Piper stared at Snape. Snape was trying to ignore Piper while preparing his lesson plans for the coming year. Actually, he already had his lesson plans made out, right now he was just trying to make Piper go away.
It had been unanimously decided amongst the Order that Snape should look after Piper as much as possible. Piper was usually amused with him around and, therefore, she cried less and required less attention.
Finally, Snape cracked, "What?" he demanded from the girl. Piper blinked at him. "What in the name of Merlin do you want from me?" he demanded again.
Piper hopped down from her chair and walked to the other side of the table where Snape was. She held out her arms. Snape sighed, rolled his eyes, and picked her up and placed her on his lap. Piper peered at Snape's papers. She looked back to Snape.
"These are potions," Snape answered her unspoken question. He pulled out another sheet of paper. "This is a potion that will make a garden grow. It's quite simple. Here," he conjured up a miniaturized potion set, complete with Piper-sized cauldron.
"Now," he started, "I don't expect you to understand the beauty of a full cauldron with slight fumes coming up from the liquid inside, but I will teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and stopper death. I know you aren't a dunderhead like that Weasley and Potter."
During Snape's usual beginning of the year speech he gave to first-years, Piper was staring at the jars of liquids and powders.
Snape rolled his eyes as Piper reached for a jar that had eyes in it. "You're not even listening to me, are you? Very well. Time to begin."
Piper learned the proper way to cut a dandelion stalk, stir a potion, and annoy Snape. However, she only really remembered the latter.
After the potion had cooled, Snape placed it into a bottle and carefully labeled it "Garden". He handed it to Piper and set her on the ground so she could experiment with it. Snape would never admit it, but he was proud of Piper and her fascination with the potion. Someday, Snape would teach her the finer qualities of potions. But, for now, he was content with teaching her how to cut dandelions properly. Snape cleaned up the workspace quickly.
Snape suddenly had a terrible thought. "I think I'm going soft," he thought with horror. "No, no," his mind calmed him, "You are showing appreciation for an eager pupil."
With of flick of his wand, the mini potions set disappeared. Snape looked down. Piper had turned the floor around him into a small garden. Luckily, the flowers were easy to get rid of and Mrs. Weasley wouldn't snap at him too badly. The insects, however, would be slightly difficult to destroy.
A butterfly landed on Snape's nose. Piper giggled at him as the door opened. Snape tried to swat away the bothersome thing, but couldn't. He made himself as dignified as possible.
Dumbledore grinned at the sight in front of him. Piper was playing in the flowers while Severus had a butterfly on his nose. Severus cleared his throat.
"Ah, yes, Severus. The girl has woken. Come with me, and bring Piper," Dumbledore said.
Snape waved his wand and Piper's garden disappeared. He picked up Piper and followed Dumbledore.
With annoyance, Snape realized that the butterfly was still on his nose.
Please don't kill me! Love me! Please? I know, I'm a horrible person for making you wait this long, but I have good news. I have been writing more and I am now capable of longer, better chapters. I should have another chapter within a week. So, um, still mad?