Disclaimer: Same applies as chapter one.

EDIT: Had to add something more to this chapter; I apologize.

Chapter 4

"This is what you really look like?" stammered Snape beside himself.

Gale looked puzzled until she noticed she wasn't looking up at him anymore. Turning her eyes down at herself she blushed and looked at Snape.

"Beg pardon Professor," she said and quickly adjusted her age. "I wasn't thinking."

Snape shook her image from his mind and worked to regain his composure.

"Take off your necklace and tell me if anything changes," he said.

Taking off her scale necklace, Gale was happy to find the cold stayed with her.

"It worked," she smiled. "This is genius!"

"Nonsense," he muttered.

Gale pocketed her necklace and Snape remembered something.

"I've spoken with the Headmaster and we came to an agreement to let you fly on Saturdays," he said. "He'll create a pocket dimension so no one will see you as long as you stay inside the parameters. You are to report to me before you go and when you come back."

Gale's eyes lit up and she flung her arms around his waist.

"Thank you!"

Snape stumbled back and pried her loose.

"That's quiet enough," he snapped. "Now go."

Gale shot him another smile and ran from the room, passing poor neglected Potter and left.

…

It was a dull evening and Gale had already finished her homework. Most of the other Slytherins had already gone to bed leaving four girls and two boys. Without thinking about it, she had taken a seat by the chess table and was challenged to a game soon after by the 4th year Silvia Nelly.

"Would you like to play a game?" she asked politely.

"I don't have pawns of my own," she said.

"Don't worry, I have n extra set," said Silvia. "Wait here and I'll go get them."

The girl hurried up to her room and came back jumping down the steps with a box in hand. She sat down opposite Gale and set out the pawns.

"Play as if they were your own," she smiled.

Two hours later the score was 3:1 for Gale. It was during their 5th game when Professor Snape came in for his monthly inspection of the common room. After taking his look around he stopped to watch the game.

"Bishop to E4, check," said Silvia.

Gale leaned her head on her hand and sighed.

"Oh, knight to E4, check mate."

The knight galloped to its position and trampled the bishop under his steed's mighty hooves.

"Wow, I didn't even see that opening," said Silvia surprised.

"It wasn't that surprising, Miss Nelly," said Snape. "You have to pay more attention. You should have defeated Miss Glider long before she breached your defenses."

"Well, Professor, maybe you should try your luck," said Silvia getting up. "I warn you, she's good."

Professor Snape snorted and took the seat as all the remaining students pulled up a chair to watch. The peaces reassembled themselves and marched back to their places whilst complaining.

The game was quite exciting, but very long. Every time one had the other hand the other retaliated and turned the tables. Two and a half hours later the game was at its climax.

"King to C3," said Snape tucking some stray strands behind his ear.

The king took a step to the right, drew his sword and chopped the peasant's head off. Now only the kings remained on the board and it would be futile to continue.

"Steel mate," he frowned.

"It's a draw," sad Silvia. "I told you she was good."

"Yes well, it's late and you should all get to bed," he said. "Now!"

Everyone got to their feet, put away the chairs and bid good night.

….

She sat on his desk, her legs around his waist as he held her close. Caressing her back he kissed her deeply, her hands buried in his hair.

Snape woke with a start and sat up, frowning at the effects of the dream on his body. The images soon fled his thoughts.

"Like a bloody teenager," he grumbled.

….

It was finally Saturday and Gale wasted no time in reporting to Snape. He led her outside and explained the parameters to her before she reverted and took wing. He could never get tired of seeing a dragon take wing and soar through the sky and he lingered a while.

Gale felt happiest when on the wing and she climbed high into the sky with heavy wing strokes. How she loved to fly so freely; she felt truly alive.

When she returned, she found Colin Creevey had been petrified.

December had come and the holidays were fast approaching. During the second week the Professors went to their students with the lists of who would be staying during the Christmas holidays and Gale signed her name. There was no way she would go home before she absolutely had to. She noticed Potter and his friends had done the same and the memory of her actual reason for being here hit her harder than ever. With a sigh she left the Great Hall for double potions. During the second session she noticed Potter and Weasley were very distracted and kept glancing at Granger. Making sure to correctly stir her potion she watched the girl through her peripheral. She suddenly gave a small nod to Harry and the boy ducked under his table, took out a rocket and fired it into Goyle's cauldron. Gale jumped out of her seat in time to avoid being hit, but the liquid hit Malfoy square in the face. Other students got some as well and the parts the potion hit started to grow. Snape was beside himself.

"Silence," he roared. "Everyone who was hit come forward to receive the deflation draft."

Gale still perched on the desk, watched Hermione slip in and out of the private store room and almost fell down laughing when she saw Malfoy's big nose.

"If I find out who is responsible for this I'll see to it they are expelled immediately!" sneered Snape as he glared at Potter.

When the end of class was signaled the boy was the first out of the classroom and Gale couldn't blame him. She waited until all the students had fled from the Professor's wrath and hopped off of the desk.

"Professor?" she asked approaching him.

"What is it?" he snapped, but his expression softened a bit when he faced her.

"I was wondering; it's the holidays soon and I'd like to ask if it would be ok if I went flying for an extended time," she said. "Only a week or so."

Snape rubbed his temples and sighed.

"I'll have to take it up with the Headmaster," he said. "But where would you go for so long?"

"The high mountains to the north," she said.

"That's a long way to go."

"I'm a fast flyer," she smiled.

"I can't promise anything," said Snape finalizing the conversation. "Now go or you'll be late."

Gale smiled and left, absently waving her hand on the way and the classroom cleaned up in an instant. Snape smirked and put away the draft.

….

His hands roamed all over her body, her nipples hardening to his touch as his mouth devoured her throat. He gasped when her hand stroked over his growing erection…

His eyes were open before he even realized he was awake and again Snape frowned at himself again.

"Get a grip on yourself," he cursed as he felt his body's reaction to the dream once more.

What bothered him most was he could never recall the seductress' face once he was awake. Still frowning he got out of bed and headed into his bathroom.

….

A week later Gale noticed a crowd around the public notice board and walked up behind Harry and his friends to read it.

"Cool, a dueling club," called Seamus from upfront.

"Could be useful," said Ron. "How about we join?"

Gale decided she'd go too and that evening after dinner the Great Hall was set up with a big stage. She didn't know why she always went to stand near the Potter boy, but there she was again, watching him from behind. Her attention was diverted to the stage as Professor Lockheart stepped up on the stage.

"Gather 'round," he called. "Don't be shy; welcome to the Dueling Club. This will help you defend yourselves should the need arise. I am an expert in the art of dueling and will therefore be teaching you."

There was a groan from a few students and Gale herself didn't think he could teach them much. This man was an idiot.

"My assistant, Professor Snape, has sportingly agreed to help in a demonstration; so watch closely and don't worry. Our aim is t disarm, not kill."

Too bad, thought Gale. Snape could've put them all out of their misery.

Sneering at Lockheart, Snape walked up on the stage and stood two feet away. Facing each other, they bowed; Snape actually just jerked his head, and raised their wands in front of them like swords.

"Now, as you can see, this is the combat position," said Lockheart. "We will now take a few steps back and attack on the count of three."

Both wizards walked to the end of the stage and waved their wands at the count of three.

"Expelliarmus!" shouted Snape.

The curse hit his adversary square I the chest and sent him spinning through the air to smash into the wall. Snape looked like he absolutely enjoyed that and Gale couldn't help snickering behind her hand.

"Oh no, poor Lockheart," said Hermione.

Harry and Ron grinned behind her back as all the gathered Slytherins cheered for Snape.

"Ah yes," said Lockheart staggering to his feet. "That, students, was a disarming charm and as you can see, I've lost my wand."

He crawled up on stage and straightened himself.

"Now how about a team of volunteers? Harry, come on up here."

Harry sighed and with shoulders hanging slouched onto the stage; the Gryffindors cheered.

"Please select and opponent, Professor Snape."

"Malfoy, get up here," ordered Snape.

Malfoy wasted no time and went on stage, sneering at Harry.

"Now take your positions and bow," instructed Lockheart.

Neither of them bowed and raised their wands.

"One…two…"

Malfoy copied Snape on the count of two and shouted the disarming curse. Harry hit the stage floor and scrambled to his feet.

"Rictusempra!" he shouted.

Now Malfoy hit the ground, getting up with a growl.

"Serpensortia!" he bellowed.

With a big bag a cobra shot out and hit the middle of the stage. It raised its head and hissed menacingly, but ignored Harry and instead went for Justin who stood close to the stage. It hissed again and showed off its venomous fangs.

"I'll get rid of it," said Snape lazily.

However, before he could do anything, Harry walked up behind it.

"Don't attack him; leave him alone!"

Snape came to a dead stop and stared at Harry; so did everyone else. The cobra hissed one more time before curling up harmlessly. Snape waved his wand and the snake ignited and turned to dust.

"Are you alright?" asked Harry smiling at Justin.

"Just what are you getting at? Do you think that's funny?" he spat backing away into the crowd.

Gale wondered why everyone had suddenly gone so quit and stared at Harry. Even Snape, she saw, looked at him with a calculating frown. Hermione and Ron suddenly pulled him down and dragged him off. When they were gone the students erupted in hurried hushed whispers about what had just happened. Professor Lockheart didn't seem to quite grasp anything and Snape put away his wand.

"This lesson is over," he said distracted and left the room.

Gale was confused until she heard a nearby student whisper about Harry being a parselmouth.

"That's… interesting," she muttered.

….

Sitting in class right after the discovery of another petrified student and Potter at the scene was just evil. Like anyone could concentrate when students were being picked off one by one. It was like a blessing when charms ended and Gale was the first out of class. She was halfway down the corridor when Professor Snape caught up with her.

"A word with you," he said gesturing for the empty classroom.

He followed her in and closed the door as she leaned against one of the desks.

"I've spoken to the Headmaster about your request," he said conversationally.

"What did he say?" she asked hopefully.

"If you let me talk I can tell you," frowned Snape.

"Beg pardon," she said sheepishly.

"You're allowed to go for one week, but you have to be accompanied by a teacher," he said. "Either that or stay here."

"A week is perfect, but why do I have to be accompanied by a teacher?" she asked crossing her own arms.

"Because, Miss Glider, we have no idea what has been attacking the students. Now imagine it could fly and came after you on your excursion. No one would know where you are," he said sternly.

"You think it would chase a dragon?" she said skeptically.

"Those are the terms," frowned Snape.

"Very well, sir," she said curtly. "Thank you."

The bell rang and Gale headed off to class hiding a smile. She already knew who she'd want to take; problem was if he'd agree to go.

…………

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to your reviews. Thank you to those who have reviewed in the previous chapters. Also take note that I will take more time before posting the next chapter as I'd like to keep a full chapter ahead of the next post.

Later Days, Imako the Demon Wolf