I'm back with another installment. It's short, but it sets up a lot of good stuff. Finals are coming up (Boo!), but it means summer will be here and I will have more time to write (Hurrah!).

I would also like to mention that I am looking for a Beta, because no matter how hard I try, I still make grammar mistakes. Plus, a little feedback on storyline would be nice. So if anyone is interested, e-mail me (should be on my profile) or drop me a message. I'm happy to read for you as well.

As always reviews are the elixir of life without which my story would rot and die. So take a few moments out of your life to tell me if you like it, hate it, love it, or whatever. Happy Reading!

Chpt 19- The Deal

Lyric walked in the Gryffindor common room to find a number of students giggling at her. She ignored them, walking straight up to her room. As soon as she entered, she was practically thrown onto her bed. Amarantha shoved a Chocolate frog at her and said, "Okay, tell me everything."

"About what?" Lyric was bewildered by her friend's behavior.

"Don't be stupid," Amarantha gasped, "tell me about being locked in the closet with Severus Snape."

"What?" Lyric felt her face grow hot with embarrassment. "How could you possibly know about that?"

"Peeves came into the Great Hall and announced to everyone that the two of you were alone, trapped in the dark." Amarantha smiled brightly at Lyric. "So, I want all the dirty details."

"There are no dirty details!" Lyric defended, trying not to think of the past hour she had spent in close proximity with her professor. "Peeves locked us in, I had a panic attack, and then my uncle rescued us. There is nothing else to tell."

Amarantha gave Lyric an all-knowing smirk before rescinding. "Fine, if that's the story you're going to tell."

"It's not a story, it's the truth. Let it rest."

The week went on with few other incidences, Lyric ended up serving both detentions during the week with Filch, as Snape had other business to attend to in London. Lyric was outwardly grateful to get away from the surly professor, but she found she missed him a little.

By Friday, Snape had returned. Lyric tried to contain her enthusiasm as she walked into his classroom for Potions.

"Wormwood is an essential ingredient to several well-known potions," Snape lectured high atop his chair, "but you must be careful, for it contains the toxic oil thujone. If not treated properly and brewed precisely, you may find yourself with a simple, yet deadly poison that any Muggle could brew."

"Professor Snape?" a voice asked from the back of the room.

The class turned to see Tristan with his hand raised. It was a bit of a shock. Since Lyric's punishment was handed down, Tristan had been laying low in the school. He hardly spoke up in class anymore, and he had pretty much left the first years alone.

"Mr. Merton, you have a question?"

"Yes sir, I believe that wormwood is one of the main ingredients in Absinthe, correct?

The class giggled slightly, but stopped to gage Snape's reaction. An out-of-place look of amusement spread across Snape's face.

"Why yes it is, Mr. Merton. Is there a reason that you ask?"

"Well, I wanted to know if there was anyway to make sure that Absinthe didn't have the thujone oil in it?"

"If Absinthe is brewed properly from someone that knows what they are doing, it shouldn't be harmful, save for the side effects of such potent liquor. Why did you want to know?"

"Oh nothing, Sir, just curious is all."

"I am hoping that no Absinthe has been brewing a Gryffindor bathtub for the past few weeks in preparation for the Quidditch match this weekend."

Tristan remained silent for a moment. "No sir," he finally spoke. Lyric eyed him suspiciously. No wonder their hall smelled of booze for the past few weeks.

"Good. I would hate to have to expel a student for such an offense." His amusement subsided, and Snape went back to being ordinary, scowling Snape. "That is all for today. I want two feet on the proper brewing techniques for wormwood due on Monday."

The class emitted a familiar groan.

Snape turned to glare at them, "Just because there is a Quidditch match, I won't allow my students to fall behind on their studies. You came to school to learn about magic, not cruise around on a bloody broomstick. If I hear one more complaint, it'll be three feet due."

Iona rolled her eyes at Lyric as the two packed up their stuff. Lyric didn't say anything. As she and Iona were headed out the door, she suddenly stopped.

"What?" Iona asked.

"I've got to talk to Professor Snape; I'll see you at lunch." Before Iona could protest, Lyric had walked to Snape's desk and stood looking at him. He didn't seem to notice her.

"Excuse me, Professor Snape?"

"What is it Miss Dumbledore?" he asked without looking up from the papers he was grading.

"Just wondering, is there any way to move my detention to Sunday evening, rather than tomorrow?"

"No." He answered shortly.

"But Sir-"

Snape threw down the quill he had been using and finally looked up at Lyric. "C'mon then, let's hear your excuse. What grand reason do you have for not fulfilling your punishment?"

"I'm not trying to get out of it, I want to move it. There is a difference you know." Lyric felt anger rising in her chest. Where was her professor from last week? The one that had saved her from the panic attack and had joked and laughed with her in the closet.

"The punishment is that you serve detention when I say so, not whenever you damn well please." Snape had risen out of his chair and moved to the other side of the desk. "What's the reason then? Got a date with Tristan. Planning to bath with him in Absinthe?" he asked, moving closer and closer to Lyric.

"The Quidditch match," she answered, her hatred returning. He was mocking her.

"The match will hopefully be over by the time your detention is set to start, unless the teams are out to break the 'Longest Game Record.' You should have no trouble getting here on time."

"Well Sir, there's bound to be an after party in Gryffindor."

"What? To celebrate your loss? You're playing my Slytherins. Gryffindor doesn't stand a chance."

"Doubt that, Amarantha's been having practice eight times a week. And besides, if Slytherin does win, won't you want to celebrate your victory?" Lyric knew it was a long shot, but it might work.

"Partying with a bunch of teenagers isn't exactly my idea of fun," Snape said. He then turned to his bookcase, pretending to look for a book.

"So is that a 'no' Sir?"

"Tell you what Miss Dumbledore, if Gryffindor wins, you won't have any detention this weekend; but if Slytherin wins, you'll spend a double detention with me Saturday night."

Lyric weighed her options. "You promise?" she asked cautiously.

"I am many things that people do not like, but I am not a liar."

"Deal," Lyric said.

"See tomorrow night, eight o'clock sharp." Snape said before returning to his papers.

"Don't count on it," Lyric called as she headed out the door.

Will write more soon. But it is birthday weekend, so I have a lot of partying to do. No promises, but I'll shoot for one more chapter by Sunday.