FAGEtastic Four

Title: October

Written For: Aurelle Angelus

Written By: BeMyHeroSeverrus

Rating: T

Summery/Prompt Used: A forest to end it all will also begin it all for Zinnia. The Dark Stranger has come and took the breath out of Zinnia. He has his secrets and she has hers. will their secrets bring them together or tear them apart.

Chapter Nine: The Forest Of Death

Zinnia stared at the man before her. Taking a deep calming breath she quietly asked, "you're one of them aren't you? A Death Eater?" His sleeve had ripped and she could see a bit of black ink on his left forearm.

"How do you know about them?" He asked just as quietly.

"First tell me who you are?"

"My name is Severus Snape; former Death Eater."

"I didn't know you could reform. So Tobias Prince?"

"My middle name and my mothers maiden name."

"Why did you lie?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, "most people are either frightened by magic or wish to use it to their adv..."

"I told you before I believed in magic." Zinnia interrupted.

"Its more complicated then that..."

"The war?"

"How do you know all these things?" Severus asked suspiciously.

"I know more then you think, Severus." She tried out his real name and found she actually liked it. Whoever he was in the past didn't matter, because who is was now mattered. "When my father was a child he made a friend. When they were 11 his friend left to a far away school, Hogwarts. He was a wizard. But my father didn't care. They were best friends and would remain as such. As the first Wizard War broke out he warned my dad of the dangers. But it didn't matter; they died anyway. He kept in touch with me though, and told me about the second war as well."

Severus sat silently, trying to absorb everything Zinnia had told him. She knew about magic, Death Eaters, Hogwarts, and the war. She didn't really seem to care. She wasn't screaming or frightened. Yet there was still more. "Why don't you tell me about the night your parents died?"

"I was 13," Zinnia spoke quietly. "I wasn't exactly the ideal child. I wanted to fit in and would do whatever is takes. I was angry and mostly I felt so guilty that I took it out on my parents. They took me on a camping trip, hoping that the solitude would...straighten me out. Well in a way it did, but it came with a price; their deaths..."

"Dad," Zinnia whined, "this is stupid! I don't want to go." She sat in the back seat of her car with a frown firmly in place. Her bangs covered one eye while the other was decorated in thick black eyeliner.

"Zinnia," a weary black haired blue eyed man sighed from the driver seat. "We've been though this. We are going camping end of story."

"But I want my friends."

"Those aren't your friends, Zinnia. They are bad news." A curly brown haired woman spoke from the passenger seat.

Zinnia sat back, arms crossed, eye narrowed and frown still firmly placed. Hours later she sat in the same fashion, though no longer in a car but upon a lawn chair. A fire burned before her and a tent behind.

She was stuck here a whole week. No shower, toliet, tv, music and most importantly her friends. Three days passed in silence and Zinnia realized it was Halloween. She should be out with her friends, partying.

"Zinnia if you sit there grumpy you won't enjoy anything." Her mother spoke.

"I don't care."

"Why don't you go swimming or collect firewood."

"Yeah because that sounds bloody fantastic."

"Well do something."

Zinnia stood up and glared at her parents. "Fine how about I tell you what horrible parents you are for taking me away from everything. You think this is helping me. It's only gonna make me hate you more. Why am I so messed up? Maybe it has nothing to do with my friends and everything to do with your bad parenting!"

She stormed off catching similar pained expression on both their faces. It gave her a deep sense of satisfaction knowing she hurt them. It gave her the feeling that she was still alive inside. Satisfaction and guilt, she spent a lot of her days only feeling those emotions.

Honesty she didn't know what happened. She was a good kid; loved her parents and her."Uncle", her fathers' best friend who happened to be a wizard. But as she moved on to secondary school she found that people weren't as nice. They were determined to be more grown up, more bullies ran around, teachers didn't care, and rumors were believed. Zinnia found that being yourself just didn't cut it; she had to be someone else. So she changed and joined the first people who would except her.

Zinnia leaned against a tree, night had fallen and it was starting to get cold. She would go and sulk in her tent. She wasn't stupid and made sure she didn't go to far into the forest; in no time she saw her clearing come into view.

A flash of green and her fathers yell caused her to duck behind a bush. " Selene duck!"

Two people stood in the clearing with her parents. They wore black robes and masks. What Zinnia found most uncomfortable were the wands they held in their hand. They were no doubt the bad wizards that her father warned her about; Death Eaters.

"Well well lookie her', a couple of muggles." One, a mans voice sneered.

"Ohh, let's have sum fun!" Another, a woman sneered as well.

Lights flashed and her parents manage to dodge them. But their luck quickly ran out and with a double cry of, "Crucio", her parents were on the forest floor screaming in pain, yet nothing physical was hurting them.

Zinnia watched in horror as the two Death Eaters made small cuts across their bodies, a steady flow of blood was making it's way around them. They continued to scream in pain; yet never did they beg. Zinnia knew it was over, they were dead, but she felt a deep sense of pride at their bravery.

The Death Eaters stood together and cried, "Avada Kedavra." In a flash of green her parents were eerily silent.

They walked off in wheezy laughter together. A few minutes of shocked silence and Zinnia ran to her parents side. She knew before she reached them that they were dead; but she just had to make sure. Her tears ran down freely and her voice was choked as she tried to call to them.

"D-da-ad? M-mo-om?"

A heart dropping sensation came over her. It was cold and the world seem to shut itself off. Zinnia didn't see anything but a horrible feeling came over her. Something was here and she couldn't see it.

Before she knew what was happening terrible images and voices filled her head. Something was close and it was making her feel as if she was never going to be happy again. "St-stop it!" Nothing answered and she still felt despair. Her parents screams echoed loudly in her head and she knew whatever was there was inches away from her.

As her vision blurred a tiny voice echoed, "Expecto Patronum."

A silver light surrounded the clearing. It leaped in a circle and chased some unseen creature away. As it bounded back, Zinnia clearly saw a silver doe. It bowed at her and walked back into the forest. She saw black hair and robes before she passed out.

When she awoke she found herself in the hospital. A few days of observation and she was free to go. Her father's friend, King, as she liked to call him, was name her guardian. She made sure to completely change herself; be someone better. Her parents died trying to keep her from falling in to a bad crowd, she was not about to defile their memory. Though the guilt never left her. It was always there beneath the surface.

"It was my fault, they were there because of me. I am the cause of their early demise. I tried to hate those Death Eaters but I couldn't. I hate myself more then anything. I try to be a great person because that's what they wanted for me. Yet always around this time I get depressed, the guilt is stronger and memories clearer."

Severus stared silently at her. Her clothes were muddy, twigs were tangled in here hair and various scratches covered her face and arms. Yet while her voice was heartbreakingly sad and eyes watery she didn't let her tears fall; he had to give her credit for her bravery.

He gently pulled his wand out and showed Zinnia. "Do you mind?" He asked softly.

She jerked her head.

In a wave he had a blanket over her, some mud off her clothes, twigs out of her hair, and a cup of tea.

She took a sip, "thank you Severus."

"Zinnia, I was the one who conjured the silver doe."

Zinnia choked on her tea and coughed slightly, "what?"

"I was in the forest on Halloween night. Near the forest a town stood by the name of Godric's Hallow. The Dark Lord met his end that night and he...killed the woman I loved. I was there to see for myself. As I was leaving I saw a dementor. They are terrible creatures who suck happiness and leaves a person with their worst memories. The dementor headed straight for you, it passed right over me. I must confess I didn't mean to take so long, but I wasn't particularly happy at the moment. It almost gave you the kiss before I manage to chase it away."

"I always thought you felt familiar, thank you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your parents."

Zinnia shook her head. She made it out and was thankful. It felt good to know the truth. Still though more needed to be said. "Why did you leave me Severus?"

"That is easier to explain. Those mysterious killings were the work of wizards. I knew it at once. I left because they were getting close to here. I couldn't have them recognize me. I proceeded to track them with every intent to eliminate the threat. It became apparent very quickly that they were complete idiots and were Death Eaters who no doubt escaped imprisonment from Azkaban."

"Why did the Carrows come after you?"

"It would seem that after they escaped from Hogwarts, they went about looking for followers but found none. As they heard about my true intentions in the war they decided to mutilate my corpse as a sign of loyalty. Needless to say since I wasn't really dead there was no body to destroy. How they worked out the pieces or found me I don't know. But I tracked them and they evaded me. They came back here hoping to lure me out by putting you in danger."

"M-me? Why?"

"They discovered my feelings for you."

"And what are your feelings?" She asked quietly, fearing the answer.

"I found myself falling for you, Zinnia, and leaving was hard, but I had to do it. I'm sorry I hurt you, it wasn't my intention. I understand if you don't want me..."

"I forgive you. I was hurt but I missed you more then anything. It's easier to know that you left to protect me not because you didn't love me."

"I...I don't know what you say. How can you be so..."

"I'm just trying to be the best person I can be."

"I don't deserve you. But I spent a lot of time being denied things I wanted, and forgive me but I don't see myself ever leaving, even if you didn't want me."

He gently grabbed her cheek and pulled her lips towards his own, kissing her lightly. "Well I do want you."

"Good."

A green light and whooshing sound caused them to break apart. Zinnia's fire place had bright green flames and a wizard was stepping forth. A tall dark bald, broad shoulder man stepped forth, "Zinnia?" His voice was deep and had a hint of panic behind it.

"King!" She leaped up and threw herself into the wizards arms. He hugged her tight and buried his face in her hair.

"You're okay?"

"Yes."

He let go and held her at arms length, observing her, it was then he noticed the man behind her.

He pulled Zinnia to his side, "Snape?"

Severus stood up, his face and voice calm, "Shacklebot."

Zinnia looked questioningly at both of them, "you two know eachother?"