Chapter 12 – Knockturn Alley

It had been nearly two months since Rhia had graduated. She was currently working at St. Mungo's as an intern. She and Monica met at least every weekend and went out to dinner or for drinks. She had tried to keep in touch with Snape, but he didn't respond to any of her letters. Black, on the other hand, pelted her with owls, asking to meet with her.

"Damn him," she muttered once she saw the owl on her window sill.

"He must really fancy you," Monica said from the table.

"Yeah, the prat. This is the fourth owl this week."

"Wow. Really fancies you."

"You're really making me feel better."

"I try. Do you think you'll ever agree to a date?"

"With him? You've got to be joking."

"I'm not."

"Then you better start soon—before I throw up at the thought of snogging Sirius Black."

"I never meant I wanted you to… to do that! I was just wondering if there was a chance you would."

"None whatsoever." Rhia took the letter from the bird and shooed it away. After a glance at the writing on it and determining it had originated from Black, she tossed it in the waste bin. "I stopped reading them after the third one."

"Whose owl is that?" asked Monica as a different owl came and landed on the sill that Black's owl had just vacated. "That's one big owl."

Rhia turned back toward the window. "It's a Great Horned Owl, but I don't know who it belongs to. It is a bit familiar, though." She approached it cautiously and removed the letter from its leg. It alighted as soon as it was freed of its burden.

"Who's it from?"

She opened it and quickly recognized the script. "It's from Snape!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, him." Monica smirked lightly. "You like him, don't you?"

"What?!" she cried, looking to her friend. "I do not! He's just my friend." She turned back to the letter, glancing over it. "Although he doesn't seem so keen to be that at all."

"Read it to me already!"

"Fine.

Bishop, I don't know where you got the idea that I would actually want to hear from you. Please leave me alone. I can no longer associate myself with a Mudblood like yourself.

-Severus Snape."

"Wow, what a berk," Monica commented.

She nodded. "Yeah. He didn't have to be so rude about it. But what did he mean by no longer? That makes it seem like something happened that forces him to stop being friends with me."

"I have no idea."

Rhia Apparated outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor nearly a week later. She didn't know why she felt that she could find Snape in Diagon Alley, but she was determined to find him somehow, and she had nowhere else to start. Instead of entering the normal shops, she walked away from them, glancing through the glass windows but knowing that he would not be there.

When she reached a dark and sinister-looking street, she turned off the main road down Knockturn Alley. If there were any place along Diagon Alley that he would be in, it would be Knockturn Alley.

Rhia's escapade through the dangerous alleyway left her cold and scared. She recognized very few people, but one Lucius Malfoy was among that crowd—and she thought for a moment that he might have recognized her. When she looked back at him as she passed though, she was sure that it was just a figment of her imagination.

She continued on without mishap until she finally spotted greasy, black hair and contrasting pale skin. He was exiting an apothecary, most likely with as much potions equipment as he could carry and little or no money. After a closer look, she was positive it was Severus Snape.

Immediately, she was at his side and pulling him around so that she could face him properly. His hands were oddly empty. A look of astonishment and frustration crossed his face before either of them spoke.

"What do you want?" he spat a moment later.

"I miss you," she told him quietly.

"Is that supposed to make me all mushy inside, 'cause it's not working?"

"What did you mean in the letter?"

"My life is none of your business, Bishop. Leave me alone." He turned away from her again.

"What is wrong with you, damn it?!" she screamed at him, grabbing his arm and tugging him back to face her. "Why are you being so difficult—" The moment she saw the pain on his face she stopped talking and let go of him. "Are you all right, Snape?" asked Rhia quietly.

"I'm fine."

"I don't think so." She glanced down at his arm, but it was covered with his black cloak. "What's wrong with your arm?" she asked as she made to pull away the sleeve.

But he stopped her. He snatched her hand away with his right hand, his eyes easily forming a glare. "Don't."

"Why not?" Her voice was determined and strong—much stronger than she felt at the moment.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, obviously avoiding the question. "It isn't safe, though I doubt you'd be safe even if you hadn't come here looking for me."

"What's that supposed to me?"

"Isn't it obvious that it's not safe to around me?"

"I can handle it."

"I can't. Go."

"But you're my friend."

"Were, not was. I can't be your friend anymore. Go now."

"No—"

"Now!"

"No, damn it! You can't make me!" she shrieked, oblivious to the fact that dangerous people were watching them.

He groaned, but said, "Fine. Come with me." He pulled her along by the wrist, not caring that he was causing her pain. He just needed to get away. When they stood in a dark corner alone, he finally let her go. "Okay, we can talk here," he said quietly. "What is it that you want?"

"I want to know what happened to your arm, Snape," she said dangerously.

"I cut it. I needed blood for a potion, and I didn't feel like killing anyone at the time."

She rolled his eyes at his derision. "A likely story."

"Would I lie to you?"

"Yes."

"There are just things you can't know! Don't you get that, Rhia?!"

"Rhia?" she asked suspiciously. "You've never called me that before." Determinedly, she grabbed his left wrist and pulled back his sleeve to reveal something dark. It was the Dark Mark.

The next thing she knew, he had kissed her. She hadn't been prepared for it or even aware of it until it had already happened.

And then she fainted.