"Hagrid, you don't understand. I don't want to teach potions full time. I like what I am doing now. I get to stay involved with everyone and everything. I love being in the greenhouses and out here with you. I can't stand to be locked up inside...in the dungeons...with HIM."

"Shush now, Jessica. This is a great honor. You, a potions mistress. That is quite a compliment, especially coming from Professor Snape. Not many compliments coming from that man, you know. You must be really good for him to take you on as his assistant. You should be proud."

"But I don't want it," she moaned, throwing herself down on a stack of fresh hay. The unicorn nudged her and absent-mindedly she rubbed its velvety muzzle. "What makes everyone think I should be falling all over myself to work with Snape? I talked to Dumbledore this morning and he refused to reconsider my placement. Don't you all realize how much Snape disgusts me."

"He is the best potions master that Hogwarts has ever seen. Maybe not the most charming bloke to come along, but he is brilliant and he is willing to teach you. It's a chance to really make something of yourself. You need to shelf that attitude and learn all that you can. Go on and make me proud." Hagrid continued to clean the stalls as Jessica rose and began to mix grain, honey and milk to feed the very pregnant unicorn. Jessica maybe good at potions but she was better at this. Working with living things, watching them flourish under her care, this brought her so much joy. How could they expect her to give this up?

"I know you won't have much time once you start your advance training, but feel free to stop by anytime you want to," Hagrid's voice carried a deep sadness.

"I will see to it that she has time to assist other instructors. Those were the headmaster's orders," the icy voice rang through the warm barn chilling the very blood in her veins. Jessica turned to see Snape carefully picking his way towards them.

"Professor," Hagrid boomed joyously as if Snape was a long lost friend, "What brings you down to the stables?"

"Someone forgot her assignment package. I knew I would find you down here." He thrust the papers into her hands then turned towards the empty stall behind him. To her surprise, he reached over the door and briskly rubbed his hand in the air. "Taking a trip, Hagrid?"

"Of course not, Professor. I just keep Leatherwing here in case Professor Dumbledore needs him in a hurry."

Jessica continued to stare at Snape with a look of disbelief.

"Can't see him, can you? I should have been surprised if you could."

A thestral, of course, why hadn't she realized it before? He had caught her off guard dealing with a subject she loved, how much worse would he keep her off balance in potions. She felt her was challenging her and was angry at his arrogance.

"Well, I've never killed anyone," she hissed.

"Silly girl, do you know nothing? Hagrid, I am surprised that you have been remised in your teaching." Hagrid's ruddy face blanched in shock but Snape continued before he had the chance to respond. "For you information, Jessica, the thestral is plain to me because I have been touched by death. I was forced to witness the deaths of close friends. This is why I can see him, not because I have taken a life." Something changed in his eyes. The steely eyes softened with something akin to sadness. When he spoke again the rich voice was extremely soft. "I have never taken a life. Tortured... yes, but murder...no. Not that I couldn't have killed him with a happy heart, but still I never moved against him." As quickly as it had ebbed the rage returned. "I should have killed him. Then just maybe..." He drifted off into silence as Jessica and Hagrid looked on in confusion. The thestral shoved his head hard into the professor's shoulder bringing him back to the present. He patted the animal again and stepped away. Running his hand through his long black hair he composed himself and looked at the slack jawed duo before him. "What?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all, professor," Hagrid sputtered. "Oh, mind your step there."

Too late. Snape grunted in disgust as he wiped his shoe against a bale of hay. Jessica unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. He looked at her coldly. "Can't see the animal but you can see the results."

"Better then you can, I guess," she giggled.

"Those first two potions...I expect you to be able to brew them flawlessly tomorrow. Mind that you study harder for me then you have been for Hagrid. I will not accept anything short of perfection. Until tomorrow," he gave her a slight nod. "Hagrid."

"Professor."

With that, Snape turned on his heel and was gone. With him safely out of earshot, Hagrid and Jessica broke down into fits of laughter. Once they had regained their self-control Jessica voiced what both had been thinking. "What the hell was that?"

"Don't know. No one knows much about Professor Snape's past except Professor Dumbledore and Dumbledore is great at keeping a secret. I guess it will be up to Snape to enlighten us if he ever feels the need."

"Doubt it."

"Me to."

"Hagrid, what is that," she pointed to a ball of feathers and fur half hidden in the hay.

"Oh, that," his eyes twinkled brightly. "Why don't you take a look?"

She moved towards it slowly, always a little apprehensive of any new pet of Hagrid's. Still she had to admit everything he had ever shown her was intriguing. The ball flew from the hay and attached itself to her ankle, kicking, spitting, and biting her pants leg.

"Ow!" Reaching down, she pulled a half grown black and white kitten with wings from her bleeding ankle.

"Sorry 'bout that. Gets carried away sometimes, she does. Don't you my little pumpkin?" Hagrid scratched the little white chin and the kitten began to purr. "So what do you think of her?"

"She's adorable. What is she?"

"That there is a flapcat. Very rare. You don't see them often in England. Got her out of Swansea, didn't I?" He continued to tickle the kitten's chin. "Hasn't shown any powers yet but she's a smart one."

"What's her name?"

"Don't have one. Leaving that up to you."

"Oh, Hagrid," she held the flapcat in one arm and wrapped the other around Hagrid's neck drawing him down to kiss his cheek. He chuckled as a rosy blush lit up his face.

"Go on. 'Twas nothing. I just wanted you to have something to remember 'ol Hagrid by."

"As if."

"As a professor, it's a good idea to have a familiar. Keep tabs on the students...and staff, if you know what I mean," he winked.

"She's wonderful. I think I'll call her..." She held the flapcat up to get a better over all look. She was small and mostly black except for splashes of white on her chest, chin, toes and belly. "Domino. What do you think?" The flapcat closed her round green eyes and purred contently. "Domino it is."