Violet and Serpent

Chapter One

As a druggist working for the ministry, I was sent to Hogwarts over the summer to conduct a study with the wizarding world's most renowned potion master. How they secured a contract with the recluse was beyond me, but they must have been paying him handsomely for his genius.

I had been fantasizing about Professor Snape since he was my professor. I graduated from Hogwarts five years ago and I still couldn't get the image of his long fingers, onyx tresses, and elegant frame out of my head. Something about his power, his darkness, and his untouchable nature had always appealed to me.

Apparently, I was not the only one who felt this way. As someone relatively new in my field, only having graduated from college a year ago, I was sent with a partner, Cecily Reed. She was 35, Severus's age, and absolutely beautiful. Her hair was soft as corn silk, her figure slim and curvy in all the right places. I could tell by the hunger in her eyes, and her obvious flirtation she was after him.

Though she was supposedly great at her job, she was a total snob. She treated me like I was nothing but an annoyance, taking every chance she could to put me down.

"This new generation knows nothing about potion-making Severus." She said snidely. We were in Professor Snape's personal laboratory, chopping and mixing, observing our tests. "I'm basically teaching this one from scratch."

Cecily was leaning back, accentuating her figure in her questionably short skirt, standing much too close to the grouchy professor.

I rolled my eyes, measuring out my baneberry.

"Oh please Cecily, Professor Snape taught me well. He's how I made it through University." I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, taking in his clear annoyance at Cecily's nearness.

"Is that so Ms. Sparrow?" Chills went down my spine at his silky baritone saying my name.

"Of course, don't you remember all those letters I sent, begging for your help on assignments?" Yeah, I was rubbing it in. Professor Snape, despite all his intimidation, had a soft spot for me.

I'd performed well in all his classes, and was always obedient, making me privy to certain privileges lots of others never got. He saw my potential and respected me as a student, and that had followed me beyond Hogwarts. Years after I had graduated he had continued to help with my education through correspondence. If I needed to understand something I simply wrote and he always responded promptly. I still had all his letters saved in a box under my bed.

I'd dated and indulged in wizards, but none had ever fulfilled me, and I knew why. Deep down I longed for Severus Snape to turn around one day and recognize me as a woman, not a student.

"Ahh yes, I do believe I helped you quite a bit. I'm still waiting on my payment for basically tutoring you through university." His dry sense of humor made me smile.

"Seems to be your the only way she got that degree." Cecily griped under her breath, but I simply ignored her. "Anyways, Severus do you have plans this evening?" I nearly gagged at her saccharine tone.

Though Snape hadn't shown much interest in her thus far, I couldn't deny she was a great catch, even with the attitude. He was a man after all. He could date anyone he wanted. I hated how I tensed, a sick feeling sinking in my gut as I waited for his answer.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I'm meeting someone for dinner."

I did a happy dance inside at the way Cecily's face fell, but the sick feeling returned as I caught the last part of his answer. Meeting someone? Who? I pretended not to look like I cared as I mixed the baneberry into the bulbadox juice, creating a lovely pink color.