So this is a rewrite of my fanfiction I wrote a year and a half ago. (Or so!) I believe that I have matured as a writer and I wanted to give this one another shot at actually being a good story. You see, I thought it was really corny looking back at the chapters, and I really wanted to fix it. So there will be changes here and there, a better vocabulary, more plot ect ect.
So I, ReneeTravis, is pleased to present the revised version of In My Arms. Enjoy, and please remember to review/critique. I would really appreciate it.
"I despise my hair." I said running a comb through it. "It looks ghastly, really. I wish I was a Metamorphagis."
it was awfully chilly considering that it was summertime. So, naturally, I was wearing my itchy blue sweater and long comfortable slacks. I looked like I were a lazy person. I couldn't bear to think of what the man who was coming to pick me up would say. I am one for great first impressions as they do wonders for starting interns. So I had guessed that I should change into something a little less horrid before he arrives.
I hate the way I look, just like I hate my name. Adelaide Zopiel. It's just...odd! Who names their child after a city in Australia in the first place? Oh yes. That's right. My mother does.
My mother passed away last year, and I do really miss her. We would fight constantly which usually ended up with me storming off to my room and slamming the door. I was so happy to finally move out; but when she fell ill I had to come to her aid. I hated the constant bickering, but damn was this house quiet without her. Enough of that. I'll break down into hysterics and I am positive that the man coming to pick me up doesn't want to deal with that. I have heard that his patience is inhumanly low.
I am curious as to seeing how he is like? Is he as cruel as they say he is or will he tolerate someone as annoying as me? I was informed that he was my age. Twenty-three. I guess we have something, even though small, in common. But that doesn't necessarily mean we will get along and be best buddies. I have heard he can be a bastard. And I do not tolerate such types of people.
"Dammit, I have nothing presentable to wear!" I cried. Why did I care so much what a man whom I have never met thinks anyway? Oh yeah, he was going to be my boss. I forgot. Warm over pretty. Besides its not like anything would happen. No friendship, I must promise myself this. He is a DeathEater and I am an Auror-In-Training. Our history between the two is not very happy to say the least!
"What the hell, it must be an omen that I am stationed there. Or the others had gotten sick of me and wanted me out of their hair. Oh well, no matter. What is done is done." I said to myself.
Singing usually calms my nerves. I am very nervous. I began humming a tune, then eased into some lyrics; started twirling around my room. You know the drill. Perky young girl dances. He's late, I noticed soon. He's making me wait. How rude.
I jumped a few minutes later, the sound of a man chuckling scared me. I turned around to face a man with Black Hair; Black Eyes; Black Clothing. I see a trend. And, he looks kind of bitchy. Great. Just perfect. Snape.
"Can I help you Sir? It is kind of creepy to discover a strange man standing in the doorway of a young lady's bedchambers. Seriously, who do you think that you are? Please if you are a sociopath....or something, you should leave. If anything were to happen to me my escort who will be here shortly will tear you a new one. He's a DeathEater."
Deep laughter again."Oh really? A young lady speaking in the manner that you are? And from a face like yours, oh dear. I am a former DeathEater, I would like to clarify. And it would be rather difficult to tear myself a new one. That is impossible and if I could I don't see why I would want to." he paused. "Judging by your attire, you were cold and were just in the process of changing your attire, because you had an escort arriving. A male escort, at that."
I shivered noticeably by him and grabbed hold of my wand, frightened by this man before me. He gave me the shivers.
"Do I detect fear coming from you? Ah, yes. Are you uncomfortable that a DeathEater is in your home?" he asked silkily.
"I thought you were a former DeathEater?"
He scoffed and came over to me. "We shouldn't argue. I am hear by request and quite frankly I have better things to do. Attend, now."
Taking my suitcase with one hand and his lean arm with another, Severus and I apparated. A feeling I had never gotten used to, like being pulled through a small tube and shot out again. No, it wasn't the most comfortable feeling in the world. I hated apparating. I preferred train, or broom. Or walking. Even though it was a good hundred or so miles from my home to Hogwarts. When we had arrived at our destination, I let go of his hand and my suitcase, and toppled over into the man, panicking and coughing.
I had felt him stiffen as I had my face buried into his chest. His seemingly built chest I must add. I felt my face grow red and I pushed myself away from him. Even though I had known him in my school days, he was still a stranger to me, and I to him. Awkward.
"Oh, I do apologize." I said loudly, and grinned at him.
"Oh yes. Hugging a bitchy DeathEater you hardly know. Not strange in the least. Its okay. Purely by accident, no?"
Smart ass. Okay then, we have another thing in common. Maybe he dyes his hair like I do, too. It's too dark. Unnaturally dark; Kind of elegant in a way. I wonder if he sings like I do, too? Nah...that's too...too...him. I laughed and coughed again. "Former DeathEater, Severus. Former."
I stared into his eyes, mine narrowed. His began to gleam with what seemed to be a confused glow. "What is it now, Miss Zopiel?"
"Your eyes are weird. Do you wear contacts?"
"No." He answered stiffly, and he turned to walk away."Come, you are wasting my time. I have much work to do."
He does this as it begins to rain; he didn't even turn back to lend me a hand. Doesn't he know anything about...normal people? We don't like getting soaking wet when there is no need to be! And it is freezing!
I reached down to grab the handle of the suitcase and made my way up to the castle, him far ahead of me. After I had fallen over again and heard him roar with laughter as I was now covered in mud, he disappeared beyond the gate. One of which when I finally reached I found it was still unlocked. He left it unlocked for me. How nice of him to do so.
When I bumped into the Headmaster, and he had asked how I was doing, I erupted into one of my tangents.
"He left me outside in the dust! And it started raining, it was freezing! And when I fell down he pointed and laughed at me. Pointed and laughed instead of acting normal and helping me like anyone else would! That BASTARD...." I said rather quickly.
"Please do refrain from swearing. A lady should not swear anyway."
"I am sorry Sir, but he's a bastard...and it's not necessarily swearing if it is the truth, you know."
He chuckled. "Honestly, if I were young and twenty and I had seen a pretty young girl like you fall over, I would have laughed myself. He's a boy. We are like that." He smiled.
"How was your sum-" My sentence was interrupted as a cough echoed through the quiet hallway.
Severus. Never again will I apparate with him, when it is cloudy with a Chance of rain. I should have listened to that weather man. He is never right, but today....
"Come. I am to show you around, apparently. As requested my Headmaster Dumbledore himself." He turned on his heel, leaving me once again.
"Goodbye Professor, I'll see you a little later!" I called and ran after Snape. He was awfully fast!
We had ended up in the dungeons. After running up and down the stairs I was out of breath again, but he paid it no mind, again. I had already begun to dislike him. I did not wish to speak to him if I could help it. So, I was left to my own thoughts.
"...your classroom...." he said.
"WHAT?" I asked harshly.
"This will be our classroom." he paused and looked at me angrily. "You know I couldn't help but notice how childish you are."
"And I couldn't help but notice that you are an arsehole." I muttered.
Either he chose to ignore me or he didn't hear what I had said, because he continued. "We will be working together and need to set a good example for the children. If you are acting as one of them, then they will walk all over you." His voice was dripping with venom.
"Oh, sorry, Sir.".
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Don't call me Sir, Adelaide. It is unnecessary."
He led me down the corridor and showed me where our bedchambers were. "This is my room. I am usually here sometime after 9 pm every night. If you need something, anything, ask." He said. So that meant, 'Unless you are bleeding out, don't bother me.'
My room also happened to be next to his. Excellent, really. He left me alone so he could go 'prepare for his classes' hich weren't going to start for another three weeks. Perfect, he hates me, too.
I wish I hadn't agreed to come here three weeks early. Dumbledore had known of my situation recently and wanted to make sure I had a safe place to stay. But, I hadn't realized that Severus would be here as well. This is going to be a long and awkward three weeks. I can already tell.
After Snape left I thanked the gods that he had. He has done nothing but infuriate me in just the two hours I had spent with him. He used to be so shy and polite. I wonder what happened to change him? Is it the DeathEater inside? I heard through my teachings that they put people through vigorous "training" and practically brainwash you into doing what the "Dark Lord" wants. Maybe it had to do with Lily? I mean, he fancied her, that was quite obvious. And she recently passed away; but everyone was sad about that.
I decided that it would be better for me to vent silently rather that..vocalizing my feelings. I wouldn't want him to come running, not that I thought he would in the first place. But to take precautions, I decided against it. No more of him today, thank you very much. I have had quite enough of the new Severus Snape to last these few weeks we will be training together. Well, I training with him. He had his 'apprenticeship' last year with Professor Quirrell as Snape wanted to have the DADA job. But, Dumbledore decided against it and instead hired him for the potions position. Maybe that's why he is pissed off! Better not rub it in his face....
I took a look around my room. My room was...for lack of a better word...wicked. My wardrobe was a beautiful cherry color, and gigantic, which in my case was useless as I did not have many clothing articles to begin with. My bookshelf! I was awed by how many books inhabited it! All of the ones I owned were here from my Auror in training ones to ones I used to read as a child. Brings back memories seeing them. Heck, it brings back memories being inside this castle!
My bed, a canopy bed! Black drapes cascaded from the top to the floor, one drawn and one tied to one of the posts on the bed frame. The blankets, I realized as I sat down...satin. Emerald satin sheets. My class colors. I was a Slytherin, after all. The bathroom was..normal. I laughed to myself. What was I expecting, anyway?
It seemed normal. Towels, toothpaste and a toothbrush. A large vanity, which contained a hairbrush and face cloths. I smiled. Just like at home. As for the "obvious", there was nothing that caught my eye more than a stained glass mural, which contained Persephone and Hades. Greek mythology was my muggle major.
Now that I have nothing really left to explore in my bedroom, as I was feeling particularly agoraphobic at the moment, so I thought about why I was stationed there. It angered me a little, but I know I'll get over it in good time.I am an Auror. Well, an Auror in training. Doesn't it seem peculiar that I was stationed here? This is not what I dedicated more than 84 hours of my life, per week, to do. Damn.
But, I'm glad I was sent here, because I really have no where else to go. My home was in foreclosure as my mother had passed away and the house didn't technically belong to her. So I got the notice that I had to be out soon. It is sad, but everything will turn out for the best, I have a feeling that it will!
I sat myself down on my bed, and laid myself down. It was only morning, but I felt drained through the entire week, excited by this new development in my life. So, I slept very little you could say. It wasn't long before sleep came over me and I drifted away.
A dream. I dream often. Especially after I have met someone new to me. So, of course, it was of him. The man I will be working with until, well, further notice. I saw him, but he did not see me. I heard these strange noises coming from him. Soft, undetectable noises. But I could kind of make them out.
Severus Snape was crying and kneeling in a room that was in wreckage. He was holding the limp body of a red-headed girl in his arms. With a young boy next to him, looking curiously from him to the woman, asking "What is wrong with mommy?" But, you know, baby babble.
Then he disappeared, leaving the dead woman and boy alone in ruin, stepping over the slump of what was once a man and over the threshold. It was Lily.
I recall the way he had looked at her from fifth year to seventh year. Fifth year was when I transferred, but I didn't know much of him. We never even spoke together except a few rare times. But, and I am angry at my self for allowing this to happen...I was instantly attracted to him! His looks, his shy attitude and his intellect. But, I had lost that feeling when he became a DeathEater. I won't say that I am happy he had suffered such a loss, because I am not happy. I remember crying over her death, and him. The pain he must be going through.
But this is just a dream, correct? It cannot be something in my self conscience. Because...well...he's Snape. That's all he's ever been since...forever. When I was younger, I was naive, stupid. Liking him!
"Please! This is absurd! I don't like him!" I called out loud, awaking from my dream.
"What is absurd, Miss Zopiel? Your attire, or just you?"
I turned my attention to the corner of the room, where Snape was standing. He was near a fireplace....my fireplace. I must have missed it when I looked around my room. He was starting a small fire there, to warm what I noticed was an incredibly cold room.
"Neither me or my attire. My dream..."I grew hot around my neck.
"Am I absurd, Miss Zopiel?"
"No, I don't think so. I haven't seen you for a while so I don't remember you really. You're a pain in my ass, yes. Absurd, no. Why?"
"You were muttering my name in your sleep, whimpering about something. ." He sneered, but it was very cocky. Almost a smile. Close enough for him.
"Was I? I was! Oh...Oh Gods, no...no-no-no-no-no! It wasn't that type of dream!" I voiced my thoughts again. Damn. I don't think that needed mentioning.
"I didn't think it was...that didn't need mentioning, Miss Zopiel. Not at all." His face was a soft shade of pink in the making.
Whatever Adelaide. Change the subject! Change the Subject! But what? Weather-Sports-Teaching-Weather...weather...I think I thought of that...what, three times? Three. My lucky number today.
"Why are you in my room, Snape? You should have knocked!" I asked, perturbed by our last conversation. I got up out of bed, and walked over to him. His obsidian eyes following my movements.
"I did. I wanted to make sure you were situated alright. Not on my own accord, so don't get your hopes up. I was asked to. You didn't say anything, so I came in. You were sleeping, and shivering. I was going to pull the blankets over you, but I feared you would awaken. And, as of what I already gather from you: Silence is Golden. So I started a fire in the fireplace, because you would have, somehow, managed to burn the castle down." Burned it down? Silly man.
He got up to leave. "Are you coming? Dinner is being served to us...a welcome party...and you haven't eaten all day."
I nodded and joined him, closing the door behind myself and him. "How do you know that?"
He ignored me.
"That comment...about burning down the castle, Severus?"
"Yes, Miss Zopiel?"
"The castle is made of stone."
He smirked. "Come, they are waiting for us."
We walked together in silence and very slowly. I was embarrassed by that sudden outburst in my bedroom. Had I really thought I needed to reassure him that it was not a sexual dream between him and I? But the way he looked at me was questioning! What was I supposed to do? Ignore it? I cannot help the things OI say, I just spit them out without thinking! I should remember what happens every time I do, therefore we won't have to walk in suck awkward silence!
Damn...even the crickets aren't making any noise!
"Miss Zopiel?" Severus broke the silence.
"What? You know, Severus, you may call me by my first name. Its Adelaide. Add-el-ayde."
"Yes...I just wish to apologise, once again, for my harshness towards you. It was unfair."
I almost crashed into him, when he stopped short outside the Entrance Hall doors. But, thankfully I didn't. The last thing I'd need is for another staff member to catch us in a compromising position.
Entering the dining hall, I was amazed. I hadn't seen it in three years, and it didn't look any different. Severus patted me on the shoulder, and muttered in my ear, "Welcome back, Miss Zopiel." I laughed nervously. "Yes, you too, Severus."
I walked up to the table where the other staff were sitting. I grinned sheepishly at them as they looked our way, and I waved, forgetting the attire I was in. Damn. My sweater and slacks. Might as well work with it, and apologize, I guess.
"Sorry for the way I am dressed. It was very unprofessional of me." I laughed.
"Adelaide, dear. Nothing to apologize for. Come, and eat some of this lovely food. Do try the Kidney Pie, it's quite good."
"Oh, thank you very much, Professor!." And I bowed politely.
Taking a seat near a tiny wizard whose name has slipped my mind...Flitwick! Yes, He was the one who taught me how to play wizard chess. But, whenever I played, he played muggle chess with me. Because I was highly bothered by wizard chess. I thought it was very violent and barbaric. It reminded me of dark things that happened before. But, enough of that. Time to eat!
I looked in front of me and my eyes met one of my previous one who was constantly giving me detentions because of my fowl language. I looked at her and smiled. And, shocking me, she smiled back.
"I remember you only too well, Adelaide Zopiel. You were a Slytherin, transferred here from America in your fifth year. You were the one with quite the vocabulary." She chuckled.
"Yes, Professor. That was me." I smiled at her attempt to make me feel welcome back.
I looked at Severus, and we made eye contact. He looked miserable, even more so than usual. I sent him a 'its-going-to-be-over-soon' look. But he just nodded curtly and looked away, unnerved. I wonder what he is upset about? I wish I could hear far away. But, listening is not one of my strong points. I was glad when the gathering was finally over. For some reason, I'm constantly tired lately. Hopefully, I wont have anymore interruptions in my sleeping pattern. With a final good-night to the staff, I set off to bed. Unaware that I was being followed far behind by my fellow Slytherin-graduate. I stopped and turned my self around. Walking forward until I was face to face with him.
"Can I help you, Severus?"
"No, I'm just off to bed, just like you. I'm very tired...I haven't slept well lately."
'That's now a third thing to add to my list.' I thought to myself.
"Me neither. But, aren't you a Potions Master? Can't you make something for yourself, Severus?"
"Yes, I can. It would help me out a lot. Knock me right on my arse, it would. But trouble with potions is, you can become addicted to them, depend on them, like any other drug. And the last thing I need is to be drug addicted on the first day of my new job. I'd be sacked for sure."
I laughed. He was lying, through his teeth. But, for his sake, I went along with it.
"Your voice..."
My face dropped. Great. He was going to say something about my voice, my singing. That I'm tone-deaf, or something. Like everyone else has before.
I wasn't listening to what he was saying, I hung my head once more, and he lifted it to look into my eyes.
"Are you listening to me, Adelaide? Because, as far as I'm concerned, there is nothing fascinating about your shoes or the stone floor. You have a beautiful voice. Although, it annoys me incredibly, your singing was soothing, and it made me forget about..."
He stopped. And pulled away from me roughly. "Well..."he walked past me. "Good-night, Miss Zopiel."
I had sung that night, too. Not as quietly as I usually could have. I didn't care at the moment if he was lying to me or not. That night, we both deserved to forget.