Chapter 10

For a long time after Abbigail retreated to her room Severus sat near the fire in the common room staring blankly, either at the flames or his hands in his lap. He had never held hands with anyone, not since he was a child, but it had felt so natural. He could still remember, almost feel, how warm and soft her hand had been in his. Her fingers had fit between his so perfectly, almost as it…

No, he thought to himself, cutting off his train of thought before it could get carried away. It was a pleasant afternoon, albeit a strange one, but nothing more. Anything more would just end with him getting hurt, like always.

What he didn't know was that just down the hall from him, with the bed curtains pulled tightly closed, Abbi was staring at her hand as well.

Abbi was still awake later, just after curfew, reading one of her class books, when a house elf popped up next to her bed. "Miss Potter? Is you awake?" the elf's little voice called.

Curious, she opened the curtains, "yes I'm awake. What do you need?"

"I have a message for you," the elf said, beaming, "from Mr. Snape."

Abbi reached forward and grabbed the elf's hand, pulling him gently up onto her bed. "From Severus?"

The elf nodded excitedly, almost falling over. "He wants to see you, in an hour, at the astronomy tower."

"The astronomy tower, really? I'm not sure I even know how to get there."

The elf smiled and snapped his fingers. A folded parchment appeared in his hand and he handed it to her. "He also said to give you this map of the castle."

Laughing softly she opened the parchment, noticing that he had circled the Slytherin common room in green. Next to the circle were the words 'You are here.' A dark black line traced the way to the tower, which was circled it silver. 'Meet me here' was written there.

She looked back up at the elf, "What's your name?"

"Bonkie ma'am," he said with a small bow.

Abbi pulled the creature into her arms for a hug. "Thanks ever so much."

Severus pulled his cloak closer around himself, cursing himself for choosing the tower for their rendezvous. While they were much less likely to get caught here it was much colder than his other options would have been. It was also just his luck that the wind picked up right after he arrived. He just hoped she would have the sense of mind to wear her cloak.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself that he needed to do this tonight while he was still feeling good from the day. If he didn't he was sure he would lose his nerve. He glanced at his watch; it was still a half hour from when he asked her to be there. He leaned his head back, looking at the stars, wishing time would go faster, when he heard the door to the staircase open.

He looked to his left, fighting the urge to smile, "Abbigail?"

Suddenly he felt himself being thrown through the air, pinned against the cold stone of the tower. Three dark figured approached him from the doorway. The one in front, holding his wand out, pulled his hood back. Sirius Black. Severus didn't need more than a moment to realize who the others could be, but he wasn't sure which of the four boys was missing.

"Curious, why would you think it was my cousin up here Snivillis?" James Potter asked, pulling his own hood back. Peter Pettigrew threw his back as well.

Severus glared at them, trying in vain to move his limbs.

James stepped closer, "I believe I asked you a question."

Severus smirked at him "It really isn't your business."

"I really don't care what is going on in your dark, twisted mind, but you need to stay away from my cousin or I'll make you regret it. Understood?"

"No James, I don't. Explain."

Everyone's gaze shifted to the door. There stood Abbigail, looking angrier than Severus had ever seen her. Also he noticed and couldn't help but be slightly amused, to see she was not wearing her cloak.

"Abbi! What are you doing here?" James sounded surprised, and guilty.

"That doesn't matter," she snapped, "What in the bloody hell is going on?"

"Snape here is going to leave you alone from now now on, that is if he knows what is good for him."

Abbigail walked up to James, stopping a few feet away from him to keep from having to crane her neck to meet his eyes. "Why is that?"

"He is dangerous Abbi."

Abbi looks at Severus, who while not too happy with the situation was biding his time and honestly enjoying the way the Potter boy seemed scared of the much smaller girl. "Are you dangerous Severus?"

He tried to shrug, but couldn't move any of his body besides his face. "If the situation calls for it, perhaps I could be."

"Should I fear for my safely while in your company?"

"No more than a chick should fear a snake I'd say."

Abbigail smiled at him, "that doesn't sound to bad. Honestly James, I'd say you and your little band of thugs here seem much more dangerous. I mean between the three of you it was decided that violence was the best way to approach this situation? Would I be wrong to assume this isn't the first time this has happened?"

James wouldn't meet her eyes anymore instead Sirius responded.

"It is the only way to deal with people like him! You don't understand Abbigail. He is practically a Death Eater in training!"

Abbigail surprised all there by throwing her head back and laughing. "Oh Sirius, that's a good one. Severus is a Death Eater. Yes, and I am rabid hippogriff." The humor left her face and she fixed Sirius with her glare. "The only ones I see acting like Death Eaters here are you lot! Only Death Eaters attack and harass people simply because they are different, or have different views than you do. Now you put him down this instant Sirius Black or I promise I will make you. If you think he knows dark things, I know curses that will haunt your dreams the rest of your life."

Sirius hesitated, as if he didn't believe her but James told him to do as she asked. Severus hit the group so hard he fell forward to his knees. Abbigail grabbed his arm, trying to help him up, but he pushed her away. "I don't need your help Abbigail."

She stepped away and waited for him to stand. Together they moved towards the stairs.

"Abbi wait!" James called, "don't walk away from me mad, please?"

"I am not mad at you James. I am disgusted at your behavior and embarrassed to be related to you right now." Her voice was soft, barely a whisper in the wind.

"C'mon Abbi," James said, trying to sound playful, "you don't mean that."

"Oh but I do James." She turned back towards the stairs before continuing, "You and your friends here, you are no better than the Death Eaters that murdered my parents." Without another word, or glance behind her she entered the doorway, leaving four boys gaping at her back. James collapsed to his knees, looking like he was in shock from her words.

Severus didn't follow her right away, he too was surprised by her words but it explained so much. That's why she transferred so suddenly, he thought, and why Lily thinks she 'needs' a good friend. He remembered the day she slept on his shoulder, was this the cause of her nightmares? After what felt like an eternity, but really was only a few seconds, he followed her. He ran down the stairs, hoping to catch her before she got too far. He wasn't sure what he would do when he found her, but he knew he needed to find her. He needed to know if she was alright.

He caught sight of her just in time to see her fall on the steps with a shriek. He had to stop himself from yelling out her name as he sat next to her on the steps. She had gotten her foot stuck in a vanishing step. When she fell forward she twisted the ankle and scrapped her hands on the stones. She looked up at him through the curls that had fallen over her face, sticking to her skin from her tears.

"As a general rule, Abbigail," He said softly, moving her hair from her face, "you shouldn't run, walking seems to be quite a challenge enough."

She gave him a small smile, "Gee thanks. Can you-" Her words were cut off by another cry of pain as Severus, as gently as possible, pulled her ankle out of the step. "Bloody hell, that hurts."

Severus conjured a wrap around her ankle, to help hold it still. "I don't know how badly it's hurt; we should probably take you to the Hospital Wing.

Abbi groaned, "As if I wasn't there enough. Thanks for following me; it would totally ruin the effect of me lecturing those boys if they found me hurt on the steps crying."

He shrugged, "it's not like I was going to stay up there with them." He helped her stand, pulling her arm over his shoulder and his arm around her waist. She blushed at the contact as they slowly made their way to the Hospital Wing. Fortunately she had fallen down on the same floor as the Hospital Wing and they were soon there. The room was empty, one of the rare occasions no one was being forced to stay overnight. Severus led her to the closest bed to the door.

Before she could ponder how she was going to manage to get into the bed, to one of her height it was much too tall for her to sit on (without climbing that is), Severus picked her up, scooping her into his arms and setting her onto the bed.

"Stay here," he said with a smirk, "I'll go get Madam Pomfrey."

The mediwitch was not please to be woken in the middle of the night, and initially demanded to know what they were doing out of bed.

"Children in bed to not get injured, Mr. Snape," she admonished him. Despite her displeasure she was quick to swoop over to the bed and start to examine Abbi's wounds. A simple wave of her wand healed the cuts on her hands, and after a diagnostic spell on her ankle she turned to Severus.

"Mr. Snape, in the cupboard behind you, get a pain reliving potion and a bone mending elixir."

Severus quickly located the bottles she required and brought them to the bedside. Pomfrey had Abbi drink a generous amount of both. "The ankle joint is broken, but with this it will be good as new by morning. You will be staying here, no objections." She said, sternly, cutting off Abbi's protests. "Mr. Snape you would do well to return to your dormitory."

"Yes Madam," He replied curtly as the mediwitch returned to her bed chambers, leaving the two teens alone.

Severus found himself having a hard time looking her in the face, he felt terribly guilty. If I hadn't asked her to meet me, he thought, she wouldn't have been hurt. Though it was good she knew what sort of person her cousin really was, he was worried it hurt her more than she showed. Of course, he thought, there was always the revelation about her parents. While Severus wasn't particularly fond of his own, he couldn't imagine having lost both of them, or how it would hurt more if they were good parents. He hoped hers were better than his.

"What are you thinking Severus?" Abbigail asked, her wide blue eyes staring into his, bringing his attention back to the present situation.

"I feel I should apologize, tonight was a disaster and it is mostly my doing. Are you alright?" He moved closer to her bedside, feeling very awkward. This being nice thing was not his strong suit and defiantly not something he had much practice in.

She shrugged, "I'll be alright. It doesn't hurt anymore thank Merlin, so that helps." She settled back onto the pillow. "I'd love to know if there is some Dreamless Sleep Draught in that cupboard though."

"There may be, but you do know how dangerous it is to rely to heavily on it don't you?"

"Of course I do, I haven't had a drop in months. I'm just asking for a little and just tonight or I don't dare sleep. Please Severus?" Her voice grew progressively softer s she spoke.

"Why's that? What's scary about sleeping?" He stepped closer to her, not wanting to miss her response.

"Remembering," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks as she reached out and took one of his hands in hers. "I don't want to remember what I will see."

He nodded, "Alright, but only a little and then I'm putting it away." He pulled his hand slowly away from her and moved to the cupboard. He easily located the tall, skinny black bottle of Dreamless Sleep Potion. He grabbed one of the smallest measuring spoons kept in the cupboard for measuring correct doses. He could almost feel Abbigail watching his every move, could almost feel how nervous she was.

Is she really that scared to sleep without this? He thought to himself as he poured the potion and handed her the spoon.

"That will get you through till morning," he spoke softly as she brought the spoon to her lips.

"Wait."

She moved the spoon away from her mouth, but kept it close, "yes?"

"I almost forgot what I wanted to talk to you about and, well, if I didn't ask then the whole night would be a waste."

She looked at him like he had grown another head, "well out with it Severus Snape. What do you want to ask me?"

"Before I ask, I want you to know this was not how I'd planned it. We should be on the tower, underneath the stars and, albeit freezing, alone."

She laughed softly, "We are alone now."

"So we are," he stepped forward, taking her hand in his, "Abbigail, would you do the honor of going to the ball with me?"

Abbigail stared at him, eyes wide, "me?"

"Well there isn't anyone else here, is there?" He replied sarcastically.

She smiled, "no I suppose not."

He shuffled his feet nervously, he had ever asked a girl out before and he was starting to worry she would reject him. "So…"

"Don't look so nervous Severus; I'd love to go with you."

A few minutes later, as he walked through the empty corridors towards the dungeons, Severus couldn't keep the smile off his face.

(A/n) This totally took forever and I apologize. I do have the next like...3 chapters pretty much drafted out, so it really shouldn't be too long before I have them done. :D Also, thanks so much to anyone who added this to their favorites or reviewed. It always makes me smile when I get the email about it.