You can come, and save me; and try to chase the crazy right out of my head.
Jason Walker
Thursday came quicker than Rhya expected, especially with what little sleep she'd been getting. Her classes passed by slowly that day, but she managed… somehow. She took extra amounts of the simple potion she brewed, but the effects were becoming less successful.
At some point in time, a person simply needs to sleep.
Rhya hadn't gone to see McGonagall. She knew Snape would find out, and she would probably get an earful of how irresponsible she had been. At the moment, though, she didn't care.
She looked across the room of the girl's dormitory. Everyone was asleep and would stay asleep later than usual since they had no classes today. It was roughly two in the morning. She put her dragon journal on the dresser and lied down. She rubbed her forehead, since she had a migraine again.
The bed was comforting, welcoming. She closed her eyes, and before she knew it, she fell into a deep sleep.
000000000000000000
Something was nudging her arm. Her eyes opened and she saw a large wolf gnawing on her. Everything was dark around her and red blood slipped out of the opening.
She tried to speak, tried to use a spell. Nothing came from her. Only the sound of the wolf echoed.
Focus, she told herself.
Pagos!
The ice went straight through the wolf. There was a scream.
"Rhya?" Came a small voice. Another nudge.
Her eyes flew open as she jolted up in her bed. Hermione had her hand on Rhya's arm. A white-blue-ish crystal stuck out of the floor."No," Rhya whispered. Sweat trickled down her spine and brow. She swished her hand, and the ice crystal broke itself. Rhya jolted from the bed and gripped Hermione, so she wouldn't fall over. A piece of the crystal was still stuck in Hermione, and Rhya feared Hermione would lose too much blood if it were taken out.
"What did you do?" Came Parvati Patil. She looked as if she had been up for a while.
"Just help me!" Rhya yelled at her. She came to Hermione's side, and together, they helped Hermione down the stairs. The three made it to McGonagall's room and Rhya almost beat down the door.
She sounded grouchy. They heard her voice from beyond the door, "Do you even realize what," the door opened, and her voice became softer, "time it is?" She stared at Hermione's, then averted to Rhya.
She flicked her wand and a stretcher floated over to them. "Miss Patil, you may return to bed."
"But-" She argued, yet McGonagall's glare made her stop. She glanced to Rhya, and made her way back to the room. McGonagall and Rhya gently placed Hermione on the stretcher. She was still conscious and losing quite a bit of blood.
Without speaking, they rushed to the hospital wing. Rhya wasn't sure what time it was, but it was still dark in the halls. "Lumos!" McGonagall stated and her wand lit the hallways. They turned around a corner, and by all the luck in the world, there was Professor Snape.
He glanced to the stretcher, but his gaze went straight to Rhya. It was a piercing regard, and it made her feel rather small. She looked down at the ground as she followed McGonagall. He stopped whatever he was doing and shadowed in step with them.
With every step, Rhya could feel Snape's constant glare into the back of her head. Her body felt as if it was shrinking.
They made it to the hospital wing and McGonagall rushed over to Pomfrey's office. "Poppy! It's an emergency."
Snape didn't shadow McGonagall. He hovered near Rhya. She hated it. She wanted space, but more importantly, she didn't even want Snape in this room. Madam Pomfrey rushed out of the room and ushered Hermione over to a bed. She and McGonagall hoisted Hermione onto the bed with almost no effort at all.
"Dear me," came Madam Pomfrey.
"What do you make of it?" McGonagall asked.
Pomfrey observed closer to the wound. "It missed all vital organs, which is tricky, but she will be just fine. Let her stay here until noon and she'll be walking around as if it never happened." She offered a smile and disappeared into her office to prepare a potion.
Snape leaned closer. His voice came as a whisper, only for her ears. "You didn't tell her, did you?"
Rhya wanted to move away from him, but her legs wouldn't budge. She merely stared at Hermione. Crimson blood seeped out of the opening where the crystal wasn't covering. The crystal was no longer white, but it had a red tint.
"Hopefully, this is a wake up call, miss Farren." He straightened up and her gaze fell to the ground. She despised the fact of him being right, and she hated herself for not thinking everything through.
McGonagall made her way over to Rhya. "What happened?"
Rhya opened her mouth, but Snape spoke first. "Isn't it obvious?" Rhya gritted her teeth. "Your granddaughter is still in her robes for classes, meaning she hasn't slept-"
"Not true!" She interjected, anger in her voice.
"What, maybe a few hours of sleep over the course of the week?" Her glare was icy, and she wouldn't look away. Her not answering gave away her answer, though. "I can assume that she at least didn't plan to fall asleep for what little hours she received."
"Miss Farren?" McGonagall looked to Rhya. Rhya was so angry that tears formed in her eyes. Snape was right, and she hated the fact. She looked away from McGonagall.
"Furthermore," Snape carried on, "I know for a fact that she hasn't been sleeping well ever since her capture."
"Miss Farren." No answer. "Rhya!"
"What?" She stated irritably.
"Is what Severus says true?"
Her voice was weak, "Yes."
"And why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought I'd be fine."
"Well, does Miss Granger look fine to you?"
"No."
"Do you understand what your actions have caused?"
"Yes."
Madam Pomfrey exited her office, and silence fell on the two Professors and Rhya. She straightened up and observed as Pomfrey gave Hermione something to drink. She fell back asleep. Pomfrey pulled out the crystal, and Rhya saw the wound already healing.
"Hm. It would seem she was attacked by Old Magic." Pomfrey stated aloud, mostly to herself. "Healing magic and Pure Magic practically work hand in hand." She made her way back to her office. "But that's ridiculous," she mumbled, "no one can do Old Magic anymore."
"For your actions, I think a detention is in order."
Rhya didn't object.
"You will serve detention with Severus."
"What? Why can't it be with you?"
"That is my final say, Rhya." Her mouth closed. She didn't know how she felt about her professor using her first name. She averted back to Snape, and a slight grin was on his face.
Rhya sighed. "What day?"
"Friday night and Saturday night." She opened her mouth, then closed it. "Does it seem unfair, miss Farren?"
"No… sir."
He smirked. "Minerva, it seems to be the only way."
McGonagall had sad eyes. "Ask her first."
"Already have, but she thinks she can handle everything herself."
Rhya eyed them carefully. McGonagall nodded to Snape. He drew his wand and flicked it at Rhya. There wasn't any pain. She didn't fly backwards. A red light sprouted form the tip of the wand and it wrapped around Rhya. Everything became blurry. Snape and McGonagall meshed into the shadows, and everything fell darker. Rhya collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
0000000000000000000
Rhya slowly opened her eyes. She was back in the girls' dormitory. Hermione sat on Rhya's bed, looking down with a hope filled face. She looked to the window, and the sun was setting.
Slowly, she sat up in bed. "You're all right?" She asked to Hermione.
Hermione offered a smile. "Yeah. The medicine did better than Madam Pomfrey expected. I was out within three hours."
"That's good." Came Rhya weakly. What had Snape done to her?
"It seemed unfair, you know?"
"What did?"
"Snape giving you double detention." Rhya leaned against the wall. "I mean, you're having bad dreams, so-"
"Hermione, I deserve it."
"Don't say that! I can't even imagine what you went through with the Death Eaters. Professor Snape should, at least somehow, understand what you went through, but he's just- so frustrating!"
Rhya smiled.
"Why were you near me this morning?"
"You were… mumbling, and it sounded dreadful. I was trying to wake you. I just wanted to help."
"Next time, just leave me to suffer in my dreams. They are only dreams, after all."
Hermione's smile slowly disappeared. "Snape knocked you out so you would drink the sleeping draught. I was surprised Professor McGonagall let him to do it."
"I guess the time for being polite professors is over. I probably wouldn't have taken it last night if they gave me a choice."
"But why?"
"If I take them now, then I'll become reliant on them."
"That's why you won't take it? Your independence?"
Rhya looked away. It was the pathetic truth. "Yeah."
"Rhya, know that you are admirable for that quality, but also know that it is your weakness. You can barely stay awake for any of your classes now. I let you take those stupid potions in hopes that you might finally sleep that night. You made a lame excuse to the other girls about getting a head start for your O.W.L.s. How long will they believe that lie? Because I can see right through you."
She studied Hermione. Until now, she hadn't realized how close of friends they had become. "You're right. Sorry about earlier."
"Forget about it." She smiled. "The wound is gone. And it's about time for you to go meet with the professors."
"Yeah, I guess it is."
"Rhya, if… things don't work out the way you hope tonight, please just know that I'm still your friend. And just like the Marauders, I will learn how to become an animangus, and-"
"Hermione," Rhya laughed, "That's breaking the law. I don't think you're up for that."
"Just watch me!" She prompted. Rhya's smile grew, since she believed Hermione's words. She needed to learn how to open up and talk to Hermione. Without warning, Hermione wrapped her arms around Rhya's neck. Rhya looked around the dorm, but no one else was in here. Rhya's arms found their way around Hermione.
Rhya pulled away and descended the stairs. She wore a dark pair of jeans and a dark hoodie. She went to McGonagall's door and knocked a few times, not as loud as earlier this morning. Professor McGonagall opened it.
"I'm not going tonight."
Rhya's mouth parted. "What do you mean?"
"Albus requested my help. Severus will be accompanying you tonight."
She sighed and mumbled, "This should count as detention."
The look McGonagall gave her made Rhya believe she had been overheard. Her grandmother, however, didn't say anything about her comment. "Professor Snape will meet with you by the Whomping Willow."
Without a goodbye, McGonagall shut the door.
Rhya checked her back pant's pocket for her wand. Still there. She took a deep, deep breath and made her way toward the entrance to Hogwarts.
She passed by the doors and traveled to the Whomping willow. Once there, she paused and looked for Snape. She didn't see him. The Willow twisted gently in the breeze, seeming unaware of Rhya's presence.
She heard a few twigs snap behind her, and assumed it was snape. She didn't look behind her to know for sure, though. He raised his wand, but didn't say anything. A blue light left the end of the wand and hit the tree.
"Let's go." He mumbled. She followed after him as they went into the secret entrance. His wand lit up the dark entrance. The walk to the Shack was uneventful and quiet.
The Shrieking Shack was obviously deserted and dust covered everything. She remembered why she hated this place. After five breaths, she sneezed. It wasn't a regular sneeze, though. She sneezed five times in a row, and they were equivalent to the sound of a little mouse.
"Maybe Minerva should have come," he paused as he glanced at Rhya, "To catch whatever mouse happens to be in here."
"Why didn't she come?"
"It is none of your concern."
"She's my grandmother, so maybe it is of my concern."
"No, it's not." He turned away from her and went into a room.
She sneezed again, seven little ones this time.
"This mouse infestation is rather unpleasant."
"The jabbering professor isn't quite welcome, either." An icy glare met her gaze. He didn't appear too pleased, but neither was she. "Why did you knock me out earlier? That goes against school rules, you know."
"Gryffindors believe the rules don't apply to them."
She crossed her arms. "Apparently for you as well… professor."
"You wouldn't take it otherwise."
"Oh, so you have my best interest in mind? Splendid. I'll remember that during my detentions." She sneezed again. "Please, can we just apparate outside of the Shrieking Shack? This dust is killing me."
"Not bothering me. You'll just have to suffer."
She gritted her teeth. Without his say so, she apparated to the Shack's front door. Snape followed suit, and didn't comment on her leaving. She sat down in the grass and thought back to the first night she entered the Shack. That was two years ago, when her father escaped from Azkaban.
She saw Lupin transform against his will that night. She remembered him crying out in agony as claws formed and a snout grew on his face. She also remembered Professor Snape exiting the Whomping Willow and protecting them from a fully transformed werewolf.
She glanced over at him. He didn't have his wand when he jumped in front of them back then. He was defenseless against Remus' form. She looked away and stared up at the cloud filled sky.
"Why had you protected us back then?" She looked back over to him. "With Professor Lupin, sir."
"It is a Professor's job to see to the safety of students."
"You didn't even have a wand, sir."
"Are you saying you would rather I have let him kill the four of you?"
"No… just never mind." She looked away and stared at the trees across the barren field.
"If he had, my classes would be quieter."
She didn't comment. The night breeze blew her bangs gently. It was getting closer to see if she would transform. This time, though, she wasn't as afraid. If she were a werewolf, she would take the potion that Remus takes.
Her mind drifted slowly to Greyback, and then to Voldemort. The fact that he kept her alive simply to make her change to his side bothered her. She had dismissed the idea, but what if Dumbledore needed another person as a double agent?
"Professor, how do you handle being close to Voldemort? Like, does he ever use Legillimency on you?"
"I do believe that is not for you to know."
"Does Voldemort plan to capture me again?" Her voice was small.
"If I knew of such a plan, I would inform Albus."
She eyed him carefully. "And have you?"
There was a pause. He didn't say anything, which caused Rhya's heart to beat incredibly fast. That would mean Death Eaters would come after her again.
"What… if he made me a Death Eater? What would he do with me then?"
"The Dark Lord," he paused, "would use you on the inside. And possibly, he wouldn't have to learn the Forgotten Arts if he can have you perform them for him. I warn you, miss Farren, don't go sticking your feet in waters that will swallow you whole."
"Two people on the inside means possibly better information."
"You're young." He caught her eyes. His voice sounded distant, "Dumbledore shouldn't have brought you in this far."
"But I am in this deep, Professor. I'm in this war." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Would it be… beneficial? Let Voldemort think I'm helping him, you know?"
Another pause. "This is the end of this discussion."
"But-"
"I. Said. Enough." His voice was dangerous, and Rhya dropped the subject. She shifted her gaze away from his piercing glare. The clouds began to part, allowing moonlight into the field. She stood off the ground and dusted off her pants.
"I guess it's about time." She walked forward.
Snape didn't move. He studied her as she walked away into the moonlight. After everything she has been through, Snape thought her strong. And even now, after seeing Voldemort's eyes of hate, she would place herself in danger if it were to help Dumbledore in this war.
She should have been in Slytherin, he thought. She was cunning and focused. She knew how to use her intelligence to achieve her goals. He thought back to when she talked herself out of Dolores' class.
She stood in the moon's light with her arms crossed over her chest, her head pointed down slightly. Her attention was to the grass; she was thinking. Snape considered she was in deep thought about becoming a Death Eater. He wished she wouldn't go to Dumbledore about this issue, but he knew she would. Her mind was probably set.
She probably wants this war over as soon as possible. Fewer tragedies that way.
Nothing happened. She wasn't showing signs of transforming; however, something was happening. Her scars seemed to be disappearing. He stood off the ground and got closer.
Rhya looked at him, bemused. Her professor had a strange look on his face. "What?" She asked.
"Your scars."
She glanced to her arms, and her scars were gone again. Her mouth parted. It didn't make sense…
"So… I'm not a werewolf?"
"It would appear not."
"But… there's no cure. How is this possible?"
He looked down to her. From Nagini's bite to a werewolf bite? He had no idea.