Lessons In Love and Magic

‘Though the fire seemed to spread through the quarter, I stood on that deck until dawn, fearful he would come out again of the very river like some monster to destroy us both. And all the while I thought, Lestat, we deserve your vengeance. You gave me the dark gift. And I delivered you into the hands of death for the second time.’

"Miss. Weasley! Do you want to put the rest of the class in danger?"

Ginny picked her head up quickly. Snape was eyeing her angrily.

"The potion is supposed to be a light blue, not blood red. Ten points from Gryffindor, and I'll see you after class."

She glanced at the potion in front of her. She’d left it over the fire too long.

Plus she’d forgotten to add the bat milk after it had started boiling. Quickly she put a bookmark in her well-read copy of ‘Interview with a vampire’ to take care of it.

She’d come across the book in a muggle bookstore and had quickly become addicted to books of the horror section.

She adored Stephen King and Dean Koontz as well.

This wasn’t the first time she’d gotten caught reading in class. Carefully, she cooled her potion and Snape gave her directions of how to get rid of it.

As the class was dismissed, Ginny made her way to the front of the room, to stand in front of Snape’s desk.

"Miss. Weasley," after a quick pause,

"Virginia, I am worried as to your attempts in this class." After the events of two years ago, when Snape was forced to work with Black, he'd been somewhat nicer to her. Not to mention Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

She glanced shyly at him.

"You seem...a bit distracted lately, and not only in my class. I think it would be wise if I got a tutor for you. What do you think?"

She was amazed. She could actually see him trying to be nice. His face was screwed up cautiously; his lips pressed to keep from yelling. She had to give him credit, because it seemed to be working.

"That would be nice, good." She smiled sheepishly. It was an old habit that she couldn’t seem to break.

Hermione said it made her look cute, but Harry never noticed so...

Snape was talking to her.

"... Here, tomorrow, right after your classes. You and your tutor can begin to get acquainted and start your lessons. You may go now Miss. Weasley."

He smiled at her and she turned to leave. As if in a second thought she turned back around;

"You should smile more."

Quickly she turned and ran out of the room and Snape glanced after her.

‘This had better work, I already have to deal with Longbottom, and I don’t need the frustration. Besides, she truly seems to need...someone. Yes, this might work.’

~~~~

"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy, would you please come here?"

Surprised, and a bit curious, Draco made his way to the head of the potions room.

"I need to ask a favor of you." Professor Snape’s look said something more like ‘I want you to do this, without question, or I’ll drop kick you out the Astronomy Tower window.’

"Sure, whatever you want."

"Good, I need you to tutor someone."