Disclaimer: Would I be writing this if I was J.K. Rowling? Eh......not unless I had mental issues, and I don't think she has. I'm not getting any profit, so I obviously don't own own Harry Potter, and anything related. You have no right to sue.

A/N- Hey, chapter two is here. I must warn you, I think some people might find it...um...a bit...misleading. I have so many ways to take the plot after this chapter and for future chapters, but I have no idea which to choose. Anyway, I thought, in this fic I'd respond to the reviewers, so....

Hekate101 and sweety gal- There you go, I gave you more since you said please, and I hope this is soon enough.

Arwen Luinel- Thank you, that did give me encouragement. I like the story and the plot as well, although it seems to be messing with my tiny brain. I'm getting an overload of idea's! Hope you didn't get too impatient.

hunni07- Thanks for being patient, I hope I updated soon, and yes, I will keep on with the other fic. I just got major writer block for that one, and this one popped into my head.


Awake The sun streamed in through the open window, and a man was busying himself changing the bandages of a girl that had come knocking at his door four nights ago. He did not know who she was; they had not gotten the chance to fully confer before she had collapsed. He could not have left her their on his front porch, unconscious and near-death. For one it would attract the attention of passers-by, not that many people enjoyed walking around this particular area, and he did not have the heart to let a her die when he could do something to stop it. One thing that bothered him was that she had said that somebody was after her and they wanted her dead. He could not let a young girl be killed. If he found out the reason, perhaps he could judge whether or not she could be trusted.

He paused for a moment to hear the birds singing. Usually he would aim lazily at them with his wand, and miss but that would scare them away. Sometimes he hit them but he would class it as an accident. However, today and for the past three days, he had felt it would be better if he opened the windows, drew back the curtains and let light back into his dark bedroom. It was slightly less frightening waking up in a strange bed if you couldn't see when it was broad daylight outside.

Once he had been able to wipe off the mud and blood of the poor girl's face, he had realised that he had been right. She looked very like him, except that she had more delicate features. He was the thorn of a rose, and she was the delicate rose petal. She did really look delicate. She was stick thin, he wondered how long she had been chased for, unless she was like that anyway.

Her wounds were healing up nicely. Some of them were rather deep and would take another few days to heal but she would be fine. She hadn't been wearing any shoes, and her feet would take the longest to heal. He assumed she had walked through the forest because she had been quite muddy. The one thing that had scared him was when she stopped breathing. It had been one of the moments when you wonder what to do. It's unnerving. Many of her ribs had broken and it wasn't letting her get any air supply. Any longer and she would have been a goner.

Right now, he was changing the bandages for her chest and side. If she had been awake she would have probably struggled and refused to let him change it, but it had to be done. He finished it, and wiped her face with some cool water. It was mid-July so it was obviously hot, and unlike him who managed to stay cool even if he was stranded without water in the middle of the Sahara Dessert, she was sweating. If his colleagues could see him now. He wouldn't live it down. Him being nice? That was something they didn't see often. Perhaps it was because they never gave him the chance. He put away the bowl of water, and settled in an armchair he had positioned next to the bed. This way he could keep an eye on the girl and read at the same time. He was on another book that he had been sent and it was just as infuriating. 'The Do's and Don'ts of Sarcasm.'

He had reached the fifty-second don't of sarcasm (don't over use it. Everything in moderation, including sarcasm), when he heard the girl groan. She often did when she was having some kind of nightmare, or whatever it was. He would go over and wipe her face with cool water that usually did the trick. He would have sung as well if it was necessary, but he did not want to increase the terror of the girl's dreams by adding the awful noise he would have classed as singing. There was the Dreamless-Sleep Potion but that would interfere with all the other potions he had given her.

However, the girl was not wriggling about and crying out in pain, or horror. She was slowly opening her eyes. She slowly raised her arms to rub her eyes but found she couldn't. They were bandaged from her palm to her elbow. She blinked once or twice then focused. Where was she? And more important who is she?

"I'm Kiara," she said. She seemed to be talking to herself, not having noticed him yet. She pushed herself up and looked around the room. What a big room it was. Everything was dark though, just how she was used to it, but more comfortable. She was lying in the biggest bed she had ever seen. There was space to fit at least two more people in. She touched the dark green silk with her fingers and traced them over the silver threading. It was beautiful. She looked to her side, and for the first time she noticed the man who had so kindly taken her in and looked after her.

"So you're awake. Nice to finally be able to talk to you Kiara," he said. It was probably the most well-mannered thing he had to a teenager since he had started teaching. He wasn't even this polite when he talked to his prized pupil.

"Could you please tell me where I am?" She was feeling slightly disoriented. Kiara recalled snatches of what had happened. When though? Yesterday? She remembered being chased, the forest, but nothing much after that. "And how long I have been here?"

"You are currently lying in my bed, which resides in Snape Manor. You have been there since I started healing you, and that was four nights ago." Kiara shifted slightly, and opened her mouth to speak but he spoke before her. "And do not worry. I do not mind having you in my bed. The guest rooms are quite comfortable. It made a change."

"I have heard of you. You are Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You are a somewhat faithful Death Eater although your loyalty has been questioned many times," Kiara said, not taking her eyes off of his for a minute. He didn't say anything but simply looked blankly at her. Thinking that she had done something wrong she quickly added, "Sorry if I have offended you, sir. I did not think it was wrong."

"No, it is quite alright. I have been offended worse. It's just that, how you have described me, not many people know this. Kiara, who are you?" He had begun to get suspicious. Only a spy would know such information, but then wouldn't she have been subtler? Or, she was a Death Eater herself, but she seemed too young. And he would've noticed the Dark Mark on her left arm. It wasn't something that could be hidden easily.

"Why, I am a girl and my name is Kiara. Did you not notice?" Severus frowned. Of course, he had noticed. It was rather hard to miss, unless you were blind or just plain stupid. The only person he knew that might think Kiara was something other than a girl was Gregory Goyle. In the whole of his House, he had to be the thickest person that Severus had ever met. Severus looked at Kiara again. She had a face so full of innocence she could not possibly be a spy. Then again, you could never judge a book by its cover.

"You don't have a second name? You are just Kiara." Kiara nodded. She had said that she would no longer be called Brentwood, a name that brought back so many memories. "Who are your parents? I mean you must have had had parents at some point."

"I do not mean to be rude sir, but I am getting the feeling you are too nosy for your own good. As far as you and everybody else comprehend I do not exist. I was not registered at birth, so it does not matter who my parents were or are. You could say that I am illegitimate."

A look of sadness filled Kiara's face. She did not exist. She had never thought of it that way. Until now, that is. So, this is what it felt like not to exist. Empty, lonely, not loved. What did it feel like to be loved? Perhaps Elvin had loved her, but she had never asked him. Kiara wondered if she would ever be loved. Not when your father had made sure your life was a living hell, and had made no record of your birth. Maybe that was a type of love. But how could it be? She had read that love was meant to be warm and make you feel special, but what she had experienced left her feeling cold and depressed.

"So where were you living before? Excuse my curious nature, but you are currently living in my home and I should know some things about you."

"If to stop you asking questions which do not need to be asked I have to leave, I will. I did not know I was living here, and I do not want to overstay my welcome." Kiara did not want to answer anymore questions. Especially questions that would reveal things about a past she wanted to forget. She had seen, heard and lived through many things that she just wanted to forget and never speak of again.

"I would like to see you try and walk. You will be off your feet for another couple of days, then perhaps we will see about getting you back to your parents. If what you are saying is true, and you are illegitimate then we will find suitable arrangements. But right now, if you really do wish me not to pry any further, I will stop." This was also the first time he had succumbed to a teenager's wishes. Kiara was softening him, and Severus knew it. They had only been together for three whole days, and Kiara had been unconscious, but he felt as if he had gotten to know her. When you save someone, an invisible bond is created between you, and it can either be good or bad. In their case, Severus felt it was good.

"Thank you. Though, what am I to do in the time remaining until I have made a full recovery? I do not wish to really talk to you any longer, you appear to have a tendency of asking questions." Recognising habits was something Kiara enjoyed doing. She didn't think she had any herself. Any habits she may have possessed had been beaten out of her ages ago.

"Well, you could always read a book, assuming you know how to read. Or continue talking to me with my promise that I will only ask you three questions a day that you have to answer," Snape answered thinking the options over in his head. There had to be more that she could do. It was a warm summer morning, it was beautiful outside, but she couldn't walk for awhile. Morning. What did you do in the morning? Then it came to him. "Or, if you are hungry, my house-elves will be able to prepare breakfast for you. Even though being fat isn't healthy, but being your size is not healthy either. You need to fatten up."

"Food? You are giving me food? Are you absolutely sure you want to give me food? I do not deserve to be here. In fact, I do not deserve to be here. You have done so much for me already." The thought of somebody offering food for her as it was just a normal process was just not right for Kiara. And she had never eaten more than odd bits of vegetables. For her sixteenth birthday, she had gotten a slice of apple from Mr. Ripley. He was horrible, but not that horrible.

"Yes, I do want to give you food. I want to make sure that you heal properly and you need food for that. Don't tell me you've never eaten food before?" Kiara blushed and shook her head. Severus now understood why she was so reluctant to talk about herself. If she had been starved then, wherever she was before, she must have been abused as well. "Then we'll get you started on small foods. You do know what soup is though?"

"I do know what food is, I did not live under a rock. I simply have not tasted many types of food. I have tasted bits of vegetables and a slice of apple, if you can count that as food. I learned about different types of food but never tasted them."

"Right, I will have my house-elves make you the best soup there can be. I never realised how much I take food for granted," Severus said before calling a house-elf, its name being Knobbly. The name suited it perfectly since it had knobbly knees and elbows. It was wearing a worn-out forest green pillowcase, and looked nothing like the house-elves that Kiara was used to, especially not Elvin.

Pretty soon, Kiara had a bowl of steaming hot soup in front of her. She tried to take a hold of the spoon, but her bandages got in the way. She struggled slightly before declaring that she was not hungry. Severus let her be until he could no longer endure the yearning looks she was giving the bowl of soup. He took pity on her and offered to spoon-feed her. If Kiara had not been taught not to show emotions she would have hugged him with all her might. It was after all an exciting event for her. She was eating food.

After her breakfast, which took quite a long time, Severus handed her an annoying book that just happened to be on his bedside table. 'If You Were A Muggle What Job Would You Have?' He had never actually read the book. Just merely flipped through it at a rather slow pace. Perhaps that would help her relax a bit. Or perhaps smile. Or even give her an idea for a book of her own. '50 Ways To Spot A Girl And Know Her Name.' It wouldn't surprise him if it became a best-seller. Idiots everywhere would queue up to buy it.

Hours later she put down the book, and looked at Severus carefully. She was doing an analysis to see what best fit his looks. What appears to be greasy mid-length raven black hair, pale face that hasn't seen the sun in awhile, a rather hooked nose, and his mouth twisted into a sneer. Kiara went back to reading. An hour later she closed the book and laid down gently on the silk covers. Severus looked up from his own book, the one that he had started that morning.

"Finished?" he asked noticing that Kiara was now just playing absent- mindedly with the bandages on her arm. She nodded, and continued to play with the bandages. "Kiara, please refrain from doing that. You still have a several hours to go before I change them. Thank you. So, did you learn anything interesting?"

"I know what you would do if you were a Muggle," she replied now tracing the silver stitching in on the silk covers with her fingers. Kiara seemed as if she couldn't stay a minute without concentrating on two things at once.

"Really? Do enlighten me." He hadn't really taken the book seriously, and it would be interesting to see what Kiara thought he would be if he was a Muggle. As long as it wasn't something like a postman. He had seen the pictures and they seemed outlandish. For you to be seen by the public wearing shorts, and matching shirt along with a hat, carrying a big bag full of letters was the not his dream job. Kiara flicked through the pages of the book to find the correct description. She lay it open on her lap and began reading:

"The perfect job for you would be a Muggle head teacher. They tend to be rather dark, and sinister looking. Preferably the uglier you are, the better at the job you will be. You must be able to intimidate children, either with your grotesque face or your harsh words, and you are suitable for the job. You love to boss people around, although you too are bossed by people higher up. You do not tolerate any cowardice and will be quick to mould teachers and pupils alike into the way you expect them to be."

"I'll ignore the grotesque and ugly parts. I'm rather handsome, so they cannot be talking about me," he said, openly complimenting himself. It felt rather gay to him, but at least it brought a smile to Kiara's face. He looked up at the clock on the wall opposite to him. It was time for dinner. The first dinner he would have in his home for a long time that wasn't eaten by himself. "And my handsome self deserves some dinner, and you need some. Is there anything special you would like?"

"Hmmm......I haven't had the honour of trying many foods, but what does steak and chips taste like?" Kiara asked looking at Severus intently with her warm dark eyes. They were times where they tended to grow big and round like a puppy's. Kiara didn't know it, but her eyes were what made Severus vulnerable.

"So, steak and chips it is. Knobbly!" The house-elf appeared and took the orders. Severus informed them that they would be eating in the drawing room. It would be slightly easier to sit than when she was in bed, and give her a chance to see some of the manor. He rummaged through his wardrobe and found a plum red robe which he shrank to size before throwing it to Kiara. She slipped it over her head. Severus picked her up and carried her in his arms. "And Kiara, if you get uncomfortable, don't hesitate to tell me. It's not that far anyway."

Kiara nodded gratefully, and simply relaxed back into his chest. Why was he being so nice? The hallways fascinated her and they stopped many a times to examine a painting more closely or look at the design of the frame. All that time Severus did not complain. In fact, he enjoyed telling Kiara who was the inhabitant of the portrait, or when the frame was probably made. By the time they reached the drawing room, the food had already arrived, and was quickly getting cold. Kiara did her best to eat the chips by herself then was aided by Severus again after he had finished his food. If this was what it was to have a small child then he was glad he had never had to experience it. This was only temporary, in a few days, she would be able to feed herself.

He carried Kiara back to the room and laid her down on the bed. She looked up and smiled, and Severus could not stop himself from smiling back. It felt odd. Smiling wasn't a facial expression that he used often. Smirking, glaring, frowning, sneering was what he was used to. She yawned and laid back. Never had she been treated like this. Never had she been made to feel happy and warm inside.

"Thank you so much, sir. You have been so benevolent, more than I expected. You do not know how much this means to me. Somebody being kind to me," Kiara said, looking at Severus gratefully.

"It does not hurt to act kindly every once I awhile. So whilst I'm still feeling kind, perhaps we should change your bandages for the night," Severus replied, producing more pillows so that Kiara sat up but could rest on them. She yawned again this time a bit deeper. "And then you should go to sleep. You need your rest."

With Kiara's help, they changed the bandages faster than if he had been doing it on his own. Her hands were nearly fully healed and tomorrow she would be able to take them off. This way Kiara could eat without his help, but Severus would miss spoon-feeding her. It was an experience that he had enjoyed. It was amusing watching Kiara chase the food with her mouth, before giving up and pouting until he fed her the food. She slipped into a night-shirt that Severus shrunk to size. He was going to have to take her clothes shopping sometime soon. She couldn't keep wearing his shrunken clothes, but it wasn't like Kiara minded. In fact, it was the first time she had worn clothes so warm, and slept in a bed so comfortable.

"Goodnight Kiara," he said pulling up the covers and tucking her in gently. He waited until she had closed her eyes and was about to nod off before blowing out the candles and turning to leave. But before he did so, he turned to look at the girl lying, probably asleep, in his bed. That was the most peaceful he had ever seen at this time of night. Her dreams or memories, whatever they were, usually caused her great distress. He sighed and walked out of the room, retiring to one of the many guest rooms.
"No luck finding her body, William. My men have scoured the forest many times and come back with nothing except a ripped piece of her robe," Vexus Ripley informed the man sitting behind his large desk, his chair, however, not facing the speaker but the large window. Now his daughter was gone, for some reason he felt empty. He did not love the girl, he never had. It was probably a parental instinct, a feeling that you couldn't help yourself from having. William Brentwood had taken to his study, and could often be found staring out of the window into the gardens. After sixteen years, he had chosen an excellent time to mourn.

"Try again. Vexus, if she let's anything leak I will have your guts for dinner, and that is a promise I intend to uphold," Mr. Brentwood threatened his friend, and advisor. "Did it not occur to you that she might have gotten out of the forest at some point during the past four days, and died peacefully in someone's garden? Or even be alive?"

"But, how she have be? She was bare-foot, weak from your previous 'talk', and was wearing thin robes. She could have been eaten by hungry wolves." Vexus had to try and discourage his friend for looking for the girl any longer, there were more important things than that blasted girl of his. Who would believe what she said anyway? As far as everybody knew William Brentwood had no daughter. She had died along with Eleanor Brentwood at birth.

"Find me proof, and we'll stop the search. Until then keep searching."

"What is so important about her anyway? She will not talk, I am sure of that. She is too frightened of what will happen if she does. Unless you miss her or something?" William spun around in his chair, and finally faced Vexus. His eyes were narrowed and cold, his fist clenched into tight balls.

"You're sure of that? You were sure that she would never run away, and she did. Three days ago, you were sure she would not survive Brentwood forest. I'm doing this to be safe. Not because I love her. May I remind you that she is the reason why I am who I am now."

"Very well, but my men will not search any longer. Tomorrow is the last day they will search. Personally, I really do not see the point, but if you are so persistent, then fine."

"Good. I want you to ask any neighbouring people who live within five miles of the forest. Tell them she is a dangerous spy for the Dark Side on the run. They'll do anything now they know the Dark Lord is back. And when you find her, bring her back her. I want to personally kill her myself."

Vexus nodded and left the room. He had no time to be arguing with a determined man. There were better, and far more important things to be getting on with. William returned to the window and it's view of the garden. It looked as beautiful by moonlight as when it did by daylight.

"I'm sorry, Eleanor. That's just one promise I'll have to break. She gave me no choice," he said out loud to the empty study. A wind blew up and blew the trees and their leaves about before dying down again, as if it was some sort of sign. "I hope someday you'll forgive me."
Severus ran out of the room he was sleeping in, wearing only his boxer shorts. Kiara was screaming, she might have been in danger.. He burst in the room, his wand out and ready to hex any intruders, but there weren't any. He lowered his wand and lit a few candles. Kiara was trembling and beads of sweat were going down her pale face. Severus pulled back the covers so that she could move around more freely, and waited to see if the screaming would subside. Instead, they got worse and she started talking as well.

"No! Please! I beg of you! Don't hurt him," she said twisting around. She kicked and Severus wondered whether he should wake her up. All this movement wouldn't be good for her healing ribs. "NOOO! Do not hurt him! He has done nothing to you!"

"Kiara, wake up," he said sitting down on the side of the bed and pulling the writhing girl up. She kicked out and hit Severus in the chest but he kept hold of her. "Kiara, wake up!"

"Please...NO! Anything but this! Anything else, but not this!" She continued to twist and turn, kicking out at random moments. He had to wake her up. She would not only hurt herself, but whatever she was dreaming had to be so violent that she had to kick and squirm. Severus had never seen this happen so violently before.

"Kiara, wake up! It's only a dream." She didn't seem to be hearing him. Her shouts were getting louder, but she said the same thing, and her kicking and writhing more violent. He took hold of her shoulders and shook her hard. Whatever would work to get her to wake up would have to do. "Wake up!" She opened her eyes but was still shaking.

"He is coming! I am not safe here. You are not safe here. I must go. He is coming. He will torture and kill us both. He will kill us! He is coming! He is coming! He is coming!"

"Kiara, get a hold of yourself. You're being hysterical. Kiara!" She continued to say the same thing over and over again, still shaking and trying to get out of his grip. He shook her again, but it had no effect. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face. It wasn't hard but it was enough to shock her and fully wake her up. "It's alright Kiara. It was only a dream."

A tear fell down her face and soon enough her body was being shaken with tear. What she had seen, it scared. Because if it was to happen, she must get away from Snape Manor. He was not safe with her here. They should've never have met. She should have never ran away. Severus, was not a very comforting person, but he moved up next to her and carefully hugged her. He was not used to this kind of thing, but he tried nonetheless. Seeing him put his arm comfortingly around her, Kiara buried her head in his bare chest and cried it off.


A/N-And here we had Chapter Two of my lovely fan fic. Please review. Pretty please. It'll only take a minute or shorter if you know how to type fast enough. Even if you just say 'I like it' or just write 'More' it's a review. Anyway, even if you're mean enough not to review, thanks for reading!