Chapter Seven

Disclaimer on chapter one

Ruby was glad when it was Christmas break; she did not know how much longer she could sleep in the dungeon. Severus had brought her meals to her for the two days she was down there. They would talk primarily about potions and she found that the young Severus actually wanted to work in potions, not in defenses against the dark arts as everyone had told her.

"I feel that potions are one of the most underrated forms of magic," he stated as he walked Ruby down the dark corridor to the Slytherin common room.

"Oh I agree, I mean, I think all forms of magic have there use, but potions is like an artform."

"Amazing," he smiled. "I never thought anyone thought about potions in the same way I do."

"Well, I just happened to come across potions by accident." Ruby sat on one of the black leather chairs.

"Really, how?"

"Well you know the whole curse thing... I mean." She forgot that this Snape didn't know about the curse or anything that had happened to her.

"You were cursed?"

"Yeah," she laughed nervously. It was odd to find Snape so interested in her. "It was a curse that was on my laughter, and if I laughed, things would fall over or explode."

"Scherzo curse, right?" Ruby looked at him a little surprised, so he explained. "I read about it briefly in a book in the library. You cure it with a potion."

Ruby replied, "Yeah, and it's kind of hard..."

Severus interrupted, "I know, I tried to make it. Never knew if it worked or not, but seemed rather weak. Unfortunately, the book that had the instructions on how to make it has disappeared from the library,"

"Yeah, I didn't find it in the library, someone happened to find a potions book and handed it to me. So it was kind of like I was destined to be in potions, you know."

"Ha, destiny."

"Are you mocking me?"

"Well, I just have a hard time believing in destiny, fate, you know. I believe I make my destiny." She laughed. "You know, you must have caused a lot of damage under that curse, you laugh so much."

"Nah, I hardly laughed at all under the curse, that's why I enjoy laughing now."

"Even at my expense, I see." He seemed to get slightly more distant then a moment before.

"No, that wasn't at your expense," she quickly apologized.

"It's ok, I'm used to it."

"No, I was laughing, because you don't strike me as a person who makes there own destiny. It's nice to know."

"Yeah, uh huh."

"Oh stop it. You are so absorbed in your problems," she lectured.

"Well, at least I don't run from my problems," he retaliated.

She gave him a look. "Not fair."

And this was how most of their conversations went, casual banter to accusatory arguments.

Ruby slept in the common room on the couch, which was much more comfortable then the chairs in the dungeon. Severus and her ate their meals together in the common room, then would talk the day away while Severus worked on his homework. One day, they actually ventured out around the castle. They were in front of a bathroom when Ruby suddenly stopped.

"What is it," Severus asked.

"Is this...," she trailed off as she heard the crying. "Moaning Myrtle?"

"Yes, she is still around when you go to Hogwarts?"

"Yeah, I mean I wasn't sure how long she had been here."

Then another voice came. "Sniverus, what are you doing by the Moaning Myrtles Bathroom?"

Severus's tone of voice changed to the one she had heard and was used to."Keep out of my business, Black"

Then the Potter kid chimed in, "Really, Sniverus, even Myrtle has higher standards then that."

"How bout you shut the hell up," Ruby said causing Severus to chuckle.

"Something funny," Black continued

"Just thought that Potter should give his standards lecture to his friends before he turns it to the public," Severus mocked.

"Why you greasy haired snake," said Potter.

"James, Sirius there you are," said a girl who walked towards them. All the boys got quiet and James and Severus slightly blushed.

Sirius seemed to be the only one who could speak. "Hey, Lilly, you were looking for us."

"Obviously, I thought we were going to the library to work on homework. Get it done and not wait last minute?"

"Oh, yeah," James laughed nervously.

"You see, Evans," Severus finally piped in, "They got lost and had to use the little girls room."

"Severus Snape, it is Christmas break, you could at least try to be merry." The group walked away and Ruby stared at Severus.

"WHAT?"

"You like her," she said in a semi excited and slightly dejected way.

"Ha!"

"You do! You are blushing like a...well I don't know but you are!"

"Ruby, it could never work!"

Upon arriving back to the common room Ruby continued, "Why?"

"Why, what," he said sternly.

"Why not Lilly."

"Because, she... she is Lilly, a Gryffindor, an impossibility." He stomped up to his dorm and Ruby flopped down on the couch and thought. She hadn't thought that to keep Severus from becoming a deatheater, she might have to hook him up with Lilly. It pissed her off that she barely slept that night.