Disclaimer: I own nothing, well, except Katya. Isn't she great? Gosh I love the name Katya! Oh, and I wouldn't mind owning Oliver Wood, but that's beside the point. Anywayz, enjoy and plz R&R!

~ It's PROFESSOR Snape ~

Snape burst through the doors of the dungeon that was his classroom. The chattering immediately stopped. Looking down at the roll Snape's mouth slowly curled into an evil grin. This was a class for first years. Snape always looked forward to new prey and first years were the easiest to intimidate. Grabbing a quill he began to take roll call. Afterwards he began his traditional speech meant specifically for first years.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began, not noticing the door quietly opening, "I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses . . ." His voice died off as felt someone's eyes on him from behind. He slowly turned around.

"My sentiments exactly, Severus," Katya said with a hint of a smile.

"Why, Professor Poiston," he said trying to keep the surprise out of his voice, "How may I help you? And it's Professor Snape by the way."

Katya ignored the last remark; "May I talk to you outside for a second?"

"Can't it wait?"

"No, it can't," she said firmly.

"Very well," he said huffily. Turning back to his students he added, "I don't want to hear a word out of any of you or you will receive detention. Is that clear?"
The little first years nodded with looks of fright on their faces.

"Well what is it?" he asked once they were outside the classroom.

"I need your help."

Snape waited.

"It's my class. They're completely out of control and Minerva's busy teaching . ."

"As am I, Professor," Snape interrupted.

"Yes, well, are Slytherins."
"Very well, you watch over my class and I'll go take care of yours."

"Thank you so much Severus," she yelled to his retreating back.

"It's PROFESSOR Snape!" he responded.

* * *

Reaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Snape opened the door to find his own seventh-year Slytherins to be culprits of Katya's distress.

"SILENCE!" he yelled over the raucous noise. Immediately the room was enveloped in quiet.

"In all my years at Hogwarts," Snape began, "Never! Never have members of my own house acted in such a flagrant act of disrespect!"

"But Professor!" Pansy Parkinson cried out, "It's not our fault she can't control her own class!"

And then Snape had an epiphany. This was his chance! His chance to be rid of that young witch. He could encourage the Slytherins to make her job a living hell! That would scare her off. Just as quickly as the idea came to him, however, he knew he couldn't do it. What startled him though was that it wasn't so much that he knew he'd feel guilty, but that in an instant he realized he didn't want her to go. What?! he thought to himself, I barely know her! But still , there's something . . . no, she must stay so that I can figure out what it is.

Pansy was looking as Snape expectantly. In a voice barely above a whisper he said, "I don't care if she is the worst teacher in the entire history of magic! You will respect her and pay attention in this class. She comes highly recommended and, God-willing, maybe she can even teach you something Miss Parkinson. In the meantime, 50 points will be taken from Slytherin."

The entire class sat there in shock as they watched Snape stalk out the door. Had Snape really just insulted a Slytherin AND taken points from his own house?

* * *

"They should behave now," Snape said when he returned to his class.

"Thank you," Katya said and began to walk away.

"Professor Poiston"
"Yes?" she asked, turning around.

"Let me give you some advice: if you want your class to respect you don't go running to other teachers with your problems."

"Thank you, Severus"

"It's PROFESSOR Snape!" he yelled exasperatedly.

* * *

At 4:28 Katya was in her bedroom looking for her old cauldron. This is just great, she thought to herself, as if I haven't made a bad enough impression as it is now I'm going to be late to my first potions lesson! Oh! Of course, why didn't I think of that from the beginning? She thought as an idea came to her.

"Accio cauldron!" The cauldron came flying out of the wardrobe and nearly hit her in the face. Satisfied that she had everything, Katya headed for the dungeons.

* * *

"You're late," Snape said when Katya arrived.

"I couldn't find my cauldron. Besides, I'm only late by two minutes."

"Two minutes that we could've spent discussing what kind of potions you would like to learn," he said sounding very annoyed.

"Well, why don't we just discuss it now? Shall we?" she said as she plopped down on a chair.

Snape stared at her. So the cat did fight back.

"Well, discuss already," she said trying not to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

"Erm . . . oh yes, I have gone over your school records to figure out which potions you have not already done that would challenge you. To my surprise, however, I see that you have learned and passed all the potions that are necessary to learn with exceptionally good scores. All the other potions you can do easily because you have already mastered the essentials. So, what I was considering teaching you is the art of creating potions. Kind of like research. What do you think?"
"I think that's exactly what I had in mind when I asked Dumbledore if I could be taught by you."

"Oh, alright, I was thinking of starting by creating a strong sleeping draught. One that even the most immune would surrender to."

"Well, let's begin then," Katya said excitedly.

They had spent about a half an hour running to the library and going through Snape's stores trying to come up with ideas of what to put in the potion when Snape suddenly grabbed his left arm as though in great pain.

"What's wrong?" Katya asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Snape replied through clenched teeth, "just a pain in my arm. Side effect of spending years at the cauldron stirring."

Katya wasn't buying it but she didn't say inquire further, instead she simply asked, "How can I help?"
Snape looked at her as if she were a complete dolt, "You can go get the Headmaster! That's what you can do!" he roared.

"Ok! I'm going. Calm down, Severus, it'll be okay."

"That's PROFESSOR Snape!" He yelled after her.

A/N: Wow! 3 chapters! So how did u like it? You can tell me by clicking on the "submit a review" button on the left. BTW, for those of you who don't know, Snape's speech to his first years is straight out of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. And you all thought I was sooo clever. :)