Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and other related characters. They belong to JK Rowling. I do own the plot and the American OCs. Besides if I did I would quit working for the state government. The characters may/may not be OOC, so deal. The title came from a line from the Sara McLachlan song "Possession" that sounded appropriate... I don't also own the alcohol brand Southern Comfort, also known as SoCo, which is owned by Southern Comfort Company.

The band mentioned at the end of the last chapter is a real band. I don't own them but I have met them. They are a local band and are really good. You can find them on iTunes.

Thanks go to Jessalynvix for helping with this story as well as the others I have written. At least His Lil' Half-Blood Princess and NougatEvolution sent a review or two my way. NougatEvolution, I hope that this will be up to your expectations. I hope that I get more reviews soon! Sorry for the long wait but the stupid oil spill in the Gulf has kept me busy!

Warning: This chapter contains possible mentionings of mild violence and cursing/foul language, sexual innuendos, and alcohol consumption. If you disapprove then just don't read.

"After I Wipe Away The Tears"

Chapter 7: Trying to Console the Broken Hearted

Not long after Severus had left the room and closed the door, Braeden felt the warmth that was wrapped around her had suddenly disappeared and fought hard to stay asleep. When she gave up after about five minutes and opened her eyes, she woke up alone in her seemingly large bed. She felt that she had been hit with a baseball bat and knew the feeling quite well from her college days. She figured that she had gotten drunk last night and confirmed that suspicion by looking at the three empty bottles of Southern Comfort. She looked at the other side of the bed and noticed that it still felt slightly warm. She didn't think anything of it until she picked up Charlie's pillow and held it close to her. She inhaled the scent that clung to the fabric and realized that something seemed out of place. Normally, it would faintly smell of rich dark earth and rain, the scent that she associated with Charlie. That scent was almost gone and was replaced by the scent of mahogany and vetiver and faintly of Southern Comfort. "What the hell… Why does Charlie's pillow smell like Sevi? I remember talking to him but I don't remember him staying…Oh…Holy…Shit…Did we…No…He would have stayed…He wouldn't walk away…He wouldn't leave and let me wake up alone…would he? He knows that I have abandonment issues…But I've done that to every one-night stand I've had… so maybe it's karma biting me in the ass to get revenge…Maybe I'm losing it…My mind is just fucking with me…" Braeden sighed and laid the pillow back on the bed. She got up, cast a quick scourgify, grabbed some clothes, dressed for the day, took her medication, and noticed that her hair color was a dark dull nearly black shade of brown. She sighed and walked down the stairs then saw that everyone else was either sitting at the table eating breakfast or sitting at the fireplace drinking tea and coffee. She sighed as she noticed that Severus wasn't there. "That's what I deserve for drinking three bottles of Southern Comfort…It's all my fault that he's gone…Sevi is gone and I've lost him…" she harshly muttered to herself as she found the bottle of aspirin on the coffee table in front of Septima and Bill. Bill had heard what she said and made a mental note to find out from Severus if what she said was true.

"You okay?" asked Septima as Braeden took out four aspirins and sighed. The seraph shook her head and muttered, "Hangover…headache and need coffee…" Septima looked at Bill with a look of concern as Braeden poured herself a cup of coffee and quickly drained it. They watched as she drank each cup of coffee like she was drinking shots at a bar as she took each pill. Braeden was on her fourth or fifth cup of coffee when Septima became really concerned.

Before the Welsh brunette could voice her concern out loud, Molly showed up with a tray of food and asked, "Braeden, dear…Have you seen Severus…He hasn't shown up and he stayed here last night…" The younger woman shook her head as she grabbed the pot of coffee, pushed past Sirius, walked to her office and locked the door. Molly sighed and handed the tray to Bill who had offered to take it, and he grabbed the aspirin bottle and placed it on the tray and headed upstairs.

Sirius walked up to where Bill sat on the couch and flopped down on it. "Hey Mia…is Lilly-blossom okay?" he asked as he ate a chocolate muffin that he grabbed from the breakfast table.

Septima looked at him confused and responded, "Who is Lily-blossom?"

As Sirius opened his mouth to answer, Remus sat down beside him and answered, "He means Braeden…He gave her that nickname when we found out that Lily and James were going to be her godparents…"

Sirius looked at the werewolf and playfully pouted, "I was going to say that, Moony…Now you stole my line…"

Septima sighed and stated, "She seemed like didn't feel well…I think someone should check on her"

Remus and Sirius looked at each other, silently deciding what to do about the situation. Sirius got up to go talk to Braeden when Remus shook his head and mentioned, "I think I know what this is about, Padfoot…You'll upset her more…She doesn't need that now…"

Sirius glared and replied, "I've buried the hatchet…So has he…He's my friend…But I don't want her hurt that's all…" Both men were silent as Sirius sat down and finished his muffin.

After about ten minutes or so, Remus got up and stated, "I'll go talk to her…If he comes down here, don't say a word…Pads, don't do anything stupid…I mean it or I'll hex you into next year…" Septima and Sirius nodes in agreement as Remus walked to Braeden's makeshift office and unlocked the door and let himself in. The door closed and relocked the door and let himself in.

Remus saw Braeden sitting at the desk with her back to the door and staring at a photo album of her friends and family. She was staring intently at a photo of her and Charlie from their seventh year that was taken a few weeks before graduation. She realized that she really did hear someone walk in and quickly put away the photo album. He could tell that she had been crying as she tried to quickly clear her face. "Hey Lily-blossom…You okay? You were acting strange this morning…Mia, Bill, Padfoot, Molly…Well everyone is worried about you…Does this have anything to do with him…has he hurt you?" Braeden pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face as Remus walked around to face her. "What happened? Please tell me…Please…" he softly asked as he knelt down to see her face better.

"I'm not sure…I don't remember much…" she replied as her eyes met his.

"What do you remember, Lily-blossom… I need to know if he hurt you…I won't tell a soul…I promise…" he requested.

She sighed and whispered, "Okay Moony…Last night Sevi came by and wanted to talk…so we talked while we drank…he got up to leave after we drank three bottles of Southern Comfort and I remember begging him to stay…but I don't remember anything else until I woke up this morning…But when I picked up Charlie's pillow…it smelled like Sevi, not Charlie…But if he stayed the night, why wasn't he there when I woke up…I don't care if he and I had sex or anything…I just want to know why he left and let me wake up alone…Charlie's never done that to me, but why did Sevi…That's what hurts…" She started to cry when she finished and Remus gently put his arms around her to hug her. She slid out of the chair and he ended up sitting on the floor with her in his lap. He knew that Severus wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt her or to compromise his friendship with her and Charlie. So he figured that the potions master just stayed the night so the seraph could sleep and panicked when he woke up not knowing what happened and left. Remus gently played with her hair and whispered nonsense softly into her ear. Her breathing slowed as she stopped crying when she pulled away and got up off the floor. She helped Remus to his feet and sighed, "I'm so sorry for the emotional outburst, Moony…I just want to find out…And I let it get to me…"

He smiled and responded, "It's okay, Lily-blossom…I'm here if you need me…We'll find out what happened…Don't worry…"

Thanks for those of you who have read this story. I'm starting writing a sequel to "Pretty Rave Girl" titled "Remember Two Things" and it'll deal with Braeden, Severus and Charlie's relationship. Please review! I like reviews! I crave reviews! Thanks goes to Jessalynvix for all of her help! Yet again I'm so sorry that I haven't updated.