This chapter is rated R for language.

Chapter 2

"Merlin, what do you have in this box? A dead body?" Analise grunted as she helped Iris move.

"My potions." Iris said indignantly. "Of course their heavy. Their glass. Why are you doing it the hard way, smart one? Why don't you just levitate it?"

"You pure bloods are just afraid of a little hard work." Analise taunted.

"No. We're just too intelligent to do it that way. Muggle." Iris teased back. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, she thought hopefully.

Just as she finished her thought a man walked in. This must be Remus, Iris thought as she watched her friend go doe-eyed and wrap her arms around him for a kiss that was much too intense for comfort.

Or maybe it will be, she thought as she rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.

"Am I going to have to get the hose?" She asked.

The two broke away reluctantly and shared a secret look that caused Iris a pang of something she couldn't name. Jealousy? Hell no, she thought insistently.

"Sorry. Remus this is my friend Iris. Iris this is my boyfriend Remus." Analise said.

"It's nice to finally meet you. I hear nothing but good things about you." Iris said graciously.

"Ditto. It's a pleasure." Remus said as he shook her hand. "We're here to help you unpack. So where can we help most?"

"We?" Iris asked in confusion as she glanced around fruitlessly.

"I have a friend outside. He should be in a minute." Remus answered.

Iris saw a man making his way up the walk, levitating one of the boxes that had been sitting in the yard. She couldn't see his face but his long legs carried him with the grace of jungle cat.

"Ahh. Here he is. Iris Navarro I'd like you to meet Severus Snape." Analise interjected.

"Nice to meet you." Iris said cordially and offered her hand.

Severus guided the box to his feet and reluctantly accepted the hand that was offered. Her touch sent a jolt of electricity through him and he felt annoyance at the rush of awareness. He glanced into her eyes and was met with the most shocking shade of violet blue he'd ever seen. Her black hair was pulled into a half hazard ponytail with tendrils escaping and clinging to her cheeks.

Iris felt the tingling in her skin when he clasped her small hand in his much larger one and she knew her eyes widened in shock. She forced a relaxed expression as she took in this mans assessing gaze. He was sizing her up in a very unsubtle way so she did the same to him. His eyes were such a dark brown that you could barely see the pupils and his black hair was longer than most wizards seemed to prefer but it had such a rich texture Iris wanted to sift her fingers through it. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the entire doorway and she felt perturbed with herself for noticing all this. Relax Navarro.

They let go at the same time and silently stared at each other while Iris looked at him expectantly for the returned pleasantry.

"Pleasure." He said in a voice so deep it was like rich velvet that made goose bumps pop up over her skin and she found she had to fight the urge to close her eyes. Stop it, she thought with extreme irritation.

Severus backed away in an effort to get away from the electrical current flowing between them and tried to appear unfazed as he spoke. "Where do you want this box?"

"Pardon?" Iris asked through a haze.

Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance as he repeated the question. "The box. The one at my feet. Filled with your stuff. Where do you want it?"

"Upstairs. You know the things you walk on to take you from one level to the next? In my bedroom. The thing you sleep in. First door on the left. That's the opposite of right." Iris said shortly. Rude much?

Severus held her gaze in a silent challenge before he levitated the box up the stairs and thought to himself bitchy thing isn't she.

"Iris! There's no need to be so condescending." Analise chided when Snape was out of hearing range.

"He started it." Iris shot back.

"Oh that's mature." Analise replied.

"Wasn't it though. Thanks for noticing." Iris said sarcastically. "I'm going to get another box." She missed the triumphant look the couple shared as she turned away.

But as she got to the door a shattering sound upstairs caught her attention. She whipped her head around and stared at Analise and Remus, her eyes wide with shock. My potions, she thought frantically before she darted up the stairs with the other two close at her heals.

She stopped in the doorway, causing Analise and Remus to almost knock her forward to the floor at her sudden halt. The sight she was met with made her close her eyes for much needed patience. Breathe in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. Shit!

"What...the...hell...happened...to...my...potions?" Iris demanded as she fought for control.

"The spell broke." Severus said uncaringly.

"Broke? How does a spell break? They don't just break. You have to release them or lose control of it." Iris snapped.

"Oh big deal. So a couple of shampoo solutions and beauty enhancements broke."

"Beauty enhancements? Beauty enhancements?" Iris said as her voice jumped several octaves. She was so mad she didn't even notice Remus and Analise back away down the stairs.

"Listen you arrogant swaggering presumptuous ass, those are not beauty products! I am head of the Potions division at the Ministry of Magic! You've just set me back three months!" She accused on borderline hysteria.

"So this wasn't personal? It was work? What, are we stealing from the ministry?" Snape asked rudely. "The audacity."

"How dare you! You know nothing about my work or me or..." Iris began.

"Oh do shut the hell up woman. You asked for my help and I'm helping. I didn't even want to come." Severus interrupted, his temper flaring.

"I didn't ask you for anything! If you're going to accuse someone of that try your friend Remus." She argued. "I can't believe you..."

"Silence!" A voice roared from the doorway.

Iris and Severus whipped their heads around and stared at the intruder.

"Albus!" Severus said pleasantly, his manner changing entirely. "What brings you here?"

"Business Severus." The man said as he shook Snape's hand.

"Mr. Shacklebolt!" Iris said in surprise.

"Hello Madame Navarro." Kingsley replied.

"Can I help you with something sir?" Iris asked her boss, confused on why he was here.

"As a matter of fact you can. I want you to meet Albus Dumbledore." he answered.

"Nice to meet you sir." Iris said as she held out her hand, still unclear on why they were here.

Dumbledore shook her hand and sized her up for moment before he gave her a beaming smile. "Pleased to meet you madame. We have a proposition for you."

"Ok." Iris said hesitantly.

"You've come highly recommended by Kingsley on your potion abilities. Says you're one of the best in the business." Dumbledore said.

Iris blushed and smiled her thanks to Mr. Shacklebolt.

"We'd like you to help us, if you would be so kind." He continued.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked, understanding now. They want a potion.

"We'd like you to assist in developing a Deflector Potion. To aide in blocking curses." Dumbledore said.

"Intriguing. Might be an excellent challenge." She mulled over the task for a moment before answering. "I accept."

"Excellent." Dumbledore said happily.

"There is just one problem." She interjected.

"And what is that Madame?" Kingsley asked.

"My potion supply has been lost as well as some of the code seven's." Iris said as she shot Severus a scathing look.

"Ahh. Well that does present a problem. I think your partner will have to assist you in reassembling the lost potions before you can get started on the Deflector Potion." Mr. Shacklebolt reasoned.

"Partner sir?" Iris asked, confused again.

"Yes. You're going to be working with the other astonishingly accomplished potion master I know. Severus Snape." He said smoothly.

Iris felt a dead weight drop into her stomach as she and Snape stared at each other in revolted horror. Work? With Severus Snape? Merlin, what did I just agree to? Shit, she thought.

This is my first attempt with a Snape fic so be honest. Constructively honest. I don't take meanness well :(