A Conversation with Snape...

Severus Snape looked up as Ginevra Weasley stormed into the dungeon room, strangling a paper he knew were her test results. He mentally winced, knowing what was coming.

Ginny Weasley reminded him strongly of her mother at that age. A beautiful spitfire who wouldn't give up while she still breathed. She excelled in all her classes, not as much as Hermione Granger, but enough that several post secondary schools had shown interest in her early on that year. He didn't know what possessed him to agree to help her study for her entrance exams, but he hadn't regretted it. Until now. He knew that comment he had left would come back to haunt him.

"What the Hell is the meaning of this?" Ginny growled, holding up the paper.

Snape, who could shrug aside Voldermort's wrath with barely a thought, quelled under the glare he was receiving, wanting to do nothing more than hide. "Um..." he finally began.

"'I regret I cannot recommend Miss Weasley to your facility,'" Ginny read. "What the hell is the meaning of that?" she snarled, throwing the paper on his desk.

Snape took a moment to collect himself and make sure he hadn't wet himself. "Miss Weasley, have you ever heard of Baudelaire Academy?"

"One of the finest post secondary in the world. Located in Northern Ireland. Set up by Dumbledore himself. They only take three students a year." Ginny rattled off in her customary unthinking manner. Ginny never seemed to think about her answers.

Snape reached into his desk and pulled out a letter that had arrived that morning by post. "This arrived this morning. Professor Dumbledore recommended I be the one to give it to you."

He watched her take the beautifully gilded letter. She read the front.

To Miss Ginevra Weasley

Care of Hogwarts Academy

On the back was a wax seal bearing a phoenix crest. Ginny slid her thumb nail under the seal and opened the letter. She pulled out the letter. At the top, directly below another phoenix crest, were the words:

Baudelaire Academy

Entranced, Ginny continued to read.

Dear Miss Weasley

Thank you for sending your results to our offices. We have considered your request and have decided to accept you into our academy based on what we have heard about you from our founder Albus Dumbledore and alumni Severus Snape...

Ginny stopped reading as the context of the words sunk in. She was being invited to the best Academy in the world. She looked up at Snape. He was smiling slightly. Before she could think twice, she leapt at him, hugging him around the neck.

"Oh, Professor, Thank you so much!"

Snape was no longer smiling. In fact, his face was turning a rather unhealthy shade of blue. Ginny let go suddenly and Snape sighed in relief when he could breathe again.

"But Professor," Ginny protested, a frown creasing her perfect brow. "I can't go."

Snape eyed the Gryffindor suspiciously. "Why not?" he finally growled.

"Because it costs over 5 thousand gallons a year and I can't..."

She broke off when Snape snorted. He leaned back in his chair. "If you'd bothered to read the whole letter, you'd know that Dumbledore arranged for all that. You don't have to pay anything. Free room and board, brand new books every year. The works..."

Ginny shrieked in joy and leapt on Snape again.

"Ginny...Can't breathe..." Snape choked out.