A War of Nerves

CHAPTER 1: In Which There is a Stranger

"I made it!" Hermione screamed. She sprinted down the hallway, screeching at the top of her lungs, "I made it! I made it! Harry, Ron, isn't this wonderful!"

She had just been accepted to the most prestigious school in the Americas, Salem's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and she was ecstatic. She had been on the short list of people selected for the seventh year exchange program, and she, Hermione Granger, had been selected.

Knocking down a group of fourth year Hufflepuffs, she darted to Hagrid's cabin, thinking to find her friends there. When she reached the door her face was flushed and she was out of breath. Fang started to bark, but settled down as she walked through the door. And sure enough, there was Ron, Harry, and Hagrid sitting by the fire drinking tea.

"You guys..." she panted, "I...made...it!"

Then she fell to the ground and began squealing, "I made it! I made it! I made it!"

Harry's and Ron's eyes widened. They knew what she was talking about. The American school exchange was all she could talk about all last half of sixth year. "How many applicants do you suppose there will be?" "What if they don't like selecting people of Muggle descent?" "Do you think I am studying hard enough?" "Wouldn't it be wonderful to see America?" "I hope it make it!"

"Congratulations 'ermione!" Hagrid boomed, sweeping her up in a big bear hug.

"Way to go Hermione!" Ron said.

"Yeah, this is wicked!" Harry agreed.

Hermione began to calm down and she said, "I was just packing up at the end of Transfiguration and Professor McGonagall asked me to stay afterwards. That was when she told me I had been selected to go to Salem's. I almost screamed and hugged her to death-"

"Thank God you didn't," Ron said under his breath.

"And then she told me that the trip was moved up to a week from now and I would stay the whole year, not just a semester. Then I screamed and hugged her."

"I knew you could do it 'ermoine!" Hagrid beamed. Then a giant tear formed in his eye, "I sure will miss you! I'm going to go make you a going away present right now."

Hermione smiled. "This is all so exciting!"

"You are really going to be gone all year?" Harry asked sadly.

Hermione nodded solemnly. "Yes, and I leave in two days to go get packed, then I am off for the United States."

"Well," Ron said slyly, "that means we are going to have to make the best of your last days here. Perhaps a night in Hogsmead is in need? Maybe with a couple of friends I like to call the Marauder's Map and Harry's Invisibility Cloak?"

Harry smiled mischievously, "Maybe Ron is onto something. What do you say Hermione?"

Hermione's lips twitched into a smile, "Yes!" She giggled and hugged her friends, "You are the best, did you know that?"

She kissed them both on the cheek, causing both of them to turn red.

"Hermione," Ron said, flushing a deep maroon.

Harry coughed awkwardly, "Anyway...You'll miss all our Quidditch games!"

"You can write me," Hermione said indifferently.

"And what about helping us with our homework?" Ron interjected.

"Well...the transfer witch or wizard should be able to help you two. They only send the best after all," Hermione said. When she got blank looks from both Harry and Ron she let out an exasperated sigh. "The exchange goes two ways you know! That is why it is called an exchange!"

"Oh yeah," Ron epiphanied.

Then Hagrid came out and said, "If you all don't get going, you'll miss afternoon classes. Now scoot!" Then he looked at Hermione affectionately, "I'll miss you 'ermione! And I'll write you when I can, I assure you that!"

Hermione embraced Hagrid again and said, "I'll miss you too. And I'll owl. Bye now!" she walked out the door with Harry and Ron, yelling their thanks for lunch.

The rest of Hermione's day and the next day were all a blur. With being congratulated, profusely, and picking up her last sets of notes in all her classes, she was occupied until her last night.

Harry and Ron met her in the common room around eight, after dinner. They walked casually out of the room and slid under the Invisibility Cloak as soon as they could. They stayed silent until they entered the underground tunnel leading to Hogsmead. Then a loud, animated conversation broke out, keeping them laughing until they reached the entrance of the basement of the shop. They slipped out of sight and down to The Three Broomsticks.

They ordered their butterbeer, Harry insisting he pay. But no one could quite get away from the fact that Hermione was leaving, and they probably wouldn't see her for a whole year, unless she came to visit for the Holidays. The evening ended up being pretty depressing so they headed back to the common room and talked until the sun got up.

Hermione got up from her spot on the couch and stretched, cracking her spine, "Mm, that feels good," she yawned.

"Man, did we go at it all night?" Ron asked.

"Yep," Harry said, yawning.

Hermione frowned as she looked at the clock on the wall, "You're late," it read. Then her eyes got very wide, "Oh no! I was supposed to be down stairs and ready five minutes ago. Harry, Ron, help me with my trunks!"

They rushed down the castle steps, three trunks following them. Professor McGonagall was waiting with Headmaster Dumbledore in the front of the school. "You're late," she observed.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "I sincerely hope you enjoy your time in America Miss Granger. Now, Minerva has been kind enough to escort you home to you may pick up any other belongings you may need. She has also been kind enough to bring you do Diagon Ally so that you may purchase the things you will need for Salem's. Now go, be young, be merry, and remember to write. And do say hello to Cherry for me."

Hermione turned to Harry and Ron, tears already welling in her eyes. "I'll miss you two so much! Please remember to write, I don't want to be too terribly lonely in America."

"Sure thing Hermione," Harry said reassuringly while he pulled her into a friendly embrace, patting her back.

"You bet," Ron agreed when Hermione and Harry let go of each other. Hermione held him in a death grip and then let go of him too.

"Now go off and have fun in America Hermione," Harry said.

Professor McGonagall, pulled Hermione away from her friends and said, "We'll take a carriage outside Hogwarts and then Apparate to your house."

Hermione nodded and followed her, glancing at her friends as the carriage rode away. The carriage exited the grounds and neither Harry nor Ron nor Dumbledore saw what became of it.

"I sure am going to miss her," Ron said.

Harry nodded and turned to go inside, but was stopped by Dumbledore. He smiled down one them and said, "I have just had a wonderful idea. Why don't you two be a sort of welcoming committee for our new transfer student. I'm sure you will be willing to accept them into Hogwarts, and not make them feel lonely."

Harry and Ron exchanged a look and said, "Sure Professor."

Dumbledore smiled again and said, "Good, because here is their carriage."

They turned around and saw a horseless carriage rolling down the path to the main entrance of Hogwarts. The carriage slowed to a stop and a tall man walked out. He smiled and said, "Professor Dumbledore! It has been years! How are you?"

"Just fine Steven, I didn't know you were going to be escorting the exchange student," he said amiably. Then he turned to Harry and Ron, "These are two Gryffindors kind enough to welcome the exchange student. Harry, Ron, meet the Deputy Headmaster of Salem's, Steven Garrison. Steven, meet Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter."

"Well met, well met!" Steven said, completely unphased by the mention of the Boy Who Lived. "Now I really must be leaving. Lilith! Get your Georgia accent out here now!"

Laughter erupted from the carriage and out stepped, in Ron and Harry's opinion, one of the most stunning women either of them had set eyes on. She wore a pair of closefitting, hip hugging black pants and a bright pink, sleeveless tank top. Her thick dark brown hair framed her smooth and tanned face, Her hair was slightly messy, falling slightly over her face in a sexy way. Her lithe body was delicately curved, though gave off the air of an athlete with her firm and toned muscles. A pair of sunglasses obstructed their view of her face, but not for long. She pushed them on top her head as she looked around her. She whistled and said, "Now ain't that the sweetest lil' castle!"

Her thick Southern accent was apparent to Ron and Harry even though they had only seen one Western flick, at Hermione's advice of course.

Then she looked over at the rest of the people and walked straight towards them, smiling the whole way. She stood roughly 5'9, taller than most girls, a few inches shy of Harry and a good half foot shorter than Ron.

"Steven, ya needn't shout so much. We all know how ya hate to socialize, but ya gotta get out more!" she said laughing. Then she did a quick look over of the rest of the group and said, "All y'all look as though y'all've never seen an American. I'm Lilith, Lilith Merrins. An' y'all are?"

Dumbledore smiled easily and took her out stretched hand, "I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore. This is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."

She shook both their hands vigorously, especially Harry's, blushing a bit when her hand touched his, and said, "Nice to meet y'all. It's too bad y'all are mute, ya seem like ya might be some fun."

"They aren't mute Lilly," Steven scoffed, "they are drowning in your disturbingly bright personality. Just like I am threatening to. Now I don't want to hear stories about how you ruined this school. And you will call teachers by their last names and their title while you are here. Now I must really leave, your trunks will be here soon. Do be good. Goodbye Professor, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter."

Then he rushed off in the carriage.

Lily smiled and said, "When is supper in this place, I'm starvin'! I have to tell ya Albus, carriage rides aren't my thing. Damned things give me a splittin' headache threatenin' to rival the Grand Canyon."

Dumbledore chucked slightly and said, "I've never been fond of them myself Miss Merrins."

"Please, since we're on a firs' name basis an' all, call me Lily. Miss Merrins and Lilith are far too formal," she said, her violet eyes sparkling.

"Very well Miss Lily, now come in, it is frightfully quiet out here. Well go into my office and talk."

He smiled and led the way in. Lily turned to Ron and Harry expectantly. However they had no idea what she wanted. She did a smirk of a smile and said, "Y'all are too quiet, lets see if I can't get a few words outta' ya. An' haven't ya English folks any manners, it is polite ta escort a lady in."

The smiled and looped either arm under one of theirs and practically drug them into the castle. "Now wud y'all say yo' names were?"

Ron coughed, turning red and said, "Ron Weasley," in a chocked voice.

"Harry Potter," Harry said.

"An' what year are y'all?"

"Seventh," the said simultaneously.

"Hm. An' wud y'all do fo' fun?" she questioned.

"Well, Quidditch mostly," Harry said.

"Ah! Got three words outa ya'! Harry, yer on a roll. Now let's try you Ron," she said jovially. "Now, ya got yo'selves girlfriends right. Hansom boys like you must have ta beat the girls off with a stick!"

Ron got even redder, if it was possible, and mumbled something like, "Not right now."

"An' you Harry?"

"Um, no."

They got to the headmaster's office and stopped. "Well it was nice chatting with y'all. I'll probably see ya tonight, at my Sorting. I was an Ether at my old school. See y'all 'round!"

Then she followed Dumbledore into his office, thanking him for opening the door for her.

Harry and Ron stood their dumbfounded. Neither had ever met an American, so neither knew what to expect, but this was further than either of their imaginations dared to go.

"Nice girl isn't she," Dumbledore said, smiling at the two Gryffindors.

"She's very, um, talkative," Harry ventured.

"And friendly," Ron added.

"Yes, I like her already," Dumbledore said cheerily.

"Um, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Yes Harry?"

"She said something about being an Ether in her old school. What does that mean?"

"Yeah," Ron chimed in.

"Well in Salem's they have houses just like us. But they separate them into categories of the elements. Roughly translated, Waters are Ravenclaws, Earths are Hufflepuffs, Winds are Slytherin, and Fires are Gryffindors. Ether, as you know, is the sky, constellations, time, and ethereal things. Ether's are well, they are like a flamboyant combination of all four," Dumbledore explained.

"Oh, okay," Harry said.

"Now I really must be going, don't want to keep Miss Lily waiting now would we, bad manners and all," Dumbledore joked, his eyes twinkling. He walked up his staircase, the wall closing like a door behind him.

"So, what did you think of her?" Ron asked.

"She is definitely, well for lack of a better word, hot," Harry commented.

"She is even prettier than Parvati," Ron said.

"Ron, it isn't even close."

"I wonder if she plays Quidditch." Ron asked absently.

"Probably, I thought it was international," Harry said. Harry looked at the clock and it read 'Breakfast.' "Let's get breakfast."

"Sure," Ron said.

Lily had just finished her enlightening discussion with Dumbledore. She wasn't at all surprised to see him so inquisitive; Steven had warned her he would be. All she could do now was hope no one could see though her disguise except Dumbledore. The whole reason she was here was to assist him after all, it had been a test on his part to see if he knew who she was. Her main goal was to seek out the traitor in their midst. A traitor for Voldemort. Voldemort...In her time, his was alive, kind of, and causing mayhem. In this time, she was informed by her mother, that he was still in hiding. That was precisely what needed correcting, that was precisely what she was here for. To correct time. The finest in the wizarding community had trained her, her mother, aunts, uncle, her uncle's numerous brothers, and of course, Steven. But of course she needed a disguise, and what better disguise than a harmless exchange student. Use Auntie Hermione's transfer to Salem's as a guise and become the friends of Harry and Ron. It would be weird calling them by their first names. Especially Harry.

"Miss Lily," Dumbledore prompted, interrupting her thoughts.

"Lily," she corrected absently, "I spaced for a minute, how rude. I'm terribly sorry, please repeat."

"I said we have to leave for the great hall, your banquet is in an hour, did you want to get ready?"

"Oh, how thoughtful! Thank you, just direct me ta where I can change, Albus," she said smiling. She really did love this old man.

"Right this way then, Miss Lily," he said.

Lily followed him down the halls of Hogwarts, trying to commit them to memory. Then all of a sudden a figure ran at her with such speed, screaming and making a ruckus. She pulled out her wand, thinking she was under attack, "Akinisu!"

The figure became frozen in ice and hit the floor, breaking into a thousand pieces. Then a spirit rose from the pieces, "Hey! You freeze Peeves!"

Lilly's wand hand dropped and she sighed, "Oh."

"That is enough Peeves, go," Dumbledore said, chucking a bit.

"My mistake Albus, just jittery. 'cited 'bout the mission ya know?" she said with a wave of her hand.

"And that is some wand you have," he commented.

"Thirteen and a half inches of Rowan wood. Has a sphinx feather entwined in basilisk plume center bonded by star dust," she stated proudly. (A/N: What is a basilisk plume? Male Basilisks have scarlet plumes on their heads...incase you wanted to know...yeah...)

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "And where did you get this wand?"

"Funny ya should ask. I had ta come all the way ta Ollivanders on Diagon Alley an' get it special made. Went through three American wand stores 'fore we figured that one out," she said with a light chuckle. It was a good lie. Auntie Hermione had made this special for her, a gift for when she entered Hogwarts.

"Curious...curious..."

"Yes, that is what Johannes said," Lily said lightly.

Dumbledore smiled and held a door open for her, "This is the Prefect bathroom, I'll have some house elves bring you your dress robes, etc."

"Thank ya very much Albus. I'll have the house elves direct me ta the dinin' hall, don't ya worry yo'self 'bout me," she said smiling.

Dumbledore inclined his head and walked off. Lily peeked inside the door of the room to see in anyone was there. Finding it empty she shed her clothes and wrapped a towel around her under her arms. She whistled as she found the type of bath oils she liked, apricot and vanilla. She threw off her towel and slid into the warm water. She closed her eyes on contact, reveling in the smell. She submerged herself and stayed at the bottom for a while. I'll wear my green robes...yes, green should do, the crushed velvet one with the silver trimmings. And I think I should probably breathe now. She rose to her shoulders and was immediately assaulted by a scream.

"Fucking Chriminy!" she said as she put her hands over her ears and looked over accusingly at a red-headed girl in a white towel.

"Who are you?!?" the girl said accusingly.

"Lilith Michelle Merrins, the transfer student from America," she said cautiously.

"What are you doing in the Prefect's bathroom?"

"Well that should be obvious, bathin'," she replied hotily, "Albus tol' me I could get ready in here 'fore the banquet."

Understanding washed over the red-head's face, making it less red from anger. "Sorry to scream like that. I wasn't expecting anyone. I'm Ginny Weasley, a Gryffindor Perfect."

"Weasley?" Lily managed to choke out. Blinking a couple of times, she regained her senses and said. "Come on in. Now I believe I met yo' brother, a nice young man named Ron was he?"

"Um, yes, actually. What did you say your name was again?"

"Lilith Michelle Merrrins, just call me Lily, dear. Yes I met him and his hansom little friend Harry."

Ginny flushed red at this. Lily smiled instantly, recognizing this reaction immediately. Good, things are going just as planned.

"Oh, and I take it you know him rather well?"

Ginny's eyes widened at her bold statement. She got in the water, instantly warming up to this American with the strange accent, "Do you think he knows?"

"Men are clueless. Ya practically have to enter their room naked for them to notice yo' attraction," she laughed merrily.

Ginny blushed at the thought and Lily smiled again. "What is wrong, can't get him ta notice ya?"

Ginny blushed red again, "Mm, something like that."

Lily nodded. From what her mother had told her, this is exactly how it had happened. Might as well give things a bit of a push. "I'm sure he has noticed you. Yer very pretty. I can tell ya keep in good shape. There is no physical reason Harry shouldn't be attracted to ya, unless he is homosexual of course."

"No! I mean no, he isn't, he's gone out with girls I mean," Ginny said.

"Just playing with you...Ginny," she said the name awkwardly. Then she changed the subject. "So, do you play any Quidditch?"

"Yes actually! I'm the Gryffindor keeper, since my fourth year. And you? You look like a player."

"Right ya are, I'm a chaser. So you're a keeper eh, bet you get a lot of guys, pretty thing like you," she said suggestively.

"Not really. I'm the youngest in a family of seven, I'm always known as Ron's little sister," she spat, rolling her eyes. Then she sniffed the air, "Mm, apricot and vanilla. I prefer honey and apples; I'm going to the opposite faucets."

"Honey and apple, never tried that before," Lily said, leaning back on the edge of the pool-like bath. This was fun, talking to...Ginny...like this. "So, what classes are ya takin' this year Ginny?"

"Normal."

"Hm, I liked that class. Tell me, is every one in England as talkative as you?' she joked.

"Sorry. I'm taking Arithmacy, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, History, Charms, and Runes."

Lily cringed at Arithmacy, "Oh, I hate that class, but I have it anyway. Don't have Care of Magical Creatures though, I have Muggle Studies. Runes should be interestin' though, doncha think?"

"Oh yes, I've always wanted to take that class. What on earth do ya do here though, fo' fun I mean?"

"We have Hogsmead on the weekends, Quidditch, and causing general mayhem."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Lily noticed her dark green dress was laid out with her necessary clothes, "How did they know?"

"They just do," Ginny said, shrugging when she saw what Lily was talking about. "Those are beautiful robes," she said enviously.

Lily smiled and said, "Ya know, I have a red robe that would look absolutely fabulous with your hair. It has gold trimmings an' all. Ya wan ta wear it?"

"Really?" Ginny said incredulously. Then her eyes dropped, "You're much taller than me, they would never fit."

"Oh, Gin, that is what alterin' charms are fo'!" she laughed.

Ginny smiled and said, "Oh, alright then."

Then both the girls pulled go out and Lily put on her green dress, using a charm to dry and straighten her hair instantaneously. She threw her red robes at Ginny and she put them on, smiling when it draped loosely over her. With a wave of her wand, Lily configured it to Ginny's shape.

After they both were done getting ready, Lily said offering her arm, "Care to escort me to the hall Ginny."

"Sure Lily," Ginny said very properly, taking her arm and laughing.

Then they ran into Dumbledore.

"Albus! Ya look good enough ta eat!" Lily joked.

"And you two look gorgeous as well. Miss Weasley, would you mind terribly if I escorted Miss Lily to the banquet?"

Ginny shook her head and walked quickly off to the Great Hall calling a 'thank you' in Lily's direction.

Lily smiled and said, "I do love the Weasleys."

"Yes, a wonderful family. But I wouldn't say that till you met Fred and George," Dumbledore said casually.

She shrugged knowingly as she entered the hall, looked up, and was instantly in awe at the glittering night sky. Dumbledore stood with her in front of the tables and waited for the crowd to quiet. Lily heard several voices saying things like, "Is that her?" "Who is she?" "I wonder what house she'll be sorted into."

Having all eyes on her was what she truly loved, and she rose to the occasion gracefully. The hall quieted and Dumbledore spoke. "As you know, we have an exchange student staying with us from Salem's in America. Her name is Lilith Merrins, and I hope you will all treat her with respect and dignity. Now, Miss Merrins, would you please say something about yourself."

Lily smiled at Dumbledore's use of her last name and thought now was the time to go into respectful mode. "Why thank ya Headmaster," her Southern accent laying thick on the ears of the students of Hogwarts. "My name is Lilith Michelle Merrins, but y'all can call me Lily. I'm from Savanna, Georgia in the United States. I'm very excited to be here in the most prestigious wizardin' school 'round the world. An' I set a fair warnin' that whatever house I'm put in, get ready fo' one hell of a chaser."

Light laughter was heard around the room and Professor McGonagall came in with the sorting hat. Lily sat on the customary stool and the hat was slipped lightly on her head.

"Make this fast," she said, "don't want my hair goin' flat now do I?"

"And, what is this, another Potter? How is that?" the sorting hat asked, amazed.

"Long story. Just sort me into Gryffindor, I know the routine."

"Curious...curious. You could do well in Slytherin you know."

"Heard it all before. Me. Gryffindor. Sort. Now."

"Patience my young one. Now off you go to GRYFFINDOR!"

A corner of Lily's mouth turned up and she took the hat off her head, shaking her midnight hair and earning the stares of many of her male classmen.

"I'll ask you to please take a seat at your table now Miss Merrins," McGonagall said. Lily nodded slightly, pinning her hair back behind her ear and walking over to where Ginny, Ron, and Harry.

"Mind if I sit here boys?" she asked.

"Not at all," Ron said, his mouth already full with food.

Ginny patted the spot between her and Ron and pushed Ron over some, "Ron, you needn't take the whole thing."

As she was sitting down, the doors to the Great Hall burst open and a tall man with black hair wearing black robes stormed in. Lily did a double take when she saw him. Alarms went off in her head and she stared at him as he walked past. He didn't acknowledge her in anyway, save a fleeting moment of eye contact. He went to the headmaster's table and began whispering things in Dumbledore's ear.

"He's..." devilishly charming, drop dead gorgeous, darkly mysterious, she wanted to say.

"Snape, the bastard," Ron snorted. "Probably came to ruin our evening."

"Who?" she asked quietly.

"Severus Snape, the potions master and Head of the Slytherin house," Harry informed her.

She nodded slowly and Ginny looked at her weird. She remembered her mother talking about him. He was...different in person. Or maybe it was her.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"Nothin'," Lily answered absently, "I thought I recognized 'im from somewhere," she lied.

"Well you'll see him every day for the next few months, so get used to his ugly hide," Ron said, food bits flying from his mouth.

Lily was still focusing on Snape when he and Dumbledore looked over at her. Her eyes went from Snape to Dumbledore and back again. Snape fixed her with a calculating gaze and she met it fearlessly. For a moment he seemed to loose his fierceness, but then he steeled his face again and gave her a solid glare. He broke contact with her to say something to Dumbledore and didn't turn back.

Lily looked down at her food and said, "I'm not hungry."

She turned around in her seat, her back to the table and her long legs crossed in front of her, elbows propped on the table.

"Yeah, he does that to me too," Ron said taking a bite out of a leg of turkey.

Then a group of boys started making their way to their table.

"Oh no," Harry said in an exasperated voice, "It is Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle."

"Who are they?" she asked casually. She already knew though.

"Only the three most annoying Slytherins on the planet," Ginny said after a drink of pumpkin juice.

"Well, well, well, boys," the blonde, whom Lily took for the leader of the three, said, "Look what we got here, a Yankee."

"Actually," Lily said in a low voice and standing up, showing her height was only a few inches shy of his, "I believe the more accurate insult is 'bloody wanker.' But I s'pose either is fine, so long as ya get the general meanin' 'cross. An' who are ya and yo' cronies-I mean friends."

"Draco Malfoy," the blonde boy said, "This is Crabbe and Goyle."

"No firs' names I see. Fitting for cronies-I mean friends. I'm Lily Merrins. An' is there anything I can do for you fine young blood sucking pricks-I mean gentlemen?"

Malfoy's lips drew into a cruel smile and said, "We were just wondering if it was true Merrins. Were you really a stripper in America, and are those your real tits?"

"No and 100%," she said with a smile. "And I was just wondering, how long has it been since you've seen actual sunlight, o' are ya a mole person?"

Draco sneered and said, "It is too bad you were made a Gryffindor, you could have been great as a Slytherin."

"Famous las' words I see. Why is it the firs' ta die always spew meanin'less drivel like that? Well," she said putting on a fake smile, "It was nice meetin' y'all. If I pass ya in the corridors, don't be 'fended if I don say 'hi.' Now if y'all will excuse me, I've los' my appetite. Ginny, Ron, Harry, g'night."

Then she gave Draco a lingering look of superiority and turned around quickly, leaving the Great Hall. She went down the corridors before she realized she had no idea where she was going. She growled and punched a stone wall.

"Having trouble finding your way?" a voice said crisply but smoothly behind her.

She turned around quickly; ready to give a verbal lashing to whoever was talking to her. But she was thankful that she had stayed her tongue because it turned out the person was none other than Snape. She eyes made contact with his, and again she felt the weight of his stare. Mother had definitely NOT warned her about this. She said nothing, not trusting herself to speak. She took a deep breath and brushed a hair behind her ear again. "Yes," she said in a husky drawl.

"Gryffindor common room isn't even in this tower. I'll take you Miss Merrins," he said. Snape was getting weird vibrations from this girl, and they disturbed him. Her calm confidence and Southern drawl were intriguing to him. He was especially interested with what had happened at the sorting. He had been occupied with a potion and lost track of time, but he had walked in before she had left. He suspected many things about her, and knew she wasn't at all what she seemed, but again, he only knew what Dumbledore knew. Though it was more like what he was willing to tell him.

She walked behind and to his left quietly, her shoes making muffled clicking sounds on the stone floor. He was able to smell her from here, vanilla and apricot, and it upset him that he should be thinking about such things, but her smooth gait and long legs called out to him.

Thankful that he had reached the Gryffindor tower he turned around and said, "Make sure that you remember where it is."

She nodded, her emerald gaze not turning from his black.

He knew those eyes, from somewhere. Her infuriating ability to seemingly see right through him was gnawing at his nerves. Not to mention the fact he had no idea what she was thinking, or why she was looking at him like that. Did she think he was the perpetrator, the traitor in the castle? Or was her gaze motivated by something different? He was sure he would have exploded at her if Colin Creevy hadn't showed up.

"Professor Snape?" he said, swallowing hard and fingering his Prefect badge.

Snape's eyes drew into a cold stare, "Yes, Mr. Creevy?"

"The headmaster wants to talk to you. He sent me to get you."

"Very well Mr. Creevy. See to it that our new exchange student finds her way to her rooms," he said, sweeping off. He could feel her gaze on his back and as he turned the corner, he couldn't help catching her eyes again...or could he? He was definitely intrigued by her. After all, she had been an Ether at Salem's. Ethers were the fewest in number of any house, usually one every two years or so. But not every Ether had purple eyes, usually one of twelve. The odd things about Ether's were their eyes, well some Ethers anyway. Some had purple eyes, symbolizing the fact that they had the blood of all four of the forefathers of Hogwarts running through their veins. It was odd to him that she shouldn't go to Hogwarts, or any other purple eyed child. The spells that detected candidates for Hogwarts just didn't pick up on her type, the Ether type, he guessed.

As he entered the Great Hall Dumbledore called him over.

"Why is she here?" he asked as soon as he reached Dumbledore.

"We've gone over this before Severus. She will catch the traitor."

"I thought I had that job," Snape said testily.

"You spend too much time away from the castle as it is to catch anyone. While you have done a wonderful job spying for us, it takes too much of your time. Have some rest," Dumbledore said kindly. "Besides, she really is quite good. It only took her three days to find the saboteur at the World Quidditch Cup last summer; I believe Ireland took that one."

Snape rolled his eyes, "She can't be more than seventeen, that is hardly enough experience to catch a person that works for Voldemort."

"Well actually, she is nineteen. American schools start one year later and go one year longer than ones in England. So technically, she is one year ahead of everyone here."

Snape grunted and said, "Just so long as she stays away from me."

"I hardly see that being a possibility Severus. She has classes with you, and she'll probably need to question you as far as suspects are concerned. I find her company delightful myself. Did you know her favorite candies are Lemon Drops? I find it absol-"

Snape rolled his eyes again, "I don't care. But to tell you the truth, I think she suspects me."

"You've given her no reason to."

"My history has."

"You'll just have to prove otherwise. Fudge has the up most confidence in her abilities-"

"Not that that counts for much," Snape said snidely.

"Quite so, but the thing is that he believes her. I know from experience that if you get on his bad side, he can make your life very troublesome. I don't know how many times I've had to Obliviate that man..."

Snape chuckled lightly, smirking. "Very well. I'm going to retire now."

"Are you sure you won't stay for the pudding?"

Snape glared at him.

"Then you won't mind if I eat yours?"

Snape turned on a heel and left the Great Hall.