Lorna

Chapter 13 –

The first day had gone rather easily for Lorna, luckily she hadn't bumped into Harry again but then again she hadn't seen Hermione or Ginny either and so her first few weeks carried on in the same manner.

Through Lorna's short time in Slytherin House she could tell that it was a mixed bunch of people, some fitting the stereo type but the majority sought their house as a safe haven from the trials and expectations of home. Naturally, Lorna's Gryffindor background and famous brother hadn't gone unnoticed by the more aristocratic house members and at present they saw it fit to remind Lorna of her place.

One particular evening Lorna was heading back down to the common room on her own, she had left her friends eating in the great hall whilst she went to fetch her books to begin study in the library. But on her way down she had met some frightful looking seventh years who were all looking for some fun to be had on their part.

"Oh look who it isn't." One of them snarled, "The glorious lost Potter, been snitching to your Gryffindor friends have you?"

Lorna just rolled her eyes, she remembered the letter she'd received from her muggle friend Matt after she'd mentioned the trouble she'd been having, he'd told her to just walk on by but after the first couple of beatings he'd suggested that she baffle them with words; it would probably confuse them.

"Anyone with half a brain cell would know that I have no contact with my brother and his precious house." Lorna smirked, "but then again, I suppose you are graced with that much of a brain are you?"

For a second the seventh years, which comprised of three lads, looked contemplative and a little confused but soon the cogs started to turn and they soon realised that Lorna had actually insulted them.

"You think you're so special. Well your brother isn't going to save you now." The advanced on her quickly and Lorna instantly knew that that hadn't been her smartest move at all.

The soon pushed her into an empty dungeon and began their assault on the poor girl who wouldn't give them the satisfaction of screaming, she'd been bullied before and she knew it was best to keep her mouth shut and stare hard at them as they reigned their blows upon her so that was what she did.

Soon it became too much for her and she began to slip away and into the darkness, she welcomed it and embraced it as if it were a doorway to her parents and eternal happiness.

"Lorna!"

"Can you hear me? Lorna?"

"Come on child, open your eyes for me."

Lorna could hear a voice calling her out of the darkness, she focused on it and soon found herself being lifted from her abyss. As she opened her eyes, they focused on the pale face of her godfather, his brows were arched in concern and his eyes showed fear and worry but they were not without a hint of anger.

"Oh thank merlin you're ok!" Snape cried as he took Lorna up into a relieved embrace.

"Professor get off!" Lorna snapped and pushed her godfather aside,

"Professor?" Snape looked confused, "We're in private, you always call me Severus in private." From this he knew she wasn't right, he'd tried to keep an eye on her but he couldn't be everywhere, he'd tried to set up weekly meetings between them but eventually they grinded to a halt.

"Where are you going?" He called as Lorna got up to leave, she couldn't deal with him at the moment.

"I'm going back to my dorm." Lorna said in an icy tone, she knew it wasn't his fault but she didn't want him fussing over her. He'd fussed before when she had been bullied in the muggle world but it had only gotten worse after that and so she didn't tell him, it wasn't worth it.

"You're not going anywhere until we talk about this." Snape stood tall and for a moment scared his goddaughter until he shrunk himself down to her level and put his hands on her shoulders. "Come on Lors, you can tell me. This can stop here."

"Nothing is going on Uncle Sev." Lorna hoped the use of 'Uncle Sev' might make him relent but how wrong she was.

Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed, "Don't make me enter your mind Lorna Marie Potter. I want an explanation as to why I found you in the dungeons unconscious and beaten to a pulp and don't say you tripped because both you and I know there isn't anyone less clumsy than you."

Lorna sighed, she hated having a godfather sometimes let alone a guardian, why should he give a damn about her wellbeing now? Just because she was at the same school as him? I shouldn't just work like that, truth be told, Lorna didn't need him.

"So I had an altercation, it's over. I'm alive, leave it alone." Lorna sighed, she was growing tired of this.

"You're just like your mother," Snape muttered,

"I wouldn't know." Lorna growled lowly but suddenly she felt her knees buckle as she fell to the floor in a heap. Her godfather gave a startled yelp and rushed to her side, he hastily picked her up and carried her to the room he had set up for Lorna since she was born but he had no time to reflect on the joy he had finally having his goddaughter reside in it.

Snape carefully laid Lorna on the bed and transfigured her into nightclothes whilst muttering, "You're staying here tonight and you're not going to argue." Not that Lorna could argue, she had passed out but Snape was assured that her health was not in danger and left the girl to slumber just as he heard a knock at his office door.

No one would be more shocked than Snape to see Harry Potter standing in his doorway with concern occupying every inch of his face. "Where's my sister?"