Katherine snapped her potions book shut, listening to Meredith chatter on about nothing and everything as she stuffed her things into her bag, nodding appropriately and making sure her responses matched her dear friend's intensity. Meredith took a breath, her story coming to its final destination, "So," she turned her focus to Katherine, "How was detention with your crush, Professor Snape?"

Katherine swatted at her with her hand, blushing softly, "Will you stop?" she kept her voice low, glancing over her shoulder to assure herself that Severus was indeed at the front of the room and out of earshot, "I do not fancy him,"

Meredith laughed, "You so fancy him, Katie! You didn't take your eyes off of him all class!"

Katherine hit her arm with her book, "He is our professor! Will you stop being so daft?" she laughed, her cheeks a bright pink, "I will admit, he is rather handsome, but he is our professor. And I do not fancy him." She added quickly, making her way towards the door with Meredith, who rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Miss Blakewood, a word?"

Meredith continued out of the door and into the corridor, reaching her hand out for Katherine in mock anguish, "Alas, romance calls!"

Katherine rolled her eyes, turning to face the professor who was already closing the distance between the two, Katherine striding towards him, offering him a small smile, "Yes, Professor?"

Severus swallowed, the words to follow a strange request for him, "Are you available again tonight after dinner, perhaps?"

Katherine raised her eyebrows, taken aback by her professor's question, but part of her jumped with giddy glee, "I believe so. What is this about, Professor Snape?"

The young professor shifted, meeting the confused gaze of his student, "I reviewed your grading from last night and I was rather impressed. I have second year quizzes that I need to grade and your assistance would be more than beneficial."

Kate smiled, nodding, "I assume I will be joining you in the dungeons this evening then, Professor?"

He returned her smile, "I look forward to it, Miss Blakewood."

He was rather handsome when he smiled.

She remembered a sweater this time, yet it was still bloody cold in the dungeons. She pulled the thick sweater around her, crossing her arms to pin it shut. She pushed the horn rimmed glasses up her nose, making marks on Susie Vandercamp's quiz. Another chill ran up her spine, causing her to slam her quill against his desk, looking up at him, "How on earth do you manage down here?"

He didn't even look up from his grading, "I think it's rather warm, actually."

The professor had shed his coat, revealing a simple white button down which Katherine had teased him for, shocked to see the professor in something other than his signature black. He set his quill down, "But, if it shall spare me from your constant whining," he stood, motioning for Katherine to do the same, gathering his things, "I suppose we could retire to somewhere warmer. Come along, Miss Blakewood."

Severus moved towards the door to his private quarters, Katherine following close behind, "You know, Professor," she said, trying to catch a first glance of his private habitat, "You don't have to call me Miss Blakewood."

Severus smirked, pushing the poor open, "What would you prefer?"

She entered his quarters, the initial living space the opposite of what she expected. She didn't know what she was expecting, really, but the bat-like professor's home was homey and comfortable, arm chairs facing an already crackling fireplace. It was modestly decorated, a photograph of whom she assumed to be Snape's mother framed on the mantle. The floor was covered in a jigsaw of old thick rugs, a four poster bed visible through the open door to his bedroom. The small room was covered wall to wall with bookshelves lined with leather bound volumes of various widths. On one self sat what she suspected to be muggle paperback novels, "Kate. I prefer Kate." She said. Severus undid the top two buttons of his shirt, striding towards a table housing various bottles, filling a glass with deep red liquid, holding it out to her. She took the glass of wine from him, swirling the dark liquid in her glass. Was this even allowed?

Severus turned to her, tapping his glass to hers, "Kate it is then."

He settled into one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace, returning to his grading. Kate looked around the room once more, taking a sip from her glass and scanning his shelves. She brushed the dust from the spines of a few volumes, running her fingers along the soft leather. She turned, joining Severus in front of the fireplace, enjoying the way the flames warmed her legs. She set her glass besides Severus's on the small table between then, returning to her own grading as well. Severus looked over his grading, his eyes locked on Kate. Kate, he toyed with the name on his tongue, he quite liked it actually. He kept his eyes, watching her closely as she slipped off her shoes, crossing one shapely leg over the other. She lifted her glass to her lips, Severus noticing that she had unbuttoned her blouse further since she had entered his quarters, gapping slightly, a bit of lace peaking through, creamy against her pale rounded bosom. His eyes snapped back down to his grading, reminding himself that she was his student, pushing out the thoughts that clouded his mind.

He stood, retrieving the bottle, topping off both her glass and his own, downing the sweet substance, filling his glass again. He dipped his quill in the small glass jar of ink, raising his quill quickly. Kate gasped when the blot of red ink collided with her cheek, splattered like blood from a knife. Her jaw dropped, Severus apologizing profusely and holding back laughter. She pursed her lips, hiding her own smile as she dipped her quill into the well, flicking it in Severus's direction, a satisfied look washing over her face as it splattered on his own face. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, returning her focus back to her grading. The silence returning, Kate lazily dragging her fingertips along her collarbone. There was a soft pop besides her, Kate gasped loudly as a rush of cool air blew past her face, Severus finally breaking out into laughter when Kate touched her face, her fingers coming away blue. Her head snapped towards the young professor, his wand drawn. She snatched her wand from the table, flicking it at Severus, a gasp leaving his lips as his face was painted a bright red. His eyes narrowed, raising his wand once more, "Don't. You. Dare." Kate hissed, inhaling sharply when a cloud of yellow hit her square in the chest, painting both her blouse and skin.

She flicked her wand sharply at Severus, taking shelter behind her armchair, laughing when Severus's shirt bled orange. Severus looked down at the mess of color, looking to get a clear shot of the girl from behind the chair. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed like this, so carefree and buzzing slightly with the taste of alcohol on his tongue. He stepped around the armchair, Kate circling around the front. When she stood to run from one chair to another, he struck, purple blossoming in her back as she let out a squeal of laughter. She turned sharply, grabbing his wrist and pulling his hand up, pointing his wand to the ceiling. She tripped over her discarded shoes, Severus catching her waist and her putting a hand on his chest to steady herself. She took a step forward, blushing when she realized how close they were. She felt his heart beat faster in his chest, trying not to meet his eyes. He looked down at her, holding his breath as he stared at the woman in front of him, her delicate hand on his chest. She looked up at him, his dark eyes piercing into her warm orbs. Her lips were slightly parted, something in her look that he didn't recognize. He couldn't pinpoint her gentle yet intense stare; Lily had never looked at him like that. Kate let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Professor," she breathed.

He lowered his hand, her fingers still curled around his wrist. He brought their hands to their sides, her fingers brushing against his, him expecting her to pull away, but she stayed the way; her fingers threatening to curl around his like vines on a trellis. He found the distance between their lips closing, her thick lashes brushing against her cheekbones, "Severus," he corrected, jumping when her lips brushed against his, parted in a whisper.

"This is inappropriate," she whispered, the smell of alcohol heavy on her breath. She pressed her lips against hers, Severus melting into her kiss, his hand finding his way to her waist, his fingers curling around hers. "Severus, we shouldn't be doing this," she whispered, her lips pulling away from his once more. She didn't move though, standing frozen in her spot. Severus's head was still dipped, her head still tilted up towards him, stained blue. He reached up, dragging the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip, exposing the pink below the blue. Their lips met once more, Severus cupping her cheek in his hand as their lips moved against the others, her hands snaking up his chest and her arms wrapping around his neck.

Maybe Meredith was right. Maybe she did fancy him a little.

Please review.

xo- DCAGP