In the End

Chapter 1: Coming Home Again

Thump, thump, thump.

Joanna groaned and promptly pulled a pillow over her head.

Thump, thump, thump.

What the bloody hell is that noise? she thought dazedly from underneath the pillow.

Thump, thump, thump.

Oh, it's someone knocking on my door.

She sat up instantly at that last thought. Someone's knocking on my bedroom door. That means someone's inside my house!

Frantically Summoning her wand, Joanna crept out of bed and stealthily made her way to the other side of the room.

"Qui est là?" she shouted through the door.

"My dear," floated back a familiar voice, "if I wanted to harm you I would've Apparated into your room. But to answer your question, it's Albus Dumbledore."

Joanna furrowed her brow and frowned. "Prove it!" she yelled back. She rolled her eyes when she heard him chuckle.

"My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. I am the current Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am the head of the Order of the Phoenix. I am the Secret-Keeper for said organization. The headquarters for the aforementioned organization can be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place in London. I am your Secret-Keeper. Would you like more proof?"

Joanna sighed heavily before unlocking the door and flinging it open. She smiled broadly when she saw her old Headmaster standing in front of her.

"Hello, my dear. Long time, no see." Joanna grinned again but then realized that he was not alone. Standing behind the aged wizard was none other than Remus Lupin.

"Remus!" she cried out and flung herself into his arms. It had been so long since she'd last seen him. He, on the other hand, had never seen this woman before in his life and was thoroughly confused as to why she was hugging him so forcibly. He patted her awkwardly on the back. Sensing his discomfort, Joanna withdrew from the hug and smiled sheepishly at him.

"I'm sorry," she said, blushing. "You're, uh, probably wondering who I am--"

Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and gave Joanna a pointed look.

"Er, right," she stammered. "I mean, ah, it's good to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Sir--from some people." Remus gave her a puzzled look. Hoping to get herself out of the awkward situation she'd placed herself in, Joanna turned her attentions to the Headmaster.

"So Professor, what brings you all the way to southern France?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily. "I have a proposition for you. But first I was hoping to have a spot of tea..."

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Of course, of course. Please forgive me. I rarely have visitors," she said apologetically to Remus and Dumbledore. Remus blushed pleasantly and gave a slight shrug.

"I don't mind," he said with a warm smile. Joanna's heart filled with emotion...it'd been so long since she had seen her old school friend. He looked much worse for wear but he still had that pleasant disposition about him. However, Joanna could tell he was still suffering from the loss of Sirius. Who isn't, she thought sadly. Remembering that she was supposed to be playing the part of hostess, she quickly shooed the pair into her living room and conjured up some tea.

"I hope you like it," she said bashfully. "The tea here in France is pretty weak compared to Britain's."

"It's lovely, my dear," replied Dumbledore with a grin. Remus took a sip and cleared his throat.

"Er, do you happen to have any sugar?" he asked gently. Joanna chuckled--she'd forgotten about Remus's sweet tooth.

"Absolutely."

The three of them sat around for about ten minutes, talking about everything and nothing, when Joanna couldn't take it anymore and asked Dumbledore about his 'proposition.'

He smiled and sat down his teacup. "You were always one for bluntness," he said affectionately. "I was wondering if you had entertained the idea of ending your self-induced exile in France and returning to England."

Joanna harrumphed. "If I recall," she said coolly, "it was your idea to send me here in the first place."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "It was my idea for you to go into hiding, not for you to return to a country that you loathed."

Joanna pursed her lips. "Yes, well, no one would have suspected me to return to France, of all places," she said tightly.

The headmaster raised his eyebrows. "No, I suppose not, considering everyone thought you were dead."

Remus choked into his tea and raised his wide eyes to look between Dumbledore and this woman, Joanna Kent. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously and Remus had the distinct impression that if she had been looking at him like that, he'd be running away as fast as he could in the opposite direction. Be that as it may, Dumbledore just calmly sat there on the comfortable blue and bronze couch, sipping his tea as if all were right in the world.

Joanna took a deep calming breath. Remus was confused, that much she could tell. His despair was starting to overwhelm her a little, too. She closed her eyes and continued to breathe deeply. A few moments passed before her eyes fluttered open. She locked eyes with Remus, who was watching her intently, and felt another powerful emotion emit from him. Closing her eyes again and clenching her teeth, she turned to where Dumbledore was sitting on the couch.

"Professor," she said. "I...I'm having a difficult time...controlling...I forgot this was how it felt to be around him...it's the lycanthropy..."

Remus's eyes widened in horror and he inhaled sharply. How did she know about his condition? And why was she acting this way? There had only been one other person who'd acted this way around him, but she was dead...

Suddenly, it hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Yes, well, no one would have suspected me to return to France, of all places."

"No, I suppose not, considering everyone thought you were dead."

"My God..." he whispered. Dumbledore eyed him before speaking.

"Remus, would you be so kind as to give Joanna and myself some privacy?" Lupin nodded dumbly and somehow made his way into the woman's room. He sat down on the bed but quickly stood up again, blushing. He paced around the room, stopping every once in a while to study the photographs on the wall.

It can't be her...can it? Severus saw it happen...he saw her die. She can't be alive. But then, why is she acting like that? Only one other person ever acted like that in my presence....Remus shook his head forcefully. No. It's not her. It can't be. Severus saw her die! He wouldn't lie about that...would he--?

But Remus couldn't complete that thought because Joanna walked back into the room.

"Remus?" she said softly. "Would you please join Professor Dumbledore and me in the living room? I'm afraid I've got loads to tell you..."

*~*~*~*

Remus vaguely remembered leaving her French home that day and somehow managed to get back to Grimmauld Place without splinching himself, but how, he had no idea. The only thought that he seemed to have was, She's alive, she's alive, she's alive...

*~*~*~*

After her long talk with Remus Lupin, Joanna felt exhausted. It had been years since she'd told anyone about her true identity. She snorted at that--true identity, indeed. It made her sound like some kind of superhero.

Shaking her head in a vain attempt to clear it, Joanna sat back down across from Albus Dumbledore and promptly engaged him in a staring contest.

"Why are you here?" she asked again.

"You are missed," he responded calmly. Joanna snorted again.

"I highly doubt that. People've had over fifteen years to mourn my 'death,' I see no point in them missing me."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "I can think of one person in particular who misses you more than anything. And I do recall Remus Lupin was quite happy to see you again..."

Joanna breathed deeply and studied the old man for several minutes. "How is he?" she asked, biting her lip.

"As well as can be expected," he replied in his usual 'I-don't-give-away-more-information-than-necessary' kind of way. It was Joanna's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Right..."

"My dear, I'm afraid I must return to Hogwarts soon, so if we may get down to business?"

Joanna nodded in defeat. "Yes, yes. What is it that you want me to do?"

"I would like for you to take on the role of Professor of Potions at Hogwarts this year."

Joanna's jaw hit the floor.

"Er...what? I thought--I thought that was Severus's job!" she exclaimed.

"It was," he replied with twinkling eyes, "but Professor Snape has graciously accepted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year, and I am now short one teacher. Considering you are the only other Potions master I know, I figured you'd be best for the job."

Joanna gaped at him. "Are you serious?"

"Very," he mused.

Joanna narrowed her eyes at him. "That's not the only reason, is it?"

Dumbledore studied her for a moment before replying, "No, of course not. However, you are the best person for the job and I would like it very much if you returned to England. You are no longer safe here."

Joanna sat still for a long time before nervously running her hand through her pale blond hair. "I don't know if I can go back there..." she croaked. Dumbledore reached across the table and took her hand in his. She was immediately overcome with a soothing serenity. He had always been able to calm her down.

"I know it will be difficult for you," he said softly. "But I'm asking you, as a woman and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, to please do this for me. The position does not have to be permanent, if you so desire, but I need you there this year, for both Harry and Severus's sakes."

Joanna sighed and tears welled up in her eyes. She raised her head and looked Dumbledore straight in the eyes. "I'll do it."

The headmaster smiled and nodded. The twinkle in his eyes had returned.

"So am I going as Joanna Kent, then?"

"It is necessary, for now," he replied, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "The Death Eaters cannot know you are alive, especially Lucius Malfoy."

Joanna squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered.

"And we certainly cannot allow Voldemort to know you are alive, either," he continued solemnly. "Should he discover that you are, in fact, living, he will go after you again. He'll especially want that potion of yours. He'll want to know why it failed him last time."

Joanna nodded. "I know. I understand. It's just hard...I want to tell Harry who I am. And Severus..."

"Severus has been coping with your absence for quite some time, a few more months will not harm him," the Headmaster interjected.

Joanna took a deep breath and nodded. "When do I arrive at Hogwarts?" she asked, hoping for a change in subject. Dumbledore went along.

"A month before term begins on September first," he replied.

"That's a week away!" she exclaimed.

Dumbledore grinned impishly. "Exactly."

*~*~*~*

The butterflies in Joanna's stomach must have been the size of kneazles, the way she was feeling. She was returning to her home of seven years. She was returning to Hogwarts.

A part of her was thrilled. This was where she truly belonged, not in some small French village teaching dunderheads how to properly cast a Levitating Charm. No, she belonged in England; she belonged at Hogwarts.

Yet another part of her was scared out of her bloody mind.

Suddenly, she was forcibly thrown forward and landed unceremoniously on the floor with a loud thud--the Knight Bus had come to a stop in Hogsmeade. Grumbling, she pulled herself up from the floor and made her way to the front of the bus.

"'Ave a nice trip?" asked Stan Shunpike, the pimply conductor.

"Oh, yeah, it was great," Joanna muttered as she grabbed her belongings and stepped down off the bus, which promptly shot off to an unknown destination with a loud BANG.

Vowing never to ride on that contraption again, Joanna Levitated the several trunks she had with her and made her way towards the front gates of the castle. Smiling ruefully, she forged ahead until she reached the large front doors. With a wave of her wand, the doors opened and Joanna stepped inside. She was home again.

*~*~*~*

Joanna stood near the Great Hall for what seemed like ages. Dumbledore had told her that someone would be escorting her to the dungeons (where her quarters were located--she wasn't too thrilled about that), but so far, she'd been kept waiting and her patience was running thin.

Then she felt him...she knew he was coming before she even saw him. Immediately she Occluded her mind.

"Good afternoon," he drawled. Joanna sucked in a breath. He hadn't changed a bit. More meat on his bones, though, she mused, taking in his black eyes, black hair, and black robes.

"My name is Severus Snape, the former Potions professor," he continued with a sneer. His detest for her was clearly evident; it didn't take an Empath to figure that out.

"Hello, Professor Snape," she replied amiably. "I am Joanna Kent. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Snape pursed his lips and nodded. He did not offer to shake her hand, nor did she do the same. Physical contact with Severus Snape would result in...interesting affects.

"Follow me," he said, and abruptly turned on his heel. Sighing, Joanna Levitated her trunks again and dutifully followed him down into the dungeons.

"This is the Potions classroom," he drawled, indicating the room they had stopped at.

"I know," replied Joanna with a raised eyebrow. "I went to Hogwarts, after all."

Severus gave her a surprised look before he narrowed his eyes. "Really...What house were you in?"

"Oh, you wouldn't remember me," she said quickly. "I was in a different house and you Slytherins didn't exactly pay the rest of us much mind."

Snape licked his lips unconsciously and blatantly studied her. "You have an odd accent."

"I lived in France for quite a while, all right?" she said irritably. He quirked another infuriating eyebrow but remained silent. Instead, he billowed into the room and led her to the back.

"Your quarters are in here," he said shortly. "You can set up your own password. The one now is Rachat."

"Redemption?" she asked him. His lip curled and Joanna was forcibly reminded of when he was sixteen.

"You know your French."

"Did I not just tell you I've been living in France for the past fifteen years?"

Snape scowled and Joanna smirked. Ha! Joanna--one, Severus--zero. Go me.

"Indeed," was all he said. "I have more important things to be doing right now. If you'll excuse me, Professor Kent." He spun on his heel again and sauntered away, leaving a glowering Potions teacher in his wake.

"Bloody git," she muttered before making her way into her new home.

*~*~*~*

The professors of Hogwarts were all sitting around the Head Table, waiting for the final member of their party to arrive, when Joanna suddenly burst through the Hall doors and came running up to the front of the room.

"I'm so...s-sorry!" she gasped out. "I...fell asleep!" Wheezing, she clutched her side and stood in front of the frowning teachers.

"It's quite all right, my dear," replied the headmaster with a smile. "We were just about to begin. Won't you sit down?" he asked, gesturing to the only empty seat...next to Severus. Joanna threw him a weak smile but he only scowled in return. Slumping her shoulders, she sat down next to the new Defense professor and made sure she did not touch him.

"Ah," said Dumbledore, rubbing his hands together. "Now that we're all here, let's get down to business. First off, I would like to offer my congratulations to Professor Severus Snape on his recent assignment to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."

The other adults clapped unenthusiastically, and Snape's lip curled ever so slightly.

"Secondly," he continued, giving a wink to Joanna, "I would like to welcome our new Potions master and teacher, Joanna Kent." She was given about the same welcome, though she noticed that Professor McGonagall was studying her intently.

"Now that that's all cleared away, let's get down to business, shall we?"

Forty minutes later, the staff meeting was over and dinner was served. Joanna had forgotten exactly how heavy British food was compared to that of the French variety, but she didn't care at all. She had missed the puddings and meat pies quite a lot, and was happy to see a lot of her favorite foods among the servings.

After the meal was over, the professors mingled with one another. Dumbledore had told her some time before that it would probably be a good idea to introduce herself to all the teachers individually. Joanna wasn't privy to that, considering she already knew a majority of all the professors, but he deftly pointed out that they technically did not know her. Pursing her lips, Joanna resigned herself to that fact and slowly made her way across the room.

"Hello, Professor Sprout," Joanna said with a smile, holding out her hand. Pomona Sprout smiled broadly and took Joanna's slim hand in her plump one.

"Hello, dearie!" she said, pumping Joanna's hand feverishly. "It's so wonderful to have some new young blood on staff! How old are you?"

Blushing, she responded, "I'm thirty-six."

Pomona's eyes widened at that. "Are you really? My, my, you don't look a day over thirty!" she exclaimed. Flushing again, Joanna thanked the Herbology teacher and made her way to tiny Professor Flitwick, her former Charms professor.

Finally, after about twenty minutes, the introductions were done. Well, technically, she had not talked to Severus, but he already knew who she was and Joanna didn't feel it was necessary to reintroduce herself.

He, however, had other ideas.

Severus had been watching her all night, studying her features, her mannerisms, her speech...there was something oddly familiar about this woman but he could not place from where he knew her. He was also found her to be highly attractive. Severus didn't usually go for skinny blonds, preferring buxom redheads, but there was just something about her that attracted him. He shook his head forcefully to get his mind back on track.

She had said that she'd gone to Hogwarts, but that she was in a different house, yet he was positive he'd never seen her before. She was very good at Occlumency, that much he could tell, because he could not sense if she had been lying to him earlier. She had purposely hidden all information about herself from him, and he was determined to discover why.

Striding down to the Transfiguration classroom later that evening, Severus knocked lightly on McGonagall's office door.

"Come in," she said through the closed door. Pushing it open, he glided into the room and stopped at her desk.

Without raising her head, she asked, "Yes, Severus? What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could see the Magical Registrar." At this, Minerva raised her head and gave him a shrewd look.

"And why, might I ask, would you want to do that for?"

"An associate of mine recently had a daughter," he lied smoothly. "He wants to make sure her name is on the list. There is a history of Squibs in his family and he would like forewarning if his daughter has that particular ailment."

"Mmm," she said, pursing her lips and causing them to almost disappear. "I suppose so. You have ten minutes."

Severus bowed his head slightly and murmured, "Thank you." He strode to the back of the room and walked through the nearly invisible door to where the Magical Registrar was located. He had only seen this fascinating scroll once before, many years ago, and Severus was reluctant to admit he hadn't the faintest idea how it worked. He peered down upon the open scroll on the podium and noted that the dates started on January of that year. Straightening up, he looked around the room and found a large bookshelf containing a scroll for every year of the past one thousand years. Finding the year that he wanted, he plucked the scroll from the shelf and opened it. Scanning the list, he located some of names of many of his enemies from school, but also names of those he once considered to be...good acquaintances.

14 February: Evans, Lily Rose
10 March: Lupin, Remus John
5 April: Black, Sirius Phineas
30 June: LeCorbeau, Hélène (Renamed: Kensington, Milah J.)
26 July: Longbottom, Frank Richard
9 August: Potter, James Arthur
17 August: Meadowes, Alice Willow
29 October: Pettigrew, Peter Cassius
4 November: Vance, Emmeline Eloise
19 December: Prewett, Angela Ginevra
30 December: Snape, Severus Sebastian

Severus felt an unusual pang in his heart when he stared at Lily and Milah's names. It had been a long time since he last thought about the two women. Shaking his head, he focused on the other names on the list. Severus raised an eyebrow at Peter's middle name; he found it to be highly appropriate. He also found Milah's real name to be interesting; she had never told him it before. He knew she was adopted but it never occurred to him that she'd had another name before she lived in England, which was stupid of him, he admitted. He thought "LeCorbeau" was curious as well. Yet he did not find Joanna Kent's name on the list...

"Severus? Are you done yet?"

Snape scowled. "Yes, Minerva," he snapped. Hastily rolling the scroll back up, he shoved it back onto the shelf and strode back into McGonagall's office.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked distractedly.

"Yes and no," he muttered as he left her office.

*~*~*~*

Joanna dragged her way into the Great Hall, bleary-eyed and still half-asleep. Flopping down in one of the chairs at the Head Table, she groggily helped herself to some breakfast.

"Sleep well?" Severus said abruptly, causing her to jump a little.

Taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of her nose, Joanna mumbled a yes. Snape sneered at her response, or lack thereof.

"Not a morning person, I take it?" he said snidely.

Joanna raised half-open eyes to meet his and shook her head; she really did not have any energy to argue with him. It was, after all, 7:30 in the morning. She couldn't even remember the last time she had gotten up that early.

"Do we always have to wake up at this time?" she grumbled to no one in particular.

Severus scowled. "Well perhaps you should of thought of that before taking on a position that would require you to wake up at all different hours of the night!" he snapped.

Joanna raised her head again and glared at him. Severus's eyes widened when he saw what color they were...or should he say, colors. She was now most definitely awake.

"What the hell is your problem?" she asked angrily. "You've been nothing but rude to me the moment I set foot in the castle and I've done absolutely nothing to you! So, pray tell, what is your problem?"

Joanna was seething with rage. She had only been here for one week but Severus's treatment of her was completely uncalled for. She had been nothing but polite to him, but every time he opened his mouth to speak with her, he had just ended up insulting her instead. She was really getting sick of it.

Joanna just now became aware of the fact that everyone at the table was either gaping at her and Severus. He, on the other hand, looked simply furious. That had probably been the first (and only) time anyone had ever told him off before in front of his colleagues.

Joanna--two, Severus--zero, she though grimly.

Snape continued to stare at her before he abruptly stood up and strode out. He was not happy.

"Bloody git," she muttered before getting up and following him out of the Hall. She knew exactly where he was going.

*~*~*~*

He was standing underneath the beech tree by the lake and staring contemplatively into the distance. He didn't hear her approach, but he did feel her.

Joanna came and stood behind Severus and was silent for several minutes before she spoke. "I'm sorry I snapped at you at breakfast," she said firmly. "It was uncalled for and immature of me." With that, Snape turned around and glared at Joanna.

"Apology accepted," he said, then turned back around to face the lake.

Joanna raised an eyebrow. "However," she continued, "just because I apologized for what I said doesn't mean it wasn't true. You have been treating me horribly this past week and I demand to know why."

She saw Severus take several deeps breaths, as if to calm himself, before he turned back around and fixed Joanna with a steely glare.

"I have nothing against you," he said evenly.

"Are you usually this charming, then?" she asked cheekily. Snape growled.

"You're..." He paused. "I--will see to altering my behavior."

Joanna nodded. "Apology accepted." She then grinned broadly when he scowled. "Does that mean we can be colleagues now?"

Snape ran a hand over his tired face and mumbled, "I suppose so."

Joanna's grin widened. "Excellent! Well, if you'll excuse me, Severus, I have some lessons to plan. Have a wonderful day!" She then bounded away, leaving a very confused man behind.

He stayed there for several minutes before he realized that she had been able to find him, despite the fact that he had cast a Privacy Charm around himself the moment he had left the Great Hall.

*~*~*~*

Joanna approached Severus's office hesitantly and pursed her lips when she reached the door. Things had been better between the two of them ever since their confrontation a week ago, but she was still hesitant to get too close to Severus. However, at the present moment, she needed to discuss some important business with the former Potions professor.

She knocked softly, secretly hoping that he wouldn't be there, but sighed inwardly when he bellowed "Enter!" from behind the door. Screwing up all her courage, she turned the handle and stepped into his office. He looked up from his desk and gave her a surprised expression.

"What can I do for you, Professor Kent?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

Joanna licked her lips nervously. "I wanted to discuss a few things with you concerning your previous potions students." Snape smirked, and then gestured for her to have a seat. Leaning back in his chair, he asked what it was she wished to know.

"I just want to know each student individually and to know his or her skills and weaknesses," she replied. Pulling out a large stack of papers, she began to read off names of students, starting with seventh-years and working her way down. It wasn't until she reached the sixth years did she encounter a problem.

"Granger, Hermione Jane," Joanna said as she looked up at Severus. She was surprised to see a rather pronounced scowl on his face. "What?" she said, startled.

"Incredibly talented," he said shortly, as if it pained him to say those words. "However, she associates with the dunderheads Weasley and Potter, so she often follows them into reckless misadventures. She was a participant in the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries last June." Shaking his head, he muttered "Foolish girl" under his breath.

"She's friends with Harry Potter?" Joanna questioned with furrowed brows. Snape sneered, confirming all she needed to know.

Clearing her throat, she continued and managed to hit another snag at her mention of a different Gryffindor.

"Longbottom, Neville Frank."

Severus snorted loudly. "How in Merlin's name did he manage an O in Potions," he asked. Joanna looked at him in surprise.

"I'm only requiring my students to have an O.W.L. score of an E in my class," she replied. "And since Mister Longbottom received an E, he is thus allowed into my class. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"You'll regret that," Snape sneered. "I haven't seen anyone as bad at Potions as he is since I've been teaching here."

"I do recall Alice and Frank being well-adept at Potions," Joanna replied coolly. This shut him up. Smirking, Joanna looked at the next name on the list and froze. Her hands started to shake as she stared at the offending name. She was assaulted with a number of bad memories, memories she desperately wished would go away.

"Malfoy, Draco Augustus."

At this, Severus sat up in his chair and rested his elbows on his desk, propping his chin on his fists. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy...his father is Lucius Malfoy, you know."

"Yes, I know," she said through gritted teeth.

"Draco is quite talented in potions," Severus continued. "He takes after his father in many ways--"

"Like how?" Joanna interrupted angrily, her voice rising with each word. "By being a Death Eater? A rapist? Murderer?"

Snape was staring at her wide-eyed, at a total loss for words. He opened and closed his mouth several times. Clearing his throat loudly, he said firmly, "Draco's not like that."

"Right," Joanna spat. "I'm sure that if I'd said Har--Right. Believe whatever you want Severus.

The man narrowed his eyes dangerously. "What do you know about the Malfoys?" he asked suspiciously. "As you so elegantly put it, you've been in France for the past fifteen years. More specifically, what do you know about Lucius Malfoy?"

"I know enough," Joanna hissed, though her mind was screaming Danger! Hoping to find her way out of the dangerous territory this conversation was leading in to, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind, something she knew would push Severus's buttons: "You're nothing but a coward, you know that?"

Snape's nostrils flared and he abruptly stood up, causing his chair to topple over backwards.

"Get out of my office," he snarled.

Joanna stood up as well and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Holding up her chin defiantly, she said, "No. Not until you admit that I'm right. And since that's never going to happen, I might as well move in!"

Snape was positively seething and Joanna was gritting her teeth in a vain attempt to stem the emotions that were rolling off of Severus. She's had twenty-five years to perfect her abilities and she sure as hell wasn't about to lose control now.

Snape approached her slowly and stood directly in front of her. "Leave now," he snarled again. He was incredibly close to Joanna now, so close, in fact, that she was able to smell the kind of soap he used: sandalwood.

"No," she said again, even more firmly. "Not until you admit I'm right." She was pushing it, she knew that, but she wasn't going to back down, not now, not ever.

Severus took a step forward and towered over her smaller frame. He studied her for was seemed like ages before doing something that completely caught Joanna off guard, something she didn't think was capable of Severus Snape.

He kissed her.

*~*~*~*

He didn't know what possessed him to do it. He hadn't been with a woman in so long...he figured his hormones finally got the better of him and he just couldn't resist her anymore. She was just standing there, face flushed, multi-colored eyes flashing, hair cackling with energy, looking absolutely gorgeous, and something inside him just snapped. Before his mind could even react, his body was propelling itself forward and he was kissing Joanna Kent, the same Joanna Kent who could both infuriate him and arouse him at the same time. Yes, it had been a long time since he'd been with a woman...much too long...

She, on the other hand, was immediately overcome with warmth and serenity, and her whole body felt like she was floating through the air. She didn't react at first, too stunned by his actions, but when she did realize what he was doing, she responded enthusiastically, as her body was wont to do whenever it came in contact with Severus Snape.

He kissed her gently at first, but then the kisses became more feverish and urgent as time went on. It was heavenly...his lips were softer than she remembered and he tasted deliciously of a mixture of peppermint tea and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on...His scent was intoxicating and Joanna felt herself getting a little dizzy from the lack of oxygen and tension that was building up inside her. She gently pulled away and gasped several times, trying to catch her breath. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, her lips still tingling from where he kissed her. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring up into the almost coal black eyes of her old friend. They gazed at each other for forever. His lips were slightly swollen and Joanna could see a slight flush to his cheeks, making him look less sallow than usual. He looked incredibly sexy...

"Ah...er..." Oh real elegant, Jo! she chided inwardly, rolling her eyes. Licking her lips again, she raised her eyes and saw that he was still watching her. He blinked several times and stepped away from where she was standing.

Breathing deeply, he ran a nervous hand through his hair--something he never did--and softly said, "I believe you should get back to your chambers before it gets too late, Professor Kent."

Nodding dumbly, Joanna muttered a soft "Goodnight" and made her way out of his office and into the corridor. Once she put a good distance between herself and Severus, Joanna was able to shake off his residual feelings and her own thoughts were coming back full force. After staring at a painting of some random person, she then promptly ran to Dumbledore's office.

~*~