AN: Okay seriously, I am getting more and more infuriated with the fact that I cannot even make simple paragraphs in my story. I apologise to everyone, I know it's not nice to read a story that is in one lump but they seem to think that paragraphing is pointless.

CHAPTER 2
Fangtasia

The Dungeons of Hogwarts Castle was, as known to all, a dark and dismal area, feared and if possible, avoided by all students.

To Severus Snape, it was his home. Unlike his official place of residence, Spinner's End, the Dungeons were comforting and welcoming.
After changing sides and coming to teach Potions at Hogwarts, the Dungeons had been for him, an empty place to which he could retreat every day, gather his strength and to some degree let his guard down; although this was, of course, never fully possible.

To let his guard down while with others was obviously unthinkable, he would never let anyone near him and if he did, he would be in control at all times and decide what they would or would not see, as was the case with the other teachers. Dumbledore was the only one with near full access, but even so, it was only near full.

But even when the day would end and he would finally be able to get away from the irritating insects that were the students, to be in the company of only himself, he could not let his guard down. To do so completely would have meant to die instantly as he could never be certain what sources Voldemort had, and when he was watchingbecause although Severus Snape was one of the most if not the most skilled Occlumens, the Dark Arts would always provide a way of looking into someone's mind and heart if unguarded that did not involve Legilimency. He had pursued this lifestyle and his double espionage for 15 years.

Now that Voldemort was gone and Snape had, in his 16th year at Hogwarts, finally reached the point at which he could begin to think about being able to actually enjoy his life, a concept previously unknown to him, and teach Defense against the Dark Arts, his dream even before he changed sides, he was being forced to leave his Dungeon, his Home.

Of course he wanted to start a new life, move on and away from the horrors of the past; and though one would have thought it not such a big deal, being able to retreat to his Dungeons and have a taste of what it was like to actually breathe, to read books, to reflect, that was what he was looking forward to.

He understood why it was necessary for him to leave his quarters and office in the Dungeons now that he was going to be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts and Laenaya was going to be teaching Potions in his stead, but he was still angry.

He couldn't understand why Dumbledore had chosen Darkstrom to teach Potions, there were countless others who would have been just fine for the job, Slughorn for instance. Granted, her skills were incomparable but frankly, for someone like her, it would have been just embarrassing if her magic were anything less than extraordinary, and it probably wasn't even all that extraordinary.

Part of him wanted to barge into Dumbledore's office and reprimand him severely for his pointless decision and then drive a stake right through Darkstrom's annoying heart. But of course, although he knew that Dumbledore was not Voldemort, years of restraint and discipline had branded him with an automatic defense mechanism resulting in the idea that that sort of reckless behaviour would quickly lead to instant suffering or even death.

What else could he do to get her away?

He didn't want to be bitter but in his mind, being bitter was the only way to protect himself, even though he hated the idea.

He thought about how he treated Harry Potter, all because of a past and silly teenage feud with the boy's father. It was ridiculous! But even now, after Snape and Harry had fought side by side and Snape had done everything to protect him, he saw that it was pointless to bear grudges yet he couldn't make himself treat him much better. He could not let the boy see that he had wronged him.

'All these contradictions…' he wanted to be kinder and not be bitter, after all, that was what made Tom Riddle become the Dark Lord; but at the same time, Severus did not want to show emotion, he didn't want friends and the burden that came with them.

Then it occurred to him. He was the Defense against the Dark Arts Professor and therefore he had to teach the students how to spot threats and how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, and this clearly was a Dark Arts matter.
He wouldn't have to make Darkstrom leave, the students would. What parent would want someone like her around their children?

"Professor Snape!" Laenaya was looking at him, her bright green eyes flashing with mild annoyance.
Snape was aware that he had been standing there for several minutes reflecting and hadn't been responding to Laenaya, and he wasn't in a hurry to either. It gave him satisfaction to know that she thought he was ignoring her.

"I do realise that I am, in a way, inappropriately stealing your home from you but I do hope that does not mean that I am going to have to forcefully extract the keys from your covetous grip!" She was smiling now but Snape could not tell whether she was being serious or not.

"Do not flatter yourself Miss Darkstrom" he replied venomously.

Laenaya could barely believe what he just said and laughed in a genuinely heartfelt way. Her laugh was high pitched and yet deep, to someone who would have fleetingly heard and later asked what it was, they would have replied that the sound had come from a recording of the same voice several times, where every voice was in a different pitch, placed in a dark cave so as to echo ominously.

If Snape had not been Severus Snape and had therefore not had impeccable self-control and less experience, he would have shuddered.

"Come now Severus, you know as well as I do that if I could I would gladly trade with you! I would love to live in the upper part of the Castle, but you know that I just cannot." the empathy in her eyes made Snape want to regurgitate.

'Trade? It belongs to me anyway! Whether I am here or not!' he sighed.

"It's 'Professor Snape'." He shoved the keys to his quarters, office and classroom into her hands in the most hostile way he could without being violent. "I trust that although you possess certain limitations, Miss Darkstrom, you will not be so limited that I will have to take you by the hand and guide you through the Dungeons like a child, as Professor Dumbledore seems to think I should."

'Unpleasant git!'

Now she was beginning to get really irritated. She really didn't want to start her off her first night at Hogwarts in such a way.

She had always had problems getting along with humans and understanding them, but this time she really was trying. She couldn't understand why Snape was trying to make it so hard for her. Especially because, besides occupying his space, she had never done anything to him. Not that she knew of anyway.

She was trying to change her life and if she became aggressive now, she would not be able to control herself and the anger would resurface, things would go back to the way they were before or become even worse.
She made the initiative and then she made a promise to Dumbledore, she didn't want to jeopardize that now. After all, whether she knew it or not, she had seen and experienced so many things that others could never hope to experience or if they did they wouldn't be able to take it.
Just a little bit of self-control and the results could be rewarding right?
She decided that, although she couldn't fight Snape or hurt him, arguing would do no harm.

"Oh I shall insist on calling you Severus, after all, you have taken the liberty to call me 'Miss Darkstrom' as if I were one of your students, when it is clear, despite my appearance, that I am several years your senior!" that was an understatement.

"And no, I do not need you to guide me through these halls, which you in your deplorable state, insist on calling 'Dungeons'. I assure you, I have seen and even lived in places that surpass your limited and petty concept of a dungeon!" Even though she hadn't raised her voice, Laenaya couldn't help but wonder if she was being just a little bit childish.

As if attempting to confirm that she was being childish Snape retaliated with a snort.

"Impressive Miss Darkstrom. Perhaps your arrogance qualifies you to become a member of Potter's gang. You should apply." He sneered at her.

"Well at least I can make decisions! I've always known which side I was on and I always knew how pathetic Voldemort was; and didn't join him because I was a sad little angsty teenager."

Laenaya instantly regretted having said this, not because it was hurtful but because she realised that she was on probation and saying this would not help her. What she regretted the most though, was the fact that what she had said was, partially, a lie.

"Thank you for that Miss Darkstrom." He looked at her mouth and the pointy little fangs which she didn't seem to notice were no longer retracted "you have shown that you cannot control your urges." He began to walk away.

She gasped and covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry Professor, it was an accident! I clearly need some time to adapt!" Snape was ignoring her and continued to walk away "Please wait Professor I'm sorry!" Snape was completely gone now, leaving Laenaya alone and full of regret.

He made his way up to the main part of the castle toward his new dwelling, the image of what had just occurred still fresh in his mind.

He was debating whether it would be advantageous to him or not to report Laenaya's slip to Dumbledore when he suddenly remembered where he had met her before.