You have no idea how thankful I am to all those who has read and reviewed. It really gives me encouragement and the continuous inspiration to keep writing. lOVE, Wildreams.
Accurate timing and stern planning are the essential keys to make a plan work. Right at this moment, Circe has nothing else to do but to wait for Professor Snape to summon her to his office. Only, it has already been three days after Hermione had gotten attacked and still she has not been not told to see him. Even during his classes, Circe was sure that he was going to call out for her. But he completely ignored her as though nothing has happened. Circe had no doubt that he would want to bombard her with all sorts of accusations. She had already devised a strategy to prove her innocence. According to plan, he was supposed to want to see her. But he didn't.
Circe started to feel something was amiss. It couldn't be that they finally understood that she wasn't the one behind the attacks. No, it couldn't be that. They were bent to point fingers on her until they actually see that she wasn't guilty. But she couldn't let them see unless Professor Snape calls for her.
Circe was beginning to feel drowsy after lying on bed for the past two hours wide awake. But her eyes were alert again when she heard creaking noise beside her bed. Something was prying her cupboard. Slowing reaching for her wand underneath her pillow, she made a quick grab at it and pointed at the source of noise.
"Lumos!" she whispered sharply.
Light glowered at the tip of her wand and it reveal a house elf who instantly attempted to covered his large eyes with his frail arms. It made a whimper and Circe lowered the intensity of the glow until it seemed comfortable with it.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
But it just whimpered and did not give her an answer. Annoyed that she was disturbed, she grab the elf's shoulder firmly, hoping to instill some fear into it. "Tell!"
"The…the…master said…to…to pack your….sui-suitcase, miss." It whimpered.
"Who?" she asked.
"The-the master…Pro-Profess-or Sna-Snape, miss."
Circe frowned. And then it dawned to her what the headmaster and the professor had planned for her too. She released the elf and jumped out of bed. Clad in only her pajamas, Circe walked out of the dormitory. If the professor will not see her, she will.
At precisely 3 in the morning, Severus was sitting behind his desk, dressed in his usual black attire complete with his cloak and a sullen expression. He stared at the ticket back to London as he was waiting for the elf to show up and inform him that the girl was dressed and ready. A certain feeling of regret and reluctance filled him. But even he couldn't deny it. It was only safe and best for the rest of the Muggle students. They did not have evidence that could actually pin point her but they could not take the risk on the lives of other students to wait around. The latest attack of Hermione Granger was the last straw. The order was given by the headmaster and he will carry it out. But the feeling will not fade away either. Still, Severus was determined not to let it overcome him.
Then, there was a knock.
"Come in." he said loudly.
The door swung open and Circe stood there in her night attire that could make boys blush. But the blush would be fade away when they see her dark face.
"You are not dress appropriately." He growled.
"That's because I'm not going anywhere." She replied as she walked towards his table, ignoring his equally dark stare.
"You are to get dress and be ready for the first train back to London." Severus said coolly as he averted his eyes and continued idly writing on a parchment.
"And what is the reason may I ask?" she asked even though Severus was sure that she knew the answer but he still replied.
"For the sake of the rest of the students, the headmaster has decided that its best if you were to, shall we say; enjoy some fresh air outside Hogwarts."
After a long pause, Circe asked, "Is it permanent or temporarily?"
Severus looked up to her. "Permanent. It seems that perhaps Hogwarts does not suit you."
Circe felt as Pansy had slapped her across the face when she heard what he professor said. "Really?" she asked without bothering to hide her sarcasm. "And you think that it would be safe to let the daughter of Voldemort loiter outside the Muggle World?"
"We will see to that later but firstly, we must get you out of the school." He replied back nonchalantly.
"You mean that I must be expelled."
"Yes." He said curtly. "So, if you could go and get ready, I would much appreciate your cooperation, Ms Grace."
He knew that he must keep calm even though he felt like shouting at her as any signs of frustration would surely please her. She might even have the thought that she was in control which Severus wanted to keep it out of her mind. He carried on writing even when he saw that she was defying his instruction out rightly as she walked up and leaned across the table.
His quill froze as her body cast a shadow across his parchment. He looked up and his eyes met with a pair of dark, cold eyes that remind Severus so very well of his old master. And he truly thought that Lily would have been impressed by him being a death eater. He though that she would leave James Potter. He thought that she would come to love him. He thought wrong. He remembered that dark days were he believed that his soul was forever tainted with the evilness he allowed to engulf him. For a moment, Severus felt that he was near the tip of a precipice when a warm hand covered his and he was pulled back to reality. Pulling his face away from Circe's, he saw that she had placed her hand on his. He immediately jerked his hand away when he was stop abruptly when he saw that there was a fine, silver chain around his wrist that was tied to hers.
"What's this!" he demanded, no longer able to keep his anger inside.
"We are bound together, professor." She replied with a mischievous smirk on her face.
"Release me at once!"
"It's not that easy. The chain requires two mutual agreements for it to be unbound." Circe explained. "And I do not agree to be unbound."
"I don't understand." Severus said as he eyed her. He finally was able to control himself again. He noticed that the chain seemed to elongate itself as Circe walked to one of the bookshelves.
"This chain has only two conditions. First, it will unbind itself when the sun rises and bind again when the sun sets. Secondly, it needs two person to agree for it to unbind permanently. It is useless from then on."
"What are you doing, Ms Grace?" Severus asked cautiously.
"I am trying to show that I am innocent from all your accusations. Of course, what I am planning will have its own risk but if it's the only way for me to stay in Hogwarts, then I'm willing to let a thousand other student to be attack if that is enough for you all to believe me."
"And how is this pretty chain going to prove anything?"
"As I have said, it will unbind when the sun rises. Then, I am free to go for my classes and you to go about your lessons. But once the sun sets, the chain will rebind itself and I am stuck with you for the whole night until the sun rises again. That way, if there were any attack, you know it wasn't me."
"I see. And is the chain long enough for you to be in your bed and I in mine?" Severus asked and surprisingly had a mocking smile.
Circe just smiled back. "I'm afraid not professor. It is either you bunk with me and five other girls or I will have to stay over with you. But whatever our sleeping arrangements will be, I'm determined to stay in Hogwarts."
"How badly you want to be innocent?"
"Enough to sleep on your cold, hard floor sir." Circe replied with a cynical smile and arching her eyebrows.
The door knocked softly behind them and it opened, revealing the elf that was packing Circe's luggage.
"Her things are ready, sir." He whimpered in fear.
Severus stared at Circe. There was no way her mind can be changed. Not even by Professor Dumbledore. She was dead serious.
"Unpack Ms Grace's suitcase. She will not be leaving." Snape snapped at the little creature. And humbly bowing low, it left them alone again.
With a grunt, Severus got up and walked towards a cupboard. He was aware of a thug on the chain as Circe was force to walk nearer to him. From the cupboard, he produced out a lumpy pillow and two musty-looking linens. He flung them towards Circe who caught them without any difficulties.
"It's late." He grumbled. "I would like to retire now. Make yourself comfortable on my cold, hard floor."
Circe frowned. "Don't you want to tell the Professor Dumbledore regarding this?" she asked. Deep down she had hopes that she might finally have the chance to see the headmaster in a closer distance.
"Maybe you don't realize this but it is close to 4 in the morning and I do not want to risk getting fired by waking him up in this ungodly hour. I will see him later in the morning." Snape muttered while taking down his cloak and hung it on his cloak stand. Retrieving a white attire folded neatly on his bed, he walked towards his changing room. But then he realized that the door could not close properly but was just slightly ajar as the chain was in the way. Cursing under his breath, he called out to Circe who was busy lying out one of the linen on the floor.
"I'm changing! But your bloody chain is in the door's way!" he growled in pure frustration.
Without turning her back, Circe cried back. "Don't worry, professor. No one is looking." Unable to hide a smile, Circe knew this was extremely uncomfortable for him. But she also felt that it was a dear for him to provide her something to keep herself warm.
After a while, Severus came out and found Circe had already dimmed the lights and was lying motionless on the floor right beside his bed in the fetus position with only the while linen as blanket. Her back was facing him so he couldn't see her face. He stood where he was for a few seconds, reflecting upon what had happened an hour ago. He expected to reach the station with Circe at precisely 4.30 and send her off. Instead, there she was lying on his floor with that ridiculous clothing on her and a chain tied to each other. With a surrendering sigh, Severus slide between the covers. Just when he was about to close his eyes, he heard someone spoke.
"Goodnight, professor." Said Circe softly. "And don't let the bedbugs bite."
Severus didn't know how to response. He thought that she was already asleep. Apparently, she hasn't. Feeling a little tongue tied, he only managed to spurt out a grumpy goodnight.
On the floor, Circe grinned. It was good enough for her.
The chain that is tied to Snape and Circe is something like the one Tristan use to tie Yvaine in the movie 'Stardust', only it cannot be cut and then rejoin again. Just wanted you guys to know roughly what the chain looks like. Hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Remember to review :) lOVE, Wildreams