Chapter 3

Snape was bored. He was looking from his portrait arund the big headmaster's office. All the portraits were chatting excitedly.

"Did you see that two Weasley kids?" asked old witch with long silver hair dressed in purple robes.

"No, you mean those Fred and Roxanne children of George's?,"replied old man with great moustach," what were they up to

this time?"

"Making pranks again. They nearly got that poor young ravenclaw boy into detention because of that stupid zonko's toy," said witch shooking her head in disbelief.

"Weasley's blood will out," said another fat old wizard with no neck in dark green robes smiling.

Snape was not interested in such conversations. It was obvious for him that those kids will do problems... like their parents.

Do you fancy bunch of chess, my friend? asked man from the portrait next to Snape's.

"No Albus," frowned Snape," I'm not in the mood."

"Well you have not been in the mood since I can remember." Dumbledore smiled teasingly.

But Snape just gave him a dirty look.

"Something bothering you, Severus?" asked Dumbledore his twinkling blue eyes scanning Snape's face.

"No, not really" said man in black robes coldly not looking at suspicious old man with half-moon spectacles,"I'm going for a walk."

He get off of his portrait and slowly headed to that empty one on the 7th floor. Snape was curious. Will she come? What about the potions class? ...and what about that essay he was helping her with? He looked outside the window. It was getting dark and corridor was empty. Snape was waiting five minutes,... ten minutes... and finally it was half an hour. Maybe she was just having dinner, he was calming himself down. He waited.

Finally he was about to leave when suddenly soft girlish voice from now really dark corridor spoke:"Professor? Are you there?"

It was hard to admit it, but he felt some kind of happiness that she really came.

"Ou, It's you again." he said raising his eyebrow hidding the fact that he was actually happy about it.

"I just wanted to tell you I got O," smiled Lily," and I hoped that I can study here, because the corridor is emptly and quiet."

Snape nodded and said with softer voice:"If you want to."

Lily smiled again and sat on the floor.

"Is this correct?" she asked after a few minutes.

Snape looked down at her and he nearly fell out of his portrait:"Miss Potter are you serious? You can't put dragon liver in that big amount with four ashwinder eggs, unless you want to blow up the classroom."

"Right," Lily shivered in her seat and scribbled something to her parchment.

Snape started to read a newspaper, but he didn't even finish the first page when Lily spoke again uncertainly, "Do-Do you think I must stirr it two times clockwise or five times counterclockwise ?"

Snape rolled his eyes:"Of course that five times but not counterclockwise, clockwise."

Lily smiled :"Thanks." And again scribbled few words and corrected it.

After last warm autumn days came those cloudy and rainy ones. And still day after day Lily returned to professor's portrait, but not only to ask for a help, but she was telling him what's new, what happened in the corridors, in the gardens. It lasts longer for Snape, but then he started to tell Lily too, what's new in the headmaster's office, what are the other portraits talking about and other usefull things, like how to avoid meeting Peeves. Snape happened to be in good mood nearly every day, he even played chess with Dumbledore, who was curious, but never asked Severus why he is in such a good mood. That girl with ginger hair cheered him up, he wasn't that bitter, quarrelsome person like he used to be. And on the other hand Lily liked to go to hidden corridor too and still after all this time she was the only one to know. She must have told many lies to keep her secret hidden, because Clara and Lily's brothers as much as her cousins wanted to know where she always dissappear.

And time ran and ran. Professor Flitwick and the other professors started to decor the castle with misteltoes, candles and Hagrid brought, for Lily it seems as, the biggest tree from Forbidden forest. And for the happiness of all students, Christmas holiday was coming. Lily wanted to stay at Hogwarts for christmas to make professor a company, but he didn't let her.

"No, go home. Have a nice holiday. I will see you after Miss Potter." said Snape day before train was leaving to drive children home," professor Dumbledour will make me company."

Lily wasn't sure, but couldn't stay when Snape didn't wanted her to.

"Ok, see you after," said Lily, " I must pack my stuff." She smiled at him and slowly walked away.

"I will bring you a present professor!," she shouted from the end of the corridor, waved at him and ran away to her common room.

Snape smiled for himself:"Silly girl."

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