Hey again!
I know, I've been updating a lot lately. That's my miserable attempt at making up for not updating for so long. I hope it helps! But anyway, this chapter is a little longer than the others, but I really didn't want to cut it into two chapters. So, yeah, enjoy!
Chapter 8- Memories and Fears
Sam took a step back, horrified. She heard gasps from the other students as they looked upon the girl's deepest fear. The room was deathly quiet.
The bodies of five boys lay on the ground, their eyes wide open, glassy and unseeing. They all had bullet wounds in their chests; it was obvious that they'd been shot to death. A pocketknife lay next to one, as though he'd been holding it. Three people, besides Sam, knew who the boys were. They were her five friends; Ricky, Bobby, Alan, Zack, and Josh.
"No!" Sam shouted, years escaping her eyes. She sank to the ground, covering her face with her hands, trying to remain silent while sobbing.
Lupin had had enough. He stepped in front of the girl, forcing the boggart to become a bright silvery-white orb; the moon. "Ridikkulus," he ground out, and the moon turned into a balloon before disappearing completely. Calmly, he returned his wand to his pocket, saying, "Class dismissed."
The students took that as their cue to leave. They did so quietly until four students remained, undecided on whether or not they should leave. Lupin smiled at the four, although he was privately confused as to why Draco Malfoy wasn't distancing himself from the Golden Trio.
"Don't worry, you'll get your friend back soon enough," he said.
The four nodded and retreated into the hallway. Once the door was shut, Lupin looked sadly at the girl still sobbing on the floor. He sat next to her, patting her on the back. He was mildly confused as to why she tensed under his touch, but put it down to nerves.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. Sam shook her head, still keeping it down and her face hidden.
"Shall I go and get Professor Snape, then?"
Sam's head shot up to look at him, eyes red and puffy and face tearstained.
"How, d'you know 'bout that?" she asked. "I only told Harry, Ron, and Hermione."
Lupin struggled to hold back a chuckle at the incredulous look on her face. "You'll find that I'm more well-informed than most other teachers. I'll take that as a 'no', then?"
Sam shook her head, staring at a spot on the floor in front of her. "Nah, I don't wanna bother him. It's not a big deal, anyway."
"You're not a bother, Sam," came a soft, silky baritone from the door.
Sam would recognize that voice anywhere. She looked up, and sure enough, Snape was making his way toward her.
"Mr. Snape!" exclaimed Sam, standing up. The man pulled her into a hug, and suddenly she felt that everything was all right.
"Are you alright?" Snape finally asked, holding the girl at arm's length. "I heard that you reacted badly to your boggart. What was it?"
Sam teared up again, stepping forward and leaning into her guardian, resting her head against his chest.
"It was the boys," she mumbled.
Snape was confused. "Say again? I didn't catch that."
"It was the boys," she said louder. "Ricky, Bobby, Alan, Zack, and Josh. They were all dead; shot full of bullets."
Snape gently stroked the now-crying girl's hair, idly noticing that her roots were blonde. "Sh, it's alright; it was only a boggart. Your friends are just fine."
"I know. Thanks."
***
As the days passed by, Sam noticed that she was thinking less and less about Josh and more and more about Draco. She realized that she was ready to let someone in her heart. She and Draco were doing homework in the library when it hit her.
"Hey, Draco," she said in a tone that made Draco look up.
"Yeah, Sam?"
The girl seemed hesitant. "Well, remember how you told me that you'd be here whenever I was ready?" Draco nodded, and Sam looked into his eyes. "I'm ready."
Draco gasped. "Really? You're sure?" Sam nodded. "Hold on a moment, I'll be right back." With that, he left at a near-run. Not five minutes later he was back, holding something behind his back.
"Close your eyes."
Sam did so, but not without asking, "What's this 'bout?"
She could hear the smirk in his voice. "You'll find out. Now hold out your right hand."
The girl did so, and she felt his hand on hers, turning it so it was facing palm-down.
"Sam Biluxy," he said, sounding nervous, "I fancy you. Will you go out with me?"
"Yes," Sam replied immediately, feeling her breath catch in her throat.
"Then this is so that everyone knows that you are under the protection of the Malfoys." She felt something being slipped onto her ring finger. "You can look now."
Sam opened her eyes and gasped. On her finger was a beautiful ring. The band was silver and was carved to look like a snake. In between the snake's head and tail was an emerald set into two smaller snakes carved to look like they were chasing each other's tails. On the emerald itself was carved a crest, which Sam took to be the Malfoy family crest. she looked up at Draco, who looked nervous.
"So," he asked, "d'you like it? It's sort of a family tradition; you give it to your girlfriend, and then, if the day comes, it gets replaced with an engagement ring."
"It's amazing, Draco."
Draco smiled before wrapping Sam in a hug. As Sam rested her head against his shoulders, breathing in the vaguely musky peppermint scent he possessed, she couldn't help but think that everything was finally going her way. A thought hit her as they broke apart.
"Draco, I don't think we should advertise this."
The boy looked confused. "Why not?"
Sam resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Think 'bout it. How many people will like a Gryffindor-Slytherin relationship? I'm not sayin' we should deny it, but we shouldn't just throw it out there, either. D'you get what I'm sayin'?"
The boy seemed lost in thought. "Yeah... I get it. Good idea, Sam." He glanced at the clock. "Come on, we're about to be late fro dinner."
Once Sam had seated herself at the Gryffindor table, across from Ron and next to Hermione, she could feel people staring at her. She looked up and saw that almost every Gryffindor face was turned toward her. She took a sip of her pumpkin juice, which she'd quickly found out she liked, and turned to Hermione.
"The hell's everyone starin' at me for?" she asked.
"It's probably because you walked in with Malfoy," Harry answered.
"That again. Ain't a crime to be friends with him, is it? It don't make no difference what House you're in t'me."
No one answered. All three of Sam's friends had seen the ring on her finger, and knew something was up. They silently agreed to confront the girl after dinner.
Sam finished eating dinner quickly and stood up to leave. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up a moment later, following their friend through the corridors. They stopped her just as she was about to climb the final staircase to the portrait hole.
"Hey, Sam, hold on a minute," Harry called.
Sam turned around. "Oh, hey guys, what's up?"
"We need to ask you something," said Hermione.
"'Kay, shoot."
"What the bloody hell is that?" Ron demanded, keeping his voice lowered.
"What's what?"
"He's talking about the ring. What's it for?" Harry asked.
"What, can't someone wear a ring 'round here without everyone askin' them 'bout it?"
"Sam, it's not the fact that you're wearing a ring," Hermione said, "It's the fact that it's silver and green that bothers us. Where did it come from?"
"Draco," Sam said simply. Her three friends stared. "What?"
"Malfoy gave you that ring?" Harry asked quietly. Ron looked like he'd sucked on a lemon.
"Yeah."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "I think the best thing to ask here is why he gave it to her."
Ron seemed to be coming out of a trance. "Yeah, why the bloody hell did he give you a ring?" A thought hit him. "Oh, no...you don't mean...he didn't...you didn't..."
Sam realized what he was thinking of and gasped. "No! This ain't an engagement ring! Holy shit, Ron, how could you think that?"
"Well, what's it for, then?"
"He asked me out, and he gave it t'me 'cause I said yes."
This bit of information was like a slap in the golden Trio's face. They stared, and Sam felt anger bubbling up inside her. What was their problem? Everyone seemed to think she was out of her mind for associating with him. Sure, she'd seen the boy tease other students mercilessly, but she could respect things like that. Hell, she'd done worse back in Rockledge, but no one here would know about that.
Leaving her friends, she turned and entered the Gryffindor Common Room. She got her books out and started her homework, ignoring anyone who tried to talk to her. Finally, around eleven o'clock, she packed up her school things and went up to bed. She was about to go to sleep when her phone vibrated. She picked it up and opened it, reading the message.
"Sam. jst got outta da hospital. Ricky."
Sam smiled, a few tears of joy escaping her eyes. So Ricky was alright, no thanks to Josh.
"Ricky. thts awsum. ill tty in da mornin. Sam."
She replaced her phone under her pillow and laid down. Moments later, her pillow vibrated. She picked it up and opened it, reading the message.
"Sam. kay. btw i heard bout u & josh. u kay? nite. Ricky."
Sam sighed. Of course he'd heard about it. It was sure to have happened sooner or later.
"Ricky. ya im ok i dnt wanna tlk bout it now btw i got a new bf dnt tll da othrs nite. Sam."
She shut her phone and rolled over, falling asleep instantly.
***
The next day, which was a Monday, Dumbledore had an announcement to make at breakfast.
"Attention, everyone," he said. The breakfast time chatter instantly died down. "The staff and I have decided to try and start a new tradition, starting this Friday. It will be an annual Parents' Day, of sorts. On this day, there will not be any classes; students will be permitted to wander the grounds and spend time with their parents. Invitations have already been owled out. That is all."
Conversation broke out as he sat down. everyone was wondering who came up with the idea, and who's parents would come.
"D'y'all think your parents'll come?" Sam asked.
"I know mine will," replied Ron, "since Fred, George, and Ginny are here as well. Reckon they wouldn't otherwise."
"I know mine won't," remarked Harry, grinning.
Sam laughed, knowing he was making a joke. "That'd be so cool if they did, though. What 'bout you, Hermione?"
"I'm not sure," the other girl said uncertainly. "Mine are Muggles; I don't think they'd be able to come."
"Oh, I'm sorry. My mom's a Muggle, too. I just hop t'God my dad don't show. That would suck beyond belief."
"Dumbledore wouldn't let him come," Hermione stated confidently.
"Yeah, but that would still massively suck."
"I don't think that came out the way you wanted it to."
Sam turned around in her seat. "Oh, hey Draco. Good one." She laughed. "I didn't know anyone here had a sick mind like me. I was startin' t'miss it."
Draco smirked. "Glad I could amuse you with my perverted ways. By the way, may I escort you to your first class?"
Sam grinned, standing up. "You may." She waved to her friends. "Se y'all in a little bit."
Fully aware that they were being watched by every students and most of the teachers in the Great Hall, the two left. Sam had forgotten her phone under her pillow, so they went there first. After saying the password and checking to make sure no one was in the Common Room, she allowed Draco to come in and wait for her. She came back to find the boy staring at the room.
"What're you starin' at?" she asked.
"Nothing, it's just so... warm feeling in here."
"...Oh, 'kay. Ready?"
"Yeah."
They left Gryffindor Tower and made their way to Sam's first class, charms with the Ravenclaws. Just before they turned the final corner to the class, they stopped and hugged.
"Well...see you at Potions," Draco said uncomfortably.
"Partners?" Sam asked.
"Of course."
"Then I'll see you next class." Sam kissed his cheek and walked away, waving. "'Bye."
***
Potions came soon, and luckily for the couple, it was a double class. They sat in the back of the room so that anyone who wanted to stare would have to turn completely around in their seat to do so. Draco was the one who started the silents laughing and joking fits. Snape had just finished berating a trembling Neville for adding an obviously wrong ingredient to his already messed up potion. He'd just turned around and was walking back to his desk when Draco said it.
"Does he ever look like an overgrown bat to you?"
Sam took one look at the man and had to stifle a laugh, but only succeeding in covering half of it. Snape heard it and turned around, walking toward the two.
"Would you mind sharing the joke with the rest of the class?" he asked, staring his two students down.
Sam, who was still shaking with silent laughter, couldn't respond, so Draco did for her.
"It's nothing, sir."
Snape looked at the still-laughing Sam and decided that he needed to have a talk with the two.
"Nevertheless, I will see the both of you after class."
Draco nodded, and the man left. The boy glanced sideways at Sam, who was grinning at him. Thus started the joke-off. Every few minutes, one would poke the other or tickle the other or make a joke, sending themselves into silent fits of laughter. Once they'd calmed down, one would say or do something and then they'd be off again. They continued in this manner until class ended. Once it did, the two packed up and went to Snape's desk, waiting to see what the man had to say. They didn't have to wait very long.
"Would you two like to tell me what went on today?"
The couple stared at him, not saying anything.
"Well?"
Still they didn't speak. It was almost as if the man hadn't spoken at all.
"Five points from the both of you. Now, would you care telling me?"
"Tell you what?" Sam asked.
"Why you two were behaving the way you were today."
"We're friends," said Draco. "We were just having some fun."
Snape looked from Draco to Sam and back again a few times, as if trying to figure something out.
"Very well," he said finally. "Draco, you may leave. Sam, I would like to speak with you a while longer."
Draco glanced sideways uncertainly at Sam, but she shook her head slightly. With a quick, "See you later," he was gone, and it was just Snape and Sam.
"Would you mind telling me the truth, Sam?"
"What?" Sam asked, startled. "That was the truth." She made sure to keep her hands behind her back.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it." Snape knew the girl was lying. "By the way, your hair looks blonde."
"What?" She clasped her hands to the top of her head. "Can you fix it?"
"Of course." Snape muttered a spell and Sam's hair returned to black, the ring on her finger not going unnoticed.
"Thanks. I need to get goin'. McGonagall won't be happy if I miss half her class."
"I understand. See you later, Sam."
"'Bye, Mr. Snape."
***
The rest of the week passed quickly. Classes were boring, homework was tedious, and Sam and Draco reached their first milestone:their first make-out session.
They were studying in "their spot" when Draco leaned over and kissed Sam. She reacted positively, and they remained that way for quite awhile, parting red-lipped and late for dinner.
Friday rolled around, and parents were arriving for 'Parents' Day'. Sam decided she'd let her friends hang out with their parents until about noon, when she'd join them. She passed the time by texting her friends, and was surprised when the Patil twins came into the Common Room.
"Oh, Sam, there you are!" they exclaimed.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Sam looked at them, confused. They'd spoken of nothing but their parents, so why weren't they with them?
"We've been looking for you."
"Your father's here, he's looking for you."
Sam was taken aback. Had Mr. Snape told them about being her guardian? "Where is he?"
"He's in the Great Hall."
"Thanks."
Sam stood up and left the Common Room, heading towards the Great Hall. She gasped as she entered the room at what, or rather who, she saw. Her real father, David, was speaking to a man that looked remarkably like Draco. She made to leave, but she'd already been seen. Her father gestured for her to go to him. She did so reluctantly, worry and fear overtaking her mind.
"Hello, Samantha," David greeted.
"Hi, Dad," Sam replied unenthusiastically.
"You don't sound happy to see me."
Sam's eyes widened. "I am happy to see you; I'm just shocked you're here 'cause you're usually so busy."
"Yes, well I found an opening in my schedule. By the way, I'd like you to meet one of my colleagues, Lucius Malfoy."
"Hello, Samantha," the man said, looking down his nose at her haughtily.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Malfoy, sir." Sam inwardly smiled. She still knew to kiss ass when she was supposed to.
"I'm sure you've heard of my son, Draco." The man looked for his son, spotting him and calling him over. "David, I would like you and your daughter to meet my son, Draco Malfoy."
"Hello, young man," David greeted, shaking Draco's hand. "It's nice to meet you."
Sam waved her right hand, showing that she wasn't wearing her ring, and therefore that they weren't letting the adults know that they were more than acquaintances. Draco nodded slightly, showing that he understood.
The two men spoke for awhile, each pointing out their child's positive points, David making it obvious that he didn't think much of Sam. They then moved on to politics and news. Finally, David excused Sam and himself, saying; "I'm sorry, Lucius, but I would like to speak with my daughter alone for awhile.:
Sam's heart sank when Malfoy Sr. replied, "Ah, yes, I understand. I'll speak with you soon. Good-bye, Samantha."
"'Bye," Sam responded, fear gnawing at her brain.
David lead her out of the Great Hall and headed off in an unknown direction. as far as Sam knew, there were no classes near there. This revelation brought a new sense of fear to the front of her mind. finally, they stopped in front of an unused classroom. David opened the door.
"In," he growled, all traces of friendliness gone.
sam stepped in, her father going in after her, shutting and locking the door. He pulled out a wand from his sleeve, casting powerful Muffliato spells on the walls, ceiling, and floor so that there was no chance of being overheard whatsoever. When he was done, he replaced his wand in his sleeve, turning and walking to Sam.
"You little bitch!" he shouted, slapping her hard across the face and sending her to the floor. He roughly picked the girl up and slammed her against the wall, shaking her so her head hit it over and over again.
"You thought you could run away? Did you?"
"No, I...thought it'd be...cool t'come here."
"You thought it'd be 'cool'? I'll show you what's 'cool'!"
He threw the girl to the ground and pulled out his wand, pointing it down at her.
"Crucio," he spat venomously.
Sam screamed and writhed on the ground as the first wave of unimaginable pain hit her. It wasn't to be the last.
***
Knock knock
Snape sighed. He'd come so close to having a completely peaceful weekend. He put his book down and opened the door to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing behind it.
"Yes?"
"Professor," Hermione asked, "have you seen Sam?"
"Sam?" The Potions Master thought for a moment. "No, not since Thursday during class. Why?"
"That's what we were afraid of," murmured Ron.
"We haven't seen her since Friday morning," clarified Harry.
"We thought she'd been with you all weekend," Hermione added, frantically now.
Snape felt panic brush against his mind, but quickly shook it away. It wasn't time to panic; not yet, anyway.
"Listen up, you three, here's what we're going to do. We are not going to panic. We're going to find the last person who saw her, and we'll go from there."
They left Snape's quarters and went throughout the castle, asking anyone they saw about Sam. They didn't come across many people, as it was Sunday, and most students were in their Common Rooms studying. They asked for hours, to no avail. Finally they spotted Draco.
"Draco," Snape called when they spotted him. The boy walked toward them.
"Yes, Professor?"
"When was the last time you saw Sam?"
The boy thought for a moment. "Friday morning."
"Where was she? Who was she with?"
"The Great Hall. She was with me, my father, and another man. I think Father said the man was her father."
The color drained from Snape and the three teens' faces. Draco, noticing this, became worried.
"What?" he asked.
Snape took action. "Listen, all of you. Wherever Sam is, she's in trouble. I'm going to Dumbledore to raise the alert. When I do, all of the staff will be searching, as well as any students who want to join in.
"You four are going to start searching the castle for her. She won't be near the used classrooms, so look in the unused ones. As soon as you find her, get the closest teacher. Understand?"
The four teens nodded.
"Good. Now go."
They did so, splitting into pairs; Harry and Draco, Hermione and Ron.
"What's the big deal? Her dad came on Parents' Day. Big whoop."
Harry hardly glanced at the other boy. "Her dad has a history of hitting her every time he sees her. He's always on business trips, so they don't see each other much. We're also worried because as far as her parents know, she just disappeared one day. We didn't ask them if she could come here before we left with her, because her dad had come home the day before. So he's probably extra-mad. Also, you're the last person who saw her, and that was on Friday, so who knows how badly she's hurt?"
"...Oh."
They continued on for awhile, checking every room they passed. Soon they came to a fork.
"Why don't you take the left? I'll take the right," suggested Draco. "We'll cover more ground that way."
Harry thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright."
So the two parted ways. Draco kept checking every room he passed. Time went by slowly, though the boy's mind was racing with worry for his girlfriend. Suddenly he stopped. Did something catch his eye in that room a few doors down? He couldn't be sure.
"It could be Sam," he thought.
With that thought in mind, he went back and opened the door.
"No," he whispered, gasping.
Sam lay unconscious on the floor, covered in her own blood, her dark hair covering her face. Draco ran to her and found that she was covered in bruises as well, making her normally pale white skin look dark. There were some distinctly hand-shaped bruises on her face and neck. An arm and a leg were bent at funny angles; ones they couldn't and shouldn't be able to achieve naturally.
Draco felt his heart stop. It didn't look like the girl was breathing. He quickly brushed her hair away from her face and held a hand in front of her mouth, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt her softly exhale.
Gently, he laid Sam on the floor and darted out of the room, sprinting down the halls and bellowing:
"I've found her! Help! I've found her!"
He turned a corner and nearly bowled Snape over.
"You've found her?" the man asked.
"Yes, and she doesn't look good at all."
"Where is she?"
Quickly, Draco took him to the room where Sam lay unconscious. When Snape saw her, he ran over and took her in his arms, cradling her.
"It's okay; I'm here now," he whispered over and over again, like a mantra. after a minute or two, he stood up, still carrying the girl.
"Come, let's get her to the Hospital Wing."
Draco followed the man, wondering what Sam had ever done to deserve what she got.
***
"...bad is it?" a silky baritone voice asked.
"Rather bad. Broken arm, broken leg, broken and cracked ribs, bruises everywhere, possible concussion; the list goes on. That's not even taking into account the emotional damage done," replied a higher, woman's voice.
"What about the dislocated shoulder?"
"We have to wait until she wakes up for that."
"I understand. I had hoped..."
"I know. You don't want to cause her pain. But that's how it's got to be done."
"What?" The thought came like a soap bubble. There one moment, gone the next, slipping through her fingers. She raised her heavy eyelids, looking around.
"Where the hell am I?" She spotted a boy with a shock of white-blonde hair and ashen eyes, who grinned and gently took her hand.
"Sleep," he whispered softly.
She felt her eyelids shut, and she drifted back to sleep, the image of the grinning boy like an echo in her mind.
***
Sam was, much later, dragged into consciousness by a massive headache. She groaned and squinted her eyes, turning her head away from the flickering light. She heard someone stand up and walk away, calling someone else.
"Poppy, I think she's waking up."
"What the hell?"
Slowly, she opened her eyes, which struggled to focus. The first thing she noticed when they did was that she was in an old-fashioned, spacious room. The second thing she noticed was a man standing over her, looking immensely relieved.
"Sam, thank Merlin you're alright," he said in a silky baritone with a British accent.
Who was he? Sam couldn't remember.
"Who?" she asked. She meant to ask, "Who are you?", but it didn't work, as her voice was scratchy and unused.
"Don't you remember?" he asked softly, brushing her bangs away from her face. "I'm Mr. Snape, remember?"
When she heard the words "Mr. Snape" reached her ears, everything came back about the Magical World. Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape, Draco, the War; everything.
"Mr. Snape!" Sam exclaimed, now relieved that the man was with her when she woke up.
Seeing the recognition alight in the girl's eyes, Snape couldn't help smiling.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Alright," she replied, shifting positions. "I--," She gasped, fiery pain ripping through her left shoulder. She grabbed it with her other hand, fighting back the tears that threatened to overflow.
"Sam?" Snape asked, alarmed. "Sam, what's wrong?"
"Shoulder," the girl ground out. "Hurts--like hell."
"Poppy!" the man called, standing up. "Poppy, come quickly!"
The woman bustled over. "What's happened?" she asked.
"It's her shoulder, it's hurting her. We need to fix it now."
Sam looked up, her vision blurring from the pain.
"I...think I'm...gonna pass out." she forced.
Snape's obsidian eyes widened. "No, Sam, you can't faint. Concentrate on staying awake. You can't faint."
"Right," said Mme. Pomfrey, rolling up her sleeves, "first we've got to get her hand away from her shoulder."
She tried to pry the girl's hand away from her shoulder, but couldn't do it. Sam had a death grip on it. Snape reached over and forced her hand away, holding it so that she wouldn't get a grip on her shoulder again. Pomfrey took her arm and rotated it to find exactly where it went, making Sam gasp.
"This is going to hurt," the medi-witch warned.
"Can't we give her a potion?" Snape asked.
"You know as well as I do that even the weakest pain-relieving potion will react badly with the others."
"Very well, continue."
Pomfrey looked back down at Sam, making sure once more that her shoulder was properly aligned. Holding the girl's arm with one hand and placing her other hand on her shoulder, Pomfrey pushed as hard as she could, feeling the bone pop back into the joint, which made Sam cry out.
"There," stated Pomfrey, "it's back in. Miss Biluxy, I need you to rotate your shoulder for me so I can make sure I got it right."
The girl did so, grimacing. A few tears overflowed from her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, embarrassed.
"So, what happened t'me?" she asked.
"You don't remember?" asked Snape, incredulous.
Sam shook her head.
"What do you remember?"
"I remember Dumbledore announcin' Parents' Day on Monday, I remember bits and pieces of classes, Wednesday..."
"What happened on Wednesday?"
"Nothin' important. And then all I can remember of Friday was textin' the boys in the Common Room."
"Nothing else? That's it?"
"Besides wakin' up here, yeah."
Snape thought for a moment before he got an idea. "Sam, could I see?"
"How?" The girl was confused.
"There are two branches of magic that are the opposite of each other, yet related. Legillimency is the ability to break into another person's mind and look through their thoughts and memories. Occlumency, however, is the ability to--,"
"Keep someone from breakin' into your mind, right?"
"Yes. Using Legillimency, I could--,"
Sam watched as the man jumped, as though electrically shocked. He slapped his hand against his left forearm, like he'd been burned.
"Sam," he said quickly, "I have to go somewhere now, alright? I'll be back soon. Promise me you'll try and get some sleep."
"'Kay, but where--,"
"I can't tell you." The man leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later."
With that, Snapeleft the Hospital Wing at a power-walk. Sam watched him go, feeling very confused. Where was he going? Would he be okay? These and other questions ran through her head. A few minutes after Snape left, Harry, Ron, and Hermione came in, looking relieved that she was awake.
"Sam, thank goodness you're awake!" cried Hermione.
"We were really worried," Harry added.
"Yeah, you had us all scared in the beginning," stated Ron.
It was then that Hermione noticed that something was on Sam's mind.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's Mr. Snape," Sam replied.
"What about him?" asked Ron.
"Well, we were talkin', and all of a sudden he jumped and grabbed him arm like he'd been burnt. He stood up, made me promise to get some sleep, and then practically ran out. Before he left, I asked him where he was goin', and he said he couldn't tell me."
The three friends shared a look that made Sam ask, "D'you know where he went?"
"Um, well, you see--," started Hermione, but Harry cut her off.
"He's a Death Eater, or at least he used to be."
Sam was shocked. "But aren't they Voldemort's followers?"
Harry nodded.
"But what does that have t'do with him leavin' like that?"
"When a Death Eater gets initiated, they're given the Dark Mark, which is a tattoo on their forearm that allows Voldemort to call them to him through it burning."
"So you're tellin' me he's a Death Eater?"
Hermione jumped in. "Dumbledore's told us many times that he's on our side, though, so maybe he's a spy."
"Yeah, maybe--,"
"Sam!"
Everyone looked at the doorway, where they found Draco standing. He walked over to her bed, leaning down and gently kissing her on the lips, much to the horror of Sam's three friends, who were watching.
"You're awake," stated Draco. Sam grinned.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"How're you feeling?"
"Fine since Madame Pomfrey fixed my dislocated shoulder. That, by the way, hurt like hell."
"I have no doubt. Oh, Professor Snape found this in your pocket. I think he thought you took it off me."
He held out his hand, and in it lay the beautiful green-and-silver ring he'd given to her. He look her right hand in his, slipping the piece of jewelry onto her ring finger. "Thanks," said Sam.
"Also, there's something you might want to know."
"What?"
"I let it slip in the Common Room about us the other day."
"Great."
"It's probably all over the castle by now."
"Joy. Life certainly won't be borin' now."
Draco smirked. "Well, look on the bright side. We won't have to find an empty classroom when we want to have a snog."
Sam laughed, glancing at her friends, who wore expressions of shock.
"I think we should stop talkin' like that, Draco. Ron doesn't look very well."
Draco looked up, smirking at the expression on the other boy's face. "What's the matter, Weasley? Are we tainting your innocent mind? Go on, tell us what's wrong."
Ron, who looked a bit green, swallowed before answering.
"I just can't get over the thought of a Gryffindor and a Slytherin snogging each other."
"Oh, you mean like this?"
Draco reached down and kissed Sam firmly on the lips; one hand behind her back, pulling her to him and the other hand on the bed, keeping him from falling over. Sam, caught by surprise, gasped before kissing him back. She threw her good arm around his neck, kissing him fiercely. Thus a competition of sorts began. Each tried to kiss the other more fiercely and passionately than the other could.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched, shocked that Sam, their friend Sam, was snogging Draco Malfoy, whom they'd despised since their First Year. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Mme. Pomfrey walk out of her office, gasping when she saw the couple.
"Enough! Mr. Malfoy, disentangle yourself from Ms. Biluxy at once!"
Sam and Draco, startled, broke apart, gasping for air.
"Mr. Malfoy, I'll not have you treat my patient in such a manner!" Pomfrey continued, walking over to the five teenagers. "Ms. Biluxy is still recovering, and none of you are to unnecessarily excite her, do you understand?"
"But she looks fine, what's wrong with her?" asked Hermione.
"Her nervous system is still recovering from the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse. Now get out, all of you. You can come back tomorrow, but for now, she needs her rest."
"'Bye, Sam," said the Golden Trio as they left.
"'Bye, guys."
Draco leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Sweet dreams, Sam."
"See you later, Draco."
Once they'd gone, Mme. Pomfrey handed Sam a glass.
"Here, drink this; it's a Dreamless Sleep potion."
Sam drank it quickly, knowing it would taste vile. As soon as she finished, she felt it begin to work. She felt her muscles relax and her eyelids grow heavy. She was asleep in less than a minute.
***
When Sam awoke, it was still dark. She was about to roll over when she heard voices from behind her.
"What happened?" asked the voice of Mme. Pomfrey.
"I arrived late," answered the silky baritone of Snape.
Sam felt a pang of excitement when she heard her guardian's voice, only to be replaced with worry when she realized he was hurt. She listened harder.
"How late were you? You left right away."
"Maybe so, but the Dark Lord was in a particularly foul mood, and I arrived a few moments behind the others. Thank Merlin I'm such a good Occlumens. He would've found out about Sam otherwise."
"You couldn't have passed it off as following Dumbledore's orders?"
"He'd be able to see right through that."
"Well, you need to be careful here as well. I saw Draco Malfoy in here earlier. You'd best not give him anything to report to his father."
"I won't. Thank you for helping me, by the way."
Sam heard footsteps approaching, and shut her eyes, rolling onto her back. She felt someone brush her hair away from her face and take her hand.
"Oh, who am I kidding?" she heard Snape ask. "I have absolutely no idea how to raise a child, much less a teenager. Albus would be better at it than I would."
"But she picked you," Mme. Pomfrey pointed out. "That has to count for something. I doubt she would've signed those guardianship papers if Albus had wanted her."
"That's true...You'll help me, won't you?"
"Just ask, and I'll do what I can."
"Thank you. Now, I should have been in bed a long time ago.
Sam felt Snape bend down and kiss her forehead. As he let go of her hand and turned to leave, she reached out and grabbed the back of his traveling cloak. She heard him chuckle as he gently removed her hand and placed it next to her.
"I'll be back in the morning," he whispered. "Sweet dreams."
And with that, he left, Sam falling asleep moments later.
***
When Sam next awoke, daylight was shining through the windows. She sat up and yawned, looking around.
"Good morning," greeted Snape, who was sitting next to her, reading the Daily Prophet.
"Hey."
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Hey, you know that thing you were talkin' 'bout yesterday? Could we try it?"
"Right now?"
"Yeah, why not?"
Snape folded up his paper, turning his chair to face her. "Alright. All you have to do is look me in the eyes and think back to when the headmaster announced Parents' Day."
Sam did so, and soon she felt another presence in her mind, looking through her memories. He looked through Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, stopping and looking in detail through her memory of first kissing Draco. He then looked through Thursday, and slowed down on Friday, soon coming to what could only be explained as a mental wall. He pushed against it, supplying his own memories of going to the room she'd been found in and of the room itself.
Suddenly, the mental wall buckled and broke, flooding Sam's mind with memories, horrible ones of being beaten and yelled at. Snape watched in horror as David choked, slapped, kicked, and threw, Sam around the room, yelling obscenities at her, such as, "You ungrateful bitch! You deserve everything you're getting! You're going to wish you'd never heard of Hogwarts when I'm through with you!"
Snape pulled out of the girl's mind, unable to watch anymore. When he came back to himself, he found Sam rolled up in a little ball, sobbing. He reached out and hugged her, letting her cry on his shoulder. One thought ran through his mind as he held the broken girl in his arms.
"David Biluxy is going to wish he'd never laid a hand on Sam."
Chapter 8-End
There it is! I hoped you enjoyed it! Please review! Thanks, see you next time!
~artyluvr
