Title: Potion Master’s Dilemma.

Author: Beth Brownell

Rating: This story is a big R for the language that I’m using and some situations that will happen.

Summary: The Potion Master of Hogwarts gains an assistant and a problem. SS/OFC. AU.

Disclaimer: No copyright are harmed in any ways in the writing of this story. I own Miranda along with the plot but I do not own the Harry Potter world, they belong to the wonderful J.K Rowling who blessed us all with her stories about Harry Potter. Miranda is not a teen in this story, she is a twenty-two year old untrained witch. She is only returning to Hogwarts to learn by special reasons done to Hogwarts' school board which allowed her to return to school there.
Feedback: Constructive reviews would be nice; flamers can keep their fingers quiet.

Archive: If you wish to archive this story, please e-mail me first for permission.

Author's note: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters but for the original character I have created and the story plot. JK Rowling owns all of the Harry Potter characters but mine, which happens to be Miranda. This story was based on an idea discussed in the Slytherins_Severus_Snape Yahoo group. Also I have purposely omitted the color of hair, eyes, skin of Miranda McShale so you the reader can picture her in your own mind. Thank you.
 

Potion Master's Dilemma.

The Three Broomsticks was not too busy when Severus Snape and Filch entered, and sat down at the bar, ordered two warm butterbeers. Nothing else to drink; neither one of them ever even touched the whiskey that Hagrid liked - it was way too strong for him; one shot would make him drunk and be loose with his tongue and Snape was always held his tongue. Snape was not really pleased because of one of his worst student had melted several cauldrons that week. He was forced to go into Hogsmeade with Filch who hated being called into the Dungeon after a class was over to find a huge mess of a melted cauldron on the ground. They had bought nine new cauldrons for Snape's Potion class.

“Severus, I see some friends of mine. You don't mind? I'll meet you back at Hogwarts with the cauldrons,” stated Filch

Snape turned to look at Filch who pointed to a group of equally grumpy wizards, “Go on, Filch, if you want to go visit your friends, you don't need my permission.”

Filch picked up his warm mug of butterbeer and started to walk over to his friends only to bump into a witch who was just entering the bar. “Many apologies, ma'am,”

The witch smiled at him and walked over to a seat that was vacant next to Snape where she ordered a mug of warm butterbeer and a shot of fire whiskey. The bartender knew that the fire whiskey was the second most potent whiskey he had beyond the one that Hagrid would ask for and it was rarely given in a shot glass, but a thimble.

“Are you sure you want it in a shot glass?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

The bartender poured the red liquid into the shot glass and handed it to her to watch her down it in one swallow. She pushed it back towards him and tapped the wood behind it, wanting another shot. He looked at her shocked as he poured her another and watched her down it as well.

“Ah, this is good,” she whispered, as she took one big gulp of the butterbeer before glancing around the room.

Snape groused into his mug, softly. "That blasted student will never get any potion correct.”

The witch sitting next to him turned to look at him and snorted softly. Snape turned his head to look at the witch and then turned back to his mug when something in him made him turn around back to her.

“Why did you just snort at what I said, miss?” snarled Snape softly.

“Well, I doubt you want to listen to someone who you do not even know,” whispered the witch, as she tapped the wood in front of the shot glass again.

"The name is Professor Severus Snape. I'm Potion Master at Hogwarts,"

"I'm Miranda McShale."

“Why should I listen to a witch telling me what I should do with him beyond giving him detentions all the time?” he growled, glaring at her.

“Well, I see you don't like to take criticism about how to go about working with students who might need a little more help than the rest,” said Miranda, as she stood up from her chair and walked away from him.

Snape turned away from her to look at the bartender who whispered, “I suggest you listen to her, Professor. Get a new approach to teaching that kid, it will cost the school less money if that student is helped.”

“You think so?” he asked.

“Yes, I have seen couple students drop out of school that came from other countries because of the teacher not really helping them and they were having problems with one subject. They are dangerous if they are not taught properly,” said the bartender, as he turned away from him to serve another witch a drink.

"Maybe if you get someone to tutor the student, that student might learn to do potions with the rest of the class and maybe outshine your best student," Miranda whispered in his ear.

“He will never be one of my good students, Miss McShale,” Snape snapped angrily.

"I'm sorry...but I think he might be," spoke Miranda, as she walked away from him.

"What do you mean by that?" he hissed, as he picked up his warm butterbeer and followed her to another table.

Miranda sat down as Snape placed his butterbeer down on the table and sat down. “The one who is blowing up the school cauldrons; he may need a tutor instead of being constantly yelled at all the time or maybe told to take the ingredients one at a time before he gets the next one.. You might be impressed by what that student ends up doing if he is tutored or taught correctly."

"How do you know so much about teaching Ms. McShale, are you a teacher?" growled Snape, gazing at her with fire in his eyes.

"I'm a special needs specialist, Mr. Snape.” Miranda stated, as her eyes flashed their fury. “I have been in situation where I needed to have a tutor and was not given one, so I know the feeling of not knowing what was wrong with my studies.”

“But how do you know what a teacher should be doing with their students?”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Very well then, I was in a school in America many years ago, where the Potion Mistress was a bloody bitch towards anyone who could get a potion correct. She really never wanted anyone but a few 'pet' students, who would get a potion correct. She hated me with a vengeance. She made sure that I wouldn't have the correct ingredients even when I informed her that she gave me the wrong potion ingredients. She told me that I had the proper ingredients that are on the blackboard start working. I ended up melting several cauldrons cause of the ingredients that bloody hag told me were the right ones. I really started to hate Potions," said Miranda, eyes flashing in anger as she sipped her butterbeer.

Snape was curious in why this American witch was here but the accent she had was Scottish. "Did you hate that class?”

"Not at first, it was my favorite class. But that hag made it a living hell to even think about school let alone Potions. She failed me each year till my sixth year when I finally had it with the bitch and told the headmaster about her and told him if he doesn't inform the teacher to stop with her sabotages of my school work. Yes, I accused her of sabotaging my school work. The headmaster believed her and not me, after they spoke. I think he had been told that I was lying about it all, trying to get her into trouble. I even took the information to the school board and they believed her and not me when I showed them evidence of the sabotages," snapped Miranda.

"What happened after that?" asked Snape.

"She caused more trouble with my potions that I did after I ‘accused’ her. So I worked on a Potion that was very smelly and dumped it all over her. Proceeded to yell at her telling her everything how I felt about her and then told her that if she hears about a witch creating chaos that would be me. Then, I walked right out of the class, who all clapped happily till she screamed at them to shut up. I went right to my dorm packed my trunk and headed for the Headmaster and told that bastard off, then I told him that I am transferring to another school," said Miranda, sipping her butterbeer.

“You transferred?” Snape asked, holding his whiskey in his hand. “I assume to another Potion class?”

tbc . . .

Please let me know what you think of this chapter.

More will come later.