Snape was sitting in his office, after Kriss had left, still with his head in his hands.

He could not believe what had come over him. 'Why had this one girl got to him so much?' He had taught for 16 years now and he'd always managed to resist thinking about the girls in the school in that way. 'Kriss was different though. Maybe it was because, he felt she reciprocated his feelings and that had encouraged him to show his. Maybe it was he felt he had a kindred spirit, someone with the skills and fascination for potions that he had. Or maybe it was just because she was beautiful, intelligent, shrewd and didn't care much of other peoples opinions about her. She just worked hard at her schoolwork, got good marks and never got into trouble, as far as he knew.'

Snape stood up and started to pace the floor of his office restlessly. He struggled with unfamiliar feelings – was it love or just desire? 'What on earth had made her feel that way about him? It wasn't as if he was that good looking or anything. He had certainly never encouraged it. He had spent a little extra time on her than most other students, yes, but only because she asked more questions and showed more interest. Snape leant forward over his desk staring at nothing. 'Why had he kissed her, why had he given in to his lust?' This could ruin both his reputation and his career, both carefully built up over the years since his deatheater days. He felt he had redeemed himself here, proving he was no longer one of them, at least to Dumbledore.

All this time he had spent trying to control his feelings, to pretend that he had none. But that wasn't true, he'd pushed them down and tried to ignore them but they were still there. Guilt and shame feelings rose to the surface now, then they turned to anger at himself.

Suddenly the anger at himself turned outward. In one swipe he knocked all the things off his desk, sending vials and bottles crashing to the floor. Snape just stood there in a haze for a moment, then he gathered himself a little. He looked over at the mess of potions and slimy bits of various, creatures innards and thought about cleaning it up. Then he spied something lying on the floor. Snape bent down to pick up the wand that had been half buried in all the mess.

He stared at it for a while, when a thought occured to him, he turned towards the door and opened it. 'This would be the perfect excuse to see her, to return her wand. He would get her on her own somehow, to explain. To beg her not to tell anyone, that this was a one off, that he'd just got caught up in the moment. That she needn't worry as this would never happen again, he would guarantee it.'

Snape walked slowly down the corridor, practising what he would say quietly to himself . Hoping against hope Kriss hadn't told anyone yet. As he turned the corner, heading towards the Slytheryn common room, there was a commotion up ahead. Voices shouting in alarm and running feet. Thinking it was bound to be students up to no good, Snape quickened his pace. He reached the alcove and saw a figure sitting on the floor, that he immediately recognised as Kriss. Her beautiful blonde hair was spread out over her knees as her head bowed down towards them. Her arms were curled around her legs and she was rocking back and forth crying softly. Snape was unsure what to do. He could not cope with this sort of emotions in teenage girls; they seemed to cry at the drop of a hat. 'Had the kiss upset her that much' he thought anxiously. As his footsteps approached, Kriss's head rose from her knees and she looked at him. Tears were streaked down her cheeks and the wetness had made strands of hair cling to them. She stood up shakily, her lips mouthing words she couldn't seem to say. Suddenly she stepped towards him and without warning threw her arms around his neck. Kriss buried her face in his shoulder and cried even harder. Snape was confused. If she was upset with him, why was she coming to him for comfort? He pulled her away from him and looked into her eyes, now red from crying.

"Kriss, I'm so sorry I . . "But before he could finish she interrupted him . "No it..it's not you..it was some boys, I don't know who they were, they were wearing masks. I was so scared, if only I hadn't been so stupid and left my wand behind!" Kriss managed when she had calmed down a little.

"What happened?" Snape asked, dreading the answer.

"They.. well one of them he..he wanted to.. he was touching me.." Kriss seemed unable to continue, but Snape got the idea. He suddenly felt anger welling up inside him and at the same time terrible guilt. He felt completely to blame - she wouldn't have been out this late on her own, wand- less if he just allowed her to return the cloak to him in the day. But he'd jumped at the chance of an excuse to be alone with her, in the evening when he knew there was little chance of them being disturbed.

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn't made you jump you would not have dropped your wand, or lost your shirt." Snape said softly, looking down for a moment.

"No it..it was my fault, I'm just so clumsy and I'm always leaving my wand behind! I'm just lucky I have claudette, she's always picking it up for me and asking me if I've remembered it." Snape felt worse than ever at her modest apology.Then he suddenly remembered something, he reached into his robe and produced the wand.

"Here, I was bringing you this" Snape said with the hint of a smile.

"Oh - thankyou" Kriss said in gratitude, smiling back. She took the wand from him and as he felt the soft touch of her hand against his, his stomach fluttered. He then noticed the gap in her cloak, the lace of her bra and the soft curve of the breasts held within it. He remembered the way she looked standing in his office and how he felt, then shook his head as if trying to shake the licentious thoughts away.

Kriss had stopped crying now. She reached up and gently laid her hand against his cheek. "I'm just so lucky you came when you did, otherwise.." Kriss shook her head to end this statement. Suddenly, they heard voices coming from down the corridor and the great clock was chimeing out ten o'clock. The students would soon be returning from the great hall back to their common rooms. Kriss quickly removed her hand and walked away.

"But..don't you want to report this?" Snape questioned

"No, like I said I don't know who they were so I've got no proof, look I've got to go I want to get in before the others see me like this" At this last statement she looked down at her self to indicate the lack of shirt and the robe she was wearing, then sped away up the corridor.