Chapter 3

Author's Note:
As I said in Chapter 2, where the rewrite begins, I didn't like the way this was going so, I have redone it and am redoing it. Not enough time, mystery, intrigue, etc. So, here goes the new version.....

One morning a few days later, Chloe limped into the Great Hall for breakfast. Severus immediately noticed this but, given their recent exchange, didn't want to approach her. She sat down and Minerva asked what had happened.

"I fell and banged up my knee," she explained.

"You fell? How?"

"I uh..." she had done a simple 3 turn and somehow went down on her right knee...but she couldn't say that... "I was running and I guess there was a root sticking up and I fell."

"Well you need to go to the hospital wing and have it checked out."

Chloe did so and it was determined she had fractured her kneecap. Way worse than she had thought. They couldn't figure out how a fall on turf could have done that. "I guess I'm just a clutz," Chloe told them. Her classes were taken care of for that day, and she would have to stay in the hospital wing.

With the help of some Skele-Grow, Chloe's knee was all healed by the next morning. She was released and hurried to breakfast, hoping she wouldn't miss a chance to look at the man who haunted her dreams. She was late as she was afraid she would be. Minerva was happy to see her and sat with her as she downed her cottage cheese.

"So you're good as new?" Minerva asked. Chloe nodded.

"What's wrong? You seem upset about something."

"Oh it's nothing. I just have a lot to do today and I'm afraid of being late for my first class--"

"Don't worry, your first class is covered."

"Oh? By whom?"

"Severus is taking it over; he took care of your classes yesterday and we figured you might miss your first class and he doesn't have a class until later today."

"Well that was nice of him..." Chloe said, worried that he might find her skates and gear in her cabinet. Minerva noticed noticed a look of concern on the younger woman's face but didn't say anything.

Chloe returned to her quarters to shower, change and pick up her class supplies, then went to her class room. Her first class had been out for about 15 minutes and her second wasn't due in for another half hour. She walked in and found Severus seated at her desk, writing with his quill. She cleared her throat and he looked up at her.

"Good morning, Miss Kelly. Feeling a bit better?" he asked.

"Yes--" she said, hoping his next question wouldn't be "what are those things in your cabinet?" "How did it go -- the class I mean?" she stammered. Severus wondered why she seemed so nervous all of a sudden.

"It went well. Here's your attendance sheet," he said, standing up, offering her chair to her. She sat down and he leaned over to talk to her about the attendance sheet, she suddenly became aware of how close he was to her and could feel the heat from his body. He had a nice spicy, pleasant scent, and oh why was she thinking about things like this--particularly about him?. Maybe the skele-grow didn't agree with her and was making her feel irrationallly. Then she suddenly became aware of what he was saying. "So I turned 10 of them into toads and set three desks on fire." She blinked and looked at him.

"Did you hear a word I said?" he asked her, his voice dripping with annoyance.

"Um...you turned someone into toads and set fires?" she asked.

"That was to get your attention. Before that."

Chloe shrugged, and flushed crimson.

"I thought not."

"I'm sorry, I guess maybe the stuff they gave me for my knee has made me a little hazy..." she said. It had to be. He rose to his full height. He didn't know what was wrong with her--he could see tiny beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Are you ill, Miss Kelly?"

"I hope not," she said, uneasily. "I've never had to take that stuff to grow bones...I swear maybe I'm allergic to it. Anyway, thank you for teaching my class this morning--and yesterday. I'll be happy to return the favor should the need arise. I'm not that great with potions, but, maybe if you gave me a few pointers, I could manage. Oh, look at the time. Good day," she finally said.

"Good day, Miss Kelly." He turned, and quickly walked out of the room.

Chloe was still sweating and felt almost dizzy. She wondered if she ought to go back to the hospital wing. She pulled her water bottle out of the cabinet, and was happy to see that her skating things were still just the way she had left them. She drank the contents of her water bottle and felt a bit better as her students began filtering in.

She got through her day and then went to her quarters before dinner. Looking in the mirror, she thought about her appearance. She never wore makeup, but she did have some for special occasions. She opened up her drawer and began applying it. Just a little bit to enhance her features. She looked in the mirror, satisfied, then changed into a pair of black jeans she thought she'd never fit into again and a jade green silk tunic which matched her eyes.

She hurried into the Great Hall and made her entrance. She immediately spotted Snape, who was talking to Dumbledore. She kept her eyes glued on him and didn't notice the wet spot on the floor and down she went. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her. Several of the older students rushed over to help her up.

"Thank you, it's okay. That's two falls in two days!" she said, laughing. But she wanted to disapparate right then and there--but it was against the rules. She didn't dare look at Severus who was trying to catch her eye. He hoped she hadn't reinjured her knee! He couldn't help but notice how striking she looked. Chloe sat down next to Minerva and sighed.

"I can't believe I fell. Right in front of everyone." she said.

"You didn't hurt yourself again, did you?"

"Only my pride. How embarassing!"

Minerva noticed Chloe's attire and that she was wearing makeup and wondered about that. Perhaps it was because she was feeling better about herself since she had lost weight. A goblet of wine appeared in front of Chloe and she took a sip.

"Miss Kelly, I hope you didn't injur yourself." Chloe coughed, choking on her wine. Minerva patted her back, and Chloe turned and looked up at Severus, who was looking down at her, his black eyes gazing into her own green ones. She began feeling dizzy as she had that morning.

"No, I'm okay. Just a klutz." she stammered, "an embarassed klutz!"

"Just as long as you are unhurt..."

"Yes. But thank you for being concerned. I don't want to have to take that stuff again!"

She looked at him and felt rattled for some reason, and it had grown very hot in the room. He gave her the tiniest hint of a smile and returned to his seat.

Minerva looked at Chloe, wondering if she was ill.

"Are you allright?" she asked.

"I don't know. I think that Skele-grow has a bad effect on me. It happened this morning when I was first released too, and just now. I feel real warm, and swimmy."

"Swimmy?"

"Kind of dizzy. Hope I can sk--- run tonight," she said, catching herself.

"Well you take it easy and take care of yourself. You know, it is the flu season, and you should see Severus for the potion for that. We hardly ever have anyone come down with the flu because of it."

"I didn't know that."

"Well, go see him as soon as you can. He's made up enough for the entire student body and staff. I guess we forgot to tell you about that." Chloe made arrangements and went to his dungeon after dinner. She hesitated at the door then knocked.

"Come in..."

She pushed the door open and found him sitting at his desk writing furiously with his quill. He looked up at her.

"Miss Kelly. I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well," he said rising. He opened up a cabinet and took out a large bottle with turquoise liquid in it. It resembled window cleaner. He poured a small portion in something that resembled a shot glass, and handed it to her.

She looked into the glass, and sniffed.

"Drink it down, it'll take care of it and keep it away."

She drank down the foul tasting stuff and made a face.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Warm, dizzy, having weird thoughts."

"Weird thoughts?"

"Yes. Weird thoughts. I really think it's the Skele-grow...flu doesn't make weird thoughts!"

"Perhaps it's something else."

"I don't know. Well, thank you."

"No thanks necessary; it's my job. Is it working yet?"

It really wasn't; she was still very warm and felt a little dizzy, but didn't want to insult him.

"Yes, I feel better now...thanks, good evening."

She turned quickly and left before he could say good evening, leaving the glass on one of the desks. He had never heard of Skele-grow affecting anyone with what she described as weird thoughts. Of course, she was definitely unique, he thought, dismissing the situation.

Chloe was able to return to the ice that night and skated as if nothing had happened to her knee. The warm, dizzy feeling was gone also, so maybe it had been the flu.

Severus was in his dungeon and glanced at the clock. It was nearly midnight, and he knew that that crazy American liked to run at this hour, or claim she had. He didn't like the thought of something happening to one of them--crazy or not, so he made his way out, to see if he might see her and look out for her. She seemed oblivious to the possible outcome of her late night routine.

He made his way out and heard a door close. She was coming out of her classroom, and he saw her walking away, towards her quarters. Rather than another confrontation, he just watched her, to make sure she made it safely to the castle again.

He would have to make a point of being out a little earlier next time.