Snape's Heart

Chapter Four

(Potions and Stakes or Over My Dead Body)

Things had been quiet those first few months back, everyone, faculty and students alike, had been working hard. Everything was great until the day that Professor Dumbledore decided that Julia and Severus should work together to learn from one another, to prepare against the inevitable war that seemed to loom ahead of them.

"WHAT?" Snape screamed. "I don't think so! I'm going to speak to the Headmaster right this minute. There is no way I am going to work with you."

"This is not a joyous moment for me either; I'm just relaying the message," Julia exclaimed. "I've spent months trying to show you that I'm not your enemy and you refuse to warm up, so now we're stuck with each other. Dumbledore feels that it would be good if you knew some of my defense abilities and that I learned potions from you."

At that moment, as if summoned by their arguing, Dumbledore appeared in the doorway of Professor Snape's classroom, "Severus, we have already discussed this. You are in danger every time you are with the Death Eaters, and you need to be able to protect yourself with more than magic. Julia needs to learn potions from someone other than her Mother, whom may I add was an amazing potions mistress, but set in her ways, don't you agree Julia?"

"I agree sir, Mom was great, but she really refused to learn any of the newer potions techniques, and I did get cocky as a teen, I really didn't pay attention the way I should have," Julia admitted.

"So it is settled. You two will spend a few hours a week working together, teaching each other your techniques," Dumbledore said with an air of finality.

"Fine, I will have her make three potions for me," Snape said, obviously annoyed. "If, and only if, they are perfect will I agree to this. If one thing is amiss I will not work with this woman."

Dumbledore turned to face the young woman, "I guess that is fair. What do you say Julia?"

She smiled an extremely confident smile and said, "Yeah, that's do-able."

* * *

Snape wrote the name of three potions on the board; Draught of Living Death, Draft of Peace, and Veritaserum. He had conveniently omitted the ingredients, "These are potions that even my top students would find extremely difficult." He curled his lips into a smirk. "Good luck."

Julia looked up at the board and smiled. "Thank you Professor, but luck has nothing to do with this, just skill," she replied.

She began to collect her ingredients, juggling four glass cylinders at once. Snape looked up from his work at the sound of glass clinking, and noticed she was gathering everything for all three potions at once.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" he questioned, "You will definitely be asking for trouble. They are tricky potions and you have to remember the ingredients on your own."

She looked at him and smiled, "Don't worry Professor; I can handle all three at once, besides, you would expect me to do one at a time."

"Carry on then," Snape said while shaking his head in disbelief, he thought to himself, she will blow up the dungeons at the rate she is going.

Once all the ingredients were collected, she started fires under three cauldrons and began to prepare the wormwood and hellebore for two of the potions. As she worked, she would hum, sometimes even singing a few lines quietly to herself. Snape was not amused.

After about an hour Professor McGonagall knocked on the door. "Sorry to interrupt Julia dear, but your class is waiting. Would you like me to dismiss them for you?" she asked.

"Oh, thank you Minerva, I almost forgot," Julia replied looking at the hourglass sitting on Snape's desk. "I have about 20 minutes before I have to add the next ingredient to the Veritaserum, and the other two need to simmer a bit longer. I believe I can take a walk to my class and tell them the good news," she responded with an air of confidence.

Snape looked up from the parchments he was grading, waved his hand as if dismissing her, and replied, "Go ahead, if you feel so inclined."

"Thank you sir," she smiled and then turning toward the door, "Minerva, would you mind walking with me?"

"I wouldn't mind at all, my dear," McGonagall replied, her lips fighting a smile.

Once they had shut the door to Snape's class Julia began to giggle. "I think he is beginning to warm up a bit."

"My dear, you have such a challenge ahead of you. He can be impossible sometimes," McGonagall responded.

"I know Minerva, but he isn't so bad. He just doesn't know how to compliment people, or be nice. I feel so sorry for him," she said honestly.

"Well, if anyone can bring sunshine into that poor man's life it would be you, Julia," McGonagall said taking the younger woman's hand and patting it gently. "Everyone deserves happiness in their life, and that man has been waiting a long time for some. I had him as a student, and I have always had a place for him in my heart, but he shuts everyone out."

"It is truly a shame; he has so much to offer. I wish I knew why he feels he cut everyone off, he must have his reasons. The only person he really does seem to like is Great Grand Uncle, I feel that even that is with some reserve," Julia replied.

"I agree dear, but here we are at your room, go tell those students that they are off the hook today. They should be happy. I know that you work them hard," McGonagall said, smiling at Julia.

"Oh, you would be surprised, they actually like my class. I make them get up and burn off their lunch," she said with an evil smile. "Speaking of students, how is young Malfoy doing? He was looking paler than usual in class yesterday, and I didn't see him at breakfast this morning."

"He is going to be fine," McGonagall replied shaking her head, "he just has a cold. He does tend to be a little melodramatic, but he should be in class tomorrow. His father is coming here today to see him, which should make him feel a little better."

"Yes, Draco can be a drama queen," Julia said as she thought of how much he complains during her lessons. "I hope his father isn't like that."

Professor McGonagall just smiled, "I will see you in the Great Hall this evening dear."

"Have a great day, Minerva, and thanks again," she said watching the older woman walk down the hall and disappear around a corner.

"Well everyone, I have some news for you all," she stated as she entered the classroom. "I am sorry I was late today, but I've been busy with Professor Snape and I need to get back to finish my work so class is cancelled for today,"

"Ohhhh!" groaned the class.

"We were to discuss Angror Demons today, and then you were going to show us how to attack them," Hermione said, sounding very disappointed.

"Well, we will just start it tomorrow. If you can all show me the correct way to hold a stak, I will let you attack an Angror/boggart tomorrow," she promised.

They agreed and as the students filed out she watched with pride as they held out their stakes in the proper position.

* * *

As soon as she walked back into Snape's class he glanced at his hourglass. Julia had made it their and back in exactly twenty minutes. She immediately began to add the ingredients to the Veritaserum and stir the Draft of Peace thirty times with a tranquil movement, the whole time humming a tune.

"What are you doing?" Snape asked immediately after seeing her stirring a potion, which, in his opinion should be left alone.

"Well, it is the Draft of Peace; my Mother taught me that the Peace comes from the gentle stirring and the peaceful feelings in your heart. I know it sounds silly, but her potions never failed," she smiled, "I told you she was old fashioned."

"Well let me check your work," he stated sternly, as if she was a student.

"All yours, chief, but I do know that the Veritaserum still has another 30 days to brew." She said looking at him shrewdly, "Tried to fool me, huh?"

After about fifteen minutes of Snape grunting and shaking his head, Julia really thought that he would make them all disappear and tell her that she was a failure. But he turned to her raising one eyebrow and said, "These are impressive. I'm pleased with your work." Julia felt that, for Snape, that was saying a lot.

Taken aback by this, she stammered, "Thank you Professor Snape. I'm glad you like my work. Mom would have been proud of me."

"Now, what is it that you can teach me?" he retorted with a sneer.

"Well, do you have a boggart?" she asked.

"I know how to get rid of a boggart. That is elementary," he haughtily replied.

"Oh, I don't want you to banish the boggart. I want to use it to become any creature I want, so I can show you my physical techniques. Unless you have a few demons lying around?" she retorted.

"Yes, I see," he said looking at her with interest; he thought to himself, she may actually be more than a pretty face and a nice body. She may have some brains in that head. He started to smile to himself but stopped as soon as he realized what he had actually just thought.

Snape disappeared into his chambers and brought out an old piece of luggage that continued to jerk around on the floor after he put it down.

"O.k. watch this," she opened the box and as soon as the boggart came out, it turned into a vampire. She immediately spun on her left foot, bringing the right one up into the air and slammed the vamp/boggart in the chest knocking it backward. While simultaneously taking a stake that appeared to have just apparated into her hand and slammed it straight into where the vamp's heart would have been if it wasn't a boggart.

It acted as though it was about to dust but then turned into an Angror demon, which has red skin that looks as if it were made of dripping wax. She pulled it to its feet just to slam it against the wall then held it there with one foot pressed into its throat. Then, taking her stake she slams it into the side of its ribcage, causing it to burst into purple flames. Immediately swooshed into a Throark Demon, a slimy green beast with purple pulsing veins that ran along the outside of its body. She grabbed it by the head and with a sudden movement, snapped its neck.

Before the boggart could change again she yelled, "Riddikulus!" The boggart disappeared and she slammed the trunk closed.

Turning to Snape she said, a little out of breath, "That is what I can do. Are you interested?"

He stared at her with amazement. He had never seen anyone attack such demons, though they were boggart simulated, in that manor. She never resorted to hexes, jinxes, curses or potions. In his eyes, she immediately became respectable.

"I do not believe that I could kick like that. I would like to know how you knew that the Angror needed to be staked in the side?" he asked.

"Well, that is where their heart is, and the Throark doesn't have a heart so you just kill 'em any way you can think of," she replied. "You don't need to be this physical, but if you know how they die, then you can kill them."

"Do you always carry a stake with you?" he inquired.

"Doesn't everyone?" she joked. "Yes I do, you can never be too safe, I keep it next to my wand," she turned around and removed her hoody to show him a holster she wears, sort of like the ones Muggles use for guns, the difference being that there is a place for her wand and a stake. He also noticed the tattoo on her back, on her right shoulder blade. It was a black paw print that looked feline.

"Let me guess, you got that because it was cool?" he sneered.

She turned back and looked at him with a cold expression, "No, you only get that when you have been a bounty hunter long enough to get a reputation. It's the mark of the hunter, a past that I'm not all that proud of."

He subconsciously rubbed the Mark on his own left arm and just nodded at her knowingly. "Where do we begin, then?" he asked, changing the topic.

After a few hours Snape had picked things up quickly, before they knew it, they were both out of breath and sweating profusely. It had been a good workout, but it was already time to get ready to head to the Great Hall for dinner.

"I need to go take a shower and get changed for dinner, but this has been a great experience. I can't wait to do this again," she smiled.

"I agree, this was," he paused, "enjoyable. It is nice to work with someone who can carry their own for a change."

He put out his hand to shake and she grabbed it with hers. "Friends don't shake hands where I come from," and she pulled him toward her and hugged him. As she did, his hand, still grasped with hers, brushed against her breast and her body reacted by pressing against his. Both were surprised by the reaction and they pulled away from each other quickly.

"Well sir," she started, not able to look him in the eye.

"Call me Severus, please," he interrupted.

"Well Severus, call me Julia," she looked up at him and smiled, the air was heavy with silence. Finally she spoke, "I'll see you in a little bit."

They both turned to walk toward the thick oak door that led to the hall and stopped in their tracks, standing in the doorway was a dark caped figure.

"Lucius, I didn't hear you enter. Are you here to see Draco or is this business," Snape said, a bit startled.

"Well, Severus, I am here to see Draco, but there is always time for business," Malfoy replied with a knowing look in his eye that Snape picked up on immediately. "But where are your manners? Please introduce me to your....um....friend?"

"This is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Julia Lee." Snape quickly added, "Dumbledore has me teaching her potions."

"Oh, how lucky for you, my dear Miss Lee, but Severus must be working you hard, you look out of breath."

Julia smiled, catching on very quickly, "Oh, he is a hard task master, but I hope one day to aspire to his level of expertise."

"Draco didn't mention that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was so young and pretty. I'm surprised." Malfoy said, appraising her as if she were a piece of meat.

"Well, I don't think I'm his favorite teacher, I believe he prefers Professor Snape's class over mine. But that's okay, I'm not here to be his friend, I'm here to keep him safe. When you see him please tell him I hope he feels better soon," she said with a bright smile.

"Oh, I will pass on the word. Now if you will excuse us, I really do need to speak with our Potions Master," he said, hissing thru his teeth with a false smile on his lips.

"I will see you in the Great Hall, Severus. Mr. Malfoy, it has been a pleasure." She nodded her head, smiled and quickly left.

The door had barely closed and Lucius began, "Have you lost your mind? Scratch that, you weren't thinking with your brain were you?"

Snape turned his back on Malfoy and walked toward his desk, "Lucius, I have no idea what you are talking about. I was merely training the girl the way Dumbledore instructed me to. I am also picking up some of her methods so that I may pass this information along."

"Well, that hug did not look innocent, it looked down right lustful. Teachers having affairs, maybe I should notify Cornelius Fudge and see what he says about this," Malfoy threatened.

"Go ahead and try. She is close with Dumbledore and right now he is back in the Ministries good graces. Besides, she is American and that is their way, all hugs and touchy feely. Personally I couldn't wait for her to leave," he lied.

"Right, and the fact that she her body is tight and muscular has no effect on you? She got my attention. She could make a nice plaything even if she is dressed like a Muggle." He stopped to think and then asked, "She isn't a Mudblood, is she?"

Snape who looked up at him from his work, stone faced and unemotional, "Lucius, she is not a Mudblood, but I don't think that Dumbledore would take too well with the knowledge that his 'niece' is your plaything,"

They stared at each other in silence. Lucius broke the silence by stating that he really did have some information he had to pass on from their mutual 'Dark Lord'. After about twenty minutes the meeting was over, and Malfoy went to the Hospital Wing to visit with his son. While Severus went to take a shower and to ponder what Lucius had just told him about an upcoming attack, but all he could think about was Julia.