woken at five a.m. every morning. A house elf will bring you breakfast. During the morning hours you are not to leave your room. If you decide to take those opportunities to sleep just be aware your lunch is scheduled at noon. If you are not awake then, you will get none. I have third period free. Then you will have your first class. At three o'clock will start your other classes. Your room should be void of any light by 10 o'clock." Severa opened her mouth to protest, but Snape held up his hand and continued, "It doesn't matter if you have homework yet, that's just too bad. Besides your teachers you are not suppose to see anyone, unless you feel up to talking to a certain Mr. Weasley."

He abruptly opened the door and Severa got her first glimpse of her virtual cell. Dark, small, one bed, no windows, a lopsided table, and a few cobwebs and molds. Severa grimaced. "Nice to see you fancied it up for me."

"This is the best you get in a half-hour. It's only a week Miss Rimmer, tough it out."

"Is that what you have to tell yourself?"

"More or less."

~~~~~~~~~~~`

Iphi sat alone at the Slytherin table, greatly grieving the loss of her best friend. She wished interhouse table sitting was allowed. She looked over at the Gryffindor table trying to catch Lee's eye. He was sitting with the Weasley twins and Iphi couldn't help but wonder if they were convincing their friend to stop seeing her. George looked up from their conversation and spotted Iphi looking their way. He nudged Fred and stood. Lee turned around and pulled on George's arm and Iphi could see his mouth form the word: "Don't".

Wanting to avoid a confrontation, Iphi stood herself and headed for the Great Hall doors. Just outside them and thinking she was free, someone tugged on her robe and forced her to stop. It was Fred and George. "So, where's your little friend?" George asked. She normally couldn't tell the two apart but the one with the bandage on his hand was obviously Fred.

"You know damn well were she's at."

"As far as we care she could be thrown in a dank hole and left there forever. We want nothing to do with her, or you," Fred piped in.

Iphi lifted an eyebrow. "Then why are you speaking to me?"

This seemed to dumbstruck the twins for a second. "Listen, you," George finally continued, "we think it would be in everybody's best interest if you stated away from Lee."

"Who are you to tell me-"

A familiar shadow passed over them. All three looked and saw Snape standing near by. "I would have thought," Snape said, approaching, "the you would have learnt your lesson in dealing with Slytherins."

Fred and George scowled. Made some threat under their breaths and sulked off. Iphi gave a grateful smile to her house head. He nodded and started off.

"Professor, wait!"

Snape stopped in his tracks and turned. "Yes, Miss Lister?"

Iphi swallowed. "I was wondering if you could tell me how Sevvie's holding up."

Snape narrowed his eyes. "She's surviving, though I doubt I will after our first private lesson in about five minutes."

Iphi smile turned cheeky. The phrase "private lesson" made her blush and eye him strangely. He finally realised his wording and the look on the girl's face. He rolled his eyes. "Miss Lister, are you and Miss Rimmer at all capable of not twisting everything I say into some sort of puerile, insinuative joke?"

Iphi thought hard about that one. She shook her head. "I don't think so, sir."

Snape sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?" he grumbled heading back to collect Severa.

Iphi watched him go, her face red from giggling. "What's so funny?" A familiar voice behind her called, causing her to jump.

"Lee! Oh, nothing, just Snape."

Lee adjusted his tie. "I never thought anyone could think of Sleazy-Snape as funny, or even attractive for that matter. You and your insane friend are definitely a rare breed."

"Not as rare as you think," Iphi quipped. "So what are you doing out here? I thought the Terrible Twosome was forbidding our relationship."

Lee scratched his dredlocked head. "Yeah, well, those two can be jerks sometimes. I mean what kind of friends would they be if they shun because they don't like my girlfriend?"

Iphi gasped. "I'm your girlfriend!?"

Lee shrugged and smiled shyly, "I guess."

Iphi practically jumped in his arms. "Ooh, that's so cool! So, Boyfriend, what's the first block you have free? We could meet in the library and have an intellectual discussion, wink wink."

Lee's brilliant, white smiles widened. "It's a date."

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Stop smiling, Rimmer."

"Why?"

"This is supposed to be a punishment, not a picnic."

Snape and Severa stood on opposite sides of a cauldron at the front of the room. He handed her the ingredients and she took them gladly. "What can I say? You and me alone in a room together, it's like a dream come true!"

"Miss Rimmer!' Snape snapped. "I am getting quite tired of your insistent flirtations. The very notion of the two of us is ridiculous. Your immature romantic ideals make me question how really intelligent you are."

Severa's face did darken. Her lips pursed as they always did when she was upset and tried to control her anger. "Most men would be flattered if a young girl was infatuated with them."

"If you haven't noticed, I'm not like must men."

Severa smiled again. "I have noticed."

Snape took a deep breath. His irritation was reaching a breaking point. "I don't want to hear another word from you for the rest of the evening, Miss Rimmer. If you decide to ignore this suggestion I will recommend your expulsion." Severa opened her mouth, but before she could protest, "I am serious Miss Rimmer. No more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severa's private lessons were far less fun and interesting. She felt the full effects of Binns monotone without an Iphigenia to pass notes too. Several times she found herself nodding off, and noticed that Binns never broke in his lecture nor looked up to see that he was losing his audience. McGonagall looked harsher than ever. Sev felt small under the older witch's watchful eye. It was no secret that the Gryffindor/Slytherin rivalry extended beyond the students. McGonagall felt that one of her own was greatly damaged and wanted the perpetrator severely punished. And Severa thought only Snape had a desire to see members of the opposing house expelled. Severa knew McGonagall was giving her more work than she gave to her regular classes.

After three days, Severa felt she was going insane. "You can never go where you already are," she told herself as she peeked out of her "cell's" door. She didn't think there were any spells to warn of her absence. Snape seemed to be relying on good faith. She chuckled to herself. "Too bad, sweet heart, guess I'm not as loyal to you as one would think, for loyalty is friends is much greater indeed." She crept out of the door, passed Snape's chambers. Making it that far she finally allowed herself to breath. She was in the clear so far.

After a couple more careful steps, she decided to make a run for it. The faster she got to the Slytherin house, the better. Rounding a corner she crashed into some one. "Bugger!" She cried out as her head hit the floor.

"Quiet!" A young male voice hissed at her.

She sat up and squinted to see the other person sneaking out at night. "Potter?!" She whispered loudly.

"I said, quiet!" You want to get us both into trouble?

Sev glared at him. "What the hell are you doing this time of the night?"

"The same could be said of you! Aren't you suppose be in a straight jacket?"

Sev stood, brushing herself off. "Okay, look, neither of us saw each other. This never happened. I don't report you, you don't tell anybody about me."

"I thought Slyths didn't make deals with Gryffs."

"If it's in their best interest and to keep their arse out of a sling, they will. Now shake on it."

"How do I know you're not hiding a knife up your sleeve or something."

Severa was getting sick of arguing with the twerp. "You wanna frisk me or something, kid?" Harry expression turned to shock and confusing. "No? Then let me pass, and you can go off and have another little adventure or find out some great secret of Hogwarts or whatever it is you do that keeps stealing the House cup away from Slytherin."

"Fine." Severa was finally alone again. So much for getting there quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Iphi could feel herself being shook violently. "Oh, Lee not now." She mumbled in her sleep.

"Oh, that is so gross," said a voice that was definitely not her boyfriend's.

Iphi sat up with a start, and stared at the girl sitting on the edge of her bed. "Sev! What are doing here?"

Sev huffed. "I make all this trouble to come and see you, and this is the kind of greeting I get!"

Iphi's eyes were wide with panic. "Sev, what if your caught up here? What if Snape checks your room and you're missing? You're arse would be gone faster than you can say expulsion!"

Severa forced Iphi over to make herself more comfortable. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard all this expulsion bull shit before. I'm too clever to let it happen!"

"Stop being so arrogant! It will and see where it will get you! No where!"

"Shhh! Keep your voice down! You're the one who's all concerned about getting caught!"

"Oh my God! I can get expelled for harbouring a fugitive!"

Severa groaned and got off the bed. She crossed the room and plucked a picture off her Shrine to Alan Rickman. She was deprived of her favourite's presence way to long. "So, what's with you and Mr. Jordan? You haven't become one of those disgusting couples making out in the dark corners of Library are you?" Iphi's grin betrayed the answer. "Ah, smeg! This is intolerable! I leave alone for three days and you become the Gryffindor bicycle."

Iphi stood and confronted her friend. "Hey, I resent that! And I leave you alone for five minutes and you stab some one!"

Sev glanced out the window and saw the first sign of dawn. "Shit, I better get going,"

"Wait! You just got here!" If there was one thing Severa loved about Iphigenia, it was her quick mood-swings.

"Don't worry. It's only a few more days more!"

"But you have to apologise to Fred by then!"

Severa's parting words before sweeping out of the dorm room were, "We'll see about that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snape was ready to knock on Severa's door when it swung open and hit him in the nose. Out rushed Severa Rimmer, a bag slung over her back. "Thanks for the room and board, Prof.," She said as she walked past him.

Snape casually hooked a finger through one of her necklaces as she went by. After a couple more steps it stopped her in her tracks, slightly choking her. "I think, Miss Rimmer, there is still one matter we have to take care of."

She didn't budge from where she was stopped. "Oh, Professor, it will be so degrading!"

"Time to prioritize, Miss Rimmer. What's more important: You're pride or finishing school so you will succeed in life?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer!"

Snape smirked. "Good." He tugged on his little leash for her forcing her to follow him. He led her to McGonagall's classroom. There sat the woman herself and Fred Weasely.

Snape let go of the necklace, but grabbed her shoulders, planting her to the floor and forcing her to face Fred. "Get this over and done with, and make all our lives a little easier," he growled in her ear.

Fred stood as well, hands behind his back, expectant. Severa lifted her chin, though Fred was taller than her she wanted to create the illusion of her being above him. "I apologise for stabbing your hand, it was wrong of me," she said stiffly and not without a little twitch in her eyes.

Fred, looking defiant at first said, "You are forgiven." Then he smiled at her and winked. Severa wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Thank you Miss Rimmer, Mr. Weasely," McGonagall said.

"Report to your dorm room, Miss Rimmer," was Snape's final order.

"With pleasure, sir!" She darted off, especially since Fred was wriggling his eyebrows at her before she turned to leave and she felt very nauseated.