Snape's standoffish streak continued through the rest of the week. The only time I was in his presence was my potions class, during which he refused to make eye contact and when I would stay behind to assist him he would immediately dismiss me.

When Friday came around, I stayed behind to assist him. Once everyone cleared out of the classroom he stood from his desk, making his way to the door and once again refusing eye contact with me. "Your assistance is not needed today Astrill." I rolled my eyes at his dismissal and stood from the stool I was sitting on. "Of course it's not." I said flatly, my voice sounding harsher than normal. He turned and looked at me finally, the normal look of disdain plastered on his face.

"Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"You have been acting strange for a week now, I am your assistant…Which means, I am required to assist you. If you don't want me to be your assistant anymore, it would be great if you would just tell me already instead of giving me the cold shoulder routine." I surprised myself with the courage I had to speak to him as freely as I was, but at this point, I just wanted to know if he was planning to fire me. Maybe it was the kiss, could he actually still be upset about that? I thought we were never bringing that up again.

"That kiss has nothing to do with it." He sneered pointing his long, thin finger at me, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Reading my mind is a complete invasion of my privacy!" He took a few steps towards me and for once I just stood there, I refused to allow him to intimidate me. If we were to indeed have a professional relationship, we need to discuss some things.

"Well stop thinking ridiculous thoughts and I won't be inclined to hear them."

"How am I supposed to know if what I am thinking is ridiculous when you are giving me the cold shoulder?" I argued back feeling a little like I was arguing with the stone wall.

"I will not tolerate this kind of blatant disrespect, Astrill. Fifty points from Gryffindor." He barked and I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag from the floor, slinging it over my shoulder.

"Fine, if you refuse to just fire me and get it over with, then I quit." Anger and frustration laced in my words. Realizing I couldn't bear to be in the classroom with him any longer, I stormed out of the door and made my way out of the dungeons.

Deciding that I would rather like to spend the rest of the free time I had alone, I walked to the Black Lake. I slumped my bag off of my shoulder and sat down on a rock not too far from the shore. It was nice listening to the sounds of the water, being alone with my thoughts. I felt like a fool for quitting such a great opportunity, and a part of me hoped that Snape wouldn't tell McGonagall i quit and I would be able to ask him for the position back, however I highly doubt that that would be a possibility.

I sat at the lake for a few hours, skipping my Divination class because I couldn't handle dealing with Trelawney. When it was time for dinner, I made my way slowly back up to the castle. I wasn't hungry but I thought maybe talking to Edwin would make me feel better about my rotten day.

"Where have you been?" Edwin asked when I plopped down on the bench beside him. I shrugged and laid my head on his shoulder. "It's been a rough day…I'm not the potions assistant anymore." I sighed and Edwin looked over at me. "Did that old git fire you?" He sounded angry and I shook my head "I quit." He bumped my head off his shoulder and glared at me "Why in Gryffindors name would you do that?" He asked and I laid my head in my hands, "It's a long story… too many people." I whispered the last bit and he nodded, rubbing my back gently.

***SATURDAY***

I stayed in the common room most of the morning, deciding to write to my grandfather, informing him that I would need a dress for the Yule Ball and asking him to pick one out for me. My grandfather was a difficult man, but he did have amazing taste in clothes. After I had completed my letter, I gave it to my great horned owl, Noctus and sent him on his way to Rosbell Manor.

My peaceful morning did not last long when Edwin returned to the common room after breakfast and asked if I wanted to accompany him to Hogsmeade for a butterbeer. I agreed, mainly so I could escape the castle for a few hours, and I was pretty sure that he wanted me to tell him what happened with Snape since I managed to dodge his questions last night.

We walked the path to Hogsmeade, talk was mainly about what kind of dress my grandfather would pick out for me to wear to the ball and if Edwin got his dressrobes pressed… he didnt. Finally he brought up what he really wanted to talk about, our potions master.

"So, you planning on tell me what happened with you and the great evil bat?" I rolled my eyes and smacked his shoulder. "He is not evil…He is just a prig." I snipped and Edwin laughed. While we continued the long walk I explained everything that happened with Snape. His weird attitude towards me and the dismissal of me on a constant basis, I could sense Edwins gears turning in his head while he listened to my rambling about how I told Snape I quit and stormed out of the classroom.

"So, do you believe me now? Edwin asked when I finished my story and we had finally made it to the Three Broomsticks.

I raised my eyebrow, "Believe you? About what?" My best friend laughed at my confusion and opened the old, raggety wooden door allowing me to enter first. "I'll get the drinks and explain in a second, you get us a seat." Edwin motioned towards an empty booth on the other end of the pub. I slid in to one side and a few minutes later Edwin sat our butterbeers down on the table and slid into the seat across from me. "Now…where were we… oh yea! Snape having a thing for you."

My mouth fell open "Absolutley not. That is insane." I stammered and Edwin smirked at me before taking a big gulp of his butterbeer.

"He has a thing for you and he is jealous of me… simple." I rolled my eyes

"Why would he be jealous of you, he knows you are my best friend and he knows we grew up together…Even if he was jealous… which he is not, you are like my brother and any notion that I have any feeling for you other than that are completely bonkers." My voice was firm as I continued to explain to Edwin how stupid he was to even think that Snape thought of me as anything more than a student. Edwin of course listened and told me that I was in denial.

"Come on you, we need to head back to the castle or Filch will have our heads on a pike." I motioned toward the door, standing from the booth and Edwin followed, putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Are you going to ask him for your position back?" He asked and I shrugged. I couldn't deny that I felt stupid for quitting but if he wasn't going to accept my help then I had no other option than to quit and just hope that McGonagall wasn't too disappointed that I couldn't stick it out with Snape.

Monday morning my fears were realized when Professor McGonagall caught me in the corridor as I made my way to Charms. "Miss Astrill, I spoke with Professor Snape this morning in the staffroom. He informed me that you are no longer his assistant… What happened?" I panicked internally while I thought of a plausible answer for her that didn't include me kissing Snape and him acting strange afterwards.

"Oh, Professor Snape was just too much of a challenge for me I think, Professor." I lied and she looked at me sympathetically.

"I think he may actually regret whatever he managed to do to offend you Astrill. You were a good assistant to him and I'm sure he knows that." She patted my shoulder and walked away. I just signed, realizing I would have to face Snape today and trying my best to just not think about it.

The day droned on and after lunch Edwin and I walked to potions together. I had made my decision earlier today that I would not speak or look at the potions master during class and that is just what I did. I sat stoic in the back of the class beside Edwin, brewing our potion together and documenting the process.

Every once in a while, Snape would walk by and linger, looking at the contents of our cauldron. I continued to give Edwin brewing instructions and act as though the large black mass of a dungeon bat was not snarling over our shoulders, judging everything we did.

When Snape was finally seated at his desk, looking down at a piece of parchment was when I took the opportunity to glance at him. I really did regret quitting and of course I wanted the job back but I knew if I asked he would prove a point by refusing me. Which, considering I quit, is fair on his part. Then my brain wondered to the kiss we shared, the way his lips felt so perfect on mine and how I would love to kiss him again… and then to my absolute terror I remembered, he's a legilimens and could very well hear everything I was just thinking.

My face turned red as a beat when his eyes flicked up to mine, and as quick as they had looked up they were back to the parchment. Edwins voice broke me from my horror, "What's wrong?" He asked and I just shook my head and returned to the potion.

I was more than thankful when class was over, I picked up my bag quickly doing my best to get out of the room with a crowd and to my joy and slight sadness, I was able to leave the classroom without speaking to Snape.