Disclaimer: The Harry Potter and FMA worlds do not belong to me!
Hey there! This is my first attempt at writing a fan fiction. I decided to combine the world of Harry Potter with the concept of alchemists from the Full Metal Alchemist. Trudy Quinn is the character I created and I hope you like her!
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Chapter One:

How dare he! Severus Snape raged. He crashed down the Gargoyle's stone steps, cursing bitterly.
I'm not his slave! He can't simply use me as his puppet! He hurried down to his office and hastily threw some random items on his desk into a leather bag. I don't give a damn if the girl is the last alchemist! Why does she have to stay at my house!? Snape thought angrily. He stormed out and headed toward the main entrance.

Though the school year was over and it was the first day of summer vacation, most of the faculty was still at Hogwarts wrapping up last minute work. In his blind rage, Snape nearly knocked over Professor McGonagall charging for the door. She gave an irritated huff and he threw a hurried "excuse me!" at her.

"Where are you going in such a hurry!?" She called after him.

"Home!" He yelled back to her.

She watched him curiously as he ran off to a place he could apparate from and then shrugged and went about her business. Minerva didn't like Snape much and wondered why Dumbledore put up with the man.

Several hours later, Snape sat in a rather pathetic looking armchair in a pathetic looking living room. Dumbledore would be arriving soon with that wretched child. He hadn't bothered to ask how old she was and now he was starting to worry. What if she was only eight or something? There's no way he was going to be babysitting for the whole summer! There was a dull knock on the door as he mulled this horrid thought over.

Snape slumped his way to the door and flung it open forcefully. Dumbledore stood on the stoop smiling at him. Snape glared at him and glanced to Dumbledore's side. A tall and extremely thin girl stood beside him. She looked about 15 or 16. She was clearly of Irish descent with her pale freckled skin and long curly red hair.

"Severus, may I introduce to you, Trudy Quinn. Trudy, Dear, this is Professor Snape." Dumbledore said politely.

"Pleased to me-"

"Yes, Yes. Just get inside." Snape interrupted her rudely.

Dumbledore lead Trudy in first, and followed in behind her. She stood awkwardly in the middle of the room holding a small white duffel bag. Dumbledore stood beside her and gave Snape a stern look as he busied himself with something on a side table.

"Severus, Are you going to invite us to sit down?" He asked calmly with a slight inflection.

"Sit down." Snape echoed.

Dumbledore gave a small frustrated sigh and lead Trudy to the least pathetic looking chair.

"Severus, I know you don't like this." Dumbledore sighed, talking to the air. Snape grunted in agreement. "But I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't need your help. Please take care of her for me. You are protecting something precious, whether you see it as such or not. You promised you were willing to help me..."

Snape turned to look at Dumbledore. "Yes, I am. I'm sorry. I will do as you ask." He muttered. He was upset, but realized he did indeed promise Dumbledore he would help him, no matter the cost.

"Thank you. I think you'll find having a companion won't be as bad as you think it will."

Snape grunted unhappily. Yeah right...a snot nosed teenage brat was not a companion.

Trudy watched Dumbledore and this man that she would be staying with. I am clearly unwanted here, she thought. Why did Dumbledore bring me here? Surely there was another wizard or witch willing to take me in? After an hour or so, Dumbledore stood up abruptly and set down his teacup on a nearby table.

"Thank you, Severus. Unfortunately, I must go." He said to Snape, who sighed and nodded.

"Goodbye, Trudy. I will see you soon." Dumbledore said patting her hand affectionately.

"Goodbye, Professor." She replied reluctantly.

He walked to the door and opened it slowly. Dumbledore stopped in the doorway and turned to Snape.

"Be kind to her, Severus." He said and then he was gone.

Snape stood near the open door for a moment, staring at where the Headmaster had just been. To Trudy, he looked deep in thought. He closed the door and wandered into a small, and run down kitchen. Trudy hesitantly got up and followed him, still clutching her bag as if it were a child.

He sighed and then turned to look at her.

"Follow me and I'll show you to your bedroom." He said in a resigned voice.

"Thank you," replied a small voice.

He walked down a dark hallway and stopped at a doorway on the left. "There." He said, pointing inside.

When she got to the doorway, she paused and then looked up at Snape, silently asking permission to enter. "Well, go on." He said, slightly annoyed.

She walked inside and set her bag on the bed. It was a small room and was pretty barren. There was a bed, a small night stand to the right and a dresser on the left. The paint on the walls were peeling up in the corners.

Snape stared at her for a moment. She was so skinny, her limbs looked like twigs and he could swear that he could see her ribs poking through her dress. She looked tired as she surveyed the room.

It was painful how familiar she looked.

Snape turned around and started to walk away down the hall.

"Wait." She called, her voice a little stronger than before. He paused and looked at her.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Trudy said politely, bending her head slightly.

"Welcome." He replied curtly and stomped off back to the living room.

Snape threw himself back into the worn armchair and sighed deeply. The very last thing he wanted was to have a guest in his house. This old and horrible house. He couldn't help feel miserable in the thought that the summer had only just begun.

Trudy sat on the bed for a moment chewing on her lip. She wondered if she should go back out and talk to him or if he'd prefer her to stay here. It was a little cold in the small room and she brought her knees up to her chest for warmth. She couldn't help but think that she was a burden. A burden to this man, the Headmaster and the world that tried to exterminate her. After several minutes of debating with herself, Trudy got up and walked out to the living room. She paused for a moment in the doorway and when Snape pretended to take no notice of her, she walked in and sat down in the armchair across from him. She felt extremely uncomfortable. Why did Dumbledore leave her here?

"Professor? You work at Hogwarts, right? What is it like there?" Trudy asked. She was feeling brave enough to attempt a conversation with this unpleasant soul.

"Yes." He answered slowly without looking up from the book he was reading. "It's just a school. Didn't you go to a school?" He said sarcastically.

"Yes and no." She replied. "Where I lived there was only an Alchemy school, but it is gone now." She explained. Snape didn't look up at her and didn't want to admit he was mildly interested in what see meant by that.

"Alchemy school?" He asked, trying to sound uninterested.

" I grew up in India. We lived in underground in the alchemy guild. My mother was a witch from Ireland and my father was an alchemist from India. I am both an alchemist and a witch, but I studied alchemy from my school and witchcraft from my mother...so I am afraid I am not up to standards on what is asked of witches and wizards here." She explained.

"Hm." Snape replied, turning a page. He hadn't expected her to be a witch too. Dumbledore explained that she was, aside from Nicolas Flamel, the only known surviving alchemist in the world.

"If...if you're a Professor...well." Trudy began, not quite sure how to ask this. Perhaps it was rude to ask him...

"Well, spit it out!" He yelled. Snape reached for his teacup and took a sip.

"I was wondering if you would teach me a little bit this summer?" She asked in a rush, the words tumbling out like an avalanche.

He spluttered in his teacup and began to cough violently.

"But if you don't want to, it's okay!" Trudy added, waving her arms frantically. She wondered why she even bothered asking...of course it would be no.

"We'll see." He said, glaring at her.

She looked at him in surprise. She had been expecting a definite "no."

"Quit looking at me like that." He muttered, drawing his attention back to his book. Trudy grinned slightly. It would be really great if she could catch up a little. She knew she was way behind. She had gone to an alchemy school since she was very young, but when the war started and the school was destroyed... It had been many years since she'd been in school and wondered if she'd be okay.

"What are you smirking about?"

"Nothing." Trudy replied, wiping the grin off her face.

Great, she wants me to teach her. As if I hadn't had enough of teaching stupid brats, Snape thought. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. What was he going to do? How could Dumbledore do this to him? He must have known who she resembled... He heard a soft growl from the opposite side of the room. Puzzled, he looked around for the source of the noise. Trudy's cheeks began to grow red.

"Was that you?" Snape asked, confused.

"Yes...I'm sorry. I'm a little hungry." She admitted, covering her face in embarrassment.

"Didn't Dumbledore feed you!? No wonder you look like you're wasting away. Get up, get up!" Snape yelled, leaping out of his chair in astonishment. Trudy jumped out of her seat as well.

"Come with me." He growled entering the kitchen. He began rummaging through cupboards, they seemed pretty bare as if he hadn't lived here in quite some time. He slammed the last cupboard shut and growled in frustration.

"Nothing! Dammit, now I have to go out! Did I ask for this? No! Did I want some bratty teenager here? No!" He yelled to himself insanely.

"No, It's okay. I'm fine. I don't need anything." Trudy said trying to calm the crazy man.

"Shut up, and stay right here." he ordered, pointing a long bony finger at her.

"Please, you don't have to-"

BANG! He was gone. Trudy looked around frantically. What happened to him? Did he explode from rage? She burst into tears, staring at the spot where he disappeared. What should I do? What should I do!? Find Dumbledore and say "I'm sorry, but Professor Snape exploded in his kitchen. I guess I was too much stress for the poor man." Then he'd say "but...you've only been there two hours!" This is ridiculous. Is he really gone? Trudy knelt down on the floor where Snape had stood. She was examining the floor carefully when there was a loud pop beside her.

She screamed and fell backwards, Snape was standing feet from where he was moments ago, holding a loaf of bread and stuffing change in his pocket.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" Trudy declared happily, tears still streaming down her face.

"What's wrong with you?! Get up off of the floor!" He yelled, looking bewildered.

Trudy climbed to her feet and stumbled toward him.

"What on earth are you crying for!?" Snape asked. He was thoroughly confused.

"I thought you exploded." She explained, wiping her face and sounding relieved.

"What?"

"I said I thought you exploded." Trudy repeated herself, as if this were a normal thing to think.

Snape tossed the loaf of bread at her in disgust.

"Here. Don't think I'll be making special trips for you all the time now, you little brat."

"Thank you!" Trudy exclaimed and bit into it like a ravenous dog.

"Disgusting," he commented and trudged toward the living room.

"Wait!" Trudy yelped, following him. "What was that? How did you disappear like that?"

"It's called apparating, you stupid girl!" Snape yelled, throwing himself into his abused armchair.

"Oh." Trudy replied, ignoring the "stupid girl" comment. She really wanted to ask more questions, but could tell she was annoying him. She ate her bread in silence, dying to ask him questions but knowing she better not.

Finally when she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer she asked, " Is it like a portkey?"

"Yes. You've heard of a portkey but not apparating?" He replied, his eyebrows pressed together.

"When I escaped from the war zone, a kind wizard set one up for me and a couple others." Trudy explained hesitantly.

"If you escaped with others, how come you aren't staying with them?" Snape asked sarcastically. He was seriously wondering why she had to stay with him.

"They're dead." She said simply, her eyes suddenly looking more tired than before.

Snape held her gaze for a moment and then looked away. He was too insensitive, and he knew it. But what could he do? He was not a kind man by any means. Snape cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Um. Yes. Apparition is much like a portkey. It's rather difficult to learn, but is a convenient method of transportation. One must have a license of course." He explained. Snape closed his eyes and waved his hand, implying this was common knowledge.

"I see...and how does one get a license?" Trudy asked curiously.

"One must be seventeen years old or older." He explained dully.

"I'll be seventeen next year." Trudy replied, studying Snape's reactions.

He smirked. " I doubt you'll be able to get it, if you've never been to a school of witchcraft." Snape said spitefully.

"I might..." Trudy said boldly, sounding more sure than she felt. Snape ignored her and turned his attention back to his book. He was reading the same line over and over and not retaining a word. She was too distracting.

"Professor...?" Trudy called timidly.

"What!?" He screamed, throwing his book down in frustration. His face had gone white.

"Um...well I wanted to know what subject you taught, but...sorry." Trudy said, getting up. I'm a bother, I should leave.

"Potions. I teach potions." He replied flatly.

"Forgive me for bothering you and thank you for the food. Good night." Trudy bowed slightly and hurried out of the room.

Silly girl. Snape laid his head in his hands and drew a deep breath. It wasn't fair. It was almost cruel. Did Dumbledore want to torture him? She looked so much like Lily... Snape wondered if Dumbledore was in his office because he had half a mind to barge in there and demand an explanation. However, it was getting late and the Headmaster had probably already gone home. The Headmaster normally worked over the summer, but typically left in the evenings to his summer home.

Trudy surveyed the bedroom. It was cold and dark and there was no sign of a lamp. She sighed miserably and sat on the bed. She stared at her hands. They were rough and past few years had not been kind to her. Despite Professor Snape being an unfriendly man... it wasn't so bad. Then again, she hadn't had high expectations.

End of chapter one!

-CindersNSmoke