The next few weeks found Kerri very busy. Snape had decided that she would stay away from the classroom until further notice. Instead , she was put to work studying potion ingredients on her own, in the back room. She'd managed to learn the names of a few students here and there, but only a few. She didn't speak to them much. The other teachers accepted her by now, and had gotten used to her quiet nature. But not Snape. She worked as hard as she could, trying to impress him, but it made no impact on him. She noticed that he grew colder by the day, refusing to speak to her beyond curt orders unless she addressed him directly. She still sat between him and Dumbledore at the High Table, having nowhere else, but he never so much as glanced at her. She found herself often wishing she had not shown any defiance to him at all. Between Peeves and that, her first day seemed to have removed all respect he possibly could have had for her.

On the other hand, she had actually managed to speak to a few students (most of whom had red hair) who were impressed by her little staredown. Granted, they also thought she was utterly insane, but they were impressed. She had run into several of them in the library one day, at which point Ron, Fred and George had descended upon her. In loud stage whispers they began to congratulate her for "getting the better of Snape."

"You really showed him!"

"Putting you on the spot like that on the first day!"

"Serves him right!"

"The look on his face!"

"But - but," Kerri stammered, as red as the boys' hair, "He got so angry . . and - and . . he's a teacher!"

Two freckled hands slapped her on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of her. "Ah, that's not the point!"

"The point is you did it!"

"Stood up for yourself!"

"Let him know where he stands, the slimy git!"

"B-but I didn't . ."

"Bully for you!"

Hermione suddenly interrupted the festivities. "Stop it, you're embarrassing her! And she's right, Snape is a teacher. But not too many of us stand up to him," she said, turning to the flustered girl, "Snape really does pick on people like you a lot."

This immediately launched the boys, now joined by Harry, into more congratulations. She began to get the distinct feeling that Professor Snape was not well liked. But still . . .

"It wasn't worth it." she muttered, silencing the boys. As they stared at her in disbelief, she spoke again, a little louder , "It wasn't worth it. Professor Snape is my only chance at a future. I don't have anything left after this. If I blow this chance, I have to go back to the Aurors, and I don't want to do that. I can't do that. And if I just destroyed that chance . . .!" Stifling her outburst, she grabbed the book she had come for and fled.

"Now what was that all about?" Harry wondered aloud.

***

Interesting, thought Snape as he watched Potter and his group leave. He stood concealed in the Restricted Section. He had been double-checking the correct properties of a certain poison, when he had overheard Miss Harper and the others. It appeared that she really wanted this opportunity. No, perhaps needed was a better word. She desperately needed this opportunity to make her own life. Much like a certain aloof, bitter youth seventeen years ago. An opportunity he hadn't received. Snape found himself rubbing his arm and hurriedly yanked his hand away. No, she didn't really have the tendencies for that, but neither had he, at first. But if she didn't want to stay with the Aurors that badly, she could be tempted to aid the other side in some fashion, if only to escape. Is that why Albus was so insistent on having her here? Is he trying to save the girl? Trying to make up for the failure in me?

However, he had discovered another interesting thing. The girl would talk, at least she would if she got upset. Perhaps he could use that. His lips twisted in a bitter grin. After all, making people upset seemed to be his specialty. I'll test her again, give her a second and last chance. We'll see what we can do with you, Miss Harper. He glanced up at a large clock on the library wall. She should report to him in three hours to aid him in brewing a potion. However, he had another assignment for her now. Yes . . Very interesting . .

Snape swept out of the library. He would just pay a visit to the girl first, and see if she would be willing to participate in a little . . wager. He turned down the hallway leading to her room and knocked on her door. He heard a stifled gasp from inside and the door slowly opened a crack. When Kerri saw who stood on the other side, her eyes flew open in shock as she involuntarily took a step back. "It is so good to see how excited you are to see me, Miss Harper," he sneered. "Do you make sure all of your guests feel this welcome?"

"N-no," she stammered, looking extremely flustered. "That is, I mean, I wasn't expecting anyone, and you seemed upset at me, so . . ." she trailed off, confused.

"So you thought you would never be so unfortunate as to see me outside of class." Snape finished smoothly. He held up a hand to stall her protests. He knew that was not likely the case, but he didn't feel like listening to more of her stammering protests. "I wish to speak with you on your progress as my student."

The girl swallowed hard and took a step back, extending a shaking hand. "Do you want to come in?"

"If I have assurance that I will not be sitting on top of one of your numerous cats." he pointed at the gray tabby, once again lounging all over the bed. "And if you can manage to be in my presence, without looking like you shall be ill."

"Yes sir." Kerri whispered.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Miss Harper, I am afraid you must speak above a whisper, that is, if you are actually capable of doing so." The girl stared at the ground, and Snape forced himself to clasp his hands behind his back to keep himself from throttling her. When he finally spoke again, his voice came out as a hiss. "Miss Harper, you will look me in the eye while I am speaking to you."

The girl nodded as she timidly looked him in the face. "My progress, sir?" she managed.

"Miss Harper, you are, as the Headmaster said, polite, hard-working, and intelligent." He grimaced as though each compliment were ripped from him with forceps. "On the other hand, you are also foolish, socially dysfunctional, have little to no worth in the classroom, and have far too many secrets for your, or anyone else's, own good." He watched as the girl's face fell, and then continued. "You will most likely be sent packing within another few weeks. However!" Here he stalled another stream of protests. "However, I will give you one more chance in my classroom tomorrow. But only one. If you do not perform up to my expectations, you had best begin looking for another field of study."

"Professor, please!" She suddenly reached forward and grabbed his sleeve, "Please don't send me away! I can't leave here! I have to stay! I have to. . ." Snape cleared his throat and looked pointedly at her hand until she blushed and let go, stammering an apology.

"We will see, Miss Harper. I will excuse you from your duties tonight to prepare. And I expect you to prepare, as your future is resting on this. The class tomorrow consists of first-years, do not give them a bad impression, or you will regret it"

The iciness in his voice seemed to freeze her to the spot. She could only stare at him as he turned and left, closing the door behind him . As his footsteps faded away, she collapsed onto the bed, shaking. Her only chance rested on speaking in class? How was she supposed to prepare for that? How? She had to prove her worth to him, or he would kick her out. Realizing at that moment that she had somehow began to pace, she pulled her cloak off a hook and threw it over her shoulders. If she took a walk by herself, maybe she would feel better and relax. She let Willow bury himself in the folds as she looked out the window. It was a few hours before dark, a walk around the grounds would do her good.

By the time she had made he way to the front door, most of the faculty and students had assembled in the Great Hall for dinner. She would have the entire grounds to herself for a good hour. Professor Sprout's gardens perhaps, or down the walk a little more, towards the groundskeeper's cabin. She placed her wand on the path and spun it. When it had stopped, she turned to head in the direction it pointed her in. Down the path.

The late afternoon air was fresh and clear, with just a gentle breeze. She threw her hood back and pulled a few pins from the bun, letting her braid fall down to her hips. Her hair was such a bother to keep under control without charms, but she couldn't even imagine cutting it. It was the way her mother had worn her hair, at least according to her photograph. It was Kerri's way of honoring her memory.

Suddenly Willow hissed, and scrambled down her back, interrupting her nostalgic thoughts (sharp claws in one's spine have a tendency to do that.) She glanced up to see a gigantic boarhound bearing down on her, tail wagging furiously. It came to a screeching halt at her feet and looked expectantly up (but not that far up) at her. She smiled slightly and began scratching the dog under the chin, as he drooled all the way down her arm. As her rubdown headed towards his ribs, the dog rolled his eyes up in pleasure and collapsed to the ground, presenting his stomach to her. She found herself giggling for the first time in who knows how long, and obliged. "Such a fine dog!" She complimented him. "You mush have a fine master as well, to own such a well-behaved dog as you."

"Well! Thank yeh, miss." came a rumbling voice from behind her. She stared over her shoulder at a small mountain of a man, all bushy beard and smiles. Normally, he would have scared her out of her wits, but somehow, he made her no more nervous than the dog at her feet. Well, people with lots of pets tend to get along well together. She stood and, ignoring the neglected-sounding whimpers of the boarhound, held out her hand. "Groundskeeper Hagrid, I presume?"

The man chuckled and enveloped her hand in his . "An' yer Professor Snape's student, Kerri, ain't yeh?" She nodded and he shook her hand warmly. "Yeh kin call me Hagrid. Yeh know," he added, pointing at the dog still rolling on the ground. "Ain't too many people not scared o' Fang at first. The way yeh were cowerin' at the dinner, I'da thought yeh'd be runnin' away."

Kerri blushed. "I'm not too good with crowds. " She frowned. "Or Professor Snape for that matter. He's threatening to kick me out if I don't perform up to his expectations next class. He doesn't like me very much. He thinks I'm too shy, and too foolhardy."

"Too - Oh!" Hagrid let out a great booming laugh. "Harry an' the others tol' me 'bout that! Snape didn' take it too well then?"

"Not in the least."

Hagrid patted her on the back, causing her to stagger. "Yeh got sprit, Kerri! But yeh got troubles too. I kin see that. What d'yeh say ter a spot o' tea up in my house, tell me 'bout it."

Kerri nodded and smiled. At last, someone I can talk to.

***

After the third cup of tea and her first encounter with his treacle fudge, she finished her story, (at least, what she had been able to get out past the fudge) including the part about not wanting to go back to the Aurors. "So you see, things haven't been going so well."

Hagrid leaned back in his chair and watched the two animals in his cabin as he thought. Willow sat on the table with a dish of cream, Fang a respectful distance away. The tiny cat had let the dog know exactly where he stood, with a quick swipe to the nose. They had reached a truce since then.

"Well," he said thoughtfully, "seems yer life ain't no picnic right now. But Professor Snape's gotta lot on his plate too. But ye'll have ter ask him about that. My advice ter yeh right now is ter keep standin' up ter him. It takes a lot ter please Snape, so don' be upset if yer don' manage it on on'y the sec'nd try."

"Does anybody really like Professor Snape?" Kerri asked, "None of the students I've spoken to seem to."

"That's cause yeh ain't talked to no Slytherins." he answered. "But Snape ain't really interested in bein' popular. It ain't one o' his worries right now. He fav'rs the Slytherins, 'cause their his house, o' course. But som'times I think it's all an act he's gotta keep up. But don' ask me any more 'bout that, 'k? Don' want ter be spreadin' rum'rs yeh know." He tapped the side of his nose and winked. "I r'spect an' trust all o' the teachers here right now, Kerri. So don' worry. Jes relax an' don' let him kick you out. Yeh kin do it."

She smiled. "Thank you." Glancing out the window, she continued, "It's getting late. I ought to get some sleep before tomorrow. I don't know what Professor Snape might throw at me, so I'd better be ready."

"D'yeh want me ter walk yeh back? It's gettin' darker by the minute." Hagrid offered.

"I would appreciate it. I've already run afoul of Peeves once, and I don't really want to do that again." She held out her arm and Willow leapt to it, as she charmed her hair back into the usual bun. Noticing Hagrid's questioning look, she explained, "Keeps it out of potions."

Fang bounded around in front of them as they made their way back up the pathway. When they reached the door, she scratched Fang behind the ears one final time and bid goodbye to Hagrid. "Now yeh jes keep out o' trouble, yeh unnerstand? All yeh have t'do is point out a few thin's they're doin' wrong, an' that should keep Professor Snape happy, 'k? An' yer welcome t' come back an' visit if yeh want. " Kerri nodded and dropped a slight curtsy before slipping back into the building.

Avoiding any noises that could have been made by the poltergeist, she took the long way, and it was fully dark by the time she reached her room. All of her cats were clustered at the door, looking at her accusingly. She sighed. "Yes, I know, I wasn't here. Look, I took Willow with me, all right?" They still glared. "Oh. That's it. But I thought you never minded dogs." The tabby let out a yowl of exasperation and, with some difficulty, jumped up to her desk and yowled again.

"What?" she asked, walking over. When she got closer, she saw a parchment letter lying on her blotter, sealed with wax. "Someone's been in my room?" she gasped, picking it up. The tabby looked like it was tempted to bite her for taking so long, but waddled back to the bed and collapsed instead. She turned to look at the cats, still holding the letter. They had gone back to their normal spots, looking quite pleased with themselves. I guess this was it.

Pulling out the chair by her desk, she sat down to read the letter. There was no seal in the wax, but she recognized the neat handwriting as soon as she opened it. She saw it every day on the potion labels she had studied so thoroughly. Professor Snape? she thought worriedly, Please don't tell me that he's making me leave anyway! She quickly read through the letter.

Miss Harper,

Since you have decided to flee for a while, I hope you will find and read this

before class tomorrow, as it will greatly inconvenience me if you do not.

Please remember that this is your final chance. I will not allow you to remain

as my student unless you obey my orders to the letter. The first years are able to

cause more havoc than you and Longbottom combined. You will need to be ready

for any and all events and emergencies. And if you so happen to cause any of

these, I will make you sorrier than you have ever been in your life.

Kindly remember this.

Professor Severus Snape

P.S. By "preparing" I did not mean "vanish and miss dinner." Do not do this

again without leaving a note somewhere. You are still my student, and I am

responsible for you, as you do not seem able to take care of yourself.

Kerri sighed and dropped the letter on her desk. Professor Snape was as tactful as ever. He really meant this. Staring at the letter , she laced her fingers together to keep her hands from shaking. Please, oh please, let me do well just this once! She ran over Hagrid's advice one more time. Just relax, she told herself. Hagrid trusts him. He can't be all that bad. He is trying to teach me. She took a deep breath and unclenched her hands. If he hated me, he wouldn't have cared that I was gone or that I skipped dinner. He wouldn't be giving me this chance. I'll just have to prove to him that his faith in me is not unfounded.