Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters...

A/N: I am slow...be patient please..creating the perfect plot takes time and care..if I were to rush...you would all get a crappy story and hate me forever...so you see, I'm preventing hatred. so sorry for taking so long. I am truly sorry for how slow I've been. No excuses except for writer's block.

Chapter 3: Bad Foot

Yawning quite loudly, I awoke for my second day of classes for the year. No, I didn't plan on counting everyday that went by..Of course, I am weird..and That's probably something I would do if I became bored..

Skipping to breakfast, I met my friends at the Gryffindor table. We chatted about yesterday, and how almost every teacher did nothing but lecture on how much we've matured, and how we need to show it. A funny thing maturity is; You never really feel mature because some jokes are immature. So what if you're the most mature person in the world making fun of something that makes you look childish? Or what if you were the most childish person acting nothing but mature? I think, personally, I fall in the middle of those categories. I'm neither childish nor mature. That's typical for a seventeen year old, or any teen for that matter. However, a lot of teens are really immature. Perhaps with growing older, they actually grow younger in their minds. Quite a mysterious subject.

Breakfast was the same ol' same ol' as every morning in the Great Hall. Even though it was only the second day of classes, it felt as though I was already used to them. The Art of Flying was first today. I was too tired to fly this morning, but I put up with it. Madame Hooch instructed us to do certain moves to warm up. Nose dives were included. Neville Longbottom seemed more tired than anyone, he almost forgot to pull up as he dove. That would've been a messy accident.

"Welcome again to another fantastic class of Defense Against the Dark Arts." Yes, another day in Defense class with fruity Gilderoy (Lockhart) Poptart. What a fruit he is. I wonder if he ever had a girlfriend. Probably not...

Planting myself by Hermione, no one noticed I was a few seconds late to class. I almost forgot his class was next. Guess I wasn't so used to the schedule after all.

"Today, you lucky students will be taking ...a pop quiz." Gilderoy spoke the tormenting truth to us and we all groaned in return. Gilders continued, "Now, don't fret my children, it will be on easy things that you should all know."

I spoke loudly, "You mean common sense?"

His smile dropped, he was corrected, "Yes...Test on common sense." Poptart went on, "Ehm...I will pass out the quizes and you will have fifteen minutes to complete it."

Hmph..Damn Gilder Poptart giving us a pop quiz on the second day of classes. Hadn't he learned by now that as teenagers we must not have any work on or around the first week of classes? I wasn't even aware of this rule last year when I arrived, but I knew it now. Common sense! Maybe Gilders should learn something before he starts to teach again.

What kind of a quiz is this? Name a Way To Travel Magically: my answer: Broomstick... The questions only get stupider from here on. When does A Wherewolf Show his True Side? my answer: On A Night of A Full Moon.. Wow Gilderoy makes such wonderful quizzes...

"Quills, pencils, pens, and writing utencils down please," Gilders declared fifteen minutes later, "Pass your quizzes to the front row and I will pick them up."

Double dribble, I have to hand in these papers to Gilder the Sock-Puppet-Poptart? I just know he's going to say something stupid to me. You know how I know? Because everytime he opens his mouth, nothing smart comes out. Even when he breathes it shows how stupidly idiotic he is.

"Ahh," Poptart sighed which made his horribley bad breath choke me, "Miss Maguire.. I must advise you not to take this personally, but you have started out on a bad foot this year in my class."

I was speechless.

"Just warning you before you get into trouble.." He smiled his cheeky, pathetic smile and went on to the next row.

"Maranda," Hermione turneto face me, "make sure you don't start off where you and Snape left off. You don't want another teacher to fight with.."

She was right, I didn't want another teacher to fight with; I only wanted to fight with Professor Snape. He was the only teacher, I imagine, who would fight back but in the end not completely despise me. I looked back at all the fights I've had with him and came to a conclusion: There is no fun in going to Potions class without a little competition from Professor Snape. I would have to always bring up some kind of fighting or there would be no point in my attending his class. I mean, I utterly hate making potions because I always screw up one way or another. However, with Snakey Snapey by my side to have a litle fun arguing with, the class goes by swiftly and smoothly. And even though I get a lot of detentions this way, I still have fun fighting. It releases my tension. I'm sure he thinks the same way sometimes.

The Day progressed and soon enough I was in Potions taking my book out. Snape stormed silently through the doors and stared relentlessly at his students. As he stared I came to another realization: Snape said yesterday that there was to be no funny business this year or we would get severe penalty. That means I can't fight with him. Double frowny face... Well, he never said we couldn't fight with him...He only said no funny business, and I don't plan on making anyone laugh.

I love my malicious mind...

"Take your Potions books out," Severus ordered, "and turn to page fifty. I want a few people to volunteer to read a paragraph or two at a time. If no one volunteers then I will make you all copy the chapter, all twenty pages, into your notebooks. Who will read first?"

Everyone, including me, raised their hands in class high into the air like demented kites.

"Mister Malfoy, please read the first paragraph or two. Say when you want to stop reading." Snape went to his desk to sit down.

Draco, my boyfriend, started to read. Wow...my... ummm anyways.. So, Draco read and I started to space out as usual. Staring at the floor in front of me, my thought process whirled and swirled. Being Draco's girfriend didn't feel any different from how we were last year. No doubt we would kiss and whatever, but shouldn't being in a relationship feel different from a friendship with kissing benefits? Ouch...I am now forming my own headache from thinking too much.

"Miss Maguire!" Snape snapped at me, "I have called you three times already for reading the next paragraph. Are you paying attention or are you spacing out again like earlier last year?"

Unbelievable, I was shocked at myself. Yeah, I wanted to have fun fighting with Snape again, but not unless I planned the fight out carefully and thoughtfully! I was infuriated at myself for being as stupid as last year. Snape folded his arms waiting for my response that could not be found. My voice disappeared and I shrunk in my seat.

"Do I have to remind you of what I told everyone yesterday? No one is going to goof off this year! No one! Not only have you mocked me by not paying attention, but you have insulted me by thinknig I was not serious! What do you have to say about this?" I could feel Snape's anger radiate off of his body when he yelled.

"N...n...nn...noth...nothing, Pro...professor..." I stuttered and felt my stomach twitch. My anxiety was acting up again.

He questioned my answer while hovering over me, "Nothing?"

Did I say nothing? I couldn't tell over my terrible stuttering that just happened to create itself in my lifetime of problems.

"You have started on the worst foot ever for this year. Five points from Gryffindor, and detention tomorrow night from six to ten. Understand that, or do I have to repeat myself?" Again, Snape awaited my response.

I choked, "I understand completely."

How did Snakey Snapey suddenly become a superior man that scared me? I could always handle our fights and my trouble, even though I did get shaky at times. What happened to the strong me? Did it die over summer? I don't recall letting the strength in me leave..

For the rest of class I stayed a quiet mouse, meek and weak, paying attention but not making a sound. I even tried to stop breathing loud. Of course, my paranoia made it sound louder than it was. Tomorrow night would be my first detention of the year.. I really dreaded it. I agreed with Snape, however; I initiated my year on a bad-no-worse foot than I could imagine. First was Gilderoy Poptart and now Snape the Snake. Who's next, Draco? I must make sure not to say anything wrong to him today. Or any day for that matter.