"So what are you going to do for Parent's Day?" Hermione asked. Her nose was buried per usual in a book, but she somehow managed to keep up a conversation anyway.

"Mione, that's a month away," Ginny pointed out.

Hermione looked up this time. "A month isn't very long. You should really start planning now, like I am."

Tirza smiled. "I've already decided I'm not doing any project. I'll help decorate."

"Why aren't you doing a project?" Maddie wondered.

Tirza giggled. "Hermione, you look like you are going to fall over! There's just no real point. I have one parent, he's here and he'll be supervising the projects that have potions involved. He won't have time to come looking at my project. Plus, I can hang around then and see what everyone else has."

"I'm doing a charms project," Ginny told the girls. "I could use the extra credit in that class. What exactly are you doing for yours, Hermione?"

"Well, Professor McGonagall said I couldn't do one for each of my classes which was disappointing. I really don't need extra credit in any of them, but I like to get as much as I can anyway. I decided to do my project on wizard libraries, you know, everything is tracked by magic."

Maddie looked confused. "I didn't even know the library was an option."

Hermione smiled. "It wasn't, but I asked McGonagall and she said I could."

Tirza hugged Hermione spontaneously. "You, are so silly, Hermione and I know we all love ya for it!"

Hermione shook her head. "You are sillier then I am." She grinned as she spoke. "You have to promise to come see it, all of you, if you aren't doing projects of your own."

"I sure will," Tirza promised, with Ginny and Maddie echoing her words.

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Tirza looked at the largest pile of books she had ever seen staked on tables in the library. "Well Ginny, I think somewhere behind or under these books are our friends, Maddie, Mione and Luna!"

Ginny nodded. "I think you are right, but I'm almost afraid to look for them!"

"Shhhh!" Madame Pince scolded in their direction.

"We are here," Maddie squeaked. "Not sure if we can get out though."

"I can see it now, buried alive by books," Ginny commented.

"That would be a very honorable way to die, your mind and soul in harmony with vast amounts of knowledge held in your hands," Luna spoke up. "I am sure the stars would like that, if we did die by books."

Maddie looked over at Luna and blinked. "Sometimes I have no idea what you are really saying Luna, but you always seem to be saying something nice."

Luna grinned. "Thank you! Nobody ever understands me it seems, but all of you are really nice and still try."

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Minerva McGonagall entered the staff lounge with a cup of hot cocoa. She smiled upon seeing her younger co-worker already there. "Evening Severus. This is a surprise; what brings you up here?"

Severus looked up from his paper and grunted. "Nothing really. I was getting annoyed with the students doing potions projects is all, and decided I had best separate myself from then if I wanted to have a semblance of nicety left in me by tomorrows parent's day."

The older teacher smirked and took a chair near Severus. "Don't be silly Severus, you never have any nicety in you."

Snape smirked in response. "Touché Minerva. Now, what brings you in here?"

"Just resting up. Thought I might find some friendly conversation. At least I can count on you for conversation, hmm?"

Chuckling, Severus nodded. "You can indeed. Prepared for tomorrow's supposed festivities?"

"I do believe so," McGonagall decided. "However there will be surprises. There always are at functions like this. I will consider it a success as long as no children or parents become lost or injured!"

Severus raised his cup of tea. "To no one going missing or becoming injured."

Minerva nodded and raised her mug of cocoa. "And to having interesting stories to tell each other later!"

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Severus said goodbye to one set of parents, a set of Gryffindor parents to be precise, hating Dumbledore's idea of a parent's day to come meet the teachers and see how their children were doing.

He sat on his desk, waiting for the next set of parents and pupil to come along and make his headache grow larger. At least there were only three more hours left! At least Tirza was keeping him company, having grown bored after seeing all the projects and having her lunch.

Meanwhile, Tirza's friend Alaina who had helped her so much with potions was walking through the dungeons with her mother.

"It's really not that bad mum, not depressing even though it kinda looks that way. It's more mysterious actually. Besides, then you can meet Tirza and Professor Snape, and I know you'll love them."

Alaina grabbed her mother's hand and practically dragged her the rest of the way until she opened a door. "Hello Professor Snape, this is my mum Bethany, we've come for a visit!"

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Severus looked up as the classroom door was opened and a boisterous voice that he recognized called out to him. An attractive woman with long, hair the shade of cinnamon and brilliantly blue eyes walked towards him with a smile.

"Hello, I am Bethany Russell. Professor, are you all right? You don't look well."

The dark-haired potion's master raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? I am perfectly well, thank you. I do not require assistance of any kind…" He cleared his throat before continuing. "I am Severus Snape, Potions Master."

Nodding and still smiling, the woman held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Alaina has talked about nothing else lately but how brilliant you are, how much she enjoys your class, and about your charming daughter."

Severus shook her hand, feeling surprised, though of course he hid it well. "I had no idea. Thank you. Tirza was around here…. Tirza!"

Tirza came back over after hearing her name called. "What's up dad? Oh, hi Alaina!" she exclaimed, grinning. She continued to grin as Alaina rushed over and gave her a big hug.

Alaina hugged Tirza and looked over at her mother. "Mum, this is Tirza, my friend I've told you loads about. Isn't she a cutie?"

Somewhat reluctant for some reason, Bethany managed to tear her eyes away from Severus and look at the young girl a few feet away from her. Bethany continued to smile at her daughter and Tirza in a one-armed hug.

"So you are the one who has been helping Alaina in charms, hmm? I know she appreciates your help, and I do too. I hear you've both been a bit troublesome," Bethany winked. "I'm not sure who has walked who into more trouble but I know Alaina gets that from me!"

Severus watched the interaction between his daughter, her friend, and said friend's mother. Bethany… the name suited her.

Bethany smiled and said, "I am really glad the two of you are friends. I'm not sure if you know this but you and your father have been a great influence on her. I don't think I've seen or heard her so happy." At this she turned and smiled at Severus.

Alaina blushed and said, "Oh mum, stop you're embarrassing me."

Severus chuckled. "And here I thought I should thank you for your daughter's influence on mine," he told Bethany. "I think they have both benefited one another, though I think I had very little to do with it."

Smiling Bethany walked over to Severus and said, "Don't be so modest. Alaina hasn't had a father or any male companionship in years. I was starting to worry about her not having some good influences other than myself. Alaina needed a distraction and a few good friends, Tirza being one of them. I thank you for allowing our daughters to be friends and for the good influence you both have had on her."

Poor Alaina was starting to blush even more, making Tirza shake her head. "Adults. Trust them to make things uncomfortable!"

"Well, I will say it has been a pleasure having Alaina in my home- well chambers- with Tirza. She's a well behaved girl, and they have gotten quite close," Severus admitted. "At least they do not get into serious trouble."

" I'm just glad she hasn't got into any serious trouble! Last year was a nightmare," Bethany confided.

Severus chuckled. "I suppose Tirza's good habits rubbed off on her, and visa versa. I have seen an improvement in both their behaviors."

Tirza looked at Alaina and rolled her eyes as the conversation continued, mostly about she and her friend!

"I am very proud," Severus said softly. "Very proud of my daughter."

Alaina nodded to Tirza and whispered, "I think I am going to puke. I wonder when they're going to kiss already."

She was surprised at Alaina's comment, and it showed on her face. "Kiss? Why would they do that?" she whispered back.

"Because my mum is flirting; it is so obvious and it's really disgusting. I hate it when she does that, mostly because she gets hurt each time she dates somebody! Plus, your dad is my teacher, and that's just not cool to try and hook up with my teacher."

Tirza looked slightly stunned at the thought of Alaina's mother kissing Severus. Her dad had never really dated anyone other then her tutor and even that didn't last long. Tirza hardly knew this woman, and neither did her dad!

Severus, however, was both flattered and intrigued. It wasn't often that he was flirted with, and Bethany was a beautiful woman. He was rather embarrassed by it all, but couldn't help be flattered by it as well. He wasn't used to this sort of thing!

"OKAY can you both stop flirting now? It's really disgusting and embarrassing!" Tirza finally shouted after watching their conversation continue for a few minutes more. "Stop it, please?"

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A/N: My sincerest apologies for taking over 2 months to post anything on this story. A very beloved pet of mine died and I was grieving for that, followed by final exams and job hunting and just all sorts of RL crap that left me unbelievably exhausted! I am really sorry everybody, but I hope you like the chapter, short as it is. What will happen between Snape and Alaina's mother? Will the girls pull a "parent-trap" and try to keep them apart? Hugs to all!