Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own a thing. Would love to be the proud owner of a Snape, but JK Rowling got there first. She owns all of the characters, settings etc. But you knew that.

-Chapter Five Bonding and Laughter-

Snape smirked as he led his new student to a chamber he thought would suit her especially. If the girl was as amazing as Dumbledore had insisted, surely he'd get some credit for training her up. It would be hard work probably, but at least she wasn't ugly. He couldn't bear the thought of teaching an ugly child. It would add insult to injury.

"Professor?" Jane asked, her footsteps barely making a sound against the harsh stone of the floors. She guessed this was where the dungeons were; it was a clammy, harsh place, much unlike the warmth of the rest of the school.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering, are you pleased that I'm in your house?" she enquired, causing Snape to stop abruptly and stare at the girl in wonder.

"Why do you ask?" he questioned, folding his arms.

"You just seem a bit gloomy about it, that's all," came Jane's frank reply.

Snape could not help but laugh. The girl was so quaint. "You obviously have a lot to learn about me, Miss Dashwood." He then continued to stride along the corridors, black cloak billowing behind him.

Jane sighed. He hadn't answered her. That could only mean one thing, and she hated it when people did not take to her.

"And for your information, Miss Dashwood," Snape said out of nowhere, "yes, I am pleased you're in my house."

Jane smiled and ran slightly so that she was walking by his side. "I'm glad I'm in your house, Professor Snape," she commented.

Snape was a bit taken aback. Students did not normally like him, and he had treated this girl no differently from the others. Perhaps he should be a little harder on her in future. "And pleased you should be. Slytherin is the finest house."

Jane was about to reply to this when Snape stopped walking. They had reached a door. "Alohomora," breathed Snape. "Remember that spell, Miss Dashwood, though I suppose it is little use without a wand. I believe you and I will be heading for Diagon Alley tomorrow in order to purchase one for you." Snape then pushed the door open and stepped inside the room, escorting Jane in too. Snape uttered a spell which lit the lamps on the walls.

Jane was genuinely shocked; the room was very attractive. There was a luxurious wine-red carpet, similarly coloured velvet curtains, and cream walls. The bed in the centre of the room had bedcovers of the same material as the curtains, and was covered in gold and scarlet pillows.

"It's a bit...Gryffindor-ish," murmured Snape, "but I've always liked this room. Sometimes I come and sit here, on the chair over there." He pointed to a chair in one corner, next to a mahogany bookcase which contained shelves and shelves of books.

"It's beautiful!" cried Jane, throwing herself onto the bed, face down. Snape was, once more, a little taken aback. It was as though the girl was not scared of him, which was an absolute rarity.

"I'll have the house elves bring the things you bought from Hogsmede down to you. I have some matters to attend to, but I'll knock here for you in around an hour. I hope you can find something to entertain yourself with until then. There are books over there." With this, Snape left.

Jane took in her surroundings once more. She noticed a mahogany door a little way along from the bed. Pulling herself up, she ventured over to the door and opened it, thankful that it was not locked (she was wandless and keyless). The little room turned out to be a similarly magnificent bathroom, with one large cream bath, a large mahogany-framed mirror, a shower, toilet, and sink. On a rack attached to the wall, there was a stack of towels in the same cream and wine-red of the cushions in her room. I could get used to this, she thought to herself, beaming. Only a few hours before she had been lying on the streets, grubby and wearing tattered clothes, but now she was in a sumptuous bathroom wearing beautiful robes. She could not understand why her mother had not wanted this for her.

"It's your father, Jane. Your father is a bad man. If you go with the witches and wizards, you'll become bad like him. I don't want you to become bad, Jane. If they take you against your will, promise me you'll never become bad like him. Promise me, Jane." The words of Jane's mother haunted her. When she had said bad, did she mean bad like Professor Snape - grumpy and cynical – or bad like killers and such? She did not know. She had promised her mother though, and was keen to not let magic change her.

---

Professor Snape arrived an hour later looking ever so slightly flustered, though Jane could not begin to guess why. "Miss Dashwood," he said silkily, entering the room after having knocked. "Professor McGonagall has given me some money to get you your equipment and wand tomorrow at Diagon Alley. I'll have a house elf wake you at around 9, and we'll go to Hogsmede and apparate from there. Make sure you get some sleep. If you need me, I'll be...well, I had better show you, actually."

Jane followed Snape out of the door, and after an extremely short walk, they reached a door similar to Jane's door.

"This is where my chambers are, " he informed her, pointing to the door, "so just knock if you have any problems." Snape then led her back to her own room. "As I said, I'll have a house elf wake you at around 9, and we'll apparate once we get to Hogsmede."

Jane stared at Snape blankly. "House elf? Apparate?" she stuttered. Snape found it odd that she was suddenly so unconfident; she did not seem as fiery and assertive as when he had first met her earlier that day. Perhaps she's nervous, Snape thought to himself. Yes, she's just a bit nervous. She'll probably be more animated and strong once she starts to come to terms with her new life.

"Oh, of course, you know hardly anything about the wizarding world. House elves are creatures which work here. Don't worry; it's not slave labour, and they are not at all scary. They are very eager to please, actually. And apparating is something witches and wizards do to get from place to place. It's sort of...disappearing and then reappearing in another place. Perhaps next year you'll be able to take a test so that you can apparate yourself, but until then you'll just have to hold on to me while I apparate," Snape explained. "Well, good night, Miss Dashwood." He attempted to smile once more but realised he had forgotten to do so without looking menacing.

"Night, Professor, and thanks for everything," Jane smiled, waving to Snape as he left the room.