Thanks so much to all those who reviewed! They really help with the writing process. And thanks a bunch to my awesome beta reader, Natalie!!

Disclaimer: Okay folks, I own Beth, Laura, Quinn and Ashley so far, the rest are J.K.R.'s. You know this. I know this. Every one's happy. Or at least knowledgeable. Or something.

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"Wrong, as all ways Potter." Severus glared at Harry. "Maybe if your head would un-swell just a bit, you'd be better off in your studies."

"And maybe if your head swelled up any more, it would explode and save us from this misery."

The class snickered. Severus turned to see Beth, hands on hips, hair tied back in a messy ponytail, glaring at him.

"Ten points from your house!" He snapped.

Beth snorted. "You can't take points away from me, you git. I'm not a student, remember?" The students laughed out right this time, and she smirked before turning her attention back to Neville.

Severus stood there for a moment, glaring at the red head taking charge of his class, imagining all sorts of lovely ways to kill her.

"Professor!" Severus began walking over towards Goyle, who had called for help. Beth brushed past him, and bent low to talk to Goyle, listening to why he had called her over. Called HER over. Her. Not Severus, no, but this little piece of a girl. This stupid little girl, had taken over his classroom, his students, his work, and no one seemed to mind. In fact, they all seemed thrilled. His hands fisted by his sides. And what made it all the worse . . . she was damn good at it.

He spent the rest of the class behind his desk, making spiteful comments and aiming barb-wire insults, which were thrown right back at him by the ever bitchy Elizabeth Weasley. No, not Beth, but Melody Shamrock. Stupid bitch.

"Professor! I need some help please!" Called a slightly panicked Ron. "Oh, just shut up, Hermione! I know I messed up!!"

"You, Mister Weasley, are messed up." Severus stood, delighted to have the opportunity to insert himself. He walked around to stand in front on Ron while he stared down at him. A heat rushed through him, kin to rage. "Always making mistakes. Just like the rest of your family." He didn't glance over at Beth, but it was the thought that counts. He leaned down to whisper in Ron's face. "Your parents were a mistake. Never were able to control themselves. Like rabbits they are. And so are you. All of you are nothing but mistakes. All---WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!?" He stood, shaking and sputtering, water dripping. The class erupted in laughter. Severus spun, looking for the source of the water.

What he found was Beth, face flushed and eyes a dangerous shade of blue, with an empty cauldron in her hands. She smiled sweetly, shooting daggers at him with her eyes. "Feel Better?" She asked cheerfully.

~*~

Beth walked on tiptoe, edging around the corner as silently as she could. A book was clutched to her chest and she held her breath. She didn't know what was about this place, but she always felt the need to be completely and utterly silent. She was scared shitless of sneezing and setting that damn women upon her.

The Hogwarts library always did this to her. Curse the damn place, and the scary old women that resided in it.

She crept along the wall, avoiding the open spaces. She was almost there, she was going to make it . . .

"Can I help you?"

Beth squealed, and jumped into the air, dropping the heavy book. Forgetting where she was, and only knowing that the old hag was going to kill her, she turned to yell at the pretty brunette. "What the hell are you doing!?" She waved her hands in air, not bothering to keep her voice down. "This is a library, damn it!! Now that scary hag of a librarian is gonna . . ." her voice trailed off, and she looked at the young woman who was laughing. "What?" She asked lamely.

The woman shook her head, still chuckling. "Hi." She held out a hand. "My names Laura Lupin." She raised her eyebrows at Beth, who reluctantly shook her hand. "I'm the librarian."

Beth's jaw dropped. She felt her face flush, and cursed herself. "Er . . . the librarian . . .right. I am so sorry, but the other---"

Laura laughed. "I just started here two years ago. And I understand your fear of 'the scary hag of a librarian'." Her lips curved. "I hope I'm an improvement."

Beth bent to collect her book, and smiled happily, still blushing. "Well, how about you help me check this book out, and then I treat you to lunch. My way of saying sorry, thank you, and your welcome all in one."

Laura giggled, and the two women walked (quietly) to the counter.

~*~

The professors ate dinner together, of course. Charlie and Beth joined them, as did Laura. Taking a quick look around the three huddled together, noticing for the first time how old these professors were. Hell, most of these people had been their teachers when they were students. It felt . . . odd to be sitting with them, supposedly as equals. They were all so . . .well, old. Except for Severus, really, who didn't count given his sunny disposition.

"I feel weird." Laura whispered. "I don't normally eat with the professors. Why did I let you talk me in to this?"

"Because Charlie talked me into this, and I wasn't going down alone." Beth muttered, keeping her eyes on Hagrid, who looked ready to fall out of his seat. She ignored Laura's groan, saying, "I give him five minutes before he falls."

Charlie glanced over at his professor. "No, he'll last at least ten minutes, if not more."

"No way!"

"Wanna bet?"

Beth glanced at Hagrid, then faced her twin. "How much?"

"Five gallons."

Beth didn't hesitate, just held out her hand. They shook on it, and went back to their super. Laura watched this with raised eyebrows and a small smile. She shook her head and went back to her potatoes.

"So how's potions going, Melody?" Charlie asked reaching for the butter. Beth made a face, but quickly aimed a bright and sunny smile towards Severus. "Oh, it's great! I'm really getting some hands on action in the teaching area."

"Only because the students are hoping to give you a different type of hands on action." Severus muttered.

"I beg your pardon? Care to say that again?"

Severus looked up and saw that the entire table had stopped eating to stare at him. Well, except Hagrid, but that's to be expected.

"Nothing really. Just that maybe if you were able to actually assist in teaching, you would be less of a hardship for me to deal with." Severus glared at Beth, who grinned at him.

"Oh, is that so?" Her smile widened. She looked a bit like a cat, Severus thought. A mean, sneaky cat that was gearing up to eat a canary. She continued, "Then tomorrow, I'll teach your classes. It will be a great learning experience for me, and maybe then I wont be such a burden to you."

Severus felt his stomach drop, full of dread. "No, I don't think---"

"Oh, come one, Severus." The new Defense against the Dark Arts professor, a young American witch, grinned at him, her green eyes dancing with mischief and her pixie-like face alighted with delight. "You can't seriously be afraid to let this girl teach your students. Can you?"

"Of course not!" He snapped. "I'm not afraid! I'm just---"

"Good then." Charlie leaned back in his chair, watching his former potions teacher with an amused expression on his face. "She'll teach tomorrow."

Severus face contorted into a horrible grimace of anger and panic. "Fine." He glared at Beth. "I guess I could use a day off." His face said the exact opposite. "Good luck, Ms. Shamrock." He swept out of the Great Hall, leaving the professors to collapse into laughter.

"My name's Quinn." The young woman smiled at Beth and ran a hand through her short crop of black hair. "That was fun."

Laura giggled. "His face was hilarious!"

Beth laughed and rested her chin in her hands. "Thanks for helping." She smiled warmly at the other three. Raising an eyebrow at Quinn she asked, "I don't think I've ever met you. I thought all the teachers were old." She whispered the last part. Quinn chuckled. "I understand. Well, Laura here is the youngest on the staff." Laura blushed happily while Quinn went on, "But then there's me and Ashley. And of course you two, now, although technically you're not Professors."

"Who's Ashley?" Beth asked, eyeing her brother quizzically. His face was a deep shade of red and he was staring very intently at his soup. "Oh," Quinn smiled. "Ashley is my cousin. She's the new History of Magic Professor."

Beth's eyes went wide. "There's a new History of Magic Professor? Since when?"

Quinn laughed. "The old one---I forget his name---but anyway, old ghosty decided that he needed to see more of the world. He just up and left one day." She shrugged. "Ashley took his place."

Beth shot a quick glance at her brother. "Have you met Ashley, Charlie?" His face flushed even redder, but he stared her in the eye with an expression of innocence on his face. "Why would you think that, Melody?" Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. "No reason. Just curious, I guess."

At that moment, Hagrid let out a loud "G'night" and fell right off his chair. Everyone in the Great Hall stood up to look at the snoring Professor.

"I win, then." Charlie smirked.

"Yes, well," Beth glanced over at Hagrid. "No need to rub it in."

~*~

While Beth slept safe in her bed that night, she dreamt of the past with a bittersweet clarity. He was there, holding her in his arms and whispering in her ears. His hands were rough and gentle, soothing tonight, bruising tomorrow. His lips raced over her, and her hands explored his body while the fire flickered in the distance.

~*~

Severus dreamed that night as well, dreamed of a time where he trusted, a time where he believed in magic. Real magic, magic of the heart. But those times are gone. They didn't softly fade away, but where torn and shredded, each rip a new stab in his heart. Now the magic has dimmed from his eyes, and his heart is dead. He doesn't trust, he doesn't hope. Instead of love, he sees only blood.

So much blood.

~*~

Beth murmured his name in her sleep, forgetting where she slept and who she was. In her dreams she called his name, and forgot that he didn't know hers.

"James . . ."