"Professor?" She called softly as she opened the door. She had knocked several times and when she had gotten no response, decided to try the door. To her surprise she found it unlocked and decided to go in.

Snape's chamber was much brighter and inviting than his classroom despite the fact that it to resided in the dungeons. A large marble and rosewood desk occupied much of the simple sitting room. On it rests a beautifully made antique set of brass scales and several small bottles of blue and green glass. A green marble mortar and pestle set commanded one corner. She could smell lemon oil and beeswax emitting from the highly polished wood. On the wall behind the desk stood a bookcase of tiger maple that held an endless supply of potion text and a few light reading fictional books. Horror and science fiction mostly. "Figures," she muttered.

A leather reclining chair and small loveseat were stationed before the fireplace from which a jade and silver serpent stared. Even though there was no fire now, the room was warm and relaxing. On the mantle flanked by a pair of silver serpent candlesticks stood a single photograph. A dark haired beauty smiled and waved from within the crystal frame. "There is definitely more to Severus Snape than meets the eye."

Well, he certainly wasn't here. She looked to the door that she knew must lead to his bedroom. Would she dare? "A coward never accomplishes anything." Jessica drew a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob. It turned easily. "Professor Snape?"

His bedroom was just as neat and tastefully decorated as his sitting room. The furniture consisted of a dresser, armoire, and queen size bed, all done in rich mahogany. A mahogany and marble nightstand stood next to the bed which was dressed out in jewel tones of navy, burgundy, and hunter green. There, stretched out across the comforter on his stomach in a black silk robe laid Severus.

"Professor, I don't mean to intrude but..." He didn't move. She crossed the room and stood over the bed. Surely his allergies hadn't been life threatening. No, she could hear his deep slow steady breathing. "Professor?" She touched his shoulder gently but he still didn't stir. On the nightstand she spotted an amber bottle that must have contained some type of allergy cure and next to it a tumbler of a deep golden liquid. She lifted the glass carefully, swirled the drink around, and took a sniff. The vapor caused her eyes to water. Good God, he had pickled himself. She looked at his prone figure and smiled.

"Guess class is canceled," she whispered and turned to leave when she had a second thought. She went to the armoire and pulled out a blanket. "No sense in you catching cold." He had looked so pitiful that she felt the need to care for him. He was always so lonely, had so much sadness about him. She covered him with the blanket and let her hands run across his shoulders. She could feel the thin knotted muscles under the smooth cool silk. Without a thought as to what she was doing, Jessica began to work the tightness out of his shoulders and back. Her fingers searched out the corded knots and worked them out one by one, feeling his body relaxing beneath her touch. In some strange way, she felt empowered by his body's response to her, but suddenly her mind regained its control. "What are you doing?"

"I was wondering the same thing."

She had heard his voice before she realized that she had spoken out loud. This was getting to be a bad habit of hers. Her hands flew off of him and into her pockets as if by their own will. A chill ran through her. "Professor...I...I'm...ahhh..."

"I did not tell you to stop." His voice was even but not quite as cold as usual and carried heaviness from the drink.

"Professor, I was coming down here for my lesson..."

"And took it upon yourself to enter my sleeping quarters?"

"I knocked but..."

"Do you make a habit of going into other people's rooms uninvited?"

"You told me to come here, so I was hardly uninvited. Anyway I was worried about you."

A slow sarcastic laugh filled the small room. He rolled on his side and propped himself on his elbow smiling at her. His black eyes sparkled with amusement. "Really." It was a statement not a question.

"You don't believe me?"

"You sound offended."

"I am offended. Why would I lie to you?"

He studied her for a few seconds and weighing his words spoke very slowly. "To save your hide."

Long seconds passed in silence before she spoke again. "Point taken, but that was not a lie. I was worried when you didn't answer and then I find you all laid out. I feared you had died."

"That would have saved you a lot of class work."

"That's not funny." She was getting more irritated by the minute. What had started as something like fear was turning into anger. He continued to watch her with eyes that danced with humor and a smile that was so natural and honest she was confused as to who she was talking to. This was not Professor Severus Snape, the bane of every potions student at Hogwarts School. This was some imposter that had somehow slipped in undetected and worst of all she found herself attracted to him. "What did you do with Professor Snape?"

"Now that's not nice."

"Well, I never took the professor for a drunk."

The icy veneer returned at once. Those were the eyes that she knew so well. "I am no drunk," he hissed.

She picked up the tumbler and tilted it toward him. "I suppose this is pumpkin juice then?"

He sat up and snatched the glass from her hand with the speed of a viper strike. "This is no concern of yours and you would do well not to meddle in my affairs." The tension between them was palpable but Jessica refused to back down.

"Does Dumbledore know that you drink in the middle of the day? Is that why you get so cranky? Can't get to the bottle fast enough, can..." She gave a startled cry as he caught her wrist in a vice like grip, pulling her towards him.

"Do not speak of what you do not know," he snarled through clenched teeth. "I will not be spoken to with such insolence and I will not warn you again. You do not want me to chastise you, Miss Jackman of this I am certain. I am a most rigid disciplinarian, as you are well aware. Don't force my hand on this matter." She struggled to free herself but he simply tightened his grip on her. Jessica had felt uneasy around Snape but had never feared him. Now she could not deny the panic that was rising inside. "Stop fighting me and it will go better for you."

She couldn't stop. She twisted against his hold, consumed by terror, but he would not release her. Jessica felt like an animal caught in a trap fighting not just for freedom but also for her very life. In desperation she struck at him with her free hand slapping him hard in the face. He gave no response but caught her hand when she let it fly yet again. She was not sure when or how but she knew she had lost. In defeat she sank to her knees before him. He relaxed his grip but did not release her wrists.

Jessica hung her head, breathing hard, awaiting the tirade that was to come. She had attacked a professor and not just any professor. She had hit Professor Snape. No one could save her now. She could only imagine the torturous thoughts that were going through his head.

"Look at me, Miss Jackman," the voice was calm and fluid. She was prepared for rage but there was none. Still she could not bring herself to face him. "I really dislike repeating myself." She shook her head and continued to stare at the floor between his feet. "Jessica Jackman, I want you to look me in the eye, now." His voice was soft but carried a tone of command that she dare not refuse. As her eyes met his, he was surprised to see them glassy with tears. Had he pushed her too hard? He required her obedience but had not meant to truly hurt her. Perhaps he had misjudged the strength of her mind. She had always been so obstinate. He was sure that she could meet any challenge he threw at her. She was so much like Katherine. Had he just broken her in much the same way Lucius had Katherine? No. He could not, would not believe that he had. He had made her face her fear, nothing more. Now that he had she would be able to recognize her fear for what it was and overcome it. He would make her stronger than her fears. He must. She must not fail him and he would not allow himself to fail her.

"Do I frighten you?"

A tear ran down her cheek as she gazed into his stern face. He still held her wrists, she still his captive. Inside she quivered but forced herself to gather what courage remained. "No." She turned away from his penetrating eyes and missed the ever so slight smile that ghosted across his cruel lips. Her voice cracked when she spoke and gave the lie away but that could be remedied. Before he had the chance to call her down for the lie, in the faintest whisper he heard the word, "yes."

He tilted his head to the side as he watched her and tried to decide if that really was what he had heard. She took a breath and, with what strength remained in her, she looked into those black fathomless eyes. "Yes...Yes, Professor Snape. I am frightened of you. I was never before, but now I am." It was not her usual self-assured voice that addressed him but it was nowhere near as timid as he would have expected.

"Good." He pulled her off her knees and sat her next to him on the bed. "You must never lie to me. If I am to teach you and train you up I must have trust in you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now we can move forward toward conquering your fear. Fear can be an ally in keeping you alive, but uncontrolled it will hinder you. How did it make you feel just now?"

"Helpless."

"You are never helpless. You could have defeated me, but you have to keep a clear mind. Some of the things I must do will not make sense at the time, but trust me and you will come to understand. You have a great future and I am your humble guide on this path. Do you have faith in me?"

"No."

He smirked. "Well, Jessica, we will have to see what we can do to change that. I cannot promise that I will never hurt you, but if I do it is only to make you stronger. You can take solace in that truth. I know that it takes time to gain trust, but time is something that we have so little of. Just know that I do have your best interest at heart."

Now it was up to her. He looked to her and waited for the questions or flood of emotion but she remained silent.

Minutes passed while he waited. The years had taught him patience, and while he rarely exercised this with his regular students, for her he had an endless supply. Finally she stood up without looking at him. "May I go?"

"No, you may not. You still have lessons tonight."

She looked stunned. How could he expect her to prepare a potion or listen to him lecture right now? As if he could read her mind he added, "You must be able to perform no matter what has happened or what is going on around you. You must learn to focus on the task at hand and not dwell on what was or what maybe. This night will go far into helping you learn how to quiet your mind."

"Have you lost yours?"

The back of his hand struck her cheek before she had time to react. Though it was not a hard blow, it served to get her attention and she was furious. Her eyes burned as she looked at the wizard with a hatred he knew all to well. "I told you that I would not warn you again, did I not?"

"How dare you!" He was amused by the anger in her voice. No, he had not misjudged her. She had retreated to regroup but now she was back in the battle. "You arrogant son of a bitch."

He raised his hand and saw her brace for a blow that would never come. Instead she found herself coughing soap up onto the hard stone floor. She foamed at the mouth like a rabid dog as the suds threatened to choke her.

"Clean that up," he motioned toward the bubbles as he went to the door. "I will get dressed and meet you in the classroom in ten minutes. I have a special project for you." With a click of the latch he shut the door behind him.

She grabbed a towel and mopped up the soap wondering what had just transpired. She felt completely confused. What was he talking about? Trust him? After tonight how in the world could he expect her to trust him? "Asshole," she muttered before the next onslaught of bubbles silenced her voice.