AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Thank you so much to everyone who has left reviews- I love hearing from you! I know that I'm writing a pretty rough and unsympathetic Snape right now, but I promise you there's plenty of room for growth, it might just take some time!

After finishing two chapters of Oliver Twist, Marie marked the page with a quick spell and closed the book, laying it down gently on the bedside table.

"It's time for bed now, Soren. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow night."

"Just one more chapter, please?" Soren begged Marie, pulling on her arm gently and giving her his most pleading eyes and charming smile. He absolutely loved being read to, snuggled up in his big, comfy bed with his rabbit and his new governess who was quickly becoming his most favorite person in the entire world. Even if he had only known her for a few hours, he was already completely smitten with her. She was warm and affectionate and he was desperate for someone to care for him. After several terrifying weeks of being alone in a filthy room with his dying mother, then being shuffled around with social services, only to end up in a cold, dark manor with a father who had somehow made him feel even more alone and scared, it was the first time he'd felt safe in months. "Can you stay a little longer and sit with me? Pleeeeasseeeeee?"

Marie stood up from the bed and tucked him tightly into the covers, running a hand across his forehead, combing the stray hairs of his fringe to the side. "It's nearly 8 o'clock, Soren. That's your bedtime, and I don't think either of us would like to see what happens if your father finds us upstairs playing around after lights out. I'm just across the hall, you know if you need anything you can always come get me. Do you have your rabbit?"

"Yes, he's right here." Soren lifted him up for her to see.

"Does rabbit need a goodnight kiss?" Marie asked sweetly.

Soren nodded and she gave the bunny a quick squeeze and a peck on the head before handing it back.

"Now be a good boy and stay in bed. We have our first day of class tomorrow, so you'll need your rest. Have sweet dreams." Marie bent down and gave him a matching kiss on the forehead.

On her way out, Marie swished her wand extinguishing all of the lights. Before she left, she made sure there was a small light still burning in his bathroom in case he needed it in the night.

She closed the door gently behind her and went to her own room to take a nice long bath and get an early night of sleep.

As he did every night, Snape retired to his study to read and write, occasionally indulging in a nightcap. He sat at his desk with his journal open, staring at the blank page before him.

His thoughts, which were normally controlled, organized and well-compartmentalized, were all over the place. When he reflected back on the last few days, it seemed incomprehensible that his life could change so drastically, so quickly. It still didn't feel real.

He missed his solitude, and he was nowhere close to coming to terms with the fact that not only was there a small boy living in his house, but that boy was his son. And he was a father. A father.

The word rose like bile in his throat, burning and bitter, and filling his entire body with nausea. For years he had blocked out any thoughts of his own father, an abusive and violent man who filled his childhood with constant pain and terror. He had worked hard to leave all of that behind him, reinventing himself when he left home for Hogwarts and never looking back, leaving his inner child cowering in some deep, dark, corner of his subconscious where he planned to keep him, locked away for all eternity.

But despite his best efforts, those images and feelings were flooding back to him. He never wanted to be a father, in fact he promised himself when he was young that he would never, ever bring a child into this world and risk passing on the generational trauma that still lived deep in his bones. He hated himself for allowing this to happen, for being thoughtless and reckless and weak…how could he possibly have allowed another unwanted and deeply troubled child to come into the world knowing they would spend the rest of their life suffering and miserable. You're not only a coward, you're a selfish fool.

Picking up his quill, he attempted to empty his thoughts onto the blank pages in front of him, but his hand stalled, paralyzed. While his mind wandered, the ink spread on the page until it pooled, seeping through the expensive parchment one layer at a time, mirroring the emotions and memories that were now flooding out of the deepest recesses of his mind, powerless to stop them from spilling over and making a mess.

Finally he snapped out of it and regained control of his fingers, lifting them from the page and tossing the quill onto his desk angrily before banishing the ink and sitting back in his chair as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He erupted out loud. "Damn you, Severus. How could you be so incredibly stupid! How could you let this happen!"

Standing from his desk, he walked to the bar cart in the corner where he kept his collection of fine whiskeys, brandies, and ports. He paused for a moment and debated whether to pour himself a glass. He knew it wasn't the healthiest way to cope, but he was beyond rational thinking at this point.

He picked up the cut crystal decanter in the back, lifted the stopper and inhaled the complex aromas of his most expensive single malt before pouring it generously into his Waterford crystal tumbler and skulking over to the giant window that overlooked his gardens. It was dark, but the moon was bright and nearly full, and he could see some of his night-blooming plants shimmering in the distance. It was beautiful. He loved it here. It was the first time in his entire life he had known peace and tranquility and could just do as he pleased, every day. It was the happiness he felt like he deserved after everything he'd been through; the pain and suffering of his childhood followed by the bullying and abuse he'd endured during his school years, and finally the hell of having the weight of the entire wizarding world on his shoulders while he played the impossible role of spy, professor, protector, and hell, even Headmaster in the worst of circumstances. It felt like a lifetime ago.

With each sip, the smoky, smooth liquid reminded him that he was still here, that this was not a dream—or rather a nightmare— that he could escape from. He tried to convince himself that this was not the end of the world, and he would find a way. After all, if there was one thing Severus Snape could always count on himself to do, it was survive. Even if it was fueled by pure spite and vitriol, he always found a way to survive. That being said, he was tired…tired of having to get up again and again and start all over. And he was pretty sure being forced into fatherhood was a great deal more terrifying and loathsome than anything he ever had to do as a triple agent and a spy.

He swigged the last few sips of whiskey in a single gulp, savoring the burn as it tore through his throat and scorched his stomach. There was something satisfying in the discomfort, it was one of the only feelings he allowed himself because it was so familiar… comforting, even in its predictableness. Pain he could tolerate, he understood it, believing it made him stronger. Everything else he felt, however, was a burden and completely unwelcome.

Once the alcohol hit his bloodstream and his nerves were calmed, he sat down again at his desk to write. It only took him a minute, but he poured some of his deepest feelings onto the page. Before he finished, he paused for a moment before he composed a small promise to himself and the boy…a sacred vow.

When he finished writing, he tore the page from his journal and folded it neatly three times. He tapped it with his wand and it glowed momentarily before he tucked it into his chest, immediately trying to banish it from his memory.

Soren laid quietly in his bed, holding his rabbit and listening to the sounds of the old manor. It had been a few hours since he'd heard Marie's door close and he was fairly certain she hadn't come out again. He'd also heard the unmistakable sound of his father's hard soles striking each step with authority as he made his way up the stairs and into the East wing. But that had been ages ago, and he was pretty sure everyone was now settled in their rooms, asleep.

His heart raced slightly as he climbed out of bed, grasping his rabbit tightly as he tiptoed toward his wardrobe. The door groaned when he opened it and he froze, hoping no one would hear him out of bed. But the house stayed quiet.

He reached deep into his wardrobe and pulled out a well-worn cloth bag and rummaged through it slowly until he felt what he was looking for… the long, slender, smooth spruce of his mother's wand. He had stashed it when the muggle authorities had come to collect him, hidden inside the seam of his bag as his mother had instructed him to do. Before she died, she had tried to teach him a few basic spells. Most children his age were way too young to access or control their magic, but he had surprised her. For a boy of 7, he was impressive. And she told him, whatever happened to her, not to let anyone take the wand from him, to keep it safe. It was the last way she knew how to protect him and it was all he had left of her.

His father's words of warning from dinner echoed in his ears, but he didn't care, he promised his mother he would always have the wand with him and keep it safe. As long as he didn't tell anyone, no one would know, and they couldn't take it away. He would just be very very careful to keep it hidden.

Crawling back into bed, wand in hand, he held it close to his face and breathed it in, searching for a hint of his mother's perfume or hand cream soaked into the wood. But there was nothing.

Clutching it tightly in his right hand, he whispered "lumos," bracing himself as a beam of light burst forth from the tip of his wand, filling the room with an intense white glow. He was quite impressed with himself, it was brighter than he ever remembered it being before. "Look rabbit, I can still do it!"

He waved the wand around as he watched the shadows of his furniture dance around the walls before he whispered "Nox," plummeting the room back into darkness. He repeated this a few more times before he finally gave into temptation and tried another spell.

Grabbing the small cup from his bathroom sink, he set it on the bedside table as he attempted an Aguamenti, something his mother had struggled to do consistently and a spell he knew was definitely far beyond his level. He remembered the authoritative wand movements his father had done earlier that morning and he did his best to replicate them, swishing his wand decisively and whispering the incantation with confidence. After three tries, a thin but powerful jet of water came shooting out of his wand, knocking over his cup and covering his book and the table in a pool of liquid.

"Oh no!" Soren panicked and lifted the book up, desperately trying to dry it with his nightshirt, but the pages were soaked through. He ran to the bathroom to grab a towel to wipe the table before replacing the book, hoping it would dry overnight.

He tiptoed back to his wardrobe and hid the wand in his bag, sliding it between the lining. He moved the bag to the very back of the wardrobe before closing it quietly and climbing back into bed, shivering slightly now that his nightclothes were damp. He wrapped the blankets tightly around him and hugged his rabbit to his chest, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Marie woke early and got herself ready before going in to wake Soren, not wanting either of them to be late for breakfast.

Soren was groggy from his late night but he allowed Marie to comb his hair and help him get dressed, sliding Snape's shrunken sweater over his head before putting his hair back into place. She glanced at her watch, they still had 10 minutes before breakfast and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why don't we go ahead downstairs. Do you have everything you need?"

"Yep!" Soren replied, taking her hand and heading toward the stairs.

In the parlor, Snape was sitting, drinking a cup of tea and reading the Daily Prophet. It was one of his guilty pleasures, he enjoyed keeping up with the Wizarding news, even if it meant little to him now. He looked up when he heard giggles on the stairs.

"Go ahead and greet your father, say good morning," Marie whispered into Soren's ear.

Snape folded the Daily Prophet and put it on the table beside him. "Good morning."

Soren let go of Marie's hand and skipped over to his father's armchair. "Good morning, Father!" He said, smiling and hopeful for a pat on the head or kind word.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Feeling chipper this morning, I see. I do hope you'll be able to contain your energy whilst you are in class today. I don't want to hear anything but a glowing report from Ms. Cloutier at supper this evening. Now sit down and compose yourself."

"Yes, sir." Soren's smile slowly faded and he sat down by Marie on the sofa.

"Did you sleep well, Ms. Cloutier?" Snape asked, taking a sip of tea.

"Yes, very well, thank you. I was so exhausted from organizing everything yesterday, I nearly fell right to sleep!" Truthfully, Marie had slept terribly, the first day jitters causing her to wake several times in the night, afraid she would oversleep or otherwise make a mistake on her very first day, but she didn't feel it was pertinent to share that. She wanted to project confidence.

"It's nearly 8, we can relocate to the dining room. Do you take coffee or tea, Ms. Cloutier?"

"Coffee would be wonderful, thank you."

Snape nodded and stood up from his chair, smoothing his hands down his frock coat as he walked in the direction of the dining room.

"I want tea with my breakfast." Soren piped in, following behind his father and speaking loudly so he would be heard.

Snape stopped abruptly and turned to look at him, disapproval etched deep into the lines on his face. "First of all, you do not speak to my back. If you wish to say something to me, you will wait patiently until you are able to present yourself in front of me and I acknowledge you. Secondly, I do not remember asking you. Speaking out of turn is incredibly rude— do not do it again. However, next time, should you feel the need to make an unsolicited request, you will address me properly and ask politely: 'Please, sir, may I have a cup of tea?'…Have I made myself clear?"

Soren's face turned a deep red at the harsh admonition and he had to blink back a few tears. He nodded his head and quickly wiped his hand across his eyes before speaking quietly. "Please, sir, may I have a cup of tea with breakfast?"

Snape kept his face impassive. "No, you may not. You seem to have quite enough energy this morning. Unless Ms. Cloutier wants to pull you down from the walls this morning, I would be doing her a great disservice to fill you with sugar and caffeine before you begin. You may have a cup of tea in the afternoon when you're finished with school." He turned around and continued walking toward the dining room, standing behind his chair while he waited for everyone else to arrive at the table.

"Yes, sir." Soren mumbled.

"Ms. Cloutier, it is becoming more and more obvious to me that my son has not had anyone to teach him basic manners. I would appreciate it if you would take every opportunity to point out his mistakes and correct him, it is becoming quite tiresome for me." Snape sat down in his seat at the head of the table, slipping his napkin into his lap.

As they had done last night, Marie sat on his right, and Soren on his left.

When everyone was seated, Snape tapped the table with his wand and the food Tinny had prepared for them appeared on the table. "Tinny, Ms. Cloutier will have coffee, and I would like another cup of tea, if you please."

"Yes sir, Tinny will bring that right out!"

"Ms. Cloutier, please serve yourself first," Snape said, mostly for Soren's benefit. "Soren, as the youngest, you will wait until everyone else has been served before you make your own plate. You will also eat some of the spinach and tomato omelet that Tinny prepared especially for you. It is filled with iron and Vitamin C."

"Yes, sir," Soren said, patiently waiting for his father to finish serving himself before he made his plate. He wasn't the biggest fan of spinach, but hopefully it wouldn't be too bad mixed in with the egg.

Breakfast carried on largely in silence for the first few minutes. Snape ate very little, mostly drinking his tea and having just a bit of toast with jam. He normally didn't make a big production of breakfast, but he wanted to establish a routine, and most of all, he wanted to make sure that Soren was eating properly.

"May I ask what your lessons will be this morning, Ms. Cloutier?" Snape asked.

Marie took a sip of water to wash down her bite of eggs before she replied. "Yes, of course! I thought we'd start out simple today, and let Soren tell me what kind of lessons he's done in the past. We'll do some reading comprehension and writing, and then some spelling and grammar. We're going to do some word puzzles, and then move on to basic math later this afternoon."

She left out that her math lesson would be fun and practical. She would set-up a play kitchen and have Soren bake some cookies, but before that, he would have to read the recipe, visit her pretend store to buy the ingredients, count the pretend money, and then learn how to do the measurements. It was a wonderful way to assess reading comprehension, learn how to follow directions, plan out a shopping trip, identify different denominations of currency, and then learn units of measurement. It was a fun way to learn, but she had no doubt that Lord Kent would likely never approve.

Snape redirected his attention to Soren. "You will give Ms, Cloutier your full attention today. I will quiz you about what you learned at dinner. And put more eggs on your plate, that's not nearly sufficient."

Soren wasn't particularly hungry, he was feeling a bit anxious now, but he took another sliver of omelet and put it on his plate, trying his best to choke down a few more bites until his father seemed satisfied.

When they reached the end of their meal, Snape set his silverware appropriately on his plate and cleared his throat gently.

"Very well, I shall see you again at 12:30pm for lunch. Soren, wash your hands and face and brush your teeth before you go to the classroom. Your new clothes should arrive this afternoon. Starting from tomorrow, I will expect you to wear your school uniform, with a tie and a jacket. I want you to treat your time in the classroom with respect. It may be in our home, but for you it is school, and when you walk through the door of your classroom, your mentality will be as such. And do not be late. Your bottom will be in that chair before the clock strikes 8:45. No excuses."

"Yes, sir, I will."

Snape nodded. "Work hard, I have high expectations for you. You do not want to disappoint me."

He turned his attention back to Marie. "Best of luck to you, Ms. Cloutier. If you need anything, have Tinny come get me."

"Thank you Lord Kent. Please don't worry about Soren at all, we will have a wonderful day, I'm sure of it. We'll see you at lunch."

Snape wiped his mouth briefly and then set his napkin on the table before escaping to the dungeon to brew. It would be the first time in days he would get to enjoy some time alone doing his work.

Marie could tell Soren was feeling anxious now, biting the inside of his cheek, the confident smile on his face from this morning had now vanished completely.

"Come along Soren, there's nothing to worry about, we're going to have fun today."

"But I'm not very good at school. I don't want to do bad and have my father be angry with me." Soren frowned and let his head drop down, hiding the tears that were filling his eyes.

Reaching out for his hand, Marie brought him close to her, bending down to look in his big dark eyes, wiping the tears that were collecting in his thick lashes. "I will not let that happen. School is for learning, if you already knew everything, you wouldn't need to go. All of us have a lot to learn, even when we become grownups. Your only job is to learn how to enjoy learning, so that way it is something you will continue for the rest of your life. It might be hard at first, but we're not in a rush, and it's my job to help you. Now, go brush your teeth and wash your face, and I'll see you in the classroom soon, OK?"

Soren nodded. "OK."

Both Marie and Soren were in the classroom well before their 8:45am start time. Marie was getting her own notes and lessons organized and Soren was sitting at his desk, patiently waiting for her to begin.

When the clock struck 8:45, Marie called Soren over to her. "I want to start just by finding out more about what you were learning before. Why don't we go sit in our reading area and we can talk through it."

Soren was just about to ask "what reading area?" When Marie pulled out her wand and transfigured several objects into an adorable little reading nook. Snape had included a small bookshelf for his classroom, filled with different books, but now Marie had added a colorful soft blue rug and two bean bag chairs.

"Take a seat," Marie gestured, watching Soren's face light up when he saw the bean bags.

"I've never seen a chair like this!" He said, giggling as he plopped into it and it moved around. "This is so cool!"

"I find a comfortable reading place to make a big difference." She joined him on the floor, settling into the big red beanbag chair opposite him. "Now then, I'd like you to pick out a book you'd like to read to me. Whatever you like from the bookshelf."

Marie had actually made sure there were several options for him to choose from, books ranging from simple toddler books, up to chapter books. So hopefully she would get a sense of what levels he was reading at, without him feeling any pressure.

Soren shook his head slightly. "I don't want to. I can't read that good."

"The proper grammar, Soren, is 'I don't read very well," that can be confusing but we'll learn more about it in our lessons later. And it doesn't matter at all, I just want you to try your best. Pick a book you're comfortable with and give it a try. It's just me, I'm not going to be upset no matter what. Let's start at the beginning then, do you know all of your letters?" Marie asked gently.

"Yes…I think so."

"Wonderful! Let's play a fun game then. I'm going to draw out a letter, and I want you to give me a word—any word— that begins with that letter. Do you want to try that?"

Soren was nervous but nodded his head.

"Great!" Marie stood up and tapped the wall above the reading nook, turning it into a chalkboard. With a piece of chalk, she wrote out the letter A. "What letter is this?"

"Um, it's an A," Soren said.

"It is, well done. Now can you think of a word that starts with A?"

Soren thought for a minute before he said "Animal"

"Very good! Let's write that now." She carefully wrote out the rest of the word. "Can you tell me what letters spell animal?"

One by one, she pointed at the letters, and Soren was able to get them all correct. "That's perfect, Soren, really great job!"

Feeling a little more confident, they continued like this through the alphabet, Marie prompting him at each step until he was smiling again.

"See? You know your letters very well, so now I want you to pick a book—any book you like, it can be a small book or a big book, it can have lots of pictures and a few words, or lots of words and a few pictures. It doesn't matter, just a book you like from the shelf."

Soren stood up and browsed around the reading nook, looking for a book he thought he could read. Finally, he picked one. "I want to try this one."

"Great, let's sit back in our beanbag chairs and you can read it out loud to me."

Soren took the book and sat down.

"Start by reading me the title."

"I don't know what the first word is," Soren said, panicking slightly at the realization that he couldn't even read the first word of the title. He had chosen the book because there was a boy who looked about his age on the cover, and it didn't look like it was too long.

"Let's sound it out. It is a little confusing because this isn't a word, it's a person's name. But we can still sound out the letters. What is the first letter and what does it say?"

They continued like this until they painfully made it through all of the letters and finally had the title: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

It took nearly half an hour for them to get through the book, and it was very clear to Marie that Soren was going to need a lot of help when it came to reading. Since this would be at the base of a lot of what they did moving forward, she would put a lot of her energy into practicing this with Soren each day.

After an uneventful lunch, Marie took Soren back upstairs to settle him in for his "quiet hour."

Soren didn't fight it, his late night and a morning "at school" had left him beyond tired. He sat on the edge of the bed and let Marie take his shoes off before climbing into the covers. When he was settled, he reached over to his night stand and picked up Oliver Twist, the pages now dry but visibly crinkled although he hoped no one would notice. "Here, read me another chapter in the book— I really want to know what happens next!"

Marie was about to respond when Snape's deep voice echoed from the doorway. "No, she will not, this is her break as well. And that is not how you speak to Ms. Cloutier or any adult, she is not your playmate, she is your governess and if you want something, you will ask her politely and with respect." He glared down at Soren as he walked toward the boy and clicked his fingers loudly, pointing at the bed. "Lay down and stay quiet. Tinny will fetch you when it is time to get up and get ready for class." He grabbed the book from Soren's hands and set it down on the nightstand without looking at it.

Soren obeyed immediately, pulling the blankets over him, sulking and refusing to look up at his father.

"Really, Lord Kent, I don't mind, it might —"

Snape snapped his head and turned his attention to Marie, staring at her, cutting her off mid-sentence with a look of reproof. "This hour is as much for your benefit as his, Ms. Cloutier, do not indulge him. Additionally, you should not allow him to speak so informally with you. Perhaps I have not made my expectations clear, but you are responsible for teaching him proper manners and behavior, which he should be employing at all times. If you are remiss to correct him, I will be forced to do so myself, and I highly doubt either of you will be happy with my methods."

Soren didn't like seeing his father scolding his governess, and he propped himself up on his arms with an angry look on his face ready to defend her. He was about to open his mouth when Snape turned back around to face him, his index finger pointing sternly at his face.

"Don't. Even. Think. About. It."

Soren quickly closed his mouth, but he let his face telegraph his displeasure.

"And wipe that impertinent look off your face at once. I will not tolerate disrespect from you in any form, certainly not in your words, but not in your face, your actions, or your dramatic sighs either. That's enough."

Soren attempted to put on a neutral face, but his eyes were still narrowed and even though he didn't say a word, he fell back dramatically in his bed, clearly still seething with anger. He grabbed his rabbit, crossed his arms and turned away from his father hoping he got his point across.

"You would do well to sleep. Perhaps a good nap will cure you of your petulant attitude. If not, we can address it in my study after supper. This is your final warning."

With that, Snape swooped his wand through the air, darkening the room as the thick curtains all fell simultaneously to cover each of the windows. "Ms. Cloutier, follow me please."

Marie put a gentle hand on Soren's head and whispered "Get some rest, I'll see you in a bit," before following the intimidating man out of the room. She was a grown woman, she had no reason to be nervous, but sometimes the way he spoke to her made her feel like an errant child. Her stomach did flop-flops as she closed Soren's door quietly behind her, anxious for the conversation that would follow.

When they were both standing in the hallway, Snape clasped his arms behind his back and stood to his full height. He paused for a moment before he began. "Ms. Cloutier, I know it is your first day, so I will be lenient with you as well. However, I expect more of an effort. I am paying you handsomely to meet my rigorous expectations, whether or not you find them silly or absurd. I know you think you're being kind by coddling Soren and acting as his friend, but you are doing him a great disservice. If he is not taught to speak and behave properly, whether I am there or not, he will inevitably find himself confused and prone to making mistakes. My threshold for tolerating this from him is diminishing rapidly. He will learn quickly, one way or another. So if you prefer that he learns this from you rather than from me, you would do well to take on this part of your job with more attention and care."

Marie's face betrayed her, the man's lecture, while delivered in a cool tone and without malice, had made her feel small. She took her professionalism very seriously, and she certainly didn't want to make things any harder for Soren. "I'm sorry Lord Kent, I will make sure I do better."

"See that you do. I'm certain you would feel quite badly if Soren were punished due to your own lack of consistency." Snape took a moment to stare at her disapprovingly while he let that sink in, and then, without another word, he turned abruptly and walked toward the stairs.

Without thinking, Marie's emotions got the best of her and she blurted out after him. "Or you could stop being so unreasonable and try to be a bit more patient with him. He's only 7, you know, all of this is new, and it's a lot for a little boy. Especially after all he's been through. He can't be expected to meet your impossible standards overnight, no one could. Honestly, it feels like you're setting both of us up for failure and it's completely unfair. Maybe you should make more of an effort." She crossed her arms and glared at him, satisfied she had sufficiently made her point.

Snape paused with his hand on the bannister, feeling his emotions flare and giving them a moment to settle back again before he made his move. He did not like to be openly challenged or disrespected, ever, but he knew he had to tread carefully if he wanted to keep Marie here. That being said, he knew he had to nip this behavior in the bud, he certainly didn't want her to think she could talk back to him every time she disagreed, they were not equals, she worked for him. This was his house, he dictated the terms, and if she wanted to keep her job, she would need to fall in line. He took a breath, closed his eyes, and turned around, hardening his face as he walked brusquely back toward the pretty blond, whose arms were now clenched in fists at her side, a gesture he'd seen from her once before when he knew she was clearly displeased with him.

In a stern but low voice, he made an effort to address her calmly. "Ms. Cloutier, I suggest you take this time and have a nap as well. I find a good sleep is quite effective for curing naughty young children of their emotional outbursts, so I imagine it will be equally beneficial for you. As always, you are free to express your concerns to me—respectfully— however, I ask that in future you request to speak to me in the evening after Soren has gone to bed. There will be no more shouting your grievances down the hallway outside of his bedroom." With that, Snape swished his wand, casting a silencing spell around them.

Marie could feel the heat rising on her neck, his patronizing tone had shifted the power dynamic even further and despite the fact he had not resorted to threats or angry words, he had effectively put her in her place and made her feel powerless and slightly ashamed.

Snape tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow before clasping her doorknob and opening the door to her room, gesturing for her to go in. "You're a grown woman, Ms. Cloutier, and as such, I expect you to control your emotions and model good behavior and proper manners at all times. I do hope I don't need to remind you again. If you are incapable or unwilling to meet my expectations— as 'impossible' as they may seem— you are welcome to resign. However, I am hopeful that a small rest will go a long way to improving your feelings on the matter."

Dumbstruck, Marie walked through her door before turning around, determined to have the last word and refusing to be talked down to. "As you so clearly pointed out, Lord Kent, I am a grown adult, so I can decide for myself if and when I'd like to rest, and I would appreciate it if you didn't treat me like a child. Who the hell does he think he is?

Snape smirked slightly, amused that he was getting under her skin, but quickly composing himself before he responded. "Yes, I can see that…but just so we're clear, Ms. Cloutier, let me assure you—" he paused menacingly before he narrowed his eyes and bent down slightly, drawing his speech out dramatically. "You are benefiting greatly from the fact that you are an adult. Had you been a child who spoke to me in the manner that you have just now, you would be promptly sent to bed with tears in your eyes and a thoroughly smacked bottom." He punctuated this with a clenched jaw and a signature raise of his eyebrow.

A look of complete horror flashed across Marie's face as her ears burned with embarrassment. She was caught off-guard by his comment, unable to come up with a quick-witted response before he spoke again.

"Have a pleasant rest, Ms. Cloutier. Do try to make the most of it." And with that, Snape turned back toward the stairs, extremely pleased with himself and reveling in the fact he was walking away after delivering a verbal coup de grâce.

Marie desperately wanted to slam the door and scream, but she wouldn't dare give him the satisfaction of acting like the overtired child he was subtly accusing her of being. She hated the way he could make her feel this way while remaining completely calm and even nauseatingly polite. Condescending bastard. She sat on her bed and took off her shoes and socks, throwing the latter in the direction of her wardrobe just to get out some of her frustration.

She groaned out loud and tossed herself back onto the bed. Eventually, she couldn't help it, Marie allowed herself to settle in, slowly making her way under the duvet. If she was honest with herself, she was feeling exhausted and a bit tetchy, so maybe it would feel good to take a small kip. Not that she'd ever admit that was what she desperately needed. She closed her eyes and replayed the conversation over and over again, alternating between outrage and disgust, mostly with herself because as much as she wanted to hate that infuriating man, she was intrigued by him. What is wrong with you?

AUTHOR'S END NOTES:

Oh LAWD. Snape is not playing and poor Marie is both angry and intrigued…as always, your feedback fuels me! What do you think about everything? Soren doing magic with his mother's wand…Snape dealing with all of his demons…poor Marie trying to make sense of a man she both loathes and yet still wants approval from.

Tell me everything! I love reading your comments!