The Web Wizard

That evening, Tara dressed in the jade green cape and wore it right over jeans and a t shirt. She also layered a long sleeved t shirt for her cold ride on a broomstick. She packed her digital camera into her fanny pack, which she wore outside her robe. It looked funny, but she didn't have any other way to carry her necessities.

Madame Hooch had agreed to take Tara on broomstick. She was the flight instructor and more than capable. As Tara stood behind Madame Hooch, who was straddling the broomstick, still on the ground, she asked, "Are you afraid of heights?"

"Yes."

"Well, don't look down then. Just hang on and you'll be fine!"

Tara felt queasy then. Next thing she knew, Madame Hooch had said "Up" and had the broomstick in her hand.

"Okay, on 3, we'll both give a push and up we'll go. Ready? 1-2-3!" They both kicked away from the ground and Tara shut her eyes tightly and buried her face in the back of Madame Hooch's cloak. The air was blasting past them, and Tara was glad she had dressed warm.

"You all right back there?" Madame Hooch asked.

"I think so. My eyes are closed."

"Well that's fine, we'll be there in no time."

She was right, it wasn't too bad. They came to a landing and Tara's feet hit the ground and she found herself off balance and fell over. She got all tangled up in her cloak and the hood was way down over her face.

"Did she faint again?" Tara heard a familiar voice ask.

"No, I don't think so, she just fell over," Madame Hooch answered, "you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I haven't even had anything to drink yet and I'm already falling all over myself." A hand grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, and she untangled her robe and got her hood off to find herself face to face with her favorite man. Again.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," she quipped and frowned at him. She snatched her hand away from him and dusted herself off. Her right knee was killing her and she saw that she had gone right through her jeans and had skinned it. "Dammit! I'm bleeding!" she cursed.

A hand held out a small bottle and a gauze pad. Snape again.

"What are you, a walking first aid kit?" she asked, taking the bottle and gauze pad. He shrugged.

"When I heard you were going to fly here, I took the liberty of being prepared."

She sponged the wound and jumped up and down when it stung and cursed some more, using some of her choicest swear words, then apologized.

"Sorry, that stung like shit." She handed the bottle back to Snape and pocketed the pad. That would be gross to give even to him. She felt a strange sensation where she had applied the salve and looked at her knee, which was healing right before her eyes. She was stunned! The pain was dissipating and she sat there with her mouth open. She looked at Snape, and he actually smiled slightly. Muggles were so amusing.

"Whoa! Hey thanks!" she said, "this is amazing stuff!"

"I brewed it myself. Once the students get to school, we need a constant supply. They are always falling down and cutting themselves, particularly the first year's. I made this one for you - muggle strength. So here, you keep it," he said, handing the bottle back to her and closing his hand over hers. Again the weak knees, and a flash of heat went through her entire body. She looked at him, swallowing hard, then Madame Hooch took her arm and said "let's go drink some alcohol!"

By then, other faculty members had arrived, including Dumbledore and Minerva. They entered the pub and Hagrid waved to them from a back table. He had reserved a large table where they could all sit.

"Miss Hall, I'm so glad you could join us! Nice to have a muggle amongst us!" he said with a wide grin.

"Thanks. Please call me Tara, all of my friends call me Tara," she said, flashing a dark look in Snape's direction. He met her look with one of his own.

"So what will we all drink then?" Hagrid asked, "Tara, you order first."

"I don't suppose I could get some California Chardonnay here..." she began, and there was a flash and a wonderful goblet of golden liquid appeared before her.

"Think again!"

Each drink materialized in front of them as they ordered, and they sat around talking, and performing little acts of magic around the table, which fascinated Tara.

"Do you think any of this will rub off on me?" she asked, watching Dumbledore make his stein rise off the table and circle them slowly.

"Stranger things have happened," Minerva said. "But you do magic with those contraptions you're setting up," she commented.

Three glasses of wine later, Tara was teaching Hagrid some rock and roll songs and they were singing. He had heard some of them. Hagrid was a lot of fun; Tara adored him. Everyone seemed to be having a very good time and had loosened up. Well, all except a certain man who kept staring at Tara all evening. She had excused herself to go have a smoke; she didn't like smoking around people who didn't since it was rather offensive. She was by the bar when a man walked up to her and smiled.

"Hello there, you must be Tara Hall," he said. He had golden hair and green eyes from what she could see. He looked about 40ish, was ruggedly handsome, and a little taller than she, and lean.

"Yes, how did you know?" she asked.

"Well we all have heard that Hogwarts' is getting computerized, and that an American Muggle was coming in. I'm Seth Taylor, and it's nice to meet you," he said, extending a hand. She took his hand and squeezed it.

"Are you a--a wizard?" she asked very softly so no one else would hear."

"Oh yes, we all are here."

The two of them were deep in conversation and she found him refreshing and kind. She felt something, someone watching her and looked across the room to see good old Severus, staring at her intensely. Was that anger she saw? She shot him a questioning look, and then he looked away. Seth noticed and turned to see who she was looking at.

"Ah, Professor Severus Snape. Intimidating old git, isn't he?"

"Yeah rather. A pain in the ass ever since I laid eyes on him," she said, and put out her cigarette. She looked over at him again. "He's not really old, is he?"

"No, I think he's about 41 or so...but he looks old maybe because he's so gloomy all the time--plus he spends so much time in his damned dungeon, it sort of sallows his complexion, if you ask me." Seth frowned, remembering his school days. "He was in his last year when I started at Hogwarts. Always giving us Gryffandors a bad time...I'll put it this way. He is an very complex person ."

Tara didn't ask him to elaborate, but was surprised that she and Snape were so close in age. He was only 2 years her senior if Seth was correct. Thinking of Snape made her remember what she had to do the next day and sighed heavily, as if a dark cloud had passed in front of the sun on an otherwise beautiful day. "Oh shit. I have to put a computer network connection in that damned dungeon tomorrow. And build his computer. Pardon my language..."

"It's okay," Seth said, finding this American muggle fascinating, "may I buy you a drink?"

Tara felt like a school girl. "Well, sure. I guess...I'm drinking California Chardonnay," she said, and with a flash, a glass appeared in front of her. The two spent a bit more time talking, then Minerva signaled her it was time to go.

"Well, the students are arriving tomorrow, so I must be going. It was nice to chat with you," Tara said, extending her hand. He took it and squeezed it between his hands.

"May I see you again?" he asked.

"I think so. You know where to find me," she said, and smiled.

"Yes. Well, good night, Tara."

"Good night."

Tara strode back to her group, humming happily. Madame Hooch squeezed her arm. "Who was that hottie?" she asked Tara. "His name is Seth. I think he knows the Professor, here," she said motioning towards Snape, "but then I have a feeling that who doesn't," she smirked, which made Snape send her daggers.

Tara was sleepy on the ride back, and she had to concentrate to stay awake to hang on. The last thing she wanted was to fall off the broomstick. When she returned to her quarters, she changed, and drank a whole bunch of water, and had just slipped into bed when there was a knock at her door.

"Who is it?" she asked, wearily.

"Professor Snape."

"Why? It's late!" she protested.

"I have your remedy, but if you'd rather feel terrible in the morning..."

She had forgotten! She jumped out of bed and put on her terrycloth robe and padded to the door. She found him standing there, sleepily, holding out a steaming mug to her.

"Thank you," she said, taking it. It was very hot and burned her lips, "I'm going to have to let this cool down a bit. It's a bit too hot for me - I'm a real whuss when it comes to hot drinks--" Snape sighed impatiently, took out a wand and waved it at the mug. Tara looked from him to the mug curiously.

"Try it now," he said with no expression.

She did and it was the perfect temperature.

"Wow, that's handy. Do you want to come in or did you drink your stuff already?"

He shook his head. "I didn't really partake; I tend not to. Looks like you had a good time though, with a certain young man..."

Tara flushed crimson, and downed the rest of the potion, anxious to get rid of Snape and go to sleep.

"How will I know if this stuff works?" she asked.

"You'll know in the morning. Trust me."

Trust him? Yeah right. Easier to trust a wolf in a hen house. She handed the empty mug back to him.

"Good evening, Professor Snape."

"Good evening, Miss Hall."

She shut the door and went off to bed. God he annoyed her. Now he is giving her a time about meeting a young man? Hell, I'm young, I'm in a strange new place, meeting lots of strange new people, and he was refreshing. What is Snape's problem?

She fell asleep and had restless dreams...