She was back in her own bed when Susan came back to the school, puzzled to find her friend in bed instead of attending her Potion lesson, sitting down on the edge of the bed Susan ran a hand through her golden locks. Wanting to ask how it went she figured that this was indeed a bad sign to find her friend here and in a semi-catatonic state.

"How did it go?"

Amanda asked without looking at her but merely taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze.

"You know, the usual, a dead person, lots of people wearing black and everyone too polite to say anything bad about her"

"I doubt there was anything bad to be said about her"

Susan laughed

"She was a bit quirky in the end, had a thing with scarfs and her cats, it was funny really"

Amanda smiled and pushed herself up to a seated position.

"Merlin girl, how long have you been bed?"

Amanda flushed and tried to avoid her friend's eyes as she muttered

"His or mine?"

Susan screamed a high pitched 'OMG'

"Again?"

Amanda nodded

"Apparently there is a side effect to the potion when you consume too much and the git gave me a whole portion"

Susan stared at her in disbelief

"Wow…"

Amanda nodded

"But what does that mean long term?"

"They are trying to figure that out"

"They?"

Amanda buried her face in her quilt and Susan heard her muttered answer

"Professor Snape"

Starring at her in disbelieve Susan was lost for words, not a common thing for her. Reaching out to touch her friend she hesitated for a short second before taking her hand. There were no words to be spoken, no classes until after lunch, just the silence which brought Amanda back to the previous night.

"No, stay off me!"

Amanda pushed the larger male away, dodging his outstretched arms. Backing towards the door she gave frantic looks to her Potions Master

"You can't be serious, I refuse!"

"It's your detention, you need to take your punishment for your insolence"

Amanda spat at the Professor

"You guys set me up!"

Marcus smiled and the Professor smirked

"All for good reason, don't you want us to help you find a cure?"

"If he just stays away from me that'll be all the cure I need"

Amanda nodded towards the large Slytherin who smiled wickedly

"We need to exploit all options for future references"

She scoffed at the Professor

"I am no test object!"

The door opened and closed, Amanda moved slightly to the side so she could keep an eye on the two Slytherins only to find another opponent.

"Perfect timing Purcey"

Amanda felt like screaming, what were they playing at? Before she could react Marcus had grabbed her and placed her down in a chair, gloved hands holding her in place. The Head of Slytherin nodded at the newcomer who walked over to the struggling girl in the chair but a well aimed kick made him jump back. The professor sighed as he waved his wand lazily, ropes appeared, snaking themselves around her legs, tying them to the legs of the chair. Marcus embedded his fingers in her hair while holding her wrists together behind her back.

"Where?"

Purcey smirked at Amanda

"Just the cheek or neck would be fine"

Professor Snape sneered at him

"Fine then"

A tone of disappointment lingered in the air as he moved over to the pacified girl, a cool hand was placed on her throat, sliding up to her cheek. Amanda sobbed as the first tears escaped.

"Enough! Thank you Mister Purcey"

Cocking an eyebrow Adrian Purcey sighed before shrugging his shoulder

"Anytime… I guess"

As the door closed behind him, the binds were removed and Amanda fell to the floor, sobbing she hid her face in her arms. Marcus and the Potion Master exchanged looks.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing!"

Professor Snape nodded.

"Very well, next step. Can it be worn out?"

Marcus smiled broadly, a wicked smile as he kneeled by the devastated girl, gently running his hands over her head.

"Calm down darling, it's all in the name of science"

That comment earned him a slap to his face, something Amanda quickly wished she hadn't done. Apparently she couldn't touch him either without a reaction. Trying her best to fight it, she subconsciously wiped her hand on her robe while getting to her feet, willing them to move away from the two men. It took at her strength but she started winning over her body and emotions. The Professor watched her curiously.

"Interesting!"

Reaching the stairs Marcus started to protest but his Head of House cut him off.

"Let me know how the rest of the night goes"

If it was said to him or to her she didn't know but he must have known something because she only just got to her own dormitory before she was exhausted and after spending 2 hours of agony, partly trying to sleep, partly trying to rid her body of the feeling and the longing, she succumbed. Jumping out of bed she threw her robe over her nightgown and rushed out the door before making her way to the back entrance of the Slytherin Dungeons. She hesitated only for a second as she reached the small oak door before unlocking it, she found herself in front of his door. She couldn't stop herself, reaching up she gave a single knock and the door was immediately opened. He knew she would come. Seeing him there she felt so many emotions and apparently it showed because he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace while locking lips with her. Many hours later she finally made her way back to her own dormitory, physically and mentally exhausted she had tried to leave several times but every time he had 'convinced' her to stay. Climbing into her own bed she pulled the covers over her head

The ancient runes in the afternoon was a killer and a class she had to attend without Susan. Resting her head in her hand she looked at the blackboard, the runes blurring into one big mess. Sometimes she wondered why they didn't have hieroglyphs, it would probably be just as useful. Lost in a train of thought she was suddenly returned to the reality.

"Miss Flint!"

Amanda looked around, completely confused, to find her whole class looking at her.

"Oh that got your attention?"

A Ravenclaw girl sniggered and looked at the professor.

"There you go Professor Babbling, she's back"

The professor gave the girl a disapproving look before turning her attention to Amanda

"If you are too tired to follow the lesson or just not interested I suggest you go to your Head of House and explain why you are returning to your dormitory early"

"No Madam, I'm sorry I just-"

"Not interested, get going Miss Wood"

Sulking Amanda packed her books before throwing her book bag over her shoulder and making it to Professor Sprout's office and as she knocked on the door to the greenhouse she found that her Head of House was not alone.

"I don't believe it!"

Professor Sprout jumped to her feet and looked past the Potions Master.

"Oh Miss Wood, what are you doing here?"

"Professor Babbling sent me because I was inattentive in class"

Amanda said a bit hesitant, looking down. Normally she was not one to cause trouble and she had never

been sent to her Head of House's office.

"Oh my, but why girly?"

The Potions Master spoke in his normally calm tone

"Maybe the poor girl suffers from insomnia"

Amanda felt her cheeks flush as she looked up at the dark haired man, split tongue was apparently a

common trait the Slytherins shared.

"Problems sleeping my dear?"

Amanda shook her head

"No, just have a lot on my mind"

Hearing the Potions Master snicker, which he tried to hide behind a cough, Amanda felt hate burn inside of

her. Bastard!

"Well, go back to your dormitory and see if you can get some rest and-"

"If I may suggest something, why not offer her a dreamless potion, I just made a fresh batch for

Madam Pomfrey so if Miss Wood would follow me to my office she can have one before I bring them to

Medic Witch"

Professor Sprout smiled

"Oh so kind of you Professor Snape and such a good idea"

"But Professor-"

"It's ok Amanda, go on, I'll sort things out with Professor Babbling , go with Professor Snape and then see if

you can get some sleep"

"But-"

"Come on Miss Wood, I haven't got all day"

Sending a desperate look towards her Head of House she was not seen, Professor Sprout was too busy with

tending to some small purple plants who seemed to be humming. Seeing the dark cloaked figure increasing

the distance between them, Amanda broke into a run to keep up with the Potions Master.

"Why?"

"Why what? Honestly girl, a single word is not a question"

"Why offering a dreamless potion when you know that's not the problem"

"If you honestly believe that rubbish I just told Professor Sprout? You need more than a full night's sleep"

Stopping in her tracks Amanda stared at him in disbelieve.

"You lie to your colleagues?"

The Potions Master stopped and turned to look at her, his eyes cold.

"That's not the worst I've done"

Turning he continued up the path to the back of the castle

"Now come on, I don't have all day"

Amanda didn't follow, instead she started heading for the Entrance Hall, hearing him call out her name she

broke into a run. No way she was going into the dungeons again and certainly not alone with him. Before

she had gone far she was caught by the collar of her shirt and dragged in the opposite direction. She knew

better than to scream though it was tempting but seeing as the Professor slipped his wand back into his

pocket she suspected that it would be for naught.

Pulled through the door to his office she was placed roughly in a chair facing his desk, a snap from his

fingers and she found herself bound to the chair, again. Groaning she leaned her head back against the

back of the chair.

"I have watched the last couple of practice-runs the Gryffindors have had and as much as I hate to admit it,

you brother seems to have lost his game at the moment. So it seems that Marcus' plan worked after all.. oh

would you look at me when I'm talking to you?!"

Turning her head she looked at him with a sigh

"Are you guys ever going to be done with me? I mean, the plan has worked so obviously I should be free to go still, here I am!"

"The Ambrosia-tests are not done"

Groaning again Amanda dropped herself over the side of the chair in a very gracefully attempt to play dead

"Miss Wood, you are not 5 years old, pull yourself together!"

"Meh – I am tired!"

Professor Snape cocked an eyebrow at her and watched her get into a seated position again.

"Well, there is one more test to be honest"

"What now? I have to drink ink?"

"No, we have to see if you can enjoy someone else than Marcus as a bedfellow"

Watching the girl grow pale in less than a second she started fighting the bonds, her breathing increasing to a panting. Finding the bonds impossible to break without her wand she sobbed

"Please, I seriously do not want to do this anymore!"

The Potions Master watched the girl dissolve in tears right before him as knock on the door was heard.

"You sent for me Sir?"

Looking at Amanda who was shaking as the tears flowed down her face Marcus scoffed.

"Does she always cry when she's here?"

The Potions Master shrugged

"More or less but now, down to business, our special guest is here now and I think it's time to continue with the testing"

"But I thought we were done"

"No, we need to test the whole 'unable to bond with another' "

Marcus starred at the Professor, was he really saying what he thought he was.

"And how do you suggest we do that?"

The Professor smirked with a surprised look on his face

"I honestly thought you to have enough imagination for that Mister Flint"

Hearing a renewed line of sobs from the girl in the chair Marcus was torn, this was taking it one too far in his opinion.

"We can't do that"

"Surely we can"

"How? Pimp her out to anyone and everyone?"

"Good idea Mister Flint"

Marcus sighed in desperation

"No, it ends here"

"Excuse me?"

"It's gone far enough, I should never had involved you in any of this"

The darkhaired man rose from his chair, starring straight at the boy in front of him.

"How dare you give me orders!"

Marcus stared back

"She's just a girl, if we do this she's going to be scarred for life. When she is done here at school, she will go look for someone to spend her life with and if we or rather: you, keep in contact with her she can tell you how that's going, if she is able to find someone"

Severus Snape looked at the youth in front of him with surprise, that was the longest and most logic sentence he had ever heard him utter. Nodding he smiled

"Ok – let her go then"

Marcus nodded before pulling the girl out of the chair and guiding her through the classroom to the hallway. Before entering he made sure no one was around, this would not look good – for neither of them. In the hallway he found none other than Susan Bones and when she spotted him he knew she was the right girl for the job.

"Susan, come here please"

Hessitant the redhead entered the Potions Classroom and seeing her friend in tear she grabbed and pulled her into a hug.

"Seriously – just leave her be!"

Marcus growled

"Calm it would you, it's over!"

Susan glared at the larger Slytherin as she guided Amanda out the door, both of them feeling as Hermes had given them wings as they rushed back to the dormitory. Closing the door behind them the locked eyes.

"Was he telling the truth"

Amanda nodded, clutching her hands

"He called it off…."

A surprised look on Susan's face got a nodding as a response from Amanda

"This has been like a bad dream, a real nightmare and I really hope they keep their word, I can't go though this again"

Sitting down on the bed Susan joined her, gently patting her friend's head as she rested her head on her shoulder. None of them spoke before it was time for dinner and Susan promised to send a houseelf up with something for her even though she refused. The redhead would hear nothing of it.