**All Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling. ** **A/N - I would like to apologize for a mistake I made and noticed after I already loaded it. In chapter 7, Athena states it is the twentieth century, I meant to say the twenty-first century. Please excuse this mistake I accidentally made. Thank-you! **
Chapter 8 - Faith
As Severus steered the broom towards Hogwarts, Athena dared to not open her eyes but see sometimes would. The group flew high above the rain clouds that were pouring over England.
As the approached England, Severus being to make the broom descend. Athena almost screamed. "What's the problem? You're going to make me lose control of the broom with you don't calm down!"
"I'm sorry, I'm just…I'm terrified of flying."
Severus wrapped his arm tighter around her waist, "I won't let go of you, got it? Now close your eyes." Then suddenly he pulled the broom into a steep downward descend. Athena held her breath tight, but when a few seconds they were hovering about 30 feet above the roof of Hogwarts.
"How the hell did you get us to descend that quickly?" she asked.
"I have my ways." He then slowly made the broom land on the ground, never letting go of Athena's waist. "Now feel better that your feet are on the ground?"
"Much," she simply replied as she stared at the man holding on to her, "Are you okay though?"
"I'm fine." He suddenly realized he was still holding onto Athena and quickly let go. "Let's head up to the castle." She followed behind his quick strides.
*~*~*~*~*
Once inside the castle, the group headed towards Dumbledore's office. Cornelius Fudge came up to Athena and introduced himself, "Hello Miss, how are you this evening?"
"Quite exhausted from that trip," she stated.
"Oh, so you are the American professor here. Teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, am I right."
"Yes, sadly I am teaching that," she said as she petted the puppy in her arms.
"Sadly? It is a great honor to be teaching here! You should be happy that you got the great job for being an American."
Athena bit her tongue, not wanting to lash out at this brain-less twit, but she didn't bite hard enough. "Pardon me Mr. Fudge, but do you consider yourself to be an open-minded man? Fair and just to all people?"
"Yes I do," he stated proudly.
"Really? Then why do you have such a biased view on Americans as most of your damn citizens of this wizarding world? I am as capable of doing any kind of job as the next witch or wizard. And yes I sadly accepted this job, and Dumbledore knows. I didn't want to be a damn professor grading essays and teaching children, I wanted to be an Auror. And your damn Auror department probably saw that I was an American on my resume and through it out the damn window!"
"Ms… what's your last name again?"
"I don't have time for this," she quickly brushed past Mr. Fudge and caught up with Severus, who was waiting for the group in Dumbledore's office.
"Athena!" said Dumbledore, "Good to see you again."
"Likewise Professor. Professor, may I ask that we talk later? A certain Minister is hear and I wish not to associate with a stubborn jackass."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Of course."
Athena headed out of Dumbledore's office; Severus nodded to Professor Dumbledore and quickly followed Athena. He approached behind her and tapped on her shoulder. She quickly spun around and saw Severus. "I thought you were staying in Dumbledore's office."
"I didn't want to see that stubborn jackass either." Athena laughed. "What happened?"
"Oh the idiot had that same biased view on American witches and wizards as most damn British due."
"Will you be all right?"
"You actually care?" she asked, suddenly noticing that was the wrong thing to say. "Sorry, yes I'll be all right. I'm a big girl remember?"
"Your temper seems to get away with you,"
"So does your. I guess we are more alike then anyone would've guessed." He nodded. "Uh, Severus, might you show me to my quarters? I forgot the way."
"Sure," and showed her the way to her quarters.
*~*~*~*~*
Once she arrived at her quarters, Severus quickly left. She watched him leave with a quizzical look on her face. There was something about that man; he challenged her. She turned around to see Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff sitting there with smiles on their faces.
"Oh no," muttered Athena to herself.
"I see a romance brewing, don't you Helga?" asked Rowena.
"Who would have thought that the lovely American professor with find love in a dark mysterious Slytherin," sighed Helga.
"Are you insulting Slytherins, again?" questioned Salazar
"Tulips!" shouted Athena as she quickly ran into her quarters. She shook her head in disgust; surely she wouldn't be falling in love with Severus Snape. No, she wasn't falling for that insufferable, opinionated, sarcastic, man. She sat down on her sofa and noticed that there already was a roaring fire contained in her fireplace. "Dumbledore must of informed the house elves we were returning." She closed her eyes and listened to the crackling of the burning wood.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Athena sighed and went to greet whoever was there. She opened the door to see Remus and Sirius there. "Hello Athena," said Remus.
"Hello Remus, Hello Sirius, you want to come in?"
Remus came in but Sirius stood in front of Athena, "How are you this evening Mademoiselle?"
"I'm fine Sirius, why don't you come in?" Sirius smiled at her and walked in.
"So how was the interrogation?" Remus questioned.
"It was all right, they just asked how I received the letter and if I had any ties to Death-Eaters, which I don't. I never met a Death-Eater."
"Yes you have," stated Sirius. Remus quickly elbowed him in the gut. "What?"
"What do you mean I met a Death-Eater? I swear to you I've never met one, unless…you two know something I don't. Sirius?"
Remus glared at Sirius, sending him mental thoughts to not tell Athena. "I was just kidding," Sirius quickly replied.
"Don't lie! Who is the Death-Eater that I know?"
"I told you Athena I was kidding!"
"Sirius, don't ever play poker because you are a horrible liar. You couldn't keep a poker-face if your life depended on it."
Sirius quickly stood up. "You don't know how damn serious I can be! I live in Azkaban for many, many years, hoping to God I wouldn't lose my mind. I had to keep myself from going crazy and being also from killed by dementors. You have no fucking clue how serious I can be!" He quickly stormed out of her quarters and slammed the door shut on living.
Athena and Remus sat there in silence. "I better go," said Remus, "Hopefully he isn't off destroying something."
"Remus," sighed Athena, "I'm sorry. Please tell him I am sorry." Remus nodded and quietly left. Athena plopped back down onto her couch and pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She stared at the fire, but her mind was somewhere else. She had no clue that Sirius was in Azkaban, nor did she have a clue that someone she knew was a Death-Eater.
Her puppy sat at her feet, staring up at her. She then noticed her and picked her up. "I think I figured a name for you. I'll call you Faith. I'm calling you that because I'm going to need all the faith to get myself through this school year, and it hasn't even started yet."