"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." ~ Missy Dizick
The next morning, Kerri timidly made her way up to Dumbledore's office, Willow on shoulder. She tried her best to remember the way there, but, despite the warnings he had given her earlier, she was soon completely lost. The hallways seemed to be changing around her, and more than once she had gone up a flight of stairs, only to find herself exactly where she began.
She stood in the middle of one of the more devious hallways, totally bewildered, when she heard a noise from around the corner. Hoping it was a professor, she hurried over. Alas, it was nothing of the sort. As she tuned the corner, she just barely dodged a bust headed for her head, but was not quite as lucky for the vase that went for her arm.
She yelped in pained surprise, and looked up to see a squat little ghost grinning at her on the other side of the corridor. "Ooooh!" it cackled nastily, "Poor ickle arm! Poor ickle girl! Heeheeheehee!" It swooped closer to get a better look at the girl. She cringed and Willow dived for cover beneath her robes. "Don't know you. Too big for a firstie. Who're you, girl?"
"K-k-kerri." She stared in shock at the little ghost. "You must be Peeves, the poltergeist." She'd heard of poltergeists. Most were mischievous. Some were vicious. She hoped fervently that this was not a vicious one, but given the grin on his face, she doubted she was going to be so lucky.
"K-k-kerri." Peeves mocked. "Right on first guess, K-k-Kerri! What're you doing here, girlie?"
Kerri took a step back and ran into the wall. What now? "P-pleased to meet you, Peeves." As the poltergeist's eyebrows rose at her words, she hurriedly pushed on. Maybe being polite will scare him off, show him I'm no fun to hurt. "Headmaster Dumbledore invited me to study here, at Hogwarts." Peeves began to cackle at the prospect of fresh meat. Or make him mad enough to create enough of a racket that someone'll notice. Great. This isn't going to work. "I'm going to his office now." Hearing the desperation in her voice, he moved closer. Kerri screwed her eyes shut and sank to the floor, hearing the rattling of ornaments around her. Oh gods. Not again. She began to grope for her wand, a potion, anything, when she remembered that he was a ghost. I can't do anything against him! She crossed her arms in front of her face in a vain attempt to protect herself. Please, oh please go away . . . Please please please pleasepleaseplease . . .
"Peeves." A sibilant whisper snaked through the noise of the rattling crockery. "I'll tell the Bloody Baron." Startled, Kerri's eyes flew open. There, at the end of the hall, stood Professor Snape, glaring at Peeves.
"You wouldn't dare!" cried Peeves furiously. "You wouldn't!"
"Watch me."
Not even a ghost could stand up to Snape when he knew he had the upper hand. With a muffled curse and a rude noise, Peeves finally vanished. Kerri stared blankly at the spot he had been for a few seconds before her mind registered that he'd gone. She let out a breath that she hadn't realized that she'd been holding.
Feeling his mistress relax, Willow emerged from her sleeve, looking very put out. "You were ever so much help." she hissed quietly at the blue ball of fur.
Kerri dropped her head into her lap with a sigh, but then jumped again as she realized Snape was standing right next to her. She began to stammer a thank-you, but the words died on her lips as she saw his subtle sneer.
"Do stop sniveling, Miss Harper. I can't stand that." He watched her coldly as she struggled to her feet, and then gestured for her to follow him. "I will take you to the Headmasters' office." Embarrassed and upset, she shuffled after him. Suddenly he spoke. "Provoking Peeves was a idiotic thing to do. And curling up like a child afterward was even more foolish. He's attracted to fear like a shark is to blood."
"H-how long were you watching?" she stammered.
"Long enough." Snape said grimly, and didn't say anything else.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter. I see I have the undeniable pleasure of seeing you first thing every Monday morning." Malfoy and his little gang sniggered and Snape quelled the urge to use a full body-bind on the lot of them. Must keep up the act, Severus, he reminded himself. They're Slytherins, remember? Your favorite students. Oh joy. He never could deal well with fools. Not that he could stand Potter or Weasley much either. Or at all. "I simply quiver with anticipation of enduring yet another year with you in my classroom." he continued dryly. "Though maybe the threat of O.W.L.S. hanging over your heads may actually provoke some of you into working."
A movement at the door caught his attention. Dumbledore poked his head into the classroom. "Ah, Severus. I hope I'm not interrupting?"
A movement at the door caught his attention. Gods, don't tell me that that Umbridge woman is already sticking her nose were she doesn't belong. Dumbledore poked his head into the classroom, and Snape barely kept himself from sighing in relief. "Ah, Severus. I hope I'm not interrupting?"
"Not yet. The class has just barely begun." Snape suddenly noticed the small figure behind the headmaster and silently groaned, relief evaporating. She must have finished the tour early. Dumbledore held the door for her and patted the fuzzball on her shoulder. She walked quietly into the classroom, staring wide-eyed at both the potions lining the wall and at the students.
"Enjoy your first class, my dear." smiled Dumbledore. He nodded to Snape with a look that said, Just try not to scare her too much? and left, shutting the door behind him.
"Well. What a bloody wonderful day this is turning out to be. Miss Harper, go stand back there out of my way until I have finished giving instructions to my class. We will discuss your future at that point." Kerri nodded and moved to the back. As he gave instructions for the potion-of-the-day, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, examining the bottles and jars on the shelves, hands carefully tucked behind her back. Willow remained perched on her shoulder, peeking out from her hood. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought the tiny cat was studying the class as thoroughly as his painfully shy mistress was studying the walls.
"The wormwood is not to be added until after the potion has turned blue, understood? If the potion is done correctly, you should end up with a simple healing salve. If it is done correctly, and if you remember a thing from all of the previous years of Potions." The tone of his voice indicated that he sincerely doubted that either of the two were the case. He noticed that half of his students were subtly peeking over their shoulders at his new student and ground his teeth together. "Potter, kindly stop whispering with your cronies, a point from Gryffindor. I'm sure it is horribly interesting, but I am trying to teach a class at the same time, so if it is not too much trouble?" He glared pointedly, then turned at waved at the students to begin. Struck by a sudden thought, he turned back and pointed at the girl standing in the back of the room. "Miss Harper, come here." This should be interesting.
She came over and stood there nervously, glancing over her shoulder at the students. Watching her fidget, Snape crossed his arms and wondered what he had gotten himself into. "Miss Harper, today you have a choice for what you may do. You may either aid the students in creating their potions, or be the test subject at the end of class." He eyed her as she continued to stand there indecisively. He sighed. "If I must spell it out for you, that means that you must either answer the student's questions or have your arm cut in order to apply the salve. Your choice."
Kerri stared at him as if Peeves had suddenly materialized in front of her. Yes, girl. You actually have to talk to the students. Let's see if that will pull you out of that shell you hide behind.
Talk to them? Talk to them? He has got to be joking. . . But one look at his face told her that he wasn't. Oh, gods . . .
Kerri glanced at a timid-looking boy who was staring miserably at the contents of his cauldron. She moved a little closer, and saw that, whatever he had made, the cauldron didn't hold anything that looked even remotely like a healing salve. She opened her mouth to say something, then clamped it shut as nerves overwhelmed her. I can't do this! Her voice fled as she attempted once more to speak. I can't! Not him! He looks like . .! She felt tears pricking her eyes and hurriedly spun around to face the shelves. She dug her fingernails into her palms as she fought for self-control. I will not cry. I will not let them see me cry. Think of something else. I will not cry. . . She quickly began to go over the lessons she had learnt from the Aurors in an attempt to distract herself. Do not accuse unless certain, do not jump to conclusions - I will not cry, I will not cry - anyone can be an enemy, never let your guard down, be prepared for loss . . . NO! Not that one! . . . I can't cry here . . . Think of something else- potion components, think of properties . . Mandrake- for breaking curses, Scarlet pimpernel-for venomous beasts . . .Foxglove . .
Slowly, her clenched fists began to relax, and she could no longer feel the tears threatening to come. She continued to stare at the wall, hoping desperately that it appeared she had been looking for potion components. She flicked a hair out of her eyes and turned around to glance at the boy's cauldron again. Just at that moment, a bushy-haired girl next to him leant over and whispered some instructions in his ear. With a hopeful look, he applied himself to the potion again, which after a few minutes, began to look more promising. The girl saw Kerri watching them and quickly mouthed, "Don't tell Snape!"
Kerri blinked in confusion. Why is she helping him? How can he trust that she's not giving him the wrong ingredients or something? Then she reminded herself, Kerri, this isn't the Aurors. It's a school. You don't have to be on guard all the time. Students know each other, so they help each other. I guess. How odd. They must have been though a lot together to trust each other so completely. Maybe this will be different.
Snape rolled his eyes when he saw the girl cowering in the corner. I can't believe this. She would rather risk bodily injury than speak to them. Longbottom hardly looks like he'll bite her head off. Idiot. He rubbed his temples vigorously. A whole year with this girl, a whole year! He didn't think his nerves could stand another week. Why, oh why couldn't she have been interested in charms instead? Or transfiguration, or, better yet, astrology. She certainly seemed the type, and Trelawny was the only person he would wish her upon. Potions required a steady hand, not to mention a steady mind, and he couldn't believe that this girl hadn't blown herself up yet.
Shaking his head, he yanked his thoughts back to the present. Severus, you're letting her distract you from the class. It's your job to make sure that none of the students blow themselves up. He rolled his eyes again. Prowl around the classroom, praise Malfoy, take points from Potter, loom over Longbottom, pretend you don't see Granger helping him unless she gets too blatant . . . It was a given pattern by now, every little step in place. Until now. Now he had a wrench thrown into the works. A wrench called Miss Harper. She remained ever present, hovering at the edges of his vision like a mosquito, until he felt like swatting her. Breathe, Severus, count to ten, don't lose your temper yet. Potions are done, let her reap her reward now.
He swept to the front of the classroom and announced, "You have thirty seconds left to finish your healing salves, which hopefully is what you ended up with, although in some cases," he sent a withering glance towards Neville, "I wouldn't bet any Galleons on it. Come here, Miss Harper!" The girl jumped, and scurried to the front under his scornful glare. "Sit!" he ordered, pointing at his desk. She drew a shaky breath and hoisted herself onto the desk, staring at the floor. He couldn't help but notice that she was so short that the tips of her boots swung a good three inches off the floor.
Snape walked through the class, examining the beakers of salve on each desk. Hermione's was impeccable as usual, most of the others were passable. He chose one at random and returned to the front.
Setting the salve down on the desk, he turned to face the class. "Miss Harper has so kindly volunteered to test the potions today," he said, sarcasm dripping from every word. He produced a thin dagger from his robes and grabbed Kerri's left arm in his other hand. He was about to roll back the sleeve when she whisked it out if his grasp, exclaiming, "Not that one!"
He stared at her for an instant before he demanded, "And whyever not, pray tell?"
She returned her gaze to the floor and muttered something about the bruise Peeves had given her on that arm, and not wanting another cut on it. Snape gritted out, "Fine, then. Your other arm? Or is that one about to fall off as well?"
A pained expression flitted across her face before she rolled back her right-hand sleeve. Snape coldly took her wrist and made a small gash on her palm. He watched her face closely as he did so. Her fingers twitched slightly as the blade touched her skin, and at the first red welling of blood, she went deathly pale and began to tremble. Don't tell me she's also afraid of blood! This girl is hopeless!
"Miss Harper, this cannot possibly hurt that much. I am really beginning to wonder if this is worth all the trouble. Don't be such a coward!" Kerri's head shot up and for the first time Snape saw something other than fear in her eyes. She tore her wrist out of his grasp, choking out, "Don't ever call me that!" The little cat, as well, was not the least bit intimidated. It leapt down to her lap and hissed at Snape, bristling all over. Snape merely took it by the scruff of its neck and returned it to Kerri's shoulder, ignoring the half-hidden grins of the Gryffindors. He then proceeded to meet the girl's angry eyes with his best glare until she reddened and dropped her gaze.
Kerri didn't look up again until the cut on her palm was fully healed. She slid off the desk and moved to the side as Snape glanced at her scornfully. "Thank you for your reluctant help, Miss Harper. In fact, you were so helpful, I don't think I'll ever ask you again." He spun on his heel and flapped his hand over his shoulder. "Class dismissed!"
As the students scooped up books and ingredients, Kerri slumped back against the desk, her heart beating hard against her ribs. She watched Snape as he stalked to the back of the room, reaching up to stroke the small cat on her shoulder. While he's back there . . . "Willow," she whispered, "Are you all right?"
"I would worry more about my own future if I were you, Miss Harper." A hand suddenly grasped her shoulder in an iron grip. Willow hissed and disappeared down her sleeve once more. She turned to look into Snape's eyes. His face an inch away from hers, he hissed, "Nice try, Miss Harper. You almost stood up for yourself. But all that you have proved to me is that you are completely useless." He stood back and sneered at her. "It even escapes me why you insisted I not use your left arm to test the potions." His hand snaked out and gripped her upper right arm tightly. She yelped as his fingers dug into the bruise Peeves had given her. "I said that I had been there long enough." He released her arm and stepped back again. "I have no more classes today. You will stay here and assist me for the remainder of the day, at which point, you will reexamine your priorities, and decide what you want to do."
"W-what do you mean, Professor?" she stammered.
Snape straightened and began to circle her like a shark. Too petrified to move, she stayed rooted to the spot as he stopped behind her. "It is quite simple. You may have escaped from it this time, Miss Harper," Snape breathed in her ear, "But if you wish to remain my student, you will actually be required to speak to others at some point, do I make myself clear?"