Pomona was away for a few days and had offered Allegra her workbenches to make her own products, she had found the violet essence from last spring's gathering. The heady scent of the flowers was lovely, her favourite, she also found dried flowers, ready to be sprinkled into her bath.

Putting those aside, she pulled from the shelves the base for the salves and started organising her ingredients. She heard the door open and looked around. Professor Snape stood there with his hand on the doorknob, he looked around,

"Professor" she smiled, the man looked uncomfortable.

"Is Pomona here" he looked around, as if she was behind a trestle or digging up the current mandrake crop.

"Ah, no," said Allegra lightly, "She is away for the weekend visiting her daughter, past due I heard." She continued with her organising.

"She said she had left some sopophourus beans here for me," he lingered at the door, unwilling to expand, he almost looked as if he wanted to flee.

She looked around, "Ah," she cried, "there they are, next to the moondew seeds" she looked at the date on the jar, "They are a little dark, were you wanting fresh ones, I think she has some of those as well..." she looked expectantly at him.

He walked in to check them, "These will be fine... thank you." He hesitated

"I was wondering if there was any foxglove and maybe some flitterby moth powder?" he had finally come closer to her, to take the jar, Heavens, Allegra thought, you would think I'm an inferi by his reaction, she thought smirking.

"Most of her dried insects are here," she said indication the section above her,

They both looked at the shelves above, "Here" She held up a jar of whole dried moths,

He took them, intending to grind them in his office. she grabbed the mortar and pestle and pushed it toward him. Seeing his hesitation, she quickly smiled,

"I don't bite" he still looked uncomfortable but pulled a stool up, he groaned inwardly, expecting to have to indulge in small talk. Why didn't I just leave, he thought, but he emptied the silvery moths into the mortar and started grinding. She turned away and started gathering more ingredients for her salve, some comfrey, chamomile, a little st john's wort. The worked together in companionable silence. Severus took the opportunity to prepare some more ingredients for next week's lesson, he appreciated the quiet, even Pomona could be a little overly chatty for his liking sometimes.

"Severus," he looked up "would you mind grabbing the jar directly above you?", he looked up wondering why she didn't just levitate it down... he leaned up and passed it to her. As she took the jar, their fingers brushed against each other. He looked down quickly and she was sure she saw a little colour in his cheeks. They both returned to their respective jobs in silence.

He saw her scraping the mixture into several small jars, tighten the lids and put them aside. She pulled another larger container toward her and started mixing some of the violet essence into it. He looked up, she saw his glance and said,

"Just a nice hand-cream, they can get a little chapped in winter in this cold castle". She mentioned. He nodded in agreement, and she started packing the jars into her basket, "Here" she said, and pushed a container toward him with a smile and left.

He looked at her retreating back, went back to his ministrations. It didn't take much longer and when done, he packed his tinctures and powders. He stood to leave, it had been a better encounter than expected, she hadn't looked at him with pity or fear, as many others did these days, she seemed pleasant enough, he was glad he had been able to help her out previously. He looked at the lotion on the table and hesitating a little picked it up.

Cynthia was chattering away, they were both leaving the headmistress's office.

"Hogsmead, yes! Our first school visit, I am so excited to be taking the students there," she sounded like a teenager on her first date. Allegra looked at her, curious as to the reason behind the excitement. Cynthia seemed to understand her expression. "As a child" she explained, "my parents wouldn't allow me to go there with the other students, for some reason, they thought it would be a detriment to my studies" she snorted, "not that it changed anything, I could never apply myself to anything, I think that's why Muggles appeal to me. They live in the world without magic, sometimes I think they surpass us with their of their technology."

Allegra couldn't help but to agree, their telephones, computers, the TV and other wonderful devices were almost like magic, her years as an Auror sometimes required her to live as a muggle, blending into the world of the non-magical and she was able to see how they coped remarkably without the ability to cast spells and such. One of her biggest regrets was losing the ability to bring her Muggle laptop and play her music in her room. Sure, she could order a Phonograph to play her Beethoven, but it wasn't the same, but they didn't match the fidelity. She was sure she could magic something, but it seemed to be too much trouble. Apparating to London occasionally to attend the opera, or a concert she had desired to go to was the best option, however going on her own was becoming increasingly depressing. Cynthia was chatting away, and the subject changed to the Halloween celebrations. Cynthia was becoming more animated,

"A band, with dancing and punch and evening wear. I know we are chaperoning, but what fun, hey!" she smiled, her laughter and excitement were infectious, they walked along nodding to passing students who were rushing from lunch to classes. "what are you going to wear?" The younger woman asked, and went on, "I picked up this really cute dress, it's charmed to sparkle when I swirl," she went on "It's a pity there is so few men to dance with though, I hope Professor Blatt comes as well" Allegra smiled at the younger woman, almost starting to anticipate the night out. She hadn't even thought about something to wear, she didn't own much, having to move from place to place, sometimes leaving at a moment's notice.

She noticed professor Snape walking toward them, he tried to avoid the chattering girl, but she saw him and couldn't help herself,

"Professor Snape, looking forward to the Halloween ball?" the look he gave her would have withered a Venomous Tentacula on the spot, but in her eagerness for a night out, she continued, " I think you would look marvellous in an evening suit, wouldn't he Allegra.." the words hung there, she looked at them forgetting her initial fear of him.

"Miss Hooper" the removal of her official title was a slight, "Miss Hooper" he continued in an intimidating tone, "It's hardly a ball, and I have absolutely no intention of attending this ridiculous event, my time is far too precious to waste on watching teenagers writhe away to some appalling caterwauling in which they call music today, good day", he sidestepped around them and strode off.

"What a grump" she laughed, "to think I was scared of him! See you later, I will be late for my class if I don't hurry!" she moved away, turning the corner to her corridor. Allegra walked on, she had a free period which she usually used to review her work, but the young girl's infectious mood had caught hold. Would she go she pondered? Would Minerva insist she attend? She tended to agree with the lanky professor. She wasn't looking forward to listening to the scheduled band. What was the name? The Screaming Axolotls? Something like that..

Later that evening in her room, she wondered again about the ball, a new event on the Hogwarts calendar. It would be nice to get dressed up, break from the conservative mould she had set for herself, to let her hair down feel a little elegant. She had so little opportunity lately, hopefully the music wouldn't be as bad as it sounded. Drifting off to sleep, the image of a certain potions master came unbidden to her thoughts.