Welcome to Slayer's Way

Chapter Five:

Severus Snape entered the Great Hall famished and exhausted. He had neglected to eat anything at breakfast or lunch and that decision was catching up to him. He took his seat at the staff table and Dumbledore looked at him expectantly. When Severus said nothing and began to eat his dinner Dumbledore asked, "So, how did it go?"

Severus looked at him and shrugged. "It went fine. She purchased her materials and I escorted her to her quarters,"

"I'm glad to hear that," Dumbledore said nodding. "Thank you for taking time from your busy day to help her Severus."

Severus said nothing and returned to his dinner. About half way through the meal McGonagall looked to Dumbledore with concern.

"Where is she?" McGonagall inquired.

"She may still be in her quarters," Severus chimed in. "She looked extremely tired, perhaps she decided to rest."

"Severus is probably correct," Dumbledore said. "But just to be sure one of us should go and check on her," He rose from his seat as did McGonagall and Severus. Dumbledore and McGonagall looked to him quizzically but said nothing. The trio of teachers proceeded to Sanura's quarters in silence, Dumbledore in the lead. When they reached the dragon that guarded the entrance way to her quarters Dumbledore pulled down the left arm and the group stood back as the dragon slid to the side as if bidding them entrance. Severus moved into the front of the group leading the way to the door, which was left slightly ajar. Cautiously they entered the room.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Sanura slept peacefully and was unaware that she was missing dinner. The experience she had wore her out. She woke with a start when she heard whispers floating into her bedchamber from the living room. She sat up and for a moment was confused by her new surroundings. The moon shone brightly in through the French doors opposite the door and she tiptoed toward the entrance to the living room. She peered into the living room to find Dumbledore, Severus, and a strange woman standing there. Taking a deep breath Sanura stepped into the living room. Severus was the first person to look at her and for a moment she thought he might smile.

"Sanura, is everything alright?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Yes." She said smiling. "I had laid down to take a nap and I slept longer than I thought I would,"

"Ah, so Severus was correct," he said nodding toward Severus. "Allow me to introduce Professor McGonagall to you," Dumbledore said changing the subject.

"Pleased to meet you," Sanura said nodding.

"Hello dear," McGonagall said with a smile. "I trust your trip to Diagon Alley was pleasant,"

"It was. I must say I did enjoy the trip there. I've never flown before," Sanura said with a smile. She found her thoughts wandering back to that afternoon.

"Did you have any trouble acquiring your wand?" Dumbledore questioned.

"Not really. I had to try a few before I found the right one," Sanura told him. "I'm still curious to know how I was able to purchase a wand and how I'll use it," she admitted.

"You use it the same way the rest of us do," Dumbledore informed her. "The protection spells you have learned will work more quickly with the use of a wand," he had an unusual twinkle in his eyes as he spoke and Sanura wondered if he knew more than he was telling her.

"I see," she said shaking her head and watching the old man closely.

"Is there anything else you require?" Dumbledore asked her.

"Yes actually there is. If I am to teach the students Muggle combat techniques I'm going to need a training room and equipment. I brought all of my own weapons but you do not want me to teach the kids how to fight with real swords and daggers. You'd have a very high injury rate," she said. "I'm going to need a big room and some fencing swords and wooden daggers, safety crossbows, mats and other safety equipment," she said.

"There is a room, in the dungeons," Dumbledore began. "That has everything you need. I can show it to you and if anything is missing I shall be sure it is in place before the students arrive,"

"When do the students arrive?" she inquired.

"Three days," Severus said. Everyone was surprised that he had spoken.

"Ah, Professor," Sanura said with a smile. "While you are here, I can return that peculiar bag to you," she turned to retrieve the bag and within moments she was handing it to Severus. He took it and nodded in thanks.

The room took on an awkward silence and Sanura felt that it must be broken. Clapping her hands together once she said in a rather happy voice, "Alright then, let's go see the training room," Dumbledore smiled and nodded his head.

"Right this way," he said and the group left the room heading for the dungeons.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Chapter Six:

Again they walked in silence. Sanura looked at the paintings and almost cried out when one of them moved. The castle both fascinated and frightened her but she was confident that she would adjust quickly. She brought up the rear of the group so that she could keep and eye on all of them. She had a habit of studying the people around her and she was doing it now. She noticed that Dumbledore walked in short but quick steps and he reminded her of a hyper child. McGonagall on the other hand walked in confident strides and kept up with Dumbledore only because she was taller. She kept her head up and maintained a look of authority.

Dumbledore led the group down two flights of stairs and down the entrance hall. When they reached the hall McGonagall broke away from the group and headed toward her office. Dumbledore, Severus, and Sanura proceeded down the hall and at the end of the hall they took a sharp right and descended yet another flight of stairs. The dungeons were dark and musty and Sanura felt herself get tense. She almost expected a vampire or corpse to jump from the wall at her. She shivered and continued to follow Dumbledore. They walked past the Potions Classroom and down a small hallway. At the end of this hallway was a large mahogany door, which was completely covered in cobwebs. The door looked as if it had not been opened in quite some time. Dumbledore produced a copper colored key and the door creaked open. Despite the door's appearance the inside of the room looked new. Sanura stepped inside and looked around. It had everything she could ever want and some things she had not thought to request.

"It's perfect," she said looking to Dumbledore with a grin. "Some of the slayers would kill for a room like this to train in," she added.

"It has everything you need?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." She said and then she frowned. "Well, actually no."

"What is missing?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's not what its who." She said with a sigh. "It just occurred to me that I'm going to be instructing children who are half my height and have probably never held a sword before. I'm going to need an adult assistant." She shook her head in dismay.

"I'm sure we can find you one," Dumbledore said with a gleam in his eyes. He looked to Severus for a moment and Sanura followed his gaze.

"No." she said shaking her head. "Definitely not,"

Severus was blissfully clueless as to what was going on. He had begun to wander the room and was looking at the small arsenal of weapons with fascination. He had vaguely heard Sanura's request for an adult assistant but was unaware that Dumbledore was looking at him. He looked at Sanura with a questioning gaze when he heard her speak.

"Why ever not?" Dumbledore said with a smile. "You've already fought him once."

Sanura opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out. She didn't have a good reason why she didn't want Severus to be her personal punching bag other than she was afraid she would hurt him.

"I could hurt him," she said shaking her head. "No, it's out of the question."

Severus wandered back over to the group and looked at Dumbledore curiously. "Could hurt who?" he asked.

"You," Sanura said shortly.

"Excuse me?" Severus said.

"Sanura has requested an adult assistant. I merely suggested that you might be perfect for the job." Dumbledore said.

"And I refuse to ask you to do that," Sanura said. "The position that you have here demands a certain degree of respect. Can you imagine how the children would act toward him if they watched a mere Muggle woman beat him up?" she said.

"Who said you would win?" Severus said indignantly. "I'm not as weak as I look young lady,"

"I beg to differ. If I remember correctly I had you on your back and then pinned to a wall before you could blink," she shot back. She could feel her face turning a bright red and tried to calm down.

"Only because you caught me off guard," he said.

"Besides, don't you have classes of your own to teach?" she said. "When will you have time to come here and help me?"

"Well, it could be worked out that Potions Class starts later than Defense or that the Defense classes could start a bit earlier," Dumbledore said. "Severus could even leave his class for a few moments after he has given an assignment,"

"You would trust a bunch of kids alone in a Potions lab?" she said. "You want your school blown up don't you?"

"My students know to behave," Severus said.

"They may not take you so seriously when they see me throwing you around like a stuffed toy," she said a devilish grin spreading across her face.

"Dear lady you will not be throwing me around like a stuffed toy," he said. "I'll do it," Severus said. "We can work out the details tomorrow,"

She sighed deeply. "Well, if you insist." Dumbledore smiled and decided to return to his office. There was much to be done in the small amount of time that remained before the arrival of the students. Handing Sanura the key Dumbledore bade both her and Severus farewell and disappeared from the room leaving them standing awkwardly in the doorway. The silence hung in the room like a dense fog so Sanura decided to look over the room more carefully. She walked over to one of the walls where a target stood. A crossbow and some arrows lay beside it. She could not resist the urge to try it out. Lifting the bow from the ground she walked to the far wall and aimed at the target.

"You'll never hit it from there," Severus said snidely.

"Would you like to make a bet?" she said. She fired the bow and the arrow hit the center of the bull's eye. Smiling she lowered the bow. "You were saying?" she said smugly.

Severus stood there in stunned silence. Satisfied with his reaction she placed the bow back where she found it and looked critically at all the other equipment that had been provided. There were weapons from every century and every country. One wall even contained Egyptian weapons and she smiled.

"Tell me Professor," she said after another moment of silence. "Why did you volunteer to help me? What's in it for you?"

"Nothing." Severus said looking at her. "I volunteered because I can handle myself when the fight is fair,"

"Have you ever even held a sword before?" she asked. "Have you ever physically fought before?" she studied him now, making him aware of her actions. "You look like the kind of wizard who would hide behind his wand at all costs," she observed.

"I admit that I've never gotten myself into a physical confrontation," he confessed. "But you don't have to worry about me, I can take care of myself."

"Let me guess, you have a potion that will make you and excellent swordsman and maybe even a great master of the martial arts," she said sarcastically.

"Well, not a potion, more of a charm," he said. "We have charms for almost everything." He added.

"In that case," she said, "I'm not going to go easy on you."

"Nor am I on you," Severus said. "You're supposed to be the best there is, I want you to prove it."

Sanura was surprised by his response. She had not expected him to admit that he was planning on attempting to make her look foolish.

"Are all wizards like you?" she asked unable to contain her anger and frustration any longer.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Are all wizards afraid to learn new things? Are they all afraid to face things without magic? Do you people think at all? Did it ever occur to you that maybe one day you'll need to defend yourself and you won't have your wand to help you? That you won't have that charm or that potion? Did you ever stop to think for one second that maybe you could learn something from me?" she stood and glared at him unsure of why she was so angry.

"Again you pose questions that have never been brought to my attention previous to this conversation," Severus said. "I do not know if anyone has contemplated your proposal before this point. Dumbledore obviously has or he wouldn't have hired you."

Sanura shook her head in annoyance. "You people don't even think for yourselves do you? Does your wand provide a spell to make you think independently? To make you think like a person rather than a god?" she questioned.

"Of course we think for ourselves," Severus said. "Our wands do not control us, they are just a tool that aids us in our casting ability,"

"Are you afraid to learn something new?" she demanded.

"Of course not," Severus said.

"Then come to this class without the charm. Learn with the students. It will be a lot more fun for you and me if I didn't feel like I had to slit your throat to prove a point," she told him.

"I shall consider your proposal," he said nodding. He pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at the time. "If you will excuse me Miss Crow I believe I shall retire for the evening."

"Night," she said absentmindedly. He left the room and Sanura instantly felt alone. She rolled her neck from one side to the other and closed her eyes. She suddenly felt drained and tired. She waited a few moments longer to be sure that Severus had gone before closing the door and returning to her quarters. She dressed for bed quickly and slid under the blankets.

"Get a grip," she told herself before turning over in bed. "He's not your type,"

Then why couldn't she get him out of her head?

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Chapter Seven:

The next day was a dark and cold one. Sanura shivered as she hopped out of bed and looked out the window. The sky was dark and threatened rain. She showered and dressed quickly in robes of crimson.

"How do I look?" she said to her reflection in the mirror.

"I think you should pull your hair up," the mirror replied. Sanura jumped back and blinked. "What's the matter? You look like you've never seen a talking mirror before,"

She laughed and shook her head. "Will wonders never cease?" She followed her reflection's advice and pulled her hair in a ponytail.

"I'm so uncomfortable," she said to herself. "I feel like I'm wearing a damn dress." She looked in the mirror again and decided that she would wear her favorite black leather pants and red spaghetti strapped tank top. She threw her robes over her head once more and decided that she was now ready to venture from her room. She walked down to the Great Hall to find that she was late for breakfast. Everyone stopped eating and glanced at her as she entered the room.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence," Severus said sarcastically as she sat in the empty seat at the end of the table.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor Sprout said cheerfully as Sanura sat down.

"Thanks," Sanura said nervously.

"Are you coming to Hogsmeade with us tomorrow?" Dumbledore inquired.

"I didn't know you were going," Sanura said shortly as she surveyed the strange looking food items that had appeared before her.

"It's become tradition among the teaching staff to take a day from planning lessons to have a bit of fun before our students arrive," McGonagall informed her. "I insist that you join us. Even you deserve a break."

"Well I suppose that means I am coming then," Sanura said. She wanted to add that she disliked being told what to do but dismissed the thought. Everyone with the exception of Severus was attempting to make her feel welcome. She picked at her breakfast discovering that she was not hungry.

"You really should eat something," Madam Pomfrey said when she noticed Sanura's plate.

"I'm not hungry," she said. She looked down the table to where Severus sat sipping a cup of tea and chatting with Dumbledore. She watched him rise to leave.

"Professor," she said quickly, rising from her seat as well. "If you are going to assist me in my classes I think that we should go over a few things."

He looked at her as if he had not heard her. She stood patiently waiting for a response and just as she was about to repeat herself he answered her.

"Yes, we should go over whatever it is you need me to do."

"Meet me in the training room in half an hour?" she asked.

"Very well," Severus said tonelessly and again he turned to leave. Sanura reclaimed her seat and picked at her food for a bit longer. After a few moments she departed and headed toward the training room. She walked slowly and deliberately studying the castle along the way. She had finally gotten used to the fact that the paintings moved around and a few had even spoken to her. She ran into Nearly Headless Nick but ghosts didn't bother her. She had seen worse. Finally reaching the training room she pulled the key from her pocket only to discover that the door was already unlocked. She pushed the door open and saw no one but she knew better than to believe her eyes. Cautiously she entered the room and found Severus standing near the far wall looking at some of the swords.

"Professor," she said with a grin, "you're early."

Severus turned around and looked at her with a strange expression. He began to walk toward her and she instinctively took a step back. He stopped a few feet in front of her and pulled his wand from his robes.

"I have decided," he began, "that this...session shall be done without the charm," having said this he placed his wand on a nearby shelf. "Shall we begin?" he said a smile forming on his face. Sanura nodded and he made the first move. Unfortunately for him it was a bad move and Sanura had him on his back before he could blink. He lay there for a moment unsure of what had happened. After he climbed to his feet Sanura shook her head.

"Maybe I should start," she said with a grin. "Are you ready?" he nodded and Sanura simply walked toward him. Severus was confused but poised himself to ward off a kick or punch. She circled him, and he whirled around trying to keep an eye on her.

"Well at least you know never to let the enemy out of your sight," she remarked.

"What are you doing?" he asked. She stopped and looked at him tilting her head to one side.

"Just messing with you," she said with a grin. Without warning she grabbed his wrist and flipped him over onto the mat. This was a bit harder than she had anticipated because her robes kept getting in the way. After several more tries and several more failures both Sanura and Severus sank onto the mats.

"How do you people function in these clothes?" she asked. "No wonder you hide behind your wands, these robes are unbearable!" having said that she pulled off her robes, throwing them to the corner of the room.

"Miss Crow," Severus said as he gasped for air. "I hate to admit this, but I am not capable of helping you,"

"You're perfectly capable. You've got skills. You move like a damn cat. If it weren't for those robes and if you had a little practice, you'd actually make a suitable opponent." She looked over at him and shrugged. "If you'd like, I can give you private lessons. Then the students won't know that I can hurt you and you can keep your respect."

"Why are you so insistent on me keeping my respect?" Severus asked.

"Well because I know what it's like to have people look down on you because of what you can't do, or how old you are, or how many things you can hurt. Earning respect is hard, especially when it's children you want it from. I didn't come here to hurt anyone or to damage any reputations." She told him. "Why are you so desperate to prove you're better than everyone else?"

"I didn't realize I was desperate to prove such a point," he said placing his back against the cold stone wall and closing his eyes. "I just strive for excellence."

"There's your biggest mistake. No one is perfect. You need to lighten up. If you make a mistake and you're too busy beating yourself up about it you never realize what you've done wrong and then you can't fix it," with those words of wisdom spoken Sanura jumped up from the floor. "I'm going to go talk to Dumbledore, these kids can't fight in robes and I need to find a new assistant,"

"I apologize for being unable to assist you," Severus said. She walked over to him and extended a hand to help him off the floor. He took it and she pulled a little harder than she had wanted to. He sprang to his feet and lost his footing, running right into her. She stumbled backwards and he caught her by the waist and she placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. They both stood there for a moment unsure of how to react.

"Are you all right?" he asked her. She nodded unable to find her voice. He released her from his hold and Sanura could see his face turning a bright red.

"You can let me know when you would like to begin your fighting lessons," she said trying to focus on anything but what had just happened.

"I shall," he said from across the room. He had walked over to the corner in which she had thrown her robes and picked them up from the floor. Walking slowly back toward her he handed them to her and looked away.

"I recommend that you purchase some Muggle clothing or something for your lessons," she said trying to sound professional.

Severus just nodded and brushed past her as if he needed to escape. Shaking her head to clear it she threw her robes over her head once more and ascended the stairs to find Dumbledore.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Chapter Eight:

Sanura looked at her watch and realized that it was probably time for lunch. Feeling certain that Dumbledore would be there she traipsed off to the Great Hall. When she entered she noticed Dumbledore was seated at the staff table along with Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout. They all three smiled at her as she approached the table.

"Excuse me Professor Dumbledore," she said when she reached the table. "I need to discuss some things with you,"

"Is there a problem?" Dumbledore inquired. "You haven't injured our Potions Master have you?"

She shook her head. "No, he's fine." She said quickly. "It's just even he admits that he isn't the right person to assist me. I think I know of someone who can but you may not like the idea." She said. "But first I have to make a call to find out if she's available." Having said that Sanura pulled a cellular phone from the confines of her robes.

"That won't work here," he said pointing at the phone. "The air is too magical. Muggle contraptions like that don't work. If you can wait until tomorrow, it should work from Hogsmeade," Dumbledore said.

"Okay. I'll do that tomorrow. The second thing is the uniform. I can barely fight in this get up let alone teach a bunch of kids to. They are going to need something different." She said.

"Well, what do you wear when you fight?" he asked. She removed her robes and showed him her attire for the day.

"I don't expect you to make them buy leather pants and tank tops," she said when he raised his eyebrows and gave her a stern look. "It's just they should wear pants or shorts and t-shirts or something like that,"

"I see." Dumbledore said. "If you have something in your room that looks about like what you are suggesting bring it to my office and I'll have the uniforms made,"

She nodded and claimed her seat at the end of the table. More staff members arrived but Severus did not appear. Sanura ate her lunch wondering where he was and if she had hurt him. The staff became very concerned and they repeatedly asked Sanura if he was all right. After being asked for the tenth time she threw her hands up in frustration.

"I'll go find him and make sure that he's not hurt," she said with a sigh. "I told you he walked out of the training room, he's still breathing and he's perfectly functional,"

Exiting the Great Hall Sanura headed toward the dungeons. Her reasonable deduction led her to believe that he spent a lot of time down there. She reached the Potions Classroom but rather than continue down that hallway toward the training room she turned around and went down another hallway. It was very dark and musty. Sanura walked cautiously wondering if this hallway led anywhere or if she should turn back. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere.

"Achoo!" Sanura sneezed and backed against the wall.

"Bless you," she heard a voice say.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Chapter Nine:

Severus Snape was in a lot of pain. He did not want to admit it to anyone; especially not Sanura that she had managed to hurt him. As soon as he had returned to his quarters he found the strongest pain-relieving potion he had and swallowed a generous amount. He then settled down in his favorite armchair and closed his eyes. The potion began to work almost instantly and his back stopped aching. He wondered if he would be able to take this abuse all year. He looked at his pocket watch to discover that it was lunchtime. He knew he had to put in an appearance so that the staff knew that he was okay but he did not want to get out of his chair. He dozed for a few minutes and then realized that he had left his wand in the training room. Hoping that Sanura had not locked the door he reluctantly rose from his seat and headed toward the training room. He retrieved his wand and decided that he would return to his quarters and rest, making his appearance at dinner. The hallway that led to his quarters was dark and musty. As he walked he thought he heard someone behind him. Stopping to listen he heard someone sneeze.

"Bless you," he said automatically. He paused and then added, "Whoever you are,"

"Professor?" Sanura questioned.

"Lumos," Severus said and the hallway lit up to reveal a stunned slayer standing with her back to a wall. "I didn't mean to frighten you," he said soothingly when he noticed her expression.

"You didn't," she lied. "I was just looking for you,"

"You were?" he questioned.

"Yes, the rest of the staff seems to think I may have hurt you so I came to check on you," she said.

"I'm just fine," he said.

"I'm glad. I would feel awful if I had hurt you," she said with a frown.

"Well there is no need for you to feel awful, I'm fine," he lied. His back had begun to ache again and his neck hurt terribly.

She studied him for a moment. She noticed that he was not standing the way he normally would and that he kept rolling his neck. She had hurt him.

"Your back and neck hurt don't they?" she questioned quietly.

"Just a trifle," he reluctantly admitted.

"I'm sorry," she said looking at the ground. "I shouldn't have been so hard on you."

He could not tell if she was about to cry or if she was just unhappy that she had hurt him but he felt as if he should say something to try and make her feel better.

"I volunteered. I knew that I would be abused a bit but it's nothing I can't fix," he said forcing a smile.

"Liar," she said. "You've probably already taken your limit of whatever it is you wizards use for pain. I should have known that I would end up hurting you,"

"Miss Crow," he began, "Do not be upset or alarmed. I shall be fine. I'm sure that you were a bit sore after throwing me around, were you not?"

"My muscles ache a bit but that's about it. I'm used to it though, I should have known you'd get hurt," she said matter-of-factly. "You don't spend your free time punching bags or fighting with a trainer." She felt like she would cry and she was not sure of why she was so upset. So he had hurt his back, how many other people had she trained with that she had broken their arms or legs? At least nothing was broken. At least he wasn't angry or upset about it. She looked up at him to discover that he was watching her. She started to feel uneasy, and her stomach began to do flip-flops. Suddenly feeling very nervous Sanura turned to flee.

"Thank you for your concern Miss Crow," Severus said as she turned to leave. "I assure you, I am just fine,"

She turned and looked at him smiling slightly. "I'm glad to hear that you'll be fine." Having said that she bolted from the dungeons and up to her quarters.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**