Chapter Two


I was trying so hard not to appear to be watching him that my neck was hurting at dinner. Luckily, Hermione was too busy talking to Harry and Ron that she didn't notice my covert glances toward the staff table.

He was listening to Dumbledore, or something, and hadn't touched his goblet. He appeared to be abstaining from the food as well.

I couldn't eat anything. My mouth had a parched feeling and I even felt sick. I was too nervous to eat, wondering whether the potion I had stolen from Professor Snape's storeroom was really a love potion. Would it work on just anyone? I had charmed it, saying my name and his over it, like it said in the book I had read in the library.

Oh, the suspense was killing.

I looked up toward the table where all the teachers sat. Dumbledore was chatting with McGonagall. Everyone around me was looking happy and comfortable. They didn't have secrets.

Furtively, I glanced at Professor Snape. He still hadn't yet drunk from his goblet.

I wondered why to the point that I couldn't take my eyes away from him, until Hermione finally jogged me with her elbow as she was passing. I lowered my gaze to my plate, where it belonged.

Picking at my food and trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible, I couldn't help myself and again looked up toward Professor Snape. This time, my heart stopped beating and I caught my breath. Finally, his hand was moving toward his goblet of wine. He raised it. I sucked in my breath.

He sipped it.

I stared down. Suddenly, I realized what I had done and didn't know what to do. I'm mental, I moaned inwardly. It's my O.W.L. year at Hogwarts and I put a love potion in a professor's glass. They'll expel me.

Still, I couldn't help stealing another look for any sign of lovesickness.

Just as I did, Professor Snape turned from looking at Dumbledore to staring straight at me. His expression, usually so stony, was still clouded but –

The most subtle, almost indiscernible smile played at the corners of his mouth.

I nearly passed out.

No wait -

I did.


"Did you see the way he carried her off?"

"I've never seen him do something like that."

"It's probably because her father's a Death Eater."

"Don't say that!"

"It's strange though. She's not even in Slytherin."

"Maybe I should pretend to faint so Mat will do that for me…"

I had to endure the tittering for a whole day. I got out of the hospital wing nearly as fast as I got in. Apparently, I fell out of my chair when I fainted and it started a great fuss. Professor McGonagall came rushing and Dumbledore himself stood up in alarm.

But like a bolt of lightning, Severus Snape parted the crowd of onlookers and pushed McGonagall aside. He knelt beside me, swept me up, and carried me out.

I am deeply, deeply ashamed. It is the result of the potion, I just know it. And it won't take long for Dumbledore and the other teachers to find out. Professor Snape will hate me like he hates Harry Potter. I will never forgive myself for doing it.

Though when I remember the woozy, blurred image of his face above me, the security of his arms holding me, and the feeling of his long strides as he carried me to the hospital wing, I feel such a rush of pleasure and happiness that I think I can take whatever punishment.

And here I go now. It is the next morning and I am going to my Potions class, filled with trepid anticipation. Professor Snape didn't appear at breakfast, and I fear the worst. Perhaps Dumbledore had him sacked for what he did? Or maybe they are trying to find an antidote? It was a whole bottle of the stuff…

He was sitting behind his desk, leafing through a large old book. He didn't even look up when I filed in with the rest of the students.

I found my desk and got myself ready for the class. Everyone was whispering about me and pointing at me, then him. I kept my head bowed in my books.

"Before I begin this class," Professor Snape stood up and began, "I should like Miss _ to step forward."

Eyes wide and heart thudding, I pushed myself up and took several feeble steps toward his desk.

His eyes locked grimly on mine.

"You will receive a week of detention for misuse of magic," he declared for all to hear.

I couldn't help myself, and blurted, "With you?"

There was a subdued murmur of sniggering behind me.

"Silence," he intoned, and then to me, "Go back to your desk."

I waited until my next class, charms, to mull over what was going on. I was going to serve detention for misuse of magic, doubtless because of my stupidity with the potion. But he hadn't said specifically what I had done. Either way, he didn't look to be still affected by the potion or angry with me. I was confused, and waited for the real punishment to begin in my first evening of detention.