Severus' brow was furrowed as he looked over at his sister across the room. She was just sort of huddled in the corner, her hands gripping her own shoulders. There was a dull glint coming from those hands, a result of of the light reflecting off of her cheap (mostly stolen) costume jewelry rings.

& that was the only light coming from her.

The usual mischievous brightness in her eyes when she saw her twin was was absent. She didn't even glance up at him.

"Sevina, what the hell?" he asked, hoping to goad her into a reaction.

"m'fine," was all the other teen murmured softly, not taking the bait.

He looked back at her, shocked at how devoid her tone was of any emotion, she didn't even sound mildly irritated with his taunting.

Now he was worried, quickly crossing the room to attempt to comfort her but when he was in front of her a sharp intake of breath was drawn in through his suddenly clenched teeth. She looked... Horrible there was no other way to say it. The dark hair she usually preened constantly was unkempt, the dark makeup around her grey eyes was faded and smudged, it was obvious she'd been crying before this blank state.

He slowly knelt in front of her, looking up at her as if a solution would present itself in her tired, damp eyes.

She turned away, a visceral anger shattering through the lack of emotion.

"You... Weren't there. You're my brother."

"What?"

Pain & confusion were plain in his tone as he looked back at her, not understanding why she was upset with him & she shuddered shaking her head.

"Don't."

"Sevina."

"DON'T!"

"Vina… Please."

She looked back at him & suddenly threw herself into his arms, collapsing as she started to sob, clinging to her brother's shoulders as she shook in his maladjusted grip.

Usually both of them weren't fond of being touched at all, much less engaging in a full contact embrace but this was less of a hug & more of Sevina clinging to her older twin like he was the only thing that could help her. All he could do was hold his sister, awkwardly cradling her head to keep her from falling on to the floor in her despair.

"Tell me what ha-"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry it's not your fault, I'm s-s-s-" her sentence was broken off by her sobbing as she gripped her brother tighter, her cries muffled against his chest.

"It's going to be alright. I promise. I'm sorry. I'll do better, I won't let anyone hurt you again. I swear I'd die before letting you get hurt again," he promised, holding back his own tears. He couldn't cry, not when she needed him, not when he'd somehow let someone hurt his sister.

She moved then, just enough for him to look into eyes and with a sudden clarity the pain & terror in her eyes made him want to vomit. Whatever had happened was something he could not fix, was something that actually made his twin sister cry. He was a horrible brother, it was his job to protect her. He would KILL whoever had done this. He knew it was one of them, it had to be & when he found out which one he'd make sure there were only three Marauders left to terrorise the grounds when he was finished with him.

"Never again, Vina. I promise you. Never again."