Please accept my apologies for the delay... I have a lot on my plate, sorry.

Now, the Drama is certainly not over... and instead we'll see an ever increasing compound of damage upon damage as everything goes to hell in a handbasket...

WARNINGS - Non-consensual sex! Rape! Violence! Language! Detailed events. Please read only if you are tough and can hack it! Again, only over 18's please...

Otherwise, enjoy...

Chapter 11 – More Than Enough Damage

Dumbledore strode purposefully into the Infirmary, eyes seeking out the partitioned bed in which he had last left his injured Potions Master exceptionally early that morning. What he found made him feel both apprehensive and irritated.

"Dolores," Poppy was chastising impatiently, "really, Madam, Severus needs to rest!"

The sickly sweet voice that followed made Albus want to block his ears with his fingers; unfortunately though he could not indulge his juvenile desire just now. He should have realised as soon as he noticed the Ministry witch missing from breakfast that she would be here harassing the injured man.

"Poppy," Madam Umbridge began pompously, "I only wished to discover the truth behind what Professor Snape was doing to get himself so damaged." The innocently raised eyebrows fooled no-one in the room that it was an innocuous inquiry.

Severus' voice, lacking its usual strength and thereby telling of the man's still poorly condition, spoke up. "Madam, I've already explained that I was sourcing ingredients for the NEWT level Potions class."

"Yes, but why so late?" Dolores questioned, her voice rising in pitch as if she didn't fully believe the man.

"I am ordinarily too busy during the day," Severus spat out, his patience already wearing thin if his tone was anything to go by.

"Your classes end in plenty of time to whip over to visit the apothecary… or send in an owl order," Umbridge argued.

Severus sighed audibly. "The nature of the ingredients required makes it quite impossible…" he began before Dumbledore finally reached the end of his bed, his gaze taking in the pestering woman practically leaning intimidatingly over Severus who was sitting awkwardly, looking uncomfortable and perhaps even slightly distressed against his pillows.

"Dolores?" Albus intoned a little tightly, interrupting his Potions Master. Severus, Albus noticed, immediately clamped his mouth shut, apparently more than happy to let the Headmaster handle the exasperating woman from here on out. "I really think we ought to let Severus rest as Madam Pomfrey has suggested; he's been through quite an ordeal last night."

Albus glanced over at the Matron who looked quite relieved to see him arrive too. He offered her a nod of regard.

"Come, Madam, I shall be happy to explain what I informed the other teachers at the start of breakfast," Albus continued, holding his arm out to gesture the High Inquisitor away from the injured man's bed.

Professor Umbridge, however, refused to be led away. "But I'd like to hear from Professor Snape what happened," she persisted, defiantly flashing her eyes at the older wizard as if the secret being kept from her might suddenly materialize if she did.

Severus closed his eyes, weariness and discomfort obvious in the slump of his shoulders and the slow, slightly laboured breaths.

The Headmaster was quickly losing his patience with the meddling Ministerial witch and decided to be more forceful. "Professor Snape left the castle last evening with my full permission, knowledge of what he was doing and where he was going. It was simply an unfortunate coincidence that his attackers were seeking a target just as he arrived at his destination." Albus' features took on a firm look as he pinned the pink toad with his blue eyes.

She still did not look convinced, however, and raked a suspicious gaze back over the dark man in the bed.

"I assure you, Dolores, there is nothing remarkable nor significant to warrant the involvement of the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, nor the Hogwarts' High Inquisitor, as the proper authorities from the Ministry have already been alerted of the incident. I thank you Madam for your concern, but it is not necessary and I insist that you leave my unwell member of staff to rest and recuperate without further anguish!"

Albus' tone was quite adamant and after a short moment of wavering the squat woman finally nodded her acquiesce and turned fully toward the Headmaster.

"Never mind" she offered a little smugly instead, "I think I've heard enough. Though you can be assured I shall be looking into such practices, Albus: Sending a young, perhaps unapprised employee into a risky, potentially treacherous environment - for what seemingly appears to be dubious ingredients no less - is something that the Ministry will likely not take kindly to, especially given the outcome," she said, indicating with a nod toward the bed ridden wizard. "I shall keep you abreast of my investigations and the views of my associates at the Ministry."

Despite the woman's submission being audaciously disguised as concern for a fellow colleague, Albus did not fail to interpret the threat and the blunt intent behind it – Dolores Umbridge would like nothing better than to unseat him from his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts so that she might gain more authority and influence in the workings of the school. Her own personal agenda was highly discernible and barely veiled behind her Ministry duty of High Inquisitor.

Albus nodded at the self-satisfied woman to both acknowledge her assumption and petty warning and also to bid her good day as she swept past him. He continued to watch her until she had flounced all the way to the end of the hallway. Only then did he sigh quietly with frustrated disquiet; the woman's interference was certainly a complication he could do without.

When he turned back to the bed he witnessed Poppy fluffing the injured man's pillows to try to make him more comfortable and offering him a phial of potion.

"Here, Severus, this should take the edge of it," she said encouragingly.

Upon closer inspection Albus could see that the young man was perspiring a little and shaking visibly. The man took the phial of Pain Reliever appreciatively, attesting to the level of distress he must have been in to accept the promise of relief so readily.

"That foolish woman came in whist I was busy making floo orders to St Mungo's, Albus; she woke Severus up in order to badger him! I cannot believe the nerve of her," she said, incensed at the High Inquisitors' gall to mess with one of her patients and their care. She relieved the Potions Master of the empty phial and helped ease him back into the pillows.

"I'm sorry, Poppy; I shall endeavor to keep her away from the Infirmary in the future," the old wizard promised.

The Matron glared at him for a moment as if the whole debacle was his fault, which if he thought about was really probably partially true. Oh yes, Severus was certainly responsible for his own mistakes and Albus would not assert that he was liable for the worst of those in their entirety, but he believed that perhaps Severus would never have found himself so vulnerable to such a blunder in the first place if Albus had been more attentive of his spy's need for support and counsel. The lad was still young and therefore Albus should have assumed more responsibility for his wellbeing under such stressful circumstances; the boy was strong, but certainly not infallible.

As it was, many lessons had now been learned by the both of them, but had they been learned in time or had more than enough damage already been done? Unfortunately it was looking alarmingly like the latter to Albus right now he reluctantly conceded.

..SS.

Aries, terrified and thoroughly unnerved by what had happened, went directly to the Headmaster's office on the seventh floor instead of her first class, though unfortunately the Gargoyle did not permit her to pass and ride up the winding staircase. The man had either changed his password since last evening, or was not in his rooms.

Dismayed, Aries turned away, not sure what she ought to do now. She might find him still in the Great Hall, even though the bell for first classes was surely about to sound, but the probability was unlikely. Or she could wait here for him to return. It might be hours, but it would not deter her, she very badly needed to speak to him about Draco and what he apparently knew, or suspected at the least.

It made her ponder what he did know… recalling precisely what he had said to her.

"I didn't have anything else to do with it." She'd said, honestly not believing she had, but Draco had said otherwise.

"But you do!" He'd accused her. "I know you do."

Aries remembered she had hoped he'd merely been stirring, or fishing for information, but at her dismissal he'd outright called her a slut and told her that everything had been her fault.

But what had he meant?

"You've been fucking him, haven't you? And how many other teachers have you spread your legs for?" He'd then spat. The accusation was a little outrageous, but they'd just been interrupted by a group of her classmates, so Aries was sure Draco had been spurred on by the witnesses; exaggerated his allegation. However, despite the embellishment he had managed to get his point clearly across to Aries, which is what she was sure was his intention.

And that point had been that he knew!

Somehow Draco knew what Aries and Professor Snape had done! And apparently he believed that what happened to Professor Snape was Aries' fault. And presumably, now that she was thinking about it, that must have been because of what they had done together. Why else would Draco have accused her of it?

It made her wonder who had attacked Snape for that anyway. For a vague moment her humour kicked in and she thought of her brothers, cousins and even her father… but they had no way of knowing, and they wouldn't do that anyway; she knew they wouldn't behave that way. Her family wasn't like that; they weren't vicious people.

But then who? Who would have to be so vicious by nature as to do what she'd seen done to Professor Snape? It was ruthless; savage; he'd been hurt very badly and had appeared quite traumatised by it.

A moment passed and she tried valiantly to deny it, but in the end she couldn't. She knew of only one group of people who would act with such brutality. Death Eaters!

She didn't want him to be connected in any way with You-Know-Who and his supporters, but this was not the first time the probability had crossed her mind.

'Maybe he was stuck somewhere in the middle – not able to completely confide in either side.' Aries remembered thinking last evening. Merlin, maybe that was truer than she'd even given the thought credit for at the time. Maybe he was in the middle – directly in the middle. Maybe he was an informant; a spy of sorts?

It would explain a lot; how he'd managed to appear disdainful, yet never outwardly repellant of Muggle-borns. Did he have to pretend to be one of them, but never truly held their ideals? Is that why he's apparently held in esteem by both sides of this war, though never having declared a public position on the issues?

Her mind went suddenly somber and fearful when she remembered that Draco had implicated that Professor Snape had been attacked because of her. Because of his involvement with her!

Until this moment Aries had graciously believed Snape, in the event he was actually a spy, to be working on the side of the Light, but now with the possibility that her family's decidedly 'Light' stance on the war issues might have more bearing on these circumstances she had to wonder.

'Oh my God, is he playing both sides of this thing?' she wondered, astounded. 'No wonder he seems so desperate; he's in this thing up to his eyeballs,' Aries decided fretfully.

'And does that mean I am now too?' she wondered, panicky. The idea frightened her beyond her tolerance and she swiftly turned to dash toward the staircase to find Professor Dumbledore as urgently as she could.

However, as soon as she had pivoted on her heel she found herself smack in the face of Professor Umbridge, looking far too delighted to have found someone out of bounds during class time; the bell having rung whilst Aries was deep in thought.

Aries didn't particularly like the woman, but so far had not managed to get on her bad side as she'd seen several of her Gryffindor classmates do so.

"Miss…" the ghastly witch began, clearly searching for a name within her memories.

"Cootes," Aries supplied, both miffed that she'd needed to re-teach her Professor her name, but also a little satisfied that the woman had apparently no real need to remember her, as the witch generally made note of the students that crossed her as opposed to the ones that had done as they were told.

"Well, Miss Cootes, I do hope you have a very good excuse for not being in class?" Professor Umbridge asked, her sickly sweet voice grating on Aries' nerves in her anxiousness to get to Professor Dumbledore.

"I wanted to speak with the Headmaster," she said, keen to be allowed to move on to find the old wizard.

"A problem?" Umbridge twittered nosily.

"Um, well, sort of," Aries answered, not prepared at all in the need to supply a lie.

"Can I help then?" the teacher offered, but Aries sensed it was more out of the desire to pry than to help.

"Er… no, not really," Aries returned, wishing the Headmaster would suddenly appear.

"I see," the woman stated, not sounding understanding at all but in fact a little peeved. "Well in that case it must not be very urgent. Off to class with you, then; you can see the Headmaster during your break."

Aries went to open her mouth to speak but the Ministry witch cut her off.

"Uh, uh… off you go. And I shall check with your Professor if you arrived or not," she warned dauntingly.

Aries nodded, "Yes, Professor." She was ready to cry but could see she had no choice. She slipped off past the hateful woman and headed for Charms. Another hour or so wouldn't hurt, she decided. And it would give her more time to gather her thoughts about the whole sordid affair.

..

Severus was feeling decidedly healthier and more comfortable once the Mediwitch had been able to give him his waking doses of Potions, most especially the Pain Reliever.

When the ghastly pink toad had wakened him from deep sleep and immediately demanded to know what had happened to him he very quickly began to feel the remnant effects of his injuries, largely treated by the Matron though they were. Still, it had only been a matter of a few hours, and he remained rather tender and unwell.

It unnerved him that he was vulnerable to just about anyone coming into the hospital ward, especially given what he'd recently been through.

Severus indicated that he'd prefer to sit in the chair beside the bed once he'd returned from his assisted journey to the lavatory. Poppy helped settle him into it, covering his pajama clad legs with a blanket to make sure he stayed warm. He accepted it cordially, pulling the covers up to his waist quite meticulously, feeling the need to shield himself even though the protection was merely cloth.

Dumbledore had conjured his own seat, as usual, and was seated in front of him at the opposite end of the bed.

"How are you feeling, my boy?" he asked with concern, eyeing him inquisitively after Poppy had left to complete her ordering.

Severus knew what the older man was referring to; he'd ultimately broken down last night despite fighting to retain his composure.

He nodded assuredly. "I'm managing," he responded with a deep breath.

Dumbledore nodded with a small smile, evidently pleased to hear the news. "Good… but if you find the need to talk, I'm here," he offered sincerely.

Severus nodded, quite grateful, though fairly sure he would not again burden the Headmaster with his issues.

The Matron had detained him for a quick word in the bathroom earlier before she'd helped him walk back to his bed; gently letting him know what she'd found during her examination and delicately offering medical treatment (which he'd resolutely declined) and also made him aware of counseling services should he wish to participate. It was rather humiliating, but he let the woman talk and absorbed the information she wished him to know. If nothing else, the Medi-witch's brief pep talk made him realise that he was now feeling more in control of his emotions than the previous night. He would be able to cope on his own from here on out; he was confident, though there was still one factor that would help him gain back his usual indifference…

"However," he began to the Headmaster, "as the earlier High Inquisitor's visit has demonstrated, I'm hardly feeling secure here in the infirmary," he said, willing to take advantage of the circumstances. It was an added bonus that this tactic might aid him to escape the overzealous attentions of the Medi-witch, especially given her recent piteous expression upon their discussion in the bathroom. "Would you see to it to have Poppy release me to my quarters?" he asked, his tone fairly adamant it was both what he wanted and needed to feel safe.

Dumbledore again nodded, "I shall speak with Poppy and should her opinion be that you would cope without her continuous care I shall insist on your behalf."

Severus sighed softly, feeling satisfied. "And what of our dilemma?" Severus asked; keen to deflect any further attention from himself and his wellbeing.

"I have an appointment shortly with Mr and Mrs Cootes… to warn them, essentially," the Headmaster informed him.

Severus blanched a little.

"Don't worry, I shall endeavour to keep any mention of your name out of it," Dumbledore added at his Potions Master's apprehension.

"That's not what bothers me the most," he replied.

"I know," Albus returned, "we'll do our best to have this blow over as quickly as possible."

Severus locked eyes with the Headmaster and after a long stare breathed out a lengthy sigh. "But you don't think that's likely to, do you?" he said, resignedly.

Dumbledore held his gaze and began to shake his head. "No, Severus… I don't."

..

Albus swept along the corridor on his way to his meeting with Aries Cootes' parents. He had to wrangle some measure of damage control from this situation without making it worse. He had no idea if he would be successful.

He approached his office entrance, spoke the password and rode the staircase to the top; all the while going over his strategy in his head.

Soon he was settled at his desk and turned toward the flames as his floo roared to life; inviting the couple into his office graciously.

Once they were all seated and each had a steaming cup of tea in front of them Dumbledore began.

"I have invited you here today, not in the capacity of Headmaster of Hogwarts, but as a spokesperson for the Order of the Phoenix. I trust you are somewhat aware of the function of this group of wizards?"

At the affirmative nod from the pair on the opposite side of the desk Albus continued.

"I have recently come to hear of several rumours that specifically involve Lord Voldemort's interest and curiosity in your family, and I have asked you here today so that we might assist you to put in place a security measure to help keep you all safe. Are you interested in working with me?"

After an apprehensive glance at one another, Mr and Mrs Cootes looked back to the Headmaster and hastily nodded their agreement.

Albus smiled comforting, "Good," he said, launching into the explanation of his first strategy.

..

Aries tried several times throughout the day to find the Headmaster, but without seeking the assistance of another teacher to help locate him it was virtually impossible.

The man was not in his office any of the times the seventh year girl went there, and it was such a big castle that it was too difficult to just search for him in the hallways as there was practically three or four different ways to get to any destination from any point. The old wizard had even apparently skipped lunch for the first time Aries could ever remember… it was so frustrating!

She'd contemplated going to the Infirmary, as she figured the Headmaster might have been visiting Professor Snape at some stage and if not at least he might be able to help her catch up with Professor Dumbledore, but she really wanted to avoid that until it was absolutely necessary. She'd promised the man she would keep her distance and intended to honour that promise. If there was any chance her recent suppositions were correct regarding her involvement with him being the cause for his attackers then that was even more reason to stay away.

Aries turned toward her last class for the day, realising that worst case scenario she would see Professor Dumbledore at dinner in the Great Hall and could approach him regarding a meeting then. She relaxed a tiny bit; sure her torment would be coming to an end soon.

..

Albus returned to the Infirmary after his meeting with Kingsley Shacklebolt at the Minstry for Magic. He'd expressed to Professor Umbridge that he'd contacted the Auror Office regarding Severus' attack, and therefore he'd needed to follow through.

Of course Kinglsey was a member of the Order and therefore filled in to at least some degree regarding the true circumstances of the attack, and therefore would be able to distract and deflect the inquiry headed Albus' way as well.

All in all Albus believed he'd had a successful day.

He was now on his way to discover the Matron's decision on whether she'd be happy to release Severus to his quarters. The Medi-witch had insisted on keeping the injured man for the rest of the day at least, but then she'd said she would consider the move depending on Severus' condition.

When he pushed through the double doors and found the dark man sitting expectantly and fully dressed in the chair beside the bed he assumed the answer was yes.

"Ah, Albus," Poppy said from the bed across the room where a young third year lad lay covered in boils, "I've been hoping you would be along soon." She rolled her eyes at him and tilted her head toward the anxious Potions Master. "Severus is very keen to leave but I've been too busy to escort him down to his rooms… and now he's been making a nuisance of himself!" she said, her tone a mixture of humour and exasperation.

"Oh?" Albus replied, bemused.

"Yes, terrifying the students with his bad temper. If only I could take points from him," Poppy said sternly.

Albus rounded on the ill-tempered man scowling in the Medi-witch's direction. "Really, Severus, these are supposed to be your days off!" he said, managing to only half stifle a chuckle.

Severus did not look amused at the Headmaster's humour.

"Come then, my boy… let's go. Thank you, Poppy." He went to offer an arm for Severus to use to lever himself to his feet.

Poppy came over to join them. "Now, remember I'll be down at 6am, 11am, 5pm and10pm for the next couple of days. Rest and don't strain yourself else I'll bring you straight back up here," she threatened. "Alright, off you go."

Severus took a limped step and then paused. He looked up at the Medi-witch. "Thank you, Poppy," he offered earnestly. The Matron returned a short smile and flicked her head to the side to send them on their way.

Albus walked close to the injured man and assisted him physically when he tired. It was a long walk down to the dungeons from the Hospital Wing and Severus began to struggle with discomfort by the time they entered the dungeon corridor.

"I can conjure a stretcher, Severus, if you'd like?" Albus asked.

The dark man pointedly refused and so after a short rest leaning up against the cool stone wall, Albus instead conjured a walking cane for the young man to use. They then pushed on until they arrived at the door to his personal quarters. Severus used his wand to disable the wards and they both entered; Albus first transfiguring the armchair into a squashy sofa and assisting his Potions Master down onto it, lifting his legs onto it too.

Severus dropped the cane to the floor, relaxed back against the cushions and let out a shaky gasp of relief.

"Would you like me to fetch Poppy?" the Headmaster asked, a tad concerned, for the man in his care had paled considerably during the long walk.

It was true that Severus did not feel particularly well but he declined the offer to fetch the Matron. He thought he'd be feeling better after a few minutes proper rest.

"No… I'm sure I'll be fine soon. But please, tell me how your meeting with the Cootes family went," he asked, eager to finally find out what was happening.

..

Aries returned to the Slytherin common room after her last class and dropped off her satchel into her dorm. She'd decided to make one more attempt at catching the Headmaster in his office before dinner.

She made her way back through the practically empty common room and back through the dungeon corridor and up the numerous staircases only to be disappointed once more.

"Fine, dinner then," she whispered aloud, turning in disillusionment to traipse all the way back to the dungeons again.

When she opened the common room door she was confronted by at least two dozen sets of eyes just staring at her; some in disgust and others with a leering amusement. Either way she couldn't tolerate them, so she turned on her heel and fled through the corridors until she was in a fairly disused part of the dungeons. She slid down the nearest wall to sit in misery on the cold, stone floor; her only regret not having brought her satchel with her so that at least she might get some homework done.

Aries brought her hands to her face and almost gave in to her mournful mood when she heard a noise to her right, the same way she had come. She tilted her head minutely in curiosity.

When the soft shuffling sound came again Aries began to feel a little apprehensive. She couldn't see anything, but the noise sounded slightly closer to her.

Although she knew the dungeon corridors well, being a Slytherin, she still felt an uneasy sense of the unknown about the many hundreds of meters of disused sections of the castle. And she'd rarely wandered about in these parts alone before.

She watched the empty space the sound had seemed to come from for several more moments, but there was nothing further. She turned her consideration inwards once more, gazing down at her knees again.

'I hate to think what Draco has told everyone,' she thought morbidly, 'or maybe even who," she added. Aries didn't like the little turd of a boy, never really had taken to him, he was far too conceited for her liking. And now he'd just proved how foul he could be to boot. She really did wish she knew for sure what the little vermin did actually know and who he might have told.

'If the little shit told anyone…'

Aries heard the noise again, even closer this time, and she truly became alarmed. She instantly leapt to her feet and whipped out her wand and spoke, "Lumos!" The corridor, already lit with one sconce became brightly illuminated with the light from her wand. But the light revealed nothing of interest or menacing.

Nevertheless, Aries was considering making her way back to the more populated corridors, or even up to the Great Hall to sit and wait for dinner when she was crash tackled to the ground, her wand wrenched from her outstretched hand and tossed several meters away, well out of reach.

She screamed shrilly until her skull bounced sickeningly off the hard stone floor, and then her cry became flooded with pain. After a minute of fighting the swirling, spinning inside her head and barely recognising what was happening Aries came back to herself. In the time she was knocked senseless her attacker, who she now realised was completely invisible, had taken advantage of her lack of fight and had settled themselves on top of her and between her legs. Hands were sliding unconscionably up her thighs under her skirt heading for her groin.

"Oh, God," she said weakly, knowing very well where this was heading. "Stop!" she cried out.

"Shhh," her attacker shushed, continuing with the assault, sliding his fingers beneath her underwear.

Aries did not want to shush, however, and began to fight in earnest, trying to dislodge the man/boy. She knew without a doubt he was male by now, for the evidence was hot and hard against her inner thigh.

"Oooh, I like it when they fight," he whispered, ripping the underwear until it was no longer a barrier keeping him from his prize. He sunk unwelcome fingers deeply into her most private place.

Aries cried out again at the discomfort and mortification and was also frustrated not to be able to determine anything about her attackers identity because of the whispering. She had begun to cry.

By now her attacker had managed to maneuver himself so that his erection was pressed against her entrance. Aries was determined to not let it happen and she began to wrestle harder with her attacker to try to throw him off.

He reached up to grip her arm, as her efforts were proving somewhat successful, but unfortunately he'd managed to press into her a little by now.

"Don't," she pleaded again.

He merely chuckled darkly. "But you like it, I know you do," he whispered obscenely.

This taunting infuriated Aries and she reached up with her hand to scratch at the invisible face she could feel was there on top of her. With a feral growl she also brought her knee up to try to catch him somewhere painful.

He obviously didn't like this because next thing she knew Aries had felt a brutal blow to the side of her face. She cried harshly as her head snapped to the side. But the treatment only spurred her on further to defend herself.

She lunged up at her attacker suddenly, opening her mouth wide, and was rewarded with a lump of flesh between her teeth. She bit down hard and drew a howl from her attacker. He withdrew slightly, his organ slipping from her in the process, and struck at her face again. This time the blow did far more damage and Aries could barely breathe for a few seconds it hurt so much.

However, she knew she didn't have want to give him time to regroup, so before she could even admit to thinking about it properly she had drawn her knee up again and had clipped him in his flanks.

Whilst he was trying desperately to re-tame the flailing leg, Aries took advantage again and bit the nearest shoulder that had come a little too close to her mouth in the struggle. This finally made him retreat, cursing harshly.

Another kick with her leg had him cringing, and then an elbow to what she supposed was his hard head as she scrambled to her feet and she was away, bolting down the corridor madly.

She could hear the pounding of his footfalls after her, and it spurred her on faster, screaming for help.

Aries was by now hysterical, her screams and sobs melded together until she'd barely left a moment to breathe. She just ran, not even really taking note of where she was running, just away from her attacker. She wasn't going to stop; she wasn't going to stop until someone stopped her.

..

"So, hopefully these measures will help keep the family safer," Dumbledore explained, "they will need to react cleverly, and I have faith in both Andreas and Claudia; they seemed to take me seriously enough."

Severus nodded, mildly satisfied by Dumbledore's effort.

"Could you not hide them?" he asked, wishing more was being done.

Dumbledore shook his head. "That would just admit guilt, Severus. It would put them at even greater risk of becoming a target. As it would you, my boy," the Headmaster enlightened, and Severus realised he would have to agree.

'What a mess,' he thought miserably.

"What about Aries?" he asked, suddenly recalling the youngest member of the family he'd inadvertently put in jeopardy.

Dumbledore, sitting in his own chintz armchair across from Severus, the fireplace crackling heartily, nodded. "Yes, I shall need to discuss all this with her too; she is, after all, in the same, if not direr, predicament."

Severus nodded, even more worried for the girl who was his student, as well as the vixen that had tempted him to begin with.

Out of the corner of his eye Severus noticed the old Headmaster go suddenly still. He looked to Severus whilst cocking his ear slightly; listening. And as soon as Severus concentrated too he also heard it.

Screaming; a frantically screaming voice of a young girl somewhere off in the distant corridors.

Albus was on his feet quickly. Severus tried to scramble with him, but immediately he felt a gentle budge on his chest which knocked him back to the sofa. He glanced up at the Headmaster and saw the old man's wand held aloft.

"You will stay there," he insisted brusquely. "Do not defy me, Severus… stay right there!"

Really far too ill to argue Severus just nodded his agreement. Instead, he drew his wand from his robes as the Headmaster swiftly left through the doorway, the door swinging back and slamming closed again behind him.

..

The Headmaster hurtled down the corridor toward the hysterical screaming. It was coming closer as both parties seemingly travelled in one another's direction. And soon enough the young woman had run headlong into the Headmaster's protective grasp.

"Miss Cootes!" he said firmly to the still hysterical girl. "Shhh… it's okay, tell me what's wrong, what happened?"

"H-He's following m-me. Chasing me. He r-raped me," she managed to grind out despite her hysteria.

Aghast at her statement the Headmaster raised his wand to the vacant corridor in front of him, searching for the girl's alleged attacker. He was incensed at the notion that such and insidious crime had apparently been committed within the walls of the school and under his watch.

"Who, Miss Cootes… who did it?" he demanded.

She was sobbing wildly into the robes on his chest. "I d-don't know… I couldn't see… I don't kn-know!" She was practically screaming her reply by the end, hysteria claiming what sentience she had managed to retain until now.

Knowing he could not hunt the perpetrator with the distraught girl in tow, Albus decided to return to Severus' rooms and leave the poor girl with him while he searched for clues, evidence. He spun on the spot and led the shivering child toward the warmed rooms.

..

Severus stiffened as his door swung violently open, admitting the sobbing girl wrapped in the Headmaster's embrace.

He was rather alarmed by the situation and it did not help that he had been unable to do anything but sit and wait in anxiousness when ordinarily he would have been occupied with searching or finding a solution.

When the Headmaster plonked the distressed girl down on the sofa next to him he did not immediately recognise her. He was too disturbed himself by the blood that was blossoming on the Dumbledore's robes and the hysterical cries of the girl.

"What happened?" he asked, stunned.

Dumbledore glanced at him, a disturbed expression shaping his features and a pained flicker in his deep blue eyes. "Miss Cootes says she's been raped," he said, and Severus was sent reeling.