The sun shined weakly through the dark, dense clouds up above. The absolute lack of breeze felt unnatural, as did the tense circle in which my friends and I all were sitting. Around me were Anna, Katie, Ginny, and Hermione, all sitting in an awkward silence.
"So, Neville asked me out," Anna hesitantly broke the ice. Everyone began to exclaim different responses, but mine rang out clearest.
"What? Why didn't you tell me? What did you say?" I asked incredulously. I noticed uneasily that as soon as I spoke the others all shut their mouths and looked at the ground.
Anna locked eyes with me and smiled, pretending that she didn't feel uncomfortable in the tense atmosphere (it was an act- I know her too well).
"Well it happened pretty recently," she said sweetly. "And then of course, there's been a lot going on..."
Anna drifted off as she realized she was touching on exactly the subject that no one wanted to breach.
"So anyways, I said yes obviously. He's been really great to me so far!" she continued, more energetically than was natural. "Neville's really into chivalry and all that so he's been carrying my books, opening doors for me, silly little things like that. It does feel rather nice though."
"Do you love him?" asked Ginny.
"Well, no, not quite yet," was the honest answer. "Oh, but I like him very much! He's wonderful! Truly, he's the nicest guy I know. I'm glad I'm with him."
"Speaking of couples..." Hermione said rather pointedly. All heads snapped to her, including my own as my face became stony and threatening.
"Leave it alone Hermione," warned Ginny. Ignoring the younger girl, Hermione looked directly at me.
"What on earth is wrong with you Mia? Have you completely lost your senses?"
"Oy!" exclaimed Ginny, leaping to her feet. "Lay off Hermione. She doesn't need that."
"She's gone mental!" Hermione shouted back, rising to her feet as well. Turning on me once more, she cried, "How could you Mia? How could you possibly be dating Malfoy?"
"Oh shove it, Hermione," I snarled, jumping to my feet as Anna and Katie did the same. "I understand that your big mouth doesn't always understand when it's an inappropriate time to prattle off your straightforward, god-awful opinion, so I'll lend you a hand. This is one of those times."
"Whoa, Mia..." I heard Katie mutter disapprovingly. Anna also seemed to be saying something about how far overboard I'd gone. This only aggravated me further.
Cheeks flaming with embarrassment, and eyes watering slightly, Hermione nevertheless stood her ground.
"Malfoy is practically the quintessence of evil. Being with him... well it's practically like signing up with Voldemort! Everything we vowed to fight against when we were in Dumbledore's Army. Besides, it's just a simple matter of good and bad."
"Yeah, look Mia, this whole thing is really messed up," contributed Katie. "I mean... are you ok? Because if you are... well it all just seems rather inexcusable."
"'It all'?" I repeated. "What 'it all'? Draco and I are dating, that's all there is to it."
"Well yeah, that's what I mean Mia," Katie snapped, now getting frustrated as well as she allowed her bottled feelings to spill out.
Glancing around at my 'friends', I realized there would be no help for me among these people. Hermione was shooting me a furious and proud glare and Katie had a stony look of aggravation. Ginny didn't seem to be against me, but it looked like she had merely accepted what was going on. Anna's look infuriated me the most. Anna's expression was a pitying 'I told you so' look. I couldn't believe she was siding with them! My hands clenched into fists.
"Screw you guys," I said cruelly. "I don't have to stand here and listen to you bashing my boyfriend. Have a nice day."
I turned away and set a course for the Forbidden Forest, seeking solitude and recklessly longing for a bit of trouble.
"Where are you going?" Ginny called after me. Ignoring her question, I soon reached the edge of the trees.
3rd person POV:
Anger coursed through Snape's veins as he watched Dumbledore glide away out of the Forbidden Forest. The old fool took everything for granted, and was he even grateful? No. He just ordered Snape around like a whipped dog, acting like he was better than everyone else in the world.
Seething, Snape turned and strode a bit deeper into the forest, unwilling to follow Dumbledore back up to the castle. After a moment, a strange noise met his ears, and he stopped walking so as to better hear.
Someone was definitely there in the forest, a teenage girl by the sounds of it. Was that... crying? Or merely shallow, frightened breaths? Glancing up at the dark sky, Snape knew without a doubt that it was well past curfew. With a scowl, Snape strode over twigs, leaves and bugs, ready to severely reprimand the student. Circling around a tree stump, Snape was taken aback to see who was sitting there, curled up in its roots.
Mia Rust's eyes sprang upwards towards her Professor and she clumsily jumped to her feet, trying to brush the dirt off her clothes. Snape could see that her cheeks were dry, so she must merely have been getting anxious. Hardly surprising, given her current location and condition.
"Professor," was all she said. Peering more closely, Snape saw a red welt stretching across her neck. It wasn't bleeding, but it was obvious that it had been earlier.
"What happened?" asked Snape, approaching his student.
"Nothing," she responded simply. "I got lost, that's all."
"You... got lost?" he repeated with a sneer. "This is quite a distance away from the castle Miss Rust. Do you have any idea how many detentions I can give you for wandering into the Forbidden Forest? If you will recall the welcoming feasts of your last six years, this area is out... of... bounds."
"Yes I do think I remember something like that, thank you Professor," she replied sarcastically. The sad and upset tone of her voice struck Snape. Normally Mia would say such things with a smirk, but right now it seemed that she was truly too depressed for that.
Snape remained silent for a moment as his mind was crowded with different thoughts. This was the girl who was the central focus of gossip in the school. This was the girl who, though he did not care to admit it, reminded him of Lily Evans. Most importantly, this was the girl dating Draco Malfoy, the boy Snape had sworn to protect. Even if he had not made the Unbreakable Vow, Snape cared deeply for the boy, and he would never let harm come to him if he could prevent it. Over the year Snape had also come to care for this feisty, yet kind, young Gryffindor; although, he did not show it and he knew that she still despised him. Well, it mattered not to him. What it came down to was this: despite their mutual hatred for Snape, Snape cared deeply about both Draco and Mia, and he did not want them to be hurt.
That's why their relationship needed to end.
A plan very quickly formulated itself in Snape's cold, calculating mind. Taking the few necessary steps, Snape closed the distance between Mia and himself. Snape could tell that she was a bit frightened by this move, but she did not budge or speak.
Quick as a flash, Snape reached out and grabbed Mia's forearm tightly. As soon as his grip was secure, he disapparated with her in tow before she could react. The cold, dark, sucking sensation was one familiar to Snape and when they arrived at their destination Snape landed with poise, entirely unaffected. Mia however wrenched herself away from her Professor, which he now allowed her to do.
"You..." she gasped, squeezing her eyes shut momentarily to control her nausea, "you just... you can't apparate within Hogwarts grounds." Snape smirked at her obviously false claim. The way she innocently stated something so clearly incorrect was almost endearing, and very akin to Lily's own way of speaking.
"I control the protective barrier around Hogwarts," he told her. "I can do what I wish."
Having regained her stability, Mia looked around her and found that she was standing in the street of a normal town, though she knew not where.
"Where have you taken me?" she demanded. Snape turned towards a house directly in front of them, drawing Mia's gaze there as well.
"In 1876," he began, "a married, wizarding couple lived here with two children- boys both. The woman had been in Gryffindor during her time at Hogwarts, but her husband came from a long line of Slytherins. One Christmas, when the family came to visit, one of the husband's particularly traditional uncles hit their children around a bit, taunting them for having the blood of their Gryffindor mother. The woman was of course enraged and demanded that her husband do something to stop the torment, but he would not go against his family. Taking her children with her, the woman left the next day and never saw her husband again."
"Why are you telling me this?" Mia whispered. Snape slowly turned to her. Once again, he took hold of her arm.
"No!" was all she was able to shout before they disapparated once more.
Spinning around, Mia took in her new surroundings. This time they were in a more rural area with big houses, each with lots of land. Again however, they had landed specifically in front of one house.
"1906, not much to tell," said Snape. "A married couple lived here, the man from Slytherin and the woman from Gryffindor. She thought everything was fine... until the day he suddenly vanished, abandoning his wife to runaway with another Slytherin. She never remarried."
Still reeling a bit from having now disapparated twice, Mia had no time to think- let alone react- when she felt his commanding grip once more wrap around her arm.
"1919," intoned Snape when they landed. Barely paying attention, Mia put a hand to her forehead, wishing her throbbing headache would go away. Suddenly she felt Snape's cold hand on her forehead, and the ache did indeed vanish. As her headache soothed, Snape also placed his hand gently on her neck, and when he withdrew Mia immediately put her hand where her injury had been. The welt was gone. Mia looked at him in surprise, but Snape had already turned away.
Following his gaze, Mia realized that they were in a graveyard. Shivering uncomfortably, she tried to read the tombstone that he had brought them to.
"Sara Jenkins," she murmured. "Born January 1895... Died April 1919." Despite her better judgment, Mia found herself curious as to what Snape would have to tell her.
"What happened?" she asked. Ignoring her question for the moment, Snape took a few steps away, leading her to another tombstone.
"Dunstan Jenkins, born January 1894 and died February 1919," she read aloud once more. Mia turned her attention to Snape.
"Tell me what happened," she demanded. Snape did not meet her eyes but kept staring at the tombstone in front of him.
"Sara's family was the worst bloodline in all of Gryffindor house. When Sara married Dunstan, from Slytherin, a few of her family members- a brother and two cousins- plotted and executed his murder." Mia felt tears coming to her eyes as her stomach twisted violently, threatening to heave. "Sara was so heartbroken that she committed suicide two months later."
Mia saw as Snape once more turned to her, about to take her arm again.
"Please, stop it," she pleaded, stumbling backwards, trying to fight her tears. "I don't know why you're showing me these and I don't want to see any more."
"Do you know how to apparate?" he asked dully.
"Well... no," she admitted.
"Then you have no choice but to depend on me to take you back to Hogwarts," he pointed out, holding out his hand once more. A dull anger flowed through Mia as she realized he was right, Snape was her only way back. She had no choice but to follow where he would lead. As she extended her arms towards Snape, she silently prayed that he would return them to Hogwarts without any more stops.
No such luck. Now they were in a very dense forest, but they stood in a clearing. Taking in the sights around her (which was becoming increasingly difficult as the night grew darker), Mia realized why this one small section of the forest was empty of trees. Shifting her feet around, Mia nudged an old, rotted piece of wood away from her and she walked through what she could tell was the remains of an old, burned-down cabin.
"1948," introduced Snape loudly as he watched the girl explore the small ruins. "A Death Eater married a woman from Gryffindor house. That was the only time such an event has occurred."
Mia's heart was beating abnormally fast. She knew without a doubt that she did not want to hear the rest of this tale.
"Stop," she shouted forcefully. "I don't want to know! Leave me alone."
"The repercussion of their marriage was-"
"Did you not hear me?" screamed Mia as she whirled on her Professor. "Just shut it! I don't care what happened forty years ago. This isn't my life; I don't care!"
"But you need to hear it," Snape hissed as he quickly strode over to Mia. Leaning in close, he said quietly, "You needto know." Frightened by his close proximity and harsh, commanding stare, Mia closed her mouth and looked away.
"The Dark Lord didn't take too kindly to this arrangement," he continued, just as quietly. "Leaving the ranks, the Death Eater brought his pregnant wife out to this cottage here. They managed to live several years without being detected by the Dark Lord, but they couldn't hide forever. One day, the house was blown up, killing the man and woman. Their three daughters were taken away before the explosion, and they were then raised as Death Eaters."
Struggling against her tears was utterly pointless at this time and the only control Mia retained was keeping her sobs quiet. Although her body shook, she made very little sound. Snape noticed her tears and her tremors, but he merely looked away. A part of him wished that he could hold her, comfort her, and still her fears. But to do so would wreck the entire purpose of this night.
"Take me back," she muttered through her tears.
"Not yet," he said, taking her arm once more, finding himself oddly sad that she was no longer struggling against him.
No, he thought harshly at himself, This is just what I want. This is the way it should be. Closing his eyes, Snape focused intently on his final stop, and with a crack they disapparated once more.
Looking around at the familiar place, Snape felt strangely out of place. He had not come here for many years, and it somehow seemed different under the light of the moon than it did in daylight.
"This field is where a young Slytherin boy fell in love with a young Gryffindor girl," he finally said. "But she never loved him. When they eventually grew up and left Hogwarts, she married with another Gryffindor. But the Slytherin boy still loved her. And what did he do?" Snape's throat constricted as he recalled the horrible events.
"He brought about their death: their brutal murder that came long before their time. That twisted Slytherin boy caused it." Wheeling towards his student, he found her silent.
"Do you understand?" he demanded forcefully. "Do you see? These relationships never succeed, that's just the way it is. Slytherin and Gryffindor houses are not meant to mix. You will get each other killed."
"You don't know us!" cried Mia. "These places and people you've shown me mean nothing. Draco and I are different. And how dare you abduct me from the school just in order to tell me that you 'don't like my boyfriend'!"
"I brought you here to teach you something!" he responded. "I have a duty to my students, young Mr. Malfoy in particular, and as you have seen yourself history tells us just what will happen. End this pathetic relationship now or neither of you will ever be happy. Indeed, you might not even live long enough to be."
"I've had enough of this," said Mia, her voice trembling. "Take me back now. This is illegal. I can have you brought up on charges and fired for this. I can probably even get you thrown into Azkaban." Snape smirked and took a threatening step towards Mia.
"Let's think about that, shall we?" he said. "You turn me in and you'll have to admit to being in the Forbidden Forest after curfew. Not to mention, who do you think they'll believe? The Hogwarts Professor or the young student prone to a temper who is also known to have a deep hatred for said professor?"
"And then..." he whispered dangerously. "I can make your life at Hogwarts a living hell." Goosebumps rose up and down Mia's arms and she clenched her teeth angrily.
"Take us back," she demanded once more. Snape grabbed her arm and in a flash they were standing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Yanking her arm away from him, Mia began to walk back up to the castle by herself.
"I don't think you want to be doing that," Snape called out as he trailed behind her. Stopping, Mia glared at him as he caught up to her. "You'll get thrown in detention for being out of bed after hours if you aren't escorted by me."
Hating her Professor more than ever, Mia reluctantly allowed herself to be returned to the Gryffindor common room by him, where he dropped her off with a smirk and a sarcastic "Have a good night."
Shoving open the girls' dormitory door, Mia was soon rushed by Ginny, and even Katie and Hermione hesitantly came towards her.
"My God Mia, are you alright?" Ginny cried. "We've been so worried. You disappeared into the forest and then you weren't back by curfew. What happened? Have you been there all this time?"
"Yeah," replied Mia. "Yeah I just got back."
"Look Mia... I'm sorry," Hermione said quietly. "I didn't mean for you to storm off like that. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if you'd gotten hurt." Without thought, Mia's hand flew to her throat, but then she remembered how she had been healed.
"Yeah well I'm fine," Mia snapped irritably. Taking a breath to calm herself, she attempted a smile. "Look you guys, I'm fine, I don't want to talk about it, and we have classes tomorrow. Can we call it a night?"
"Yeah," said Ginny as Hermione uncomfortably mumbled her consent as well. Ignoring the stares of her three friends, Mia changed into her pajamas and lay down in bed, struggling to block the night from her mind. Despite her best efforts, when Mia finally fell asleep, Snape's words still floated across her mind, teasing her. Taunting her.
