AN: Hello everyone, and sorry for the delay! It took me ages to find the time to write and then my Beta got caught up with life and that's how this ended up being posted so late! I am not making eny promises as to when i'll post the next chapter, but i really hope it will be sooner than this! Please Read and Review!
I really love this story and i think it's worth more than the 6 reviews i got, so far! Please let me know if you enjoy it or not!
:)
The castle was buzzing with students' murmurs and laughter. After three months of solitude Hogwarts was throbbing with life. Harry, standing in a quiet and conveniently dark corner, was observing the students around him walk and talk. Faces he knew, fellow Gryffindors, students from other houses and yet he had not seen the one he hoped for.
"Mmm! Look who I found," sounded a silky voice behind him. Harry turned back smiling, recognizing Nox's voice.
"Hey, gorgeous," he said as he stood staring at her usual hint of smile. He then motioned with his head for her to join him and they started walking towards the Great Hall.
"What's this feast deal?" Nox asked looking around her curiously.
"They sort the first years into the houses and there is food. And Dumbledore always makes a kick-ass, inspirational speech. That's pretty much all," Harry answered. Then thinking over what he just said he asked, "What house will you get in?"
Nox groaned. "I wish I knew! All daddy dearest said was something about a talking hat…."
Harry chuckled at that. "Yeah, we got one of those. It's cool though. It kinda reads your mind and then decides in what house you will fit the most."
Nox looked at him raising a single eyebrow. "What house are you in?"
"Gryffindor. We are the cool guys!" he answered cockily.
"Yeah, yeah… What about the rest of them? I think there are four, right?"
"Yep. Well there is Slytherin, the bad guys usually. Sneaking around stabbing your back and stuff. Then there is Ravenclaw, the geeks, and finally Hufflepuff, the less charismatic ones."
"Splendid!" came her sarcastic answer.
They stopped right outside the great hall and looked at each other silently. Harry, noticing the dark circles around her eyes, couldn't help but feel a small tingling of worry. "Seems like you've not been sleeping much," he commented.
"It's hard to sleep when you plot murder," the girl answered casually.
Harry smiled at that and stepped a little closer to her. "If it's about Snape, I'd be delighted to help," he whispered into her ear.
Her smile spread a little at that. "I'll let you know of the details," she whispered back making sure she lightly brushed his earlobe with her lips.
Harry chuckled before tilting his head at the side like she usually did and asking, "So you're not getting along yet?"
"We barely survive living together. But I try to make my fun out of it!" she winked.
Harry chuckled again. He inspected her closely and when he felt the urge to kiss her he didn't fight it. Leaning in close, he touched her lips with his and she kissed him right back. Lost in their intimate moment, they didn't realize someone was closing in on them. They both yelped when Harry felt himself being lift off his feet, thrown away and landing hard on the stone floor a few feet away. Looking around him the startled teen exclaimed, "What the hell?" And it was right then when he noticed a pretty livid Snape glaring at him menacingly.
"You touch my daughter again, Potter, and I will happily spend the rest of my life in Azkaban after I've used every single fiber of your body to the nastiest potions I can brew," the man said in a low and dangerous voice.
Before Harry could come up with a retort Nox stepped quickly to him and helped him up while glaring at the man. Tilting her head to the side she said silkily, "Now, now daddy! Be nice to my friend!"
"He's no such thing as your friend and you know it," Snape spat angrily.
"Oh, but he is, daddy! And I can assure you he is a pretty close one!" she answered and as to prove her point she turned and kissed Harry again deeply. After a few seconds they broke the kiss and she simply smiled to Snape icily before declaring, "I'd better go to get sorted. I'd hate to miss the ceremony, don't you daddy?"
Snape could barely keep his anger in check. His eyes were shooting flames while his nostrils flared. The random onlookers though made it hard for him to blow up the golden boy or start a fight with Nox. Sending a death glare to Harry he walked swiftly past Nox and towards the staff table.
"Are you coming?" Nox called without even turning to look at Harry as she walked in the Great Hall. Harry caught up with her in a couple of strides.
"That was interesting," he commented drily. Then suspecting something he grabbed her arm and stopped her. Nox looked at him questioningly. "Is this… Us… Is it 'cause you want us to be whatever we are, or to just get back at your father for whatever reason?"
Nox rolled her eyes at Harry but avoided eye contact. Not answering him anything she just waved a hand at him before she continued walking towards the first year students that had already formed a queue waiting for their sortment.
She waited for quite a while before her name was called. A tall grey-haired witch, who miserably failed to hide her surprise at the name she read called out, "Snape, Nox!"
The whole room erupted to low whispers after that and almost every head around her except the first years turned to her wide eyed. Rolling her eyes once again at the overdramatic British, she stepped forward and promptly sat on a small wooden stool, while the witch put a hideous old hat on her head.
As soon as it rested on her, she heard its musing murmur.
"Well, well, well! What do we have here?" asked the hat in a quite irritating voice.
"Seriously?" Nox thought to the hat, "You've sorted like 70 students till now and you cannot tell 'what you have here'?"
"Sarcasm… Like father like daughter! But there is more to that," the hat answered.
"Ooh! Let me guess," the girl thought back while unconsciously crossed her arms, "I have more than one characteristic?"
"Pain and sorrow… And grief. And intelligence and talent. Pretty sneaky you are. And pretty selfish I dare say! But above all you are angry. Sulky, grieving, smart, talented, sneaky selfish and angry," listed the hat. "That cannot end well…"
"British courtesy!" the girl commented dryly.
"You have it inside you. You can- and most probably will- shine, if you ever decide to try. And you just need the right environment to do that… SLYTHERIN!" the hat called loudly.
As it was drawn from her head, Nox saw her father looking at her with a hint of a smile on his face. She stood up and moved towards the clapping Slytherin table gracefully, winking at Harry as she passed from his house's table.
"You know her?" Ron asked Harry confused.
"Kind of…" Harry answered stiffly to his best friend. After all he really didn't know her. He knew that she was Snape's daughter but nothing more than that. And the way she had never answered his question earlier bothered him. He knew that he didn't have the right to be bothered. After all they weren't together or anything. Yet the idea of her using him just to annoy Snape angered him. Ron's rumbling about how Snape couldn't possibly have a daughter, since none would ever sleep with the greasy git, got him out of his thoughts and he turned his attention to his best friend. He failed to notice Nox trying to catch his eye from the far Slytherin table.
Nox gave up trying to catch Harry's attention. Whenever she looked towards him he was talking or laughing with his friends. She decided to focus on the people around her. Two or three of them had attempted to make small talk with her but she was not interested enough to anyone. Most of them seemed rather stupid to be in the serpent's house. Looking right across of her she caught a blond boy staring at her interestingly. When she looked at him she was to glad to see he did not lower his gaze. A few silent seconds later the boy said casually, "Draco Malfoy."
"Nox," the girl answered.
"Related to Snape, aren't you?" Draco asked.
"Yes."
"He is my godfather." The boy played with a meatball in his plate as he stared at her.
"He is my father," Nox answered silkily.
Draco smirked at that, "Yeah, I could tell. Your voice is too much alike."
The girl merely raised an eyebrow at that not sure what to consider of the comment.
"How come I never met you before?" Draco asked again.
"Dad had me locked up in his basement," Nox answered dead serious.
Draco laughed at that. "Nice try."
"At last! Someone with a tolerable IQ," Nox commented drily. "Snape didn't know about me. He learnt over the last few days actually. I just moved here from Norway."
"Norway?" Draco's eyes glinted at that. "So you studied at Durmstrang till now?"
"Yep," the girl answered as she ate a forkful of her roasted chicken. When she swallowed she added, "Much better studying level, but I have to admit kitchen there was awful."
"I always wanted to study there," Draco said.
"So, what's going on in the House?" Nox asked next.
"Snape's the Housemaster. Our rooms and common room are in the dungeons, but they are pretty descent. The main idea is that you try to earn points throughout the year from your classes and general achievements. The house that ends up with most points wins a Cup at the end of the year. Dumbledore is a Gryffindor though and he more or less always finds a way to give the cup to them," Draco filled her in.
"Teachers?" the girl asked.
"Snape is great. McGonagall, the old witch who put the sortment hat on your head, is a bitch but pretty good in her field. Flitwick, the very short one at the teacher's table, is rubbish. Sprout the same. I won't even start with the others. Even their classes are not worth mentioning. The only one we have not seen yet is the Defense against the dark arts new guy. He has not arrived yet," Draco said as he looked at the staff table yet another time. "You've met anyone else?" the boy asked after a short pause.
"Yeah, Harry Potter at the Broomsticks," Nox said and looked at Draco expectantly.
The grimace the boy made told her that he didn't like Harry at all. "Keep your distance, if you want my opinion. The cocky bastard thinks he owns the world after killing Voldemort."
Nox chocked on her bite at that comment. Drinking a big gulp of pumpkin juice she asked in a hoarse voice, "He killed Voldemort?"
Draco's eyes narrowed at that. "You didn't know? That's a first. Most people ask him for autographs."
Nox shook her head. "In Norway the big line was about the fact that he was dead. Potter's name was mentioned but it was not what most people talked about. That's why it reminded me of something when we met," the girl commented. Then she thought of Draco's previous comment. Cocky? He did not seem all that confident to her. And definitely not arrogant. She looked at the Gryffindor table once again and for the first time she saw Harry looking at her. He seemed rather unhappy though. Probably because she was talking with Malfoy she thought.
"So you two are like enemies or what?" she asked Draco still looking at Harry.
"Kinda yeah. I can't stand him. Never could. Always arrogant stupid Potter," Draco spat.
Nox looked at him momentarily. She was ready to continue with her questions when the headmaster rose to announce the end of the feast and that students should head to their dormitories.
Draco rose and nodded towards the exit to Nox. "Come on, I'll show you around."
The girl nodded and rose. As she followed the tall blonde boy she turned and glanced at Harry yet another time. He was watching her leaving with Draco a dark expression on his face.
The next day, right after dinner, Nox quietly left the Slytherin table and headed for the big staircase. She quickly climbed it all the way to the fourth floor. That very morning when she got lost, she found there what she decided should be her favorite place in the school. At the end of the fourth floor hallway there was an empty classroom in which a small door that one had to duck to go through lead to a beautiful really small atrium. The wall was covered with three big windows with large enough sills to even sleep on. Taking the two steps from the door to the corner window she promptly sat on its sill and gazed at the starry night.
The first day was not as easy as she would like to admit. The castle was huge and pretty complicated. What's with the moving stairs anyway? Did people here enjoy being led to places they do not want to go? Then again she would not have found this place if it wasn't for them. The classes did not challenge her very much. With the exception of transformations- that old cat knew what she was doing- she could easily manage the other classes with average effort. What she really looked forward to, though she would never really admit it, was her father's potions class which was not due before tomorrow. From what she had heard it was the most difficult of the school's curriculum.
The muffled sound of a door closing made the girl jump. Taking her wand out she moved behind the door so that it would hide her when it opened. In a matter of seconds the door did open and closed again. Nox narrowed her eyes confused. Then lowering her wand she said angrily, "Stupid ghosts."
"They can be pretty annoying," said a familiar voice out of nowhere.
"What the hell?" Nox asked exasperated looking around her bewildered.
Harry swiftly took off his invisibility cloak and smiled at her amused. "Hi."
Nox's exasperation turned to interest in a matter of seconds as she gently took the cloak from the boy's hands and examined it closely. "Where on earth did you find that?"
"It was my father's," Harry answered fondly. "It comes out pretty helpful around the castle."
"How do you know this place?" The girl asked as she handed him his cloak back.
"I didn't know it till now, actually. I saw you in my map up here and thought to come check how your first day went." Harry sat on the window-sill leaving enough space beside him for the girl.
"What map?" she asked interestingly as she sat at the empty spot.
Harry handed her the marauder's map and watched her raising her eyebrows with shock upon realizing what it was. "Wow! How on earth did you make this?" she asked almost in awe.
"I didn't. My dad's inheritance as well. He and his best friends created it."
"You do realize you can do ANYTHING with these two in your hands right?" Nox asked with her usual hint of smile.
Harry chuckled at the hint and shook his head. "How was your first day, then?"
"Ok. Classes are fairly easy till now. The castle is pretty fucked up. Beautiful and all, I will give it that, but too much fuss with the moving stairs and stuff," The girl said in neutral voice as she glanced out of the window again.
"It takes some getting used to," Harry commented. Then he awkwardly moved to the topic that burnt him most. "Made any snake-friends?"
Nox glanced at him slightly amused at that. "Watch it, Potter. I am a snake too now! And yes as a matter of fact I met a guy that seems decent enough to hang out with."
"Malfoy?" Harry asked incredulously, not managing to pretend he didn't know who she was talking about. "Seriously, Nox, Malfoy?"
"Weirdly enough that's exactly how he reacted when I told him I've met and hung out with you."
"He is an ass!" Harry said exasperatedly.
"Well, he is more honest than someone I know!" Nox retorted.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked slightly worried. What did that dickhead tell her?
"Well, I don't know, how about the fact that you got rid of Voldy? Why the fuck didn't you say so?"
"When? Before or after having sex with you? Are you kidding me right now? It's not like we've talked much or anything!" Harry answered feeling his temper rise.
Nox looked at him silently for a few seconds. Then returning her gaze to the sky she told the boy evenly, "That's true. I just thought that after I told you about my name that night at the broomsticks you'd confide something to me as well. "
"Well I never really got the chance, did I? Your father joined us after that," Harry answered in a calmer tone now.
Nox tilted her head to the side before talking in her silky tone, "Well, no one is bothering us now. So tell me!"
"Tell you what? You already know."
"I don't know anything. I mean how did it happen? You owled him and called him to fight or something?" she asked sarcastically.
Harry's face darkened at the recollections of that night. "No. It was during the stupid Triwizard tournament. Kram was here from your school along with your headmaster, Kakaroff."
"Yeah, I remember that! Kakaroff never came back to school he was immediately replaced and we later learnt he was a deatheater," Nox said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well at the last trial the cup that we were supposed to get was a portkey and it led us to a cemetery where he was." Harry touched his forhead at the cold glass and took a deep breath. "There he tried to kill me, but I made it to kill him first."
"How? I mean what kind of spell did you use?" Nox asked interestingly.
"He killed another guy that was with me. I could not take any chances with defenses. When I saw him killing Centric I saw red. All the deaths he caused, just to get me… I cast the unforgivable." The boy turned his darkened green eyes to examine Nox's face. He expected disgust or even fear but he only saw awe.
"You managed to kill Voldy with Avada Kedavra? Dear Merlin! That's so cool! Had you ever practiced it before?"
Harry remained silent for a few seconds not really believing how she didn't care one bit about the fact that he had actually murdered someone. "No. I just had learnt from DADA class that you need to mean an unforgivable for it to work."
"You must be so proud," Nox commented again.
Harry shook his head and sneered before changing the subject. " 'K, your turn. Share something big," he prompted her.
Nox bit her lip and seemed hesitant for a second. "I lost my mother. That's why I came here."
Harry's face fell at that. He immediately took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "I am so sorry, Nox."
She just shook her head at that. "There's nothing we can do now, is there?"
"So Snape knew about you all these years?" Harry asked intrigued.
"No. He and mom didn't plan on a baby when I occurred. Snape left Norway ad my mother never told him she was pregnant. But she named him in her will as my birth father and first guardian. And here I am!" Her gaze was pinned on the sky out of the window and it took every single ounce of strength and self control she had not to start crying upon saying all these aloud.
"I can only imagine what you are going through. It gets some getting used to living with someone you never knew before. And if that someone is Snape…" he trailed off.
"Who are you living with?" Nox suddenly asked. She now remembered that Harry Potter's parents were killed by Voldemort when he was a baby.
"With my godfather. My father's best friend." Harry answered neutrally.
"The one who made that?" the girl motioned to the now closed marauder's map.
"Yeah…"
"He must be a cool guy."
Harry swallowed hard at that. Then he glanced at his watch and said quickly, "It's almost curfew. We'd better head back. "
Getting the hint Nox rose and headed for the door first.
Harry spotted Nox easily. She was talking, as usual, with Draco outside of the transformations class. Feeling his temper rising upon realizing that Malfoy's eyes ventured mostly on her exposed thighs from the shortened uniform skirt, rather than her face, he promptly stepped towards them. Without even acknowledging Draco's existence, Harry gently grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her away until they were out of the Slytherin's hearing range.
"Uh... What exactly are you doing?" Nox asked slightly annoyed when they finally stopped. She leaned on the wall beside her and crossed her arms regarding Harry evenly.
"For starters saving you from that dickhead," Harry sneered. At her eye roll he only huffed exasperatedly before shaking his head. "Look I am just inviting you to some actual fun!"
Her face suddenly grew interested at that. "When and where?"
"Tonight after curfew. There is a secret passage which we use to get to Hogsmead. We'll buy some nice booze and then hit the castle again to drink it," Harry whispered to her conspiringly.
"And who is "we", if I may ask?"
"Me, Ron, Hermionie, the Weasley twins and Seamus Miligan. They're pretty cool guys, I want you to meet them," he told her enthusiastically. "So you're in?"
"Hell, why not? I sure don't have anything better to do. So I meet you when and where?" Nox said after a few seconds of thought.
"Third floor midnight sharp. Filtch always patrols the first floors first so by the time he gets to the fourth floor we'll already be in the room of Requirement," he told her smiling widely. At her questioning gaze he merely shook his head. "You'll see what that is tonight. Not a word to anybody and be careful not to get caught. Do you want me to lend you my cloak?"
Nox almost smiled at his offer and concern as well as his obvious ignorance of her abilities. "No I think I'll manage a camouflage spell. I'll see you tonight. Bye!"
She then quickly hurried to the door which McGonagall kept open for all her students to enter. Noting the shocked grimace McGonagall made upon noticing the alterations on Nox's uniform, Harry mentally kicked himself for not mentioning that.
Nox collapsed on the first bolster she found and tried to get her heart rate back to normal. The adrenaline rush worked miracles on her and she felt for the first time in weeks happy. She glanced around her in awe at the incredible room. She couldn't believe there was something so convenient in the school, but was more than grateful about it. She looked at Harry almost smiling and accepted the offered bottle to take a long gulp of it. She closed her eyes as the icy vodka poured down her throat and when she swallowed she sighed contently before passing the bottle to Hermione who had sat right beside her.
Nox was not exactly sure if she liked Harry's friends. Hermione was far too serious and neurotic for her taste, but she was also an extremely talented witch, as Nox could easily tell by the vibe of energy the girl had around her.
Ron was an idiot but had his fun, while his brothers were as witty and talented as Hermione only in a much more enjoyable and funny way. She could easily imagine hanging with them pleasantly. Seamus had not so much as spoken a word to her so she had no idea what he was like, not that she cared. Now that she was in this cozy place, with alcohol and Harry sat right beside her, she pretty much cared for one thing only.
As if reading her thoughts Harry slowly scooted closer to her bolster and looked at her smiling. "So, what do you think?" the boy asked.
Nox bit her lip and swiftly moved to sit on the carpet right beside Harry. Then she whispered in his ear, "I think that we're going to have fun tonight."
Harry smiled at that and looked at her intently as he unconsciously bit his inner lip. "What do you think of everyone?" he asked trying to distract her.
"They're ok," Nox answered looking at him longingly.
Harry looked at her silently and his eyes went to her exposed thighs. "You know, you really need to get that skirt back to normal," he told her casually.
Nox tilted her head to the side at that. Obviously surprised she asked silkily, "And why should I do that?"
Harry swallowed hard before answering. Then he looked at her straight in the eyes and told her with low voice, "Firstly, because you're gonna give McGonagall a heart attack. Secondly because you're going to give me a heart attack. Thirdly, because you're gonna get me in trouble for punching every guy who looks at your legs, like that jackass Malfoy. And last but not least, because, whether you like it or not, I want to be the only one who gets to see these!" he put his hand high on her left thigh and squeezed it while saying the last words.
Nox looked at him biting her lip the whole time before leaning in and kissing him passionately. After several seconds she put enough distance between their lips to whisper to him, "I will think about it." Then she promptly tried to kiss him again but Harry pushed back and looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"I don't want you to think about it, I want you to do it," Harry told her seriously.
"Someone's getting bossy…" Nox commented as she narrowed her eyes. Then as Harry simply stared at her she told him evenly, "Look, Harry, we are having fun and I really enjoy it, but we are not together or anything. So keep those demands for your girlfriend."
Harry's face remained calm but his temper rose significantly. Not allowing his emotions to show though he merely shook his head and whispered, "Have it your way!" Then he promptly grabbed her and kissed her roughly. They kept making out while he was thinking that he really needed to get her jealous some way.
Ron was watching Hermione from his armchair, as she was staring thoughtfully at the currently making out Nox and Harry. Her thoughtful look along with her furrowed brow told him she didn't like what she saw. " 'Mione?" he said quietly after swallowing one more gulp of vodka and passing it to her. Hermione turned at him and accepted the bottle with a weak smile. "What are you thinking?" the redhead asked as he motioned with his head to Harry and Nox.
Hermionie shook her head. "I don't know Ron. Harry is already struggling too much. He is sliding deeper and deeper in his darkness and I can't say she seems capable of helping him climb back up."
Ron shrugged at that. "He seems pretty enthusiastic about her though. And you have to say he is more cheerful since they met."
"Cheerful is nothing, Ronald. Things with Sirius are worse than ever and it's obvious the happy face is only superficial. And from what I have gathered he must have fought with Remus as well. Did you see his face when we learnt Remus would be DADA teacher again?"
"Yeah, I noticed that. But I don't know 'Mione. We have proven incapable of helping him. Maybe Nox will make him come to his senses again. It's obvious she has issues, so Harry will probably want to help her through them. Maybe that's the answer."
The girl thought that for a few seconds. "Maybe you're right. I certainly hope so. As I hope they do remember we are still here, they're almost doing it for Merlin's sake… Anyways, I think I'll head back to the tower. I am no longer in the mood for this. See you in the morning."
Ron nodded and watched her leaving. As soon as the door closed behind her George threw himself on the chair she had just vacated. "Still no luck little brother? Maybe you should ask Harry for some lessons," George said teasingly.
"Oh, shut up," Ron groaned and promptly snatched the vodka bottle from his brother grip and swallowed multiple gulps.
Harry exited the Gryffindor tower with Angelica Johnson and started heading with her towards the quidditch field, discussing heatedly about the oncoming game and laughing their hearts out with every joke they made about the Hufflepuffle team. As they descended the last stairs they bumped on Nox.
The Slytherin girl eyed Angelica momentarily before turning to Harry, "Care to join me for a walk?" she asked him looking at him pointedly.
Harry remembering vividly her words at the Requirement room and realizing that Angelica was more than decent to get Nox jealous he answered quickly, "Actually me and Ang are heading for some flying. Maybe I'll catch you tomorrow?" Without even waiting her answer he put a hand on his teammate's lower back and the two of them walked briskly towards the exit leaving a dumbfounded Nox staring at their backs.
As soon as they exited the castle Angelica laughed out loud looking at Harry incredulously. "Seriously, Potter? Using me to get Snape's seed jealous?"
Harry shrugged smiling widely at her and then asked her, "Should I dare to ask for maybe, more help from you on that matter? Maybe like flirt with me, when she is around?" At her incredulous look he flushed his more charming smile.
Angelica burst out in laughter once again. Then she said shaking her head, "Fine. But you'd better make sure we win every single game this season!"
"Got it, girlfriend," Harry said cockily and the two of them mounted their broomsticks upon arriving on the quidditch field.
As Nox waited patiently for the ten minutes of brewing to finish before she could go on to add the rest of the ingredients of the potion, she couldn't help but replay in her head Harry with that Ang. She seemed to bump on them the whole day. She had never caught Harry alone even once. She was always there, always talking, always whispering and laughing. It was too irritating. And the most irritating thing about it was the fact that it was irritating! Why did she care? She was the one trying to make Harry slow down on the whole thing.
"You are still thinking about that asshole aren't you?" Draco asked annoyed at her side.
Nox rolled her eyes at the insult. "I just didn't know he was seeing someone and it took me by surprise. Don't make it such a big deal."
"I am not making it a big deal, you are. And though you generally are pretty good at lying, you totally failed in this case."
"Why do you care?" Nox asked exasperated in an attempt to distract him.
"He's Potter. That's why I care. Get yourself a decent crush," Draco said exasperatedly as he angrily stirred his potion which bubbled menacingly. Then out of nowhere a mild yet annoying slap landed on the back of his head. Turning around he saw a narrow-eyed Snape glaring at them.
"I strongly suggest you to stop talking and start concentrating on your potions." He glanced at the two cauldrons. Noting that Nox's was at the light blue shade it was supposed to be, he nodded approvingly to his daughter who nodded back awkwardly. "Focus, on your cauldron Malfoy, not miss Snape. Miss Snape, stay after class please," the man said lastly before turning around to inspect the rest of the students.
The rest of the class continued in silence between the two teens. It wasn't until every person had given the vial to Snape and left the classroom before his daughter went to his desk and placed the small vial on it.
"Great job, Miss Snape," The man said formally.
"Thanks… Why did you want me?" the girl asked quickly.
"McGonagall complained about your clothes," Snape said immediately, as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Why would she complain? It's their uniform! If they don't like it they could change it. They should actually," the girl answered pretending not to understand.
Snape glared at her silent for a few seconds. To his satisfaction her eyes quickly lowered to the ground. "I want your skirt back to its normal length by dinner."
Nox exhaled loudly before looking at her father stubbornly. "I'll think about it," she told him icily and then left the classroom as fast as she could, feeling her temper rise dangerously.
When she made it to the great hall she bit her lower lip angrily upon seeing Harry with Angelica again. Deciding she had no mood to pretend she didn't bother any more she advanced towards them and grabbing Harry by the upper arm she dragged him away and promptly punched his shoulder.
Harry yelped and looked at her startled and bemused at the same time. "What the hell are you doing?"
"What the hell are you doing? You've been avoiding me all day," Nox said angrily as she crossed her arms and glared daggers at Harry.
"I haven't!"
"Oh, cut it out already! It's been the shittiest day and you were never there when I needed you!"
"Well, I remember vividly, you, telling me that we're not together or anything and so I realized that I might as well find myself someone who would be willing to be with me," Harry answered exasperatedly.
"Well, I don't know why I said that, but I didn't mean it, ok?" The girl shouted while she held her hands in the air frustrated.
Harry remained silent for a few seconds. He then slowly walked to her and stared at her intently, before talking in low voice, "What are you saying Nox? Because you really give me mixed signals here! What do you want? You want us together? You want us to fuck and that's it? What do you want?"
"I don't want you to see that girl, for starters!" Nox answered her tone somewhat more in check.
"Why shouldn't I?" Harry asked again.
"Because! Because we are having something here," Nox said again running her hands through her long hair, frustrated.
"So, you can tell me who to see and who not to, but I cannot have a say to what you show to the whole school?" the boy asked raising a single eyebrow while touching Nox's bare thigh as he talked.
"I'll fix the stupid skirt then!"
"That's not enough!" Harry informed her as he gently circled his hands around her.
"What else do you want?" Nox asked back feeling slightly defeated.
"I want us to be something. Or nothing. Either we are together, or we are not. It's your choice." he told her seriously and kissed her lips lightly. "Say the word and Angelica will be out of the picture in a second. But I want to know what I am, what we are. I want to know what to expect when I see you and I want to have a say and a role in your life. I don't know, why, I've known you for so little time, but I just do. I just feel that way. And feeling something other than self-loathing is an actual need for me right now."
Nox looked at him confused. "Self-loathing? Why would you hate yourself?"
"Answer my question, Nox. Everything or nothing?"
The girl bit her lip and tilted her head to the side remaining silent for a few seconds. Not even believing herself for doing it, she slowly nodded and whispered, "Everything."
Harry smiled widely and hugged her tightly to him. Then he slowly broke the hug and led the two of them to the black lake. They sat together at the grass and he hugged her shoulders soothingly. "So, why was it the shittiest day?" he asked her tenderly and let the protective feeling that brew inside of him all this time for this girl explode and take over a small part of the darkness he felt spreading inside of him every other day.
