Written for Lamia's speed writing challenge.

Prompt: OC/ Canon character

Shira spun around in a circle, lifting her face towards the sky before falling back into the snow. It had been snowing nonstop for two days. Tonight the sky was so clear she felt like she could drown in it and lose herself in the stars. She wished she could. She couldn't remember much of anything from her childhood, except for moments like this, staring at the night sky and losing herself in fantasies of someone coming to rescue her from whatever her life was like back then. She didn't think they ever did, but the hope still lived in her now stronger than she could ever remember it being. The world had to be more than what she could see during the day.

"Making snow angels, are we? I imagine it would work better if you moved your limbs." A voice silkily pointed out.

Shira smirked, sitting up to see who had so politely interrupted her thoughts. She would have recognized his voice anywhere. His mess of dark hair nearly touched his shoulders and his onyx eyes glinted mischievously. "I see you've taken to pointing out the obvious." She teased lightly. She gasped as he kicked a spray of loose snow towards her before kneeling down next to her. Severus smirked as bits of ice slipped down her shirt. "That's cold!" She objects, her breath freezing into mist as she spoke. She could see the subtle movements his body made as he breathed, but his breath didn't freeze.

"I wouldn't know," Her murmurs, digging his hands into the snow. He didn't have to elaborate. He knew snow was cold, of course, but he couldn't feel it for himself. He hadn't felt anything in a long time. Except for her. She was the only one who could see him as well, for some odd reason.

She knew the cold would sting her fingers, but she pulled her glove off anyways, slipping her hand into the snow on top of his. He avoided her gaze but didn't pull away. She had a way with reminding him he was real.

"Where were you today?" She asks curiously. He wasn't around constantly, but he was gone longer today than he normally was.

"To see if anything had changed." He answers simply. He had gone into Hogwarts and stood in Minerva's office for hours. She had given no sign of being aware of his presence. Every time he went there, though, he could swear Dumbledore's portrait stared straight at him for a few moments before pretending to sleep. He never said anything, despite Severus' scathing attempts to provoke him. "It hasn't."

"I'm sorry," Shira says. Part of her was relieved, and she instantly felt guilty about it. She couldn't help it. He might be a figment of her imagination and a clear sign that she was losing her mind, as her friend, Cecily once told her, but he was something unusual. Something impossible that she didn't have an answer for, but with the promise of something more. Like drowning in the night sky.

"You should get inside before you freeze." He says, changing the subject as he got back to his feet. His hands were neither cold nor warm as he helped her up, but her fingers had already gone numb. Her teeth began chattering as they started walking back towards her flat, and Severus pulled off his cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders. She would need it more than him.

Shira kept close to him as she made her way home. There were benefits to living alone. No one could give her odd looks as she spoke to a man they couldn't see. She didn't have any family that she could remember. She had woken up in a hospital five years ago with no memory of who she was or where she had come from. The only reason she knew her name was Shira Fontainne was because it was written on a piece of paper they had found in her pocket. No one had come to claim her, and she didn't care to try to remember anyone who didn't care enough to come for her. The closest she had to family was Cecily and Severus.

Shira stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her. The lights were all off and the door was cracked open.

Severus frowned, his eyes scanning the windows for any sign of movement. "Did you leave your door open?"

"No, of course not," She answered. A sense of foreboding settled over her and her heart began to race as she pushed the door open wider. It creaked on its hinges and the noise didn't help to soothe her any. She took a deep breath as she stepped inside and attempted to flick on the lights. the power was off. She moved further in to look for a flashlight as her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, but she had barely taken three steps when the door snapped shut behind her.

"Shira!" Severus snapped a moment too late. A bright, silvery light shot out of no where, hitting her squarely in her chest and sending her flying across the room, tumbling over the sofa. Her head hit the floor hard, causing her eyes to water. "Shira, get up!" Severus snapped at her again as small orbs of light appeared overhead, casting a soft glow over the room. She forced herself to move, stumbling to her feet.

"Snape?" Another voice gasped in horrified shock.

Severus' eyes widened, taking in the wizard before him. "You can see me?"

The wizard turned his wand on him, but before he would utter a word Severus had his own wand pressed against the intruder's throat, slamming him back against the wall. "Weasley!" Severus hissed, registering the familiar red hair. Shira's scream pulled his attention as another flash of light flew towards her. Severus' heart stopped as he released Weasley and dove towards her, even though he knew he would never make it on time.

Before it hit her, it froze in mid air. Everything moved in slow motion for a moment before the spell suddenly flew in the opposite direction, straight back towards the other wizard.

"Harry!" Weasley shouted as Harry dived out of the way. The spell exploded into the wall behind him.

"Ron, run!" Harry yells, making for the door.

Severus let them go, staring at Shira in shock. "You're a witch."