Author Note: Thank God, I finally found a beta for this fic and I would like to thank Ravenna and Emerald for all her hard work and excellent grammar skills. I will be posting the revised chapters 1-9 as soon as they are completed.

'Italicized words with single quotation marks indicate thoughts.'

Chapter 10

"You wanted to see me Professor McGonagall?" asked Willow as she cracked opened the large wooden door leading to the Professor's personal office and peeped inside. This was her first trip to the Gryffindor tower and it had taken her nearly forever to climb all those stairs. Her legs were so sore she was beginning to dread the long walk back.

Willow had never been to the Professor's office before. The only time they had even spoken to each other was during class. So she was quite surprise when the Professor asked to see her after breakfast. Willow didn't think she was in any trouble and she thought her studies was going quite well for a change, but she was new to the Wizarding World and she knew she might have done something wrong without realizing it. But she was sure that either Professor Snape or Draco would have told her if she had broken some sort of magical rule.

The Deputy Headmistress waved Willow in and motioned her to sit down. Willow slipped inside the door and closed it softly behind her. She quickly made her way across the room and sat nervously in the armchair situated in front of the large red maple desk with her hands folded in her lap.

The office wasn't as large as the Headmaster's but the lack of clutter made it appeared spacious. The office was decorated in Gryffindor's House colors in various shades of orange, gold and red. Large vibrant red Gryffindor banners with gold trimming lined the stone walls giving the room a cozy feeling. Sunlight flooded into the room through the open south-facing window. Rays of light chased away the morning chill and brightened the room's interior; it was a far cry from the dark gloomy monotone décor of the dungeon in which black, silver and green were the primary color palate. But despite its dismal surroundings the dungeon had become Willow's second home. She supposed it had something to do with the long hours she had spent researching in the school library after dark with Giles and the gang in Sunnydale. Maybe she was slightly mental, but it reminded her of home and of her friends, who she desperately missed.

Professor McGonagall smiled slightly at her and Willow thought the smile looked a bit strained on the woman's normally stern face. "First Ms. Rosenberg, I would like to commend you on your extraordinary progress these last few weeks. It is truly remarkable how far you have come since your arrival. I must confess I had my doubts in the beginning but you have exceeded my expectations. Therefore, the headmaster and I both agree that you will be well prepared to join the 5th year students when school begins next week. Mind you the curriculum may be bit strenuous, but from what I have seen I'm confident that you will be able to handle the additional work load."

Willow beamed at the Professor's praise and mentally sighed in relief. She had an unreasonable fear that she would be placed in first year and she would have died of embarrassment if she had to take the same classes as eleven year olds. So it had come to an enormous relief that she would be taking classes with people her own age. "Thank you Professor! I couldn't have done it without Professor Snape's, Draco's, and your help. Everyone has been so patient with me even when a spell went horribly wrong," said Willow earnestly.

Professor McGonagall frowned slightly at the mention of the two Slytherins and her lips pressed together into a thin line. In the short time she had known Willow she had found her to be sweet, thoughtful, well mannered and very talented young girl. But in her opinion Willow was spending far too much time in the dungeon. She was slightly concern with Willow's attachment to Professor Snape and young Mr. Malfoy. McGonagall had always had the highest respect for Professor Snape; he was brilliant man, who shared her need for discipline in the classroom, but he was also vindictive, short-tempered and sometimes cruel. In short, Professor Snape was not a nice man and she was afraid that his harsh manner may be a bit too abrasive for the girl's delicate sensibilities. And her relationship with Mr. Malfoy was even more disconcerting.

Willow was new to their world and highly impressionable. The Deputy Headmistress didn't think a Dark Wizard and the son of an alleged Death Eater were the best people to introduce her to the Wizarding World, especially if they were trying to steer her away from the Dark Arts. The girl already knew too much about that kind of magic from her life at the Hellmouth and she did not need to be exposed to any more. The Professor had voiced her concerns to the Headmaster but he didn't see any harm in it. Well if the Headmaster wasn't going to do anything about it that didn't mean that she couldn't. "With that said, I think you deserve some time off. It's not healthy for such a nice girl to stay cooped up in a gloomy dungeon for so long. Go outside and enjoy what's left of the summer. You can even go to Hogsmeade for a day if you like," offered the older woman.

Willow ran all the way back to the dungeon and knocked rapidly on the large wooden door that led to Professor Snape's private quarters. The portrait of Sir Augustus Theodore Gideon the Third that guarded the entrance glared disproving at her when she hammered against the frame causing the painting to rattle against the door. Willow gave him an apologetic smile and hopped from foot to foot with barely restrained excitement as she waited impatiently outside.

After a few moments the portrait cracked opened revealing a tall dark figure donned in long black robes. Professor Snape had a deep scowl on his face, one that would send any student who dared to disturb him fleeing for their lives. But that didn't stop Willow from throwing her small body at him, wrapping her arms about his waist and hugging him with all her strength. Professor Snape grunted in surprise when a blur of red hair impacted solidly to his tall frame. It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't being attacked, but, to his utter horror, hugged.

"Ms. Rosenberg, if you have finished accosting me, would you mind terribly removing yourself from my person," glowered Snape as he tried to pry Willow's arms off of him. He was slightly bewildered that Willow still haven't gotten over her bizarre affection for him or even worst her need to display that affection through unexpected bouts of physical contact. The girl made him anxious. He never knew when she would attack next, forcing him to suffer through unwarranted hugs and her idiotic babbling. She was relentless with her boundless energy and cheer, spreading joy and happiness like the bubonic plague.

Willow jumped back as if he was on fire and sputtered an apology as her stricken face turned bright red in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she hugged Professor Snape, the most un-huggable person she could have possibly hugged. But she was so excited and she sort of gotten carried away.

The professor listened to Willow's incomprehensible babbling with quiet amusement. But after a minute of the girl's insistent blabbering he had enough. "Yes, yes you are quite forgiven if you give me your word that you will never, never do anything like that again."

"So am I to assume that your meeting with Professor McGonagall went well," inquired Snape thoughtfully.

Willow's excitement erased her earlier embarrassment and a huge smile blossomed on her face. "Oh, yes. Professor McGonagall says that I have done so well in my studies that I will be allowed to join the 5th year students in the fall," exclaimed Willow excitedly.

The warm feeling of pride swept over Snape and he thought it was quite odd to feel pride in someone else's achievements. He imagined this was what parents felt for their children and stranger still that he should feel this way for someone who didn't even share the same blood as he. But that didn't diminish the fact that he indeed was proud of Willow. He had always had the utmost confidence in her abilities and he knew she would persevere. Even when Minerva and Albus had their doubts he was steadfast in his belief that Willow would succeed and she had even beyond his expectations.

"Well of course. Why are you so surprise? Didn't I tell you that you will succeed?" drawled Snape smugly.

"Yes, Professor and thank you so much for all your help," said Willow earnestly and she moved as if she was going to hug him again.

Professor Snape stepped back away from the child's reach and held his hands up in defense. "There is no need for such displays of gratitude. I am your teacher and I was just doing my job, nothing more," he grimaced.

"But still. Thank you," repeated Willow timidly. The conversation lapsed into uncomfortable moment of silence and Willow bit her bottom lip nervously, trying hard not to fill the silence with what Snape had called her idiotic prattling. But it was no use and she blurted out the first thing that came to her head. "Um…why does Professor McGonagall hate you and Draco?" 'Smooth Willow, real smooth,' thought the redhead in self-depreciation.

At Snape's bewildered look Willow hurried to explain. "I mean every time I mention either of your names she get this disapproving look on her face like I just said something wrong, then she tells me that I shouldn't spend so much time in the dungeon and I just get this vibe that you and Draco aren't one of her favorite people."

"Ah, I see," he said in understanding. "I presume that it had something to do with our house. House rivalries run deep at Hogwarts, sometimes lasting for several generations, passing from parent to child and the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor is the worst."

"Well she did say that I was well suited for Gryffindor," admitted Willow.

Snape gave her a thoughtful look with those piercing black eyes. "Although you do show great potential, you are far too trusting for my house. Unfortunately you are probably destined for another house. But I do pray that you won't be sorted into that house of self-righteous do-gooders," sneered Snape.

To be honest Willow didn't care one way or the other. The whole ideal of houses sounded awful clique-ish to her. But Willow was slightly disappointed with that fact that she won't be joining Professor Snape and Draco in Slytherin. It would be nice to wake to the blonde Slytherin's face every morning.

"Hmm…well I'm off to see if Draco wants to go to Hogsmeade with me," said Willow brightly and she turned to leave.

"Just one more thing," said Snape abruptly. Willow stopped and turned back around to face him curiously.

The professor was silent for a moment and looked as if he was trying to decide something. "You and Draco have gotten quite close lately," he inquired carefully.

Willow lowered her eyes and blushed brightly.

"I see," said Snape and a look of concern crossed over his normally stern face. "Ms. Rosenberg, I do not normally like to interfere with the personal affairs of my students, but please do be careful with Draco. His father is not what you consider a noble man and I'm afraid Draco may have inherited some of his father's less than reparable traits," he warned.

The red head looked up into her mentor's serious face and took his words of warning with a light heart. Sure Draco could sometimes be arrogant, selfish and bit of a snob, but she didn't think he was all that bad. In truth she had gotten to know the real Draco and she had found him to be smart, unpredictable, passionate and intense. A kind of intensity that seeps from his pores, making her body tingle and igniting a passion in her that she didn't know even existed. He made her feel alive and that was what she liked most about him.

Draco was so different from the other boys that she was usually attracted to. He was rich, handsome and so way out of her league, but he still wanted her. Willow had always gone for the boy next door, Mister-Nice-and-Reliable, like Xander and Oz. The ones that she thought was safe for her to pursue and most likely to return her affections. But look where that gotten her-lonely, rejected and bitter. They didn't want her but Draco did. She could see it his silver-grey eyes that burned with quiet intensity and need. Willow had never felt so desirable and she loved the way he made her feel. So she ignored Snape's warnings and Professor McGonagall's gentle interference. For once little Willow Rosenberg wasn't going to do what everyone expected of her, for once Willow was going to do what she wanted for a change.

Thanks for reading and please review. I love feedback and please feel free to tell me where you would like this story to go. I'm very impressionable and a sucker for praise. hint, hint