After the first few aggravating days of class Morgan settled in to a comfortable routine. She met the famous Harry Potter and his sidekicks Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, envied them their close friendship. Se felt sorry for the not quite competent Neville Longbottom, he was a sweet boy after all. Their class was combined with the Slytherins and one particularly nasty Draco Malfoy. That boy knew that she could see him and still he threw that Climbing Slimeball into Miss Granger's hair.
"Mr. Malfoy," she'd raged, "I am going to set the records straight right now! There will be no preferential treatment to you or to any other Slytherin, nor to any one in any house. I will not tolerate that sort of malicious behavior from anyone. Ten points and I will see you in detention tonight. Eight o'clock and make sure you are on time. Miss Granger, I believe Madam Pomfrey may have something to help with that," the poor girl was in tears, the mass of slime had stuck like gum and was trying to climb it's way to the top of her head, "run along now."
Dinner that evening was a solemn affair as usual. Morgan sat absentmindedly trying to think of a suitable detention task for young Malfoy.
"Will you kindly stop that?" Snape's voice snapped beside her.
"What?"
"That thing you're doing with your fingers."
Looking down at her hands Morgan saw she'd once again been picking at her fingernails. She'd had the habit for so long she couldn't remember, "it's not a conscious thing you know professor. If it bothers you perhaps you should look elsewhere."
"It's a child's habit, not something one would expect of an adult, and a professor none the less."
"You act like I'm picking my nose for goodness sake. We can't all hide our nasty habits can we Snape? You must accept my apologies for offending your 'delicate constitution."
"You are far to easily offended Professor Rheged. If you plan to stay at Hogwarts for any length of time you'll have to see that you toughen up your own constitution. There are many uncomfortable situations in one's life where the best comments are the ones not made."
"And the best curse the one not thrown?"
Severus nodded slightly as he thought of the slew of curses that came so easily from her lips not too long ago. He wondered how many times she'd practiced the restraint of which she spoke? "Especially one aimed at a student."
"Ye gods I did manage to practice some restraint today! Is that Malfoy boy always so incorrigible?"
"Hmm, he can be rather rambunctious. Fortunately for him his father is a very powerful man, and a school governor."
"That didn't get him out of detention today. I'm trying to think of a suitable punishment for his crime, any suggestions?"
"I'm sure his father would be grateful for any leniency, he is a Slytherin after all."
"Perhaps that's all the more reason against leniency?" Morgan looked into those dark eyes, the man played innocent so well, "What about you and Potter? Are you so nasty to everyone that isn't in your own house or is it just James Potter's son?"
Severus considered his response, of course he favored his own house and he understood her wanting to be non bias. Was the woman intentionally being harder on Draco because of his own preferential treatment? "I will admit his father and I did not get along in school. The man was a bully through and through."
"And you were never mean and nasty and intentionally hurtful were you professor?" Morgan searched his eyes as the Potions Master considered this, as near as she could tell his response in earnest.
"I did not partake in 'that' sort of behavior," Snape held her large green eyes with his for several long moments. She was somewhat plain, but he found her not completely unattractive. If I looked into those eyes long enough, stared into the depths of her soul, he wondered, what would I find there? She had the ancient eyes of a person who has endured much pain and suffering and as Snape looked away he wondered if his own eyes looked much the same.
"Of course you didn't professor. If you'll excuse me I have a detention to ready."
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Morgan looked at the clock as Draco entered the classroom, "it is five minutes after the hour Mr. Malfoy and you are late," the fair boy shrugged his shoulders, "that will be another detention tomorrow night and if you are late again you shall have another. And so on and so on."
"What? You can't be serious professor? You're a Slytherin and we have to look out for each other, isn't that right?"
The Dark Arts instructor took a deep breath, "wrong. I am a professor and you are a student and 'you' need to learn how to mind your elders and behave in class. As I said earlier there will be no special treatment. Did I not make myself clear?"
"This is ridiculous, Granger's just a stupid Mudblood anyway. My father will not be happy," the boy said leering at her.
"Maybe your father would be pleased that someone is taking you to task. You're what seventeen now? It's about time for his little boy to grow up now isn't it?" The professor took something heavy out of the cabinet and turned back to the boy, "this is a Muggle TV set I've rigged for your viewing enjoyment. You can thank my father for this by the way," with a flick of her wand the television came to life. The picture was black and white and as a man came into view a voice spoke, 'this is The Lawrence Welk Show.' "One hour Draco, your eyes are not to leave this screen and not to close for more than a blink or you will be getting more of the same tomorrow."
Morgan leaned back in her chair, pleased with herself as she listened to the groans of anguish coming from the boy. Her father had a passion for the Muggle TV shows and she had been forced to endure them by his side many an evening herself. Cheerful memories soon turned to thoughts of horrors and regrets and by the time Draco was dismissed her heart was full of anguish. Back in her own school days she had a favorite place to go and hide during such sad times, and right now, Morgan could think of no better place to be.
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On a terrace atop one of the highest towers at Hogwarts Professor Snape stood breathing in the clean crisp air. The clear starry sky had given way to dark ominous clouds and he could almost smell the rain in the air. He came to this spot often, seeking solitude away from the dank dark musk of the dungeons. Something about the open sky here gave him a sense of power, control over the fates.
From where he leaned against the stone wall in darkness Severus watched the woman invade his domain. Silently she made her way to the edge where small hands grasp the rail, a sigh escaping her lips as she leaned over, looking down upon the world. As the rain started to fall, still he kept his peace, the woman took her robes off and set them aside. The dark man was mesmerized as the water soaked her. Face turned up to the sky her damp clothes clung to her thin form. His eyes slowly roamed her small waist and shapely hips to the blouse that molded small firm breasts and the nipples that strained against the wet material.
Severus felt the beating of the rain as he moved from the shadows. As he came near the woman turned and ran into his chest, "Professor Rhedeg, you really should learn to watch your back." She didn't back away from him but looked him straight in the eye as she puled her hair behind her ears.
"Did you follow me?"
"I've been here for quite some time now. I seek solitude in this place often." The heat from her body was comforting and inviting yet as she stepped back the cold wet night encompassed him once more.
"Then I apologize for invading your privacy professor. Good night to you." Morgan left quickly, her mind stirring with the smell and feel of Professor Snape's body. She hadn't been that close to a man in a long time and found it a little to pleasant for her own liking. If it had been someone else, maybe...but not Snape, that was one line she was not willing to cross.
Quickly drying her clothes and heading down, Morgan stopped to pet Mrs. Norris, give her a good scratch behind the ears. She'd always found comfort in cats, they loved the unlovable, and were always there to turn to when the sadness intolerable.
"Well hello there Professor Rheged. I was wondering where Mrs. Norris was off to? Can't say as I'm surprised she found you."
Mr. Filch the caretaker was one of the few tolerable adults in the school as far as she was concerned. The others were a good group of people and their hearts in the right place, but a bit too nauseatingly cheerful for her tastes. Xiomara Hooch, Filch and she had to admit Snape were the few that didn't grate on her nerves.
"She knows I enjoy her company, don't you little missy?" Morgan gave the cat one last pat before she rose, "all is quiet I hope?"
"Best as can be expected with this bunch," his discolored teeth flashing as he spoke. Lightening flashed outside and the window behind him outlined his unkempt greasy dark hair.
"They are a bit spirited aren't they?"
"Damn unruly if you ask me," his eyes moved over her shoulder, "evening Professor Snape, out on patrol are we?"
"One must always keep them on their toes hmm?" His rich voice resonated in her hear and Morgan imagined him standing very close, but was resigned not to check over her shoulder.
"Well then carry on with the good work. G'night professors, come on Mrs. Norris."
As Morgan made her way to her rooms she could hear his footfalls right behind her and tried to ignore them as she continued. Being close to him outside had unnerved her, why doesn't that blasted man go away? Snape stopped behind her and as she opened the door and stepped inside the woman turned her eyes to the Potions Master. His black eyes bore through her for a long moment before he said goodnight and continued to his dungeon.
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The next night Draco arrived promptly at eight o'clock and Professor Rheged set up the television for him, suppressing a grin as she started an especially sappy episode of The Brady Bunch. "You'll love this one Draco, they enter a singing competition."
The boy's mouth opened as if to say something, but apparently he thought better of it and faced the screen. Morgan sat correcting some papers listening to his occasional groan or whimper of frustration.
He left promptly after the hour and she expressed her own sigh of release. Suddenly the professor felt the summons she had been expecting any day now and rose to gather a cloak. Sure footsteps carried her form down the hall and into the entryway, stopping dead when Snape appeared from the dungeons.
"Professor Rheged, this is an odd place for you to be at such an hour," he drawled, staring at her.
"But not for you Snape? What are you doing here?"
"I was just about to go for a late stroll and you?"
"What a coincidence, so was I. You go right ahead."
"Ladies first."
"Fine we'll go together then," Morgan wrapped her cloak tight as they stepped out into the crisp night air. Briskly they strode over the lawns and to the edge of the forest.
"I think I'll stay out a bit longer professor, you have no need to watch over me .I'll be fine if you want to return."
"It seems that I have an errand to run and won't be heading back just yet myself."
"Fine," Morgan responded in exasperation, "I need to be leaving as well, you go ahead first."
"Once again I find myself the gentleman, ladies first."
"Together then!" Pulling out their wands, "on the count of three then. One. Two. Three."
She found herself Reapparating into the rear of a stone entry hall. Candles lit the walls, their light flickering off the Death Eaters roaming about just ahead. A chill washed over Morgan, she felt her blood turn to ice as she turned to look into the glaring eyes of Professor Snape.
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Thanks as always to Redlady27 and Snapelady for the reviews.