Winter at Hogwarts
Disclaimer: As before I own neither the Night World nor Harry Potter.
1 OC (Night World based) - Winter Redfern.
After relieving Poppy Pomfrey of his wand, in a way best not mentioned, Severus stalked through the school; he was a man on a mission. He'd taken the time to scourgify himself but he was still in pyjamas. There was an air of malice which surrounded him meaning he travelled unimpeded through the corridors, not even his own Slytherin's dared comment.
Though several did race off to owl their Death Eater parents, informing them that their head of house had gone off the deep end. The content of these letters would eventually find their way to the dark lord, who would be most curious as to the trigger, which had caused his most loyal servant's, sudden and apparent meltdown.
Upon reaching his rooms he quickly dressed and collected several potions which may or may not come in handy, he knew it was a very real prospect he would be walking straight into a vipers nest. Heading back into the halls he gathered his travelling robes about him and strode purposefully back into the corridors the main entrance of the school his destination, as he neared them however he could make out someone standing in front of them. Dumbledore.
"Severus, I know you're planning to find Winter but I don't believe it wise for you to go alone."
"I don't believe I should wait. Merlin only knows what they're doing to her as we speak."
"She is with her family; she may have had an accident." Even Dumbledore knew he was clutching at straws, the fact of the matter was that Snape was too valuable to lose over some girl, soulmate or not.
"Winter does not have accidents," Severus replied through gritted teeth, "For all we know she was intercepted before she reached Circle Daybreak. I don't have time for this headmaster, I must go to her."
"Nothing I say will make you change your mind?" The headmaster asked. Snape said nothing, he was restraining himself from moving the old man out of his way physically, and it was only respect that stopped him. Dumbledore sighed then and stepped forward with his hand held out; Severus shook his hand briefly as his fingers itched for his wand. If he delayed him any longer he would hex the older man, respect only went so far.
"Then Godspeed my boy." Silently he added 'I hope I don't lose you on this fool's errand.' The potions master rushed past the headmaster and sped along the path, as soon as he reached the edge of the anti-apparition wards he felt for the silver cord that linked him to Winter and apparated away.
Winter lay on the cold hard floor of her cell, images of her past deeds danced in front of her unseeing eyes. She felt numb, though she had little doubt that if she could feel, she'd be throwing up what little was in her stomach. Had she really done all those terrible things, they hadn't wrong at the time.
The image suddenly changed, it was night and she was on the grounds of Thierry's mansion, huge spotlights were on her, leaving her temporarily blinded. Vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and witches were advancing on her; Winter felt fear with a core of determination run through her. She began cutting down the werewolves and shifters with her wand, spells she didn't know were tumbling from her lips. Orange and poppy coloured energy blasts from the witches were assaulting her shields now and Winter knew they wouldn't last long. Out of the crowd a lone man with dishevelled ash blonde hair walked towards her with his hands held out showing he was unarmed, 'what new trick is this?' she thought… No she didn't talk like that!
Winter sat bolt upright and blinked to clear her vision, she looked down at her hands, clenching and unclenching them. They couldn't be her hands, she'd never felt this weak in her life, her mind began to wander and she shook her head to clear it, wincing at the sharp pain that came from the action. What was it that brought her round? A foreign emotion ran through her, desperation, it wasn't her own and then the light bulb went on.
"Severus!" She exclaimed her voice hoarse from all the screaming. Standing up on shaky legs she staggered over to the side of the cell where Jez sat staring back at her with wide eyes.
"Jez I need to get out." Jez shook her head in response.
"I can't do that, you have until five am."
"Look at the state of me, I can barely hold myself up, let me out."
"The last time you asked to be free, you threatened to kill me!" Winter winced.
"But I'm human."
"I don't believe you."
"Dammit Jez! If Severus dies, I really will kill you!" Jez narrowed her eyes.
"How did you know he was here?"
"He's my soulmate." Winter replied with an raised eyebrow.
"He won't die; Thierry has given orders that he's not to be harmed. I sent a message to Ash to bring him to you."
"I saw Ash, but the only thing that will get Severus to back down is to see me alive and well. Not leading him into what looks like a trap!" Jez still looked unsure and Winter let out a growl of frustration, "Please Jez, I need to go to him. He's so worried about me." Jez sighed and walked over to the palm scanner, placing her hand on it; as soon as the door slid open Winter was through it ripping off the remnants of her grey velour tracksuit. When she got to the pile of clothes left for her she burst out laughing.
"Who picked… No don't answer, Ash Redfern you are a little perv." Shaking her head she pulled on the denim hotpants and white wifebeater, grabbing her wand she pulled a surprised Jez close and apparated to the surface.
When she arrived Winter let go of Jez and ran towards Severus who seemed to be having a face-off with Ash, who incidentally was giving as good as he got.
"Severus!" She shouted as she ran towards him, he turned and she his lips form her name, but everything slowed down as she saw a dark haired witch let loose an energy blast from her cupped hands. It was designed to knock him unconscious, but Winter didn't know that, she pointed her wand at the potions master and screamed,
"PROTEGO!" The energy dissipated harmlessly as it struck the shield she had erected around Professor Snape and she turned to the witch responsible.
"For fucks sake Blaise! He's my…" Winter didn't finish, her eyes rolled up in her head and she began to fall, Ash put on a burst of vampire speed and caught her. He looked back over his shoulder at his cousin's soulmate.
"I'll show you to her suite then shall I?" he called cockily, without waiting for a reply he headed back into the house. With one last look around at the people gathered around him, a confused Professor Snape followed, though he kept his wand at the ready. When he was gone, everyone was looking at Blaise Harman.
"Oops." she said sardonically while shaking out her wild mahogany tresses.
"Goddess Blaise, the enemy doesn't have to lift a finger with you around." Her cousin Thea said glaring at her.
"He looked evil," she replied with a shrug, "never mind that, did Winter just do magic?"
"Yeah with a wand, and?" Thea replied looking confused now.
"Lamia don't have magic darling, "Blaise replied looking down at her cousin while tapping a blood red fingernail against her teeth, "Wonder who's got the gossip on this one?" The two cousins looked at each other and across to the girl who had popped in with Winter.
"Jez!"