Disclaimer, Taranis is mine the rest are not. Etc.
The staff room was full and afer Dumbledore took his chair only two seats remained. At first she was glad she didn't have to sit next to Severus, but, she decided as she tried not to notice him glaring across the room at her, sitting across from him was far worse. She made it a point not to look at him at all as she was introduced as the new instructor. There were looks of acceptance from the other professors as they were introduced in turn, thankfully leaving out Professor Snape. The headmaster proceeded through the agenda to the impending return of the students the following week and then dismissed them. When Severus left immediately, she sighed with relief.
She spent a while getting to know Minerva McGonagall who taught Transfiguration, and Professor Flitwick the tiny, cheerful Charms teacher. They all went up to dinner where she had a nice time sitting between the inquisitive Professors Hooch and Sprout. They were all very friendly to her and seemed interested in the "American" way of things.
"So what does Professor Snape teach?" She asked Madam Hooch.
"Potions of course," she glanced to where he sat on the far side of the table, "a veritable genius with them too, best in all of England I'm sure. He can be prickly and short tempered, but we all get on well."
"Short tempered is a bit of an understatement my dear," Minerva injected, "he spends most of his time down in his dungeons, but he is quite an asset to the school."
"I'm afraid I've already experienced his temper and I've no want to go there again believe me," she frowned at him as she looked up to meet his grim countenance across the table.
"Give him a bit of time and I'm sure you'll get along just fine," Minerva patted her hand.
After a few days preparing her rooms and a class schedule she felt ready for the students return. She had seen Severus only briefly at meals and had done her best to avoid him otherwise. She was beginning to form friendships with the other teachers and was starting to feel more at home. Since she was caught up, Taranis decided to visit Firenze, the Divination instructor. Apparently he had known her grandmother, and she promised her mother she would say hello. Hagrid was nice enough to show her the way to his rooms. This castle was huge, she'd have to ask someone for a better tour later on she decided. As she entered the classroom, she noted it was altered to resemble the forest. A large grassy knoll surrounded by trees, she thought she heard running water in the distance. "Hello? Firenze are you here."
He stepped out into the clearing and she was awed. She'd never seen a Centaur before, while he had the body of a horse he had the upper body of a man. A gorgeous and well-formed man she might add.
"Hello, you must be Taranis," his voice was rich and very soothing as he came toward her and held out his hands in greeting. "I had heard that you were coming and it is a pleasure to meet the granddaughter of Maeve. She is a very old and dear friend of my kind. You have much of beauty of your people in you, I see Maeve in your face." He took her hands in his as he led her over to grassy area, "come and sit so we can talk."
Firenze was very wise, as are all Centaurs and they spent hours discussing life. He told her how he had been exiled for coming to teach at Hogwarts and she told him how she came to be at Hogwarts. They briefly discussed the other professors and she asked him about the potions master. "Severus is a genius when it comes to his work, but at heart he is a very sad man. He is trying to escape a dark and evil past
and is doing what he thinks best to atone for those mistakes. Though a private man with few friends, he is a good man and does what is necessary to protect those he cares for, and the children of course. I have great respect for Severus, he has overcome much that makes him bitter, but I am proud to call him a friend."
She nodded, suddenly realizing how late it was and if she didn't hurry she would miss dinner.
Because she arrived late the only seat left was between Severus and Madam Hooch. "I'm starving Xiomara I was so busy chatting with Firenze I completely lost track of the time."
"Firenze," Snape shot her a questioning glance, "does not usually accept callers."
"Oh? W ell he's an old friend of my grandmother," she said defensively.
"I was merely questioning his taste of acquaintance," he innocently raised his eyebrows.
She smiled brightly and looked him directly in the eye, "yes, I had thought that same thing myself when he said he had great respect for you."
Xiomara appeared to have a coughing fit at that, she thought she heard a snicker or two in the midst. Professor Snape said nothing else and left soon after, his long black robes billowing behind him.
"The Jolly Black Jerk," she said to Xiomara who was grinning over at her.
After dinner she decided to go speak to Professor Snape. His accusations had bothered her and she hated to let things go. She knew he thought badly of her and was hoping to straighten things out before the children arrived, especially as they would be working together for some time. After several wrong turns she made her way to the potions class room in the dungeons. It was dark of course and sparsely furnished, caldrons sat on tables and rows of jars on shelves to the side. She passed a large desk to the back and went to the door that she assumed led to his office where she knocked sharply.
"Come!" was the reply from inside.
She opened the door and warily stepped inside. There was a larger desk as well as a couch and two arm chairs near the fireplace. Very organized rows of portion ingredients lined the walls to the right, she noted some of them were very rare and really wanted to take a closer look. Snape was bent over a bubbling cauldron on the far side of the room. She walked up behind him and examined the ingredients that were set out on the table. He sprinkled in what appeared to be crushed unicorn hoof and stirred the cauldron as a fine blue mist emerged. It smelled familiar, what was that she thought, come on what. My hair potion 'of course' she smiled to herself, oh but it calls for powdered unicorn hoof not crushed. She recalled a time when she had made that same mistake and her hair was as stiff as a board for a week!
Severus finally turned around to look at her, "what do you want," he said devoid of emotion.
"I stopped by because I thought since we'd be working together maybe we should work out our differences. Apparently I've done something to royally piss you off, not that I'm sure what, but I thought we could start over, maybe be friends."
He was shocked to see her there but tried not to show how unnerved he was by her presence. She was wearing a powder blue dress that clung to her figure and without a robe he could see that figure very well. While still suspicious of her and her actions, perhaps he could better discern her motives if they were on speaking terms."Professor, I assure you I have no need of a friend." He noted the hurt look on her face that quickly turned to a scowl. "However, a certain amount of professional courtesy would be agreeable."
Her slight smile did not reach her eyes as she nodded. It was not exactly the response she was looking for but it would do. He certainly didn't admit to any negative feelings toward her and that was a start. Taranis turned and made toward the door and then stopped and turned back, "oh and by the way you'll need powdered unicorn hoof for that," she motioned toward the cauldron, "crushed makes it particularly useless."
As she left, he turned back to peer into the cauldron which was now dark blue and very thick, he had been suspicious of that earlier. He grunted as he squared his shoulders and zapped the cauldron clean.
It was the first day of school and the students would be arriving soon. Taranis had dressed carefully in a high collared long black dress that flared slightly at the bottom, covered by a black cloak. Her only jewelry was a long chain of ever-changing beads she draped around her waist with a portion hanging down the side. Very witch like she thought smugly. Her hair she pulled from her face but allowed to cascade down her back in soft curls. She chose a spot at the staff table in between Madam Hooch and Minerva and tried to calm her nerves as she fidgeted in her chair. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of black and she turned her head to see Snape, his long black cape swirling about him as he crossed the dining hall in sure quick steps. She noted that his hair looked much better today, and he must have gotten that potion to work after all. He had a fluid grace about him the made her catch her breath. Xiomara saw this and must have taken it for fear or apprehension.
"He's not all that bad really, don't let him get to you. You'll get used to him eventually."
"I hope so."
Just as he took his seat the students poured into the hall in a roar of excitement. Soon they were seated and Hagrid came in to join the staff. Professor McGonagall lead in the group of first years and herded them to the front of the room where the sorting hat stood on a stool, there she explained what would happen and each child respectively stepped forward and was rewarded with a cheer as the hat chose which house they would join.
After this was completed Dumbledore rose, "I would like to welcome to Hogwarts our new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Aislin," as he motioned to her, she smiled as the students applauded. "As Professor Aislin has come to us from America and as of yet she has no house. Taranis will you please step forward to be sorted," he motioned to the stool.
Taranis paled, she wasn't expecting this. Suddenly she was afraid, and she was aware of the respective houses, what they symbolized. She'd rather not know what kind of person she really was than to have it pointed out that she was, inside, bad. Word of this hat had made it's way to America, it can see inside your head, see your experiences. Not being a young girl and full of questionable life experience, she chilled at the thought of what it might say as she walked over to the stool and sat down. Minerva placed the hat on her head.
"Oh, what have we here hmm," the hat arched its brows and continued, " not from around here I see, but very interesting. Now what to do with you."
She closed her eyes as she muttered under her breath, "Not Slytherin, not Slytherin."
"Not Slytherin eh? There is much here that would make you a great Slytherin my dear. No?" The hat thought as it moved her head from side to side, "well then it'll have to be Gryffindor!" and the students started cheering.
She blushed as she got off the stool, thank goodness, what a relief. She glanced at Severus who had his hand on his chin with one finger on his lips, eyebrows raised in obvious interest. Dinner was spent in silent contemplation..When Taranis left the table later, she studied the students briefly and wondered about the blonde Slytherin boy with the look of bold confidence on his face, was he leering at her she wondered. She smiled to herself when she heard a blond girl comment, "It's about time Snape fixed his hair."
Snape sat through dinner contemplating the meaning of what the sorting hat had said. First Olivander's odd comments and now this, he wondered what she was hiding. She certainly didn't seem the Slytherin type, too goody goody, but then why would the hat even suggest it at all? As he left the hall Severus over heard some students saying, "She's so beautiful, I wonder what she's doing here." In his dark mood he scowled as he strode through the students in the hall and down to his dungeons, thinking exactly the same thing . . .