The dungeon corridor was dark and silent as Severus sat looking up from the book which was nestled in his lap. His dark eyes stared into the thin air and he appeared to be deep in thought, as if something was caught in his mind like candy wrappers trapped in a fence. The book was slowly collecting dust at the lack of movement which it was unaccustomed to, it was unusual for Severus to stop reading once he had engrossed himself in some book or other and so it just lay against the black fabric of his robes alone and unwanted. He jumped as footsteps sounded along the corridor and his book slid from his lap onto the cold, stone floor. He swore in his mind and his fingers reached down to pick up the book which lay rejected against the floor with its pages bending under the weight of the spine pressing it into the stones.

'he..hello' A soft voice whispered from the corner and Severus looked up quickly at the blonde who stood uncertainly her hand placed against the wall as if for support. Her hair was partly covering her face as she refused to look at the boy sitting alone. 'L...Lily sent me, to see if you are okay' she continued turning her face further away from him as she spoke.

'yes' his voice was soft and almost silky as he spoke and the girls long hair fell in front of her face as she tilted her head slightly. 'you're... Helena?' His black eyes sparkled in the faint glow of the dungeons.

'Lorena' The female corrected, she seemed slightly annoyed by the innocent mistake he made. After a second her face returned to the slightly fearful expression which she carried. She blushed slightly at the outburst and hid her face once again.

'Sorry' He was puzzled by her reaction but though little of it as he looked back at the book which he had now replaced on his lap and he turned the pages so that he could resume the reading which he had failed at before.

'Wh...what are your reading?' She seemed more nervous now as she took a step forward and ducked down slightly so that she could attempt to catch a glimpse of the title. Severus sighed; he was not going to show her he did not need to be taunted for it. She stepped forward again her hands shaking slightly as she moved. 'Why do you hid yourself' He glanced at her this time, he wondered why she would not just leave him alone. He decided to ignore the question and he turned his emotionless gaze back to the book. Lorena stood for a moment waiting but after a moment she sighed and walked back down the corridor seeming upset. As she turned the corner she almost walked into Lily who jumped back and regarded her friend.

'Well?'

'He says he is fine' Lorena shrugged stopping for a moment before carrying down the corridor, her eyes were glazed over as if she was zoned out completely from herself and everything going on around her. Lily looked back towards Severus a worried expression pasted against her face but she turned away and hurried up to the corridor to her friend.

'Lily...' Severus was standing now, more like hiding though as he was pushed against the corner watching the two girls from the darkened hiding spot he had found. He watched the red head rush away from him as his mind turned over things, considering and puzzling out. He watched Lily closely and for a second his eyes flicked to the blonde girl who seemed to be spending more and more time with Lily, they was something... different about her and Severus could not identify it for all that he was worth, he snorted at the thought, not much apparently and he turned his attention back to the red head he had been fascinated with for years '...Why must you be so confusing?' he finished his piercing black eyes watching Lily's blazing red hair move and sway with her actions, the strands appeared like a fire blazing and burning brightly against the dismal dungeons which he crept about so often. An angel like her does not deserve to be in such a depressing place, he thought as he turned away from the girls and pressed his back against the wall so that he could collapse to the ground, the book was once again laying rejected like an unwanted puppy by his side. After a moment of staring into thin air he picked up the book and stood up but he hesitated for a moment uncertain of where to go. Normally he would spend his free time with Lily in the too bright sunshine which was cast across the school ground but her new friend had hindered this some, it seemed almost like the friendship they had formed and he had kept as a sacred item was slowly shattering like a picture dropped to the ground, the picture was fading and he wondered if she even recognised this, if it mattered to her like it did to him, he snorted again, of course not he did not deserve her as a friend she was too... perfect for him. Slowly he turned towards the rest of the building and walked the complex maze which ran beneath the school until he reached the entrance. With a nod towards the headmaster who stood smiling at him with a twinkle in his eye he walked up the winding staircases and towards the school library, at least he could immerse himself in books and the silence of the library.