WARNING: If you do not like the character Severus Snape in the least, then this story is NOT for you. However, if you are indeed here for him, then do continue, and I hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 1. An Envelope To Danger

There were no less fewer thoughts than there were people scurrying about in the stone passageways of Hogwarts. But little did anyone know that one student among the many could hear each and every mind as clearly as any spoken word in tongue. The crowds of people scrambled to the sides as they saw the approaching figure of the secretly-telepath walk down the corridor in a confident stride, not daring to stand in her way. There was something about her very presence that seemed to intimidate many of those standing near her. There were many reasons as to why they would feel this way, but it is normal for naturally insecure people to feel intimidated by those naturally confident, someone such as Quirina Thorn who seemed to have everything they didn't, both inside and outside. And perhaps they were right to assume so. Everything she put her mind to, she was known to accomplish to nearly perfection...and one among those many things, was Quidditch.

...

The crowd cheered as soon as they saw the Slytherin team's Captain finally arrive on the Quidditch ring, albeit a bit late, and the game hadn't even yet begun. The following teammates on their brooms waved to the crowd, practically gloating in the attention she was getting them, but the time for smugness was about to be over. It was game time. The Ravenclaw team did not feel or look very lucky as they hovered above the ground - across from the Slytherin team, looking rather grim as they looked at their opponent's Captain who was smiling. Both teams knew she was the most dangerous player of Hogwarts, in terms of victory.

Soon after the game begun, things were already intense for the poor Ravenclaws. The wind whipped strongly against Quirina as she swerved in the last second, barely avoiding a bludger aimed towards her face. Safely cradling the quaffle in her right arm, she ducked her head before flying under an adversary who floated in front of her in an attempt to block her way, or at least distract her - in vain. She ignored the ache in her hand as she tightened the grasp around her broom in order not to fall, smirking confidently under the influence of the adrenaline rushing throughout her body. She easily dodged every one of them - the crowd cheering, whistling and calling her name all around her. "Quirina ! Quirina ! Quirina !"

Two opponents catched up to her from behind, flanking her on both sides, but the female chaser only grinned, unaffected. She looked under, down to the right, and saw her partner exactly where she expected her to be. She smirked when their eyes locked, waiting for this exact moment, and Quirina threw the quaffle to her. The other chaser catched it easily before dashing off towards the three hoops - the opposite team was successfully caught off guard, all so focused on the Captain that they didn't see Velvet waiting for her friend to pass her the ball. While they all threw themselves at the other chaser, Quirina took it as her chance to fly towards the goal while they were distracted, dodging the little few still focused on her. When surrounded, Velvet passed the quaffle back at Quirina and she catched it, before sending it off again into the largest hoop - right past the wide-eyed Ravenclaw keeper. And there went another 10 points for Slytherin. "YES !" Quirina shouted in triumph, a fist raised in the air. The crowd roared with her, even those not from her own house.

By that time, the Golden Snitch had appeared in the game a few fimes, and although her team's seeker was not able to catch it, neither did the Ravenclaw's. Knowing they were bound to lose anyway, the Ravenclaw's team Captain flew slowly to Quirina with a look of defeat. "We give up. Do you accept ?" He said in a monotone voice.

Quirina nodded. "I accept." Shaking hands, both Captains returned to their teams' side, one victorious and the other disappointed. According to the book of Quidditch - 'Quidditch throughout the Ages', it is written that when two Captains agree, the match is over. And of course, the ones with the higher points - in fact the only points amassed, were none other than the Slytherin team. She gently flew down to the ground, and the rest of her teammates joined her, yanking their Captain from all sides as they patted her on the back and grabbed her shoulders cheerfully. Her tall and slender best friend - Velvet Crowe, walked towards her in a graceful stride, pushing past the other teammates. A grin stretched on her glossy, black lips as she pulled her friend into a tight hug, putting her chin over Quirina's white head. "Well done, my friend !"

While Quirina's teammates happily gushed around her, she looked upwards towards the tower where the teachers sat, catching sight of dark hair and pale skin - the one and only head of her house, professor Severus Snape. Their eyes met and he lifted an eyebrow in response. She searched in his expression for a sign that she had made him proud, but his expression was the same as always, a brow sarcastically raised as he looked down at her, impassive and grumpy. It only made her grin more. Her attention, however, shifted elsewhere as she heard the calling of her name through the mind of another. Searching in the vast field, her eyes landed on a rather small figure with pointed ears standing underneath the wooden ring, waving at her. Her house elf. "Excuse me." She said as she pushed through her teammates, joining the small elf inside the wooden ring.

"Congratulations on your victory, Ms. Thorn ! It was a beautiful match !"

Quirina chuckled. "Thank you, Clairette. But I doubt you came here only to congratulate me, did you ?"

The little elf took out a yellow envelope from her blue dress, giving it to Quirina. She recognized the letter instantly. It was from her parents. "Mr. Thorn and Mrs. Thorn wanted you to read this privately."

"I've already told them that you're not their personal owl." Quirina grumbled under her breath as she observed the golden seal.

"It is alright Miss, I do not mind if it is for you." Answered Clairette. Years ago when Quirina was only but a little girl, she had found the little elf in a tavern serving the customers, but she was terribly mistreated. Her master hit her with his belt every time he felt like lashing out at something, and she was his main target. The customers who were no more nicer, joining in on making the elf's life miserable. Seeing that, Quirina did everything in her power to convince the owner of the tavern to sell the female elf to her. It took a little while, but she was successful, exiting the tavern with Clairette in tow. Once she freed her from the brute, she then told the elf that she could go wherever she wanted, for she was bound no longer. But Clairette, ever so grateful for what the little girl had done for her, swore to serve her house as long as she lived to repay her debt.

"Would you do one last favor for me, please ?" Asked Quirina.

"Of course, Miss ! Anything for you."

Quirina pointed to the field towards her friend, Velvet. "Tell her not to look for me and that I'll join her soon in the Great Hall for supper."

"Yes, Miss."

Once that was done, Quirina ran back to the castle before her teammates could catch up to her, and headed to the one place she knew no one would bother her; the potions classroom. She quietly closed the door behind her once she was inside, sitting comfortably at her desk with her legs swung over it. Breaking the golden seal of the yellow envelope, she took out the folded piece of paper inside. A gasp left her as she opened the letter - but instead of finding written words, a white light blinded her eyes as she had the dizzying sensation of being sucked into a portal. Her feet stumbled on a stone path between buildings, and she had to grab the wall for support, for gravity was threatening to hit her face against the ground. What was going on ? Gathering herself, she let go of the wall and peered past the two buildings, recognizing the familiar street of her village. She was home ! But it then brought up one question; why in the world would her parents send her a portkey disguised as a letter to retrieve her, in the middle of school year ? Something wasn't right, and she knew it.

Quirina decided it was wise to keep a low profile for now and avoid the villagers, taking the path to the roofs; she had always been a rather good climber. Keeping her head low, she jumped between houses, careful not to be spotted. Her own house was seperated from the rest of the village and stood on the top of a lush hill. It stood out from the rest - not only because of it's larger size, but also because of it's colour; it had been painted black. Thankfully, nobody in the village were muggles. It saved her and her family a lot of trouble. Quirina's mouth turned up into a faint smile as she spotted the sight of her home, running up the rest of the hill to it. She raised her hand and just as she was about to knock, the door opened in on itself. She did not like that. "Father, mother ? It's me, Quirina...is anybody home ?" She called.

It was eerily silent. The hallway leading inside was dark, despite the bright sun outside. She tried reaching her parents' mind with her own, but there was a block; it was as if the house didn't want her to come inside it - other than physically. She had a feeling in her gut, screaming at her that something was terribly wrong. As far as she was concerned, this was a trap. She placed a hesitant step forward, cautiously glancing at the eerie obscurity that lingered inside her home...but she knew better. She took a step back and walked down the stairs of her porch, before untucking her wand. She pointed it towards the house and said, "Finite Incantatem !" Nothing happened. Not at first. Quirina had to take a step back when the house started quaking ominously, as if it was being tickled. Then the trembling stopped, but the jinx on it was not lifted. If that's what it was. She decided to try something else. "Salvio Hexia !"

She was propulsed back, rolling down the hill. The house made a horrible screeching noise and the thick cloud of darkness inside came out through every exit, opening, and every little creak like puffs of black smoke. What was it ? Pulling herself onto her legs, she stood down the hill in a defensive stance, not sure if the black cloud would come after her or not. But it was not that, that came. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the floating black figures of dementors springing out of her house in numbers uncountable. There was only one thing she could do.

Run.

Quirina was almost as fast on foot as she was on a broom. Using every bit of her strength, she dashed back towards the village; she had never done the Patronus Charm before and she wasn't about to learn it in the time span of a minute ! She abruptly stopped as the sight of houses came into view and realization dawned on her. The village. She glanced back and saw the following cloud of dementors. She couldn't endanger the village ! She sprinted and made a sharp turn to the right, lifting her wand upwards. "Accio Broom !!" She shouted. With the dementors following right behind her, she headed into the forest, away from others.

Quirina struggled with the many roots as she fiercely ran between the trees, branches tearing open through her Quidditch clothes and scratching her skin. She made the mistake of looking back, catching her foot under the large arch of a protruding root, sending her tripping down. The dementors circled around her like hungry predators; Quirina raised her wand in one last ray of hope. "Vermillious..." She whispered, watching as the sparks of red exploded in the sky.

The last thing she saw was the dark beings descend upon her, helpless as their faceless heads sucked the very core of her being into their empty selves.