1Chapter 12 Meeting

Carina spent most of her summers at the Castle, since the students would be on vacation. She had to admit it was her favorite time of year, she was allowed to be with her parents, spend her time in the library, and of course the summer storms were coming. To some is might seem odd to look forward to a storm but not to Carina it was a miracle each time.

When she was young she would sneak out of her rooms and run across the grounds barefoot in the rain until she would reach the Black Lakes edge. When it rained the Mermen would rise to the surface and float across the glassy top of the water and undulate as if made of water themselves. She would dance with them her long wet hair flying in the wind sticking to her soaked face. Her arms always thrown into the air as if embracing the rain and a long awaited lover. Then she would turn in the rhythm of the rain sometimes she would sing to the Mermen.

As for the Mermen they loved to watch the small child whose heart seemed to match there own for the love of the rain. On clear days when Albus would visit they asked him of the girl child who dances in the rain. They had been shocked to learn of his secret family but they understood his need of secrecy. They told him of how they loved to watch her, as if she were some stray fairy. From that day forward they gifted the girl with their Legendary 'Robes of Water'. These Robes were now-a-days fabled the Mermen no longer wishing to grant the privilege of such fine and sentimental pieces to fashion concerned witches, had long since stopped allowing the Robes to surface. The Robes were rare now and never gifted to a person unless said person was worthy. Carinas love of the Mermen and love of the Rain had inspired the Mermen. So each summer on the first rain storm Carina would run to the waters edge and there waiting for her was the Robes of Water, each year a perfect fit. So a tradition was made.

These certain year Carina had received her Robes and danced and sang to thank the Mermen. Later in her rooms she began her annual inspection of the Robes. Just as every year she opened the odd box they all ways placed the Robes in. Then she reverently pulled them out. She loved these Robes, they reflected the surrounding light as a pool would. When she was young she had feared they would be see through she had been quite surprised when she put them on and they were not. When the 'fabric' moved it made the same movements as water. They even rippled. Pulling the robes to her form she saw a parchment fall from the folds, picking it up she could only make out one word 'Carina' since her father had taught her how to write it in the Mermen script. She called her father and had him read her the note. It was a congratulations on becoming of age, she looked at the silver and amethyst ring on her finger and smiled. They also wrote their happiness that even though she had become and 'adult' her heart was still as care free as when they had first seen her on the shores. She smiled went and changed into the Robes.

The Robes sleeves reached the end of her wrist just before the hands. The top was nicely form fitting buttoned just above her cleavage in a V neck shape. The collar grew long from the V neck until it became a hood. All in all she looked almost regal in them. Then she reached for her charmed silver locket and clasped it so it hung just a centimeter above the neck line of the Robes. Then she fastened her black cap and raised both hoods over her head and made her merry way to the astronomy tower. She enjoyed the feel of the rippling water and the fluid movement it made with each step she took.

As she stepped into the night she watched the storm make its way across the mountains. She looked to the Black Lake, to see the Mermen slowly reaching surface. Then the wind came whippinh her cap around her. She removed it just as the rain began to fall. Normally when wearing priecless clothing one doesn't stand in the ran like a mad person, but the Robes were affected by the wind and rain making waves build across the garment. She gloried in the spray of the small tidal waves. The rain making beautiful rippled patterns through out it. She looked to the lake and watch the Mermen. Then a movement across the ground caught her eyes. A black shape was slowly making its way to the Castle. Carina went to the edge of the astronomy tower to get a better view , but couldn't make out what the strange shape was.

An Idea struck her and she moved to the wall that held the telescopes. She focused the telescope on the figure. It was a body, someone was hunched over was making their way across the ground. She watched as it took slow pained steps. Then it clasped into the mud. She stood breathless willing the person to move, refocusing the telescope she saw the dark robes, and a hand clutching a blood covered silver mask. Horror struck her heart like lightning. It was him, he was hurting, she had to get to him.

She ran the length of the castle and across the grounds to the huddle of black lying face down on the ground. He dropped to her knees and waved her wand over his body muttering a spell to show any damage. Left arm broken, a gash across his chest, and tremors from the Crucio curse. He coughed and spat some blood onto the ground groaning as the cough pained his muscles. His breathing became a bit ragged in the fiddled position he was stuck in. Now knowing his neck and spin were fine she slowly turned his body over to his back, raising his head and gently placing it across her knees, his breath began to even a tad. His faded black robes were turning even darker as blood seeped from the gash in his chest. Slow cautiously she opened his buttons one at a time trying to stay as far from the skin as possible, when she finished the buttons she slowly moved the linen to the side only to see another coat. Sighing she undid the first few buttons and pulled them to see white (and now red) shirt. "That's it." she muttered and brought up her wand waving it and rending the cloak, coat, and shirt clean off him. Then she was face to face with the slash. She looked up to his face which was even more pale then she had ever seen it. "Oh God, please be okay." he began to stir a bit. Then a dark haze began to spread form his left forearm. She reached for his arm, pulled back just before reaching the haze, and then took a deep breathe and took the sleeve rolled it up and saw the skull and snake. She wasn't surprised to find it the deepest black she had ever seen. And the haze of dark magic slowly building.

"FAWKES!" she screamed hoarsely, clearling her throat she began again "FAWKES! HELP!"

In a flash of red flame the phoenix floated down to her . Her voice hoarse with unshed tears she pleaded with her fathers familiar. "Please, he needs your help.". She sat in awe as the phoenix let his tears slip into the gash, and with a hiss it began to heal. "Thank you Fawkes, could you go get dad. This is strong dark magic." In another flash of flames the familiar was gone. Carina only hoped that he would be able to reach her father soon.

She heard a groan and looked down to his arm where the Dark Mark seemed to be growing, along with the dark magic haze. She whispered encouragements such as "Its okay, your going to be okay.", "I'm here, shh.". His groans were coming in a strangled sound. His face was scrunched up, he looked like he was fighting a mental battle. Gently she reached a hand to his face and traced the pained muscles while still whispering to him. Sweetly she rubbed the bridge of his nose, and he seemed to calm some. He was slowly began respond to the touches and she calmed a bit, then he hissed, his face crunching back even harder, and the haze was growing with a vengeance.

Just as the haze had enveloped half of them she heard her father. "Carina get away, it's not save!". As she tried to move away she found she was stuck to him inside the haze. "I can't"

"You must free him quickly before it completely takes you both. Enter his mind, and help him fight it."

She looked down at him and placed both hands gently on his face. "Legilimens!". She opened her eyes to darkness ,then she felt a pull and was moved through the darkness. Slowly she saw a light. As the light grew she saw huddle of black, soon she could make out the human shape from the arms and legs to the silver masked face. He was on his knees covered from head to toe in thick, black briars. They were as thick as her arm, and the thorns as big as her finger nails, ans they were clawing their way into him. His arms were bound up at his side, and even as he struggled they only seemed to grow.

She reached out to help him pull the thorns away. Upon seeing her approaching hand he recoiled swiftly and his black eyes flew up to meet her blue ones. "Who are you?" he hissed.

"Your hurt." she stated quite dumbly.

"Oh thank you I was wondering what was happening to me." he spat.

She moved to help him but again he pulled back looking at her with utmost decussated face he could pull. "Don't touch me!".

"I'm only trying to help you. I won't hurt you I swear."

"Why should I trust you? Your some spoiled Pureblood that much is for certain, wearing your Robes of Water."

"How do you know I'm a Pureblood?" she tryed distracting him as she moved to help, yet again he moved.

"Oh not a Pureblood? Fine then but you must a Pureblood's little toy then. Your not even scared of my Death Eaters garb. So surly you're a Malfoy Whore is that it?"

At this she out right froze looking at him as if he were a alien. Then she moved slowly behind him and began to wrap her hands around the black briars. As soon as her fist were inclosed around the briars they began to burn her palms. Hissing she pulled them away form his back. He screamed for her to leave him, he called her all sorts of twisted names to chase her away, but it only seemed to fuel her and she was soon in front of him freeing his arms.

The more she tore into the briars at his chest the stronger the they became, until one thick briar was left it was firmly attached over his heart. The pain in her small hands had spread up her arms. With a grave look crossing her face she turned her eyes to his. She reached and unclasped his mask to look at his face. It had softened and held a questioning look to them, she knew he was trying to figure her out. Smiling a small smile up at him she reached out toward the briar.

"I guess you can say Soot and I owed you one." She smiled as the recognition entered his eyes. "Wha... Stop!" He realized too late what she was about to do.

Carina's hand gripped the huge briar, instantly her face scrunched in pain. She hauled the briar as hard as she could from over his heart. She hissed out as the mind numbing pain took over her arm. Still holding the briar she dropped to the ground. Her muscles where too tense to allow her to let go of it, finally she passed out and her hand dropped the offending object.

Severus was on his knees beside the girl, correction young women, who had seemingly just saved his live. He had treated her like on of Malfoy's sick little toys, and she was saving him. He grunted in irritation of himself and her. Why would she even bother with helping him? Especially after his 'nice little speech'. She had said she had owed him for once helping her with Soot that ruddy house elf, but to risk her own life, he wasn't that important to anyone. And how was she in his mind? Clearly he was unconscious from that stupid curse the Dark Lord had placed on his scar. She must be a Legilimens. So he would have to push her out. Concentrating he did just that and watched as she disappeared farther and farther away until completely gone. SO why was he still unconscious? "I'm in a COMA!". Then a thought hit him "Why even bother waking up? Just stay in here away from wars, students, and Bloody Potter vs. The Dark Lord." so slowly he began letting go of wanting to do well, anything.

Carina shifted, 'Where was her quilt? I never sleep without it.' She open her eyes and was shocked to find the Hospital Wing. It was dark, but she could see a figure in the hospital bed next to her. She pulled her wand off the night stand and waved it over him. 'He is in a coma?! But his brain waves are almost completely functioning as normal. Why doesn't he want to wake up! He has a hole life! He knows people! He has a job to do to help out, a whole reason to live and he is sleeping through it in a coma!' Realizing how harsh her thoughts were becoming she scolded herself for her jealousy, 'Besides he has good reason to want to run'. She sighed and let her fingers trail down his forearm knowingly. There weren't too many secrets that she didn't know about. She had heard his recounts of his missions and the Dark Lords revels first hand, okay she was hiding under the couch, but still she knew it was a hard life he had.

"It may not mean much Sir, but I care if you wake up or not." she sighed but continued. "I don't know if you can hear me but... I know what it's like to be lonely. I... I... I'm thankful for all the work you do in the Order. I've always worried over you too. Even the first time I meet you, you were saving me. I'm glad I got to return the favor." She noticed his face change from blissfully unaware to that pinched up look. "You shouldn't make that face, its much to old a facial expression for a younger man." The look deepened and she giggled a bit. Then she reached her hand to the bridge of his nose and began to massage the tensed muscles there. She giggled as he began to relax, she sat on the edge of his bed and began to hum. It was a soothing tone and she knew she was getting way to personal with him but when would she truly ever have a chance to again. She looked around them and finally noticed her other hand. She gasped as she looked over it, it was bandaged from elbow up all the fingers, and as she tried to move it she utterly failed. "Oh God" she groaned.

"What's wrong?" came a silken mummer next to her.

"YHAAAA!" she screamed and fell back off the bed. "Ouch." she pulled herself to her knees and straightened the flimsy white hospital gown she was wearing. The she looked up into black eyes, those black eyes, HIS black eyes.

"What's wrong?" this time it came out in a chuckle.

"You scared me." she stated pulling herself up with what little dignity she had.

"Obviously, but why where you groaning.

She held her bandaged right arm out to him. "It wont move, I suppose it's because a numbing potion. I mean they didn't heal whatever happened to it, probably dark magic. Maybe keeping it numb is keeping my upright?" she shrugged and looked back up to his eyes. Then she saw him staring at the ring on her lift hand, her family heritage ring.

"You're a Dumbledore."

A/N okay so I have been so slow on this, and im really sorry. It because the ONLY time I can work on it is in the late hours of night and the weeeeee hours of mourning. Anyway PLEASE review I really would LOVE it. And also is THIS ending a cliffy? Sorta Maybe a boring one idk. Tell me what you think. Also I was debating on naming the main character after myself, however since she is only SLIGHTLY based on me, you know my dads not a high class pure blood wizard and head master of hogwarts sad isn't it?, I thought she needed her own name so I went to an online baby names and meanings thing and found names that meant something for how I saw her. Particularly Alma. Nourishing. It fits right? Well it shall. Fare-thee-well.