A week after being grounded, Tirza was still working furiously to raise her grade with very little fruit being borne of her efforts; unless frustration and tension counted.

"Dad, stop hovering…"

"I'm not hovering; I'm trying to help you!"

"You are hovering and it's bothering me. I can't concentrate."

"Don't be so fussy Tirza, I just want to help!"

"But you aren't! You're just bothering me!"

"Well isn't that a fine attitude to have?"

At that point Tirza slammed her books closed and started shoving them in her school bag.

"What are you doing?" Severus asked, rubbing his forehead for the thousandth time that evening. He would be lucky to have any skin left at all by the time Tirza brought her grade up.

"I can't study here right now; we're both cranky and you're hovering and you think I have an attitude. I'm going to the library!" She frowned at him, almost as if challenging him to object.

"The library and no where else; do not forget that you are still grounded." Severus watched her face turn into a scowl. If she is even half as good at scowling as I am, then I really am more intimidating then I thought!

"How could I possibly forget that?"

His face grew dark and his tone edgier. "Do not yell at me! I'm losing my patience here young lady!"

"Well I'm losing mine here dad! I'll be back after the library closes!" Grabbing her book bag and scowling once last time, Tirza left the chambers, slamming the door behind him.

Maybe Molly Weasley wasn't kidding about those teenage years, all that independence assertion… Heavens, she isn't even a teen yet and it's starting! He thought.

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Tirza promptly stormed into the library and slammed her bag down on a table, earning a glare from Madame Pince. She could have cared less. The last week had been so horrible! Every waking moment, except when she was playing quidditch or at quidditch practices, she had either been in class or doing homework or studying her potions!

The only time she had seen any of her friends was in the library and it wasn't as if they could really talk there with Pince always watching and listening for any disturbance of her precious library.

Besides, Tirza hardly even felt right talking to them at all with her grade still down. She felt like she had a lot of pressure on her to do this and do it now, and she really didn't think she could bear letting him down again. In fact, she felt almost guilty about any time she took away from potions studying; even to do her other homework!

After sitting quietly and taking notes for nearly an hour, Tirza had just finally had it; with potions, with her dad, with herself- everything.

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Another girl studying in the library was having a tough time as well. Damn Charms, if only I could get this right! I'm going to fail and mum's going to kill me! Alaina Russell thought to herself.

BAM!

Her head jerked up towards the sound, and Alaina saw a pretty little girl who had obviously seen better days. She watched the girl throw the rest of her things one by one onto the table and then throw herself into a chair.

Poor girl, I wonder what's wrong? Alaina thought. A second later, she watched the young girl rip open a book and begin to study. Alaina continued to watch until the girl began to shake a bit and cry slowly.

Okay, screw Charms… Alaina hurried over to the sad little girl. "What's wrong honey? If it's a guy I'll go kick him in the balls if you want me too, I swear!"

Tirza blinked silently for a moment as a strange girl suddenly hugged her tight and volunteered to go kick some guy if she wanted. "No, no, it's not a guy," Tirza told her. She pulled away slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I just can't get this stupid potions stuff! Dad doesn't even think I try, but I do! I'm not playing around, I really try, but I just can't get it. I'm never going to get it and I'm never going to get ungrounded! I'm gonna fail my dad's class and he's going to be so disappointed and mad!" She desperately attempted to keep from bursting into noisy tears.

"Hey, it's okay! I can totally help you. You are looking at the girl who gets nothing but A's in potions." Alaina sat next to Tirza and took her hand. "I'll help you. Trust me, my friend Rebecca was making F's and blowing cauldrons and even melting thing; she bad Neville Longbottom look like the next Bill Gates in comparison and now she is making B's and it only took like three weeks. Trust me, I can so help you!"

"Really? I swear I'm just as hopeless as Neville is. I'm Tirza," she said with a slight sniffle. "I'm a second year."

"That's neat! I'm in fourth year, I'm Alaina Russell, Ravenclaw obviously." The teenager grinned. "It's great to meet you! Now, let's see, what are you having trouble with exactly? Is it the ingredients, the procedure, or is it just all overwhelming?

Tirza sighed. "It's really overwhelming! Usually it's just the actual making of the potion, but I've been mixing some ingredients too. Or questions like: what color should this potion be? I just really suck at all of it!"

Alaina thought for a moment before a wicked smile crossed her face, like she was planning something. "Do you enjoy cooking Tirza?"

"I haven't done much of it in a while, but I used to do a lot of cooking. Only simple stuff though. Why, what are you planning?" Tirza looked at her new friend a bit suspiciously. The last thing she needed to do while being grounded was some sort of prank or mischief!

"Well, most people don't know this, or don't think about it this way, but potions is very much like cooking. Each potion has a recipe that must be followed exactly or it doesn't come our right. With both, you can tell if it is right or wrong by the smell, color, or texture. Plus, both are related to chemistry!

I think you can do this, but you need something you can relate it to in order to be really comfortable with the subject itself, you know? What do you say if we can't get you down in the kitchens and try to loosen you up some?"

Tirza nodded excitedly. "It sounds really good to me! I'm willing to try just about anything at this point!" She smiled shyly. "Thanks for wanting to help me, it's really nice of you."

The older girl smiled. "It's no problem, hon. I've been there, though not with potions; Charms gives me troubles and I'm still having a rough time there."

"Really? I'm very good at Charms, and Professor Flitwick said I'm top in my year right now! Maybe I can help you with Charms, like exchange our knowledge and stuff, huh?"

"Sounds good to me," Alaina said with a grin. "You know, this is starting to look like a really beautiful friendship! By the way, who is your dad anyway and why is he so fired up about potions?"

"Professor Snape actually," Tirza admitted. "Some people can tell right off because I have his hair and eyes. I really love him, but it's hard having him as my dad and my teacher sometimes."

"Ooh, I can totally see that," Alaina sympathized. "Guess I should thank you for making him human, huh? I swear the way he used to be was really scary sometimes! He's changed a lot because of you. Do you want me to give him some hell or something; verbal or physical, your choice!"

She giggled. "Nah, that's okay. I love him a lot, and we'd both get in trouble if you gave him hell." Tirza thought for a moment. "And yeah, I guess I am the one that did all that." Such thoughts made her smile so wide that she thought her face might break.

Alaina gave the look of a sad puppy and said, "Oh yes, Professor Snape would lock us both up in the coldest blackest dungeon for intruding in his evil ways!"

The girls laughed together and earned a glare, of course, from Madame Pince.

"Maybe we can find a place to cook or something, I bet the house elves wouldn't mind us using their kitchen. I'm supposed to be grounded though," Tirza admitted. "So perhaps I shouldn't leave the library, or at least ask first."

They did not notice anyone else around them until another voice from behind them caused them to jump. "I don't know about locking children up, but I heard he's big on terrorizing and stealing candy from babies," Severus boomed. As the girls jumped nearly off their chairs, he chuckled very softly.

"Hello Miss Russell." He sat down beside Tirza. "Hello sweetheart," Severus whispered. "I came with some cookies for a peace offering. And as far as being ground, I might allow it, depending upon what it is."

Tirza blushed bright red, almost as if she was caught doing something she shouldn't. "Hi dad…" She tried to hide the fact that she had been crying again. "Alaina had a good idea about how to help me with potions."

Try as she might to hide it, Severus wasn't blind and was easily able to tell she had been crying. He sighed and lifted her up onto his lap before turning his attention over to Alaina.

"I appreciate your offer to help my daughter, Miss Russell. You haven't made less then 95 in my class since your very first year. What precisely do you have in mind?"

Alaina had felt quite angry when Severus had first showed up. How dare he put so much pressure on Tirza, she had thought. Can't he see that she is really trying hard and still struggling? Her anger quickly left her as she watched him pick Tirza up and hold her. Just from being in his classes, she could tell that it probably took quite a lot for him to show affection in front of anyone but Tirza.

The teenager smiled at her professor. "Well, I believe that Tirza's problem doesn't lie so much with her abilities, but rather her comfort in the subject. To be frank sir, you don't really help either." She paused, wondering if he would explode at her and give her a year of detention.

When he didn't, Alaina continued. "Tirza feels like she has to do her very best or she'll disappoint you. In fact, even better then her best; she doesn't think that anything she does with potions is good enough. That's an awfully terrible thing to feel and it causes her more harm then good."

Severus said nothing, his face blank as Alaina spoke. Inwardly, however, he began to call into question all his recent actions. Did he really make Tirza feel so inadequate, even though he hadn't meant to?

"I really think that cooking, since Tirza is slightly familiar with it, that it'll help her over come her anxiety with potions. She just needs to see that," Alaina finished quietly.

Severus looked down at Tirza, his eyes filled with sadness. "Is that true, honey, he whispered. "Do I make it that difficult for you?"

Tirza didn't want to say yes and make him feel badly, but it was true. "Yes," she whispered after hesitating slightly. "I try so hard. I really do study hard dad, because I know I have problems in your class. Every time I do poorly though, you… you lecture me and tell me you're disappointed. Or you ground me or something and I feel so bad. I just don't know how I can do any better daddy, I just don't get it."

At first Tirza had been embarrassed to be cuddled in front of Alaina, who, to Tirza, was so much older and more mature. The truth was that it felt really good to be held. In fact, she needed it. "I'm sorry," she whispered, looking down.

Severus was quiet for a moment, hugging her a little tighter. "I am sorry Tirza. I didn't realize I was adding so much pressure to you and adding to your anxiety. You never said anything to me and so I came to the conclusion that you were goofing off instead of being diligent in your studies. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions sweetheart.

From now on I will try and talk with you, rather than to you, but you need to let me know these things. If you do not tell me, I cannot help you. Understand?" He tipped her head up with a finger under her chin, looking into her eyes.

"I understand daddy. I just didn't want you to feel bad, and I know you feel really bad when I get horrible grades in your class. I didn't want to make you feel any worse. I'm sorry; seems like I can't do much right lately."

Severus shook his head. "Don't say that Tirza. If I find out why you are getting bad grades then I can help you. The only thing that will make me feel badly is knowing that I am causing you anxiety by being overly harsh with you, instead of doing everything I can to help you."

Able to ignore, barely, Alaina's presence for the moment, Severus kissed Tirza's forehead. "Your feelings come after mine, because I love you. I am not your mother; I would never put myself in front of you. Never forget how much I love you."

She nodded and hugged him tightly, wrapping her slim arms around him. "I love you daddy." Tirza meant so much more then those simple whispered words. She knew it was hard for him to say things sometimes, just like it was for her, but she knew he always loved her. "I just want to make you proud."

"I could never be more proud of you then I am now Tirza, knowing I have you for my daughter…"

"Aww, it's a Kodak moment!" Alaina teased playfully, a goofy grin on her face.

Severus merely shook his head, his face coloring slightly with embarrassment. "I suppose I had best set you both up in the school's kitchen. The house elves will likely be delighted to have some company."

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"I've decided to institute something new this year, that will take place just before the Holiday Break," Dumbledore told his staff. "I think the students will really enjoy it and we should as well."

Not many of the teachers looked especially excited just yet. "What is this new thing, Albus?" Minerva questioned.

"A Parent's Day!" The old wizard smiled.

Severus' eyebrow rose. "A what?"

"A Parent's Day, Severus. A day the parents can come and visit the school. The children will make some sort of project or display in the class of their choosing and the parents can see all of them. The children who don't want to do projects can be in charge of decorating in a welcoming sort of fashion and of showing the parents from class to class and managing the treats and drinks."

"When exactly is this going to take place?" Remus asked.

"The day before we send the children home for their break. I think it would be a lovely way to wrap up the term! Don't you all agree?"

Though nobody could find a reason not to agree, nobody still looked excited.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Something amiss?"

"I am just wondering what sorts of projects students will come up with. There could be some that are too dangerous to allow," McGonagall pointed out.

"Well, I will leave that up to each of you. I will make the announcements and tell the students to see the teacher of the class that they chose to do their project for. You can set up the regulations for your own areas of expertise that way."

"Is there any extra credit for the students that participate by making projects?" Severus asked.

"Yes; a maximum of twenty-points for a project and there is five-points for those who help with decorations and such," Albus said. "If we all agree, that is."

A quick tally of nods, and Albus knew they all agreed; even if a few of them didn't look happy about it.

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A/N: Sorry it has been SO long since I updated. School and family life are really going nuts right now. I've decided to only promise one update per month. I may be able to crank out some more, but just between classes and work, I'm gone/busy about 30 hours a week! I really am doing my best, so I hope none of you will give up on me and the story! I plan on making the monthly updates at least seven pages long. Btw, the quiz was extended to Valentine's day and I have only had two people do the quiz. So if you wanna enter, hurry and enter! Hugs, Kerry