First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who's commented on my story. Thank you so much! Every writer needs encouragement to keep going, and you guys certainly help. Also, a big thanks to those who have added me to your "Favorite Stories" list. That's the way to build up a girl's ego! Thanks again!
Okay, sunshine and happiness over, let's get back to Professor Snape. ^-^
"Miss Harper, you cannot simply parade into the Restricted section anytime you wish!"
"But, M-madam Pince, I have a signed note from Professor Snape giving me permission to remove any potion books I desire." Since her bargain with Professor Snape, many of the teachers had noticed her slight change in attitude. She was no longer cowering in corners, actually speaking to people at times. Her anger against Snape gave her the bravery to speak up. She still could not deal with Peeves or large crowds, both of which sent her running, but she had been congratulated for her progress by Dumbledore. "What's the problem?"
"I'm supposed to fetch them for you if you're not a prefect. The books have many alarms and protection charms on them, and don't take kindly to someone paging through them. Even the seventh-years and some of the teachers allow me to find the books for them. You, as a student, must also."
Kerri breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. She'd been afraid that the librarian wouldn't let her have the book. "All right. I need a book with instructions on the preparation of Veritaserum, please. The entire process." The librarian began eyeing her beadily, and Kerri hastened to explain, "It's the project that Professor Snape assigned to me. I need to start it as early as possible. Finding the ingredients alone will take me a week or two."
Madame Pince nodded reluctantly and disappeared into the depths of the Restricted section. A few minutes and a lot of rustling later, she emerged carrying a large book covered with a thick layer of dust. "Doesn't Professor Snape have a copy of this?" she inquired.
"I need one to study in my room. He won't allow his private collection to leave his dungeon, let alone enter my room." Kerri shrugged and attempted a weak grin. "I think he's afraid my cats will use it as a nest or something." She took the book from Madame Pince, thanking her, and added it to the stack already resting on the table.
As she scooped all of the books into her bag, she heard footsteps approaching behind her. Turning, she saw a pale boy accompanied by two hulking brutes. They stopped in front of her. Oh no . ."Yes?" she asked, praying that she looked braver than she felt.
"Harper," said the boy haughtily, "I've noticed that these last few weeks you've been around Professor Snape more than may be healthy for you."
Oh. One of these. Don't show any fear. Kerri raised her eyebrows and responded, "I wasn't aware that students were supposed to avoid all contact with their professors."
"Only the students that are not up to certain standards." He looked her up and down. "And you certainly don't appear to meet them."
A stab of anger shot through her. That was good, anger helped her forget her fear. "What standards might these be? The ability to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, perhaps?"
The boy turned slightly pink and hissed, "I wouldn't say such things to my betters if I were you, mudblood. I know about your family, disgusting filth that they were."
Kerri felt her knees starting to shake, but kept her voice as steady as she could. "Well, if I happen to run into my betters, I'll be sure to keep my mouth shut."
"Watch it, Harper." The boy shot back. "You don't want Snape to get a bad opinion of you, do you? I could arrange something like that if I wanted to. Or something worse. I'd watch my back from now on."
She regarded him coldly before slinging her bag of books over her shoulder. Turning to leave, she called back, "You're Draco Malfoy, aren't you?" When the boy nodded, she continued, "I'll keep that in mind."
She shoved the library door shut behind her and breathed a sigh of relief. The two hulks behind Malfoy had looked like they were ready to make good on his threats right there and then. She was surprised that he hadn't approached her before now, the Malfoys were notoriously direct at letting people know where they stood. But, then again, most of them didn't have Dumbledore breathing down their necks. She hitched the book bag a little higher on her shoulder and started down to her room. She'd just ignore him for now, and keep her eyes open. He was just a boy, not too much of threat at the moment. She turned the corner and saw a familiar black-robed figure sweeping up the halls. On the other hand. . .
"Miss Harper." Snape greeted her. "May I speak with you about your project?"
"Yes sir." Just because she trusted him about as far as she could throw him, it was no reason to be impolite in public. Besides, no one else needed to know about their discussion. "Do you have all of the ingredients?"
"Most of them. I do not have a few of the rarer ones." He began ticking them off on his fingers as they walked down to the dungeon, a respectful distance from each other. "Extract of Moonlily nectar, Red Huentar Fungi, Basilisk spines," His lips quirked, "And of course, hen's teeth, just to mention a few."
"Of course." Don't talk to him. Just don't talk to him.
They arrived at Snape's office. He held the door open for her and she walked in without so much as a glance at him. Yes, she still hated him. Perhaps it had been a bit much to hope that it was something she would shove away into the recesses of her mind and forget about. All right, he had known there wasn't a snowball's chance in the seven hells of that happening, but it had made dealing with her so much more inconvenient. At least her blazing hatred seemed to have tempered a bit into more of a cold hatred. Oh yes, Severus. That is ever so much better. Kerri slammed her book bag down onto the desk, nearly toppling the potions that lay upon it. Snape developed an eye twitch. I'm going to kill this hopeless excuse for a student. I will. Slowly. Painfully. Over hot coals.
She looked up at him from where she stood. "I want to get this over with as soon as possible, Professor. The less time I have to spend around my parents' murderer the better." Ignoring the glare he shot at her, she continued, digging her nails into her palm. Angry, stay angry. "Can we begin without the missing ingredients?"
"Probably not." Snape crossed his arms and shrugged. "However, I must agree with you. The sooner we are finished, the sooner I can prove my innocence to you."
"Or perhaps, the sooner your guilt is revealed."
"That's it!" Snape slammed his hands down onto his desk. "Miss Harper, I know what you think of me! You do not have to bring it up again every thirty seconds!"
They glared at each other. It was Kerri who dropped her eyes first and muttered, "Fine." The reply sounded sulky to both of them, and they stood in silence for several seconds, waiting for the other to speak.
Finally, Snape rubbed his eyes and said in an exasperated voice, "Miss Harper, can we at least try to be civil to each other? At the rate we're going, you're going to be the death of me." Or I of you, he thought, but did not say. "I know we have our differences, to horribly understate the fact, but I am still required to teach you. If you can act anything other than hostile or terrified towards me, it will make both of our lives ever so much easier." He waited a few seconds for a response, when none came, he continued, "Tomorrow you will come with me into Hogsmeade, so we can purchases the missing ingredients, understood?"
She nodded curtly. "May I leave now, sir?"
He waved vaguely at the door and directed his attention to the papers on his desk. As soon as the door shut behind her, he collapsed into his chair. Gods, it's not even Halloween yet! It's only mid-October! I won't have any nerves left in a week. A blubbering wreck in public, and a nasty, self-righteous bitch in private! I'm going to kill her!
I'm going to kill him! Kerri flung her book bag to the ground and slammed her fists into a pillow. How can he so infuriatingly self-righteous all the time? How can he act like there's nothing going on? She clenched her hands into claws. Bloody right, I'm going to be the death of him! What I wouldn't give to get my hands around that scrawny neck of his! "Anything other than hostile," my foot! He wouldn't be saying that if he were in my shoes! I will not obey his every whim like a newborn kitten!
That decided, she suddenly stood and threw her cloak over her shoulders. "I'm going out." she announced. "I'm going to go see Hagrid. I'm going to miss dinner, and I'm not going to leave a note." She pointed at Willow. "I will tell the house elves to give you extra cream so that you will stay here without complaining. And after that, I'm going to walk around the castle, and I shall thumb my nose at Peeves if I run into him. Goodbye." She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.