JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. I'm borrowing, but I don't make any money from this and just do it for the genuine love of writing.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Summary: Of all the mysteries of the Wizarding World, perhaps none is more enigmatic than the Vampire. This is the story of one such soul. It is a story about love, life, loss, and choices – and not having any regrets.

Features: Pairings: Snape/OFC, Diggory/OFC, OMC/OFC. + GWeasley, HGranger, Malfoys, New Characters

Author's Notes: "LIVE FOREVER" is the PREQUEL to "SALVATION". I've had several variations of this story that I've tried to work with since 2008 and somehow it just never quite came together the way I wanted it to – and needed it to link back to "SALVATION"; the characters seemed to have other ideas. (I found out by accident that someone has uploaded TWO of the older versions I've had here [but deleted], one a mish-mash of several versions and both posted WITHOUT MY PERMISSION at fictionhunt. At least they linked back to my account here.) Also – I realised that elements of my last rewrite, though well-received, actually suits "The Girl With The Haunted Eyes - ORIG STORY" much better. ((The perils of thinking TOO MUCH about a story and second-guessing myself)).

If you read the first 9 chapters of "SALVATION" you will have a good grounding for the story of the Severus & the only STUDENT he ever loved – but with many surprises yet to be revealed in this part of their story. I've found my own gift of a character in Vampire Andrea Slitheen, an old Housemate & nemesis of Severus Snape and his coven family. Hope you enjoy. This is the first of what I hope will be several stories of an underworld within the world of Harry Potter.

I'm playing with ages & School Years for the sake of this AU story. Hogwarts is close to the equivalent of British Muggle Key Stage 4 (Years 1-3: ages 14-16 – O.W.L.s) & Key Stage 5 (Years 4-7: ages 16-19+ N.E.W.T.S.). High School & Further Education.

WARNING: Slightly Underage Student through Adult OFC, Student/Teacher relationship, Older Men/Younger Woman. If that's not your thing, cool. It's my life experience so… *shrugs*. Dark, Violence.

Rated M/R for language, situations, themes

Live Forever (REWRITE 2018)

By NativeMoon

Chapter 004: The Ravin' Raven

November

Excitement was in the air at Hogwarts for her first Guy Fawkes Night and bonfire season, but Nina found it hard to care much about it. She sat on a snowy hill looking down at the bonfires dotting the grounds near the Hogwarts Greenhouses. All things considered she was very lucky – Flitwick and McGonagall had decided that sending notes home about her troubles would be a bit too much.

The Ravenclaw knew all too well that it would have made an already bad situation worse.

'Miss Angeni,' came Snape's quiet voice from above. 'What on earth are you doing all the way out here, sitting in the dark and cold by yourself?'

'I just thought I'd be less trouble if I stayed out of everyone's way,' she answered as he sat down next to her on a long-forgotten rickety old bench.

'Technically you are out of bounds, quite out of bounds, and I would be well within my rights to…'

Snape's voice trailed off as he realised the Ravenclaw was crying.

'Nina,' he said gently, using her given name for the first time. 'What's wrong?'

'Everything is a mess… I didn't mean for it to go so far with Quirrell... Everybody hates me!'

'I know your time here so far has been very hard for you, but believe me it will pass. It may not seem or feel like it but you are generally well-liked by a lot of the people who matter the most here, staff included. You can turn things around to work in your favour. Not everyone who has passed through these hallowed halls has been so fortunate.'

'What was it like for you?' Nina blurted out.

Taken aback, Snape blinked and thought for a moment before answering her.

'Difficult,' he said simply. 'Very difficult.'

There was an easy silence between them as both stared at Hogwarts in the distance.

'I promised we would talk; no time like the present with the castle all to ourselves,' Snape said as he stood up. 'I could do with a hot drink instead of freezing to death out here. Come – no arguments.'

OOO

Nina and Snape sat in his office by the roaring fire he'd lit. Their walk back to the castle had stirred their appetites so he'd requested bowls of chicken noodle soup with hot buttered bread and a refilling pot of Twinings Earl Grey tea with bergamot (a Muggle brand that he and Nina both liked) from the House Elf that who'd looked after his every need since he joined the staff 10 years ago.

The boisterous and overly solicitous House Elf entered and set everything up just the way his Master preferred. Once again Nina managed to surprise Snape by introducing herself and chatting to him, commenting that she hoped he was treated far better than the poor elf her parents had acquired. The uniform that was actually a Hogwarts tea-towel struck her as not enough especially with the worst of the winter weather coming soon.

'Well Miss; most of the other elfses likes it, but Potty thinks proper clothes would be a lot more fun!' the elf squeaked.

Snape was floored when Nina got down on her knees and measured the creature with her hands.

'What on earth are you doing?' he demanded.

'Just trying to get an idea of what sizes he takes…'

The only response was a raised eyebrow as the Potions Master turned away to prepare their cups of tea.

'Will there be anything else, Master Severus Sir?'

'Miss Angeni?'

'No thank you,' Nina said with a big dimpled smile.

'That will be all Potty; good night.'

The elf looked at the Master's pretty Miss and giggled before disappearing with a faint POP!

'I do believe he's taken quite a shine to you,' Snape commented as he handed Nina the mug of tea he'd prepared. 'Not that I blame him.'

'Must be the offer of clothes,' she said blushing.

'You won him over as soon as you treated him with respect. Clothes are just an added bonus.'

The Potions Master paused.

'You are really going to buy him some clothes?'

'Oh Merlin no; I can't afford that. I'm going to make them. They can be a present.'

'You are quite a strange one, Nina Angeni.'

OOO

'You need to be a lot more careful with Quirrell,' Snape advised after they'd eaten in silence for a while.

'That sounds like a serious warning,' Nina said carefully.

'Promise me that you will go above and beyond to be a model student from now on and especially where he is concerned.'

'You think he's dangerous too, don't you? Is it because of that troll?'

'No doubt you've heard what transpired after you left the feast?'

'That he came running into the Great Hall screaming about a troll in the dungeons and fainted? That's very odd for a Defence Against The Dark Arts expert, even one with his "experience".'

'Indeed,' Snape said pointedly.

He looked at Nina and could tell that she was thinking.

'Nothing about him makes any sense… or that troll supposedly knocking me out. But...'

'But what?'

'Nothing; I'm just thinking too much is all.'

'You most certainly are not. What is it?'

'Professor…' Nina said, looking distressed.

She placed her bowl of soup on the small table next to them and hid her face in her hands.

'No need to spare my feelings, Nina,' Snape said as she stood up and walked over to his desk, leaning against it with her back to him. 'No one else does.'

'I don't want to be like everyone else,' she sniffed as Snape walked over and stood behind her. 'I'm just so done with all these ridiculous school and House rules and gossip and big-mouthed Gryffindorks!'

'Ahh, let me guess: you've heard gossip about me,' he said.

There was no answer, just sounds that could only be interpreted as Nina trying desperately not to cry.

'… and it's upset you …' Snape said slowly.

'I know you wouldn't do it!' Nina blurted out as she tried to blink back her tears. 'I know you wouldn't let a troll in here or try to hurt me!'

The Potions Master turned her around to face him and held her anguished tear-streaked face in his hands.

'I would never do anything to deliberately put you in harm's way or hurt you! It was I who found you and it took restraint I did not know I had to not attend to things as I wanted to… to do as I should have! If I could act according to my own will, things would be very different indeed!'

Nina threw her arms around him and Snape did the only thing that felt right.

He held her.

OOO

The Guy Fawkes celebration was still going strong with the entire student body allowed to stay up until eleven. Everyone was still making the most of the opportunity to stay outside for the bonfires, food, and fireworks; everyone except Nina and Snape.

'If Quirrell is so dangerous why is he here?' Nina whispered as they neared Ravenclaw Tower.

'That is down to the Headmaster,' Snape whispered back. 'Be that as it may, promise me that you will keep your distance and will not do anything to antagonise him further. Exams are not far away and he will be even more high strung, perish the thought. Your DADA marks are actually quite good from what I understand; just keep that brilliant mind of yours focused on your work and don't challenge him.'

'You think I have a brilliant mind? Really?'

'As it so happens I do, really. Your research papers and essays are quite remarkable and most of the other professors agree including the Deputy Headmistress and your Head of House so there is no bias on my part I can assure you.'

'Bias?'

'You know full well what that means, Miss Angeni – and understand what it means for me… for us.'

They fell back to being quiet as they reached their destination.

'I guess I better go up,' Nina whispered.

'I am still waiting for your promise.'

'I solemnly swear that I will behave myself and stay out of Quirrell's way.'

'Have a good rest of the night,' Snape said as he stepped back. 'Sleep well.'

'You too,' she sighed before turning around and racing up the stairs.

Preoccupied with the events of that night, neither of them would get much sleep.

XxxOOOxxX

Early December

In addition to the embarrassment she'd caused herself with the professors, there was also the not-so-small matter of Nina's Potions marks. Some were surprise practical tests so didn't count as much as research papers and final brewing exams, but they still mattered.

It didn't make sense to Professor Flitwick because she was exceeding expectations so far in just about every other class – the conflict with Quirrell and the nonsense over her clothes notwithstanding.

She was well on her way to achieving Outstanding marks and could eventually tie Gryffindor's Hermione Granger for the highest grades in their Year and be rewarded with school awards if she got to grips with whatever the problem was.

There was still plenty of time to make up for it, but only if she swallowed her formidable pride and asked for help.

XxxOOOxxX

Professor Snape was the only teacher to not have assistants – so there was no one to go to for help but him. He was a control freak and territorial about anything he considered to be part of his domain.

Despite Flitwick's encouragement to talk to Snape about extra tutoring, Nina didn't want to trouble him any more than she'd already done.

No, she would have to claw herself out of the hole she'd dug herself into off her own back where her Potions marks was concerned.

She also needed to make up for the House points that she'd lost.

Fortunately the way back into the good graces of her Housemates was easy once she realised the distinct advantage she had in making it possible.

XxxOOOxxX

'Are you for real?' fellow First Year Ravenclaw Terry Boot whispered, looking at Nina with bug eyes as they sat together on one of the tower balconies in the freezing cold so that he could sneak a cigarette.

Nina had just confirmed that the rumour he'd heard was true – she'd arranged something Muggles called a "Rave" in one of the many disused parts of Hogwarts, an all-night dance party for the House that weekend. She would DJ and drinks and nibbles were on offer since she was now on good terms with the Hogwarts House Elves.

And it was happening with their Prefects' support – which why Leon and Rosemarie had strongly suggested that nobody go home that weekend if they could help it. It was on Saturday night, after all, and their time was their own on the weekends. Anyone still around who hadn't gone home usually took breakfast and lunch in their dormitories. This was as true for the other Houses as it was for Ravenclaw – so everyone was guaranteed a nice long lie-in to recover with the professors and other staff being none the wiser.

'If I'm lyin', I'm dyin',' Nina replied as she handed him a piece of parchment. 'You've got five minutes to memorise that before it self-destructs.'

Terry cackled as he read the parchment and then turned it this way and that. Part of it was a map marking the way from Ravenclaw Tower to the secret location of the party. The bolded note at the bottom pointed out that it was a fool-proof plan but just in case someone did something silly and got caught – they were to take their punishment without grassing anyone else up. Flitwick always had their backs where Hogwarts Underground Tradition was concerned, and would see to it that they weren't expelled. Not to mention that Dumbledore and McGonagall would do a bit of blustering, but expulsions and wand-snappings were reserved for far more serious business and generally went through the Ministry.

In fact, both were quite rare.

'All is forgiven, Mate,' he said, giving her a high-five as it burst into a puff of smoke and disintegrated. 'You are a bloody genius!'

'Let's call it even once we actually pull this off…'

'Umm Nina… can I talk to you about something… about the party, I mean.'

'Sure…'

'D'you think they'd mind if… well…' he spluttered as he looked down at his feet.

He was obviously worried about whatever it was… but it was hard to figure out what it might be because he avoided looking her in the eyes.

'I… was wondering if… well … d'you think it's … OK … if I dress up?' he stammered.

'I don't see why anyone should mind you dressing up for a party; I'm certainly not coming in my uniform.'

'I'm not talking about Fancy Dress… you know… costumes and things…'

'I'm sorry but I really don't understand…'

'What I meant was… Well… It's just that … Umm… I like…girl's things…sometimes.'

There was a moment of tense silence that felt like forever to the trembling Ravenclaw.

'Ohhh, ohhh I seeeeee,' Nina spluttered as she finally clocked the implications behind Terry's dilemma. 'Well it's an honour that you trust me with this Terry, it really is. Sorry for a ridiculous question but I just want to be sure that I understand and don't end up saying something horribly ignorant… '

'You can ask me anything – no problem!' Terry said quickly, looking very relieved.

'So in terms of gender… like how do you define yourself in the conventional sense?'

'Well for me I guess the closest right now is what Muggles refer to as Gender Fluid… I have days where I don't mind looking like the usual lad… but I also have days where I like to be full-on girl… and days where I do both; I might start out doing my usual boy but then go full on girl, like for this party, or the opposite.'

'Wow… does anyone else know about this?'

'Just Professor McGonagall and Flitty. I'm trying to work up the courage to be more open about who I really am and they've been really supportive, actually.'

'Your family?'

'My mum realised it before I did and finally brought it up a couple of years ago… Dad; well he struggles but it's not as bad as Muggles I know in the same situation. At least I'm still welcome at home and I don't have to entirely pretend that I'm not who I am, thank Merlin.'

'So… what's dating like then?'

'I've tried to like girls for my father's sake but…I just don't.'

Terry looked so lost and sad it broke Nina's heart.

'You took a huge risk telling me,' she said gently.

'You're pretty open-minded about things and I actually love it that you try to be true to yourself no matter what. I wish I had it in me to do that. It's hard having to play up being a bone straight lad perving over girls when that's not who I really am.'

'You've spent way too much time around the wrong kinds of Muggles and Wizards, Terry I swear. But I see the sense in getting the lay of the land here first since this is so new to us,' Nina commented. 'So much stuff that's a problem for Muggles just isn't for wizards and it's a lot to get used to. I've been called every vile Muggle insult there is for somebody like me who isn't White, including things that don't actually apply, and I haven't had that at all here or in Diagon Alley. I'm not allowing myself to get too comfortable though, because in the end that world is still out there and we have to deal with it, like it or not.'

'Yeah,' Terry sighed. 'Sometimes I wish there was just one country for wizarding folks only and then I wouldn't have to watch my back so much… it's been hard to shake that. My Dad has Muggle friends he plays golf and footie with at his country club and of course they can't know about us, so he thinks a lot more than he should about what they'll think when they see me in girl mode or if they see me with a lad and Merlin forbid if they see me in girl mode getting it on with a lad at one of their socials since I'm not that feminine-looking...'

'Your father belongs to a Muggle country club?! Good grief! That aside, the problem with "wizarding folks only" are the blood and class prejudices and then there's the hatred of non-Humans – vampires barely get a pass as Beings as it is but werewolves and house elves are really treated like garbage. So it's either six of one or six of the other, as my grandmother always says. My grandparents keep telling me not to forget we've had a few major wars over this stuff and even the founding of Hogwarts couldn't escape wizarding bigotry… and it's not just Slytherin either, it's all the Houses even down to the Sorting.'

'My mother says pretty much the same, to be fair. She keeps saying that neither world is perfect but I do have a lot more privilege in this one what with being a Pureblood and coming from a high profile family and all.'

'Exactly; you haven't had any of the usual First Year hassle from the Seniors because your privileges with your Blood Status and your family lineage and wealth protect you… a former Minister of Magic… a Founder of that magical school in America… and your family is well connected and very respected. None of that should matter but it does.

'But whatever; if any of the Muggleborns here get a cramp in their ass about you then they'll have to get over it and wise up fast. I'll put the word out that nobody should need reminding that my rave is a safe space like the rest of the school, but it is and everyone is encouraged to come as who they really are. So if you feel like girl mode that night then so be it. I don't think you'll be the only one who isn't as "boringly straight as a board" (as the old saying goes), but if anybody decides they have a problem then they can get the fuck out and better pray I don't hex their ass into the next millennium.'

'You what?!' Terry gasped, trying not to laugh. 'Really?!'

'I'm the one throwing the party so yeah. What I say goes and there won't be any of that Muggle bullshit at my party. I'm not having it!'

'Man… if there's ever anything I can do for you (besides not get on your bad side)…'

'You don't owe me a thing. Just try to relax and have a great time. I think all of us will be happy to finally let it all hang out socially… we need a break around here… I know I do.'

XxxOOOxxX

The Ravenclaws couldn't believe it as they filed into the space Nina had specially selected for the party. The centuries-old domed marble ceiling was painted in a manner that strongly suggested Michelangelo, for anyone who cared about such things, with tiny pin-lights outlining certain details.

The space was awash in an eerie blue and purple light accented with colourful strategically placed blinking fairy lights, glittering silver disco balls, and purple, blue, and white strobes. Tables were placed against the walls heaving with drinks and snack foods as promised.

'Well don't just stand their gawping!' Nina shouted through her microphone at the area she'd staked out for her DJ set-up. 'Time to party!'

She kicked off her first-ever set at Hogwarts with a blistering tune no one had ever heard before called "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion" by a Muggle dance group called Nomad. It sounded like it had been recorded live at a concert.

Nina alternately speed-rapped and sang over the anthem as the lights changed to the beat of the music.

'I don't know how she managed this but you have to admit the girl's got style!' Leon shouted as the girl herself stalked the dancefloor telling them "I wanna give you devotion"… and that she would entertain them with "total dedication and a lot of devotion".

OOO

A few hours had passed and the fear of getting caught was far from anyone's mind.

Terry found a moment to talk to Nina privately.

'You were SO right! Thank you for doing this… it's bloody amazing!' she cried as she looked around, still surprised at their Housemates who were letting it all hang out without a care in the world, including the Quidditch jocks.

'Glad I could help. You're smoking hot so no more crying or you'll ruin that fabulous makeup!'

'Umm so what do you think of Leon? As a far as guys go?'

'He's a really decent lad; go for it and good luck,' Nina said with a big grin

'You reckon? He's so vanilla though. And I know for a fact that he's never gone out with anybody like me before.'

'We can't help who we fall for Terry; I think it says a lot that he's genuinely keeping an open mind and not giving a fuck what any of the Muggleborns might think. Take your time… get to know him… and see what happens…. At least in this world you won't get the hassle you would if we were all Muggles.'

'Go me… I might actually manage to pull an Upperclassman!'

'And a Prefect… a cute one at that; just saying mate…'

OOO

"YOOOOO THIS SHIT IS TIGHT!" a Seventh Year shouted as another Muggle group called Jacksons told everybody "let's dance; let's shout; shake your body down to the ground!" in an extended version of the tune.

The room began to heat up and vibrate with dancing, bumping, grinding, shouting students as Nina sang over the record with the lead singer and danced on the table next to her turntables. It would be Dawn soon and nobody cared.

"Let's dance; let's shout; shake your body down to the ground!"

Leon and Terry jumped on another, copying her moves as they tried to keep up.

Because he was not known for being so uncontrollably enthusiastic even with supporting other illicit activities, the room erupted at the sight of one of Hogwarts' most esteemed Prefects losing it with Terry Boot as they shook their butts next to their newly crowned House DJ who would forevermore be known as "The Ravin Raven" after this caper.