Snape's Heart

Chapter Two
(Snape is Overlooked Again)

The teachers were assembling into the study that lay behind the teachers table in the Great Hall. The door had barely slammed shut when Professor Snape began to protest.

''I will not teach alongside an AMERICAN! I thought this school had certain standards that would not allow for such a thing to be,'' Snape shouted. ''And a family member, Sir, I implore you, isn't this a blatant misuse of your authority? Besides, how can she even be enough to teach that class, let alone have any experience in the dark arts? And her...her...clothing!" he sputtered. "It is a direct slap in the face to the standards this school does have...."

''With that said, Severus,'' Dumbledore began calmly, ''I would like to remind you that Hogwarts is an equal opportunity school, remember we did employ a werewolf. Miss Lee is very - if not overqualified - to teach this class, for as you see, her father was a vampire hunter and her mother was a great potion's maker. She grew up in very dangerous lands and had to learn at a young age how to defend herself. And considering how desperately we need all the help we can get in our war against Voldemort; I think she may be an asset.''

Snape glared at Julia with a look that bordered on murderous.

''Also,'' Dumbledore continued, ''Hogwarts does not enforce a dress code on the teachers, only the students, and robes are not worn world wide among the wizarding folk. And to answer your question about favoritism, she is not my niece by blood, her real great grand parents were students here and we were very close. They were married and I became similarly close to their children. I am such a fixture in the family that all the children refer to me as Great Grand Uncle. And besides, she has Scottish blood in her; she born in America. Does that clarify it enough?''

Snape began to say, ''But again Sir, why was I not..."

Julia interrupted, ''Who would have replaced you if you switched over to Defense Against the Dark Arts? It would have been a very difficult job finding someone of your abilities.''

Snape gave Julia a thoughtful look and raised one eye brow in a way that made him look as if he enjoyed the flattery, but when he caught the wink that Dumbledore had passed to her, the look was gone.

''Don't brown nose me, I know were my talents lie," he retorted.

''Does anyone else have a problem with Julia teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" inquired Dumbledore. ''If not I would really like to go to bed, I think I ate too many raspberry tarts.''

All the teachers agreed and Snape gave in grudgingly and everyone retired for the night.

* * *

Julia walked with her Great Grand Uncle to his chambers. Along the way she asked, ''Does he hate everyone like that or only the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers?"

''Oh, don't worry too much about Severus dear, he has had a very hard life and really just needs to find some happiness. I hope one day he can find love in his heart to quench the anger that is within," Dumbledore replies. Stopping, he turned to her and asked, "Do you think that you are up to that challenge my dear?''

''Well, I could try to be his friend, and I do like challenges, maybe I will. I find him intriguing and I would like to learn potions from him, ya know, compare it to the way Mom taught me. I think if he warmed up a little he could turn out to be a really good person,'' Julia said.

''I agree my dear, now off to bed with you. Tomorrow starts your first class and you have a lot of work to do." Dumbledore took her hand and she kissed him on the cheek. He started up the stairs to his chamber as Julia headed off to her room, ready to start her new life as a teacher and her new challenge at being the friend of Severus Snape. She smiled to herself as her thoughts turned to the tall dark man.