Disclaimer: Everything apart from Marina Matthews belongs to J.K. Rowling. Marina's mine and I'm just having fun with everything else, so do not sue.

A/N – Snape's POV. Please review - no flames please.

Reasons

A little earlier to his calculations, the first year girl came down the stairs from the girl's dorms. Against his expectations, she wasn't smug or pleased looking from sneaking into the Slytherin common room. In fact, she appeared to be distraught and near tears, obviously upset. From the looks of it, one of his Slytherin girls must have put her down harshly in true Slytherin tradition - hopefully. It was the least a Gryffindor like her deserved for entering their house as a spy.

He shortly said, 'Matthews, follow me to my office.' She disconsolately did so, head bowed and shuffling slightly. It was a shame that he couldn't take any points off Gryffindor yet. Still, he could look forward to punishing the rest of her house by taking off points and giving out detentions. He was sure that they'd put up a first year like the girl to spy on his house students. He'd be sure to have a word with his prefects and students. They should have been aware that the girl wasn't a Slytherin and shouldn't have been allowed to infiltrate them so easily. He'd also have to tell them to get the password changed.

Reaching his office, he sat behind his desk and gave her one of his most unpleasant and fiercest glares. It was best to put the fear of him in early so she'd curb the Gryffindor trait for causing trouble in his classes and presence. Gryffindor didn't need any more troublemakers as they had more than their fair share in Potter alone. He shouldn't have bothered for she didn't even look at him. The tiny first year was looking down at her lap, sniffling every once a while.

'Matthews, explain so I can decide just how long your punishment will be,' said Snape.

She moaned, 'I'm already being punished! It was all a cruel joke – a joke! It's all a horrible joke.'

Now he was getting somewhere. He asked, 'Who put you up to this? The sixth years you sat next to at the feast? Was it Potter? Talk right now and I just may take a day off the week's worth of detention I have planned for you. A week spent with Filch. Talk Gryffindor.'

At this point, she looked up, confusion in her eyes. She timidly said, 'Professor Snape, I don't know how to speak in Gryffindor. I didn't know that a language with that name existed or that I'd have to learn it. What are "detentions"? Who is this "Filch" person you speak of? Who put me up to what?' she finished in distress.

No one could ever act or lie so well, especially not a newbie first year. Snape narrowed his eyes at her. There was something else going on here. He'd got his wires crossed as the muggle saying went. Not that he'd ever admit to knowing the saying or that he understood it. He took on a different tack, wanting to get to the bottom of it all. 'Matthews, what were you doing in my house's tower?'

'I had every right to be there – I'm a Slytherin!' she proudly declared.

Dear god in heaven, what had he done to deserve this? A delusional and trouble making Gryffindor…as if Potter wasn't enough of a trial…

She continued, 'Yes, I was sorted into Gryffindor and I'm proud to be one, but I also wanted to be in Slytherin too. So I asked you for a transfer as soon as I could in the Great Hall.' His eyes narrowed again at this admission. So she was the one who'd been shouting for his attention earlier. Unaware of his dark mood, she carried on. 'Seeing how I wasn't stopped or questioned when I joined my new housemates in coming down here, I decided that you'd let me switch houses and had your approval. Only I have no bed in the first year's girl's dorms and my things are nowhere to be seen. It was all a cruel joke! Just because I wanted to live in the dungeons, I've been kicked out of Hogwarts! Oh, I feel so horrible and want to go home,' she wailed. Laying her head unto his desk, she burst into loud tears.

With utmost distaste, he let her carry on crying on his desk, offering no comfort as he called McGonagall down. She was a Gryffindor and therefore not his problem. The sooner she was away from him, the better. He'd tell a house elf to thoroughly disinfect his desk. After all, he didn't want the taint of a child on it, especially not a Gryffindor one. McGonagall arrived shortly, Dumbledore with her. Did the old man's eyes ever stop twinkling?

'Severus, I'd like a word with you outside,' he said to him. McGonagall fussed over her precious student, shooting him a dark look for making the girl cry. Apparently, she blamed him for upsetting her student. As the girl made no move to leave his office or stop crying, he followed the headmaster out to the corridor. 'Now, whatever punishment you have given to Miss Matthews, I ask you to retract. She surely didn't deserve whatever you gave.'

What? He couldn't believe the other man's gall. How could she not deserve what she got after her actions? With the exception of his house students, he'd never let any student get away with such flagrant rule breaking. If he wasn't careful, the girl would turn into another Potter. One golden student of the old man's and forever allowed to cause havoc unpunished. He opened his mouth to wax his outrage.

'Close your mouth Severus,' the old man faintly smiled at him. 'Miss Matthews' family sent me an owl earlier today, along with an unusual request. I do believe I mentioned it earlier. Now-'

He hissed, 'I do not care what that girl's family wrote to you or who they are. She broke school rules and will-'

'Severus, you will until I'm done,' said Dumbledore, faint steel to his voice. Snape very reluctantly backed down and listened. 'I can not impart the full story, but Miss Matthews was hit with an old, archaic and dark curse as a babe. Due to said curse, she has extreme vertigo, which is a fear of heights. Thankfully, she takes a potion to control the worst of her fear. However, without it, she can't even look down from a single step without feeling nausea, light headed and dizzy. Being a single foot off the ground makes her body go into a near petrified state from fear. With the potion, she can move up and down staircases, even then she struggles. As for looking out of windows, she can't do so. For all windows look out at a height and she fears heights.'

'So?' he coolly asked. 'Just because the girl's cursed doesn't mean I'll be going easy on her.'

'I'd be greatly worried if you were easy on her. Now, her family have all been sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, with a few in Hufflepuff. Since all three house towers have windows and are set at a considerable height, her family saw a problem. For Miss Matthews would have trouble living in such areas and she wasn't likely to be sorted into Slytherin. Slytherin, the one house set underground with no windows whatsoever,' he said, eyes twinkling. 'Anyhow, her family made a special request that the school give her a room on the ground floor, one with no windows. Of course, they petitioned to the school board as well and the board has agreed. However, Miss Matthews has gone one further. She willingly volunteered herself to your house so she'd have somewhere to sleep that was to her liking. Below ground, no windows and people around her – it would all appeal to her and make her feel safe.'

'Are you telling me to let her into my house?' he hissed venomously. 'Just because she's scared of heights?'

'Now, that is an excellent suggestion Severus,' he smiled, eyes dancing brightly. 'I'll have the house elves move her things to your first year girl's dorm. One first year girl in there I believe, a Miss Lucinda Dreary. I'm sure the girls will get on fine, despite Miss Matthews taking her classes with her fellow Gryffindor house mates.'

'No, absolutely not. I refuse to have a Gryffindor living with my students. She'd know the passwords and wouldn't hesitate to tell other Gryffindors,' he said, livid. 'The Sorting Hat put her in that house for a reason. You can't change your sorted house as you very well know. I will never allow a Gryffindor to taint my students in any way. Living in my house, she'd be sure to do that. Get the girl some rooms elsewhere, but not in my house or dungeons.'

'Very well Severus,' the old man said, not losing his good cheer. If anything, the old man seemed to brighten up immeasurably. 'I'll notify Miss Matthews of the change. Are you certain you won't reconsider?'

He looked at the headmaster suspiciously. 'I'm sure that I won't reconsider. Why do you ask?'

'Nothing to worry about I'm sure,' he waved off. 'Remember, try not to blame the poor girl for something she can't quite help.' He went back into Snape's office as the potions professor fumed outside. A little later, the tear streaked and puffy eyed girl was led out by McGonagall, Dumbledore appearing to have flooed back to his office.

The girl bluntly asked, 'Why can't I be in your house professor Snape? Am I not good enough?'

'Precisely,' he replied in clipped tones. 'You're too good for my house. Now, kindly remove yourself from my dungeons.'

Drawing herself up, she declared, 'You, sir, are a despicable cad and the biggest meanie I've ever had the misfortune to meet. I will not rest until you say I can stay in Lucinda's dorm, here in the dungeons. I do not wish you a good night but horrible nightmares full of monsters gobbling you up. Goodbye,' she snorted disdainfully before stumping away with McGonagall. He scowled after her and for the smile tugging at his colleague's lips. He was going to make that girl suffer for her very existence…