Maybe
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my characters and my plot. J.K. Rowling owns everything else.
Chapter 1
The young teenager's eyes opened slowly, an unearthly color of amber in the iris, with a ring of black around it, and flecks of grey in the amber. They were also the color of her cousin's eyes and no one understood how she also had his eyes if she wasn't like him. It was a mystery for her parent's that they had grown to except and love as much as they did her cousin. Jade DeVeau eyes trailed down to the desk she had been napping on along with her essay that she was having a horrid time with, on that desk. The essay was for her worst class, Potions but she at least passed it with a satisfactory grade until her sixth year. This year however was her worst.
She sighed and pushed the essay away, giving up with it for now. She always saved potions for last so she could leave and not worry about other homework when she got frustrated. Jade left her desk in the Gryffindor common room and decided to leave it to spend the rest of her weekend in sanity. Her feet dragged along the stone hallways until she reached the library. Her dream was to be a writer so she spent many hours in the place ingesting all information that she could, muggle or wizard. However she was in classes to become a healer for there were no classes for writing in Hogwarts.
Jade found the muggle literature section and settled in a table after she claimed a poetry book of Emily Dickinson. She wanted to see all the writing styles she possibly could and learn from all of them. The dinner bell rang soon after Jade began to read and she reluctantly left her book behind to eat a little food because she hadn't eaten the whole Saturday. Taking her time to get to dinner she sat at the end of the table away from where her cousin Remus and his insane friends sat. It wasn't that she didn't dislike them at all; it was just that she really wasn't sure if she belonged in the Gryffindor house or near them.
Once she completed her dinner, Jade left the Great Hall to go back to the library. Again she settled into her table and picked up the book she had left and began to read. She read till Madame Prince shooed her out of the library in a way that was saved only for her, a nice 'get' and shaking hands. Over the years the librarian had taken a liking to the quiet girl and trusted her around her precious books especially since Jade often helped out in the library. She climbed to the Gryffindor tower and past the portrait hole into the loud bubbly common room that open most days she avoided unless she was doing her homework.
The girl gathered her things from earlier in the day, and headed to her dormitory. Jade in her wisdom stood in front of the full mirror and stared at her reflection for a moment. A young girl stood out to her, a little to tall about 5'9, a little too skinny, a natural light tan, golden blonde hair, large amber eyes, a pert nose, and average lips and endowments. She knew she wasn't gorgeous nor was she a hideous beast; she was a little above average is all. Such a tiny bit that no boys ever stopped to look at her in the hall lost in breath but it never bothered her. She liked her own company just fine and wasn't bothered without a boyfriend. In fact the girl liked it better in her own company more then she liked it anyone else's.
Jade nodded at her own self before she went back to tackle the horror that was her potions homework. Her potions book sat on her bed while she wrote on parchment on another book, hopefully this would give her a satisfactory grade. She heard people beginning to herd upstairs soon after she finished and quickly changed into her night-things to avoid the loud bunch. Her drawings had just shut as her roommates came in.
Lily Evan's bed being right next to hers, Jade heard Lily everyone to calm down and go to sleep. 'Ha- like they would actually be quiet for once in there life' was the thought that came from Jade. Thankfully everyone was soon asleep leaving Jade to be the only one awake for the next few hours as she stared at her drawings unable to sleep till at least 3 in the morning. Once she was asleep however it was like hell getting her up during the weekends anyway.
The next day Jade awoke to a deadly silent room and she knew it was past morning for the room to be this quiet. After she showered, she dressed and left for her favorite place in the school, the library. Madame Prince gave Jade a smile and she continued on her way to the muggle literature section of the library. As she passed through the book shelves she saw Severus Snape sitting at a table scratching away on his paper. He looked up as she passed and she gave him a comforting smile. He didn't bother to return it he just stared at her with his same old sneer plastered to his face. Jade however didn't blame him because everyone knew she was related to one of the Marauders, (Remus) and probably the memory of last year after the end of OWLS still stung at him. She also knew he was into heavy Dark Arts but for some odd reason it didn't repel her.
She continued on her way and found a play by Shakespeare, Othello, and settled into a table to read. She read past dinner, she was so engrossed into the play that only when she read a loud scream did she jolt out of that world and rush to find who was screaming. Madame Prince was still at dinner that she wasn't around to stop the screams and she pushed through the library doors to find Snape surrounded by James Potter, Sirius Black, and in the rear Peter Pettigrew. Her cousin wasn't around thankfully to be witness to this. She saw James and Sirius curse Snape, having boils coming all over his body and fur joining it, along with his knees being backwards. This behavior disgusted Jade and she screamed 'stop it' and rushed to Snape's side. After reversing all three charms she turned to the boys. "Why can't you all just grow up, get lives and start acting your age."
"Hey Jade, don't get angry with us. He deserved it."
"If everyone in this school deserved what you have done to have the school, then I will be damned. Now get out of here and go bug my cousin. Now" she hissed at all three of them especially James. She then turned back to Snape and leaned down next to him, "Hey you ok?"
"Leave me alone, I don't need anyone to help me."
"I know but what you know will have you expelled from here. Need a hand?"
"Just go away."
"Why and leave you to the sharks."
"The sharks will pay for what they have done eventually."
"I know"
"No you don't."
"I know they should grow up and not pick on people and maybe save their already damned souls."
"Yes, now go away."
"Come just take my hand, I'll help you."
"Fine, whatever you annoying creature"
"Your welcome"
He took her hand and Jade pulled Snape up to his feet. He dusted off his robes and turned to leave before a thought struck Jade. She ran up to Snape and touched his shoulder. He turned around no emotion in his face at all. "Um…Severus I have a question."
"Whatever"
"You see I am doing pretty badly in potions and I was wondering if you could tutor me seeing as you are the best in our year in it."
"I suppose I should see as you just helped me but I will think about DeVeau."
"I hope so Severus." With that Jade turned her heel and walked away happy that she had done something for someone else, even if they didn't really want her help.
The next day in Charms, her first period, The Marauders kept staring at her. Like the wished to know why she had helped Snape and what the hell was wrong with her for that. As was her fashion, Jade ignored them and continued on with her day as normal. That was until she passed by Snape to get to her last class, he shoved a note in her hand. Once she reached her last class, she unfolded the note and his neat script stood out to her.
DeVeau,
I will tutor you besides I checked with Professor Zaroff and he amazingly said that he was going to ask me to help you in the first place. We may use the potions classroom, so come tonight at 8.
S.S
She folded the note back up and tucked it into her bag before others saw she was reading it. She couldn't help herself but she had to smile, at long last she was going to get help in potions. The rest of the day seemed to pass before her eyes, and before she knew it she was walking down the corridor with her potions supplies to the potions classroom. Snape was already there when she entered.
He just pointed next to him and she began to setup her potions equipment. After this was down her nodded to her and she smiled to him. He had no expression on his face again, though she had never actually seen an emotion really displayed on his face. He then began his nice little questionnaire to her.
"Alright, DeVeau what potion can have you spilling all of your innermost secrets with just three drops?"
"Veritaserum"
"Good, now what is the most important ingredient in Wolfsbane?"
"Aconite"
"Yes and what is an antidote for almost all poisons?"
"Bezoar"
"Yes and do you know anything in the sixth level in potions."
"I guess a little."
"Wonderful" he said dryly to her.
"Yes"
"Alright we will be brewing a wound-cleaning potion as you are going to need this for your next lesson."
As Snape and Jade brewed the potion together she couldn't help but notice the way he moved around a potion. He had a grace to the activity that was extremely hard for Jade. He explained the reactions and why they happened to her as she took notes and once the finished product was done, the side of Snape's mouth twitched as Jade began to grin in happiness. Before Jade left she turned around to Snape and surprised him greatly. "Hey you know you can call me by my first name Severus and thank you. See you in two days."
He looked up into her eyes and nodded before going back to cleaning up some extra ingredients. Jade smiled and left him in the dark room feeling happiness and sadness for the Slytherin because he knew so much and not all of it was for the side of good. This however didn't dampen the girl's mood and she almost caught herself skipping to the tower. She was going to do ok in potions and it was only October and she knew this.
The Gryffindor common room was just as noisy as ever even when it was ten at night. Remus saw her as she was going to go up her stairs and grabbed her wrist turning her around to face him. His eyes had a bit of concern in them but they also held a bit of anger at her. She knew this was about yesterday and was actually kid of surprised that they hadn't seek her out earlier. He dragged her to an unoccupied corner of the room and stared at her, asking her to explain.
"Remus grow up, what they do is wrong and you know it as well as I do so don't even ask me to explain."
"But he follows us around all the time trying to get us in trouble and he is a bit too curious about where I go every month. Plus he is heavily into the Dark Arts."
"I know that Remus I do but you all need to grow up and leave him alone or just ignore him. I'm going to bed and what I do and the reasons are none of your business, now go tell that to the people who sent you to be their messenger boy. Good-night."
Jade turned and walked away from a flabbergasted Remus and up to her dorm. She climbed into her bed shortly after going upstairs and fell asleep a smile playing on her lips once she thought about the young man who was going to help her pass potions. The next morning in potions was actually quite easy because almost all of the properties that they had been using she knew some of their effects thanks to her notes.
Her good mood continues all the way into the library after dinner where she sat scribbling away at an essay for her healing class. Almost all of her homework seemed a bit easier because she wasn't in her usually laid-back mood, but a perky one. This however wasn't here and by the time she was finished her homework her laid-back mood had returned in full force.
Jade sat in the library with a book after her homework was finished and read till she was forced out by Madame Prince. Taking her bag with her she dragged her feet all the way up to the tower. Her body lay across her bed and her drawings were around her, as she sat there in her bed and her head was against the crimson pillows and the images of the night before flooded back into the blonde's head.
The grace Severus had had as he moved around a brewing potion. The way his long fingers held the knife as he cut the ginger roots. The structure he held himself in that made him in his own way elegant. Ah yes, maybe potions will not be as horrible as she had originally planned for the year. Maybe just maybe were her last thoughts as Jade slipped into her own realm of dreams about a dark haired boy who was only himself.
The days kept coming as did they weeks and the months. Soon the students found themselves getting ready to leave for Christmas break. Jade and Severus had formed a little pact about his tutorials to her. Unless I am dying you leave me alone to smirk and sneer and I will leave you alone to read and write besides when we are tutoring. It was working quite nicely for both of them as Jade's potions grade was getting better as was her ability and Severus gained the fact that Jade admired his work in potions and didn't bother with asking him about his affiliations with Dark Arts, she knew he had them. The tutoring session before Christmas break was spent between the two of them making a potion that made a person sleep for the next two weeks.
Once they were done with the potion, Jade turned to him and tapped the boy on his shoulder. He turned around a bit of annoyance in his eyes with her and his trademark sneer plastered on his face. "I just wanted to say thanks for everything you have done for me Severus. These sessions really do help you know."
"Ok, your welcome then."
"Well I guess I'll see you around when we come back from break."
"Yes, now please go away. I have no time for you and your silly childlike actions tonight. I have had my fill of them."
"Oh" Jade said in a briefly hurt voice.
She then turned and attempted to leave the potions classroom. Before she could she stopped and watched him, clean up the potion things. He was so beautiful around a potion and their makings. He may not be handsome like Sirius Black or James Potter but he held a quality to him, which few saw and with that few couldn't even place a name to the quality. Jade on the other hand could. It was the mystery and elegance that was intelligent darkness. "Severus" her voice barely heard.
"What" he roared at her, turning around.
"You know you are beautiful around these types of things."
"A lie DeVeau, I know I am not handsome. Do not lie to me trying to get on my good side."
"I am not lying Severus; you have an air, a quality about you that surpasses the outside of your shell. I believe you are so much lovelier then the rest of the world sees" Jade said, stepping closer to Severus.
"Don't speak such things to me if you don't understand them, Jade. Besides you are speaking nothing but lies."
Jade stood in front of him and took her hand up to his cheek. The skin was cold against her warm hand, and Severus flinched when she touched him but did not pull away. Her lips met his in a brief kiss, his lips as cold as his skin and her lips soft against his. They parted, Jade's hand still on his face, and her whispered words echoed across the empty room. "Does my kiss tell untruths?"
"No, but why would you kiss me? To begin a plight to save me or to have your worthless pity?"
"Neither" she spoke before taking her hand from his face. Her eyes cast him a sad look, saying how the truth was coming from her mouth. His eyes followed her every step as she walked away from him, a feeling of morose and anger came upon him at how she blatantly refused to tell the truth to him especially when he was helping her for a reason that she did not know, nor did she ever ask. The door shut leaving Severus to brood by himself.
Jade walked to the tower a feeling of mixed regret and happiness bursting in her heart. She enjoyed the taste of Severus' lips and the coldness of him. It was different, in fact he was different from any male she had ever come in close proximity with. How she wished that she had a friend to chat with but then again most Gryffindors hated all Slytherins and especially the social outcast that was Severus Snape. This episode had reinforced the fact that Jade doubted the fact that she was meant to be a Gryffindor.
Her eyes scanned the common room and since she was already packed she decided to for once in her school career to stay in the room, as it was not as loud as usual. People were getting ready to return home, and most pack. They were leaving tomorrow and they knew they must be ready to leave. However four of her least liked people at the moment were in the common room and in attempt to avoid them moved like a spy threw the room to a chair near the fire.
Remus must have spotted her so in moment she had sat down he had pulled her back up and was dragging over to the rest of the Marauders. Why one couldn't be left alone to ponder her actions of her night. They all smiled at her and nervousness swept into her mind because besides Remus they barely ever smiled at her unless the children were up to something. She felt Remus sit her in a chair next to Sirius and he went to touch her hand which she moved quickly to her chest.
"Um… Jade, one Mr. Padfoot has something to ask you?" James said as they left the two next to each other.
"What is it Sirius, cause I have no time for games."
"Jade will you go out with me?" he asked bluntly. Jade knew his reputation with women and the fact of Severus came in her mind as she sat in a moment's silence.
"I am sorry Sirius, I can't."
"Why not?" he asked in a defensive voice, with a tinge of hurt edging its way in also.
"One, your notorious reputation with the females of the school. Two, I care for another one."
"Who so I may break their necks."
"That is my business only Sirius but I shall give you a clue, he is a Slytherin."
The gaping Sirius stared at jade as she walked away from him and his fish like mouth. He couldn't believe any girl would even go near a Slytherin or care bout one. Jade, however knew different she was the example of such difference. A smile played along her lips as she slept that night, a dark male in her dreams.
The next day as she boarded the train, she walked the corridor till a door opened and she felt an arm grab her inside. She didn't scream because she had figured the gossip had reached him for the whole school by the next morning, knew she had turned down Sirius Black for a Slytherin. Jade turned around to find Severus in an empty compartment because he usually stayed with a group of certain Slytherins.
His mouth still had his sneer and she sat across from him, his eyes burning into her own, his long dark black tunnels of eyes into her own amber. He reached out and took her hands into his own and held them. They held the same coldness she had felt in the dungeons the night before.
"Jade, I heard as the rest of the school has, that you turned down Sirius Black for an unknown Slytherin."
"True, it happened last night after I returned to my common room."
"Who is this unknown Slytherin you care for?"
"You" she whispered
"Why, why do you care for me the school outcast?"
"You are more then the rest of the school boys, you are a darkness that has pulled me into your story like a swimmer pulled under by the current."
"Jade, I must ask this of you. You cannot ever care for me and it is for your own good as well is mine."
"Severus, I want to admire you as I have done. Your beauty is in the simmering cauldron that has brought me closer to you. Not as close as I would like but a closeness that I want to keep with you."
"I won't alone you to have anymore closeness to me outside of your tutoring session. It is for your own good and I will not say anymore."
"Severus, I will
care for even if you take the dark mark. I don't want to save or pity you. I
know you don't wish it so. I believe you to be so much more then what I know. I
want to be with you and your world."
"You don't wish for the darkness to take you, it will consume you one day if
you wish. Keep it at arm's length for then you would be safe. I will not let
you enter my world but you may be allowed to keep it at an arm's length."
"Alright" she whispered a tear slipping from her right eye.
Severus took one of his hands and brushed the tear off her cheek. He then stared at her and told her not to cry, ever, it wasn't befitting for her and her strength. She nodded her blonde head and sat on the seat next to him. She moved her hands so both were upon his sharp cheekbones and she leaned her head against his. He flinched still as she touched him, afraid in his mind that she might have the power to hurt him. Her lips met his for the briefest of kisses before she took her leave. Jade left Severus to comprehend why he had taken her to be near him in any sense at all.