AN: This chapter is short... sorry. I was really debating on writing this or going directly to Halloween, but I wrote it because there's a little necessary flirting in it. Thanks again for the reviews. I really appreciate it. To those who said I should make Raven a stronger character... she is getting there, I promise. A lot of the whole 'only a pretty face' perception comes from other characters POV's, but that will change, I promise. I've found a mistake myself and want to clear it up. I have Marcus Flint in here, but it's Draco's 7th year, so in reality, he would have graduated by now. Well... let's just pretend he didn't. Draco's the captain for the Quidditch team now, but we can say Flint still plays on it.

"You'll love the sweets at Honeydukes! Zonko's has to be one of the best joke shops ever, and we'll defiantly have to take you in the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer..." Pansy told Raven as they walked on the road to Hogameade with their friends. It seemed that everyone in 3rd year or above was taking the trip. Raven had been highly anticipating the trip ever since she had spent the few moments in the village before the carriage arrived on her first night at Hogwarts. It was the only completely muggle free village in Britain. There weren't any in America; only places that muggles couldn't go like Diagon Alley. As much as the trip to Hogsmeade had filled her mind the last few days, she had to admit it wasn't the only thing that she had been thinking about. Thoughts of the potions professor had been plaguing her mind, and she couldn't exactly figure out why. Her only conclusion was that he exhibited a certain power. After all, Raven was used to being around powerful people, and Snape had these qualities. She couldn't find a reason besides that, and it annoyed her. She had never let a little problem in her way, and this was something that haunted her like a memory she couldn't forget. "I wish it was a memory..." she thought. After all, she had Draco! They weren't officially a couple, but they weren't just friends either.

"Raven... we're here." Pansy said.

As usual, Raven had lost herself completely in thought and wasn't paying attention to where she was. She looked around and took in the sight of the village. It had been dark during her short wait for the carriage, but now that it was light, Raven found Hogsmeade to be even more alluring. Shops lined the streets that were being walked on by witches and wizards of all sorts.

"Where should we go first?" Raven asked, still in awe with the village.

"Honeydukes," Draco answered, taking her hand and leading her into the sweet shop. Raven looked around and saw enough candy to keep all the kids in Salem happy for a month. Gummy worms moved around in their packages, gum balls changed color before her eyes, and chocolate bunnies hopped around in a large box. About half an hour later the group fought their way out of the shop with bags of sweets and lighter money sacks. Draco took her hand and lead her into Zonko's.

Severus sneered as he walked on the street leading into the village. Though he liked Hogsmeade, he could think of better ways to spend a Saturday morning. He watched the students pass him, eager to spend money. "Probably buying useless things, as usual." he thought. Severus made a bee line to the Apothecary , which was in his opinion, the most useful shop in the village. The walls of the shop were lined with high shelves holding every type of potion ingredient imaginable. He had to re-stock on nightshade; a third year had blown up his cauldron and ran into the jar with shock, knocking it on the floor and breaking it. The unfortunate student had to spend a week in detention, doing disgusting chores (cleaning out hospital bed pans was one of them) without magic. He managed a smile when he remembered how the student cringed when he was told what his detention would be. Severus knew he was only giving so much detention to try to keep his mind off something... Raven. He kept reminding himself that she was a student. True, she was of age, but he knew it didn't matter. He would have put any thoughts out of his mind if he hadn't heard what she had to say under the influence of the truth potion. "That little stunt she pulled the other night didn't help either." Severus thought. Within the last few days, Raven's personality seemed to come out before him. She defiantly had a strong will in her; she didn't let anything stand in her way it seemed. She was direct and even defiant in a way. There was even a seductiveness about her.

"That explains the cherry..." Severus thought, grabbing a jar of nightshade from one of the lower shelves. He paid for it and headed out of the shop. He was debating on whether or not to go into The Three Broomsticks (too many students) when he noticed Raven sitting alone on a bench beneath the shade of a maple tree near the road. It was odd to see Raven without anyone; Draco and the other Slytherins always kept her company. He figured there was no harm in talking to her, so he made his way towards the bench.

"All alone, Miss. Stardust?" he asked, looking down at her. She had bags from Honeydukes and Zonkos at her side.

"Oh... yeah. Sit down if you want." she replied, moving the bags. Severus sat near her, taking care not to sit too close. After all, he didn't want anyone to think the wrong thing... right?

"Where's your usual group? It is rare to see you without the company of Mr. Malfoy." he said. Raven blushed a bit.

"Oh... I think he said something about harassing Hermonie Granger or something. I'm not really in the mood. I'm still kinda tired."

Severus noticed that she seemed a bit tense. He smiled lightly to himself at the thought that it could be caused by him. "The Halloween celebration is coming up soon. It's quite popular with the students." With his words, Raven seemed to loosen up a bit.

"Yeah, I've heard about it. It seems like fun. You'll be participating, right?" she asked, smiling with anticipation.

"I will be there, but lets just say I probably wont be the most active professor..." he replied, trailing off.

"Why? Oh, come on... you know you want to." Raven said. "I heard there's a costume contest and everything. You should enter! I'm sure you can think of something..."

Severus laughed lightly at the suggestion. "I have never participated in one of those silly things. I have a reputation to keep up if you haven't noticed."

"Really? And what's that?" Raven asked with a mocking challenging tone in her voice and a slightly seductive smile to match. Severus looked into her eyes and saw a fire in them that he failed to notice until then. He raised his eyebrow and returned the smile. He moved closer to her, not giving a damn if she was a student or not...

"Raven! We've been looking for you." a female voice said. Raven and Severus looked up to see Pansy, who, by the way, was becoming one of her best friends (besides Gwen, of course). "Come on, we're all having lunch at the Three Broomsticks. Oh... hey Professor."

Severus got up, hoping Pansy didn't think anything. One look at Raven told him that the same thought was going through her head. "Well, I'll be off. See you two in class." Severus said in a rushed voice. He hurried down the street towards Dervish and Banges.

"What's wrong with him?" Pansy asked as she and Raven watched Professor Snape walk into the shop.

"Um... I have no idea." Raven lied.