Severus Snape was an enigma. Abigail had thought that he would be glad to hear that she trusted him; that she had been wrong that first day in her office. Instead of displaying any sort of smugness or even seeming to be glad she trusted him he had left her office looking agitated. Maybe he didn't like that she had touched him. He really didn't seem like the touchy feely type. However, he hadn't told her off for bear hugging him and knocking them to the floor earlier that morning. She sighed and flopped back on her bed feeling a little lost.

Oh. Perhaps he has a hard time with praise. I'm sure he's not used to such a thing if his years at Hogwarts and time with the Death Eaters are any indication. It probably feels like a trick; like I'm trying to get something out of him.

Deciding that was most likely the case Abigail tried to push her troubling thoughts to the side and get some rest. Her lack of sleep and action filled morning had left her feeling incredibly drained.

Snape paced his quarters feeling bewildered. O'Connor was so confusing. She came here so distrustful of him because his involvement with the Death Eaters; so much so that she refused to take Dumbledore's word that he was solely fighting for the light. Then she up and changes her mind just because he comforted a student. She hadn't even said anything about his ability to use unsupported flight, a talent he had learned from the Dark Lord himself. It was like she didn't even care!

Does my interaction with Stillwell override even that?

How could she tell he wasn't faking it? He knew that his previous associates couldn't pull off a believable farce of caring for the girl, even if he could. There was no way she could know such a thing though. So what made her so sure that he wasn't just acting the part? Did she really hold that much stock in what that person had said or was there something else? More importantly why did he care?

Perhaps it was because even though things had started out so terribly between them he had grown to respect O'Connor. She was an incredibly smart and talented witch; not to mention powerful. Then there were the mysteries surrounding her. She spoke as if she came from some strange place were the rules of their ministry did not apply to them; and then there was that book on her shelf. What type of Dark Arts did they have a history with? He'd never heard of any that changed you physically by using them.

Maybe it was because they were similar in temperament. They were both plagued by short and hostile tempers and had an extreme dislike of being called cowards. Speaking of being called a coward; what was with that comment about her cowardice in the first war? What had she meant?

"You were right. I was a coward, but not for the reasons you may think."

His thoughts drifted then to the strange powers she had displayed in the forest. She could grow plants from seemingly nowhere to monstrous sizes and make them move just by touching them. He had neither seen nor heard of such a spell before. She had said it wasn't exactly an Irish thing. Did that mean that anyone could learn it? Snape sighed heavily and dropped into his favorite armchair by the fire.

He knew why he cared what she thought. He just didn't want to admit it. She was a curiosity and a puzzle that called to be solved. It was in his nature to be distrustful and someone like O'Connor who posed more questions than answers, he needed to figure her out. More so than that he cared because he respected her greatly and that made him crave her respect as well.

2/13/1989

Classes were cancelled Monday and a moment of silence was held for Simon Blackwell. Dumbledore did not go into any specifics on what had happened. He merely said that following a confrontation with Gerald Winters the Defense teacher had tragically lost his life. Breakfast was a somber affair and several of the students and a few teachers even she tears, O'Connor being one of them.

The rest of the day saw Abigail, Snape, and Dumbledore, helping the Aurors sort through Gerald's things. His journals showed a slow descent into madness after his wife was injured in an accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. He had gone through multiple experiments in an attempt to cure her, but in the end had been unsuccessful. Then halfway through the summer she had taken her life. Gerald spiraled downward in a well of grief.

It was when the Daily Prophet printed a story on Centaurs that the idea of splicing came to him. His wife may be gone but that didn't mean he couldn't conquer the ailment that led to her death. He had brought the idea up to his father-in-law and the man responded poorly. In a fit of rage and grief he became Gerald's first victim and first failed experiment. O'Connor put her hand over her mouth and turned to Albus.

"When you checked on Simon and Gerald the disappearance of Gerald's father-in-law didn't come up?"

"No. There's no missing persons report for him." Dumbledore said. "His mother-in-law passed some time ago and they were both only children. Without her there was no one to report him missing."

"You never do forget your students do you, Headmaster?" Auror Thomas McKinnley said. "Do you keep in touch with everyone?"

"I try." He smiled thinly.

After the failed experiment on his father-in-law Gerald realized he needed to start small. So he began creating magical creatures that already existed in combinations of non-magical creatures. He knew if he could just figure that out he could move on to using magical beasts to create new versions of ones that already existed. If he could do that then there was no doubt he could figure out how to merge humans and animals.

Gerald's writing took a dizzying turn into madness in which he thought himself a master of life and death; an innovator in the conquering of diseases and disabilities and a creator of new life. He began to think himself a god and started creating creatures simply to test his abilities and see what wonders he could accomplish. His end goal was never forgotten though and his encounter and subsequent capture of Mary and Simon expedited his timeline.

"We cut things really close." Abigail said. "If we had taken much longer Mary might have been on one of those tables too."

Snape nodded his expression tight.

"You two cut it close in general." Auror Samantha Green said. "He was planning on trapping you in the forest the next time you went looking for potion ingredients."

Samantha paused and looked uncomfortable for a moment.

"What is it dear?" Albus asked.

"He wrote that all he had to do was use the spiders again and Professor O'Connor would get them both killed."

Abigail's face looked like thunder. She felt angry, embarrassed, and ashamed all at once. Snape looked angry but also smug and amused.

"Getting us into trouble yet again I see."

"Oh shut up!" O'Connor growled. "Wait you said use the spiders again. Does that mean he's responsible for us getting attacked the first time?"

They quickly looked back through his journals and found the one detailing the night in question. According to his writing he had snuck into the Acromantula nest and stolen three of their young. He had been chased straight to the Unicorn clearing they had been attacked in. It was also how he had found the horses in the first place. He made sure to mark the clearing for later experiments.

"That explains why the spiders were so much closer to the edge of the forest than usual." Snape said. He paused for a moment and stared at O'Connor. His eyes were difficult for her to read. "McKinnley, find the journal detailing the Christmas holiday."

It took him a moment but he finally found it.

"Oh. He was pissed. One of the Acromantulas escaped. Some kid called Allistar found it and picked its legs off." The young man made a face. "He must be something that kid."

"Oh he's something all right." O'Connor shuddered slightly.

"That explains how the boy came across the poor creature." Albus shook his head sadly.

"Well, I think we've seen everything we need to. We'll clear the room of evidence and return to the ministry to file it. I'm sorry you all had to go through this." Samantha said.

"Thank you." Dumbledore smiled sadly. "It's all been rather unfortunate. Now, if you'll please excuse me. I have a meeting with Simon Blackwell's family."

O'Connor and Snape were left standing in the hallway in silence as the Aurors cleaned Winters' office and Dumbledore left. The potions master could tell there was something his colleague wanted to say. She wrung her hands for a moment before she looked at him, his obsidian gaze as closed off as always. It made her chest tight for some reason.

"Do you want to play chess?"

He looked surprised for a moment before he nodded solemly. It wasn't hard to figure out what she was really trying to say.

Can I have some company? I don't really want to be alone right now.

"If you are in the mood to be soundly defeated in chess than who am I to deny you?"

She smiled widely and playfully punched his arm.

6/21/1989

"Do you have any plans for the summer?" O'Connor moved her bishop three spaces with a small smile. She was likely to lose this game. It was all rather disappointing. This would make fifteen wins and seventeen losses. Snape knew it too. His obsidian eyes shone with quiet satisfaction. He could be smug about his wins, but he never gloated. She was grateful for that. It made her defeats easier to bear. Losing was difficult for someone like her who was so competitive she hated when someone even so much as read faster than her.

"If by plans you mean some sort of fun vacation trip, then no. I will complete my lesson plans for the year, stock up on my more rare ingredients, and enjoy the peace and quiet I only get two months out of the year."

"I see. No fun for Snape. Got it. Just peace, quiet, and melancholy."

He glared at her and took her knight. She frowned and took his bishop then lost her rook. It would be checkmate in three moves or less now. Damn him.

"Would you permit me to write you over the summer?" His dark eyes drifted up to look at her, the frown line forming between his brows. "Oh don't look at me like that. We've been through a lot this year. I know you don't do friends-,"

"I have no need for friends."

"I would like to consider you as such, however."

"I suppose your letters would make for some excellent fire starter."

She rolled her eyes, but she could see the small quirk of his lips as he fought back a smirk.

Well that concludes Abigail's first year at Hogwarts. Stay tuned for The Wolf, the Bat, and The Spider Year 2!