"Rotten git." Tonks huffed, and sat on the bed.

What was that? Procella leaned her head out of the bathroom.

"Just saying what a git Snape is. Fancy making you go to the book store with him for new books, to carry them for him! And he didn't even ask you first. Just, grabbed you and off you went. No wonder I couldn't find you anywhere. The Potions section of the book store is at the very back, couldn't see it from the door." Tonks growled again. Tonks had come in first thing this morning to see if Procella was alright after yesterday. The rest of the staff had been worried when she didn't turn up at the broom sticks, and especially after learning of her close encounter with death. "Though I guess he paid you back by bringing you back to life I suppose…wouldn't have happened if he didn't work you like a pack mule!" Nymphadora looked up then from the bed, to see Procella chuckling at her. She wore flat brown material Eskimo boots, an ankle length creamy brown bustle skirt with lace rims, and a matching off the shoulder strapped brown summer shirt. It had a lacy love heart on the V of the neck, and she had a matching brown and lacy head scarf. She wore it very Professor Trelawney style, with her fringe free to curl over her right emerald eye. The tie was at the left side, and the sash like end of it was long and came over her left shoulder. The rest of her hair fanned down her back in its usual wavy smooth fashion, and she had her hands on her hips. "What?"

I have a class to teach. And you have corridors to patrol. She rolled her eyes and the pink haired Aura jumped to her feet with a groan.

"Well, I wish I could just walk into people's lessons like you can."

No you don't.

"What?" Procella gave an impish grin. They walked out of her room, bags over their shoulders and walked down the corridor into the main entrance hall. Procella wanted to wave her friend off after all.

You want to walk into Remus' lesson whenever you like.

"Hay!" but she blushed and batted her arm in a sisterly fashion. "Not fair. You can't judge my taste in men until I can yours. I mean, the only action I've seen you have is your lip lock yesterday with…Snape…"

Oh boy.

Severus Snape had the most intimidating expression on his face, with one eyebrow raised. He had just walked into their path, and he folded his arms.

"Talking about me…were we?"

"Look at the time." Tonks turned her back to the potions master, and mouthed 'sorry' to her friend. "I have a patrol to do. And you have a lesson to teach, right?" Procella nodded enthusiastically, and tried to walk away. Snape however, only let Tonks get away scott free.

"I assume." He walked next to her, going back down her corridor. "That there was a reason for you prompt exit yesterday afternoon from my classroom. Yes?" Procella looked around for someone, anyone who could get her out of this. She knew he had questions and she did not want to answer them. Not today, not ever. "You look well." She stopped at that, and looked to him. "The potion I gave you did its job effectively. No symptoms remain." He was being curt again. Procella quickly looked away from him, not wanting to let him see her eyes in case he was going to try entering her mind again, and walked a bit faster. But he matched her persistently with speed. "Shock is a terrible thing." They reached her classroom door, but he bared her way with a hand against the wall, just before it. She couldn't get by him. "But what is usually worse than the shock…is what caused it." Oh boy, this she should have expected. She looked down again, not wanting to see his enquiring gaze. As he was trying to look into her eyes. Damn him. "Would you care to willingly enlighten me to what caused your reaction yesterday? To cause a great enough shock to stop you breathing, the cause must be very significant." He whispered icily, towering over her. He leaned in, and spoke even softer. "Why are you called little swan?"

He never saw it coming.

Procella pushed his chest hard with both hands, until he was staggering backwards. He regained his balance quickly, but only after stepping a full stride back from the door. Procella made a dash for it, and the door opened with a bang against the door. But he grabbed her arm, and held her half in, half out of the classroom. "I said." He spat, but his eyes darted inside the room. The 7th year class had already taken their seats, and were all looking to them. Procella was backed against the door, her arm uncomfortably raised on the air by her shoulder from Snape, her face turned away from him and she was trebling.

This didn't look good.

And Harry Potter stood up from his chair, wand in his hand. "…We shall continue this 'chat' another time." He released her, and she whimpered quietly against the door, still refusing to look at him. "Professor Consensio." He bid her farewell sternly, and stalked off to his classroom.

His mood, had just gotten worse.

After taking many deep breaths, Procella pulled herself away from the door, and closed it. She kept her back to her class for a moment while she pulled herself together, and didn't even smile as she paced to her desk. She quickly threw her hand towards the board, which told them to practise Accio non-verbally, and then combined the Wingardium Leviosa with it into one smooth action.

But she didn't test them. She just watched from her desk, looking around them all as they got the silent message to just get on with it.

Harry however, kept looking back at her. She looked so upset, so startled when that door opened. He wanted to ask her if she was alright, if she wanted any help or if she wanted him to curse Snape into next week. But he stayed at his desk, waving his hand around unceremoniously and looking like he was doing something. But his mind always made him look back to the pale professor.

He would talk to her about it at the end of the lesson.

The lesson ended after a dragging hour, and the bell went. The students left, (Hermione and Ron after Harry told them to), and Harry walked up to the desk.

"Professor…are you…well…alright?" she seemed on a time delay loop, but she nodded eventually. Harry then lost it and growled, leaning on the table firmly. "If Snape is bullying you, you should tell Dumbledore!" Procella looked up with a start, seeing fury in his green eyes. "You have to tell him! I'm just a student, and I've seen him push you, grab you, and the attack last week! You have to tell Dumbledore or it won't stop! Snape is dangerous and he-"

"That is enough Mr Potter." They both looked to see Professor McGonagall in the doorway, in her usual green robes and hat. She narrowed her eyes at Harry. "You have said quite enough about one of your respected teachers Harry, and have said very serious things. Please leave before I give you a detention for such talk."

"But-"

"I will not say it again." Procella stood up and placed a hand over his, still on the desk. They locked eyes, and she nodded with a smile. Harry didn't know whether that meant, 'I'll tell Dumbledore' or, 'I'll be fine. Thanks for the thought'. either way, he didn't have much of a choice. Harry sighed, and made his way out of the classroom.

"I'll see you tomorrow 3rd Professor." He said sadly, and walked out of sight. After a moment, probably to check that Harry wasn't still there, Minerva sighed and smiled to Procella.

"Boys." she rolled her eyes. "Well, shall I assume from that little outburst, that you have had a run in with the potions master this morning? Mmmm?" Procella nodded with a weak smile. "Oh that man." she pursed her lips in distaste. "Well, no more on that now." she smiled again, and pulled a scroll from her sleeve. She unravelled it, and cleared her throat. "There will be a competition for the four best love poems in the school. And an additional two love poems from the staff members, who shall be nominated by ballet box in the common rooms. The winners shall be rewarded, and their poems read aloud on stage by their elected professor. Entries must be in before the end of January, and given to the heads of house." She lowered the scroll, and looked to Procella. "Well dear, what do you think?" there was a pause, where Procella just looked to her blankly. Then, she chuckled with a bright smile, and nodded. "Ah, good. I have prepared this notice to be pinned on the notice boards of all the common rooms, but I wanted your opinion." She nodded, happy with the reaction, and placed the scroll back in her sleeve. "Ah, and then there is the ball itself to be organised." She held her hands together with an aged smile. "I have been told that you requested more duties, and you did come to me about assisting my job of 'celebrations' and events. Would you be free to join me know? Not in my office, in the staff room perhaps. Where another volunteer you will know shall be waiting for us." Her eyes twinkled, and Procella stood up. Her smile returned and she picked her satchel from the desk. She then followed her new mentor, and walked briskly to the staff room.

Both Tonks and Procella had stars in their eyes as they looked over the large scrolls of pink, red and purple. Hearts glittered everywhere, and Tonks giggled.

"And we get to help with this! Great!" she looked to Procella. "But you know what that means, don't you?" Procella blinked, afraid to ask. "I get to put you in a dress. No skirt, an actual dress." Procella gulped, thinking of Tonks and fashion…

I will be damned if it comes above my knees.

How about a mini skirt length?

No, not in a million years. Tonks giggled at that, and then looked to Minerva. "So, what can we do to help?"

"Well. I was hoping to leave the propaganda part of the Valentines day ball to you, Nymphadora."

"Please, call me Tonks."

"Oh, I don't mind."

"No please, please call me Tonks." She begged, and Minerva chuckled.

"Alright. So are you alright with that duty?"

"Posters, flyers, leaflets, announcements, anti-graffiti charms and will I have to make up the rules of the ball?"

"Now, they are the same every year."

What about dancing?

"Oh, good point. What about dancing?"

"Well, we could hold dancing sessions after hours. But I fear that as this isn't a formal ball, the dances would be how do you say…more modern?"

"I could do it. And so can Procella, right?" Procella chuckled and nodded. She knew that if she didn't agree, she would be dragged down there anyway. "But we need men…" Procella's face dropped gormlessly. This just made Tonks laugh. "Well, we need partners, right?"

You can take Remus. Tonks narrowed her eyes playfully at that.

"I will ask for male volunteers." Minerva said briefly, and then looked over her list. "Do you think it you could handle the poetry entries Procella?" Procella nodded eagerly. "Oh and…decoration. No wait, that is done by the house elves…and the food is handled also…I have the dates and permission slips to handle…and the organisation aspects…and the entertainment. Well, I think that is it." She smiled at the two, who were looking forward to their tasks. "Well, I have nothing more to say or any other reason to keep you here. I do believe you need to return to your patrol, Tonks."

"Yes, I should really." The both stood, as Minerva Accio-ed a mug of coffee over to her. "I'll show you what I've done tomorrow, ok?"

Yes. I am free until 3rd period tomorrow.

"Alright, see you then."

Good bye. They went their separate ways, Tonks out of the grounds, and Procella stood stock still in the main entrance hall.

She had absolutely nothing left to do.

Again.

This is going to be a long day…

After taking herself off to her room to stare at the wall for a few hours (she was board) the time ticked round to Lunch. She was lucky enough to have met the local House elf for the corridor, called Mindy, who brought her ham sandwiches and tea. Then, she tried to look through her favourite romance novels for a while, but ended up reading a horror book on Vampires in the 'bloody ages'. This passed the house barely, until it was late evening time, and time for dinner. Her stomach growled at her to go to the great hall, and her feet moved on auto pilot. Hunger fuelled her body for the time being, as she made her way to the great hall.

She was one of the first teachers there, students already in place, as was Dumbledore and Minerva. She kept the door open as Flitwick walked inside with a gracious smile at her, then left to take his seat. Procella quickly stepped back out of the hall, to let Hagrid walk through the door. But he stopped before her.

"Well, look Ms. I didn't mean no 'arm now. I though you were an intruder. I've been beatin' myself ap all week 'bout what 'appened. I 'ope you can forgive me."

She gave him a big smile, and nodded very childishly. Adorably childishly. "Oh, well that just made my day that did." He chuckled and walked inside. Right before Procella could walk through the now closed doors at last, a pale hand shot out from behind her and pressed against the wooden door. Right by her face.

"Good evening Ms Consensio." That snarky, icy voice let the owner known before she looked over her shoulder. But she did anyway. "Please, allow me." he opened the door, and she cautiously walked through it, as he held it open for her. Snape then over took her, his black robes billowing behind him as he strode over to the table, and then he stopped behind her chair. Very reluctantly, she walked over there, for him to pull her chair out for her. Procella just stared at him, afraid and confused at the same time. "Well?" he looked to be forcing a smile. Slowly, Procella sat down, and he pushed her in gently. Snape then sat next to her, and waited a few moments before addressing her again. This time, quieter and a lot harsher. Like his usual self. "Talking to Minerva about me, have we?" at first, Procella had no idea what he was talking about.

"Well, shall I assume from that little outburst, that you have had a run in with the potions master this morning? Mmmm?" Procella nodded with a weak smile. "Oh that man." she pursed her lips in distaste. "Well, no more on that now…

Oh boy.

"I think you have." He narrowed his eyes at her dangerously. "Because I have been accused of abusing my fellow co-workers. I have also been called a fiend, a ruffian, and most un-courteous towards the opposite sex. Down right ungentlemanlike." He leaned closer, and she wanted to just scream. "You wouldn't have had anything to do with those accusations, would you?" she gulped. "Of course you wouldn't. Because I have given you no reason to think that. Isn't that right Ms Consensio?" Procella looked down the table, and saw Minerva was glancing over at them every now and then. So she had said something to him. "Right, Consensio?" she shuck her head. "I didn't think so." He leaned closer still to her, making her lean back. But she didn't dare look at him. "Because it has not been me who has ignored the other, or run off when I had offered my assistance to you, regarding your health. It was you." He waited for a reaction, but there wasn't one. "There is so much doubt in my mind about you, that I should have dragged you down to the dungeons long ago and forced a Veritaserum down your 'innocent' throat. Then I might know just who." He paused. "Or what I am dealing with." Procella pursed her lips together, and raised her goblet to her lips as the feast began. But she didn't drink. What if he has spiked my drink? She lowered it, and Snape didn't have to enter her mind to know what she was thinking. "If I was going to induce you, I would make sure you saw me doing it, Consensio. Unlike you, I am not a coward." If he riled her up enough, he could geode her into a mind link. Then he could actually talk to her. "Too afraid to make a mind link. Even when you can end it at any time. Weakling." Procella summoned a quill and parchment from no where, and quite firmly wrote.

I know what you want, and you will not get it. I will not connect with you. "Coward." Doesn't work. "Why will you not link with me?" he said quieter still. "You have yet to give me any reason against it. I would be more civil with you, if you talked with me. Perhaps if we conversed, I might get a better understanding of just who you are, and perhaps even leave you alone. Merlin knows I do not enjoy pressing you for information. That you have yet to give me." Procella pushed her plate away. She didn't care how hungry she was. Snape could have done anything to her food before they came in. She saw he had come from the corridor down the left side of the hall. For all she knew, he could have used the teacher's exit and circled round to make it look like he hadn't done anything. She could always visit the kitchens later. She wasn't about to risk it. Not with Snape. Not with one of his kind.

Making a decision, Procella wrote manually on her parchment.

I don't trust you. You make me too nervous to trust you.

Again, those words. You, make, me, and nervous. They just kept cropping up again and again. And he for some reason, despised those words with an ardour. He didn't care if he made her nervous, but at the same time…

So stop trying to make me connect to you. I won't do it. It has to be willing, and I am not willing. Not with you.

Again, it was because of him personally. Not because he was another teacher, or a man, or close to someone else. It was because it was him that she wouldn't link with him. Snape was starting to lose his temper. "You are being ridiculous. Don't you think it would be easier to just talk to me? After all that has happened between us, the harsh words and meetings, and even the bed time we both had in the infirmary, that talking to me is the best answer? Where has being stubborn and persisted gotten you? In the infirmary, crying in your room, terrified." He snarled. "And I haven't even." He stopped.

Done anything to deserve this? Had he not been cruel to her? Had he not pried into her personal life more than once in the past week or so? Had he not even threatened her with potions and even tried to force his way into her mind.

Yes, he had deserved this. But he hated it… "Just talk to me Consensio. If you just talk to me…" his tone had changed. It was more desperate than before. "Then we could resolve this."

No.

Snape growled, and scowled forward. "I will not stop. Not until I get what I want."

How very Death eater of you. Those words…those ink words burned into him. it had been the most offensive thing she had ever said…and it hurt. It made him say something he immediately regretted.

"Takes one to know one, little swan." Procella snapped her head up, and for the second time at Hogwarts, she scowled. But this time, it was bloody and screamed for vengeance. Her emerald eyes started to dilute and dull, her lips turning a soft silver, and her skin paler. Her hands on the table became white too, and her nails grew into black claws. She opened her mouth, and fangs grew from her milky canines. Unlike before, her hair started to fade, becoming a perfect, pure white colour. Her eyes were empty once more, white and fathomless. Her clothes rippled, and she jumped up to her feet. A high hissing came from deep in her throat, and all glass in the hall shattered. Students and teachers alike screamed and stared at the scene at the end of the table. Snape was now stood, holding his wand at her. But she was too quick. Her hand came out, and back handed his face. He half slung over the table, before she grabbed the front of his back, robes, and her own draining in colour. The head scarf she had fell out of her hair, as it grew wild and wind swept.

"Heaven hath no fury like a scorned woman." Lupin found himself reciting, and grabbed Tonks next to him. "We have to-"

Snape went hurtling over the teacher's desk, and crashed down in front of the Slytherin table. Hagrid grabbed Procella's arm, but she pushed him off as if he was nothing but a baby. But he didn't cry like a baby as his back collided with the back wall.

"Ms Consensio!" Minerva shouted, and ran after her. But Procella jumped up onto the table, and threw her arms back. she hissed angrily at Snape, who slowly rose to his feet, staring point blank at her. Before Minerva could even hope to grab her, Procella was off, soaring through the air and her clawed hands outstretched. Snape however had other ideas, as he ducked to the side, his wand still aimed at her.

"Permission to curse a fellow teacher!" he shouted to Albus. Dumbledore was well away of what he was being asked, and wouldn't allow it. He shuck his head, and Snape growled as he parried a blast curse. "You can still use magic!" he then raised his want. "Protego!" a blue shimmering shield made a thin barrier between Snape and a raging Banshee witch, as he looked to Dumbledore again. "I need to stop her!" again, he shuck his head. He knew what would happen. He knew Procella and her father enough to know what would happen.

But Snape didn't have that little comfort as Procella screeched and slashed the shield into shreds with her sharp claws.

Hagrid was up, and Flitwick and Sprout were emptying the hall of students. Rubius tackled her, to be thrown back off again effortlessly. Snape groaned as she lashed out, slicing five deep cuts diagonally down his chest. He began bleeding heavily, and couldn't wait any longer.

She was going to kill him.

He raised his wand, and opened his mouth to petrify her, when Lupin, Tonks, a battered Hagrid and Vector (Arithmancy teacher) dog pilled on Procella. He leaned back with dizzy eyes against the empty Slytherin table, and watched as the four of them pulled her up to her feet. She snarled, thrashed, hissed and gnashed her teeth at him.

"Got you." Tonks let go of her, and put her wand away. "Merlin, I didn't even know you had that much of a fight in you." She ran hand through her pink hair…and then turned to face Snape. "You bastard." She was tearing, her fists clenching and opening in rage. "How could you! How could you call me that!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, stepping towards him menacingly. "How could you call me that when you can see it plainly upsets me!" she shuck as tears flooded down her face.

"What…Consensio?" He shuck his head, and pulled away from the table.

"You have no right." She spat, pointing at him. "You have no right to call me that, no right to invade my mind or my past. That is my Merlin be damned business and no one has any right to force me to do anything, after the life I have lived." Tonks took another step towards him, and Snape raised his wand. But his face was still blank, from experience. "How dare you even associate me with your people."

"My people? What is that supposed to mean!" he growled back.

"What do you think! You know what I mean, so don't you dare." She whimpered. "Don't you dare play stupid with me. You know what you have done to me, put me though, said to me." As if on cue, Procella herself hissed loudly, looking deadly. "Your curiosity ends here, right, here." Her voice was dark, low and unnerving. "I will never open my mind to any of your kind. And never, ever, accuse me of being like you, one of you, ever again. I despise you and all you stand for with all my being. The very fibres of my soul, my core of existence, beats with my heart against all that you are. I hate you all." Tonks relaxed slightly. "I hate you all…I hate…you." Tonks closed her eyes. "And I never want to see you, or talk to you again." Procella hissed quietly, and closed her own eyes. When they opened again, they were their normal emerald pigment, her hair turned back to a golden blonde, her skin peach and her clothes brown. Tonks fell back, and Lupin ran forward to catch her. She was out cold, and Procella stood tall, no one touching her. She was more intimidating now with her steal cold gaze, than when she was trying to rip Snape to pieces.

Without a word, a change of expression, or even a change in her frozen rage persona, walked by him.

"Procella…" She stopped at his side, and looked blankly at him. Snape stood tall, ignoring the pain in his chest and gut, and looked to her with steady black eyes.

Smack. Snape's face whipped away from her, his cheek red with a hand print visible almost on his face. He didn't even look up as she walked off, like nothing had happened. "Procella…" he said softly, and then forced himself to look at her before she got through the door. "This isn't over!" she stopped in the doorway, holding the door handle on the outside with one hand. Then, she slammed the door shut behind her, and Snape could feel the vibrations through the floor. "I haven't finished with you just yet…Procella."