Chapter 11

The days came and went. She spent her mornings working down at the Dancing Dragon, and her nights sitting under a tree, talking with Severus. It was the perfect life. Even as school started back up after the holidays. The snow beginning to melt, classes slipping greedily into her schedule. It felt kind of awkward to her to be sitting in Potions Class just after making love to a younger version of her teacher, but she smiled none-the-less.

"Mister Potter, what in Gods name makes you think you can slack off in my class?" Snape questioned, leaning menacingly over Harry, his forehead crinkled. He was hollering at Harry for forgetting his homework.

"I'm not slacking off, Hedwig ate my homework." He tried to explained, some of the class laughing.

"Silence!" He snarled, pounding his palm on his desk. "You are just like your good for nothing father. Always trying to get a rise out of everyone. Do you think I'm a fool, Mister Potter? Is that is?" He was back to his softly spoken tone of voice, a deep whisper.

"No sir, I'm not, Hedwig really ate my homework!" He tried again.

"Don't you lie to me."

"I'm not lying I'm telling the truth if you'd get your big nose out of my face and move your greasy hair out of the way of your ears maybe you'd hear the truth in it." Harry opted. Snarling Snape whirled around and headed to his board.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for Harry being an insufferable class clown like his father." He wrote in large writing a number 50 with a big minus sign in front of it."

"That's not fair!" Harry barked.

"Sir, if you don't mind me saying," Nyx interrupted Harry. Snape turned around, glaring at her. "His father was much more of an ass." She agreed.

"My father was not an ass!" Harry snapped, but he was ignored.

"At least Harry has the common decency of leaving you alone." She smiled brightly at him. Snape looked at her, his expression softening a bit. She could tell he was reflecting back on something that involved James and nodded.

"I guess you have a point Miss Fairbourne." He replied.

"My father wasn't an ass!" Harry tried again, getting pissed.

"You don't even know how he acted going through school Harry." Nyx looked at him. "For all we know he could be worse than an ass. He could be like Malfoy only more efficient."

"What?" Malfoy's expression changed from laughing at Harry to glaring at Nyx.

"I know my father wasn't like that! He was a great man!" Harry protested.

"To whom? We all have our people Harry. Our people we're absolutely rotten to, your father was no different."

"You better apologize before my father hears about your insults!" Malfoy snarled.

"Oh what's he going to do? Kiss me again?" She snapped. He stopped, his eyes wide. Everyone was silent. Already she knew she'd said too much.

"What did you say?" He glared at her. Grabbing a tin golden whistle with a small skull at the end that was buried on his desk Snape blew into it. It let off a loud eerie, ear shattering ring that stopped everyone in their tracks.

"Nothing," He whispered when everyone clutched their ears, looking back at him. "This has nothing to do with what we're doing in class." Looking at Harry he erased the points on the board and instead wrote minus 25. "Miss Fairbourne made a rational point Potter, thank her after class." He looked at Nyx for a long second then moved silently to continue his lesson. "She just saved your house 25 points." He continued on with the lesson. After class everyone packed up and left silently. As Nyx stood up to leave her path was blocked by a shadow. Stopping she looked up at the taller figure and swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Professor." She looked down, trying to ignore the feeling of being so close to him. Trying to ignore her urge to reach out and kiss him.

"You seem to know quite a bit of Mister Potter's father." He replied, his eyes burning sharply into her. She nodded, swallowing hard.

"Yes sir,"

"Why?"

"I talk to the paintings." She lied. He looked at her, his upper lip curling a bit.

"The paintings?"

"Yes sir, the ones that have been hanging in the halls since Dumbledore attended here." She looked up at him, her heart stopping dead in its tracks when their eyes connected. "They told me of James' bullying. If only they would tell his son of it." She smiled. "Drag Harry through a rough wake up call." She was whispering as well.

"You're getting quite devious lately." Snape replied, his face just inches from hers. Her smile widened, her eyes closing halfway.

"Not devious, just…knowledgeable." She pulled away from him. "By the way sir, I fear that I don't belong here." She replied, grabbing her books off her desk.

"Whatever do you mean Miss Fairbourne?" He stepped back, realizing that he'd gotten too close to her as well. It would have surely ended his job there if someone had walked in on them.

"Well, I've been called curious names lately, in which I learned the meanings from Professor Dumbledore." She turned and faced him. "Things like Mudblood and Squib. I'm not a Mudblood because my parents were both magic folk yes?" She cradled her books in her arms. He nodded slowly.

"Yes."

"Well, I also learned that I might be a Squib." She replied, chewing her lip nervously. "I can't do magic to save my life." She informed him. She'd already received her answers from younger Severus, but she wanted to hear her professor say it too. A confirmation that the younger Severus indeed behaved like the one she saw before her. He nodded slowly.

"And your point Miss Fairbourne?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"I want to know if you could help me figure it out. I wouldn't have been accepted into Hogwarts without having magic, right? But why am I here without the ability to perform even the basics?" He nodded slowly.

"You've never made anything happen?" She shook her head.

"Nothing." He thought about it for a second, not liking the possibility of having a Squib sitting in his classroom. Nodding he crossed his arms, deep in thought.

"I see, well, tonight during your Defense Against the Dark Arts class you come in here with your wand and we'll try to see why it's not working for you." Smiling she bowed a bit, over joyed that he plan was working out.

"Thank you sir, I'll see you then." Slipping past him she headed for the door, but a tight hand around her arm stopped her.

"What was this you said about Malfoy?" he questioned, looking into her eyes. She felt the flush come back. She was hoping he didn't remember that. Sighing she muttered.

"I said too much."

"No, you didn't say enough." He shot back defensively. "What, happened?" He sounded almost ticked.

"He showed up at the place I work,"

"You have a job?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"You didn't know?" She cocked her eyebrow. He shook his head in reply. Shrugging she continued on. "Anyway, he showed up and started throwing complicated orders at me, trying to rub it in my face how amazing him and his family was while trying to find out a reason to holler at me." She shifted her weight, itching her thigh. "He eventually got smashed and I had to walk him out. That's when he said I looked like a woman named Emilie and announced his undying love for me and French kissed me in the middle of public. Thank God it was night time." She replied stiffly.

"He…made love to you?" Snape eyes opened wide, shocked.

"He was drunk; I doubt he even meant it." She replied.

"You're right." He crossed his arms again, though there was a hint in his voice saying he didn't believe it.

"Well, I'm going to my next class sir." She looked at him concerned, but did her best to hide it. Nodding he turned and made his way back to the front of the class room. He bid her no farewell, or said anything else. He was really different than his younger counter part in her dream. Turning she slipped out of the classroom, heading down the hall. This was going to be an awkward day.

"Hello class, and welcome to Herbology 101, my name is Madame Sprout." A pudgy woman in the front of a line of tables greeted with a rosy smile. "I'm so glad you all chose this elective! It never gets the recognition it deserves, and it's so fun!" She bounced a little. Why had she chosen this class?

Sighing Nyx looked down at the notebook lying in between her glove covered palms. This class was full of Hufflepuffs and maybe one or two Gryffindors. She was the first Slytherin –according to a painting hanging outside the door to the greenhouse- in almost 100 years to join.

"You do no look like you want to be here." A girl with a heavy French accent spoke. She looked up confused, spotting a pretty young girl with golden hair smiling at her, her hazel eyes glistening with a tint of blue in the light of the greenhouse –or was is blue with a tint of hazel?

"Excuse me?" Nyx's eyebrows furrowed.

"You do not look like you want to be here." She repeated, grinning. "What are you hard at hearing?"

"No, just…not expecting someone to talk to me." She muttered, looking down.

"You are a Slyzerin." The girl pointed out. Smiling bitterly down at her green and silver scarf she twirled one end around.

"Yay." She mock cheered.

"Ze Slyzerin house is a pack of assholes. You seem like you should be a Gryffindor." She continued. "Of course I would rather be a Slyzerin or a Gryffindor over a Hufflepuff." She looked down, starting to take notes as Madame Sprout instructed for them to open their notebooks. "What ze fuck is a Hufflepuff anyway?"

"I don't know." Nyx replied hesitantly, wondering why she was talking to her.

"My name is Bria, by the way. Bria Medellahorge." She held her hand out to her. Nyx took it, shaking it firmly, surprised at the girls strength. Of course, it matched her toned, muscular arms.

"Ellenyx Fairbourne, but you can call me Nyx, or Elle." She returned the greeting. "You…don't sound like anyone else from around here." She grinned.

"Zat is because I am not. I am from ze Academie de Magie Beauxbaton. Or as humans say it, ze Beauxbaton Acadamy of Magic." She smiled. "It is located over in France." Nyx nodded slowly.

"So there's a school for witches near every country?" The French girl shrugged. "I'd hate to see what they look like." Nyx imagined fat wizards running around with their pants hanging halfway down bubbling, pale butts, cheeseburgers in each hand.

"What do you think of zis herbology class so far?" Bria questioned, writing down more notes.

"It's not bad. Not my first choice in classes, but it's not bad." Nyx admitted.

"Yeah, zis class is good for relaxing." She agreed. "Of course I say zat because they would not allow me to join Quidditch." She played with a strand of red that stuck out randomly in her shoulder length spiraled hair.

"Why wouldn't they allow you to join Quidditch?" Nyx looked up, putting her pen down. Sprout was just going on and on and on about how fun herbology was, not a whole lot of people –save for Neville Longbottom- were really paying attention.

"Well, I did a try out for ze Hufflepuff team, but one of ze boys said zat I was just a little prissy princess, so I smashed him in ze face with the Bludger and broke his jaw. Not a very pretty sigh. Split right down ze middle. So I was banned from joining any sports. Sucks really." Nyx stared at her as she explained it so nonchalantly.

"You…smashed someone's jaw in?"

"Not out of ze coldness of my heart." Bria looked at her slightly hurt. "I have an anger issue." She admitted, smiling.

"You think? You smashed someones jaw in!" Nyx threw her hands up. Bria laughed.

"You are getting more worked up over it zen the teachers. Funny." Nyx looked at her like she was nuts but soon found herself laughing along with the French girl. They continued talking throughout the class, officially deeming each other partners in the group work that was assigned.

After class Bria walked with Nyx, talking about how Beauxbaton was so much different than Hogwarts. She'd found out that everything at the French school was all glitter and curtsies –something that Bria didn't really seem too fond of. She wasn't a girly girl, unlike what her appearances told people. She was pretty, with long golden hair and a petite figure, but she was into most sports girls wouldn't even dare to be a part of. She'd told Nyx about her 7 years of boxing she'd taken up in Beauxbaton. She'd suffered more broken jaws than a preppy girl suffered hang nails –which she didn't doubt.

By the time her defense against the Dark Arts class rolled around she was in a completely different mood, conversing openly with the French girl. But it never really crossed her mind why Professor Snape had requested to see her during that class period until she'd overheard a few student's talking about how Professor Lupin wasn't in class and hadn't been for the past couple days. Thinking it odd she smiled at Bria, stopping in the hall.

"Hey, I have to go to Professor Snapes' to do something really quick." She informed her, holding her books in her arms.

"Oh? And what is zat?" Bria grinned, leaning against the wall. Apparently a rumor that Nyx had a crush on Snape spread around amongst small groups of people. She'd have to debunk that soon before word got back to the professor and he began to get nervous.

"He's helping me learn magic." Nyx replied, not going into too many details.

"Helping you learn magic?" She cocked an eyebrow, laughing lightly. "Zat is a funny way to put it. Do not forget to wear a condom." She teased. Nyx's jaw dropped.

"No seriously! I can't do magic to save my life!" she insisted.

"Sure you cannot." She snickered then pushed herself off of the wall. "I will see you tomorrow, non?" She gave Nyx a quick pat on the shoulder before walking by her. Nodding Nyx watched after her until she vanished in the crowd of students. Once in the clearing she turned and headed for Snape's, not bothering to stop and get her wand. It wouldn't give her the action she anticipated –not that going in without her wand would, but she had a bigger chance of it happening. Getting to the door she knocked twice before opening. Snape was sitting at his desk, grading papers, his eyes flicking up to her as she came in.

"Ah, Miss Fairbourne," He spoke in his usual deep voice. "I see you're right on time. Sit." He motioned to a chair in front of her. Nodding she sat down, placing her books on a section of his desk that wasn't crowded by trinkets or papers. "You said earlier that you have not been able to perform magic, is that correct?" He questioned, putting his quill down and looking up at her, his fingers crossed on his desk. She nodded.

"Yes sir."

"If that is the case, then how were you able to get a wand from Olivander without being able to perform magic? Surely he would not send you out into the world with a wand that didn't obey its master."

"I didn't get my wand from Olivander, sir." She explained just like she had done with his younger self in her dream. "It was given to me with the letter I received the night my foster parents were murdered."

"Oh? So you got a hand-me-down wand?" He mused, then stopped, staring at her as if realizing something.

"Is everything alright sir?" She cocked her head to the side a bit, playing innocent.

"Yes, I just…feel like I've said this before." He replied, sitting back in his chair.

"Unless children come in with hand-me-down wands every day and claim they can't do magic." She nodded. "Of course, that wouldn't be a plausible case. Perhaps you had a premonition?" She smiled.

"Nonsense, there's no reason for me to have a premonition. Anyway." He pulled his wand off of his desk and handed it to her. She hesitated for a second before taking it, looking it over. It was exactly how it was in her dream. Not a single thing different. "Be careful with that wand. It's not yours, but it will do the trick for now. Now, we're going to start with an easy spell. A levitation spell, the first one the first years learn with Professor Flitwick called the Wingardium Leviosa." He instructed. Picking up a small golden stick about the size of a wand he went through the motions. "Swish and Flick, remember that." He looked at her sternly. "There's no need for you to forget the movements when it's the easiest one."

"Yes sir." She nodded.

"Now, when you do the motions, focus on this feather," He pulled a light golden feather out of his desk and laid it in front of her. "Say Wingardium Leviosa and it should levitate." Hesitating, she began to feel that panic all over again as she stared at the feather. Inhaling deeply she went through the motion, swishing her hand gracefully and giving the heavy wand a flick at the end.

"Wingardium Leviosa." She waited, the feather doing nothing. Her teacher stared at her, his eyes burning into her as if he were waiting for her skin to melt away and some hideous, non-magical creature be slithering around in her place.

"Again." He demanded. Nodding she did it again.

"Wingardium Leviosa." But like the first time, it didn't even budge. She continued doing it, and again it didn't budge the 3rd time. 4th time or even the fifth. Like before her chest began burning. Gasping she dropped the wand and clutched her breasts.

"Miss Fairbourne?" Snape sat up straight, looking at her concerned. "Are you alright?"

"F-fine just…my chest burns." She quoted straight from the first time. Grabbing his wand from the place it landed on the desk when she dropped it he gave it a flick. The buttons popped, her breast lunging out. She gasped looking down as his hand shot for her chest.

"What is this?" Snape questioned, his eyes burning into hers.

"U-um…a necklace…sir?"

"I see that it's a necklace Miss Fairbourne!" He growled, glaring up at her. "This necklace is a special necklace. The Spiders Charm, one of three artifacts created when Wizards first began casting spells." He replied. "You're not a Squib." He thumbed the necklace, rubbing its blue gems.

"Then…why did it burn me?" She questioned, rubbing the red mark on her chest where the necklace had burned into her.

"The Spiders Charm is a magic insulator because of its contract. You know nothing of it?" He looked at her. She shrugged a bit, smiling.

"I know about it a little. That while wearing the necklace all arachnids must obey the contract. They follow my every command and in return I try my best to protect them." She explained.

"Yes, but not only that, but because of its nature, locking away your ability to use magic because you don't need to use it because of the contract, you're unable to use do any spells with a normal wand." He added, then stopped, looking into her eyes. "But your wand. Where did you say you got your wand?"

"It was given to me in a letter I got the day my foster parents were murdered." Nodding he leaned back, his arm still outstretched so that he was holding onto the necklace, causing her to lean forward across the desk a bit, her breasts resting on the table top so as not to pull on her neck.

"You were given a wand, a hand-me-down…which means that the wand is a one of a kind." Looking off across the room he thought about it. Emilie was the original wearer of the necklace…so when she died…

"Um sir," She squeaked, feeling a little more awkward now than she did in her dream. "Can I have my neck back so I can button up my shirt?" She repeated what she had told his younger self, trying to hide her smile. He stopped and looked at her. He did many things differently than his younger self. Whether it was because of the age difference or because of the dreams flaw in imitating him, number one difference was how much information he decided to tell her. Number two, when she mentioned her unbuttoned shirt, his eyes drifted to her chest and stuck there. He stared at her exposed, bra-clad breasts for a long time, going stiff. She didn't say anything. She wanted to see how long he'd do it for.

Two minutes passed by and he still hadn't moved an inch. He didn't breathe, he didn't blink, and not even a hair on his head moved from a random draft in the room. It was like he was turned to stone. Not like her breasts had a Medusa complex or anything. She cleared her throat, his eyes snapping up to her face. She smiled.

"What?" her smile widened. He looked lost and confused as his cheeks paled a bit.

"You uh…see something scary down there sir?" She teased. "They're large but I doubt there's a troll waiting to pop out at you." She smiled. Shaking his head from his trance he dropped the necklace so it landed back down in between her breasts and swiftly swiped his wand infront of him. Her shirt closed in the front, squishing her breasts together painfully. Gasping she moaned in pain as the force of the spell pulled her forward a bit, her knee hitting his desk. She felt her eyes water. It was like being wrapped up in a corset that was too tight, and when the shirt finally loosened her chest was throbbing. Whimpering she cupped them gingerly, the buttons all secure tightly.

"Enough practice for today Miss Fairbourne." He spoke quickly, matter-of-factly. "I have papers to grade and you're in the way." He quickly made himself busy. Pouting she stood up, rubbing her chest.

"You're so abusive sometimes sir. If I get breast cancer I'm blaming you for my missing boob." She muttered.

"You're not going to get breast cancer, and it didn't hurt that bad. Now go, I'm busy." She watched as he moved around, avoiding all eye contact with her. Cocking an eyebrow she attempted to say something but realized what time it was. She had to be to work soon so there was really no point in arguing with him. Turning she made her way out of the classroom, rubbing her chest gently. She guessed he really was like most men. Played a badass but was completely helpless in the presence of breasts. Would she be considered a skank if she admitted that she thought it was going to be interesting?

She got to work at about 6:30. Not too late, about 3 minutes past the time she needed to check in. There were a few people there, but not a whole lot. Her usual crowd who'd learned her name and chatted with her as she washed the tables and served them drinks or food.

"Hello Nyx," a man with a burly beard and large nostrils greeted as she slipped her apron on.

"Hello Maxwell." She smiled, pushing her bangs into a cute bow hair clip. Her hair was long enough to be shifted into a ponytail but a lot of the strands fell out because of how they were cut, so she didn't even bother with it. "How was your day? The usual?" She smiled, grabbing a whiskey glass.

"Yes please. My day was alright, wife got angry with me." Nyx frowned as she poured the whiskey and carried it over.

"That's not good." She commented, placing the glass in front of him. "How about this, I'll pay for a honey chicken wrap for you tonight?" She smiled, knowing that when he was kicked out of the house most of his money was taken from him. He'd be outside on his own for a while until he could make it up to his wife. He nodded, smiling.

"Nah I couldn't do that to you." He smiled at her.

"I insist." She smiled. All he did was cup her shoulder, rubbing her arm friend-like.

"You're a great girl." Smiling she turned and filled out the order, sliding it in through the slot. "Do you have a man in your life?" He questioned, drinking his whiskey. Taking the plate as it was sent back out over for him over to the table she placed it down and handed him a fork for the macaroni salad that was placed on the side she shook her head.

"No, no one yet." She admitted.

"What? Are you serious? You're an amazing girl and not bad looking. Now not to sound creepy but when I was going through school I'd kill for a woman like you." She laughed lightly and crossed her arms, mock glaring at him.

"And what about your wife?" She countered.

"My wife is a wonderful girl, don't get me wrong, but you're as sweet as sugar with a heart of gold. There can never be a woman to match you. Are you at least looking? Any boys catch your fancy?" He started eating, looking up at her. She thought about it and nodded, wondering how far she should go in answering his personal questions.

"Yeah, I have my eyes out for someone." She replied.

"He's a lucky guy." He replied, choking down a mouthful of wrap. "He's going to have a hell of a time, and I'll tell you what, he's going to feel like he's touched down in heaven the first time he lays you because you look like you can take a lot." Her jaw dropped. She lightly slapped his arm, laughing.

"Did you have anything to drink before you showed up here?" She accused.

"A few." He admitted, smiling at her. Laughing she shook her head and turned her back on him, heading back for the bar. Normal women would get angry and beat the hell out of the guy if he ever said something similar to that to them, but Nyx knew he was playing around. Whether he meant it or not, she knew he was sincere and only meant it in a good way, not to mention he loved his wife unconditionally.

A few hours passed by with no business. There were only a couple customers who were enjoying a conversation amongst themselves in the corner of the bar, so she spent her time filling out Sudoku puzzles she got as a gift from a wizard who got the book from a local shop called The World of Muggle Entertainment. She was just finishing up her fifth puzzle when the door opened. Smiling she dropped the quill and stood up, but the figure at the door stopped her in her tracks.

"Professor?" She questioned. He looked at her a bit shocked, but mainly confused.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, a look in his eyes saying should I go or should I stay? But he chose the first.

"I told you I have a job as a barmaid." She replied walking around the counter. Stopping in front of him she bowed like she normally did to guests whose first or second time it was showing up to the tavern. "My name is Ellenyx, I'll be your barmaid for this evening. Please follow me sir." She smiled, heading for a comfortable place by the back of the room. He cocked an eyebrow at her introduction, but followed her none-the-less. Taking a seat at the table he looked up at her, noting how well of a spot she'd given him. It was the very same spot he'd wanted. "Will you be having a meal tonight sir or just a drink?" She questioned, pulling out her notepad of meal tickets.

"Just a drink." He replied, slipping his robes off and moving to drape them over the back of his chair, but she moved forward and hung them on a nice hook on the wall beside him. "Thank you." He muttered, looking.

"What can I get you sir?" She smiled patiently. He noted that too. Her kind eyes, her gentle smile.

"I'll take a Bloody Bosom." He replied. That was a new one she'd never made before. It was one of the more stronger drinks. Smiling she wrote it down.

"It's an awfully manly drink sir." She teased. Looking up at her a faint smile pulled at the corner of his lips in return.

"And I'll be drinking it like a man." Laughing she turned and headed over to prepare it. As she was walking away he noticed just how short her skirt was, wondering just what kind of tavern it was she was working at. Returning it she placed it down neatly in front of him. Picking it up he took a large swig of it, one that even made her wince. She was beginning to wonder just how destroyed his liver was when the door opened again.

"I'll be right back sir." Turning she headed to the door and greeted two young males. Probably in their early 20's. She led them to a table not too far from her potions professor's. After asking her default and getting the young men their food and drinks she headed back to her professors' table, noting that more than half of his beverage was gone. "Wow," She smiled. "You go tavern hopping often?" She smiled.

"No, once in a while when I feel the pressure of a teachers' tedious life style is driving me banana's." He replied, finishing it. "It's just one of those nights." He sighed. She smiled lightly and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"A refill?" He looked up at her for a second then nodded.

"Keep them coming." Grabbing the glass she went back and grabbed another, mixing it perfectly. Returning she placed it down in front of him and smiled.

"I never thought I'd see you here though." She admitted, washing a table next to him. He looked over, catching an up skirt shot of her panties as she leaned over the table to wash it. He swallowed half of the glass right there, feeling lecherous.

"Figured I'd check it out. Though I have to say it's a bit uncomfortable." He cleared his throat a bit, looking at the liquid in his glass.

"How so sir? The table in the wrong spot? Would you like a different one?" She questioned concerned over her shoulder.

"No, just…your skirt is rather short." He confronted. She hesitated then laughed.

"Oh yeah, it is, but hey it's the uniform." She brought him another drink before he'd finished sipping the last few drops from the bottom. He took it, drinking it more calmly now. Behind her one of the boys looked as she leaned across Snape's table to fix the flowers. Nudging his friend he pointed at her panties, his friend grinning like a fiend. Reaching over he snaked a finger inside of her undies. Some guests came in drunk already so they wouldn't have to spend so much getting wasted, but those guys hadn't spared anything. Gasping Nyx stood up, pulling away from them, her hands shooting behind her bottom. It didn't take words or for him to see it for Snape to guess what happened. As the man turned around to avoid the potions master's gaze Snape glared.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking at Nyx who was still shocked. She nodded slowly, still feeling the back of the man's finger travel across her vagina.

"He almost stuck his finger in me." She squeaked. Pushing himself up he walked towards the men. He knew they'd touched her but where and how far they had he didn't know. Grabbing the man by the shoulder he gazed hatefully into his eyes. Ah, he knew this boy. Snape grinned hatefully. The boy had graduated from Hogwarts 4 years prior. He'd been a Slytherin and one of the top students. But that didn't stop him.

"P-professor Snape?" The boy yelped, looking up at him. Snape leaned down his face inches from his.

"Phebis." Snape replied sourly. "Listen, you may have been a great student in school, but now that you're out of Hogwarts I don't have to pretend I like you anymore." He informed him in a menacing voice. "If I catch you touching Miss Fairbourne again in inappropriate ways I will burn your fingers off, slice your skin from your body and wear your face as a mask for next Halloween, do you understand me?" His voice was dark and frightening. Gasping the boy nodded furiously, tears coming to his eyes. Even Nyx was shocked. She'd almost began to regret giving him any liquor at all. "Now, apologize to Miss Fairbourne." He replied, stepping off to the side so he could make eye contact with her while he apologize.

"I-I'm sorry." He whimpered. But it wasn't good enough. Snape dug his fingers into the soft spot in his shoulder, right behind his clavicle. Phebis cried out, his left hand involuntarily curling up from the pressure point that was being attacked. "I'm sorry!" He screamed. Everyone that was in there before had stopped and looked up. Nyx held one hand over her chest, the other behind her. She nodded, accepting the apology. Letting go Snape took his seat again, drinking his third drink.

"You didn't have to do that sir." She muttered after a few moments of silence –save for the boys crying and whining that his shoulder was on fire.

"Disgusting." Is all he said, putting the empty glass down in front of him. For some reason it brought a smile to her face. Fetching him a drink she came back and continued talking to him. It seemed that the more drunk he got the more open he seemed. Soon he was joking around, smiling, and laughing, but at that point everyone had gone home but her and him. By the time closing time rolled around he was so out of it he didn't even know how to put his robes on. "I swear!" he commented, struggling to find the arm whole. "They put like…50 holes in these things…like we're sharin' them with other people." He struggled, almost falling over. She caught him, helping him put it on. "Like a giant caterpillar, only with people and a robe." He laughed. She couldn't help but giggle at it. He found such little things so amusing when he was drunk. Turning he looked her in the eyes with a serious face. Cupping it he squished her cheeks together and groaned. "Do your eyes glow in the dark Miss Fairbourne? They look like they do." He staggered a bit.

"No sir, they don't glow in the dark." She smiled shaking her head as she caught him. Working she got everything cleaned up and shut everything down, locking it up. Now all she had to do was get her professor home without spilling him and she'd be golden. Holding him steady she walked him out of the tavern and locked up. He took a deep breath of the cold air outside, another burst of snow coming down about them. She looked up and frowned. As if the cold weren't enough. But he didn't seem to mind it, instead, he closed his eyes, his face tilted to the sky.

"It's a beautiful night." He commented as she looked at him. "I wish all nights were like this." He slurred a bit.

"Drunk and sweaty?" She smiled at him, joking. He laughed lightly, shaking his head.

"Is it the alcohol that makes it so enjoyable? If only our lives could be spent in an intoxicated blunder." He swayed a bit. Walking over she grabbed his arm, supporting him as she made his way to the school. Reaching a set of stairs on the far side of the village she supported him, heading up the stairs first so she could support him better. Unfortunately halfway up the steps as she led him up he lost his footing. Gasping he fell backward, pulling her with him. He landed in a snow bank at the bottom, his eyes closed, snow up his back. She landed on top of him. Groaning she rubbed her head, pushing herself up a little off of him.

"I'm so sorry!" She yelped, expecting him to be mad at her, but the look he had in his eyes wasn't one of anger. She was confused. Spending a minute on top of him, she tried to translate that look in his eyes but was cut short when his cold, wet –from the snow- hands cupped her face, his eyes sliding closed. He pressed his lips to hers. She felt her heart skip a beat. A wild heat flared through her. Here she was, kissing her potions teacher –drunk potions teacher- in a snow bank in the middle of the night. But her mind barely functioned much more than doing something wrong, teacher, kiss, lose job before fizzling out altogether. Her eyes slid shut, giving in to the demand his lips created.

He ran his fingers through her hair, kissing her. He'd switch positions in which he held his head; his lips prying hers open only to rush in with his tongue. The taste of alcohol and pumpkin juice was heavy in his mouth, and although it was wanted on both sides, she felt shameful for making out with him while he was drunk.

"You have lovely breasts." He panted slightly, breaking the kiss and whispering in her ear. She didn't know what to say to that, her heart already pounding as hard as it could within her chest. Instead, the only thing that should think of was.

"Thanks, I don't get that one often." She quivered a bit. He kissed her again, this time gently, his tongue remaining in the border of his own mouth. Her body felt like it was on fire, the electricity running through her so violently it made her knees numb. Suddenly, something rushed through her as his kisses stopped. A feeling that they were no longer alone. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. In the darkness she saw a figure and the first thought that ran through her mind was Oh shit, it's Lucius Malfoy. But it wasn't.

"Ellenyx?" A deep voice asked. A familiar voice. Snapes hands fell away from her face as he looked up again. "And Professor Snape?" Hagrid gasped stepping into the light, rushing over. "What happened? Why you two on the ground?" He grabbed Nyx and hauled her to her feet, followed by the potions master. Nyx didn't want to tell Hagrid that Snape was out drinking for fear that it would make Hagrid think the teacher was irresponsible, but the teacher wasn't afraid of telling the truth.

"I was having a few drinks and I fell heading up the stairs." He slurred lightly, but managing to force his usual tone. Hagrid looked at him then at Nyx for conformation. She nodded.

"Oh man, good thin' I happened by when I did then eh?" He smiled. "I was jus' 'eadin' back ta the castle meself. Let me give ya a ride." He led them through the snow to a small carriage. Climbing in the back Snape made himself at home, shivering a bit as the giant plopped a squat in the conductors' seat. Nyx hesitated, wondering how her teacher was so good at playing off that nothing happened, then climbed into the back as well. Shoving off Hagrid got them back to the castle and helped Nyx walk Snape back to his room where he left her. When Hagrid was out of sight she turned back to her professor and wondered just how much of that was real, but he didn't seem like he had back when he was kissing her. His original demeanor was already back in place. He was sober enough to realize what was wrong or right.

Bidding her a goodnight he vanished into his room, leaving her to hover in the hall for a few moments after wondering what had happened. Turning she made her way for the dorms, the taste of his tongue in her mouth, the feeling of his hands on the small of her back, neck and bottom as he kissed her so forcefully but enjoyably. Getting up to her room she stripped down and threw herself on the bed, her mind a jumbled mess of thoughts. She was sure she wasn't going to get any sleep, but as soon as the thought ran through her head, she was out like a light. She wouldn't see young Severus in her dreams that night. Of course, she didn't need to, when the one she had fallen deeply in love with in the first place had showed her that somewhere deep down inside that cold marble statue like demeanor of his, he did have feelings for her. Even if getting him drunk was the only way to bring that part of him out.