"Could you remove yourself from me now Miss Firestone?"

"Erm.. I'm tangled up in your buttons.. I'm just trying to.." Kriss was trying desperately to detangle the lacing but as it was dark at the bottom of the stairs she couldn't see what she was doing.

"Accio wand" Ordered Snape, his wand flew down to his hand, then he said "Lumos". A light flared and Kriss could now see a little more, though it was awkward as Kriss's larger than average bust was getting in the way.

Snape obviously tired of waiting said "enough – let me do it!"

"No.. I've got it, almost" Kriss's hands were now sweating from nerves and couldn't grip. Suddenly Snape uttered a spell "DISIUNGO" at the troublesome nightdress.

"What's happening..ohh!" Instead of the intended disentanglement, the whole fabric of the flimsy garment was unraveling! The threads flew up into the air for a moment then came to a rest on the floor. Kriss couldn't speak, but got up and quickly balled herself up against a wall.

"Oh, that spell may have been a little too.. forceful" he said looking at the pile of threads. "You think?" said Kriss sarcastically "Here" Snape reached upto his neck and whirled off his cloak, then threw it over to her "You can't walk around the school naked, it is.." Snape cleared his throat "A little too cold." Kriss caught the cloak and wrapped it around her gratefully. It was warm but smelled a little musty. "I will escort you back to your dorm, Miss Firestone" Snape said, back to his usual haughty demeanor ."Thanks but I can manage now" Kriss just wanted to leave his presence, she was embarrassed enough without having an awkward silence on the walk back. "I insist" Snape said sternly. So they both walked back towards the Slytheryn common room.

Suddenly Kriss spoke "Why don't you call me Kriss? I mean you've known me for over six years now, all the other teachers do."

"I prefer to keep a professional distance at all times" Snape said without looking at her.

"But it is a shame we couldn't be well..more friendly we do have an interest in common" Kriss didn't want to say the word 'friends' that sounded to presumptuous.

"Yes we do, but I do not think it would be.. appropriate" Snape said rather awkwardly. They reached the common room and stood by the portrait. "Erm, when do you want this back?" Kriss indicated with her eyes. "Bring it to my study room tomorrow, I shall be in there all evening" with that Snape turned and walked off, looking strange without his cloak whirling out behind him.

Kriss's heart was still beating fast, she smiled and shook her head in disbelief at what had just happened, then walked up the stairs and stole into the room she shared with her friends Claudette, Xanthe and Lucinda. Claudette was her best friend and trusted confidante, she wanted to work as a lawyer in the Ministry Courts and was a very good listener and problem solver. Kriss slid silently into bed , thinking she would tell Claudette as soon as they were alone tomorrow. She struggled at first but managed to get back to sleep.

Kriss awoke with a start she had been dreaming – she was in potions class, with Snape waving his wand at her. He had been punishing her for not getting a potion right and had unraveled her clothes again leaving her naked in front of everyone. She then realized to her horror that she did have a double potions class - first thing this morning.

"About time" said Claudette "I thought I would have to use a rousing spell on you!" as Kriss pulled open the curtains from around her bed. Everyone else was nearly dressed, so, stashing the borrowed robe under her bedclothes she rushed out to get showered and dressed. She rushed down to the great hall, there were only a few people in there and by the time she had bolted down some breakfast she was the only one left.

Kriss knew she would be late for class, but could do nothing about it. She jogged down to the dungeon room her cauldron clanking against her as she went. When she arrived she looked in through the door, her heart sank as she saw that Snape was already in as well as the rest of the class. This was the first time she had ever been late to Snapes class and knew thought he would not be very understanding.

As soon as the door opened everyone turned in their seats to see who it was. "I see you have decided to join us at last Miss Firestone" Snape looked at her briefly then said "Prepare your things quietly then follow the instructions on the board." Kriss did as she was told, her face burning with embarassment, from both last nights events and her late arrival. Everyone else was busy preparing their ingredients and she was soon doing the same. They continued the class pretty much in silence as usual, soon the potion was finished and even though she was flustered it was fautless as usual. Kriss took her sample up to Snapes desk with everyone else, as she was about to walk away, she could have sworn she felt Snape looking at her out of the corner of her eye. By the time she looked at him, he had looked away. She went to speak but decided it could wait and went to join her friends for morning break.