Sitting in McGonagalls office always made me nervous, but this time I was interviewing for a position as a teachers assistant. The interview process was open to fifth years and higher and not that many interviewees signed up, usually because they were scared of getting Snape. I heard that the last assistant he had was a girl from Hufflepuff and the second day, he made her run out of the classroom in tears.
My head of house smiled as she asked me the standard interview questions and I gave her my best answers. I was hoping to be her assistant, but I would stand for Sprout or maybe even Flitwick. McGonagall smiled as she told me she would be proud to have me join the ranks of teachers assistant and my heart leapt with excitement. "Aurora, since you are keen when it comes to potions. I think it would be fitting if you were to be assigned to assist Professor Snape." My smile quickly turned to a frown "But Professor Snape hates Gryffindors. I can guarantee you he will not want me as his assistant." the stern older witch shook her head "Nonsense! I think you would make the perfect assistant, and you are just bullheaded enough to put up with Professor Snape. Now, do you accept the position?" I hesitated for a moment but nodded "Yes Professor." She smiled and clapped her hands together excitedly. "Perfect! He has a free period at the present moment, head down to the dungeons and give him this note, he will instruct you on what your duties will be once you get there." She said, grabbing a roll of parchment from her desk and handing it to me. "Yes Professor, thank you." I smiled and walked out of her office.
As I made my way to the potions classroom my stomach started to twist in knots. I've known Professor Snape for five years now. I know how he is and I shouldn't be nervous, but just the thought of having to deal with him with no one around to save me was terrifying. When I arrived at his office door, I took a deep breath before knocking quietly. "Enter." A firm voice replied from the other side of the old wooden door. I pushed the door open softly walking into his dark, damp office. Snape was sitting at his desk with notebooks and parchments surrounding him. He looked up at me and grimaced before returning to his grading. "What do you want, Astrill?" My heart started to thud in my chest as I approached his desk, "Sorry to interrupt Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall instructed me to give you this." I spoke quickly, extending my hand which held the rolled up parchment to him. He snatched it from my hand and began reading. He looked at me over the parchment and cocked an eyebrow. "So… You are my new student assistant." I smiled and nodded "Yes, sir." he continued to scowl as he resumed marking classwork. "Very well, you will report to me during your free period, you will be helping the first years not be complete dunderheads." he explained, not once looking up at me, he continued "With the Triwizard Tournament disrupting the year, I can't imagine that your help will not be somewhat tolerable." He glanced up at me and cocked an eyebrow, I smiled again, "Is there something else I can assist you with, Miss Astrill?" He asked, his gaze returning to the parchment on his desk. "Oh…no sir." I said quickly and he flicked his wrist in the direction of the door. "You may go now." I nodded and shuffled out of his office, closing the door quietly behind me.