She stood in the long hallway, wondering where on earth she was. Of course she knew where she was, Hogwarts. But where in Hogwarts was she? She didn't realize it was going to be this hard to get around . . . not to mention, the bloody staircases that changed!

"I was not aware that any students had arrived as of yet. May I ask what you are doing wandering the halls?" The voice behind her made her jump. She turned around to find a tall, rather sinister looking man, standing behind her. His hair fell around his face and, like his robes and his eyes, for that matter, was black as coal. She was both relieved and slightly apprehensive at his sudden appearance.

"Excuse me?" she asked, slightly taken back at his harshness.

"What are you doing wandering about?" It seemed he placed equal emphasis on every word. "Upon arrival students are required to go directly to the Great Hall." At this point the man considered her for a short time. "I haven't seen you before. Have you transferred from another school?"

"Student, Transfer?" Understanding was beginning to dawn. This man thought she was a student! "I'm not a student. I've come to teach. My name is Persephone McAllen."

"Ah yes, Dumbledore did mention that we were to receive our new Muggle Studies teacher this evening. However, I must confess, I believed you to be much older."

"Obviously. Although I will take your mistake as a compliment, considering I am quite a few years older than your students." Persephone responded, with a slight smirk. "Now, Sir, we've covered quite a bit about me and I still seem to be in the dark as to your identity."

"I am Professor Severus Snape, I teach Potions here at Hogwarts." The man replied.

"Well, professor, as I am new here and I have no idea how to navigate this castle. I wonder would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of my classroom?" She smiled. It would have been nice to find a friend in a fellow professor her first day at Hogwarts. However something about this man seemed to say that he was not going to be that particular friend.

"Follow me." He replied as he led the way down the long hallway.

Persephone had expected a list of directions, not a tour. However, she would take it. "Thank you Professor."

There was no immediate reply from the tall man in front of her. They walked in silence along the hallway, down a flight of stairs and up another hallway.

"What is it that makes you qualified to teach our students muggle studies?" Snape's question broke the silence.

His deep voice pulled Persephone from her thoughts, she had been trying to memorize where they were going. This was not going to be easy. She decided to leave that for another time. "My answer for that is simple. I am qualified because I was raised in a muggle home."

"Indeed?" The man clipped. "Your parents are not wizards?"

"Actually no, the only wizarding blood in me is my own. As a matter of fact, as far as I am aware, I'm the first witch in our family, period." She knew some people didn't take kindly to "muggle-born" witches and wizards. She couldn't read this man well enough, however, to know if he was part of that crowd or not.

"You did not attend school here, for I believe I would have had you in my classes, seeing as how you appear to be quite young."

"How do you know I didn't attend school here and you just don't remember me? I expect there have been quite a few students that have come through your classrooms since my time as a student." There was something about this man that just made Persephone want to antagonize, however, she didn't know him well enough to know if that was a good idea or a bad. As of this point he'd been nothing but a help to her and so she decided to let her personality shine through. Antagonize.

Snape stopped walking so abruptly that Persephone almost ran into him. He turned to face her. His coal black eyes searched her face for a moment before coming to rest on her blue ones. "I would have remembered." Was all he said before he turned and continue walking.

Persephone smiled to herself. This was a very unique man.

Once again Snape stopped abruptly, this time, however, it was to open the door to a classroom. He stepped back so Persephone could enter ahead of him. She eyed the classroom. It was nice but not exactly what she was looking for in this particular class.

"It will do, but I wonder if your headmaster would consider letting me change a few things?" She said this half to herself and half to the professor who still stood in the doorway.

"Professor Dumbledore is very obliging when it comes to the teachers he employs. I'm sure you will have free reign in your classroom." Snape answered her. "What will you change?"

"Well, it is a class on muggle studies isn't it? I'd attempt to make it more, well, muggle."

"Indeed."

Man of few words, Persephone thought.

"It is almost time for the students to arrive; perhaps we should make our way back to the Great Hall?"

"Certainly" she agreed, "if you could lead the way I'd be most grateful."

"Of course," He replied in his deep voice. "If I may? Since you did not attend school here, where were you trained?"

"My father's employer transferred him to the states the summer before I was to begin school. Naturally when the time came I attended there."

"How is it you came about a teaching position at Hogwarts?" Snape asked. He wondered what on earth was making him ask so many questions. Under normal circumstances he would keep quiet during the return trip to the Great Hall.

"My god-father taught here one year and when I told him I was interested in a teaching position and was considering returning to the states he volunteered to speak to Professor Dumbledore on my behalf. I, of course, would much rather have stayed in England so I agreed to let him do just that." Persephone explained. "Not long after I received an owl from your headmaster offering me a position and here I am."

"You said your god-father taught here?" Snape inquired. "Your god-father was a wizard but your parents were not?"

"My father met my god-father years before I was born, I don't even remember where anymore, but to answer your question, yes. My god-father is a wizard. I'm sure you know him, as I said he taught here, just last year actually. Remus Lupin?"

"Your god-father is Lupin?" Persephone thought she detected a slight hint of irritation at the mention of the name "Lupin".

"Yes, you know him?"

"I do."

Persephone was unsure of what was going on in the professor's head, but somehow thought it wisest not to press the matter.

They walked on in silence for some time before Persephone felt at liberty to speak again. This time she was going to go for something a bit less focused on her. "Professor?" at the sound of her question Snape stopped and turned around. Persephone looked him in the eyes. "Do you ever smile?"

"Not if I can help it." Was his curt reply as they entered the Great Hall. Snape made his way to his place at the head table.

Persephone watched as he went, as a thought occurred to her, she was going to make it one of her ambitions this school year to get that man to smile.



The first year students had been sorted into their houses and everyone was now eagerly awaiting the words of the headmaster that would begin the feast as well as this new school year.

Dumbledore gave his usual speech, in the process of which he announced that Hogwarts would be hosting The Triwizard Tournament this year. He also introduced the new Muggle studies teacher Persephone McAllen.

"Blimey." Ron said as he looked at Harry. Hermione only rolled her eyes.

"She's young." Harry replied. "Almost looks like a student herself. I wonder how old she is."

"Is that really important?" Hermione asked looking exasperated.

"No, we were just wondering." Ron replied, rolling his eyes at Harry. A gesture that did not go unnoticed by Hermione.

"I suppose you can't wait to take her class then?" Hermione asked. "Just so the two of you can sit and drool over her for an hour?"



After the meal had ended and the students had been dismissed Persephone found her way to Dumbledore.

"I just wanted to say, Hogwarts seems like a wonderful place and I'm very much looking forward to teaching here." She told the Headmaster.

"We are pleased to have you here, professor. We hope your stay will be a pleasant one." Dumbledore returned.

"I'm sure it will. But, I do have one problem. I'm having a bit of trouble finding my way around and with that I have no idea where my chambers are." This was Persephone's way of asking for a guide.

"Of course, I shall ask one of the other teachers to escort you to your quarters right now." Dumbledore made a move towards professor McGonagall when another teacher stepped in.

"Headmaster, if I may? I will escort Professor McAllen to her chambers as it is on the way to my own and out of the way for Professor McGonagall." Once again Snape wondered briefly what had gotten into him.

"Indeed Severus." Dumbledore agreed. "If you will follow Professor Snape, Miss McAllen he will show you to your rooms."

"Thank you very much. Good night Headmaster." Persephone spoke first to Dumbledore. Then she turned her attention to the mysterious man she had spent the afternoon with. "I appreciate your offer to show me to my chambers Professor Snape. I am very tired and look forward to getting a good nights rest so I'll be able to do some good in my classes tomorrow. Unfortunately, I can't expect to sleep very well. I've always had problems resting in a new place, for the first few nights anyway."

Snape considered her for a moment before speaking. "Allow me, if you will, to be of some assistance to you in that area professor?"

"Please, you can call me Persephone, I'm not much used to the term "Professor" yet." She laughed a small laugh. "Anyway, what is it you can do to "assist" me?"

"As potions master I have a few draughts at my disposal that will enable you to get a sufficient rest, even on your first night." He explained. "There won't be any lasting side effects."

Persephone had never taken a sleeping draught before, but knowing it to be harmless and knowing that her other option was almost definitely a restless night of tossing and turning. She made up her mind. "I would appreciate that very much professor."

"It will require us to take a small detour to my office to retrieve the potion." Snape explained.

"Right behind you professor." Persephone was grateful to this man right now and knew she would be ever so much more grateful in the morning when she would be able to face her first class well rested. She followed the potions master to his office in what could only be the dungeons of the castle. How depressing, she thought. No wonder he acted the way he did.

Once again Snape opened the door and let her in ahead of him. "Sit, if you like, I won't be long." And with that he disappeared into what Persephone imagined was a store room.

She walked across the room and lowered herself into a black leather sofa. Everything was so . . . black. "It's no wonder you never smile" she called to him from her place on the sofa.

She was still looking around the room when he reappeared in the doorway. "Why is that?"

"Your office, it's so . . . dark and depressing. Don't you ever wish for some light? Or color? Or something?" she finished.

"I find it relaxing." He said as he made his way across the room and handed her the small vial full of light blue liquid.

"Whatever you say." She said as she took it and stood up. "Uh, if you don't mind, I still don't know where my chambers are."

"Of course." He said as he strode to the door and opened it, allowing her to walk through first.

He followed her out and shut the door behind him, tapping his wand on the knob. Persephone heard a click and Snape turned to go back up the hallway the way they had come. They walked in silence for some time until Persephone could hardly stand it anymore.

"Thank you." She said to his back. "For guiding me and for the sleeping draught. It's nice to know I'll be well rested for my first day of classes."

Snape suddenly stopped and turned around. Persephone nearly ran into him, skidding to a stop just inches from colliding with his black clad chest.

"Your chambers." Snape gestured to a door to his right.

"Oh, thank you, again Professor." Persephone smiled again, she hoped that it would be reciprocated. Not this time. One day she thought.

"Good night professor McAllen." Snape began to walk back the way he had come. Almost as an after thought he stopped and turned to face Persephone. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"Thank you. Good night." She called after him as his tall figure disappeared down the hallway. "And you can call me Persephone."