A/N: Okay, this is short, and has barely any of the things that I promised it would, but I've had a rough week. (I'm about to start venting now, so if you really just don't care, skip on down to the story, and I'll update next week!)

Begin Vent

Okay, last Wednesday I'm minding my own business driving to lunch. I stop at a red light. After a minute, the light turns green, so I go. Apparently some newly licensed punk 16-year-old (who shall now be known as Dunderhead) decided that traffic laws don't apply to him, and so he ran the red light. And I had the nerve to be in his way. Jerk totaled my car, (which I had just got all of 4 months ago) I asked him if he just didn't see that the light had turned red, and he says, and I quote, "I thought I could make it."

I was a little distraught about my car, and the officer Bitch Monster of Death starts chastising me about how I should be thankful no one was hurt. In the mean time, Dunderhead gets back in his big fat Jeep with the huge grill that barely has a scratch, and drives home. While I have to crawl out the passenger side of my precious Infiniti I30 because the driver side door won't open. But hey, at least no one was hurt!

Well, then I find out from his insurance company, that I paid too much for my car when I bought it (four months ago!!!!!!), and the price they'll give me, is $500 less than what I still owe!!!!!

So a Dunderhead runs a red light, and now I have no car, no down payment, and am $500 in dept.

But at least no one was hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

End Vent

Deep Breath okay, I feel a tiny bit better. Enjoy the chapter.

Part 2: Chapter 5

Severus stared at me from across the Great Hall all through breakfast the next morning. Megan and Sissy were in deep conversation at one end of the table, so I plopped down by Margo. I could hear the names 'Sirius' and 'Lucius' repeatedly followed by giggles from the two on the end, and mentally groaned.

I decided to ignore them, and talk to Margo. She looked miserable and our conversation went something like this:

"How are you doing, Margo?"

"Fine."

"You finish all of your homework?"

"Fine."

"I gave birth to a baby pterodactyl."

"Fine."

So I gave up.

I ate very slowly, taking up as much time as possible, even though I didn't have anyone to talk to.

I could feel Severus gaze on my face, and it was making me uncomfortable. So, I decided to distract myself by studying the teachers at the head table.

Professor Dumbledore was smiling at something McGonagall was telling him. A very young looking Professor Flitwick was having an animated conversation with an older Wizard that I didn't know. Professor Snape was absent from the table. In fact, I had never seen him up there. If I had, it wouldn't have been such a shock when I saw him in class. I'd have to ask him about that.

Finally, the Great Hall started emptying out as everyone made his or her way to the first lesson.

I looked back at the Slytherin table, and was relieved to see that Severus had already left as well.

"C'mon Margo, we're going to be late for charms." Megan chastised, as she helped her sister gather her things.

"Hurry up, Mya! Professor Figg doesn't like people walking in late." Sissy said, hurrying me along to class.

"I wish I could be your partner." I told her as we descended the stairs to the dungeons.

"But I thought you liked working with Severus." She said.

"I did, but something happened, and I'm afraid it might be a little awkward," I admitted.

She grinned at me.

"What? Did he kiss you?" she asked.

I flushed remembering the day with the kisses that never happened.

"NO!" I said, a little too forcefully.

"Okay, okay! I won't pry! But Beatrice would kill me if I made her partner with Severus."

We made it to the classroom, just as Professor Figg came in through her office. She gave us a stern look as we hurried to our workstations, but didn't say anything.

I nervously took my seat next to Severus, wondering how he'd react since I'd been avoiding him. But, he only nodded politely to me as if nothing was wrong.

Professor Figg informed us about a partnered potion's project that we would be expected to complete on our own time before the holidays. We had to research, brew, test, and record results of a potion off a list she'd given us. Each of the potions took several weeks to make.

She put the day's potion on the board and we all got to work.

Severus and I work very well together. And once we started, automatically dividing up the tasks, I lost myself in the assignment. For 45 wonderful minutes, my mind was blissfully blank. Some people do yoga, I brew potions. The whole class went smoothly, and before I knew it, we were bottling up our assignment, and preparing to leave.

Severus suddenly turned to me.

"Mya, we need to talk."

I held up a hand to stop him.

"I thank you for taking care of me this week, it's been pretty trying, and I'm sorry for not giving you the explanations you deserve but, I c-can't. I just can't." I said, all in rush.

He looked away and cleared his throat. When he looked back at me I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

"Actually, I was just going to make a suggestion for our potion project."

"Oh." I flushed.

"I thought maybe we could try the Polyjuice potion, if you think you can manage it." He said, with a superior sniff.

I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling him off, and reveling that I was quite familiar with that particular potion.

"That's sounds fine." I said, behind clinched teeth.

"We should meet in the library after dinner tonight to start the research."

"Oh, actually I have a meeting with Professor Snape, then."

Severus blinked at me in momentary confusion.

"I'd heard he was your cousin?"

He shrugged, absently.

"Do you not know your own cousin?"

"The Snapes are a very old, very large pure-blood family, I doubt I'll ever know all of my relatives. Besides, he's not the only DADA teacher this year. The Slytherins and Hufflepuffs have Professor Meade."

"I wasn't aware that there were two DADA professors this year." I commented.

I really wanted to ask him why he wasn't more curious about this mysterious relative that had shown up out of the blue to be a professor, but then I realized that it was probably best that he wasn't too inquisitive about where Professor Snape came from.

"Well, it seems to me as if you haven't been aware of much this week." He said, smirking at me.

I found myself smiling back.

"If only you knew."

"Ah, but you can't tell me, remember?"

I gave him a sheepish look.

"I'm sor-"

"You don't have to apologize. We've only known each other a few days. I shouldn't have expected you to tell me all of your secrets. I certainly will not be telling you all of mine."

I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

"Thanks." I said.

He reached out a hand and tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ear.

"I like spending time with you, Mya. I was hoping we could be friends."

My insides melted at his words, and his touch sent a jolt of electricity all the way down to my toes.

"I'd like that."

The moment was ruined by a wistful sigh. I looked over to see Professor Figg siting with her elbows on her desk, and her head propped up in her hands. She was openly gazing at us.

Severus cleared his throat to get my attention.

"Okay, so how about we meet in the library after breakfast tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"See you then." I called as I left the room.

A/N: I hope to be in better spirits next week, but everything I write right now is bitter and angsty. I think I'll go read some humor... "Annoying Professor Snape" here I come!!!