(Author Note: w00t! More Severus this chapter. We get to see an extremely human side of him! That's always fun!

Disclaimer: Don't own HP, nor will I ever. This is the last disclaimer, so it goes for the rest of the story.)

Chapter 12: Tears, and Toothbrushes.

That evening was yet another detention. Maya sighed softly, as she walked towards the dark dungeon classroom. She reached it, and knocked quietly, waiting for her professor to answer.


Severus growled furiously. This had been a very bad day, and he wasn't in the mood. He swung open the door, to see a terrified Maya. "O, you. Come in, and clean." He ordered.


Maya stared up at him, and shook her head. "Professor, I don't want too. My hand hurts from all the notes we had to do today."

"You will do what I want you too, Ms. Tanner." He snapped, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"But professor!" She whined. At that moment, Severus glared, and grabbed her by the shoulder. He led her all the way to Minerva's chambers, and banged on the door. "MINERVA!"

Minerva looked up from her desk, and frowned slightly. She had a lot of work to do, and didn't have the time for this. She went to the door, and swung it open, seeing her co-worker, and her daughter. "Yes?"

"Your daughter is refusing a detention." He growled darkly.

Maya whimpered, and wiggled from his grip. She sunk to the floor, and pulled her knees to her chest. Minerva and Severus started to discuss what to do about the misbehaving girl.

Maya, meanwhile, took this as her cue to sneak away, and started to crawl down the hall.

"NOT SO FAST MS. TANNER!" Severus bellowed

Maya cringed, and looked at him, and Minerva. "I need to go get something out of the dorms."

The look on Severus' face spelled death if she even tried to go to the dorms

Maya shuddered, and took a few steps back, wanting to put some distance between her, and Severus. Severus looked expectantly at Minerva

Minerva narrowed her eyes. "Maya, you will not take another step if you know what's good for you." Maya stopped at once. Severus smirked Maya stuck out her tongue at him.

Severus looked mad enough to kill. "DO something about your CHILD before I DO!"

Minerva crossed her arms over her chest, and smirked. "I want to see how you deal with her Severus."

"No. You. Don't." He growled

Minerva leaned against the wall. "Go ahead. I want to see how you are as a parent." She laughed slightly. Maya looked terrified out of her mind.

Severus strode over and lifted Maya onto her feet. "Are you going to behave?" he snarled

Maya looked up at him, and narrowed her eyes. "You don't scare me." She shuddered slightly, but tried to hide it.

"That is not the answer I am looking for"

"I don't like to clean.. I'll write lines, or something. But I can't clean.."

"Clean the cauldrons and floor----or the entire great hall WITH A TOOTHBRUSH!!!!"

Maya shuddered, and glared at him. "You are the center of evilness. You--"

"GREAT HALL IT IS" He put her under one arm and carried her off, accioing a toothbrush

"HEEEEY!!" She wiggled, and squirmed in his arms. "DON'T BE SO EVIL!!" He ignored her and plopped her onto the floor with a bucket of soapy water that would refill automatically when it ran out, and three toothbrushes

"Ermm.." She stared at the three toothbrushes, and then at the bucket. "No way." He cocked an eyebrow, daring her to refuse

She shuddered, and grabbed a toothbrush, and set to work. "Severus, this is BORING." She whined after only 5 minutes.

"I could make it worse" he drawled darkly

"And how could you do that?" She asked angrily.

"Don't ask"

"Let me guess. Make me clean all of Hogwarts with a toothbrush?" He shook his head no

He flicked his wand and classical music began playing----loudly

"Wow, I'm surprised." She took out her wand, and charmed the other two toothbrushes.

"NO MAGIC"

She dropped her wand to the floor and covered her ears. "NOOOO!!!" he smirked and turned it off.

She shuddered, and started to scrub the floor. "Not that again.. please.."

"Then hush"

She picked up her wand, and with a flick of it, her music started to blast. He shut it off.

She pouted. "Come on.. Be kind. To think.. I actually defended you this morning." She sighed.

"SILENCE"

"Well it's true.." She looked down. "I defended you to Ginny, and then she defended you, and all was messed up.."

"Child, shut your mouth"

Her eyes went wide, and a hurt look came into them. She looked down, and dropped the toothbrush. He was rubbing his forehead, feeling a terrible headache

Maya stood up, and walked out of the great hall. She was tried, and she was in a bad mood. On top of that, the guy she admired told her to shut up.

"Maya! Get back here!" He ran after her

Maya waved a hand at him, and shook her head. "Leave me alone.." She said sadly.

"What is wrong? Are you ill?"

She leaned against a wall, and shook her head. Tears in her eyes. "Go away."

"Should I fetch your mother?" he looked concerned.

"Am I that annoying?" She looked up at him. "I talk to much.. Don't I?" She looked down, and sniffed. "I knew it."

"I didn't say that, but I have a headache and you wouldn't be quiet"

"All you had to do was tell me you had a headache.." She whispered. "I would have been quiet." She turned away from him, and walked up the stairs.

"Maya--wait---my apologies"

She turned around, and looked at him. "You don't totally hate me?" She asked happily. He shook his head no

She ran back down the stairs, and hugged him tight. "Good."

He stiffened, but slowly patted her head "Go back to your dorm now..."

She looked up at him, and nodded. "Ok.. But, you shouldn't be so mean to people, ya know? You might actually meet, and get some really cool friends." She walked to the stairs again, and disappeared up them.

(Author's note: w00t! Another chapter in the bag. ^__^ Thanks to Kerry-chan for help with this chapter. XD)