Yeah, yeah, yeah... Snape OoC's in this one. But I tried- ok? I really tried to keep him... Snape-y!

The idea came to me when I watched HBP and Severus walks up to Malfoy and stands right before him... heh heh heh. XD

Don't forget to review!

-Kimora

PS. Set around... mid-November? Ish?

It had just turned twilight, and Nutmeg was roaming the dungeons.

She wore a white velvet dress, and had the front two sections of her that usually framed her face tied back around the rest of the body of her hair.

Her ears, so usually hidden by her thick carpet of hair, were obvious now; and her earrings glistened in the firelight from the occasional torch on the wall.

She was thinking; about herself and Hogwarts, about her classmates and teachers.

She wondered about whether or not she should remain; many Gryffindors and even fellow Slytherins had been making it obvious that she wasn't welcome. Well, maybe that was an exaggeration- they hadn't been singling her out to make her feel bad, more of simply leaving her out, and not caring for her feelings whatever they were.

Reaching out a hand, she ran her fingers across the dungeon wall as she walked.

The black stone was dry as bone, and Nutmeg's nails could be heard as they scraped along the wall, the only sound as she silently trod the cold floor barefoot.

Reaching an corner, Nutmeg looked up the circular stairs that she knew led up to the Entrance Hall.

Sighing, she continued to walk down the dungeon's corridors.

She supposed she ought to return to her dormitory; however she simply felt so caged there.

She smiled to herself as she enthralled herself with the idea of night-time reading in the library.

She had been talking to Madam Pince only the other day, and hence knew the charm that she used to lock the library; and naturally after some research; knew the counter-curse.

Nutmeg stood still; listening for any sign of movement as she stood beside the door to the Slytherin common room.

Not a sound could be heard, so Nutmeg continued walking past the door, glancing in as she did. The Potions Master was sitting; back to her, reading.

She smiled to herself, shook her head and continued walking past.

She held out her arms, but instead of draping her fingertips along the wall she simply swung her arms back and forth; the epitome of a happy-go-lucky student.

In all fact, Nutmeg really was quite content.

She passed one of the rare Dungeon windows, and stopped to look out. It was a misty night, but beautiful all the same. The full moon reflected upon the Lake; and the various sparkles of moonlight could just be seen through the fog.

She smiled to herself; pressing a hand against the cold window as she gazed at the view beyond.

Then, remembering the promise of the library yonder; she started off again.

Holding her hands in front of her as she walked, Nutmeg began to silently work a piece of magic. She moved her hands around in a circular motion; as if outlining an invisible orb.

Her walk slowed as she concentrated, and the space between her hands began to glow.

At first, it was a white light, barely visible; then; and Nutmeg continued to feed it her power; it grew. A great, brilliant white light.

Throwing it up in the air, it turned a green, a deep, plant green that separated into two vines that wound around her hands.

They grew up to the top of her arms and joined around her neck, creating a scarf of sorts; and also just a few inches from her hands flowers of light bloomed, which as Nutmeg cupped her hands in front of her, still not touching her cold hands together, merged together to create a giant orb of pink and purple flowers in a ball of vines.

Smiling at herself, Nutmeg threw the light over her head where it hit the ceiling and spread; over the top, down the walls to the floor, and grew; thus as she walked down the (what was a previously dark and dingy) corridor with her arms spread out so that her fingertips touched the wall; the greenery grew with her touch.

Gracefully strolling down the corridor, Nutmeg Immoralyis was thoroughly taken by her own magical fantasy she had created.

The hallways as she walked towards the staircase was dark, then with each step she took the hallway got brighter and brighter as she lit it up with vines and flowers.

"Well well well, lurking in the corridors are we?" A drawling voice asked.

Out of no-where, Professor Severus Snape appeared in front of Nutmeg.

She jumped, and the illusion was lost.

Nutmeg could feel the sneer that experience told her he was sporting.

"Lumos." He cast, his amusement clear in his voice.

A white light shone from the end of his wand, a harsh white compared to the softer tones of Nutmeg's flowers.

"Jumpy, are we?" He sneered, his gaunt face twisted into a smile.

Nutmeg put her head to one side, and smiled.

"What?" The Potions Master asked.

She stood on tip-toe and leaned forward, pressing her lips against his.

Nutmeg felt herself melting; from weakness from the magic she'd performed or simply emotional overflow she didn't know.

Severus was ... liking the kiss. Then regaining his sense of propriety, he leant back, kissing students was specifically not allowed.

Nutmeg opened her eyes, and found herself gazing into the unimpressed face of Severus Snape.

"Quite the Chenoa, aren't we?" He asked, sarcasm dripping from his tongue.

"Chenoa?" Nutmeg whispered, overridden with emotions and unsure of how to act.

"White dove. Innocent. It's native american." Snape drawled, "And I thought you were intelligent."

Nutmeg smiled, "And I thought you were heartless." She replied gently probing his mind.

Severus took a step back, and silently cast a lumos maxima', pointing his wand at her instead.

"Keep out of my mind." He warned; voice low and strangely alluring.

"Severus-" Nutmeg whispered, as she withdrew her gaze from him and followed an invisible pattern across the wall.

She started to lean heavily to one side, and closed her eyes as an unfathomable expression flickered across her face.

"Severus.." She repeated.

The elder wizard lowered his wand, unsure of what to do.

The girl stumbled backwards, and Severus ran to her; all thoughts of wariness banished.

When it came down to it- she was a Slytherin. A mentally ill one, but a Slytherin none the less. And his Slytherin's needed him, so who was he to deny them?

He caught her just before she hit the ground, and her eyelids flickered just before she abandoned consciousness.

Severus watched the nirvanic child, his brow furrowed in worry and care; and inside, in his chest he had a sensation that he hadn't felt for years.

Love, and the pain that comes with seeing someone whom you love hurt.

"Chenoa, fly back to me." He whispered, as he lifted Nutmeg up and carried her towards the staircase; and beyond that Madam Pomfrey.