Andraste set off for lunch, thankful that the double advanced potions she had just endured was the only class on Wednesday. Just outside the Great Hall she came upon Ron, Hermione, and Harry talking excitedly. That was just the opportunity she was looking for. "Great communication skills, guys. 15 points to each of you." The trio grinned as she continued past them. That made up for the 40 points Snape had taken, plus five for the headache he had caused her.

Lunch was delightfully quiet. Most of the students were either in class or eating outside. She had contemplated taking her food to the garden; to enjoy the beautiful day, but had decided in the end that the scarce population of the Great Hall was exactly what she needed to clear her mind and figure out what she was doing here. She was staring blankly at her club sandwich, lost in her thoughts when she was interrupted by the man that was quickly becoming the bane of her existence at Hogwarts. Severus pulled out the chair next to hers, and sat so that he was facing her.

"Can I help you with something, Professor, or were you just disturbed by the idea of me enjoying myself?"

"That is quite enough, Miss Andraste," he replied. "I want to be here almost as much as you want me here, but Dumbledore has requested that I show you around today."

"Tell the headmaster that I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't need a babysitter. Besides, I have things I want to do."

"I have already tried to get out of this, Miss Andraste. Dumbledore insists it is not an option... for either of us."

Andraste took a deep breath and resigned herself to her fate. "Did he say why he feels this is necessary?"

"As a matter of fact, he did," Snape replied. "He said that we are going to get along if it kills us, and he will force us to be together until we can work together willingly."

"What? He can't make us be friends!"

"My sentiments as well. He, however, seems to think otherwise."

"I'm starting to think coming to England was the worst idea I've ever had."

"At least we agree on something, Miss Andraste. Now, what do you want to do today?"

Andi, who was beginning to wonder if it was time to go back to sleep, smiled when she remembered her plans. "Well, Professor Snape, I didn't bring much with me, so I thought I would go shopping in Paris."

"Shopping in Paris? Miss Andraste, I think you will find the stores in Hogsmeade to have any supplies you might need, and it's in this country."

"Severus," she said, goading him by using his first name, "I am new to this country, to this continent, and there are certain things I would like to see while I'm here. Paris is one of them, and I'm going there today. Come or not, it is your choice."

"Fine, then we will go to Paris. Tell me, How did you plan on getting there, have you arranged a portkey?"

"I have never used a portkey, and did not intend to start today. I was going to take Sarine," she said, standing up and heading towards the door. Severus stood and followed here, albeit unhappily.

"And who is Sarine?"

"My stallion."

Severus paused for a moment, wondering if he had heard her wrong. "You plan on riding a horse to France?"

"I was thinking. Would you rather we didn't?"

"I would rather we not go at all, but if we must, I have a portkey in my quarters."

"Fine." Andraste corrected her course so that they were heading towards the dungeons instead of the entrance hall. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to change anyway." They made the rest of the trek to his room in silence, and she waited in his office while he retrieved what looked like an old bookmark with a picture of the Eiffel Tower on it. "Cute," she said, "I guess you never forget where it takes you, huh?"

Severus attempted to respond, but found himself momentarily speechless. In the 30 seconds he was gone she had managed to change her appearance dramatically. Her red hair was out of its ponytail, laying in soft curls around her shoulders, and her black dress had replaced itself with a sleeveless black shirt that showed far too much; and a tight pair of slacks that flared at the bottom and hung far too low.

"What are you wearing?" he asked when the shock had passed.

"Muggle clothes, and I would suggest you do the same."

"I do not own any muggle clothes, and apparently you have misplaced half of yours."

She ignored his remark and thought on his wardrobe for a moment. "Very well," she said, "I'll make you some."

"You will do no such thing," he insisted. She pretended not to hear him, however, and before his sentence was finished she waved her had. He looked down to find himself wearing black pants and a soft green silk shirt. Knowing this was another battle not worth having, he sighed in resignation. "Fine. Hold the ticket and don't let go. At least I don't look as silly as you. Convolo Paris." She opened her mouth to reply and was stopped by a feeling like someone had yanked her forward by her navel. A moment later she stumbled and found herself in an alleyway; luckily finding her footing before she fell into Professor Snape.

"You could have warned me!"

"Now tell me, where would the fun have been for me in that?" he said with a malicious grin. She gave him the most pleasant smile she could force and started off towards the main street. Just before she turned the corner Severus touched her shoulder. "Miss Andraste..."

"Call me Andi just for today, please. I would like to pretend we aren't being forced into eachothers company."

"Very well, Andi," he said. "Look up!" She did, as he turned her facing the right direction, and swathe Eiffel Tower not two blocks away.

"Oh... I..."

"There is no need to thank me," he interrupted. For some reason she started laughing. "Actually Severus, I was going to say I expected it to be bigger." He chose to overlook her use of his first name, and instead called her a brat and walked off.

Andraste stood there a moment, trying to control the fits of laughter that were threatening her composure, and eventually called out to Severus, who turned back to her, looking impatient.

"What, Andi?"

"I was thinking we'd head to Champs Elyées."

"Very well, come on."

"Um, Severus, it's this way."

"How would you know? I thought you've never been here."

"Instinct, Sev."

He stomped towards her, a look in his eyes that could kill a weaker woman. "Do not ever call me that again." She responded by sticking her tongue out at him, and they headed North.

They walked in first to an elegant dress shop, with price tags that made Severus wince. "How can I help you?" Asked a kindly lady in perfect English.

"Yes, I would like to try on the red dress in the window in a size 8."

The saleslady looked Andraste up and down a few times. "I believe that a size 36 should do nicely for you." Once she had walked away, Severus leaned into Andraste, explaining that the sizes were different in Europe. "Well then," she responded, "I guess you are good to have around." She added 'Sev' to that under her breath, but he simply nodded in response. Apparently he didn't hear her... thank God.

While the saleslady was off getting the dress Andraste requested, she browsed the store; finding three more dresses she wanted to try and a shawl she couldn't live without. She didn't notice that Severus had stepped away until he was back, holding up the most atrocious dress she had ever seen. "What is that?" she inquired.

"More appropriate for a teacher than the ones you've picked out." It was full length and long sleeved with a high neck.

"Will you feel better if I try it on?"

"Much," he said firmly.

"Fine, but don't expect me to buy it." Just then Maria, the saleslady returned with the dress Andraste had asked for.

"I am sorry that I have taken so long. I had to take it off the mannequin. Andraste took the dress from her and held it up to her own body. The deep red silk was even softer than it look, and Andraste couldn't wait to try it on.

"Thank you so much. I'd like to try these as well." Maria took the dresses from both of them, giving an odd look to the piece that Severus was holding, and led the back to the changing area – motioning for Severus to sit in the plush lounge chair.

"I'm fine, thank you," he said; not moving towards the recliner.

Andraste sighed in displeasure. "Severus, please. You'll make the other customers nervous." He muttered something as he sat down that sounded suspiciously like a threat on Dumbledores life, and Andraste headed towards the room that Maria had opened for her.

Moments later she reemerged wearing the dress from the window. "Too short," he said; and she turned back around. She came out wearing the next one seconds later; she was obviously not changing the slow way. "Too low cut," he said. She smiled again and returned to the dressing room. When she came back a third time he jumped up in exasperation. "Too short AND too low cut. My God, could you try for a little more fabric?" he demanded. Was he crazy? He was spending his afternoon watching a woman he despised do a fashion show. Dumbledore was a dead man.

This time minutes passed before she came out again, wearing the dress he had picked out. "It's..." he sighed and flopped back into the chair, "ugly."

"At least we agree on something, Professor Snape. I have 30 more years before I need to dress like McGonagall." She heard a deep throated chuckle escape his lips as she walked back into the changing room. There was only one dress left, but she was sure she had saved the best for last. When she came out at last, Severus looked up, speechless. The dress was a deep gray, almost black; and came down off her shoulders. He noticed for the first time that she was wearing a gold chain with a soft blue tear shaped stone hanging against her collar bone. The full length skirt swished gently around her legs when she spun in a full circle for him.

"You have gray eyes," he said matter-of-factly. "I hadn't noticed." Flashing him the most genuine smile he had seen yet, she took that as a compliment and went to change into her original clothes.

She came out carrying the four dresses that she had picked – and bought them all.