Disclaimer:  Everything recognizable from the Harry Potter universe belongs to J K Rowling, no infringement is intended to any copyright holder

Beloved on this Earth

~ 0 ~

Lois sat at the raised staff table looking out onto the noisy throng in front of her.  It was hard to believe that just over a week ago this same room had been almost silent as she ate an early solitary breakfast.  The castle hadn't been truly alive until the children arrived she realised now and the sounds of them echoing down the corridors filled her with warmth. 

Snape sat beside her and as no one else ever seemed in a raging hurry to snag the chair next to him, it had quickly become her regular seat.  Now that term had started meal times were shorter, so no matter when she arrived she was sure to find most, if not all of the other professors already there.  The distraction that they and the children provided for Snape's eagle eye meant that Lois now had the opportunity to study him undisturbed, which she had unwittingly been spending more and more time doing lately.  As a result she was beginning to know his expressions better than her own – although she still very often had no idea what he was thinking. 

One of the most interesting things she had discovered, was that he actually had a very expressive face when he was unaware anyone was watching him.  Sitting reading the Daily Prophet his eyebrows would rise in disgust at some article he was reading, or his mouth would curl in one of his rare and slight smiles when something amused him.  She had also noticed that he had beautiful hands; tapered and elegant they made the simple act of spreading butter on his toast as mesmerising as if he were sculpting a masterpiece. But best of all - and trickiest to observe unnoticed - was the myriad changes that occurred in his coal black eyes, from gleaming like polished glass when he was amused, to shooting icy sparks when annoyed. 

A slight movement to her right pulled her from her thoughts and had her head swivelling, smiling as she recognised Elena Roupe edging behind the table to an empty seat at the far end.

'Keep going.'  Muttered a snarling voice at her left as the other woman passed by.

'Severus.'  Lois hissed.  'Keep your voice down, she'll hear!'

'As long as she doesn't attempt to sit next to us, I don't particularly care.' He said barely looking up from the newspaper he was reading.  Lois shook her head at him exasperated before turning to Remus who sat at her right. 

'How are the three of you getting along?'  She asked genuinely wondering how such vastly differing personalities were managing to teach a subject so closely intertwined. 

'Not bad considering.'  He mused. 'I knew Alastor to speak to already and Elena is fine as well, but put them together.'  He shook his head in much the same fashion as Lois just had.

'Fireworks?'  She questioned sympathetically.

'Drawn wands sometimes.'  He turned his head to say quietly, but his eyes gleamed with laughter.

'Liar.'  She murmured back, glancing over at Elena Roupe and Alastor Moody.  The staff table was particularly full today and as no one had left it yet, the only seat remaining for Roupe had been next to Moody, something he generally tried to avoid she had noticed.

The new DADA Professor was a large woman, not fat, just tall and very solidly muscled.  Her wiry black hair was cut into a short unattractive bob that did little to enhance her regrettably plain features.  Her mouth was wide and contained an awful lot of teeth, which she bared often in a loud, booming laugh.  She had a broad nose, which appeared to have been broken at some stage and heavy eyebrows over her one attractive feature - surprisingly pretty lawn green eyes framed by incredibly long, curling black lashes.

When she spoke it was in a thick eastern European accent that Lois couldn't exactly place, and wasn't inclined to enquire about further. It was difficult to decide on an age but she would have guessed her to be in her late forties.  Roupe was brash and opinionated but according to Remus, knew her subject inside out.  The students were definitely wary of her brusque manner and harshly worded commands and Harry had already told her no one messed around in her classes - apparently not even the Slytherins dared risk her wrath.  All in all, she came across as a very intimidating woman, although she had been surprisingly patient with Lois when she had sat in with her for some Dark Arts tuition.  Nevertheless she could hardly be considered restful company.  Even Moody seemed cautious around her, but Lois wasn't sure if that was because of annoyance or dislike – she rather suspected Moody enjoyed his reputation for being unpredictable and with Elena Roupe's arrival he was no longer the most unpredictable Professor in the school.

If Moody and Roupe weren't exactly best buddies, it was nothing compared to how the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor felt about Snape.  She had arrived the day before school was due to start and had been introduced to the rest of the staff at a meeting to discuss final arrangements for the new school term.  Lois had made her way to the staff room with Poppy and when the other woman had stopped to chat with Professor Sinistra, Lois had smiled her hello and walked over to Snape standing alone on the opposite side of the room.

He had greeted her with a nod, not taking his eyes away from the older woman across the room who had him fixed with a deadly glare.

'Is that the new Professor?'  Lois questioned curiously noticing the staring contest going on between the two of them.

'Yes.'  He replied shortly finally looking away.

'Do you know her?'  Lois asked, mirroring almost exactly Snape's question at the staff meal.

'No.'

'She certainly acts as though you do.'  She said with a feeling of déjà vu.

'I assure you I have never seen her before in my life.'  He said impatiently.

'Well start looking pleasant - she's coming over.' Lois instructed and Snape's lips twisted with displeasure.

'Professor Roupe?'  Lois asked politely holding out her hand to the tall woman.

'Yes, but you may call me Elena.'  She said briskly.  'And you are?'  She asked her forceful grip causing Lois's whole arm to shake, not just her hand.

'Lois Scott.'  She forced a smile, carefully removing her hand from harms way.  'I'm training under Poppy Pomfrey – the school matron.'  Elena's eyes sharpened for a second at her words, but it was gone in an instant as she turned towards Snape, her hand held out aggressively.

'And you are Professor Snape.'  She said, but it was not a question.

'Indeed.'  He intoned coldly, his eyes narrowing as the other woman grasped his hand and Lois wondered if she was holding it as tightly as she had held hers.

'I have heard all about you Professor Snape.'  She said in a hard voice.

'I'm sorry to say I cannot claim the same.'  He said equally hard.  'Tell me, where did you teach before this?'  He asked in a silky voice.

'This is my first teaching post, I previously worked for the Bulgarian Ministry.'  She replied in her deep accent. 'I am surprised you have not already asked Professor Dumbledore that question?'

'Now that you mention it, I think he might have said something about it.'  He answered in a cool tone, his face giving nothing away.

'I imagined he would have.'  She mocked and beamed her wide crocodile smile before turning towards Lois again who had watched the interchange silently.  'Nice to meet you Miss Scott.'  She said pleasantly. 'Professor Snape.' She said less pleasantly.

'Lois please.' Lois smiled and Elena nodded once, before excusing herself and walking away to speak to Professor Flitwick, the tall woman towering over the tiny man who looked a little alarmed as she focussed her attention on him.

'That went well.'  Lois mocked.

Snape sighed deeply, tearing his dark glance away from Roupe to focus on Lois fully.  'Just when I think the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors can't get any worse, Dumbledore outdoes himself and hires three of them that are all either worse than the last one, or are the last one.' He said in disgust.

'Come on truthfully now - what did you do to upset her before I arrived?'  She teased.

'Nothing.'  He scowled.  'She's probably been talking to Moody.' He said with dislike, neither man having made any secret of their loathing for each other.

Lois nodded not pushing it and smiled at Poppy who had joined them.  More than likely he had offended the other woman without even being aware of it, something he had a particular knack for she had noticed on more than one occasion.  The Headmaster called the meeting to order and she had put the matter out of her mind.

She was dragged back to the present by a tap on her arm.  She glanced at Snape questioningly who nodded over at Remus. 

'Sorry Remus.'  She apologised.  'I was miles away, did you say something?'

'I asked if you were free this afternoon, I haven't got any classes till three, so we could carry on with your meditation training if you like.' 

After a joint discussion with Dumbledore and Poppy, the Headmaster had suggested she try some basic meditation techniques in order to help her focus and allow her to access any empathic abilities she might possess.  Unfortunately it was rather like the blind leading the blind; books on the subject weren't exactly thick on the ground because, as Poppy explained, it wasn't something that could be taught.  You were either born with the ability or you weren't – end of story.  As Remus had apparently been using meditation to help ease the symptoms he experienced prior to transforming every month, he had kindly offered to pass on whatever knowledge he had.

'Should be fine.'  She replied. 'I've got a class with Filius after lunch then nothing till transfiguration after the students last period.'

'How are you getting on with that now?'  He asked knowing she had been struggling.

'Hmm.' She said gloomily.  'Still not well to be honest.'  She admitted.  'I've been thinking about dropping it for a little while because I'm so busy anyway, but I just don't dare – this subject's going to take me forever to pass as it is and I need all the practice I can get.'

'It'll come.'  He consoled, but seeing her doubting expression continued.  'All wizards have weak and strong subjects Lois, just like muggles.  I was always hopeless at potions and Severus…' At this point he stopped and looked quizzically over at the other wizard who had finally put down his paper and was buttering a slice of toast.  'Actually Severus were you bad at anything?' He questioned thoughtfully.

'Care of Magical Creatures.'  Snape replied stonily. 

For a second Lois thought it was a dig at the other man's condition, but apparently not because a look of dawning remembrance came over Remus's face and he said with a smile.  'That's right, Professor Kettleburn never did forgive you for killing his Rolling Toads did he?'

'Severus you killed then?'  Lois asked dismayed.

'I didn't wring their necks.'  He defended himself impatiently wishing now he'd never volunteered the information.  She had looked so morose though sitting there he had thought admitting his own past difficulties might console her. A mistake he now realised, thanks purely to Lupin's big mouth.  'We were all given some type of creature to care for - allegedly as part of the course.  However, Rolling Toad larva needs an incredible amount of attention and I was right in the middle of producing a very delicate potion.  I didn't have the time to spend constantly monitoring heating and lighting requirements, a fact I had already informed Kettleburn of which he foolishly chose to ignore.'

'So what happened?' She asked with trepidation.

'I checked on them as often as I could, but unfortunately one morning when I looked in on them they had…'

'Rolled off to meet their maker?'  Lois finished for him with a wince.

'Exactly.  Don't look so accusing.'  Snape said irritably seeing her expression.  'They only live for a maximum of three months anyway.'

'Yes, but they normally manage longer than three days.'  Remus pointed out mildly.

'You couldn't keep them alive for three days?'  Lois said startled. 'If I ever get a goldfish, remind me never to leave you in charge of feeding it when I go away.' 

'They were hardly pets Lois; Kettleburn was simply using the students as slave labour.'  Snape said unrepentantly.  'We raised them under the guise of schoolwork and then he sold them off as potions ingredients, feathering himself a nice little retirement nest egg from our hard work in the process.'  His continued, his remembered annoyance at the old Professors treatment causing him to raise his voice slightly.

'Sorry to interrupt,' came Dumbledore's question from two chairs down, his eyes twinkling with amusement.  'I couldn't help but overhear; are you talking about those Rolling Toad's?' 

'Yes Headmaster.'  Remus answered when Snape's only response was an annoyed mutter. 'We were just explaining to Lois how we all have our little magical glitches.'

'That's certainly true enough.'  Dumbledore agreed.  'I could never master an adequate oven cleaning spell – always somehow ended up making a large hole in the door.'  He said thoughtfully, before continuing with a smile.  'I must say, since Professor Kettleburn's retirement I'd almost forgotten about those toads - Minerva.' Dumbledore called down to the Deputy Headmistresses who was in the process of sipping her tea.  'We were just discussing Professor Kettleburn and Severus's unfortunate incident with the Rolling Toads.  Do you remember?'

'Indeed I do.' She said her lips tightening.  'Kettleburn brought them up at boringly regular intervals right up until the day he retired.'

'If I recall correctly he tried to put in a claim for compensation didn't he?'  The Headmaster asked amused, before looking over at Lois to explain further.   'Incredibly expensive creatures to be fair; must have cost him an absolute fortune to purchase them in the quantities he did.'  He shook his head musingly.  'Never put all your eggs in one basket – a very wise muggle saying I've always found.'

'Humph.' McGonagall snorted.  'He certainly didn't succeed with his claim.'  She said in a highly satisfied voice.  'Using school equipment and facilities for his own private ventures and then asking for reimbursement when it fails.  He should have known better than to trust that sort of responsibility to a student.  I don't mean any disrespect to your abilities Severus – you were just a boy after all; no one ever really blamed you for it.'  She said kindly when she saw his darkening expression.

'I think Professor Kettleburn did.'  Remus said honestly.

'If you'd like Severus,' Hugo Quade teased, the entire table now happily listening in on the conversation.  'I'd probably be able to fit in a quick Care of Magical Creatures refresher course for you if you want?'

'Thank you no.' Snape said coldly, growing angrier by the second at the attention the conversation was causing him.

'Perhaps you should take him up on that offer – you wouldn't want to be accidentally killing off things in your care would you Professor?'  Came Roupe's harsh voice and with it the end of Snape's patience.

He stood abruptly intending to leave without further comment and had actually taken a step when Lois's voice caused him to pause and turn on his heal back towards her. 

'Are you going?'  She knew he hadn't been enjoying the other professors good-natured teasing, but was still surprised by his sudden departure.

'Breakfast Achelois.'  He said bending to speak directly into her ear in a low voice. 'Used to be a time of quiet contemplation allowing me to prepare myself mentally for the horror of a full days teaching.'  Lois shivered delicately as his hot breath caressed her ear and his stooped position caused his silky hair to brush against her cheek slightly.   'Since your arrival,' he said in a tight voice. 'It has been turned into a three ring circus and when I find myself the main attraction, unsurprisingly I have no desire to remain.'

'I'm sorry.'  She said absently as he straightened away, her focus unwillingly centred on his lips that seconds before had been practically touching her sensitive skin.  Noticing her inattention Snape gave an impatient shake of his head and swept off the platform leaving the Great Hall via the rear entrance.

Turning back towards the rest of the teaching staff she found most of them staring at her questioningly.  She shot them a rueful smile looking, had she but known it, like a long-suffering spouse apologising for her partners lapse in manners.  'He's in the middle of a brewing a potion and he had to dash off to see to it.'  She invented quickly in an attempt to excuse his behaviour.

Lois sighed softly, her hand lifting to rub at her ear where she could still almost feel his warm breath, completely unaware of the speculative glances her words had caused more than one of the table's occupants to level on her. 

***********

'Harry he's touching her!'  Ron's scandalised voice hissed.

Harry looked around confused, before Ron's hand on his robe collar forced his face towards the staff table and the horrible sight of Snape's head lowered intimately at Lois's ear.  He returned his cereal filled spoon back into the bowl with a clatter, his appetite disappearing in an instant.  Luckily at that point Snape straightened quickly and left the Hall while Lois turned to speak to the rest of the Professors.

'Do you think they were arguing?'  Ron asked hopefully.  His introduction to Lois had gone well and he (along with a fair few other students) was now firmly in the midst of a full-blown teenage crush on Hogwarts youngest staff member. 

'He looked annoyed.'  Hermione agreed joining the conversation.  'But Lois doesn't seem angry.'  She pointed out, as the three of them watched her now staring blankly out across the sea of student faces, absently rubbing her ear. 'Actually I think Professor Snape likes Lois.'  She finished calmly waiting for the explosion that would inevitably follow.

'Like - do you mean like, like!' Ron howled looking truly revolted, but not enough to stop him cramming toast liberally spread with marmalade into his mouth.  'Are you insane?'  He asked looking at Hermione with horror.  'Snape's barely even human; that greasy git isn't capable of liking anyone.  Anyway could you imagine Snape with a girlfriend?  With Lois as a girlfriend!'  He shuddered. 'No way; Lois is dead pretty - she wouldn't look at a creep like him in a million years!' 

'Looks don't matter when two people really fall in love.'  Hermione said disdainfully.

'Of course they matter Hermione.'  Ron derided.  'And especially when it comes to Snape; have you ever actually seen what he looks like?'  He said in disgust. 'Lois wouldn't want him. No one would want him – well maybe Roupe would.'  He said grudgingly looking over at the large woman who was laughing loudly at something Professor Sprout had just said to her.

'You have no idea what women find attractive Ronald Weasley.'  Hermione sniffed, her nose in the air. 

Ron was about to argue when he remembered that Krum hadn't exactly been handsome and he'd had loads of girls crawling all over him.  But he didn't want to bring up Krum right now and anyway, he thought, Krum was famous.  Girls would forgive you a lot when you were famous. 

'I don't need to know.'  He snorted, abandoning any attempt to argue the point. 'Even if he was good looking, there's no escaping the fact he's a spiteful, evil, old maggot and Lois is lovely and kind and nice.'  He said a dreamy smile appearing on his face, causing Hermione to roll her eyes in exasperation. A thought suddenly occurred to Ron snapping him out of his daze.  He turned to Harry, lowering his voice so the rest of the Gryffindors couldn't hear.  'Have you told her Harry?'  He questioned anxiously.  'You know – that Snape used to be a Death Eater?' He whispered to his friend looking around him cautiously.

'No.' Harry admitted, no happier than Ron was about Snape's friendship with Lois, but still not sure he should drop Snape in it.  He had brought him back to Hogwarts when he'd been injured, but then again that was Dumbledore's doing more than his.  Anyway even if it had been out of the goodness of his heart, he felt more loyalty to Lois than he ever would to Snape.

More worrying still, he thought Hermione might be right when she said Snape liked Lois.  You rarely knew what was going on behind his shuttered features, but over the summer, Harry had noticed an almost hungry look that Snape sometimes got in his eyes when he was watching Lois.  And he hadn't liked it one little bit.  Of course if he did what Ron wanted that would be a sure fire way of keeping him away from her.  Death Eaters had killed Lois's family and even if Dumbledore was right and Snape was one of the good guys now, he doubted she'd want anything to do with the potions master once she knew.  He was worried that telling her might just upset her though and he didn't want that either.  Despite the fact that she was the adult, he often felt strangely responsible for Lois - after all if it wasn't for him she wouldn't even be here.

'I think you should.'  Ron insisted. 'She needs to know and you can bet that slime-ball won't tell her either.'

'Well I don't think it's our place.'  Hermione said primly.  'I don't like Snape any more than you two, but if Lois does I don't think she'll be very pleased if we try to turn her against him.  Anyway if he really does like her, he'll probably tell her himself.  What do you think Harry?'  She asked looking over at him.

'I don't know.'  He replied slowly, but he had to admit the idea of Lois being safely away from Snape was appealing.

**********

Hefting the heavy box awkwardly in her arms Lois quickly turned the handle of her chamber door using her hip to edge it open.  Once out of her room she pulled it shut with her elbow, not bothering to lock it as it would mean putting down the cumbersome box and drawing her wand.  Lesson after this, I'm getting Filius to teach me that nifty floating spell everyone does, she promised herself as she felt her arms begin to spasm painfully from stretching to reach around the large box. 

'Can you even see over that thing?'  Came a sarcastic voice behind her.

'Severus!  Don't sneak up on me like that!' She shrieked, the suddenness of his approach almost making her drop the heavy load.

'I was about to help,' he said dispassionately turning around. 'But if you're going to screech at me like that.'

'Get back here.'  She smiled, using her foot to beckon him in the absence of free hands. 

'What is all this?' He asked, easily lifting the box from her arms.

'My mom's robes and some of her jewellery.'  She said opening the lid slightly to show him.  'Filius said we could work on a hemming charm today and if we get time, a reducing charm to shrink some rings.  I thought I'd take them down to his classroom now and that way I can go straight there after lunch.'   He nodded and they walked companionably down the corridor towards the stairs. 

One of the most surprising things about Severus Snape, Lois had come to realise, was that for all his sarcasm and rudeness and unmitigated bad temper, he had an unexpectedly chivalrous nature. Automatically taking the heavy box from her was a prime example.  Although Lois did have an air of frailty on first impression, after knowing her for even the shortest amount of time, her capable attitude and breezy self confidence caused most people to quickly disregarded her small size and leave her to get on with things.  But Severus had never treated her like that and she found she enjoyed the almost coddling manner he took towards her; doors were opened politely and chairs drawn back for her to sit in, not something that was common in today's liberated way of life.

He didn't do any of it with good grace of course, but no one was perfect.  In fact looking back now, one of David's faults had been his tendency towards selfishness; he hadn't ever been intentionally unkind, but his occasional self-absorption had meant that he was sometimes unaware of her discomfort.  Of course they had been young when they had married and truthfully both of them had been a little immature.  Not that she was comparing him unfavourably with Severus, she assured herself hastily; over time she knew David would have matured and grown more thoughtful in his ways, but time was something that had been denied them.  

She looked over at the silent figure at her side.  'Did you come to see Poppy?'  She asked only now wondering what he was doing up here on the Infirmary floor.

'Yes.'  He lied easily.  Actually once he had calmed down after his fit of pique at breakfast this morning, he had regretted taking his annoyance out on her and had wanted to make sure she was still talking to him - which thankfully she seemed to be - without having to find out surrounded by the other Professors at lunch.  When she wasn't to be found in the Infirmary, he had headed for her room and luckily she had given him the perfect excuse for his appearance. 'Just delivering some new potions.'  He said without batting an eyelid at his barefaced fabrication.  Really, he thought amused, who would believe that she could be a bad influence on him?  The fact of the matter was he hadn't lied this much in years.

'And will you be joining us for lunch?'  She asked with a raised eyebrow.  'Or are you frightened of walking into another, hmm what was it again - a three ring circus I think you called it?'  She taunted.

It appeared he wasn't off the hook so easily after all.  'I was somewhat annoyed this morning.'  He agreed carefully.  'Strangely I do not enjoy being mocked first thing in a morning.  Or at any time in fact.'  He said stiffly. 

'They weren't mocking you Severus, they were just teasing you.' Seeing that his stony expression remained unchanged she carried on. 'You've known most of them for donkeys years - surely you must have a laugh now and again about the foolish things you all got up to when you were younger?'

'Not normally no.'

She sighed heavily.  'I suppose spending time with me makes it harder for you to avoid people now, doesn't it?  I'm sorry.'  She said regretfully. 'I could sit next to someone else if you want.'  She offered. 'To stop you getting dragged into inane conversations that you're not interested in.'

'That isn't necessary - even if meal times are noisier now, you're still a vast improvement on Hagrid's elbows constantly in my face while I'm trying to eat.'  He said pleased by her offer, but having no intention of taking her up on it.  He liked that she had obviously given some thought to his feelings on the matter and not just written him of as an antisocial bore, which he knew most people did.  'In any event I may have overeacted slightly.'  He allowed graciously in return.

'Good.'  She smiled, accepting that was as near to an apology as she was going to get.  'I didn't really want to move, but I thought in fairness to everyone's digestion …'

'Ah I see, so you were willing to risk an even worse seating partner than me for the good of the teaching staff?'  He mocked.

'Never let it be said I'm not a team player.'  She said modestly.  'And anyway, who's this mythical worse seating partner than you?' She asked with a grin.

His eyes widened incredulously.  'Well how about Roupe for a start?'  He said in an aggrieved tone.

'Oh no you don't!'  She laughed.  'You're the one who doesn't like Elena; I get along with her okay.  She taught me some really good basic curses the other day.'  

'Probably in the hopes you would use them on me.'  He scowled and Lois rolled her eyes at him.  'Liking aside.'  He pressed on his lips twisting. 'Wouldn't you fear for your eardrums with that moose in mating season bellow she calls a laugh erupting every five minutes?'   

'Don't be vile.'  Lois scolded.

'Fine.'  He said with a sly look. 'What about Moody then, would you prefer him?'

He had her there she conceded.  Moody had continued to make her nervous with his highly suspicious attitude and the watchful manner he always seemed to adopt around her - as though she wasn't quite up to scratch. She wondered if he thought her foolish attempting to learn witchcraft at her advanced age.  He was certainly the only professor who hadn't offered to provide her with tuition, although in fairness with Remus and now Elena on occasion coaching her, she didn't actually need any extra DADA lessons.  Still it would have been nice to be asked.

'Okay you win.'  She admitted.  'You're preferable to Professor Moody and I'm better than Hagrid's elbows – that doesn't really say much for either of us does it?'  She said with a laugh.  Noticing where they were she looked over at Severus hopefully.  'Do you need me to come with you to drop that off in Filius's classroom?'  She asked as the smell of food from the Great Hall wafted towards her.

'No, no, leave it to me.' He said sarcastically.  'I've always hankered for the position of unpaid lackey - anything else you'd like while I'm at it?  A piggy back ride to lunch maybe?'

'I think I can make it under my own steam, but thank you anyway.'  She smiled heading towards the staircase.  'I'll save you a seat.'  She called as she disappeared out of sight. 

He sighed heavily, adjusting the weight of the box and cursing his infernal weakness around her. 

***

Lois stood next to Poppy in the Infirmary a week later, helping her with a stock check on the medicines cabinet. 

'The start of term hasn't been too bad this year.'  Poppy said in a pleased tone.  'With the weather as fine as it's been, I thought we would be running low on Nasal Nostrum and Ocular Concoction by now.  We do need some more Pepperup Potion though.'  She noticed with a worried frown.  'I can't remember if I asked Severus to brew some more when I started on that last jar.  Could you pop down and ask him Lois?'  She asked, a twinkle appearing in her eye at these last words.

'Sure.'  Lois said cautiously looking suspiciously at Poppy's knowing smile.  'Why are you smiling?' 

'No reason.'  Poppy said innocently.  'But if I did forget to ask him to brew more, I'm sure you won't get the same lecture about it I would.' She finished slyly.

Lois shook her head in amusement.  'Severus doesn't let anyone of the hook, as you well know.  If he does grumble, I'll be certain to direct him to you.'

'He won't.'  Poppy maintained.  'Our usually stern potions master seems to have a soft spot for you, I'm glad to see.  He's kept himself separate from the rest of the world for too long now, which is the surest way there is to lose your compassion.  It's no wonder really he…' She stopped suddenly causing Lois to look over at her when she didn't finish her sentence. 

'No wonder he what?'  She questioned when she still didn't continue.

'Never mind that.'  Poppy said briskly with a wave of her hand.  'All water under the bridge, the important thing is there's a good man in there, buried underneath the snarls and the surly manner.'  She said with a pointed look at Lois.

'His bark's worse than bite you mean?'  Lois questioned amused.

'Hmm I wouldn't go that far.'  The other woman said cautiously.

'Neither would I.' Lois agreed.  'Anyway we're friends Poppy, just friends.' She said holding up her hands, not wanting to encourage any matchmaking.  Severus was finding friendship difficult enough as it was without anyone making loaded comments in front of him.

Poppy just clucked her tongue in an impatient manner at her words and shooed her off on her task.

Lois headed down to the dungeons managing to get lost only once due to a missing staircase on the second floor.  The fact that the journey to the dungeons was the only one she could make with practically her eyes closed was very telling, had she given it any thought.  She arrived outside Snape's dungeon door minutes later and hesitated, wondering only now that she was here, if he had a class in progress.  Pushing her ear up against the thick wood she listened hard trying to make out any sounds from within.  After almost a minute had passed she had still heard nothing - either this was the most well behaved class in the school, or the room was indeed empty.  She straightened ready to knock and head in, when she heard Snape's raised voice from within.

'Whoever that is lurking outside my classroom had better get in here in the next five seconds, or I will hex you through the door.'

Lois pushed the door wide, walking in with her hands raised in surrender and an amused grin on her face. As she entered the room she realised that it was full of students after all, but kept her eyes firmly on Severus.

'Please don't curse me Professor,' she said her voice lilting with laughter, 'I'm unarmed.'

Snape looked taken aback for a second at her appearance instead of the student he had obviously been expecting, but quickly schooled his features into impassivity once more.

'To what do I owe this pleasure Miss Scott, or is Madam Scott at the moment?'  He mocked as she reached his desk, his voice too low for the students to hear.

'I'm here in my nursing capacity, so I suppose it's trainee Madam Scott if you want to be pedantic.'  She said without heat.  'Poppy sent me; she wanted to know if you had any more Pepperup Potion.  I didn't realise you were teaching though - I can come back later if you like?'  Out the corner of her eye she caught a familiar shock of untidy black hair, and turned slightly shooting Harry a quick grin and wiggling her fingers in greeting.  The class was uncommonly quiet and had obviously all been hard at work; cauldrons were simmering gently, and even now she was inside the room, there was still very little noise other than the gentle bubble of potions brewing.  Glancing round the gloomy room, she wondered absently what punishments Snape doled out for misbehaving; it must be pretty bad to keep a class this quiet.  She certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of them.

Standing lost in thought, Lois was completely unaware of the appreciative stares she was getting from the Gryffindor fifth year boys, unused as they were to seeing a female clothed in anything other than loose robes for most of the year.  The Slytherins, true to their nature however, had slightly more lewd expressions on their faces as they took in her slim form dressed in plain black trousers and a soft, pale blue jersey top, which clung to her curves in a very pleasing fashion and caused more than a few of the male students to fantasise over what she wore underneath it.  In direct contrast to the unintentionally sexy lure of her body, her hair was tied innocently in two fat plaits, the blunt ends brushing against her shoulders as she moved and making her look not much older than the students in the room.

Snape turned away from her slender beauty, not bothering to answer her question when he noticed her distraction. He didn't like to admit it, but it annoyed him that she sometimes seemed so blasé to his presence.  He wasn't used to indifference from anyone, dislike - certainly, fear - often and in the case of weaklings like Longbottom even abject terror, but not with her.  Getting and holding her attention just lately was becoming an almost impossible task.  Everything within Hogwarts fascinated her and when she wasn't to be found staring curiously at suits of armour and paintings waiting for them to move, she was lost in conversation with one of the Professors or students, eager to learn more about magic. 

He stalked swiftly into his office and pulled a large stone jar of Pepperup Potion from a shelf carrying it back into the room.  When he returned his previously quiet classroom had been transformed into a smiling mass of drooling boys.  Gods, she was more hazardous to teenage boys that a Veela, he thought with annoyance.  Irrational though he knew it was to be jealous of fifteen year olds, his stomach twisted with envy as he heard the warmth in her voice as she sat chatting with Potter and his friends, peering interestedly into their cauldron and poking at something inside with one of the stirring spoons.  Malfoy and his cronies had also risen from their stools and were lounging casually in front of Potter's desk, obviously explaining something about one of the potion ingredients, much to the annoyance of Potter's little gang.  As he watched unnoticed from the doorway, he saw Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode give Lois a filthy look, which she didn't appear to see.

Snape has been unsurprised by the interest Lois had attracted amongst the male students within Hogwarts; after all, attractive, mature women were not exactly thick on the ground amongst the teaching staff.  She might not be a pureblood, but her blonde good looks and Eadon history had meant that even the usually bigoted Slytherin males were willing to put their prejudices aside.  He had therefore expected the girls in the school to be vaguely resentful of the attention she was getting, but oddly for the main they had showed no signs of it. 

Looking at it stereotypically the Hufflepuffs were too good-natured he supposed and the Ravenclaw females too intelligent to worry for a second about a rash of adolescent infatuations that would soon burn themselves out.  The Gryffindors, as always, would be far too full of themselves to imagine anyone could outshine them, which left only the Slytherin girls, who unfortunately had reacted as expected.  As far as they were concerned, not only was Lois unfairly garnering attention from a large amount of Slytherin students, to add insult to injury, she was unashamedly lacking in magical knowledge.  They couldn't accuse her of being a mudblood of course, but he had already heard whispers of  "muggle-witch" from them.  Lois so far seemed oblivious and luckily, as she had little direct contact with the students outside of the Infirmary, he hoped she would remain so.  If necessary he would step in and deal with their behaviour, but it would be an almost unprecedented move for him to side publicly with someone outside of Slytherin House, even a staff member, and he would prefer not to have to.  It was important - more so now than ever - that his loyalties appeared to lie firmly with his House and the darker side of magic they represented.

Annoyed with the disruption she was causing, and not just to his class, Snape banged the heavy jar more loudly than necessary onto his desk.  Everyone in the room jerked upright, silencing instantly at his arctic glare.

'Am I to assume from your chatter that you have all finished your Deep Emotion Potion and antidote?'  He asked in a cold tone.  He was greeted with muttered denials and hurried returns to desks. 

Lois looked up and smiled her gratitude on seeing the jar.  'Thanks Severus.'  She said casually walking up to his desk.  'You're an angel.'  He heard muffled laughter at her words from the assembled students, but a quick glare silenced them all. 

Lois reached out to pick up the jar, but his hand grabbed her wrist before she could make contact.  'You can't carry that.'  He said, his fingers tingling where they touched her warm, soft skin.  'It's far too heavy.'

'I'll be okay.'  Lois insisted. 'Oh by the way.'  She said.  'Sorrel's offered to come with me to Hogsmeade this afternoon so would it be okay if we gave our history of magic tuition a miss?'  

'Fine.'  He said wondering if Sprout was the only professor who would be going to Hogsmeade, but unable to think of a good enough reason to ask.  The thought of her spending the afternoon with Quade or Lupin bothered him immensely and his mood darkened correspondingly.  She jiggled her wrist slightly and he realised he had yet to release her from his grasp.  Once she was free again she reached out with both hands to test the weight of the jar.

'It's not too heavy.'  She insisted.

'Nonsense.'  He said in his normal impatient tone, taking it from her.  'It will be of no use to anyone if you drop it on the way to the Infirmary.  One of the students can carry it for you.' 

There was a slight scuffle from the back of the room at this as Malfoy shot to his feet, pushing Crabbe and Goyle back down onto their seats as he did so.  At the same moment from opposite sides of the room Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan both shouted. 'I'll do it Professor!'

'It seems we are inundated with Sir Galahads today.'  Snape said with a disgusted look at the unabashed students.  'Longbottom.'  He snapped.  'You can assist Miss Scott; it may well save us from yet another ruined cauldron.'  Neville stood looking pleased and embarrassed at the same time.  He strode manfully to the desk, carefully picking up the heavy jar and waiting patiently by Lois's side, his cheeks glowing hotly.

'Thank you Neville.'  Lois smiled and walked to the door, holding it open to allow Neville to exit the room first, before following after him closing the door firmly behind her. 

Snape sat lost in miserable thought for a few seconds, before he came back to awareness with the sensation of being watched.  When he looked up he saw Potter, his face creased in contemplation as his eyes bored into Snape's.  'Back to work Potter.'  Snape said nastily.  'You will be providing the demonstration for the class today, so it's in your own best interests that the antidote you are preparing is perfect.  Snape's mood cheered considerably when the boy gulped visibly and turned his attention hurriedly back to his cauldron.

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A/N   I really, really want to thank everyone for the kind reviews and incredibly encouraging feedback – it's hugely appreciated!