Snape's Match

A/N: OK folks, this was my first ever fanfic, and it shows slightly, I'm sure. However, I'm putting it up for old times sake, so please indulge me. That said, enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review to tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: These characters belong to JKR and all the people she's contracted them out to. I just write inferior stories about them.
(Also, Lia is seventeen in this story, which I take to be the accepted wizarding legal age here)


A blur of ur our obscured her eyes, changing the landscape of her dream. She shut them, hoping it would be over soon – these intervals were getting more insistent every time they occurred. Dimly, she was aware of her sleeping body and the drenched coverlets, but her attention was drawn irresistibly to the new dream. A high, cold laugh…and a voice speaking to her: “My heir, myutifutiful…you will carry on my noble work…” She felt long fingers caress her brows; they were cool at first but then began to burn. She cried out, hoping against hope that someone would rescue her from the pain. And someone did. All she saw were the coal-black eyes that soothed her and sent her back into sleep…


“Lia”
“LIA!”
She opened her eyes. The train had stopped its hypnotic swaying, and there was a great deal of noise around her as the Hogwarts students she had yet to meet disembarked onto the platform. Hermione Granger smiled at her confused expression from across the compartment.
“You were asleep, Lia. We’re here! Can you believe it? Another year already!”
Lia stretched and smiled at the bushy-haired girl. She had only just met Hermione, but she hoped that she would be sorted into the same house as her and the two boys in the compartment: Harry and Ron. They seemed like decent people.
“My first year, remember?”eah,eah,” chipped in Harry, “You’ve never been to a school before have you?”
Lia shook her head. “It’s not the work I’m worried about – Professor Dumbledore said I was well beyond sixth year level already – it’s just the teachers and the pupils and the food and…”
The three friends laughed. “You’ll be just fine,” said Hermione.

Lia had barely set foot in the Entrance Hall when a stern looking woman she recognized as Professor McGonagall hailed her. They had met at Lia’s preliminary meeting during the summer, where she had discussed starting at Hogwarts with Professor Dumbledore.
“Miss Fitzgerald, Professor Dumbledore thought it would be best if you were sorted away from the first years.”
“Oh,” said Lia. She was a bit nonplussed. “Fair enough.”
“Follow me, please, it’s right through here.”
Lia caught a glimpse of the Great Hall, blazing with the light of a thousand candles, as she followed McGonagall into a small room. She sat down as directed on a chair, and watched the raggedy hat McGonagall was now holding with not a little apprehension.
“It’s quite alright, Miss Fitzgerald, all you have to do is try on the Hat.”
It reached down to her nose. She heard a small voice in her ear: “Well, well, well. Unique, quite unique. That’s some temper you have, Lia… - and what cleverness! I would be tempted for Slytherin except…hmmmm. No. I think you’re destined for this house, we shall expect much of you, yes indeed – better be in Gryffindor!”
McGonagall had heard the last bit. “Excellent,” she said, not bothering to hide her approval. “You may join the feast now.”
The Sorting had just finished as Lia came in, and Dumbledore had gotten up to give his normal welcome to the returning students. A few looked around as she made her way quickly to the Gryffindor table to slide in next to Harry, Ron and Hermione, and some pointed. She was used to some of the funny looks she got,t wit with her radiant brown hair and clear grey eyes.
“You got into Gryffindor?!” asked Ron. “Wicked!”
She grinned gratefully at him, and turned to watch Dumbledore who in turn, was looking at her.
“I am delighted to introduce you all,” he said in ringing tones, “to a new student: Lia Fitzgerald, who joins us for the first time here. She is a seventh year, and I hope all of willwill make her welcome.”
He shot a reassuring smile at her as he sat down, and she swept her gaze along the rest of the teachers before being distracted by the sudden appearance of food.
Nothing much was said for a bit, as they all wolfed down the house-elves’ tasty cooking, until Ron noticed something.
”Lia, why is Snape watching you?”
Lia looked around at the black-haired, sallow skinned teacher he was indicating.
“What?” she asked in surprise. “I don’t know. I don’t even know who he is.”
The surrounding people looked at each other gleefully, each obviously eager to get in a word abohe mhe most hated teacher in Hogwarts.
“He’s a right bastard-“
“Always takes away points for no reason-“
“Hates Gryffindor –“
“-wants the Dark Arts job, everyone knows that –“
Harry snorted. “Just stay away from him, is the best advice. Don’t talk back, don’t let him provoke you or he might try and do something really nasty.”
“Fair enough.” Lia looked back at Snape. He was watching her. Her eyebrows crossed in annoyance, and she gave him a sarcastic wave. He immediately looked away, but she continued to feel slightly uncomfortable.
“What does he teach, Harry?”
“Potions.” He groaned. “I hate his classes, he’s always going on at me for nothing.”
Hermione gave him a pained look. “Well, you haven’t been very respectful of him, have you? I mean, you have been a troublemaker sometimes.”
Harry looked shocked: “Coming from Miss Oh-let’s-make-a-distraction-while-I-steal-illegal-potions-ingredients-from-his-office? Give me a break, Hermione.”
Lia laughed, and no no more thought to the mysterious Potions master. He continued to watch her, though.