Hey folks, butterflyKisses here. Sorry it took so long for this update to come, but things have been hectic for both Jmac and myself. But we hope that you all will forgive us and that you will enjoy this brand new chapter.

Chapter Seventeen- Sara: D's and Almost Kisses

I looked down at the parchment on my desk, a knowing smile beginning to pull at my lips. Snape was handing out the graded forms of the papers that we had turned in just two days ago. I had spent hours on my paper; hours locked away in the library doing research, hours hunkered down in the Common Room writing and rewriting until everything was perfect. I knew that I was getting an A. After all, not to sound smug or anything, I always did.

My smile quickly faded, however, when my eyes caught sight of the most horrendous thing I've ever seen in my life. In the corner of my paper sat a big, fat, red D. I felt my stomach roll and I thought that I would throw-up the lunch that I'd just eaten a two hours before. A D? How was this possible? I'd never gotten a D in my life. I was rendered totally and utterly speechless as I stared down at that hideous looking grade. This paper was definitely better than a D. Didn't Snape know how long I'd spent perfecting my paper?

Nik looked over my shoulder to see my grade and I was too dumbfounded to hide it from her. Her eyes grew round as saucers as she caught sight of that big red letter. And then, she burst out laughing. Yes, that's right. My best friend in the entire world, who knows just how much good grades mean to me, is laughing at the fact that I got a D. Thanks a lot Nik.

I glared at her, which, thankfully, shut her up; and looked down at her own paper to see what grade she'd gotten. I couldn't believe it. She got a B. For once, Nikki got a better grade than I did! Would these horrors never cease?

Suddenly, my horror was gone, replaced with unbridled anger. And, before I knew it, my hand was in the air.

"Excuse me, Professor Snape." I called as he was walking back towards his desk at the front of the class. He stopped mid-step, his back stiffening. Slowly he turned to face me, that ever present sneer on his face.

"Yes?" He hissed. I think this was the first time a student had ever really had the courage to question him on a grade.

"Um…" my courage and anger faltered slightly, but I pressed on. "I think you graded my paper wrong."

"No, Miss Kendal," he sneered, "I didn't grade your paper wrong. I gave it the grade it deserved." He turned back around and made another step towards his desk.

"I don't think you did." I said. He stiffened once more and the agitation that he was feeling could practically be seen floating in the air. Pairs of eyes flew to me; some awed, others condescending.

"Miss Kendal," he said stiffly, his voice tight and controlled, "if you have a problem with the D I gave you," I cringed as he spoke aloud the grade he'd given me, "then perhaps you should have one of your classmates tutor you so that next time you won't feel that I graded you poorly."

A snicker arose from the Slytherin side of the room as their Head of House belittled me. I could feel my face growing red; the anger had seeped from me and was replaced by humiliation. Isn't it amazing how swiftly your emotions can turn? I sunk low in my seat, my head hung in embarrassment. But I didn't hang my head in enough time that I missed the smirk on Malfoy's face, nor did I miss the gloating way in which his eyes swept over my beet red face.

November 12, 2004

I can't believe this! I can't believe that I actually got a D. Ooh, I am so mad at Professor Snape. He knew my paper was good; he just has this need to humiliate me. I hate him!

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I was sitting in the library the next day, rereading my paper through a critical eye; searching for what Snape might have seen to give me such a horrible grade. There I was, completely minding my own business when he came in. I could feel the icy glare on the back of my head before I even glanced over my shoulder. Malfoy stared back at me, the ever present sneer on his face and his ice blue eyes full of hate and spite.

God, I wish he would just leave me alone. Why did he feel this constant need to make my life a living hell? Just once I wished that he would leave me alone and go bother somebody else. But, for some reason, Malfoy had chosen me to be his target for the year.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I asked as he approached the table where I sat.

"You know what I want." He whispered huskily in my ear. His warm breath tickled my skin, sending unwanted shivers down my spine. I could feel the heat radiating off his body as he stood so close behind me I could practically hear his heart beating.

Startled at the closeness, I turned my head to see him. His icy eyes were mere inches from my own and I was stunned by just how beautiful those eyes truly were. I opened my mouth to speak, but became instantly aware of just how close our lips were. If I simply reached up an inch our lips would have met. I couldn't get the picture of those full lips upon mine out of my mind.

The seconds seemed to go on forever and silence reigned over us, as if both of us were too overcome by the closeness of the other to speak.

Unconsciously, I could feel my face moving closer to his. His breath was warm on my lips and the look in his eyes was enough to drive me crazy. His head dipped down and I could feel the smoothness of his lips just over mine. We were so close, and yet so far away from each other.

"Hey, Sara, where are you?" I could barely hear Nikki's loud whisper over the beating of my heart. Instantly Malfoy and I separated, as if pulled apart by two separate forces. With space to breathe, I suddenly became very aware of what I had almost done. Heat flooded my face as I looked up into Malfoy's eyes. Had I imagined the tenderness that I'd seen in his eyes when we were about to kiss? I must have, because as I looked at him then his eyes were full of hate and contempt.

"Hello? Sara? Where are you?" Nikki's voice was getting closer. Malfoy glanced over at the row of books where her voice was coming from and growled low in his throat before turning and leaving the library.

"Oh, there you are." Nik said as she emerged from the aisle of books that she been walking through. "Why didn't you answer me?" She asked as she sat down beside me.

"I was…uh…busy." I muttered as I swiftly gathered my books together.

"Hey, are you okay?" Nik asked, "You're all red."

"I'm fine." I quickly assured her. "It's just kinda hot in here."

"Okay," Nik shrugged, "I guess it is pretty stuffy in here."

I smiled weakly, hoping that she would leave me alone. It's not that I don't love Nikki, but right then I really needed time to think. And I couldn't do that with Nikki around.

"So you wanna come?" Her voice brought me from my thoughts with a jolt.

"What?" I asked.

"Do you wanna come with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I down to the field? We were gonna play some two-on-two but we needed somebody to referee for us. And, since we both know that you are not the athletic type I thought that you could."

"Oh…um…" I glanced around the library, searching for an excuse not to go. "
I can't…I have to uh…study. Yeah, since I got that D I really need to step it up and do really well on our next Potions test."

Nikki rolled her eyes.

"God, Sara, you really need to have some fun every once in awhile."

"Sorry." I said with a shrug, smiling sheepishly.

"Okay well, next time I guess." She sighed.

"Yeah, next time." I promised. With another sigh, Nikki got up and left to get her broom. As I watched her figure disappear from the library and let out a grateful sigh. Perhaps now I would get some time to think about the almost kiss and the consequences that were sure to come of it.

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