-=JKR would never write this cannon fodder.=-

A Different Kind of Girl

At Last

"Mum how do I look?" I wore a long black skirt, a black shirt with embroidery and my hot pink chucks.

"Couldn't you wear some cover-up dear?" Her expression was not reassuring.

"Na. I'd never be able to get a proper match." I felt carefree despite my alarming appearance.

"I think, I'd worn something with more colour. The black makes the bruising stand out more." She clasped her hands.

"I love you Mum. Don't worry everything'll be great. Maybe I'll see if Madam Pomfrey will sort me out. She's a miracle, though Poppy might have retired. Gotta go Mum, Da. I'll be back before I turn into a pumpkin. If I end up staying out late I'll get word to you."

Landing at Hogsmeade station, I wished I thought to bring a broom. Good thing I've got comfortable shoes, it was serendipity that they sat expectantly in the clothes closet. They still fit like a dream. Up a ways A tall-red headed man walked with a petite blond woman. Must be Bill. There wasn't anyone else around. Likely everyone else would turn up fashionably late, it was still early.

At the gates I couldn't help but be amused, Argus Filch the cranky old git was still at it. "Good evening Mr. Filch, how's Mrs. Norris?" He completely ignored my question.

He eyed my face."Name?" The scroll of parchment in one hand and a quill in the other hand. He looked like he dearly wanted to turn me away for gate-crashing.

"Bethany Tilde." He probably didn't even remember me.

"You," he scrutinized my face. I lifted my long skirt indicating my shoes. "It is you. You look like something the cat would've drug in except it was too frightening. Go on with you."

I curtsied to him in my usual good grace, and scampered on up the hill. The Castle didn't look much different I'd expected it to reflect the terror and horror it'd seen. Hogwarts had always felt more like a creature, than a structure.

The front doors were open. No need to knock, just like home. It felt like home. The hall was largely empty, there were a few more paintings. The doors to the Great Hall were open. I started walking toward them, then a shadow broke free of the wall. Had to put my hand on my chest to keep my heart from bounding away.

I stood still and let him approach, then I got the strangest feeling like I should hold out my hand for him to sniff, so he knows I'm friendly. "Professor Snape how good to see you." Instead I extended a hand in the ordinary fashion.

He took my hand briefly and smirked. "Is it Ms. Tilde, or have you another moniker?"

"Well, I prefer Bethany, but if that doesn't float your boat then I dare say you'll come up with something."

He unabashedly took in the deep bruising. "Involved in an altercation, Bethany?"

I shrugged, "yeah, I'm afraid I lost. Though when I get home I'm going to use a well placed Killing Curse." Snape looked stricken, I couldn't help but feel a little wrong footed. "Sir, what's wrong?" I tried to smile but I was sort of uneasy with his manner.

"What's wrong with you? Saying such a thing. I'm very surprised at you Bethany." His tone was one I had never heard before.

Let's just act natural, I decided. "Sir, I think suitcase deserves that and more. It's a long story, one you would find infinitely boring. Is Madam Pomfrey here? If she's, here I'd like her to fix my face. Not much to work with I'm afraid, but I'm sure anything is better than this."

"Come with me," I followed obediently. This felt weird. It may have been ten years since I was here, but I can't imagine the Hospital Wing being moved to the dungeons.

"Sir, why are we going to the dungeons? I'm sure I've served all of my detentions." I confess I was sort of worried that I had an outstanding one. If there was a teacher would keep track of a ten-year overdue detention it was Snape.

"You are going to permit me to sort out your Periorbital haematomas." I pulled a face, but he couldn't see me.

"Ms. Tilde, I saw that." I could hear that smirk. Snape has hardly changed. He opened the door to his classroom. "Come on, Ms. Tilde. Have a seat."

In my defence I couldn't help it. Ever since I was a kid I've always had self-control issues. I perched on a work table, it gave me a strange and exhilarating feeling. Sitting on a desk, wow. I'll never forget this as long as I live. Snape turned from his cupboard. "Ms. Tilde, are you trying to get a detention? I'm not above making you serve one."

"Oh go on, give me a detention. I'm a detention pro. I see you've mellowed. I was actually expecting to be flogged." He actually quirked a smile at that. "I always suspected you could do that. Wish I'd had a camera." That was hot, Professor. He unscrewed the lid to the jar in his hand.

Snape looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable, he didn't move to put the stuff on me. "It would help if you were sitting on the bench."

"No it wouldn't. You'd have to bend down for that, here I'm at eye-level. I don't have other bruising do I, on say the top of my head?"

Having made my point he stepped tentatively toward me. There was nothing I could do to stop it. My face felt all hot, I knew I must be blushing like a moron. Maybe he wouldn't for all the other colour. "Hold still and this will only take a minute." I closed my eyes to facilitate its application. His fingertip dabbed the cool ointment on my face. That felt so nice. I know he didn't mean anything, but there's always a queer sort of feeling when someone cares for your body. At least I always thought so. "The bruising is quite extensive. Who did this to you?" The tone he used was dark.

"Samsonite. Like I said I plan on trying out the killing curse when I get back home. I wasn't kidding Severus." His finger slipped. My tone was light, I didn't want to alarm him. "Perhaps I should explain, you don't have to fight the urge to visit me in Azkaban. Samsonite is my hard-sided suit case, similar to a trunk, but smaller. I got distracted when I pulled it down from an upper shelf and it broke my nose. It didn't really look much like a nose, and there was blood everywhere." I reached up and curled my fingers into his robes. "It kind of reminded me of something you had in a specimen jar."

"Ms. Tilde can't you find a better place to put your hands?" I knew what he meant, but that'd be no fun. Would it now? More invasive I wrapped my arms around him resting them on his lower back. I smiled my eyes were still shut as he dabbed more of the cool cream on my face. "Ms. Tilde that's not what I meant." One hand ran up his back and the other over his tiny little bum. "You, are completely incorrigible.

"Must be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. It's a classic cautionary tale, I'm surprised you're not familiar with it." Emboldened by his silence I brushed the insides of my thighs against his. "How's it looking so far?"

He didn't respond right away. "Much better. Are you sure someone didn't pistol whip you? I'm sure you must have suffered some head-trauma."

"That's pretty funny. I never knew you had a sense of humour. This has to be some kind of record, he smiles and makes a joke all in one day. I am pleasantly surprised Severus." It was a cheering thought. "It's very kind of you to do this. I know I'm not your favourite person ever."

"Ms. Tilde."

"Bethany," I corrected. "You do realize your only eleven years older than me. So I'd rather not stand on ceremony."

"Bethany." My mind was occupied, so I hadn't noticed he'd stopped that's my only defence. Ok so I was very comfortable with him standing between my knees. As I had said before I was intimidated like the other students. You could argue that I'm not smart enough to be intimidated, just now. And over the years people have suspected as much.

"Severus, let me know when I can open my eyes." Smiling invitingly. "You have a very gentle touch, it feels very nice."

"Bethany, I'm finished. You're back to normal." Snape shifted his weight. "Bethany, you can open your eyes and let go." He cleared his throat.

I opened my eyes very slowly, but I didn't blind myself. "Now where is the fun in that?" Brushing my thumbs this way and that. Snape made like he would back up, "Severus Snape if you run away from a Hufflepuff I'll see to it the Rita Skeeter gets wind of it. You'll never live it down."

"Perhaps you should have been sorted into Slytherin." Snape dithered unable to decide a safe place to put his hands.

"I have no ambition, it would have never worked. That and I've never mastered taking myself seriously." I combed my fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes. "Like that?" His murmur sounded affirmative. Leaning forward a bit I pulled him closer to kiss his lips. I could have spent the rest of the evening just kissing him. But he cleared his throat, no doubt to get my attention. "Yes Severus?"

"We should join everyone else. If we don't then someone will come for me." He fidgeted a little. "You'll have to allow me to escort you Bethany."

"Certainly. Severus I've waited a lot of years for this." I hoped down from the table and took his proffered arm. "Everyone will ask you know."

"Yes I'm sure they will. I will tell them, that you kindly took pity on me by being my date for this evening."

Well I was indignant. "Oh no you don't. You will tell them no such thing."

Tentatively he asked, "how would you prefer to be announced?"

"You should tell them that you have every intention of ravishing me after the party. And that we are only here for form's sake." Those two black orbs drilled into me. I leaned in confidentially as we approached the Great Hall, "you know I mean that, don't you?"

"Yes, Bethany I believe I see that. I can't wait to see the look on Potter's face."

I vaguely recognized the name but couldn't place it. "Who's Potter?" Snape looked at me like I was insane.

"The Chosen One and all that rubbish, where have you been not to know about Harry Potter?" Snape brushed a finger down her forearm.

"For the past six years I've lived in America. I've been writing, it's fun and I can make my own hours within reason." I had been very pleased with my life, though coming home had created some pleasantly unexpected feelings.

Cautiously Snape asked, "You live in America?"

"Why yes, I have a flat and car. I live in a crappy slum, but I manage very well because of magic. When I came back yesterday it was so strange, seeing my parents was amazing. I'm thinking about moving back. I can write from anywhere in the world. I guess I didn't realize how much I'd miss everything." Which was certainly true, and if bedding the Professor came with it, so much the better.