A Battle of Wills Begins

A/N: Thanks to all who have read! Thanks to all who have read and left reviews! Thanks to my muse for putting the cap back on the booze and actually doing her job. Most importantly, thanks to Verity and Trickie Woo for proof-reading this.

Question: Who's the biggest ditz on the planet?

Answer: Me! I thought I had posted the chapter before leaving for vacation. The lack of reviews mystery has been solved. *blush*

Chapter 9: A Battle of Wills Begins

Callista sat at the table in the staff room, doing her best to ignore the fact that she was seated across from Severus. The students would be arriving the following evening, and the staff had gathered to be briefed on the changes that would be taking place that year. Most of the staff had known Callista as a student and had remembered her sudden disappearance shortly after the first fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Even with her return being leaked through the newspaper, they still gave her not-so-subtle stares.

To avoid their scrutiny, Callista listened attentively as Dumbledore outlined the newest security measures for the school, which included a small detail of Aurors, and cringed at the notion of Filch being free to use a Secrecy Sensor as he saw fit. For the most part, the measures were commonsense and well-received by the staff: strict enforcement of curfews, additional wards on the Astronomy Tower especially during night-time classes, and limiting the range of the Snitch during Quidditch games. However, disconnecting access to the external Floo Network to all staff offices, excluding the offices of the headmaster and the heads of house, caused uproar among the staff.

"I understand why you feel it's necessary, Headmaster, but it's a huge inconvenience to members of the staff who don't live at the school," protested Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies mistress.

Aurora Sinistra agreed. "I only live in Hogsmeade, but some of my classes don't finish until midnight or later. Isn't it more than a little unfair to make someone wait up just so I can go home?"

"The heads of house finish their final patrols of the evening after your late classes are dismissed to make sure all students have returned to their common rooms," Dumbledore reminded her. "It's no trouble for them to escort you to an open connection. I believe most week nights Severus has the final patrol."

Sinistra glanced at Severus, turned pink, and mumbled, "Oh... Well, I suppose.... There's always Apparition from the gate."

"I could wait for you sometimes, Aurora," Burbage chimed quickly, and it was clear to Callista--and anyone else who may have been paying attention--that Burbage was making a concerted effort not to look at the Potions master.

"While Apparating from home to the gates isn't an enormous inconvenience during the day or when the weather is decent," wheezed the elderly Runes mistress, "it's going to be horrible on rainy days and during the winter. I don't much like barging in on anyone in the early morning hours, but making a dash through the pouring rain is impossible at my age."

"Perhaps it would be better to have only one way in or out via the Floo Network. Why not just leave the staff room Floo open and have it guarded?" Vector suggested, her eyes briefly flitting in Severus's direction. "After all, we can't be too careful."

Callista noticed the faint color rising in his cheeks at Vector's comment. Had he not been such an utter arse to her, she might have been able to scrape together some sympathy.

Since the issue with the Floo didn't pertain to her, Callista turned her attention to the list of Aurors, selected by Kingsley Shacklebolt and approved by Dumbledore, who would be on the premises at all times. Glancing down the short list of names, she was pleased to see Nymphadora Tonks' among them. Dawlish and Warwick were other names she recognized. The other four were unfamiliar. Not that it mattered much, as the staff had been assured that the Aurors had been instructed not to interfere unless absolutely necessary. She was vaguely aware of the scraping of chairs around the table, signaling that the meeting had broken up for a short break.

"Pardon me for interrupting you reverie, Miss Hawkins," a silky voice sneered, bringing her abruptly back to full attention. "However, I need to have a word with you concerning our... arrangement."

Looking up from the parchment, Callista was confronted with the unpleasant visage of the staff member with whom she was going to be sharing classrooms. She narrowed her eyes. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would address me by either my given name or Professor Hawkins."

"My apologies, old habits die hard," he replied coolly, the trace of expression on his face conveying that he was anything but apologetic about incorrectly addressing her.

That isn't the only old thing that will die hard if you don't soon get it straight. With forced politeness, she answered, "As much as I would love to chat with you, Severus, there are a few pressing matters I need to discuss with Professor McGonagall. Is it a matter of life and death, or is it something that can wait until the noon break?"

"Hardly a matter of life and death, but it must be addressed before the end of the day," the Potions master replied in a very business-like tone, his expression unreadable.

With the hope of figuring out what he was going to spring on her, Callista studied the harsh lines on his face, noting that the last fifteen years hadn't been exactly kind to him. The frown lines around his mouth that had been just starting to form when they were together were now prominent, and the furrow between his brows was deep and permanent. There was a pinched, worn look about him. Not that Severus had ever been a handsome man, but now he looked... old, far older than he should. Callista found herself wondering what he had been through.

But why should I care? she thought, working up a small yet galvanizing measure of indignation. He lied to me and used me; he's earned whatever guilt he feels.

"Excuse me, Severus," said Callista before heading over to McGonagall.

"There you are, Callista." Gryffindor's Head of House was sorting a large stack of parchments. "I wanted to let you know that I've arranged for Harry to meet with you shortly after the welcome feast."

"Oh, good," the younger witch replied. She was eager to see the young man who had grown from the baby in her memories, in spite of her reservations as to his ability to work with her in the classroom. "He understands that he's just helping with spell demonstration and not actually teaching the class without any supervision?"

McGonagall nodded. "I did my best to make that clear when I spoke with him. Harry understood that he's not considered the equivalent of a prefect and that he can't deduct points outside the classroom."

Callista frowned; she hadn't planned on her young charge having that much power in the classroom.

"I'd be more comfortable with him not being able to deduct points at all. If I recall correctly, prefects would sometimes abuse that privilege," she explained recalling a Ravenclaw prefect who docked Gryffindor ten points simply because Callista stumbled upon him snogging his girlfriend behind the stacks in the library.

"Callista, it's your class and Harry is under your direct supervision; I'll leave it to your discretion." McGonagall vanished one of the piles of parchment with a wave of her wand. "Might I make a suggestion on the matter?"

"Certainly, Professor."

"Offer the ability to bestow points, one or two at a time, first. Once Harry has granted each House twenty points, then offer him the ability to deduct points at the same rate." A sly smile twitched at the older woman's thin lips. "Just remember to add the stipulation that he can't deduct more points than he grants."

Callista snorted. "Won't he figure it out?"

"My dear, Harry may be reasonably intelligent and magically capable, but he's far from a genius. Even if he does catch on, you can tell him it's on a trial basis until he proves himself trustworthy of the responsibility."

"Speaking of responsibilities, I hope Harry's work in the classroom won't interfere with his own course work."

"It almost sounds like you've changed your mind on working with him Callista," the older woman replied. "If he runs into any problems, you could offer to help him as your time permits. Now doubt at some point he may need your assistance."

"Oh?"

"I've decided to promote Harry to Quidditch captain this year."

McGonagall's rare smile widened as she began to fill Callista in on Harry's Quidditch record. Callista listened, duly impressed by some of the better, if unorthodox, catches. If he was half as good in the classroom as he was on the pitch, the year would go better than she had anticipated.

As long as he doesn't argue with me at every opportunity.

As the staff was dismissed at the noon break, Severus saw that Callista was the first one out the door. Had she conveniently forgotten he had something to discuss with her? He exited the staff room and saw her hurrying along the corridor.

After a few long strides, Severus caught up with her. "Miss... I mean, Professor Hawkins, after spending most of yesterday organizing the Potions classroom to accommodate our classes, I've determined you will not be able to make use of the main storage cupboard in the classroom."

"Why on earth not?" she asked, stopping short.

"I have ordered several expensive and rare ingredients that I would rather the younger years not have access to."

"Wouldn't it make more sense to just have another cupboard brought in?" asked Callista, offering an obvious solution.

In the exaggerated, patient tone that one would use while speaking to a very young and very over-wrought child, Severus explained, "Normally that would work. However, since I was coerced into more than doubling my sixth-year N.E.W.T. class, I needed additional equipment to outfit the class. There simply won't be enough room."

"Severus, you're being unreasonable! I'm sure if we worked together we could find a way to make everything fit." Her angry tone now had a touch of desperation to it. "Why not just use Shrinking Charms on the extra, unused equipment and store it?"

"And when the charm wears off, have the items suddenly become normal-sized and burst out of storage and become damaged? I think not."

"Surely if you did the charm properly, it wouldn't be a problem," Callista said through clenched teeth.

"Even when the charm is done correctly, the effect is only temporary. Have you forgotten the very basics of magic?" He shook his head in mock regret. "I'm sorry, but I had everything so well organized before I knew I would be sharing the classroom or having so many additional students at the N.E.W.T. level."

"But--"

"I need more space. Besides, it's my classroom." He added insult to injury with his next request, "And before I forget, you will also need to remove all collected sample flasks, as I will be using the shelves along the back wall. Normally it wouldn't be an issue, but again since the number of N.E.W.T. students has increased, I really will need the extra storage space."

Her voice rose to an almost hysterical pitch. "How, exactly, am I supposed to transport all of those samples between classes? They can't be reduced without the possibility of changing the composition of the potions!"

He gave her a challenging look. "I'm sure you will find a way, unless you wish to ask the headmaster to intervene." The corners of his mouth twisted unpleasantly when the mulish look on her face made it clear she would not be rushing to the headmaster and asking him to fight her battles. Giving her what could almost pass as a condescending smile, Severus continued, "Since I don't wish to be completely unreasonable, I will lend you a sample case for the school year. A house-elf will deliver it later today. As long as you are very careful traveling to and from your office, the potions should come to no harm."

Before she could stammer out a protest, Severus turned his back to her and swept down the corridor, feeling triumphant and knowing her Gryffindor pride would never allow her to air her grievances to Dumbledore.

Her brisk, furious pace from the staff room to her office had only added to Callista's anger, and she slammed the door to her office behind her.

"I can't believe the nerve of that... that..." She found herself at an utter loss for a word strong enough to express how completely infuriated she was with Severus Snape and his petty posturings and power play.

"What exactly were you trying to do, Miss Hawkins?"

It was no secret to any of the seventh years that Severus harbored a deep hatred of Gryffindors and why, but still it didn't seem fair that he should take it out on all of them for something that happened back in her first year at Hogwarts. She certainly hadn't had anything to do with him being hung upside-down by his ankle and stripped of all dignity. There was nothing to do but serve her detentions in silence and make sure she didn't give him a reason to do it again. If she needed to put wards around her workspace, then that's exactly what she would do.

"Good to see the Grudge Against Gryffindor is alive and well after all these years," she grumbled sarcastically. Her appetite gone, Callista decided to skip lunch with the other teachers in the Great Hall and work on some more of her lessons. "If Severus thinks I'm going to go running to the headmaster, then he'd better think again. If I can just somehow manage to avoid him until June, everything will be fine. Unless I decide it's better to transfigure him into a mouse and drop him in front of Mrs. Norris."

A/N: In case anyone was wondering or cared, Horace Slughorn has been replaced with Professor Tiberius Blackburn in this story. He's old, as in Professor Tofty old, and was created before we knew about Slughorn. You'll learn a little more about him in later chapters.