Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

x

x

Big thanks to my first reviewer, Nilsia-Tengun. I'm really glad that you are enjoying it. I hope you continue to follow the story!

x

x

x

A hand shook her shoulder, not roughly, but not exactly gentle. It was startling to say the least.

katja let out a squeal and flailed one arm while using the other to pull the covers closer to herself, as if they could protect her. Two black eyes like lumps of coal in a pale face stared at her in the dim light.

"Paracelcus..." she hissed, glaring up into them. "God, you're frightening. You know that, don't you?"

Professor Snape pulled away from her, his lips pursed in bemusement. His hand lightly brushing her shoulder as he withdrew. Katja sat up hastily. Her red hair was mussed from sleep, but to her surprise there were no large snarls as she combed it with her long slender fingers.

With a clatter, her wand slid from its holster out of her sleeve and struck the stone at her feet. A few sparks flew from it as it came to rest against the toe of Professor Snape's dragon hide boots. The slender black wand began to roll away and he bent down stiffly and retrieved it, studying it with apparent interest in the glow of firelight coming from behind him. He turned it over several times, carefully testing its pliancy.

"This is not a common wandwood... Blackthorn, isn't it?" He glanced up at Katja and she nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"Unyeilding, twelve inches..." he inspected it from every angle and for whatever reason, it made her grow steadily more uncomfortable. "what about the core?"

"Uh, hair of wampus." She said clearing her throat.

Professor Snape frowned at it for a moment, running a finger tip over the few small but sharp thorns near it's handle and the carved rose at the end of it.

Katja knew it was an impressive piece of wandsmanship. It's maker had been very proud of it.

"Is a Wampus core quite regular in the United States?" He asked, still studying it.

"No, sir. It's not."

"I see." He gave it one more calculated once over before handing it to her. The wood was warm fron his touch and she blushed.

Handling someone else's wand was invasive. It was picking up a musicians instrument and playing it in front of them. She slipped it back into its holster and stood up, straightening her robes.

Professor Snape stood near an almost invisible doorway marked with ancient runes, obviously layered with wards. Curious, Katja approached him as he lowered the wards. A rush of power flowed through her and she gasped in delight as they were dispelled, the reminants of his magic fading. She grinded at him.

"You can do wandless magic?"

Professor Snape glanced down at her in surprise before ushering her through the doorway that now lead to his office. "I can perform a few spells and charms wandlessly and non-verbally."

Katja beamed, her eyes shiny with excitement. "Could you teach me?"

"No," he answered.

Katja sighed, looking up at him with her bottom lip poked out. She knew it probably wouldn't work, but she made her eyes look as pitiful as she could and clasped her hands under her chin.

He just stared at her in obvious confustion, so she batted her long eye lashes, speaking in her sweetest voice. "Please?"

He shook his head, his features hardening with aggitation and a hint of disgust. "Are you attempting to manipulate me with your childish pouting?"

Katja dropped her hands with a sigh. "Yes, sir. It didn't work, did it?"

"I've had my share of pretty eyes batted at me in my time, Miss Solomon, it would take far more than that to manipulate me. Furthermore, it can not be taught. It comes with age, self mastery, and practice. It's not that I'm opposed to teaching you wandless magic, I simply can't. Non-verbal magic, perhaps, but not wandless."

Katja smiled at him, feeling more at ease. Professor Snape could actually be quite... pleasant when he wanted to be. It was a wonder why he put on the act he did. More flies are caught with honey, after all.

x

x

They made their way out of the dungeons where they parted ways on the stairs. It was early, but not too early to bathe and dress and then make her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Once in Gryffindor tower, Katja attended to the necessary.

Last night was a strange night. She'd never been so... open and vulnerable to anyone before.

Sure, Lucius had violated her- been violating her- all summer... but this was different. She felt like all of herself had been bared before Professor Snape, like he truly could know her from the inside out, having access to every intimate detail of her life. It was an odd thought and she shook it away with a blush.

Of course he could, not because he cared but simply because he was an obviously powerful legitimens.

Katja emerged into the commonroom and took a moment to center herself before she made her way to the Great Hall. Very few students were awake at this time, but most of the staff were seated at the high table. Katja kept her gaze lowered to the floor, settling down at rhe Gryffindor table. Immediately, her plate filled with her favorite breakfast items and she tucked into a raspberry and white chocolate scone.

She felt the weight of eyes on her and she glanced up, meeting Professor Snape's onyx stare with her own. Katja wasn't sure what it meant, but after a few moments of staring she began to feel that subtle sensation of a hand running through her hair.

She knew it had to be him using subtle legilimency and she ought to be angry but instead she enjoyed the sensation. She could almost imagine that he was running his hands through her long red hair, his warm chest against hers as he gazed down at her...

Almost as soon as that thought entered her mind, the sensation stopped and her eyes refocused on him.

He had a look of horror on his face and he dropped his gaze to his plate, buzzing himself with his food.

Oh my God... she thought to herself. She hadn't meant to picture that. Her face turned scarlet as she attempted to eat but she couldn't stop thinking of the look of Professor Snape's face.

He didn't look at her or prod her mind again that morning. It was fine by her. It had just been a wandering thought, but she was mortified by it.