It was often rather difficult for Severus to figure out exactly what he should be doing, who he should be doing it for, and who he should be offering his support to. This was a relatively normal problem for any double-agent, but it was made even more difficult by the addition of his responsibility for his Godson. He knew that Draco was more his own parents’ child than his, but the boy simply wasn’t listening to either of his elders, for good reason, but still. He was making things more difficult for Severus, as the Slytherin Head did not want to see the boy he’d put so much effort into raising go down a wrong path and end up dead before he even came of age.

Yes, Severus had put a lot of effort into the blonde Prince of Slytherin, as many called him. He’d taught Draco how to use Occlumency, even taught him Legilimency, though he was far from a master at that particular art. He’d seen the boy fall apart after verbal lashings from his father, and he’d even seen the poor child give up more than once before. Above all, however, he’d seen how determined Draco could be, and he knew that the boy could be something great someday. If the idiot didn’t get himself killed.

Severus didn’t much care what the students did around the castle, but he was sure they had more brains than they’d shown so far this year. His own Snakes were acting absolutely horribly, and it wasn’t even Christmas yet! So far he’d already had Parkinson on probationary status from exploding the bloody dungeons on none other than the Dark Lord’s own niece, and now it seemed his idiot of a Godson was dating the bloody girl! Or, well, he was dating her. Then he went and had sex with one of the Lestrange twins… Severus wasn’t even about to touch that little subject.

Now it seemed the Malfoy heir was pressing his luck again, as Severus had seen him drag the Riddle girl into no less than three empty classrooms and a broom closet in the past week. While she was dating Potter. And the Dark Lord had given distinct orders that Draco was not to touch his precious relative. Oh, the boy was really going to get himself killed, and then Severus would have an angry and distraught Narcissa to answer to.

Merlin, he didn’t need that. The woman was already owling him all the time about ‘poor Lucius’ being locked away in that ‘horrible prison’ and couldn’t Severus please just ‘talk to the Dark Lord’ about rescuing her sod of a husband. Oh, yes. Severus would get right on that. He’d just walk up to the man and say ‘Hey, Tom, how about we free Lucius since he’s been so very good and all?’. He was sure that would go over splendidly.

The man had been walking without paying much attention to where he was going, only now realizing that he was almost to his potions stores. Sure, he had a new position, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still keep his own storage filled and brew his own potions. Severus was a Potions Master, after all. One didn’t simply abandon the art.

”Sometimes I think I’m getting too old for this bollocks,” he muttered, walking into the room only to stare at a student who seemed to be trying to get into his personal stores. His eyes narrowed and Severus crossed his arms, glaring icily at the brat. ”You have three seconds. Explain.”

Skyler wasn't exactly sure just how she had allowed herself to be talked into this particular errand, but somehow she had. It might have simply been her eagerness to get the revenge show on the road. It might have been because she had no real talent with potions, and therefore being away from them was probably for the best, seeing as she was just as likely to hand the wrong ingredient as the right one in her boredom with the task of making the potion. It might have had something to do with the fact that Draco had asked her to in that commanding tone of his that sent shivers up her spine.

Whatever the case may be, it found the Slytherin witch strutting down the dungeon corridors towards the potions storeroom, where Snape apparently had a secret stash of ingredients for his own personal use. According to Draco. Also according to the blonde, in there was a certain ingredient he required for the current potion he was brewing for their plot. Unicorn blood. Sky wasn't exactly sure what potion he was brewing, or what it would do, or even how she felt about it requiring unicorn blood for that matter.

The teen had a special love for unicorns, though no one would know that particular tidbit. It was rather girly of her, in her mind atleast, so she never really mentioned it. The brunette really found creatures fascinating for the most part, but even as a young child, she had always had a particular love for unicorns and dragons. Unicorns were the purest of all things living, and dragons were just incredibly magical and fierce and all around amazing. A big part of her wanted to work with the majestic creatures after school, but that was still very much undecided, given one had to be alive long enough to finish school in the first place. Which often enough lately seemed highly unlikely for the small Slytherin.

So caught up in her thoughts the brunette was that she walked right past the storeroom and was halfway down the next corridor before realizing her mistake. Looking around as she stood in the middle of the corridor, the teen looked confused for a moment, as if trying to decide whether or not she had actually passed the room she was headed to or if she still needed to continue on. Dammit!! Why did all these corridor need to look exactly the same? Downright confusing was what it was. Two months into the year and Sky still found herself getting lost a lot of the time.

Cursing herself mentally for not paying attention, she doubled back just to be sure, and sure enough, she found she had passed it the first time around. Skyler rolled her violet eyes at herself. Typical.

Glancing around, the Slytherin checked for any passerby before popping her head into the storeroom to check that was clear too. Seeing it was, she entered the room fully and closed the door behind her, turning back around to focus on the locked cupboard she was supposed to steal the rare ingredient from. Sky would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about breaking into Snape's private stock. She wasn't even sure she agreed with any kind of potion that called for unicorn blood. Her gaze drifted down to her left forearm, and the memory of that fatal day came floating back to her, and the call for ultimate revenge flooded her.

Maybe she could make an exception just this once.

Now to get in. Her vibrantly colored eyes took in the lock and the brunette bit her bottom lip, brows furrowing together. Now what had Draco said again? Right! And unlocking charm! It seemed rather idiotic, she thought, but then, maybe most people would assume Snape wouldn't use something so simple, and therefore pass over the idea altogether. It was rather ingenious really, when one thought of it that way. Taking her wand from it's usual place behind her right her, the teen flicked it with a mutter. Or maybe he had said not to use an unlocking charm, seeing as another lock had popped up next to the original. Oh dear...

Before she could even think about what that meant, or really rack her brain to remember what Draco had told her, or even curse the blonde in her head for being so damn distracting just by talking, the door behind her opened and Skyler whipped around to come face to face with her Defense Professor himself. Wruh wroh,

The brunette blinked at him, and then gulped, feeling her throat run dry as her brain scrambled for some kind of explanation. It was rather hard to think straight though when faced with the intimidating older wizard. Why, oh why, did these things always happen to her? If it had been Draco, he wouldn't have had any problems and would've been back to the damn potion already. She really had terrible luck.

In the end, Sky figured she would go with the truth. "Three seconds? Right. Just..you know..that's not exactly a lot of time..kinds makes one wonder what exactly happens after three seconds too..not that I really want to find out!! Just saying..erm.." The Slytherin witch bit her lip, then exhaled and gave the man a hopeful look. "I don't suppose you would believe me if I said I was just trying to break into the cupboard just to see if I could, would you?" So maybe she could prolong the truth telling just a bit. She could atleast try to cover up the real reason, right? Even if it was only biding her time for a moment.

As soon as the girl turned around, Severus let out a sigh and a groan. He should have known it wasn’t some third year trying to steal his things. No, that tiny thing had to be the pipsqueak his Lord was so determined to keep safe, his Leader was so set on getting rid of, and his godson was bloody smitten with. Oh, and of course she’d taken a bloody liking to Potter as well, so he didn’t even know what the hell he was supposed to think of her. Well, he could at least say one thing for her. She was one hell of a Slytherin.

Yes, he knew his godson called her the ‘fail snake,’ however endearingly he meant it, but that didn’t make it true. The girl could manipulate damn near anyone she set her eyes on, and he had a sneaking suspicion she was well aware of this natural ability. She was also one hell of a fighter, if the rumors were true, which he was pretty sure they were. Usually rumors around Hogwarts were true at least sixty percent of the time, and when it dealt with people like Parkinson it was almost one hundred percent true. The idiot had the biggest mouth of them all, and she loved to brag. If the small girl before him had really been carved up by the pug-faced brat, and come away from it without much problem at all, he was actually impressed. Not that he’d ever let anyone know it.

”Miss Riddle. Do not lie to me. It is most unbecoming, as we are both much more intelligent than that. Also, that was more than three seconds by my count, which means you have made a mockery of me twice already now. I do insist that you refrain from making it a third time, as that would result in punishment no matter what real reasons you may have for your apparent attempt at breaking into my private supplies.” His arms were crossed over his chest, one brow raised as he waited for her response.

Severus really didn’t want to get into it with the girl. He knew Draco still was quite fond of her, even if she was currently flouncing about the castle with Potter claiming the spot at her side. It might not be the safest route for his godson to follow, but if his heart told him so strongly to go with the girl, if he could not be swayed even by Severus himself, well then the girl had to be something special. Draco was not a fool. Severus knew the boy had his reasons for the things he did. The man tried to respect the blonde’s decisions as often as he could, especially knowing how little respect Draco received otherwise.

He gazed at the girl before him with determined eyes. ”Now explain to me what you are doing here and why my cabinet has sprouted a second lock. Your time is ticking, Miss Riddle.” He hoped she had a good explanation. That she could prove herself to him as she had to his godson. Severus was very protective of the boy, seeing him as a sort of son he never had. If this girl did not live up to the standards that Draco deserved, Severus would do everything within his power to stop whatever relationship the two had from ever progressing.

Skyler had the good graces to look somewhat chastised. Atleast, on the outside. On the inside, the wheels were turning behind her violet eyes, working hard to figure out a way to not trap herself with the answer she would undoubtedly have to give. The teen didn't think lying would be the best course of action, not given who she faced. While the small brunette didn't hold much respect for authority figures, this particular man was an entirely different story altogether.

This was the man Draco looked up to so much. Who he went to in times of need. Who had cared for the blonde and helped him when he so needed it. That knowledge was enough to garner a good amount of respect in her eyes, no matter who it was. But the picture Draco painted of the man to Sky warred with the one she was given on a daily basis in classes, and that intrigued the Slytherin, piquing her curiosity. Not that that was hard to do really, but that was neither here nor there.

At the same time, Harry had a very different and very hateful stance against their Defense teacher, which only further intrigued the girl. There were several opinions offered to her of the rather surly man before her, and Sky wasn't the type to follow someone else's opinion, even if they did come from the two boys she trusted more than anyone else. Or perhaps it was the fact that both boy's had completely opposite opinions that made her further need to form her owns. Whatever the case may be, it would be her own she formed and followed, but in order to do so she had to figure out the paradox of a man to some extent.

Gazing at her professor with a rather curious look, the teen arched one dark brow, head cocking to the side. "Well, I didn't lie, technically. I really only asked if that was a passable excuse you would believe. And I asked to gauge what sort of lie I should tell you that you would believe." The Slytherin replied cheekily, teasing grin curling her lips. She was sure she was probably pressing her luck a bit, but Sky couldn't help it. It was her default setting, and it worked for her.

While looking indifferent and sounding bored was all well and good for a mask, nothing was as disarming as a grin. It wasn't really a mask that Sky adorned though, as her many grins and smirks were all very real. Unlike her fellow snakes, the teen didn't feel the need to hide her emotions, but instead used them to her advantage. It was one of the many ways in which she differed from the rest of the Slytherins. While they saw emotion as a hindrance, and a weakness, the brunette found ways to turn it into a strength.

Besides, the man had to know by now how close she was to Draco, and that she was most likely aware of the fact that he was the blonde's godfather. If that wasn't enough to keep her from lying to him, the fact that she knew the man was a master in legilimency and could probably read the lies as easily as she would tell them definitely would. So now the only thing she had to decide was just how much of the truth she should offer up.

Skyler wasn't too sure she should reveal the whole enchilada to him, as that seemed rather counterproductive to the entire scheme that they had cooked up as far as the plan for Parkinson. It only took a few seconds for her to find the loophole he provided her, giving her an out on that particular subject. After all, he had asked two very specific things, and the brunette couldn't help it if the questions most likely to be asked afterwards she wouldn't be able to answer because she wouldn't have any.

"Right. Three second rule. Got it. Well, I guess we could go with the obvious answers, which would be that I am here to get an ingredient from your cupboard, and the second lock sprouted after my failed attempt to unlock the original one, but somehow I think that, though that would be a truthful answer, and technically answering your questions, which is what you asked of me, you probably want the less obvious truths, right?"

Throughout her speech, not once did her grin falter, which she was sure some people would deem suicidal when aiming it at the older wizard. But Sky wasn't inclined to think so. After all, the worst he could do was take points of give her a detention, and though the idea wasn't exactly fun, it was something she could live with. She also wasn't inclined to think so because technically, she was being truthful, even if so far she had only given him the obvious truths. "So, basically I'm here to get an ingredient from your cupboard because Draco asked me to, because he's brewing a potion and apparently couldn't be bothered to come get it himself. Ok, well, I couldn't be trusted to watch the potion, which is entirely insulting, but beside the point. And before you ask, I have no clue what it's called or what it does or anything. That's the truth. Scout's honor."

So maybe she had gone past the three seconds he had given her to explain, but really, how could she be expected to explain in that frame of time anyways?

This girl was absolutely infuriating. She was like Potter and Draco combined somehow, and it was the most annoying thing in the world. Severus had often wondered what he would have on his hands if his godson loosened up a bit, and now he was sure he would hate if that were to happen. This girl was just as annoyingly intelligent as Draco, and just as smart-lipped as Potter. Plus she had the arrogance of both boys combined. It was like a never ending potions lesson with Slytherin and Gryffindor dealing with her. And then of course there was the bit of himself he saw in those violet orbs.

He shook his head, feeling frustrated and worn out from dealing with the girl, and he hadn’t even gotten a straight answer from her yet. So far she’d sputtered about how she hadn’t really lied though he still saw it that way, and then she had the nerve to seem to mock his three second rule. Her explanation was severely lacking, and he raised a brow at her, feeling annoying and frustrated.

Well, at least she seemed to notice how irritated he was becoming, as she finally admitted that his godson was the one to send her on this fool’s errand. The reason made him laugh without meaning to, but he didn’t worry about it. Mocking his students had been a habit he’d been used to for years, after all. ”Ah, yes. That does sound like Draco. Sending you to do the task least likely to cause a catastrophe. Too bad you couldn’t remember what he told you about opening the cupboard, hmm?”

Oh, Severus knew his godson had told his little girlfriend how to open the cupboard. She just hadn’t remembered his instruction. He was sure the blonde would be easy on the girl, too, since he was so bloody smitten with her. Love… it made him queasy. He looked the girl up and down, wondering if it would be worth it to point out that she’d gone over the three second limit again, or to point out that she’d done the exact opposite of what Draco had likely told her to do, but decided to do neither. At this point, he had observed that the girl wasn’t actually trying to talk her way out of trouble so much as actually admitting what she’d done and why, and he appreciated her honesty. Most students, if not all, were too scared of him to even tell him the truth.

”I do wish you could tell me what he was working on, exactly, but I believe you can at least tell me what the result will be used for. As in, who is he hurting, Miss Riddle?” There were only a few reasons Draco could need something from Severus’s personal supplies, and only two came to mind that he wouldn’t go directly to the Slytherin Head to simply ask for them. One was obviously not the case, since the girl was down here and seemed in perfect health- not to mention she’d know the potion he was making if that was the case. The other… the other was a revenge potion.

He looked the girl up and down, then pushed her out of the way and leaned in, whispering a secret string of words to the locks. He thought perhaps he should change the message just to mess with the blonde who apparently thought he could steal without repercussions. Of course, he knew most of the time the blonde actually came to him for assistance if not just the ingredients, so it wasn’t such a big deal. When the cupboard was opened, he looked at the girl again. ”Well then, what does he need?”

Skyler couldn't help but blink a bit dazedly as the man laughed. Actually laughed!! It was a bit disconcerting really, given that the normally way too serious older wizard never so much as smiled. Atleast, so far the brunette hadn't seen one. Usually it was a sneer or snarl or some such nonsense. The man didn't really strike her as a very happy camper, to say the least, but it was definitely a nice change to see and hear him laugh. She wasn't quite certain if he did that often, but much like she had though upon the first time seeing Draco laugh, Sky felt like the man should do it more often.

The teen might have said as much too, if she hadn't been distracted by the fact that he was laughing at her. "I don't cause catastrophes!!" She replied indignantly, huffing a bit with a roll of her violet eyes. Though she had to admit, even to herself, that it wasn't far off from the truth. "Well...not on purpose anyways. And that is completely beside the point, seeing as any idiot can watch a potion for ten minutes without blowing the world up. Drake was just being a lazy brat."

The Slytherin added on a bit haughtily, crossing her arms over her chest in a defiant gesture, and looking for all the world as if she were daring him to mock her ability to watch a potion. Like it took a genius to sit there and make sure the thing did whatever it was supposed to and not bubble over or something else just as ridiculous. Of course, Sky conveniently forgot that she tended to get distracted easily enough when doing something as tedious as she considered watching a potion to be, and therefore Draco was probably correct in sending her to fetch the ingredient he needed rather than risking the potion getting ruined because she became distracted by a shadow on the wall or something. Or even worse, because she managed to blow the whole thing out of the cauldron because she was practicing her bubble charm and one landed in the thing.

"And not at all. I simply wanted to see the magnificent display of another lock popping up out of nowhere." The brunette replied with deadpan humor in regards to her lapse in memory. She was probably forgetting that she was dealing with a professor, but it didn't matter much either way. It wasn't that Sky didn't respect the man. On the contrary, she felt as if treating him the same as she would anyone else was more respectful than pretending to be sorry, which she wasn't and which she was sure he would take as an insult, or trying to be a brown-noser, which she definitely wasn't, and which she was sure would have him thinking very little of her.

The Slytherin watched her Head of House look her over with an arched brow, her patented Riddle smirk curling her lips easily, looking completely at ease with the older man who was more intimidating than anyone else in the castle. Sky had to wonder why exactly that was. It could have been a lot of things, ranging from the fact that he was her Head of House and professor to his surly and usually sour disposition. It also could have been that she aware of his ties to her uncle, and that he was Draco's godfather. But somehow, the teen didn't think it was any of that, that made the man intimidating to her. She was more inclined to think it was because she wanted to impress the older wizard.

She was sure all the same reasons could imply to this as well, but she was also sure it was none of them. There was something about the professor that intrigued Skyler, like a mystery she wanted to unravel. While the teen had heard many things about him, and none of them were very nice except for whatever came from Draco, the brunette was more inclined to believe that there was more than met the eye in regards to the man. And while just about everyone she came across referred to him as some kind of royal asshole, that wasn't exactly the impression she was left with of him. One thing was for sure. The man seemed entirely unable to be impressed. And that was the intimidating factor, especially to someone like Skyler, who liked to impress the people whose opinions actually mattered to her, and who had taken a liking to this particular professor of hers.

Of course, the professor had to go and put two and two together, which, in all honesty, wasn't exactly surprising, but rather made things difficult. Sky didn't want to lie to him, but at the same time, she wasn't well enough acquainted with the man to determine whether or not he would put the breaks on their revenge plans. The brunette tilted her head, considering her words carefully as she chose them before speaking, moving easily when he pushed her aside to whisper something to the cupboard. So that was what she had forgotten!! Not that it mattered, as the thing was now opened and he was asking what ingredient Draco was in need of.

Skyler made a show of returning the once over he had given her. It didn't seem like he was going to intervene in their plans, regardless of who their target was, so that was reassuring to the teen. "Well..I suppose I can forgive you for laughing at me and answer your questions. After all, to forgive is divine, and all that jazz." She replied with a cheeky grin, unfolding her arms and approaching the cupboard without permission to peer inside it with an interested and curious look. "It's for Parkinson. And Unicorn blood."

”Lazy? I doubt my godson is lazy, as he so often graces my office with his sweaty self after a workout, Miss Riddle. I will not argue with you about his being a brat, however.” He smirked at her in a way that was much like his godson. So few people realized how many things the older Slytherin and his godson had in common, but he was sure this girl would not miss those little details. He wasn’t sure it would bother him anyway, as the girl already knew more about Draco than anyone else ever had. He was relatively sure that meant she could figure things out about him as well without much worry.

The girl’s sarcasm had the professor rolling his eyes as he looked through his ingredients. At least she answered him, even if there was that ever present argumentative nature about her tone. Grabbing a small vial of the thick silvery substance she was in search of, Severus turned and looked her up and down, holding the ingredient out of her reach as he assessed the situation.

”Ah, so he’s finally getting that revenge then? Yes, I know a bit of what happened to you, Miss Riddle. I know a lot of what Draco tries to hide… You will inform him that he should not use more than a few drops of the potion on the pug. If he does more than that, the effects could be much greater than intended. My godson is many things, but a murderer he is not.” He looked at the girl very seriously before setting the vial in her hand, never breaking eye contact.

Severus was not concerned about what his godson would do to Parkinson. As far as he was concerned, the girl deserved everything she got. His Snakes had ways of dealing with punishments when they were needed. He rarely had to step in. ”Now, I expect you to accompany my godson next time he comes to a private meeting with me, Miss Riddle. If neither of us wishes to see him hurt, then you need to learn certain skills. I will not have you risking Draco’s life with your foolish tongue, understood?”

He looked at her pointedly, then locked his supplies up properly once more. ”Now you had best get that to Draco before his potion goes to waste. The rest of the ingredients were not easy to come by either, if it is the potion I believe it is. I will see you soon, Miss Riddle. Do not disappoint me.” With a swish of his robes, Severus had stalked back out of the supply room, making his way swiftly toward his quarters. Now there was no chance for the girl to argue with him about his demands. She would show up and he would begin training her to guard her mind. If her uncle saw Draco so clearly in that brain of hers as he did, the blonde was doomed, and that simply did not sit well with Severus.