I do not own Harry Potter or anything you recognize from the Harry Potter World. I do however own Hazel Gray and Persephone and the idea behind this story.


Dorian Gray, the father of Hazel Gray, had just stepped through the fireplace that connected the classroom with their home by the Floo, leaving Hazel slumped in a hard chair exhausted. She was covered from hair to dragonhide boot in dust and paint splatters from her lesson all day, the two having barely stopped long enough to eat a light lunch before starting in once again. In truth, she barely wanted to move in the slightest, but with the gritty feel caking her, she felt the need to at least bathe. Or she could transfigure the chair and desk into a bed and sleep in the room for the night before going and getting cleaned up in the morning.

Sigh a heavy sigh, the young woman stood, stretching and wincing at the cracking sounds of her joints releasing after nearly eighteen hours of almost nonstop use. She was normally in much better shape, but this was the first time that her Papa had put an entire month's worth of lessons in a single day. Thus, she ached, was exhausted, and her stomach chose that moment to send pangs throughout her torso in rebellion of not eating enough when she did eat.

Slinging her satchel across her body, the Ravenclaw exited the room, the wards springing to life as she passed through the wall and resetting to how they were but a mere twenty-hours hours before. All but dragging her feet and making her way to the upper levels of the castle, a note from Professor Flitwick pinned to her robes in case she was caught out after curfew. It had been agreed she could have the note when Dorian had expressed that he did not know when they would finish for the day, thus, she was given permission to roam, at least until she reached the common room, in which case the slip of paper would vanish back to Flitwick's desk.

"Young Lady Gray!" Hazel heard from her left, pausing her step, pasting a somewhat bright smile on her face and turning to regard the male in the portrait that spoke.

"Yes, my lord?' She asked, though she was unable to hide the bone weariness from her voice.

"Word through the paintings is that the young Lord you are frequently seen with is in the Hospital wing after going outside the Castle earlier this night." He replied, his curled mustache twitching as he bowed slightly at the waist to her.

Hazel felt panic grip her heart as she started sprinting, calling a hasty "Grazie!" behind her as she ran.

Her exhaustion was gone in the face of blind panic and adrenaline. She had to check on Severus, as it was a Full Moon tonight, it was one reason her Papa had came in the first place, as what they were going to work on required a full moon's energy.

'Please, please be alright!' She pleaded in her mind, sending prayers and promises of offerings to the gods if only he was not harmed once she arrived. Within minutes she was at the double doors to the infirmary, bracing herself against the wall and trying to catch her breath, as the distance would have taken much longer if she had moved normally.

Gasping another great lungful of air, Hazel slipped inside the infirmary, her eyes blown wide, her hair a tangled, matted mess from dust, paint and sweat from her run, as she stumbled over to Severus' bed, where Madam Pomfrey was tucking him in after having given him a Sleeping Draught. She had enough wits about her to avoid making too much noise, but her eyes never left Severus, not even blinking until she was at his side, still panting from her exertion from the dungeons to the fourth floor.

Madam Pomfrey had just enough time to conjure a seat before Hazel collapsed onto it, her hand gripping his on his uninjured side as she started blinking back tears.

"Will he-" Hazel took another shaky breath before starting again. "Will he be alright?" Her voice quivered as her small hand tightened on his much larger one, smearing dust and paint chips, but she had to keep some hold, needing to feel his heartbeat and know he lived after the fear that still kept its claws in her from being informed by a portrait that her dearest friend was harmed.

"He will be fine, deary. Now why don't you head on up to your common room, get cleaned up, a good night's rest and come back in the morning, hm?" The matron suggested, seeing the state the poor girl was in and knowing it was well after curfew and visiting hours. That slip of paper didn't hold much sway with her, after all.

"Please, I..." Hazel took a few short breaths, still trying to regain a normal breathing pattern. "I need to be sure he'll be alright. I would only make myself sick if I were to leave." Turning her violet ringed amber eyes to the motherly matron, Hazel already had it in her mind she was not moving, even if the Headmaster himself demanded it of her.

"Its past visiting hours, Miss Gray," Pomfrey reminded the girl, though she was already caving to the poor dear. This was the first she had seen of another student caring if Severus Snape was alright, and she just didn't have it in her heart to turn her away after the state the boy was brought in. "But so long as you promise to go and clean up as soon as he wakes up, I shall permit it, for tonight."

"Grazie, Madam Pomfrey, grazie!" Giving a sigh of relief, Hazel turned her complete attention to Severus, her fingers tightening a touch before relaxing as she settled herself on the edge of the chair, intending to keep vigil regardless of how tired she was only moments before.

.:':. ':.:' .:':.

The next morning had the Marauders coming into the Hospital wing after Remus Lupin was recovered from the Shrieking Shack, although the Ravenclaw and Slytherin were unaware of this, both asleep as the other three boys moved to check in on their friend.

It wasn't until James and Sirius made their way toward Severus' bedside that anything changed.

Hazel, having slipped form the chair and curled up on the floor against the bed, her hand still in Severus', was jerked awake from the sound of voices. Thinking it was Severus, she sat up, still hidden by the sheet Madam Pomfrey had placed over her that matched the ones on the bed. It was not her friend, but rather the two Gryffindors.

Gripping her wand, she started to doze back off when she heard words that sent her blood boiling with her Greek and Italian temper.

"What were you thinking, Padfoot, sending Snivellus out there on a full moon?!" It was hissed, but enough to make the female go on the alert.

"It served him right, Prongs, after what he said to Lily!" Sirius hissed back, and with that, Hazel saw red.

Jumping up from her position on the floor, she ignored the pins and needles sensation from feeling rushing back into sleeping limbs as she leveled her maple and unicorn hair wand on the two boys, the amber leaking into the violet and the violet taking over the white of her eyes.

"You two boys are the lowest of the low!" She growled, her hair, still a horrid mess from the night before, started rising from the expansion of her magic, which no longer seemed content to be contained in her body.

To the two Gryffindors, she appeared straight out of a war zone, or a nightmare, which was would be staring in long after this confrontation with how terrified they currently were.

Her hand still held onto Severus', though she did bind the boys in chains, sending spells, curses and hexes out in rapid, hissed Ancient Greek, Olde Italian and Latin in her anger. By the time Madam Pomfrey reached the bed, both were sporting green and purple scales, had horns growing from behind their ears that curled like those of a ram in canary yellow, and with fuzzy kitten tails in bright fuchsia.

Panting from the drain on her already low Magical reserves, she started swaying as Pomfrey started scolding her when she felt a hand tightening around her own. Stiffening, she glanced down at the boy in the bed, his brow furrowed and a frighten air about how he held himself.

This lasted only moments as within two heartbeats Hazel was throwing herself into his good side, babbling in Ancient Greek as she clutched at him, relief flooding her system as she now knew for certain he was alright.

Bewildered, Severus looked to Madam Pomfrey, who looked as baffled as he did, before slowly placing his other arm around her trembling shoulders as the Matron sent the two boys off to the opposite end of the wing once she removed the chains to start tending to them once she was certain Snape's arm was healed correctly.

"Miss Gray, you will have to move so I can run a few tests," Madam Pomfrey stated, placing a gentle hand on the girl's back before patting her. Watching Hazel warily as she straightened, her face bright red in spite of her olive complexion and the gray cast to her from the dust, she dutifully remained still as the matron ran the tests.

The second Pomfrey said Severus was all healed, but would require another day or two in the hospital to strengthen his muscles, Hazel sat on the side of his bed, gripping his one hand with both of her own.

"I was so worried! Papa kept me well past curfew last night, and a portrait said you were taken to the hospital wing. I did not know what to think." Her voice was low now, a husky timber to it as she fought back the tears glistening on her thick lashes.

Severus, for his part, didn't know what to think either. No one, not even Lily, had cared this much about him to attack those she perceived as a threat to him just like that.

"I am fine, Hazel," he tried to sooth, his arm still sore despite being healed as he reached up to brush at her eyes, his fingers coming back damp and a bit of a plaster texture from the dust still coating her. "Although, from the looks of things, it appears as though you are in dire need of a bath." Scrunching up his large nose, despite the lack of any real smell, earned a tiny watery laugh from the girl seated on his bed.

"I had... I had to be certain you were alright. It was a full moon last night, Severus!" Her quiet wail drew the attention of the Headmaster as well as Professor McGonagall.

Scowling, the Headmaster made his way over to Severus' bedside, taking a seat on the bed next to his before leaning forward, pushing his half moon spectacles up his crooked nose as Professor McGonagall took a seat in a nearby chair.

"Mr. Snape, Miss Gray," Dumbledore started, frowning at the two of them sternly. Hazel stiffened even as she turned into the Pureblood Princess she was raised and regarding the Headmaster coolly.

"Headmaster," both teens greeted, Severus barely inclining his head form his prone position where as Hazel bowed a bit stiffly with her inclined head.

"It has come to my attention that something most tragic happened last night." He started, the usual twinkle in his sky blue eyes was missing as he regarded the two students, Professor McGonagall sitting primly in her green tartan robes. "Mr. Snape, it seems that you were caught leaving the castle last night after nightfall, and wandered outside of the grounds." He started, though he wasn't aware of Hazel gripping his hand in support, or Severus' own tight grip on the girl's smaller hand that was swallowed by his own.

"It was not yet after curfew when I left the castle, Headmaster. I was not even aware that I left school grounds. I did not feel the tingle of the wards." He stated simply, furrowing his brow. He honestly hadn't known he had left the grounds. Even going to Hogsmeade gave him a tingle through the wards, but he had not felt that last night.

"Yes, well, the fact remains that you did indeed leave school grounds without permission from either your Head of House or myself." Dumbledore replied back calmly, leaning back a bit and starting to stroke his graying beard. "Miss Gray," he turned his attention to the so far silent girl, an eyebrow raising at the state of her person in public. "If you would be do kind, there are a few things I would like to discuss with Mr. Snape. Why don't you go and get cleaned up, and then come to my office later?"

"Whatever you have to say to Severus, you can say in front of me regarding last night. I know that there is a werewolf in this school, I have for close to three years now." Her voice took on a haughty note, although her hand was trembling in her friend's grip as she tried to remain unflappable in front of the Headmaster and Deputy-Headmistress.

Albus Dumbledore scowled openly at the girl now, his hands shifting into fists inside the folds of his lavender robes.

"I will required a Vow that neither of you shall speak of this with anyone not already familiar with this knowledge."He stated, causing even Professor McGonagall to stiffen in her seat and turn to the man, shock clearly evident on her pinched face.

"I have known about Mr. Lupin since winter break of my third year. I have said nothing about you harboring a werewolf in a school, less lone rooming him with students not suffering the same infliction. Every single being of Magical birth should be given the chance to learnt o control their Magic." Hazel sat up straighter, gaining a much more regal regard despite her appearance on the contrary.

"If I intended to oust Mr. Lupin, I would have done so before now, rather than take notes in the classes we share that he does not attend and sending them via owl the next day after the moon. His idiotic friends, however, should be punished for what they did last night." Her voice turned cold as she turned her gaze toward where Madam Pomfrey was still attempting to undo her spell work.

"Mr. Black shall receive punishment suited toward the offence." Dumbledore replied, his voice sounding like ice toward the two students, even as McGonagall shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Hazel raised a thin eyebrow, making Severus uncomfortable with her Pureblood actions, despite knowing this was saving him so long as he stayed silent.

"So he shall be expelled for putting the life of another student at risk? Even if Mr. Lupin did not kill Severus, he would have been maimed, or turned into a werewolf himself. To my knowledge, turning another human is subject to Azkaban, and were word to get out that the Headmaster himself is allowing students near something so dangerous during the Full Moon, then that would be a one way ticket to Prison as well, Headmaster Dumbledore. Now, I shall be the first to agree that Mr. Lupin is a mostly docile being every day and night that is not a Full Moon, but he should be placed where no one else can reach him during the time he is under its affects." Hazel was not backing down, even as the Headmaster started turning a bit red in the face form her nerve of questioning him thus.

"You are out of line, Miss Gray," McGonagall warned, finally having gather her backbone it seemed to the two teenagers.

"Actually, Professor McGonagall, I am exactly in line. Mio Papa had me memorize the Rules of Hogwarts and the Laws governing our people before I was allowed to attend this school. When I showed Magical promise, he started my lessons, and I have kept up to date on them ever since I was young. It is also clearly stated that any figure of authority found to be forcing a minor in the Ministry's laws into a Vow of any binding means is in direct violation of several Acts and is terms of a trail against the Wizengamot." She was shaking in fear, but she was not going to allow Severus to be forced into a Vow against his will.

"You will do well to remember who is in charge of this School, Miss Gray. Threats will not be taken lightly." Dumbledore warned, his eyes narrowed at the younger girl as she raised one thin shoulder in a half shrug.

"If that is how you wish to see things." With great reluctance, she removed her hand from Severus' and pulled up her sleeve, removing her wand sheath and revealing runes tattooed onto her forearm. "Kaló na melanioú schimatízoun ton patéra mou." I call to ink form my father.

The runes rose form her smooth skin, floating in the air until they took on a photograph quality to Dorian's face as he regarded them all, despite only seeing things in shapes within three meters, a curtain being conjured up over the painting nearby to avoid risking his Curse.

"Papa, Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to bind Severus and myself in a Vow because of a Gryffindor's actions last night during the Full Moon." Her voice was steady even as she smiled at the ink version of her father.

The smile that had been on his aristocratic face quickly fell into a fierce scowl at he turned to the Headmaster and Deputy-Headmistress. Straightening, much like hi daughter had only moments before, he turned his nose up and glared down at the two Gryffindor Alumni.

"It is against every known Law to Magic kind to bind a Minor without express permission from their Guardians for anything less than a life threatening reason for the minor themselves." He drawled, a similar accent to his voice that Hazel had when she went full Pureblood. "Should you force this issue, I shall take it before the Minister of Magic himself and see you removed from your positions, is that clear? You in no way have any right to bind my heir in any Vow. Think if word got out, Albus." Dorian's low voice was a deadly purr as she crossed his arms.

The Near Immortal may not have been physically able to go to his daughter's defense, but he was able to direct Hazel's wand in this form, due to the Darker nature in which this particular spell was cast with Blood.

"This shall go for her friend as well, seeing as you had no intention of informing his Guardian of this either." With that, he turned to regard the two teens, his eyes softening as he looked over them. "You look a fright, piccola, you should have gotten cleaned up by now, though I can understand the delay." He then turned to Severus, who was still lying there in the bed completely dumbstruck that anyone would stand up for him in such a way, against the Headmaster no less!

"You, young man, shall be speaking with me before long. As soon as you are healed, I intend to receive an owl with a time to meet you in with the Tricksters." With that, he bowed lightly at the waist before turning to scowl at the Dumbledore and McGonagall before the ink started dispersing, returning to Hazel's still bared arm in the Runes of the Greek she invoked to bring her father forth.

"We will not be revealing Mr. Lupin's condition, Headmaster, without the need of a Vow. You're dirty little secret of favoring Gryffindors over every other house shall be once again swept under the rug so long as the Gryffindor Black is punished suitably for the crime committed." Hazel spoke softly, retaking her previous position on Severus' bedside, her hand seeking his without even looking.

She was wearing down, but she refused to bow to the Headmaster on this.

Dumbledore, for his part, only huffed angrily before rising from the bed he was seated upon and walking out of the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall following in a swirl of her tartan robes.

Once they were both gone, and Madam Pomfrey returned to fuss over Severus and then moving to tend to Lupin, Hazel finally sank down into herself and let out a deep breath she had been holding.

"Are you alright?" She asked,, searching Severus' face intently to assure herself he was indeed fine.

"I... Yes, I'm alright. Thank you, for what you did. I didn't know it was against the Law to force a minor into a Vow." Severus admitted, gripping her hand tighter and giving her a genuine smile. "Also, be sure and thank your father for me, though I will be sure to do so when I meet him. He didn't have to stand up for me, yet he did." There was actual relief on the Slytherin's face as he looked up at Hazel.

"Though he was right. You look a fright. I'll be fine, I'll just take a nap until you return from doing whatever girls do to get ready for a day." He waved her off weakly using the hand on his sore side, fighting back the wince from the stinging pain still present. He was still tired, and seeing as his two main tormentors were stuck in a bed until Madam Pomfrey could undo whatever Hazel did to them, he felt relaxed enough to try sleeping a little more that wasn't potion induced.

"I must look awful, but I just can't bring myself to really care considering you might have died last night, Severus." Hazel sighed, moving one hand to push back her hair and wincing at the rather large tangled knot she managed to find first try. "I'll be back by lunch, and I'll bring you a plate up to eat as well." She started to rise before pausing, looking around to make certain no one was watching before turning his hand palm up.

Pulling her wand from the sheath, she whispered an incantation and made a tiny cut on her thumb. Pressing the drop of blood into his pale palm, she whispered something again before the three drops took form into a tiny Rune.

"Press this and think my name if you need any help. It'll only last for a few hours, nothing like what Papa did for me, but it'll work for now. I don't want you left here alone with them." She sneered the word as though it was a curse, turning her nose up a bit. At least before realizing what she was doing and giving Severus a tiny shy smile.

"Thank you, but I will be fine. Go get cleaned up before the rumor mill takes your appearance and runs with it. Whatever will the Pureblood elite think of you then?" He joked, missing the sad smile darkening her eyes.

Hazel only shook her head and turned to go. "I'll see you by lunch." She said, before leaving the Hospital wing for her room.

.:':. ':.:' .:':.

Hazel kept her word, cleaning up quickly and putting her thick hair back in an elegant braid before pulling on plain navy robes before making her way to the kitchens for lunch. She didn't want to deal with the student population or the Professors just yet, so she sweet talked the House Elves for lunch to be taken to the Hospital wing for herself and Severus. She requested Italian comfort food, knowing she at least needed it and wanting to share with Severus part of her life, seeing as she must have terrified him earlier.

She hadn't mean to lose her temper like that, but Snape was her friend, and her very nature didn't allow anything less than defending those she care for. So, it was with comfort food she intended to mend what could possibly be a break.

Slipping back inside unnoticed, Madam Pomfrey was still working away at the two Marauders, Hazel moved to Severus' bedside and cast a few comfort charms on the chair before taking a seat, smiling as she saw the different dishes.

"You're back," Severus was groggily wiping at his eyes as he sat up, the smell of good food helping wake him up even more. "What did you bring?" He asked, seemingly confused as to what the food was.

"Spaghetti con Aglio Olio e, spaghetti with garlic and oil," she quickly translated, forgetting not everyone spoke more than English and Latin, she only did because of her mixed heritage of English, Greek and Italian. "I also asked the House Elves to make us No Knead Bread and Cinnamon Toast. I asked for comfort food mio Papa always used to have for me when I was feeling down when younger." There was a shy quality to Hazel as she shared something personal with Severus, who just grinned a little grin and settled himself up against the mountain of pillows behind him on the bed.

"It looks and smells good," he commented, looking at the small spread and feeling warmth spread through him at what the Ravenclaw was doing for him. No one other than his mother ever thought to bring him comfort food, and since his father spent most of the money, there wasn't much extra once he started growing and requiring more food. "Thank you, Hazel."

The girl just grinned and started dishing out the food, pouring them both some pumpkin juice as what she normally drank wasn't allowed at Hogwarts due to the English Ministry's view on legal age.

"They had American looking food for the Great Hall, fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It look very unhealthy." She offered with a tiny shrug, conjuring a tray for the both of them and settling in to eat.

Severus curled his lip at what the Elves were making for everyone else. American food was just wrong. Give him a good shepherd's pie any day over that rubbish.

"Thank you for this, then. Granted I have not had Italian food before, but it must be better than American rubbish." He nodded, lifting his fork and taking a small bite of the spaghetti, chewing it carefully as the flavour exploded over his tongue.

His eyes widening, he turned to regard Hazel, who had curled her legs up in the wooden chair and was happily twirling the noodles around the tines of her fork before placing it in her mouth and chewing with a look of pure delight on her face. Swallowing his words, he returned to eating his portion, mopping up the sauce with the bread and nibbling on a chunk once the spaghetti was gone, sipping his pumpkin juice as Hazel in turn started dishing up the cinnamon toast.

It didn't appear to be much, but the second he took a bite, he melted back into the pillows, a low moan escaping him before turning bright red, a red cast to Hazel's cheeks as well when he looked over at her. However, she just took another bite of the toast, averting her gaze as she ate, still sitting curled up in the chair as they finished eating.

Once they were both done, and the pitcher of pumpkin juice finished off, she softly called for one of the Elves she had spoken with who quickly came and went with their dirty lunch things.

"Thank you again, Hazel. It was very kind of you to think of bringing me comfort food." Severus finally spoke at length, fiddling with the sheet on his lap.

"After your night, and this morning, it was the least I could do." Hazel's simple reply made the young man smile, tilting his head forward to have his lank hair cover his sallow face and hopefully the budding blush there.

Before either could say anything else, Hermes made his way into the infirmary and landed on the foot of Severus' bed, a long thin package clutched in his talons.

"Hello there," Hazel cooed, turning her wrist for the Little Owl to hop onto the offered arm as she shifted the bird closer to his owner, a gentle smile curving her lips.

"Hermes, how are you?" Severus grinned a full grin, his embarrassment forgotten in the face of his first familiar. Stroking the owl's head feathers, he used one hand to untie the package as Hazel held him steady, grateful for the assistance but a touch to proud to say so just yet.

Waving his wand over it, it checked it for hexes or curses before untying the twine holding the box together, Hazel having pulling Hermes back some and stroking his breast feathers and cooing to him while Severs investigated the contents of the box.

His eyes widened a touch comically as he took in the lambskin wand sheath in the exact same shade as his forearm, with high quality straps of the same shade as well.

Moving it to his wand arm, like he had seen countless others with sheaths similar, he looked at the straps to try finding a way to tighten them before they resized and blended into his arm seamlessly. If not for the tiny sliver of shadow, he wouldn't have even known it was there himself. He couldn't even feel the leather against his own skin!

"That is a good quality sheath, I have one just like it. If you flick your wrist, your wand will be pulled into your hand, flick the other way and it'll return to the sheath." Hazel explained, placing Hermes on the end of the bed and demonstrating how it was done, a nervous smile gracing her face as she dug out a nut for the owl to eat from her robes once she was finished, anything to hide the faint blush on her still somewhat freshly scrubbed face.

"At least I'll never have to go searching through a pocket for my wand again." Severus mentioned, settling back into the pillows drowsily. His hunger sated, and the content feeling that someone thought enough to spend the fifteen Galleons for the specialty sheath, rather than the standard waist, thigh, or even pocket sheath many carried.

Turning his arm about as Hermes moved back onto Hazel's arm, cooing and nuzzling against her hand as she stroked him, Severus admired the solid sheath. It covered the entirety of his inner forearm from wrist to just below the bend of his elbow, the smooth lambskin nearly the same texture of his own skin as he touched it with a pale fingertip.

His wand, when he slipped it inside, seemed to skin inward, leaving no indication that it was even there at all. In fact, had he himself not placed it there, he wouldn't have even know there was a wand, or holster there at all. It was a brilliant bit of work, and normally only the oldest Pureblood families even bothered with one.

It was because of this, that a wide smile broke across his thin face as he turned to regard Hazel, who was pleasantly distracted by the Little Owl with his soft hoots and nuzzling attention seeking head.


A.N.: Hello once again, everyone! Thank you all so much for reading, and especially for Following and for adding this story to your Favorites for those that enjoy it enough to do so! Also, thank you, thank you, thank you to those that take the time to Review! They make my day when I see those come in through my email! I still have no beta, so any and all mistakes are my own. As I only had two votes from the poll, only important classroom scenes will be written, thank you for the two that gave me your view!

This chapter is a lot longer than my usual, and if things seem a bit choppy I am sorry, but I wanted to try putting this in Hazel's perspective, and the next thing I know the chapter is 4,000 words and I still don't have the parts I wanted to place in here... (The Narrative came into play for this) I may come back in later and redo this chapter if it doesn't flow correctly, so please let me know what you all think! Next few chapters will be back to my normal word count, however, as this chapter took 4 days to write and I felt I needed to stop before it became a monster.

I will not change perspective from Severus very often, as I want to write this story from the Book Character's POV, rather than the OC's.I do not own the rights to Dorian Gray, I'm just pulling a small aspect from the version of him from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for the cursed portrait, and altering to fit into the Harry Potter World. His visual image and the portrait ideas are borrowed, his personality is my own creation.

Thank you all once again, and see you all again next Sunday!

(Chapter Pre-Note: 5,291)