Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.

Chapter 18

Snape had almost exploded when he learned of what Jolicia had done to Draco. It had put the fear of death into Crabbe and Goyle. Tattletales that they were, they had promptly gone to see their House head with this juicy bit of gossip. They stood shaking as the Potions Master raged. They couldn't recall ever having seen him this angry.

"Who does she think she is?" he snarled. "How dare she! If she thinks she can just waltz into this school and do what she likes, she is sadly mistaken. We have rules of conduct here. Wait until the Headmaster hears about this. Professor Medwin will be the next one on the train out of here, not Draco. I must give her a piece of my mind." With that, he stormed out of his office. Crabbe and Goyle looked at one another and shook their heads, as if congratulating each other for a job well done.

Severus burst into Jo's office.

"HOW DARE YOU, MADAM!" he roared, leaning forward on her desk so that he could get right up in her face.

Jolicia very calmly raised her eyes from the text she was reading and said, "I see you have heard about the incident in my class this afternoon."

"I most certainly have. Surely you don't think you are going to get away with this do you?" he snapped.

She leaned back in her chair and studied him. "I assure you, I am not trying to 'get away with' anything. The boy needed to be put in his place and that is what I did, no more, no less. Draco and I have made our peace over the whole thing," Jo said sternly. "I would appreciate it if you stood back from my desk, Professor Snape. I had my shower this morning."

She just sat there, staring at him until he did, indeed, move back. He couldn't believe she could be so bold and yet so calm. She should have been quaking with fear by now.

She continued, "I don't see why this should concern you. It was a matter between Draco and me, and as I have said, it is over."

"It is my business, Madam, because not only is Draco a Slytherin, and is therefore under my charge, he is also my godson," Snape replied with a clenched jaw.

"How wonderful for you," she said sarcastically. "Listen, I don't appreciate being called, and I quote your precious godson, 'a fucking Mudblood' anymore than you like being called 'a greasy git'." She had been in contact with the students for only a day, but already she knew his nickname. She had over heard Ron telling Harry how glad he was that they didn't have Potions until Wednesday since it gave them all a break from the 'greasy git' for one more day.

She saw Snape flinch ever so slightly when she said his nickname aloud. Surely he was aware of what the students called him? How could he not be?  She had known that some of the students back in Canada had called her 'meddling Medwin' because she always tried to involve herself with their lives. She couldn't help it; she cared about them so much. Some of her students appreciated the attention, while others didn't, hence the nickname.

"It's a shame," he said.

"What's a shame?" she questioned.

"It's a shame that you are going to have to pack up all of your gear when you just got it settled. Headmaster Dumbledore will undoubtedly be calling for your resignation when he finds out," Snape stated smugly.

"Bastard," she thought. "He thinks he is shut of me already."

"My dear Snape, I hate to disappoint you, but he knows already. As you can see, I'm still here," Jolicia sweetly said, twisting the knife a little.

He looked at her in disbelief –how?

Jo continued, "I told the good Headmaster myself right after it happened. We both agreed it would be better if it didn't happen again, although no promises were made. I assured him that Draco and I are on good terms and that was it, sorry."

Snape fumed. What was the hold that this infernal woman had over everyone? How did she get away unscathed?  He started to say something when Jo cut him off.

"The matter is closed. Good day, Professor Snape."

"But I…" he tried to interject.

"I said good day to you sir," Jo stated, raising the tone of her voice ever so slightly. He noticed.

He glared at her and turned to leave, muttering under his breath.

"One last thing," she told him. "Do you see that door? The next time you come here, you will KNOCK on it and WAIT for my permission to enter."

He was even further enraged by her words. He slammed that same door on his way out, choosing to ignore the words and her as well.

"Merlin, she has to be the most infuriating woman I have ever met!" Snape thought.

He had to admit, to himself anyway, that she had balls. It took balls to own up to something like that to Dumbledore. It took even bigger balls to stand up to himself, the scary, evil Potions Master. He knew his reputation and used it to his full advantage. Sadly, it had not worked this time. She hadn't even gotten up out of her chair during their 'discussion', nor had she trembled. It was the first time in many, many years that he had failed to intimidate. Yep, she was ballsy, all right. He wasn't sure that it displeased him, however.

A little later on, Draco strolled casually into the Great Hall for supper. He was acting as if nothing had happened.

"Harry, look who's here," said Ron to his best friend. Both Harry and Hermione looked over to see Malfoy coming their way.

Hermione tensed. She was worried what he was going to say to her. He would undoubtedly have come up with another foul nickname for her, one to replace Mudblood.

"Granger," Draco spit.

Ron stood up and growled, "Leave her alone, Malfoy."

"Shut up, Weasel. Let me finish," Malfoy snapped back at Ron.

Malfoy continued, "Granger, I understand you covered for me in Charms this afternoon. I don't know why you would do such a thing, but I… I just wanted to say thanks, Hermione." He extended his hand to her.

Everyone was dumbstruck. Had they heard and seen correctly? Malfoy, pure Slytherin, was offering an olive branch to Hermione, a Gryffindor and a Muggle born. There was silence at both tables.

Hermione hesitated for only a second. She took his hand and said, "You're welcome, Draco." They shook hands for only but a brief moment before he turned and took his place at his House table. He shot his fellow Slytherins a look that said 'not a word'. No one would have dared.

Harry said, "I think I might have to take back what I said about Malfoy this afternoon. Perhaps he has learned something today."  His two best friends had to agree.

This event had not gone unnoticed at the head table. Both professors Snape and Medwin had witnessed it. Jolicia decided she wouldn't gloat, well, not too much anyway. She didn't say a word to Snape; she just cleared her throat, loudly, several times. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction by commenting. He coughed, sneered into his soup and tried to ignore Jolicia the best he could. Jo just smiled quietly to herself. Perhaps her little deviation from standard teaching practice was not in vain after all.