Disclaimer: This dramatization is an extension of some of what happens during Harry, Ron, and Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts. It also covers flashbacks to Snape's first year of teaching. Since J.K. Rowling is yet to publish the 6th book, I'm very vague about what is happening in the wizarding world since only J.K. Rowling can truly write anything about Harry Potter. This is highly likely to disagree with a few facts, but since it's me writing, and not the author, please forgive me any goofs that I might make in relevance to the actual series. Thank you for choosing to read my story.
Gabriella had successfully made it back to the Gryffindor rooms and was able to make up a suitable excuse for her friends. She also had the perfect plan on how to meet regularly with Severus without arousing suspicion. Today she was going to put it into effect.
She had not spoken to Severus since that morning about a week ago. She had seen him in passing in the school, but he made no acknowledgment of her to show that anything had happened. She hoped that he wouldn't change his mind; that it hadn't only been the alcohol talking.
The day passed swiftly, and before very long she found herself in the dungeon at the back of the classroom. She could still see a bit of staining on the wall from the previous week's explosion. The classroom filled rapidly (no sensible person was ever late for Snape's class). Annabelle was quiet and Piper was studiously straightening her materials.
Gabriella twiddled her thumbs nervously. She had resorted to this rather than chew her lip. Severus had made it clear to her that he didn't want her doing that. As a girl who was academically oriented she did not feel comfortable doing what she was about to do, but for the sake of the strange feelings she had for Severus she knew she had to.
That entire week Gabriella could think of no one else. At first she credited it to the strange things that had happened between them that night, but she soon realized that she had definite feelings for him. It seemed as though they had been underlying for a long time, and that the kiss they shared at finally brought them out. She wanted to be with Severus, to feel his arms wrapped around her again. She had never felt that safe and content, not even when her parents had been alive.
Severus Snape entered the room in his usual billow of robes. He stalked to the front of his class and began to drone in a monotonous tone about the properties of the potion's ingredients. Gabriella didn't bother to take notes; she already knew all of the properties. She had learned them over the summer. Severus had been right; this was going to be a very easy potion. She knew that most of her classmates might not agree, but that did not matter.
The first ingredient to be put into the cauldron was juice from a squeezed dragon's-breath cactus. The entire potion was to be boiled in this. Gabriella purposely added the wrong amount. Snape had begun circulating the room.
She then took the root of the carmilian flower and cut it into large unequal chunks. She knew that this would cause the properties of the carmilian flower would release as the dissolved in the juice. For the potion to turn out, the carmilian flower root should have been cut the same size so that the roots would release the properties at the right time. By putting in vastly unequal chunks she knew that they roots would release at different times, thus ruining the potions from the very start. She did not wait the two minutes that she was supposed to and instead continued to add the sliced (though very poorly) salamander tongue. Severus crept up behind her.
Knowing that he was watching she added the ground asphodel leaf before stirring as directed. Severus leaned down and hissed in her ear. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Messing up." Gabriella replied.
Severus sneered. "That's obvious." He stalked away, but through out the rest of the potion she could see him glancing her way with a scowl on his face.
When it came time to turn in the potions hers was a thick, yellow substance. The rest of the potions were a pale blue with a pleasant odor coming from them. Severus sneered at her.
"This is most definitely the worst acne potion I have ever seen. Even Mr. Oaks potion did better than yours." He wrote a large F in his grade book. "Stay after class. I need to speak with you about this." The other students filed out, a few of them snickering at her, a few giving her sympathetic looks.
Severus circled around his desk and seated himself on the end. He pointed to a chair. Gabriella sat down.
"What is the meaning of this? I know you can do much better." Snape sneered.
"I don't know." Gabriella smiled. "I guess I'll just have to take private lessons with you to do better."
"That is ridiculous. I don't offer private lessons." Severus suddenly stopped. "Ah."
To Gabriella's vast surprise he chuckled. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was obvious that he did not laugh often.
"I hope you know that I still am going to make you finish that potion properly." Severus stated. Gabriella smiled.
"Will you change my grade? I have to continue doing poorly in your class if we want to keep up these private lessons."
"I will change them to some degree." Severus said. "However, I need to inform Professor Dumbledore first. I'm sure he will have no objections." Severus paused to consider. "How about every Friday night from five to eight? We'll eat dinner in my quarters."
"That sounds fine!" Gabriella smiled. "I want to hug you, but I'm afraid that someone will walk in on us."
Severus waved his wand, casting a locking spell on his door. He looked to Gabriella. "Now no one can enter without my permission. However, I expect a bit more than a mere hug after what you put me through." Severus allowed a slight smile to appear around the edges of his sneering mouth.
"I don't mind. I've been thinking about you all week." Gabriella stood up and stepped forward into his arms, quite happy to be embraced by both his arms and his mouth. She could definitely get used to this.