He hated Harry Potter. He never liked his father, in fact, he loathed him. Like father like son. He never liked the son, in fact, he loathed him.

He hated Ron Weasley. That red haired boy would have failed potions if not for his friends. He was just looking for scraps of celebrity because of famous Potter.

He didn't know what to think of Hermione Granger. That girl was brillant and she actually had a futur compared to those two low level brains she hanged out with. Still, her know-it-all attitude irritated him.

He always thought one know-it-all in his class was a nightmare. Apparently, he'd never had to deal with *two* before. And the second one was a Slytherin.

[Willow Rosenberg,] he thought. That one was a complete mystery to him and quite franckly, she scared him. Her wide green eyes disturbed him and he had been spooked the night before when he'd looked at her. He didn't like it. He didn't like the connection he felt with her.

Of course, it felt good to know that what he taught was at least assimilated by more than one student, and a Gryffindor at that. For that he respected the american. She was as brillant as Hermione Granger.

"Can someone tell me what is the use of asphodel?"

Two hands shot up.

He sighed. [God! How am I going to survive with those two in the same class?]

* * *

Seeing the last student step out the classroom, Severus Snape sighed tiredly and slumped in his chair, dragging a pile of paper needing to be marked. He sneered at some, groaned at others. He couldn't believe that some students still didn't understand the basics of potion making. [How pathetic?] Someone knocked on the door. "Come in."

Willow shyly opened the door and quickly walked to the potion master's desk. "I wanted to ask you a couple of questions, professor."

"What is it?"he asked with his usual cold look.

"Have you ever loved, professor?"

Snape did a double-take. "I beg your pardon?"

The redheaded girl flushed and looked at the stone floor. "I know it's personal but I really need to know."

"I don't see where my personal life concerns you, miss Rosenberg, but yes, I've loved... a long time ago."

"What happened for this to change?"

He glared at her new question but answered nonetheless. "She died. End of story. You still have a lot to learn about the real world, miss Rosenberg, this including that there's never a 'happily ever after' in life."

"I think you could love again if certain... things were given back to you. Is that why you left the dark side?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I don't know where you got that information, miss Rosenberg, but I suggest you keep it to yourself. As of now, my private life will stay that way : private. You're dismissed." Without another look, he returned back to grading papers.

Frowning, Willow stood up and left the classroom, definitly not satisfied with the outcome of the conversation. She had expected to have a couple of revelations, but it had been a major catastrophy. Now, it would be hell to get information out of him. He had closed down on himself like a clam.

Sighing angrily, the red haired witch made her way to the Slytherin common room. "Serpentis," she told the painting. It opened itself and she went inside.

Pansy walked up to her as she crossed the common room. "Hey, mudblood!"

"Fuck off!" she yelled at the other Slytherin, who jumped in surprised. She noticed that noone else made a move toward her. They could feel anger radiating from the girl and it was worse than a PMS-get-out-of-my-way vibe.

Noone standing in her way, Willow quickly climbed up the stairs and entered in her room, slamming the door behind her. She jumped on her bed. [What I need is a plan to get him talking... which is damn near impossible to do.] She bit her lip in frustration. [There must be something.]

Suddenly she stiffed. She looked down at her hand and her eyes widened. "Of course!" she cried outloud. "The ring!" She left her room, running and nearly slammed into Pansy in the common room.

A pair of grey eyes watched her go back out of the Slytherin's doormitory. Draco Malfoy left the shadows and followed her quietly. He watched as she headed to the dungeons. He turned to another hall, a shortcut he had found in second year. He ended up in an empty classroom. He walked to the other side and opened the door slightly. He didn't have to wait long before he saw a flash of red hair running his way.

Willow ran past a door hidden in shadows when she was grabbed from behind. A hand clamped over her mouth. "Stay quiet! I won't harm you," someone whispered in her hear. She was pulled into the dark empty classroom. Only then did the strong arms let go of her. She quickly turned around and froze. "I rendered Willow Rosenberg speechless," he sneered.

"You surprised me, that's all," she replied coldly. "What did you want? I'm kind of busy."

"What is going in that pretty head of yours? I'm starting to think they put you in Slytherin because of your mood swings, mudblood."

"Stop calling me that!" she yelled. "I hate it and I'm starting to think it's not even true."

"Why's that?"

"I'm having weird dreams... and the sorting hat didn't help at all."

"What did it tell you?" She didn't answered. "Come on, I'm just curious. It all tells us something. What did it whispered in your ear?"

"It's not your business."

"Well, it's not your business either what is going in Snape's life. Are you a spy for Him?" His eyes hardened. "Did he send you to watch Us? Answer me!"

"Uh?" Willow frowned. The guy was getting more and more confusing. He had worse mood swings than her. In two days, she had gotten him indifferent, amused, disgusted and angry. She didn't know what to think of him anymore.

"No. It can't be that. He wouldn't send an american muggle-born."

"When your finished talking to yourself, can you please tell me?" she asked him sarcasticly. He turned toward her and she felt uneasy. His eyes weren't as cold as before, but it felt odd. She squirmed under his gaze as he examined her.

Draco took a step closer to Willow. She jumped when he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. He gently touched her hair. "Red," he whispered. "Just like Her." He suddenly stopped. He stormed off of the room.

"Her?" Willow asked outloud to noone. She forgot all about the mysterious potion master and headed to the library to clear her mind.