Idiots

At breakfast the next morning, I accepted my schedule from Slughorn and waited until Brianna had hers. "No P.E.?"

"No what?"

"P.E."

Mystified, "What is that?"

"Physical Education? Exercise? Getting out of the stuffy classroom and into the great outdoors?"

She really was strange. "If you would like to exercise, you will need to find a way to do it yourself."

She looked at me uncertainly, "Is there any place to do so?"

"There are plenty of unused classrooms to choose from, or if you prefer to be outdoors, the grounds are quite extensive."

"All right. I'll worry about that after our first round of classes. Good thing I brought my own gear."

She studied the parchment, "Does this mean we have Potions with those idiots?" Her frown deepened, "And Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Yes."

She huffed and stuffed the sheet into her bag. "Terrific." She took a long drink of pumpkin juice, "Do you already have a lab partner?"

"You."

Her eyes danced, "How much longer until class?"

"We have enough time to finish breakfast at the very least."

She brushed her lips against my jaw, sending shivers down my spine, and returned to her breakfast. Her casual kisses were going to be my undoing. Every time her lips touched me, I forgot about Lily. What kind of man was I that I could be so easily swayed? Irritated with myself, I pushed the thought away, assuring myself it was simply the novelty of it. No other girl had been permitted close enough to touch when she wished. I wasn't entirely certain I wanted Brianna that close, but what was done, was done. Lily caught my eye with an inquisitive look and I merely smiled. It was worth a little discomfort now to get what I had wanted for so long.

"Is History of Magic any more interesting over here?"

"Probably not."

We finished our meal and headed up to History of Magic. Brianna watched Professor Binns closely for the first five minutes then began scribbling abstract designs on the edges of her parchment. He was lecturing on a bloody battle between wizarding factions and had managed to reduce it to the driest possible abstract of the truth. Brianna's scribbling changed to sketching and she fashioned a bloody two headed axe with a severed arm holding it where her notes were supposed to be. Blood pooled beneath the weapon and comprised the phrase, 'How can someone make a bloody war so damn boring?'

My but she had a bloody imagination. She was watching me from the corner of her eye and winked when she realized I was looking. Class was not over soon enough and we walked down to the dungeons, hands entwined. She was a very touchy person. If we were in the same room, apparently she felt we should be in contact. I only hoped everyone else bought it and she was not overdoing the public displays. We spoke easily of the potions she had brewed and I was able to get an idea of where she was as a brewer. For all her love of it, she was not as good as she could have been. However, if I tutored her, she would be much improved and make an acceptable lab partner. I took my usual table at the front of the room, as this was the only class worth being so close to the professor.

When Professor Slughorn cleared his throat, we fell silent. "Today, class, we will be working on the Draught of Peace. I trust you will all be careful. It should take you most of the period to complete. Please get started."

One of the best things about Professor Slughorn, at least in the more advanced classes, was that he was very direct. Brianna began to carefully prepare her ingredients. When she moved to chop instead of crush, I rested my hand over hers. "It works better if you crush it."

She glanced at the board and her textbook, "But both say to chop."

"Trust me. Crush it. I will explain later."

A voice whispered from behind us, Black or Potter, it did not matter. "Should have known you for a Slytherin. You and Snivelly deserve each other."

I watched for her reaction from the corner of my eye. There was none. She continued crushing the juice from the plant with precise movements. Her technical skills were excellent. It was only theory she was lacking. The Gryffindors continued to whisper insults at us. It was getting on my nerves, but she just ignored them. She checked my cauldron against hers and grinned up at me. I caught a glimpse of her eyes widening before she yanked me against her hard enough to send us stumbling into the Marauder's lab table.

A minor explosion rocked our table. My cauldron! I untangled myself and spun around. All that remained was a twisted lump of pewter. A moan came from behind us and I turned to find Potter and Black covered with painful boils. Brianna's quick reaction had saved me from a similar fate. I had time to trace her cheek in thanks before Professor Slughorn came bustling over. "What happened here?"

"One of those idiots threw something into Severus' cauldron." Brianna snapped with a furious look behind us.

"We didn't throw anything anywhere. He sabotaged it and you helped!" Black argued.

"That's idiotic." she retorted. "If I was going to sabotage a cauldron, it certainly wouldn't be the one right in front of my boyfriend!"

"Mister Black, Miss Berkley, I would like to see better from you." Professor Slughorn interrupted. "Why don't you boys go to the hospital wing and get those treated? Bottle what you have as a sample and you'll get partial credit. Mister Snape, as your potion was destroyed and there is not enough time to brew another, you will also receive partial credit. All of you may make it up by writing an essay on the individual properties of the ingredients and how they work together to create the peaceful sensation this potion is known for."

I nodded and cleared my desk, furious that they would be permitted to make up any part of their grade. The only consolation was that they had no concept of how potion brewing actually worked and were unlikely to get anything above a "T" on the assignment. They handed in their work and shuffled out of the classroom.

Brianna returned to her potion, pouring the hellebore with near abandon. We would need to begin tutoring immediately if I hoped to survive the year sitting next to her. I tipped the vial back to a trickle, "Slowly. Now stir steadily, not too fast and not too slow. Time it with your breath. Once around while you breathe in, and once again while you breathe out. Keep it steady."

Professor Slughorn smiled at us, "Just so. Five points to Slytherin for avoiding a second explosion."

Brianna's startled eyes met mine for an instant before she focused on her potion. I began working on my assignment and kept an eye on her as she worked. Whenever she moved to do something incorrectly, I told her the right way to do it. She followed my directions without discussion or argument and by the end of class, she had a perfect potion and I had a perfect essay. I rolled it up and handed it in while she bottled and labeled her sample. "Done already, Mister Snape?"

"Yes, sir. It was an easy enough assignment."

"I have noticed your assignments consistently receive the highest marks in your year. Perhaps we need to find something else to challenge you?"

Excitement danced along my spine even as my expression remained impassive, "That would be acceptable."

"If you agree to assist with this class, I will tutor you privately once per week."

"I would enjoy that."

"Very well."

We exited the class and Brianna waited until we were halfway down the hall before speaking. "Why are the books wrong?"

"Excuse me?"

Her hands twisted around the strap of her bag, "The books. They say chop, you say crush. They say pour and you say trickle. How is anyone supposed to brew a potion correctly if the directions are wrong?"

"The directions are not wrong, they are . . . vague. Trickling is a form of pouring."

"But crushing is not a form of chopping." She argued.

"You can make a serviceable potion if you chop; however, crushing will net better results."

"Well where does it explain that in the book?"

"It does not."

"Then how I am supposed to be the best if I can't get decent instruction?"

"You want to be the best?"

"Yes! I really like brewing, I just don't do it all that well. I study all the time. I've read my books hundreds of times. I can quote them, if you want to hear."

I did not. "Have you considered purchasing multiple books to get a different perspective on the process?" It was clear the thought had never entered her mind. "Not much of a reader, are you?"

"I got the textbooks they recommended. How would I even go about choosing something else?" Her expression was earnest.

"You are serious?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Have you never heard of the library?"

"Sure, but if there was a book in there that could help me, wouldn't the professor have included it in the list of required reading?"

I looked away until my expression was under control. It would probably hurt her feelings if I laughed at her. "Brianna, the library is a source of extra information. Instructors only give you the titles of the books they follow most closely. It is up to you to seek out further information if you wish to know more than the basics."

We stopped outside the door to Ancient Runes. "I could assist you in choosing a few books to broaden your understanding of potions theory."

"Would you? I really would like to be better."

"Of course. I am willing to tutor you as well."

She tiptoed to kiss my cheek, "Thank you, Severus."

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. The moment we left the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Brianna caught my hand, "Are we going to the library?"

"I thought we would drop off our books first so you do not have to carry both your class work and whatever we select for you to begin with."

She fluttered her lashes at me, "I have to carry? Isn't one of the perks of having a boyfriend getting him to haul around your extra books?"

"I would not know, but I have no wish to carry around my class work and a pile of books."

"All right."

I indicated for her to lead, "How do we get to the dungeons from here?"

She grinned and hurried down the stairs after the last few Slytherins, "By following those that already know where they are going."

"That is cheating."

"So?"

"So what will you do if there are no students to follow?"

"Beg you to help me." Her hand snuck into mine, "I can make it worth your while."

"That is the second time you have said that. How exactly do you plan to make it worth my while?"

She shrugged, "What do you want to make it worth your while?"

"Is that not a bit opened ended? I could ask for anything."

"You can ask. That doesn't mean you'll get it."

"If I do not, I may renege on our deal."

"You certainly may." She did not seem at all concerned.

"You are not worried about what I would ask in exchange?"

She shrugged, "You have already mentioned that you hope this will help with your Lily situation. I would assume that is worth quite a lot to you. Was there something specific you wanted?"

"I have not yet decided."

"Let me know when you do." She missed the catch on the entrance to our common room the first time but found it on the second. We dropped our books in her room and headed for the library.

"Are you paying attention?"

"Yes, Severus."

"Good."

She stopped just inside the library doors. I was several steps ahead of her before I realized it. "Something wrong?"

"No. I just don't know what to do next."

"Surely you've been to a library before."

"Only once and I wasn't paying all that much attention."

"Usually one begins with the card catalog, however since I know where the books we need are, we will get straight to it." She followed quietly with her hands clasped behind her back. When something caught her eye she leaned forward but did not touch anything. "I cannot believe you are as unfamiliar with a library as you claim to be."

"When I needed a book my father would st-buy them so I had no need for a library."

"No everyone is so wealthy they may buy every book they fancy."

"Luckily I never wanted many books." Her mouth curved in a smile, "Weapons, on the other hand I could shop for all day long."

"Really? Why?"

She reeled herself in, "Oh, I just like the way they look."

"You showed me you know how to use them, why lie?"

She flushed, "Habit, I suppose."

"This from the girl that offered complete or partial honesty from our very first conversation."

She shifted from one foot to the other, frowning, "I like being honest with you."

I held out my hand. "Then by all means continue."

She accepted it, "I like having weapons around. They make me feel more in control."

"That is reasonable, I suppose." We all had our little idiosyncrasies. I pulled several books from the lower shelf. "These should provide a better foundation. You will read through at least twenty one chapters per week and we will do practical labs at least three times per week."

She stared at me, "You want me to read an extra three chapters a day?"

"Yes. If you wish to be the best, you will need to catch up and then get ahead of me. Otherwise you will only ever be mediocre."

Brianna held out her arms and closed her eyes, "Load me up."

"Is the thought of reading extra material really that depressing?"

"Yes. I rarely understand anything unless I'm doing it. Reading about it just makes my mind fuzz over."

"In that case, you will need to make an extra effort to apply yourself."

She winced when I stacked half a dozen books in her arms. "Will you keep me company for a little while?"

"If you like, but you are not to use my company as an excuse not to study."

Her eyes popped open, "I wouldn't dare."

"Good." I took half the books from her and walked her to the check out desk. We checked out with a minimum of fuss and I helped Brianna carry the books down to the dungeon. "We should eat and then study."

Dinner was a quick affair. I thought she would dawdle but she appeared to have set her mind to improving and was committed to it now. As soon as we finished she led the way back down to the dungeon and immediately sat at her desk and flipped over the first book in the stack. I took it from her and reordered the stack, "This one first."

She opened and began. A minute later, she flipped to the table of contents. "Severus?"

I did not look up from my Defense essay. "Yes?"

"This book is about preparations methods."

"Yes."

"You said my technical skills were acceptable."

"Were you aware of that prior to when I told you?"

Her fingers tapped on the desktop. "No."

"Then you should read the book."

"All right." She dropped her eyes back to the book and continued reading. When she pulled out a roll of parchment and started drawing I had a sharp retort ready. When I leaned over the desk to deliver it, I realized it was not an idle drawing. She was sketching out the different instruments with a quick example of their results. They were rough, nothing like the sketch she'd done in class which had taken most of the period. I returned to my essay. "It makes it easier to remember if I have a visual."

"I did not ask."

"You were ready to yell at me."

"I did not."

"You wanted to."

"I did not. I have no wish to fight with you over this. Do the extra work or don't. It is your future." She shrugged and returned to her reading. I had finished the Defense essay and half of the History homework before she closed the book. "You read three chapters?"

"I did."

"It took longer than I expected."

"I'm not a speed reader."

"Clearly. Now to the rest of your homework."

She sighed deeply before reaching into the bottom drawer and pulling out a handful of shiny, foil wrapped candy. "If I'm going to do this every night, I'm going to need more chocolate."

She offered one and I looked at it skeptically before accepting it, "What is it?"

"It's a kiss."

"I am fairly certain it is candy."

A grin flirted around her mouth, "The candies are called Kisses."

"Why?"

"Because that is what a man with far more money than I decided to name them." I unwrapped the candy and sniffed it. There was nothing strange about the scent, just chocolate, so I took a cautious bite. It was a little sweet for me. "Do you like them?"

"I am not that fond of sweets."

She produced a wrapped bar from the drawer, "What about dark chocolate?"

"I have not tried it." She opened the wrapper and handed me a piece. I tried it and found it more appealing than the sweeter milk chocolate. "That is better. Still sweet, but not too much so." Over the next three hours, she ate what I felt to be an unhealthy amount of chocolate while we worked on our homework. "Do you eat this much chocolate on a regular basis?"

She finished her Defense homework with a small flourish, "When the mood strikes."

"How often does the mood strike?" She could very well be diabetic by the end of the year if she did this very often. I would have to brew an insulin potion and keep a vile handy.

The corner of her mouth lifted, "About once a month or so." It took me a moment to catch her meaning and I felt ugly color climb my cheeks when I did. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Severus. It's perfectly natural."

"Some things should be private."

Contrition was clear in those twilight eyes. "I am sorry for making you uncomfortable."

"It is no matter." I turned my eyes to my parchment. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

I corrected a misspelling on my essay, "Put a glamour on your eyes. It is a waste of magical energy to maintain it full time."

Her tone bristled with indignation, "Who says it's a glamour?"

"No one has eyes that color." It was absurd that she would credit me with so little brains that I would not notice a glamour when it was literally staring me in the face.

"I do." She flipped through her book, paused to write something down.

"Not naturally."

"If it's there all the time, who's to say what's natural and what's not?"

I rolled up my History homework. "It seems a waste to me."

"I like it."

"I do not understand why."

She shrugged, "It makes me feel pretty."

I did not understand people's obsession with their looks. They had no control over what they received, and there was only so much one could do with what they had. Living on the less generous end of the spectrum, I was even less interested in bothering and generally refused to deal with people that obsessed to the point of casting spells to improve their lot. It was ridiculous that beauty was valued over brains by society. "Pointless."

"It really bothers you, doesn't it?" I refused to look at her. "Severus? Look at me."

I sneered at her, "Do you need compliments to help you get through the day?"

"Have I at any point given you that impression?"

"You just told me you maintain a glamour to feel pretty."

"For myself, not for anyone else. I don't give a damn what you think of it."

"Is that right?"

"That is right."

"Then remove it."

"Remove it?"

"Yes."

She shrugged and waved her hand in front of her face. Her eyes changed from the artificial purplish blue color to a tawny gold that was far more appealing. "Is that their real color?"

"Yes. It's so boring. Muddy brown and predictable."

"Now you are fishing for compliments." I replied dryly. "What else have you changed?"

"What makes you think I've changed anything else?"

"If you changed one thing, surely you have changed others." As interesting as our first day of pretending to date had been, I had zero interest in spending much time with a girl that obsessed about her looks. It was pointless and annoying. Especially for a girl that was already gifted with good looks. She was not unattractive, there was no reason for her to obsess.

"Nope. Just the one."

"Nothing on your hair? Your figure? Your height, perhaps?" I asked, goading her.

"Just the eyes, Severus. Just the eyes. You can check for yourself if you like." I did it discreetly but she knew what I was about and lifted a brow, "Well? Find anything?

I was somewhat mollified. "No."

"Does that please you?"

"Yes. I despise shallow, vapid girls."

There was real insult in her expression. "Well, I hope you don't consider me either of those."

"If I did, I would not be here."

"That's something then." She returned to her class work but not before I caught the shimmer of tears in her eyes.

"Are your feelings so easily wounded?"

Her jaw clenched, "My feelings are none of your concern."

"Perhaps I should retire for the night."

"Perhaps you should." she snapped.

I gathered up my books and let myself out. She was being completely ridiculous. I opened my mouth to tell her so, then shut it with a snap. There was no point wasting my time. I went to my room and stacked my books neatly on the desk in preparation for tomorrow. I stripped and lay down, not able to sleep, but hoping nonetheless. Getting angry with me over needless primping was idiotic. She was already beautiful, why did she need to be more so? No one in their right minds should believe we were seeing each other.

I rolled over, irritated that I was thinking of her at all. If she was so shallow that she needed a glamour and compliments, I had nothing to say to her. Especially if she was going to get defensive about it. I sat up and pulled my journal close. Perhaps writing about it would remind me how unimportant she was. We had just met, there was no reason for me to care one way or another. I had just put pen to paper when someone knocked on my door. Who in Merlin's name would want something at this hour? I considered not answering, but whoever it was knocked again. I tugged my robes on and yanked the door open.

Brianna stood on the other side. I started to swing it shut and she darted around me before I could close it in her face. Was this acceptable behavior in America? Throw someone out of your room and then barge into theirs? "Severus? Please. I'm sorry I was so nasty to you."

I let the door fall shut and leaned against it. Her tawny eyes were watching me steadily. "Are you?"

"Yes. I'm moodier than I thought. New school, I miss my old friends, I'm worried about my father. None of it's your fault, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. There was no reason for me to get snappy with you over something so silly as a glamour."

"It is not silly to me."

"Why not?"

"I do not like people that put too much emphasis on looks."

She caught my hands, "You know I don't obsess over looks. I just like to play around."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"Stop using the glamour."

"All right. If it bothers you that much." She squeezed my hands.

"It does."

"Then I won't use it anymore."

"Thank you. Was that all?"

Her expression was uncertain as she closed the gap between us. Her arms wrapped around my waist and held tight. Every part of me tingled as her heat seeped through my robes. My arms eased around her, ready to let go at the slightest indication from her. It was a singular experience standing there wrapped in each other's arms. I had not permitted anyone so close in a very long time. I could almost pretend that she was Lily and that we really were seeing each other. Of course, that was ridiculous because Lily would never be in the Slytherin Dungeons. Still, the thought that I could have something like this whenever I wanted it tantalized my senses. "I really am sorry. I want to be friends with you and help you get Lily. Give me another chance?"

"I will if you promise not to obsess about your looks. Brains are more important and I have gotten the impression you have been skating by on your pretty face."

She pressed her face into my chest, "Only occasionally."

"Well no more."

"All right."

I caught her shoulders and held her away, "You should get back to your room. It's time to sleep." I walked her to the door.

She stopped on the threshold and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Sleep well."