Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters

A/N: I am finally almost done you guys it should be two more chaps max. ok well anyways enough chatter.. here ya go.

Chapter 33: The Brown Book

Ironically, after the Prom, Hermione and I both received books on dancing techniques. It had tips on ballroom dancing, swing dancing, all the way to bellydancing. Too bad we didn't have the book before the Prom.. Then I would have been saved from emberassment when Snape taught me how to waltz.

Snape taught me how to waltz..

Speaking of the Serpent, his classes hadn't been entirily intollerable for a long time. Sure, he was his usual intimidating self, but there was something different that I couldn't pinpoint. A certain new respect grew for him since the Prom. However, I knew the respect already existed.. Snape hasn't been completely terrible to me. There were those times when Draco spiked my drinks.. Coincidentally, Snape was always the one to see me like that. It is funny, though, because Snape and Draco have always got along from what I know. So you'd think Snape would have laughed whenever Draco was cruel to me.

Nevertheless, my new outlook towards Severus Snape emerged, giving me definite hope for the next school year. At first, the thought of working with a 'greasy git' wasn't too tantalizing. I still kind of fear working with him, for I've never really felt completely comfortable with older men. This is simply, and sadly because a man killed my parents. I will never know who did it, so why trust everyone one-hundred percent when they could be the murderer? I'm not trying to generalize, I'm just watching my back.

The Great Hall was uncommonly quiet this morning. Many underclassmen were tired from their finals this past week. Yup, three days until Graduation.. Holy green tomatoes!

"So...we have to come here before the school year starts when we return from summer, correct?" I questioned Hermione, who was involved in cutting her pancakes.

She looked up and nodded, "Yes, two weeks before school starts for students. We have to organize ourselves, go over the sylabus and objectives, and many other things. What we really have to worry about is where we are sleeping. Have you heard whereabouts our rooms will be?"

"No," I looked at Ron, who was shoveling pancakes in his mouth worse than a pig eating slop.

"Mmmpht?" Ron tried to ask what we were looking at, but his cheeks were puffed out with food like a chipmunk who's gathered nuts.

Hermione shouted in disgust, "You pig!"

After finally swallowing his load of food, Ron asked, "What? Can't a growing man eat?"

"I had the impression that you were an animal.." I blurted. Hermione giggle at this, but Harry just smiled, trying to hide his laughter.

Ron shot an icy glare at me, "Yeah, and I had the impression that you and Snape were getting on on Prom night."

Silence came over our table. I took a deep breath and stated, "We were dancing. That's all.." I suddenly felt defensive, as if something else did happen.

"I saw the way he looked at you.." Ron continued teasing me, "..like he wanted to shag you!"

The next thing I knew, my hands flew up and wrapped around Ron's neck. I didn't hurt him, but he couldn't take my hands away.

I shouted, "Take it back! Take it back!"

"Fine! I take it back!" Ron gave in as I unhanded his throat and sat back down.

My uproar caused the whole Gryffindor table to stare, which plainly caused the entire Great Hall to stare. However, when I let go of Ron, the stares were done. Thank the gods. Breakfast ended within the next three minutes, and I was ecstatic to leave. I have no idea what caused me to jump like I did when Ron was only teasing me like always. What was wrong with me?

Why is something always wrong with me?

McGonagal's class was first.. This was the last day we had to attend classes. Tomorrow us eighth years had free time to prepare for Graduation and whatnot. As I sat down for the last time in my Transiguration seat, I noticed Hermione had tears in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" My question caused Mione to wipe her eyes.

She took a breath, "We're Graduating in two days."

I didn't respond, as McGonagal was trying to hush the class. It was true; We were leaving in two days. Not for good, though, for some of us had E.Y.P's. Yet, we wouldn't go back to the normal way of schooling until college. McGonagal even touched upon the subject of us leaving, and this made Hermione tear up again.

"...and now," McGonagal smiled faintly, "it's time to say our farewells. Another generation of students is ending.. You will all become something great. Each and every one of you has shown me talent, potential, and hope these past years." She pressed on, chatting about reaching our goals. Then the bell rang.

I won't say goodbye's until two days from now.

Classes passed, bringing more sentimental journey talks. Gilderoy himself began to tear up, which proved he wasn't too much of a dunderhead. My last class of the day was Potions, which wasn't surprising. I walked in, sat in my usual seat, and watched as each student piled in before the bell rang again, indicating the start of class. Snape billowed in, sneering as he faced the front of the class.

With manipulative eyes, Snape stared us down and spat out his words, "Just because this is the last class you need to attend does not mean you can fool around. I believe I asked you all to write a three page essay on the last chapter we read last night. I will collect it, give your assignment for today, correct the papers, hand them back, and bid you all farewell and good riddens. Please take your paper out now. If you do not have it, I will give you detention tomorrow for the entire day."

Wow, talk about chopping our day-before-Graduation-dreams up into tiny slices and throwing them in the blender! Snape was obviously not in the mood to show care and concern towards us today. That's a shame really.

I took my paper out, which I spent over an hour on last night, and placed it neatly on my desk waiting for Snape to collect it. He came around to my side of the room and strolled down the aisle.

"Miss Maguire," Snape stated, "Your paper please."

I handed it to him and dumbly blurted, "You're welcome.."

"Did I say thank you?" He asked me coldly. I only shook my head, and he walked on to collect the rest of the row's papers.

Why did I say 'You're welcome?'

Heading back to the front of the room, Severus went on to tell us what our assignment was. We were assigned a potion to make from the back of the book. We could choose whichever potion out of five we wanted to make, but it had to come out perfect in order to leave class today. Tell me that's not mean! I don't think he's really going to do that, however, because he would have to spend more time with the students he doesn't want to see anymore.

Being the obediant teacher-slave I was, I decided not to fool around in class, even though it was the last day. I chose to make a Veritaserum, truth serum, given I have made it before, and pretty well too. This Veritaserum was different than the one I previously made, for it would last for several hours instead of the few minor hours. Also, there were many more ingredients than the other one. I got to work by first gathering all my needed ingredients. Then I began to put the potion together. Snape was still at his desk reading papers. Oddly, I forgot what I wrote on mine.

A half-hour flew by as every student in the room silently worked on their potions. I felt a bit let down because Snape hadn't said anything to us about Graduating. This was the last time he would see most of us, except for me and maybe a few others that return next year. Although I was coming back next year, I still felt that Snape should have said something comforting or even remotely kind to us graduates. Knowing him, he'll probably tell us he is surprised we passed all year.

My potion was finished, complete, finito.. I stood in my place, staring at the shimmering white liquid. Hermione tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a folded piece of paper. It read:

The Snake has been glancing at you throughout the day.. Just thought you should know considering this will give Ron more to joke about if he notices as well. Your potion looks really great by the way. -Mione-

Our Potions Professor had, indeed, been looking at me after I read the note from 'Mione. Perhaps I did something wrong I wasn't aware of yet?

As I put the paper in my pocket, Snape rose from his desk with everyone's assignment corrected and in a neat pile. He came around to glance at our potions while handing back the papers.

"I am not satisfied with any of your essays," Began Severus, "and I hope you all realize that I still have the ability to fail you all. However, considering I don't want to see your sorry faces anymore, I passed you all despite these horrific assignments you've passed in. I will look at the potions you just finished to determine if you will leave the class or not today. Please be so kind as to telling me what potion you picked and how long it took you to make it." As he ended his speech, Snape headed over to my side of the room first.

Gulping, I knew my paper was on top. Snape took it off the pile, stared at my potion, then at me, and handed my A- of a paper back. And he said we all failed? HA!

"Veritaserum. That was and still is your best potion." Snape glared into my eyes as though I had some secret hidden in them.

Putting my essay on the desk, I replied, "It only took me thirty minutes to complete, even though it was a new version of the potion that I have never heard of before."

"I'll see you after class..." He left me standing in my own shock, absorbing what he just said.

Class ended within ten minutes, but I stayed behind. Hermione told me she would wait outside of the classroom for me, which was terribly nice of her. I cleaned up my mess beforehand, giving me a few minutes to think as Snape sat at his desk.

"Alright," I fought against the silence, "What's so wrong with the potion I made? I'm pretty sure it's as close to perfect as you're going to get, Professor."

He glanced up with a half-smile and stated, "Who said this was about the potion you made? I was going to give you a few books to study over the summer so you don't have a lot on your back when you return."

"Oh.." I was dumbfounded.

Standing up with a large, brown book in his grasp, Snape handed it to me, "Take good care of it. I bought that book before I started teaching...It is an old book. Some of the writing isn't legible, but it's a great starter book for those who want to teach Potions. You still want to teach potions, don't you?"

Nodding as if I couldn't do anything else, I replied, "Yes, sir. I promise to take extra-good care of your book. After all, didn't you take care of my book when I let you borrow it last year? It's only fair to return the favor."

"I guess so." He firmly stated, then added, "You may leave now. I have too many things to do."

Not wanting to argue, I nodded yet again and left the room without another word. Hermione was standing against the wall waiting for me. I told her about the book Snape let me borrow.

Hermione chuckled a bit, "At least he's giving you a fair chance not to make a fool out of yourself when you start teaching with him."

This day left me with thoughts stirring in my head. One question stood out predominately: Could a book spark a friendship?