Disclaimer: All belongs to JKR. (only Valeera is mine

Severus was not pleased when the headmaster told him he would be sharing the dungeons, his dungeons, with an Alchemistry Master. Although the dungeons were built with a thought of both subjects and therefore had two laboratories, classrooms, offices and two set of private chambers Alchemistry hadn't been taught for years and Severus got used to having all the space but for himself. And now a half of it would be used by someone else! The thought was unbearable and Severus felt angry. He wondered who the Alchemistry Master would be as very little alchemists were nowadays and those few had more to do than teach youngsters. Severus was a keen alchemist himself of course as potions and alchemistry were related subjects but there was no way he could teach both subjects and be a Head of a house as well. Therefore there was no Alchemistry in Hogwarts for years and each year Dumbledore tried to find a suitable teacher and each year he failed. This year thought he was happy to announce he had found one.

Severus, although it was so untypical for him and so unnerving as well, was so curious who the master would be that he was waiting behind a curtain to see the man whom Minerva went to welcome. But to his disappointment he saw a blond hair woman;" a new DADA teacher for sure" -Severus thought " What Dumbledore must have been thinking to employ this…girl as DADA?" She seemed childish but when he saw her wise eyes he knew she wasn't as young as it seemed and that she wasn't stupid. Nevertheless she was delicate and so… pure. Nothing like a DADA teacher. Angry he turned around and left.

Later that day he saw her again during the staff meeting. He was still angry at Dumbledore to employ her and at her to take his dreamt post. Who was she to claim she knew anything about the dark arts? How could she teach without experience? Without drinking from the dark goblet of dark magic? Being ex- Death Eater he saw all, touch all, try all... he was the perfect teacher of the subject he devoted his life too. He loved potions but he was also fed up with teaching this difficult and complex art to twits. It was such a drudgery to explain the same thing over and over again and see no comprehensions in the eyes of the tw.. err students.

Lost in his thoughts Severus suddenly heard the Headmaster:

"... introduce Miss Valeera Philips our new Alchemistry Mistress!"

"what?"- Severus thought- "she's going to theach Alchemistry? That's surprising.. I wonder who's teaching Defense then"

This question was quickly answered as he heard Albus again:

-"I'm also please to announce that M.r Lockhart will be our new Defense Against Dark Magic Teacher..."- this time Severus couldn't help himself and snorted. "This man is as stupid as a peg"- he thought- "he showed his incompetence four years ago. What is Dumbledore up to? Surely there is someone, anyone, who would be better than Lockhart? How is it possible he gets the post second time?"

Severus relaxed himself by the fire and heard little of the rest of the meeting. Each year the meeting was the same, which meant he thought of it as a waste of time. The time he could spend on developing a new potion he had been thinking of for some time, for instance.

"yesss, it's high time to begin to brew it. Before little brats come back from the holidays and take my precious time. I can use of Granger and see what she's worth as my assistant." Severus began to think that maybe it hadn't been a mistake to offer Granger the post. She could help him now with the potion and during the year with grading which meant more time for himself. Severus started to feel pleased with himself an almost forgot about sharing his living space with professor Philips. And then the meeting ended and he heard Albus once more:

"Severus would you be so kind and show Valeera the dungeons? She would be using the other laboratory and the other classroom there"

"as you wish Headmaster" Severus replyed and saw, to his astonishment, her tremble and a blush on her face. Her big blue eyes looked and him an Severus realized she was very pretty. Like through a fog he heard Albus and her greeting. All he thought about were her eyes and a curvy body. Severus was a man, a sensual man with quite big needs. He liked to enjoy women's bodies more often than not. He even had a paid mistress in London, whom he visited and took ruthlessly and shamelessly in every possible way. He had never slept with his co-worker though but looking at Valeera he felt.. horny. "maybe sharing the dungeon's going to be more fan than I expected?" he thought.

"shall we be going then?"- he asked and remembered to let her pass the door first.

When they were walking in silence, Severus once or twice glimpsed at her. He saw nice, full breasts and soft curves of her bottom. "nice"- he thought" but how should I play it? I need more information. I'd better be myself and see how my dark charm works on her. Most women find it attractive.."

Apart from a brief exchange beside the stairs they said nothing to each other this day.

They didn't see big brow angry eyes staring at them. Eyes of Hermione Granger, 7th year Griffindor, who had come back to school a few days before and had taken a post of Potion Master's assistant. She was so happy when Sev... err professor Snape offered her the post. It was her biggest dream not only to learn more about potions but also to spend more time with Snape. Snape whom she found mostly attractive. She dreamt about his deep, black eyes, velvet voice and pale, soft hands.. she was almost sure that it must have meant something when he was offered the post by him. Surely he wouldn't have offered it to a Griffindor without a second, hidden, reason? Hermione's dreams were full of such reasons.. and now she saw Snape with that blond slut! She saw the way he glimpsed at her breast and how she blushed when she spoke with him! "Something must be done before she wins" Hermione thought "he will be mine!"