A/N Hello? Is anyone reading this? I guess not. If you are please review so I know that you are. Even give me a bad review.

Chapter 3. Professor Snape

Ellen followed Professor McGonagall back down the stairs they came and even further down into what looked like dungeons. This meant that so far she was half right she was being put in the dungeons. They stopped in front of a plain wooden door.

'Sorry to rush you around like this, but you know start of term everyone has things to do. Professor Snape will unwillingly show you where you will be staying ' McGonagall rapped hard on the door.

'What?' Someone barked from inside.

McGonagall opened the door and stepped inside. The room was chilly and was filled with jars containing strange looking things bottled in different colored mixtures. A man was sitting behind a desk in the middle of the room, writing. He had shoulder-length black hair. He did not look up as they entered.

'This is Miss Grey;' McGonagall declared to the man ' The Headmaster has told me that she is to occupy the room next to yours.' Snape suddenly looked up at her with a look of agitation on his face ' He asks you if you would be so kind to show her the room and get her settled. If you excuse me I have some work I need to finish.' Ellen watched at her as she left the room. She figured that the headmaster and McGonagall must have it in for this Snape character because by the look on his face this was not what he wanted to be doing. Ellen cleared her throat hoping to catch Snape's attention as he was still looking out the door after McGonagall.

'So' he said examining her closely 'you are the hired help.' His voice was deep with a pleasing accent. Unfortunately he was using it to mock her. Ellen could tell that she was not what he expected. And that he didn't know what to say after that.

'Maybe you were expecting a plump middle-aged bore. With a checked apron and fifties style dress? Ellen had decided that being forward was the best action.

' Yes. Something like that.' He muttered

'Ellen Grey at your service' She held her hand out for him to shake

It took Snape a moment to decide how to react to this. But he reluctantly shook her hand and exchanged his name 'Severus Snape.' He got up and pushed his chair under his desk 'Follow me.' he strode past her. Ellen followed him out and down the corridor a little way until they reached a portrait of an angry looking old man sitting in a green armchair.

Snape turned and faced her, he was a little taller then she was and unnaturally pale. Maybe he's sick. Ellen thought.

'This is your bedchamber;' He said interrupting her thoughts.' the painting opens into your room. Any questions?

Snape turned to look at the old man in the portrait

'Hello Severus' the man in the painting said.

'This is Miss Grey you see her and let her in.' the old man looked at Ellen.

'With pleasure.' He said winking at Ellen. The Portrait swung open they both walked in.

' Did that painting just speak?' She thought it was odd but not surprising.

Severus didn't give her an answer.

The room was dimly lit. Severus gave a very brief tour of the room.

' Bed.' He pointed to the four-poster king-size bed in the middle of the room. 'And bathroom.' He opened a door that nearly blended in with the rest of the room. Then quickly snapped it shut again.

'Enjoy' He said sarcastically. Then left.

Ellen shrugged; Professor Snape was not a very social man. But then again she didn't really care.

Ellen didn't think that her room would be so big. All of her bags were already in the room, laid neatly at the base of her four-poster bed. She wondered how they that but didn't dwell on it. On one side of the room there was a desk and next to that there was a small bookcase, on the other side there was an old wooden wardrobe. Ellen walked into the bathroom. It was plain stone lined with a mirror and sink on one side, and an old looking bath and shower on the other. The toilet was in the corner. Snape had very little items in the bathroom, one towel a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo. No razor, no brush? Ellen thought to herself she looked at the bundle of bathroom items in her arms; Soaps, numerous shampoos and conditioners, creams and lotions along with her make-up box, she set them down and arranged them neatly in the corner closest to her door. After Ellen put everything in its new place she decided to take Dumbledore's advice and have a prowl around.

After wandering aimlessly around the castle Ellen found that indeed all the paintings did talk and it was very unnatural. Going down the stairs on the fifth or there about floor (she had lost count.) her leg fell through one of the steps and got stuck.

Snape after leaving Ellen decided that he had better have a talk with Dumbledore about this new arrangement. He found him outside the library.

'Ah, Severus how did you find our new assistant?'

'Well, that's what I want to talk to you about.' Dumbledore raised his eyebrows ' I wasn't aware that you would put her in the room next to mine. There are plenty of other rooms in this castle.'

' Yes there are plenty of rooms in the castle that's why I put her where I did.' That remark made no sense to Severus. But he knew it meant not to argue so he went to his next defense.

' I don't know if she knows anything about magic. I wouldn't be surprised if McGonagall pulled her off the streets.'

' I doubt Minerva would be so careless. Miss. Grey seems very nice.'

'Yes, but-' He was cut off with Dumbledore saying

' I must rush off.' And he walked away. Severus was beaten.

Ellen had been sitting stuck in the stair for who knows how long and was quite uncomfortable.

'Miss Grey?' Ellen jumped she hadn't heard Snape come. And he didn't sound impressed.

'Oh, Jeeze you scared me.' Ellen craned her neck back to look at him. 'Could you help me out I seem to be stuck in the stair, and its really painful' Snape raised his eyebrows at her 'per-lease?' He sighed.

'Fine.' He came around in front of her and put both of his hands under her arms and yanked her out.

'Thank you' she said holding onto the banister and rubbing her leg trying to get the feeling back. Snape started back down the stairs. Ellen followed, and added

. 'You really don't like me do you?' Snape made no reply 'It's ok I don't care. You can think of me whatever you like'.

'Good.' Snape then turned sharply to face her. So sharply that Ellen lost her balance and fell into Snape. He wasn't ready for this and fell backwards. So they both tumbled down the stairs with a mixture of curses and cries of pain. Snape hit the bottom first, followed by Ellen who landed on top of him with a thud and for some reason a clink that sounded like glass hitting together. After a few moments when she had realized what had happened rolled off of him with a groan.

'Ouch...' Ellen rolled on her side to look at him. Professor Snape still lying on his back motionless. 'Oh no I've squashed him.' She breathed. She crawled over and took a better look at him he was definitely unconscious.

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