Thanks to Aphotic Euphony for the review! I thought I had put her age in there... then I double checked and I left it out of the uploaded version of this story! I'll have to edit it back in, but for people who are currently reading: She's supposed to be sixteen and this is pre-Harry Potter. Snape is like... 26. That's about seven years before Mr. Potter starts schooling. SORRY FOR LEAVING THAT OUT! FORGIVE ME??!??

NOTE: Sorry for not updating yesterday. I wasn't feeling well so I slept for thirteen hours.

DISCLAIMER: Anything you may recognize is most likely not mine. I do however own Dahlia and Missa. Thanks.

CHAPTER FIVE

Suddenly, every bit of Dahlia's existence fell into a quiet monotony. Halloween came and went. Thanksgiving came and went. Leaves fell off of the trees and Missa had gone through eight guys. Nothing changed with Dahlia. She usually sat on the bathroom's cold tile and talked about her life with Myrtle. She had the feeling that Myrtle, being a ghost, knew more than she would let on.

---

One day in Potions Professor Snape gave a quiz that, surprisingly, the students were able to use their books on. Dahlia had forgotten hers and she told the Potions Master that. Without saying a word he went to his own desk and produced the book that she would need.

"Use mine," he invited.

She saw a quick flash of kindness, but it was over so fast that it was possible that it hadn't of happened at all. He stood there for a bit longer, and Dahlia could smell something in the air. It was a more pleasant and inviting smell. It was the smell of a man. As the scent entered Dahlia's system, she could feel her organs turning to mush. Everything seemed so soft and the harsh, frigid air seemed so warm. She was enveloped in a cloud and as the Professor walked away, Dahlia longed for the smell to stay. It disappeared, and hungrily she smelled the book. She closed her eyes as that same scent penetrated her nostrils and then she put the book down and did her quiz. At the end of the class, the Professor was at his desk. Each student put his or her quiz on his desk and left the class. Dahlia took her time so that she was the last one.

"How do you think you did?" Professor Snape asked. Dahlia smiled. The warmth around his being had returned and she could just stand here, staring at him, forever.

"Pretty good," she said.

Dahlia handed him the book, and his hand grazed hers. Their hands touched for a while, before he pulled away as if he had been struck with electric fire. He began to write on a piece of parchment furiously and Dahlia slowly walked out. It felt like his hand had infected her with that hazy softness again. Her hand felt full of life. For the first time in months, she felt alive.

---

A couple of nights later, Dahlia was asleep in her bed. She no longer dreamt, but tonight she was, in her mind, sitting at the kitchen table of her parents house in America.

"Hunny," said her mother. "I know you are having a hard time without Missa. I know you need her now more than ever. That is why your father and I have decided to send you to her school over in England. You will stay there all year. It will be nice to get away."

Her father chimed in, "Getting away will help you… deal with the loss of Grandpa. Just remember that we're here for you."

The scene suddenly dimmed and when the light turned on again she was in Missa's old apartment. Her and Missa were sitting on the couch watching some reality show, when Missa's mother came home. The front door opened and she stood there with a smile.

"Missa?" she called.

Missa walked over to her mom and Dahlia remained seated.

"Missa, you will not believe it, but… I think we just won the lottery."

"Are you serious?" she replied.

Her mother shook her head yes and they began to dance around. Dahlia smiled at them as she got up and moved to the loveseat. After Missa and her mother had danced, they sat down on the couch that Dahlia was just on.

"I want to get a big house in England," her mother said. "I want to have butlers and chauffeurs and everything!"

"Isn't that a bit much?" inquired Dahlia.

"Not at all," replied Missa's mother. "Not only did I win the lottery, but it was the biggest lottery in recorded history!"

Dahlia stared at the wall. What would happen now?

---

Before Dahlia knew, it was the first night of holiday break. Missa had left without a word, but through Myrtle she discovered that her and her newest boyfriend, Darwin, had gone off somewhere together. The girls in Dahlia's room had left as well. She still didn't even know their names. Dahlia felt more, now than ever, that she was alone. After dinner, she decided to walk around the castle. She let the long twisting corridors and the moving staircases take her wherever they so chose. Eventually Dahlia found herself right outside the Potions room. There were a few Slytherin boys in there telling Professor Snape that they couldn't wait for his class next semester. He was obviously bored with them. They continued to babble on and on, until the Professor told them that it was late. He watched them leave and his eyes slipped over to Dahlia. She didn't expect to see him, and she definatly didn't expect him to see her. She wanted to run, but she realized that it would be far too awkward to leave. She slowly walked into the room, shaking on the inside. She reached his desk and wondered what to do.

"Taking my class next semester?" he asked. It sounded a bit like a growl, like he expected her to be just as annoying as the boys who just left.

"Yes," Dahlia replied as quietly as she could.

His face suddenly became more pleasant. "All right!" he said coyly, smiling.

Then his face returned to it's unpleasantness. "Is there any reason that you came down here?"

"Ah-I was bored from break already, sir."

"It has hardly started." His eyes were definatly black.

"I know…" she was at a loss.

"And how does coming down here make your night better?"

She couldn't think. She was tempted just to tell him that with just one smile he could make a whole week better. Then she realized how foolish that sounded.

"Erg, I was just walking around and I some how got here." She realized that that sounded stupid as well.

Professor Snape seemed to have lost interest, and he got up from his desk. Dahlia watched as he began to inspect the desks and pick up trash. "Wandering around can be quite foolish."

Dahlia stared at her feet, deciding if it would be wise to leave or not. Just as she made up her mind to leave, the Professor picked something up off the floor. He walked over to Dahlia.

"Damn children," he growled. "Here, for you."

He handed her what he'd retrieved from the floor. It was a fish made out of paper. Dahlia brought it closer to her face, and watched the bewitched paper blink and snuggle into her hand. She smiled.

"Now I suggest, Miss Maiper, that you get back to your room. I'm not afraid to dock points, even on break," he said in a surprisingly cruel voice.

Dahlia bowed down her head and scampered away. She was confused; he'd given her this fish, and yet, he also made her want to curl up in a corner and cry. Maybe he didn't like her at all in any way, and was only doing what the staff had been trained to do in the case of a "freak". She decided she wanted a second opinion, so she went to the bathroom.

"Aw, a fishy!" Myrtle giggled. "It's cute, I think he must like you."

"But the fish was also TRASH that he picked up on the floor. He gave me trash."

"Oh, don't think that way! Maybe he made it for you and planted it on the floor."

"You think he made it for me? I think… you're crazy."

"I think you should open your eyes."

"And I think you should let me know what you've seen with yours."

The ghost giggled. "Maybe later."

Dahlia went to her room, feeling better. She dug around in her trunk until she came across a small piece of fabric. She wrapped the fish in it, and placed it carefully in her trunk. When her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep.