Potion Problems "Potions!!!" Lenore groaned again. "First period today." She turned to look at Maia. "How unfair is that! I can't do them normally. How am I supposed to first thing Monday morning?" She huffed.

"Same way you normally do?" Maia said then an amused look crossed her face. "With a Bang!" Lenore and Maia burst out laughing. They headed to the Ravenclaw common room to gather their books and well do their hair.

This year they had been paired with Slytherin for potions. The running joke was the Prof. Dumbledore, the headmaster, kept alternating the pair house with Lenore's year Ravenclaw for potions to expose them all too equal risk.

"Hurry take your stations." Prof. Drake, the potion teacher ordered. He looked up and saw Lenore. "Miss Nightshade, please tell me that you are going to blow up fewer caldrons this year."

Lenore looked thoughtful, if it had been anyone else, she would have made a joke. Instead she looked down and mumbled, "I shall try, Sir."

By the end of class though she had already melted one caldron, and had sufficiently managed to scorch Maia's. They had paired together away before the melt down.

"Miss Nightshade, I expect more from you." He hissed. "Class dismissed."

"Nice start. Picking up were you left off I see." Maia teased.

"Why mess with--" Lenore was cut-off by Prof. Drake's grumble. She hurried out of the dungeon. The girls giggled as they moved threw the halls. The truth was that Lenore was brilliant with all classes but potions. She was usually in top standing, or at least one of the few in competition for such honours.

Lenore was from a mixed family. Her father was a wizard of high standing in the Ministry of Magic, her mother was an attorney. While Maia was a full blood witch, she'd grown up in a muggle community. Which was why they both understood Muggle things like stereos.

After classes Maia and Lenore went into the yard as usual. Lenore had brought a stereo that her older brother had modified to work around magic, so that she could have music. Lenore and Maia were talking, when they noticed a shadow over their space. They looked up and saw Lily Evans hesitantly coming toward them.

"Hello." Lily said. Now although not nearly as famous as the Marauders, Lily had established quite a reputation of her own. "You mind if I join you? I love this band." Maia and Lenore shrugged and Lily joined them. "How do you get it to work?"

"My older brother fixed it so it would. I'm not really sure what he did, but it's great." Lenore replied off-handily. "Lily, why are you hanging here with us? Other than the fact we have the coolest music on campus."

"Truth?!" Lily replied sitting up. "James and the boys have detention."

"Already???" Maia and Len said together. "We haven't been here 24 hours yet."

"Yeah, I know." Lily sounded annoyed. "And with them out, I wanted to find something fun to do. I heard your music and thought why not."

"Good enough reason for me." Maia replied. Maia and Lenore were not popular, but neither of them really cared. Lenore had intentionally tried to hide her first year, because her brother had still been here. He was the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, head boy, and regularly received top honours. Despite all that he was the life of a party. "So how was your first day?"

By they end of the 2nd week, Lenore had somehow managed to mess up 4 of the 5 potions they'd done. She'd destroyed (by explosion, melting or scorching) about 7 caldrons. Had 3 explosions, one of which resulted in the injury of Maia (minor burn) and about half a dozen students from both Slytherin and Ravenclaw being died purple for a week.

While the Slytherins didn't take this kindly. The Ravenclaws took it well, most were used to this kind of thing being a result of her potions. They would take turns being close to Lenore while brewing, so that by this point every Ravenclaw 5th year had been hit by one (or more) of Lenore's potion blunders. "Well you could have at least got our house colour right." One joked.

"That would imply that I knew what I was doing." Lenore replied. "And that I'd done it on purpose." They laughed. She had received congratulations from people on dying a handful of Slytherin purple. Most everyone seemed not to notice that Lenore herself was died purple. Her normal Auburn hair had turned a rather nice shade of Aqua marine.

Lucious Malfoy, one of the unfortunates who had gotten died. He looked quite the sight. Purple body and as he'd been close his white blond hair had been turned fuchsia. Everyone giggled when they saw him that week. He was determined to get her back.

The class after the explosion of die, Lenore cringed when she stepped into the room. "Miss Nightshade, Follow me!" Prof. Drake said before Lenore had a chance to do or say anything. She followed him to his office. He ordered her to sit, which of course she did.

"Sir, what am I in trouble for exactly?" She asked quietly.

"You're here, because I didn't get a chance at the end of last class to speak with you." Prof Drake sounded as if he were going to throttle her. "You're in trouble because you are a menace to yourself and your classmates. If you do not improve drastically, and fast you will fail. You do realize what that means? I've heard that you are an intelligent girl, though I've yet to see any of it." Lenore nodded quietly. "If you fail my class, you will loss your year, at best. At worst you will be expelled from this school. Are we clear?"

"Crystal Sir." Lenore replied, looking at the floor.

"Now, let's go back to class. And do try to get it right." Drake ordered. Lenore practically ran back to her spot. Maia, asked -What's the matter?- They had a way of writing notes to each other that no one else could read. It was by adding dots or tails to certain letters. Their notes were full of these messages.

-If I mess up again, he said I'm going to fail. Failing = expulsion!- Lenore told her tearfully. Trying to hide how upset she was, but not covering it very well.

-Don't worry. Remember, we're the smart ones. I'm sure we can find you a tutor.- Maia comforted. -I mean we have before, right!-

"Due to a shortage of cauldrons we will have a pop quiz today." Drake told the class. The class groaned. "Thank Miss Nightshade for the shortage."

-Is he allowed to do that?- Lenore asked.

-Does it matter? He just did, and Hun its true.- Maia replied. This was now being written on her quiz.

-Well yes, I know that. But I thought that he wasn't allowed to do that in front of the class.- Lenore countered. Also on her test. -At least this is one thing that I can do.-

Lenore spent the next week, working with all the best potion students in Ravenclaw, and still she was not better. They even tried to take her to study with people from other houses. Lenore was hopeless. She was beginning to fall into despair.

Half way threw the fourth week. Yet another potion blew up. It had been a silence potion, however, Lenore's caused a *boom* so loud that all the widows on the lower two floors were broken.

The class all had headaches from the noise. Lenore and Maia, the 2 closest had lost their hearing. Lenore thought it fortunate, as she couldn't hear Professor Drake yelling at her. When she got her hearing back she asked Chad, one of her classmates what the damage was.

"Drake gave you each a detention. Took of like 50 points. Did you know that it broke like half the windows in the school?" He told her. "Your detention is tonight, with him. Meet him at his office at 7pm."

"So you were the one who broke all the windows." Thomas, a 7h year, asked her. "You should have seen it. It was bloody marvellous, Bas would be proud." He had been on the Quidditch team with her brother.

"Yeah, if I'd done it one purpose." Lenore replied quietly. She moped threw dinner. She was terrified of Drake. -What was he thinking giving me a detention with him? Is he hoping that I'll blow myself up.-

2 hours later, Lenore ran from the dungeon. She headed straight for her dorm and a shower. Lenore cried herself to sleep. She knew that she had to do something drastic.

The next morning Maia waited until the dorm was empty then started. "So, spill. What he do? You were pretty upset when you came back."

"Nothing. Drop it." Lenore replied, sleepily.

"No. What happened." Maia asked. "Len I've seen you fall from a broom, seen you face down are folks when we were caught drinking, I've never seen you that upset."

"Maia, don't worry about it. It's gone." Lenore replied brushing her hair out. She flopped down on her bed. "What am I going to about potions? I'm useless. Nothing's helping."

"Len, we'll think of something." Maia told her. "I hate to suggest this, but you could ask the best potions student in the school." Lenore looked at her, to tell if she was joking.

"There's a snowballs chance in hell, that Severus Snape will help me." Lenore replied.

"Yeah, well news flash sweetie. That's about your odds of passing right now."

Len knew that Maia was right. Although she doubted that he could help her, like he even would. It was her only option left. She waited for him outside of Transfiguration, his last class before lunch.

"Ummm, Snape could I talk to you for a second?" A pretty Ravenclaw asked.

He knew her, sort of. They shared some of the same classes as they were both in fifth year. Her name was Lenore Nightshade and she was really his only competition for top honours in the school. He had been talking with Lucius Malfoy, his best friend or rather alley.

"Why?" Snape asked her cautiously. Snape was always a favourite target for the Marauders. Though he did not know this girl to associate with them, one could never be sure. As the most popular group in the school, they could usually convince others to aid them in their set ups.

She looked nervous at him. She stood a few feet away from him and Lucius. "Please?" She asked again. "I ummm," She huffed. "I would really like to talk to you, alone for a second."

He looked around, there weren't many people around. Not the usual type of set up, the Marauders tended to make public humiliation. They liked big crowds, to witness their pranks. He nodded to Malfoy and went over to speak with the girl.

"Thanks. This is kind of embarrassing, so please let me get it out." She took a deep breath. "As you and everyone else knows I'm hopeless at potions. I was wondering if you'd be my tutor, please?!?"

"Why me?" Snape asked cautiously. "Why not ask someone from your own house? You're supposed to be the smart ones."

"Because, I need the best to teach me. I'm hopeless. I blew up another cauldron today. I think I'm going to fail and I really need help." She stated depressed. She took a deep breath. "It is well known that you're the best potions student in the school and some people think you're better that the teacher, and yes I need that much help. So will you please help me? "

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Severus told her. "Why would I help you? You're my rival for top marks in everything except potions."

"I don't think that even you could teach me enough to be a rival for you in potions." She told him with all seriousness. "Look I really need help. What do you want in return? I mean I didn't expect that you'd do it out of the kindness of your heart, because Slytherins' don't have hearts."

"Insulting my house isn't a good way to convince me that I should help you."

"Even to prove me wrong?" She asked hopefully with a little smile. He shook his head and glared at her. "Alright, think of it as a challenge. I mean if you can teach me, then you're better than Professor Drake." He looked at her sceptically. "Come on!" She pouted. "What do you want?"

"What do you have to offer me?" Snape asked her.

Her shoulders slumped. She wasn't rich. She wasn't popular. Snape was just as smart as her, in everything but herbology, and he didn't struggle with that. She really did have nothing to offer in return. Unable to think of anything, she took a deep breath and whispered, "I guess, I don't have anything that you'd want. I'm sorry I wasted your time."

"Wait!" He said as she turned to leave. He liked the idea of teaching a Ravenclaw something, it meant that he was smarter. He also admitted to himself, and only himself, that he liked her. He had had a crush on Lenore Nightshade since first year. "I'll tutor you on one condition." Her face lit up suddenly. "You do exactly what I tell you with no arguments during the lessons."

Lenore looked a little worried at that. What did he have in mind? Oh well, she could handle him, after all she could leave if she didn't like his demands right? Besides this really was her only chance to pass potion class. "Right, within reason. Can I ask that it just be with you? Malfoy, makes me nervous. He gives me the creeps."

"Fine. Meet me at 7 pm, in the potions lab tonight and we'll get started." Snape told her she nodded. Then added as an after thought, "Try to look depressed when you leave. That way no one will know." She did, and even he was convinced.

"What did she want?" Malfoy sneered.

"A copy of my potions notes. As if anything could help her!" Snape replied.

Len ran off. She found Maia in the great hall. Len hardly ate anything. This was her last hope. Her heart was pounding. Maia noticed how distracted she was and finished quickly so they could talk. They left the hall early, and found a nice tree to sit under.

"Did you ask him?" Maia demanded. Lenore looked at her. They told each other everything. Lenore nodded. "Well???"

"He said he would, tonight. Don't tell anyone." Len whispered. "If anyone else hears about this, he won't do it. Maia this is my last hope." Len dropped her head into her hands. "What am I going to tell my folks?"

"Nothing yet. Maybe this'll work." Maia comforted her. "I'll cover for you. Besides, at this point I don't think that anyone in the school will care, so long as you stop trying your best to blow the school up."

"Do you think that they heard about the windows yet?" Lenore asked quietly.

"Probably." Maia admitted. "At least they didn't send a howler."

"Yeah, because I think I've been yelled at enough." Lenore replied. "Unfortunately this time I'd hear it." Lenore tried to concentrate for the rest of the day, still worried about her study session that night.

She arrived slightly early to the potions room. Looking extremely scared. Finding Snape there already and alone, relaxed her, a bit. She smiled at him. "I was worried that you might change your mind." She told him. "Thanks for coming." She smiled, he nearly melted.

"I nearly did change my mind. It seemed very much like a set up." He told her.

"Set-up? I'm not popular enough for the Marauders to know I exist." She laughed. "Hell, I'm like a zero on the popularity metre. Why would I set you up? You are my only hope to pass. Merlin, I hate admitting that. Please don't make me say it again. So what are you going to teach me, wise-one? I'll try my best to learn and not destroy anything."

"I hardly think that you are a zero on any scale, but we are not here to discuss that. Let's start with something simple." Snape told her.

He found that he'd smiled at her jokes. He never had liked frivolity like that, but hers was different. She was bright, she knew the book, and the ingredients. However, when she went to mix the potion, things went horrible wrong. He stopped her twice from putting the wrong thing in.

"Sorry, I don't know why I tried to do that." She said. He knew she truly was trying and that she truly didn't mean to screw it up. He watched her closely. After brewing it was tested, and worked.

"Yippy!!" She squealed with delight, forgetting that they were up past curfew and should really be quiet. She hugged Snape. "It worked! Thank you." She was delighted. Snape was stunned by the sudden contact. "Oh, sorry." She said as she let go of him, looking suddenly sheepish.

They heard something out side in the hall. Realizing that someone must have heard. Snape looked around, and decided that there was no way to hid the evidence and get out without being caught. "Hide!" He told her, she did just as the door opened.

The potions headmaster stood there. "Mr. Snape what are you doing up and in my lab at this time of night?"

"Ummm, I was attempting to brew a potion I found in the 7th year book." Snape lied. "I got excited when it worked, and forgot the time."

"Really!? Well. Although you will lose 20 points from your house for being in here without permission, I suppose it was with good reason. From now on, I want you to ask to use the labs after hours." Professor Drake instructed.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir." Snape said quietly.

"Get this cleaned up, and head to bed. It's nearly midnight." Drake replied. "And try to stay quiet. I think I need more sleep than you young people."

He left and Lenore, came out of hiding. "Funny he's never that nice to me."

"Yeah, well I don't go around blowing up his cauldrons." Snape told her.

"A girl blows up a few dozen cauldrons and is labelled for life." Lenore teased, Snape found himself smiled at her manner. "Clean up I'm good at. Shall I?"

"Be my guessed." Snape had to admit that she was rather good and quick when it came to the clean-up aspect of things.

"Thanks for covering for me. I'm sorry that you got in trouble." She told him.

"Are you kidding? I was saving my own skin. If anyone had found out that I brought you into the Potions lab, well I'd likely be expelled for reckless endangerment." Lenore was laughing hysterically.

"It's funny, 'cause it's true." She managed to get out between her laughter. Snape made a sudden decision, though he had never really been what one would call impetuous.

"Would you be willing to meet once a week?" He asked her.

"Really? So you'll tutor me?" She smiled at him. She looked so damn excited and hopeful. He thought that she may try to hug him again.

"Yes, I'll really tutor you." He shook his head. "You were right when you said it would be a challenge. Lets say Tuesday evenings?"

"Great!" She beamed at him. "Thanks Snape. You're not as bad as everyone says."

"That stays in this room! Or the deal is off. I like my reputation." Snape stated proudly. She looked at him all serious, and saluted.

"Your secret is safe with me." She assured him. She motioned locking her lips and tucking a key away. He laughed at her antics. Merlin she was cute, was his thought. "I'll meet you here then next Tuesday after dinner, say 7ish?"

"Perfect. Now we should head off to our dormitories."

"Good night Severus. Pleasant dreams." She whispered as she headed toward the Ravenclaw common room. "Thanks again." She waved.

Fortune was on her side. She managed to sneak back to her dorm without trouble. Fortunately, it seemed that Ravenclaws' had silence spells on their closed curtains so that the sleepers were not disturbed by anyone moving about. Lenore moved to her bed, the curtains were shut.

"I told everyone that you went to bed early, because you were upset over this potions thing." Maia whispered. "So how'd it go?"

"Alright, I think I've found a tutor." Lenore replied, flopping on to her bed. "So how'd your night go?"

"It went. Lend me a hand tomorrow. I still don't get Arthmacy." Maia yawned.

"Sure." Lenore replied. Maia waved and closed her curtains. Lenore did the same but she was unable to fall asleep for a long while.