Warning! Adult thingys ahead. If not here then in later chapters, so beware.

I do not own Harry Potter, but Ellian is my character.

Also I would like to give a shout out to Renaa Black. This story was sort of an experiment and I loved writing it, but I didn't get much feedback. However, thanks to her kind review I will be continuing this story. And I do hope that I can further guide you into loving Severus Snape. Thank you.

Chapter 4: Poor Man

Ellian remained frozen on the floor as she watched the towering shadow that was Severus Snape slowly move towards her. She jumped when she felt a large hand wrap gently around her ankle.

"Are you in pain?" he asked, not letting his gaze leave her injured feet.

"Oh, I-I'm fine. Really, it was my own stupidity that caused this," stuttered Ellian with a sheepish smile. However, it quickly left her face when the man's onyx gaze met her chocolate eyes. Severus's face was pinched, but not in the usual grumpy scowl. He looked worried and frazzled. Two things that Severus Snape should never allow himself to be.

"You are stupid for letting that monster get to close," his baritone voice rumbled like agitated thunder as he began to dig through his teaching robes.

Ellian watched curiously as he pulled out several glass vials that contained colorful liquid. She knew that he was a great potions master. Not only had Albus told her so, but there was quite an uproar about him at the various apothecaries and wizard conventions.

"Remus isn't a monster. Why do you hate him so much?" she asked bravely. She would not allow this man to scare her like he did everyone else.

Ellian was surprised when a sudden shudder racked Severus's body. His hands trembled on her bleeding feet. With a gentleness reserved for only those who truly invoked her kindness, Ellian grabbed his shaking hands and held them firmly, but not too tight. "You're shaking." Severus refused to look at her. Instead he studied the floor with an intense stare, scrutinizing every crack and bump in the stone. "Severus?" asked Ellian, wary about her next few steps. It was clear that something in him had broken just now.

"H-he's a w-werewolf," he finally answered. His voice quivered with the shivers that were still running amuck on his body.

"Severus," sighed Ellian, "Not all werewolves are bad."

The man's eyes suddenly went blank. No emotion, not even the usual fiery glare. They were just empty. "He attacked me."

Ellian's eyes widened at the new information. Why would Remus do such a thing? There had to be an explanation. "But Remus . . ."

"Don't make excuses for him! Everyone else already does!" screamed the distressed potions master. His breathe was labored and Severus feared that he might go into a flash back if this continued. However, he wanted her to know that his hatred wasn't unwarranted. He never hated for no reason. There was always a cause for his anger, but others could never seem to see it. But he would make Ellian see.

"His friend, Sirius Black, lead me into a trap in the shrieking shack on the night of the full moon. He attacked me and had it not been for the interference of James Potter I probably would not stand before you now!"

Ellian couldn't believe what had befallen this poor man. Denying the threat that Severus often used to ward people off, she cautiously leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his heaving shoulders. The second she had him in her hold he froze and stiffened as if waiting for an attack. Little did he know, no harm would ever come to him from this girl.

"Severus, I know that it's hard to get over something like that and I'm not saying that you have to forgive and forget. I just don't think that you should blame Remus for something that his friend did. Remus is a nice guy and maybe if you two sat and talked about what happened that night you'll realize that you were both equally scarred."

"Equally?" whispered Severus as he finally forced himself to pull back from the comfort of Ellian's embrace. He was a little embarrassed that he'd liked being held by her.

The girl just smiled. "Well yeah. Like I said Remus is a nice guy. Even you know how soft hearted he can be. I'm sure that when he found out that he'd almost hurt you he was probably devastated."

Severus let out an intelligible grumble at the absurdity of the situation, but he couldn't ignore the girl's logic. No one else had ever even tried to explain it to him like this. They'd all just told him to stop holding a grudge and get over it. "I suppose that wolf would cry over every little daisy that he trampled."

Ellian laughed at this and, regrettably, he found himself liking the tinkling of her girlish giggles.

It was only when he looked down and saw that he was still holding her injured foot that he remembered that he was supposed to be healing her. He picked up one of the bottles that he'd brought with him and uncorked it.

"A potion?" asked Ellian with a tilt of her head. She'd figured that he would use a healing charm like Remus had done.

The potions master just smirked and with an air of blatant pride he said, "Of course. Potions can do almost anything."

With that statement, Ellian's full attention was captured by the lime green liquid in the small uncapped bottle.

Severus carefully pulled her battered feet onto his lap. "This is going to sting," he warned as he slowly tilted the bottle and let the substance fall over her cut up feet.

As it touched her skin a sharp jab of pain ran up her spine. She whimpered and without thought grabbed onto his shoulder for support as the painful tingles continued to vibrate through her wounds. She could feel her eyes tearing up and she felt like a child. Crying over such an insignificant pain.

Severus saw her trying to fight back the tears. He surprised himself by placing his hand over the one she had clenched on his shoulder. Of course his larger hand practically engulfed Ellian's small one. "Almost done," he reassured as her grasp on him tightened.

Finally, the last cut closed up and the pain slowly faded. Ellian looked at her now flawlessly healed feet and smiled. "That was amazing!," she giggled as she suddenly stood up. They didn't even have a scar.

After quickly using his wand to banish the broken glass, Severus stood and placed his potions back into his cloak. "I told you. Almost anything can be accomplished with a potion."

Ellian smiled at that. This man truly had a passion for his craft. He had pride and confidence in his work, and she bet that he'd scoff at any who doubted him or his talents. She'd only known him for a short while and already she knew that she would never doubt him.

"Oh, we'd better get to lunch. We're already pretty late," said Ellian as she noticed the time on the claock.

With a quick nod from Severus, the two started off towards the great hall.

Albus and Minerva were nervous. Both Severus and Ellian had yet to show up for lunch. Albus didn't like it when Severus skipped meals. The potions master didn't eat much as it was. Also he was afraid that Ellian had gotten lost in some unmarked part of the castle. However, his thoughts were quickly cut off as he watched Ellian and Severus walk into the great hall side by side.

The entire room burst into an uproar of whispers as the two teachers made their way up to the staff table. Ellian had her usual grin on her face while Severus's face was more straight.

"What is the greasy git doing with Proffesor Ashford?" asked Ron with his mouth agape.

"Ronald!" snapped Hermione. "They are colleagues and have every right to walk together.

"Yeah, but him with her? It just isn't natural." That one earned him a smack on the head from Hermione.

Meanwhile Harry just watched in silent contemplation as the two professors took their seats beside one another.

Back up at the teachers' table, Ellian and Severus were trying to ignore all of the stares as they dug in to their food.

Albus was the only one brave enough to speak up, "Um, so you two. Why so late?"

With no shame and no reason for any Ellian answered without a stutter. "Oh, I got hurt because I'm a klutz, but it's ok because Severus was nice enough to heal it for me."

Minerva suddenly choked on her tea and spluttered as she tried to catch her breath. Never had she heard the words nice and Severus ever being used in the same sentence. Meanwhile, Snape just stiffened a little at Ellian's complement.

Suddenly, Ellian looked like a great idea had just popped into her head. "Hey, Severus. When do you brew your potions. During class or during free time?"

Severus was a little taken back by the question. No one had ever really shown much interest in what he did. As long as the potions worked as they were supposed to, no one cared how they were made or what ingredients went into them. "I have a night set aside every week for brewing," he answered with a raised brow.

"Do you think I could sit in on your brewing time? Where I come from, there isn't a lot of potions masters so most people just use their wands; but now I'm intrigued. Would it be ok?" She smiled and gave him the best kicked puppy eyes that he'd seen up to date.

Everyone was silent as they awaited the thorough tongue lashing that Ellian was sure to get for even making such a stupid and impulsive request.

"I don't see why not," answered Severus with a shrug, before he went back to eating.

"Oh, thank you!" replied Ellian as she too turned her attention back to her plate.

Neither noticed the pure shock written on everyone's face. At least if they did notice, they didn't say anything.

Hope you liked it. I know it's long, but I just get so carried away when I'm writing.

We had to write a short story for school one time. It had to be at least one page front and back. Mine was five pages.

Thank you for reading and please review.