A.N

Okay I'm trying to make it clear which Professor Snape is being referred to but if I don't then I apologise. Thanks to my lovely reviewers I promise to try and update as regularly as I can but don't worry if I take a while. I'm looking for a new job and I'm starting my 3rd year at college. What ever happens, I won't abandon the story. It will be finished. The usual disclaimers still apply.

Chapter 2:

"Excellent five points to Gryffindor," Modesty grinned, obviously impressed, at Hermione who had sat at the back of the class at the insistence of Harry and Ron who wanted to draw as little attention to themselves as possible from their new teacher.

"Told you," Hermione whispered complacently.

"Told me what?" asked Ron.

"That you shouldn't jump to conclusions just because she's related to Professor Snape," she answered.

"It was only five points," said Ron.

"She has a point though," admitted Harry. "When was the last time Snape gave Hermione points for answering a question correctly?"

"Erm, let me think. Never," snorted Ron, slouching further down into his chair. "I suppose compared to most of the teachers we've had she's not bad."

Hermione rolled her eyes in irritation. "Not bad! Ron she's an absolutely amazing teacher."

Ron simply shrugged and continued listening to Professor Snape.

"Right well, I think we've made a brilliant start today," beamed Modesty as she turned back to look at the class. "Your homework is to read chapters one and two and prepare a short presentation which you will give to the rest of the class next lesson. Class dismissed."

Harry, Ron and Hermione filed out of the classroom with the rest of their Defence Against the Dark Arts class, down the marble staircase and across the flagged stone floor into the Great Hall for lunch.

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"I can teach you how to ..."

"... Bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death," finished Samuel giving a fake yawn. "Oh I'm just so exited aren't you?"

A few members of the class gave a nervous laugh but stopped quickly at the look on their Potion Masters face. Samuel however was still smiling placidly in the doorway of their dungeon classroom.

Severus rolled his eyes internally and counted to ten before asking "Don't you have a class to teach?"

"Not till next period," Samuel replied.

"Well is there something you wanted aside from infuriating me and distracting my first years?" inquired Severus.

"As a matter of fact there is," Samuel moved into the classroom and over to stand by his brother.

"Well?" snapped Severus. "I haven't got all day."

"It's something I much rather not discuss in front of the students if you don't mind," he said calmly.

This time Severus did roll his eyes. "Not again?"

"Hey I never said ..." began Samuel in his most innocent sounding voice.

"Look do you want the potion brewed or not?" Severus hissed, quickly losing his patience.

"Thank you Sev, knew I could count on you. I'll see you at lunch," he winked at the students before hurrying out of classroom just in case Severus refused to do the potion and lost his temper completely with him for calling him Sev.

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"Wow she's a fantastic teacher, Professor Snape, isn't she," complimented Neville when they had taken their seats at the Gryffindor table.

"Yeah not bad looking either, for a Snape," laughed Seamus glancing at the staff table to see if she was there.

"Oh for goodness sake," cried Hermione.

"What?" asked Ron. "He's right she is."

"There are more important this than whether a person is good looking. Look at Professor Lockhart," she said pointedly.

Harry stopped Ron's retort about Lockhart with a sharp kick his shin.

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"Afternoon Severus," Samuel greeted his brother as he took his seat to the right of Severus and started on his food. He glanced up at the ceiling. The sun made a futile attempt at breaking through the ashen clouds; the weather hadn't improved much since the evening before.

Severus glared in response apparently still annoyed at his brother's appearance in his class.

"You're not mad at me are you?" his brother asked mock reproachfully, not really bothered. He was to use to his brothers bad moods to be greatly perturbed at the look Severus was now giving him.

"No more than usual," he replied icily.

"Oh come on Severus, it's not like I asked for them to come looking for me," sighed Samuel dropping his fork in exasperation.

Severus raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "No of course you didn't. Do you really expect me to believe that anyone would go looking for you?"

"Yes I do expect you to believe me since it's the truth and you are my brother," came Samuel's angry reply.

"The truth? Well that will make a first. At least I know why you're here now," his voice dangerously quiet.

"Hey we all make mistakes. You of all people should know that and this time I am telling you the truth," Samuel bit back as he picked his fork back up and continued to eat.

Severus studied his brother for a moment before turning back to his plate. "I hope so because if I find out ..."

"I am," Samuel whispered firmly.

At that moment Modesty arrived and they abandoned their discussion, not wanting their argument to upset their sister.

"Interesting day?" asked Samuel his appearance changing at once as he gave his little sister a warm smile.

"Yes actually. They're not as far behind as I thought they might be after all the changes of staff," she slid into the same seat she had occupied the previous night. "Their knowledge was most impressive, particularly Hermione Granger's."

"Who?"

"Over there, next to the red head and the boy with dark hair and glasses," she pointed over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione was sitting with Harry and Ron eating lunch. "She's in your class as well isn't she Severus?"

"Unfortunately," he answered shortly not bothering to look over at where Hermione was sitting.

"What's wrong with her," Samuel looked curiously at his brother. "She's young, attractive and, according to Modesty, very smart. Sounds like my kind of girl."

"You are not to go anywhere near Miss Granger is that understood?" Severus scowled at his brother.

"That won't be very easy considering she's in his class Sev," Modesty joked.

"Besides why not? There's no rule against it is there?" Samuel asked pleased to have found something new to aggravate his brother with.

"Miss Granger may be intelligent but as a Gryffindor she is still highly capable of getting her self into messy situations along with her friends Potter and Weasley. While some teachers let their emotions cloud their judgement and allow such behaviour to continue I refuse to give them the same amount of licence. As for why not I can assure you that Miss Granger is smart enough to see through your charm soI wouldn't waste my time embarrassing myself if I were you."

"Whatever you say," said Samuel as he and Modesty exchange a smile, unseen by Severus as he watched Hermione out of the corner of his eye for a moment before leaving the Hall to prepare for his next lesson.