A/N: I'm so proud that I'm writing my...fifth(?) non-Frozen fanfic! YAY! This is a Harry Potter fanfic and let me just say that I recently got into the fandom and I am OBSESSED. I'm stuck between Disney and Harry Potter now! Anyway, if you're in the fandom, which I assume you are because you're reading this, this is a fanfic about my OC having a relationship with Professor Snape (SERIOUSLY THE BEST CHARACTER EVER!).

I ship him with Lily Potter very much, but I believe Lily HAD to be with James and such. I could go on for hours about it, but I won't. Lily HAD to die because it was her sacrifice that saved Harry...argue if you want. Still, i think Snape deserved to love someone even after Lily died. My OC and Snape will dislike each other for most of this fanfic...so enjoy that XD

FYI, my OC is 23 years old, and I know Snape gets pretty old in the movies but I like to think he was in his early 30's in the first movie. Soooooo not bad! Finally, this fanfic starts in The Goblet of Fire and will continue from there. Also, this is circled around Snape and my OC, Arabella Strauss, so there won't be much Harry Potter in this! He and other characters WILL pop up but won't be the center of attention! My OC goes with the flow of the movies so I'll try not to make up too much stuff. ENJOY!

Snape never stopped caring about Lily Potter. Not even after she and her husband died. Snape and I met when I first became an assistant teacher at Hogwarts. His mysterious and dark look intimidated me. His hair was dark, and he wore a long cape that looked like a black wave when he walked.

My hair is also black, but very short. Similar to a boy's. I arrived at Hogwarts because Dumbledore had asked me to be a new assistant teacher there. I was asked to be Snape's assistant. Dumbledore said it would do Snape and I some good. It would help me because I was new, and working with a teacher with experience would definitely help. It would help Snape to, hopefully, talk to someone since he had been keeping to himself after Lily Potter died.

I remember entering Dumbledore's office for my interview. it wasn't much of an interview, considering all we discussed was Snape.

"Are you aware of the event with the Potters, Miss Arabella?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, sir. It was a terrible thing that happened to them. I hear they were good people." I replied.

"I asked you to come to Hogwarts, and train to become a teacher here."

"I've really been eager to get a job here, headmaster."

"Yes, and seeing your positive attitude is comforting."

I grimaced at that. "How so, sir?"

Dumbledore stood and stood by a window. He looked out and waved his hand for me to stand beside him. I got up from my seat and obeyed.

"Do you see that gentleman there, Arabella?" he asked, pointing out the window.

I tried to see, but there were several students outside. And, I didn't want to make a bad impression, so I nodded.

"That gentleman is Professor Severus Snape. He is our potions teacher, and was a dear friend to Mrs. Potter." Dumbledore explained.

"Ah." was all I could say.

"He's usually a mysterious fellow. But, since the anniversary of the Potters' death is near, he's been even more concealing and isolates himself from the staff and myself."

"Are you firing him, headmaster?" I asked.

Truly, Dumbledore sounded as if there was no more hope for Snape, and I would've felt awful if I was to replace him. But, Dumbledore's small chuckle made me loosen my guard.

"No, I could never dismiss Severus. He's truly the best man I've ever known. But, I am asking you to work as his assistant teacher. He'll need your help during this time of mourning, and I think your bright heart is what he needs." Dumbledore said.

I had to digest what he said. This Snape sounded like a good friend of Dumbledore's, but Dumbledore seemed to be sending me to babysit this man. And, I had never met him nor knew what he looked like.

"If that's what you wish, sir. I accept the job." I said, slightly bowing my head.

"Very good. Your things have found their way to your room. The new year starts next week, so I hope you'll manage to meet Professor Snape and the rest of the staff.

I nodded and thanked the wise headmaster. I hurried to my room and threw myself onto my bed. The journey had been a bit exhausting, and I was ready to sleep. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise from outside my room. I heard a man grunt.

Quickly, I got off my bed and opened my door. A large stack of books had fallen, and a few broken glass bottles covered the floor. The man who had dropped them landed on his stomach. He had long, dark hair. His cloak was also dark and very long.

"Sir? Sir, can you hear me?" I asked, kneeling beside the man.

He mumbled something, but I didn't catch it.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

The man quickly lifted his head up, and looked at me with great irritation. I fully stood up and looked down at him.

"I told you to go away." he said.

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. He got to his feet and took out his wand. Then, with a flick, all his books stacked themselves. The glass was cleaned up and tossed into a wastebasket.

Magic never failed to fascinate me. It always had ever since I became a witch. My thoughts were cut short when I realized I was still staring at the stack of books. I turned and gasped when I saw the man aiming his wand at me.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I beg your-"

He leaned into my face, trying to see if he knew me.

"Rotten muggle." he hissed.

My face filled with disbelief. I pushed him away from me, and took out my own wand.

"Go back to your dormitory." he sneered.

I grimaced at that. But, before I could speak, he had gathered his things and walked away. The man thought I was a student. Stupid fool, though I can't say he's the first to think me very young. I was very young looking for 23. I walked back into my room and slammed the door.

So much for getting along with the staff. Hopefully Professor Snape won't be as bad.

###

The next morning, I got up to walk around the castle. It was rather large and the students were on a fieldtrip by the lake, so I had the caste to myself. I roamed around and found a large room filled with staircases. Curiousity got to me and I found myself climbing them.

Suddenly, they began to move. I let out an excited and shocked shriek as they moved. I opened a door and found a dark room. Quietly, I stepped inside and suddenly, a torch lit by itself. Several more did the same that were ahead of me.

At the end of the hall was a door. I tugged on the handle but it was locked.

"Alohomora." I said, waving my wand at the lock.

Click!

The door unlocked and I opened the door. As I stepped inside, it was too dark to see ahead. I heard calm music playing in the room, but I didn't know where it was coming from.

"Lumos." I whispered.

The tip of my wind began to glow, and what I saw made my blood turn cold. A huge three-headed dog was asleep in front of me. Suddenly, a large hand clasped over my mouth and I let out a small scream. A strong arm wrapped itself around my neck, and someone shushed me.

"Stay silent or we'll both die." the person whispered in my ear.

I didn't make a single move. The person slowly dragged me backwards and out of the room. The door closed and locked. The person holding me roughly turned me around, and I found myself staring into the dark eyes of the man I met outside my room the other day.

He gripped my arms roughly, and I tried to get out of his grip.

"You bloody, little fool!" he scolded. "I could have you expelled for this."

It took me minute to realize I had been holding my breath. I deeply inhaled and gritted my teeth.

"I'm the fool?"

He gripped my arms tighter, making me groan in pain.

"Do you know the punishment for wandering the grounds when you're supposed to be at a field trip and for talking back to a teacher?" he sneered.

"Let go of me!" I said, fighting his grip.

"You're coming with me to see the headmaster." he said, grabbing my right arm and leading me away.

I tried to pull away, but it was useless. We had nearly made it outside of the staircase room when I decided to fight back. I reached out and yanked his hair back. He groaned aloud and released my arm.

"You little-"

"I see you've met each other."

We both turned and saw Dumbledore standing in the doorway of the staircase room. He had a book in his hands, and a not-very-surprised look on his face. The man gripped my arm again and held me close.

"Headmaster, I found this little sneak roaming around the castle. She attacked me on the way here." he said, gripping my arm tighter.

"If you so much as grip my arm any tighter, I'll-"

"Now, now, that's enough." Dumbledore scolded.

The man and I turned our gaze to Dumbledore, but he still held my arm. Dumbledore rubbed his temples and sighed.

"Severus, release the girl." he said.

My jaw dropped. Severus released-well, more like shoved, my arm loose. This was the man I was going to spend an entire year in a classroom with.

"Severus, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Arabella Strauss." Dumbledore said.

Severus' eyes widened a bit as he looked down at me. I said nothing as he stared.

"Miss Arabella, this is Professor Severus Snape. But, I can see that you've already met each other."

Snape and I just stared at each other. Dumbledore cut the silence between us and stood close to me.

"School will begin in a few days, so I hope that you two will have forgotten this whole incident."

Dumbledore was so wise. I wished to become as wise as he was. Snape's shock turned into disgust as he eyed me from head-to-toe. I simply wished I could disappear and never be seen for another century.

"Not likely." Snape said.

He spoke so slowly most of the time. He walked away, brushing against me as he left. I glared and shook my head. Dumbledore put a hand on my shoulder.

"Give him some time. He'll come through." he said.

"I'm dreadfully sorry, headmaster. I never intended to make such a reputation before school even began." I said, rubbing my arm.

"Do you truly mean that?" he asked.

"Every word, sir."

"Then, tell Severus the exact same thing. It shouldn't be a problem, should it?"

He was hiding a smile. I could see it. I nearly vomited after hearing that final sentence, but I agreed to tell Severus the next day