WARNING: This story is rated R (just to be safe) for language and sexual content.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other Potterverse characters. They are owned by JK Rowling.

DeAndry Harris, along with the story, though, are mine. Read but do not hurt.

Timeline: During POA

I've decided that those of you who read this story, and don't post reviews, need to (said with a big grin). You have no idea how jazzed I get when I receive new reviews. I live for them!!

Anyway, I just wanted y'all to know that I haven't given up on this story, in fact, I have a great new plot twist that I will be introducing next chapter (I've even written most of it ... yey for me!) But I can't guarantee faster updates, I'm sorry. I have more homework than I have ever had in my entire life!! It's insane. I'm taking Psychology, Sociology, American History, and Speech. And even though it's only four classes ... I have a crap load of homework. But I am trying to spend more time on this story. Eventually I want to get writing more fan fics, and by the way, if you have any ideas, lemmie know.

And another ploy to get you to read, AND REVIEW (subtle hint, huh) my other Snape story ... go ... read "First Time for Everything." It's good. Probably even better writing than this one (actually I'm almost positive it's better than this story). And go, read, review, and be happy!

Yeah, enough of that mumbo jumbo crap, I hope you like! And please review!!!

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Snape was perched behind his desk absently pulling apart pieces of bread that he had taken from dinner, while he read the last few pages of a book on Legilimency. He had read it hundreds of times when he was younger, but this was the first time in at least three years. The castle was quiet, the sounds of House Elves and the remaining occupants of the castle had died out hours ago. The only sound now, was the soothing boil of a potion across the room from him.

Closing the book noisily, Snape sighed. He was foolish to think that there was something in the text that he had missed before. Pulling out the pocket watch that was given to him by his grandfather, he read the hands. Thirty-seven past three. He had been reading since he returned from dinner.

His mind drifted to the meal, as uneventful as it was. The Headmaster had roped Professors Flitwick and McGonagal into a discussion on holiday dances. Snape had narrowly missed a question about a similar dance from his school days, when Professor Sprout spilled her pumpkin juice. He was overjoyed by the distraction. If there was anything he didn't want to discuss, it was dances from his school days.

The only remaining students sat huddled at the end of the table laughing at a letter from the Weasley twins to DeAndry.

Miss Harris, Snape corrected himself. He pinched the bridge of his nose bringing himself back to the present.

With another sigh, he forced his disagreeing muscles to move. His body never approved of remaining stationary for long periods of time, which is why he often found himself prowling the halls at night. He stood allowing his spine to crack and pop as he did so.

Replacing the book among the wall of others in his library, he froze hearing something just outside of the classroom. He wondered for a split second if it was the headmaster, but dismissed that thought just as quickly. Dumbledore never made his presence known, and most likely wouldn't be out this late anyway.

As thoughts of Sirius Black flooded his mind, he staked toward the closed door of his room. But whoever was on the other side, reached the handle first. With a quick push from Snape's side, the door flew open.

The darkhaired figure jumped, surprised. It was DeAndry.

They both glared at each other for a moment, then Snape stepped aside allowing her entrance. He shut the door behind her.

Slightly upset that she was startled, and caught, Snape figured, she turned to face him. She was pale, almost white, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her face.

"What are you doing here?" Snape was the first to speak.

"The truth?"

"The truth."

DeAndry looked relieved, as if she didn't have enough energy to come up with a lie as to why she was there. "I was coming to steal some ingredients from your stores."

"Really?" he spoke, un-amused. "You are entirely too bold."

Her hands found their way to her hips. "Subtlety has never been one of my strong suits."

Without backing down, Snape made his way back to his desk. "What ingredients?"

DeAndry didn't move from her spot, but she turned to face him. "Aconite, lovage, belladonna, and ginger."

He was silent for a moment as he put the ingredients together in his head. She hadn't once considered that he wouldn't pick up what she wanted to brew.

"You don't have ginger in your personal stores?"

"Well, I do, but why waste mine when I could steal yours?"

He bit back a dozen angry words; he wasn't in the mood for a fight. And for the moment he wanted more information as to why she was having such trouble with her powers. That was the only possible reason for that particular potion.

"The store room is open," he finally said.

"Thank you."

Snape closed his eyes listening to the slap of DeAndry's bare feet on the stone floor. He was making things complicated for himself.

As if things weren't already complicated, he thought bitterly. But now he was having difficulties thinking of her as a student. It was harder when he wasn't teaching classes. And when she wasn't wearing her robes.

He fought with himself and lost. He opened his eyes in time to see her remerging from his storeroom. She was wearing pajamas. Dark green silk pajamas.

"She should have been a Slytherin."

"What?" DeAndry asked. Snape looked up, realizing he had spoken that thought out loud.

"Oh. I just ... You should have been a Slytherin."

"You wish." She set out the ingredients she had collected on a free counter.

"It would make things easier," he said under his breath.

"Or more difficult." She began dividing out the ingredients. "I don't think I could pull off being Slytherin. I'm Gryffindor all the way."

"Yes, thank you for reminding me of that."

She chose not to respond. Instead she quickly mixed the potion and began to heat it. It was at a boil in no time. She added one more ingredient then poured her brew into a vile. Running over the ingredients of the potion she had just concocted in her head, she must have thought she was finished, for she grasped the vile tighter and raised it to her lips.

Snape scoffed under his breath, but it was enough to stop her from taking the potion. She looked up at him.

"Did I forget something?"

Rising gracefully from his desk, he was over to her in no time. He swiftly captured the vile from her slightly shaking hands. He noticed this involuntary movement in her fingers, but decided not to comment on it. Instead he went for another criticism. "One would hope that you would choose to save the few remaining brains cells you have."

"Yes, that was helpful," she snapped sarcastically.

Snape smiled to himself. He enjoyed her when she was irritated. It made things easier.

"So I'm forgetting something. What is it?"

"Other than the fact that aconite can be fatal if ingested without the counter agent?"

DeAndry rolled her eyes, realizing her error. "Hellebore."

But Snape was already filling a dropper with the blue liquid. "How many drops?" he asked without looking her straight on.

"Always the teacher," she said distractedly. "Twelve."

Snape kept her in the corner of his vision as her eyelids went heavy and she began to massage her temples.

"Have you spoke with the Headmaster about this?"

"I don't think this is anything to concern him with," she spoke through gritted teeth. Snape saw the muscle in her jaw twitch.

"How long?"

"Since I was bitten by the spider." She looked up from her hands, and shot a rueful look his way. He was amazed at how her demeanor had changed from earlier that day. She was really in pain.

"You know you can ask for help," he said softly as he handed the vile back to her.

She took it harshly, almost spilling it. "I did ask for help. Le Bouclier D'Empêchement, remember? And we all saw how well that worked out."

Snape turned his head, slightly embarrassed. "I can still help you if you wish."

"No, Dumbledore said that Lupin is feeling better. I'll just go ask him." Tipping her head back, she downed the vile. "Blaaa," she gasped shivering. Handing the empty vile back to Snape, she scrunched her face, gasping for air a couple times, then she sneezed. She shook her head. "Excuse me."

Snape ignored her reaction to the potion. He was more concerned with why she was taking it. "What exactly has caused you to break several rules to come and take this?"

She looked up at him, her eyes dark, mostly from lack of sleep. She was too tired to not to simply tell him the truth. "My head was hurting. I could hear voices, and I couldn't stop them."

"You were reading thoughts?"

"I think so."

"I have something that might help." He pulled the book he had been reading earlier.

"No. That won't do anything. It's different than Legilimency." She took a seat behind one of the desks.

"Will it get worse when the rest of the students come back from Holidays?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "But I do know that it's harder to block out simple things. Like people who think the same way they talk. Like the house elves. That's what's bothering me tonight. It's harder to read, easier to block, people who think in emotions and images, which most people do." There was silence for a long moment, until DeAndry laughed silently. "If someone were to read my mind, would they also be able to read everyone else's that I'm reading?"

Snape held up the Legilimency book that he still had in his hands. "We could find out."

"No thank you." DeAndry stood. "I don't like the idea of you rummaging around in here," she said thumping herself on her temple with her index finger. "Besides, you won't show me yours, so why should I show you mine?"

"What are you hiding?" honestly curious.

"Just because you're hiding something, doesn't mean I am." When he didn't respond, she made her way to the door. "I need sleep. And so do probably you." She stopped at the door, and her eyes fell on the cauldron that had been boiling since before she had arrived. "I'll be back in the morning to help with the project." She sighed. "Goodnight."

Snape only nodded his head in response. She left quietly into the dark hallway of the dungeon. She was right. He did need sleep.