A huge thank to the following for reviewing the last chapter: szaboalexandra1991, animechick247, TardisGhost, BabSberry, evan17w, hourhercrevan, Estel Ashlee Snape, CygnusRift, d'elfe, Milly Kanzaki, pineapple-pancake, PrismRootStarlight, Cat2k10, Ladyxx, Friedbananas, Guest reader, and ColdOnePaul. THANK YOU!
Here is the next chapter - I hope you enjoy it :)
Lauren stood frozen to the spot, almost as though ice had solidified in her very veins.
No, no, no, no, no, no. No! her mind pleaded in what could be best described as growing, maniacal panic. This is not good. Not good at all.
Lauren slid down to the floor, resting her back against her bed and drawing her knees up to her chest as she wrapped her arms around them, feeling distinctly numb with her growing horror.
It's one thing to be friends with Severus Snape – it's an entirely different story altogether to develop feelings for him.
A humourless chuckle escaped her lips at that thought.
Feelings? Do I really have feelings for him? Sure, I like him – but only as a friend. This is...this is just a silly little crush, that's all.
Lauren hung her head, resting her forehead against her knees as she groaned in exasperation.
Fucking hormones! They had to make an appearance and fuck everything up.
Lauren sat there for the longest while, her tumultuous thoughts running in an endless, agitated loop around and around in her head.
That's all this is. It's just my stupid teenage hormones. Nothing else.
Rising shakily to her feet, Lauren swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. For that conviction had felt distinctly like a lie. A lie she was very determined to tell herself.
Lauren shook her head, sending her dark waves tumbling over her shoulders.
No, there's nothing more to this. It's just a crush and I'll get over it. Lauren chewed on her thumb nail as her thoughts started running a mile a minute. In the meantime, though, Snape can never find out. He will not handle silly notions of infatuation very well, she thought.
Lauren would have snorted in amusement if the situation hadn't been so dire. No, Snape could never find out about her feelings, for she valued their friendship too much to risk ruining it by confessing something that was silly and fleeting, and would surely pass in time.
In the meantime, though, she was going to have to draw upon all her limited acting skills and pretend as though nothing had changed.
But what if this is more than just a crush? that sneaky bastard of her inner voice asked slyly.
Lauren shook her head again, resolve settling like steel within her core.
No, this is nothing more. Because if it is, well, then I am royally fucked. Besides, it's not as though things between us can ever become...more. Snape will always view me as a child – this he has stated quite plainly. Not to mention that he'll always hold a candle for Lily Evans. No, no good will come out by confessing. Best to keep my mouth shut and carry on as normal.
Lauren drew in a deep breath and carefully drew upon her Occlumency, shuttering down the crashing emotions that threatened to overwhelm and suffocate her. She struggled to clear her mind so that her panicked thoughts were nothing more than a low background hum, affording her some controlled form of functionality.
And just in the nick of time too, for Tracey chose that moment to enter their room. She paused in the doorway, eyeing Lauren's pale, yet shuttered down expression.
"Are you okay, Lauren?" she asked, stepping further into the room.
Lauren gave her friend a tight smile, fighting with all her might to hold onto her thinly controlled shields. The warring emotions within her were threatening to break down those walls at any moment.
"Yup," she replied, popping the 'p'.
Tracey's eyes narrowed, clearly not believing her, not even for a second.
Crap! Crap! Crap! If I can't fool Tracey then how the hell am I going to fool Snape?
Lauren shoved that manic thought into the dark recess of her mind. "I was just grabbing my sweater," she deflected, unfreezing from her spot and making her way to her closet. She flung open the doors and grabbed the first sweater she could find.
Tracey watched her movements with contemplative thought while Lauren proceeded to shove her chosen sweater down over her head, straightening it out before turning to face her friend with an obviously fake smile plastered upon her face.
"Ready?"
Tracey was silent for a few moments more, but then she gave a slow nod of her head. Lauren was, not for the first time, thankful for this particular trait that Tracey possessed. She did not pry or ask invasive questions, and she respected the boundaries of others.
They made their way down towards the school grounds, walking side-by-side in companionable silence. Lauren had her hands thrust deep into her pockets and her head slightly bent as she mulled over her dilemma, coming time and time again to the same conclusion: Snape can never find out.
Movement up ahead caught their attention and diverted each from their inner musings.
Hermione and Harry were supporting a pale and sickly looking Ronald Weasley between them. Lauren and Tracey's steps slowed to a halt and they watched as Ron turned a sickly green hue before he spewed up a trail of thick, slimy slugs, which splattered to the ground with a sickening sound.
"Eww," Tracey exclaimed, screwing her face up in disgust as she instinctively stepped back as the Golden Trio neared them, who were obviously intent on making their way to Hagrid's hut.
Harry and Hermione glanced up at the exclamation, Harry's vivid green eyes narrowing in suspicion behind his round glasses, clearly expecting another form of goading or confrontation with the Slytherin girls.
"Come on, Harry," Hermione urged, huffing as she tried to support Ron's weight. "Just ignore them."
Lauren couldn't explain what compelled her to do so, but she took a step towards them and stated, "Looks like he was hit with a nasty hex. Did his wand backfire?"
"What's it to you?" Harry snapped, ignoring Hermione's pleas and coming to a complete standstill. Ron let out another belch, resulting in more slugs to slosh to the ground.
Lauren cut her gaze to Ron, and thankfully her Occlumency shields were firmly in place for she would otherwise be wearing the same expression of disgust as Tracey.
Not an affliction I would care to have.
But in this moment she took pity on the redhead and Lauren glanced back at Harry. "Unfortunately, I don't think there's a counter spell to undo it. Ron's just going to have to ride it out, but he should be alright in about two hours."
Her reassurance only seemed to only make Harry more suspicious of her intent. Hermione, on the other hand, was listening to her every word with the keen interest.
"Try boiling some fluxweed in water and, if you can, get him to drink it – it will help with the nausea," Lauren explained, her attention now focused on Hermione, whom she sensed would at least listen to her advice.
Hermione blinked, confused that not only was a Slytherin not making fun of Ron, but was uncharacteristically offering some form of help and advice.
Harry huffed in annoyance and then tugged on Ron, causing Hermione to jolt back into motion.
Lauren watched them go, overhearing Harry muttering to Hermione, "It'll probably poison Ron, Hermione. I wouldn't trust anything a Slytherin has to say."
Lauren gave a mental sigh and shook her head. This bias between the two Houses was too deep-rooted for any of them to listen to reason.
She turned around and stilled when she noted the furrowed expression upon Tracey's pale features that clearly indicated that she was confused by Lauren's recent actions.
"What?"
"You tried to help them...Why?" Tracey asked.
Lauren shrugged. "Dunno, really. It's not like they're going to take my advice anyway," she replied, her gaze drawn once more to the retreating trio. Then she cut her eyes back to Tracey. "Just...please don't tell Draco. I don't think he would appreciate that I was fraternizing with the enemy."
Tracey's gaze flickered briefly at the Gryffindors in question. Then she turned back to Lauren, tucking her sleek hair behind her ear and wearing a concerned expression. "You're not yourself today, Lauren. Normally you wouldn't care about them one way or the other. And you've been acting a bit offish ever since you went back to the dormitory. What happened?"
Lauren blinked and mentally fortified her shields, afraid she would let something slip - either by expression or by words - to her ever perceptive friend. "It's nothing, Tracey. Just drop it. I'll be fine. Promise," Lauren stated, casting a reassuring smile at the other girl.
Tracey, for her part, didn't look reassured in the least, but decided to let it go, though she did cast a few furtive glances Lauren's way as they continued on their walk.
They reached the castle by lunch time with Lauren feeling less anxious about her predicament.
This shouldn't be too bad. I just have to act like everything is normal when I'm around Snape. Nothing to it.
That ridiculous resolve was instantly shattered when they entered the Great Hall and her gaze was immediately drawn to the staff table, her eyes locking on the dark form of Severus Snape. Lauren's whole world narrowed down on this man, and she felt as though she were standing on a precipice, about to tumble over the edge and plummet into dark void below with no one to pull her to safety.
Snape was chatting with Madam Pomfrey, but it was almost as though he sensed her hungry gaze boring into him, for he turned his head and theirs eyes locked in that moment.
The very air stole from her lungs in a whoosh, and that odd fluttery sensation deep in the pit of her stomach intensified.
Oh fuck, her mind screamed in panic. I was wrong. This is not going to be easy at all.
A slight frown furrowed Snape's dark brows as he discerned that something wasn't quite right with her, and Lauren knew she had to nip this in the bud right away. She tore her gaze away from his, her heart twisting painfully in her chest in the process, almost as though it was a physical connection she was severing, and followed Tracey to the Slytherin table.
She could practically feel his dark, penetrating gaze upon her the entire way there, as well as throughout her meal, but she kept her head down and tried to ignore Snape as best she could. Which was easier said than done, especially when her very being longed for nothing more than to look up at him, if only for a few seconds. Though, a few seconds would never be enough, this Lauren was fast realizing. If she did so, her resolve would shatter into a million pieces right there and then; pieces she would never be able to put back together again. This could fast become an addiction - a craving she would never be fully able to suppress.
I am so fucked, it's not even funny. How am I going to do this?
With growing dread, Lauren realized that she had no idea how she was going to get through this.
Bugger me.
~oOo~
The weekend progressed in very much the same manner, with Lauren studiously avoiding Snape's gaze, which was willing her to look up at him during mealtimes and the rare times their paths crossed. It killed her a little inside to have to ignore him, but she knew it needed to be done.
I can't give in to these feelings for him. If I do, it will only end in disaster. But it's so hard ignoring him like this.
But these moments were only but a taste of what was yet to come. Monday morning Lauren glanced down at her timetable during breakfast and her heart gave a painful twist in her chest when she noted that her next Potion lesson was after lunch.
This would be the true test of her mettle.
Lauren numbly folded up her timetable and stowed it away safely in her robe pocket, her appetite suddenly diminished and her heart rate starting to speed up as her anxiety increased.
"You okay, Ward?" Draco asked from beside her as he poured some cereal into his bowl.
"Yeah, I fine," Lauren muttered.
"You look kinda pale," Tracey noted.
"She's always pale, Davis," Draco commented.
"True, but more pale than usual."
"Will you two quit discussing my complexion," Lauren grumbled, not having the energy to put up with their teasing banter this morning.
Draco and Tracey shared a look over Lauren's slouched form. Then Tracey reached out and placed a comforting hand on Lauren's back.
"Do you want to go to the Hospital Wing. Maybe have Madam Pomfrey look over you?"
As tempting as that idea was, Lauren knew she couldn't avoid Snape altogether. She was going to have to get through this, and preferably with her resolve intact.
"No, I'll be fine," Lauren assured with a tight-lipped smile at the both of them.
"Do you want me to get Professor Snape?" Draco asked.
"No!" Her answer came out more forcibly than she intended it to, and Draco gave her a puzzled look in return, though shrewd thoughtfulness gleamed in those ice blue eyes of his. Lauren drew in a breath and continued in a more restrained tone, "No. I don't need to see Madam Pomfrey or Professor Snape. I'll be fine. Okay?"
Draco was about to open his mouth to protest, but a shake of Tracey's head stopped him. He frowned at the other girl, but then shrugged and stated, "Fine by me."
The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence and then the bell rang for the start of the first lesson of the day.
After lunch, Lauren followed the rest of her Slytherin class down to the cool, damp dungeon, outwardly appearing silent and reserved. Inwardly, though, her insides were twisting and knotting into a nervous jumble, and she was tempted right there and then to bolt as they waited with the Gryffindors outside the Potion classroom.
Then the door swung open and Snape's deep, silky voice ordered them inside. Lauren swallowed down the hard lump that had formed in her throat and steeled herself as best she could.
As they filed into the classroom, Lauren kept her head bent and her eyes downcast. But as she passed Snape, who was holding the door open and watching as each of his students entered his classroom, a shiver coursed through her body when his familiar and intoxicating scent washed over her, and she almost stumbled at the intense impact of this reaction to him.
Somehow she made it to her workstation, feeling his gaze boring into the whole way there. She clutched the edge of the table for support as she took deep steadying breaths to calm her jittery nerves. She briefly closed her eyes and fortified her Occlumency shields, managing to somehow don a neutral expression that gave none of her inner terror away.
I can do this. I can do this, she repeated like a mantra in her head. Suddenly a jolt of panic lanced through her. I...I can't do this. Her grip upon the workstation tightened as she opened her eyes and drew in another deep breath. You have no choice, Lauren. You have to get through this. One way or the other, you have to.
A weighted silence had descended upon the room as Snape stood in front of the class with his hands clasped behind his back, watching and waiting. Lauren was certain he was waiting for her to make the next move.
She drew in one more fortifying breath and slowly lifted her gaze. Her eyes instantly locked with his, and it took every bit of Lauren's resolve to maintain her expressionless mask as she stared back at him, the deep yearning within her intensifying like a torrential river deep inside her.
Some unreadable emotion flashed within his dark eyes and Snape's brows furrowed, twisting his features into that of displeasure and acute irritation. Then he abruptly turned his back on her marched over to the blackboard, flicking his wrist sharply and causing spidery writing to appear on the board.
"Today you will be brewing a Fire Protection Potion. The instructions are on the board. Get on with it," he snapped rather curtly, whirling around to face the entire class and levelling them with his darkest scowl that made him ten times more intimidating than his usual self.
The effect was immediate and the Slytherins and Gryffindors sprang into action, making their way to the storage closet to collect the required ingredients for the potion Snape had ordered them to brew.
"Snape's in a bad mood," Tracey muttered under her breath, loud enough for only Lauren to hear.
Lauren hummed in affirmation, but diligently focused on the potion at hand. As she followed the steps outlined on the blackboard, an intuitive instinct kicked in and soon she was altering some of the ingredients needed, even adding a few extra stirs and counter stirs to the concoction bubbling within her cauldron. Maybe this intuition derived from all her time spent brewing with Snape, his guidance and imparted knowledge sticking with her, or maybe it was due to the fact that she had in actuality inherited Bethany Ward's talents, but Lauren could no longer deny that she did in fact possess a real talent for the subject.
Soon she became immersed in her brewing, the challenge helping to keep her mind focused and cast her dilemma otherwise known as Snape from her thoughts, that she at first did not notice the dark shadow that had fallen over her as she peered keenly into her cauldron.
Lauren reached out to pick up the vial of salamander blood, which was needed for the next step, but then paused, intuition telling her to add a sprig of lavender first.
"What are you doing, Miss Ward?"
Lauren startled, almost dropping the herb clutched in her hand as she glanced up at Snape, who was standing on the other side of her workstation and peering down his nose at her in a cold, haughty manner. Something dark and foreboding glinted in the fathomless depths of his eyes.
Heart pounding in her chest, Lauren swallowed thickly and quickly dropped her gaze, unable to meet the intensity of his own.
"I'm brewing the Fire Protection Potion, Sir," she mumbled, trying hard to ignore the slight tremor that now coursed through her body. She slammed her Occlumency shields in place, desperately trying to rein in her traitorous emotions.
"And why are you adding lavender? I do not recall it being on of the list of required ingredients for the potion," he sneered.
Lauren was distantly aware that the rest of the class had fallen silent as they observed the scene playing out.
"No, it isn't," Lauren murmured, still unable to meet his gaze.
"Look at me when you speak to me, Miss Ward," Snape commanded, his voice dropping into a low octave, though there was no mistaking the authority wielded in his softly spoken words.
Lauren clenched her jaw, knowing Snape was not only forcing her to acknowledge him, but converse with him as well, and was employing the tactic of goading her to do so. She just wish he hadn't chosen to make it a form of public humiliation.
She slowly lifted her chin, defiance flashing within her midnight blue eyes as she glared back at him.
His eyes narrowed into slits before his expression morphed into that of hard, cold stoniness. "Care to explain why you are adding lavender if it isn't one of the ingredients required?" he drawled with a bite of condescension to his tone.
Irritation bubbled within her. Snape knew full well that Lauren possessed a knack for brewing and had, in the past, encouraged her to explore her intuitive side. The fact that he now suddenly had a problem with it meant that he was employing more nefarious means to get a reaction out of her.
"Intuition," Lauren ground out through clenched teeth.
His nostrils flared as he glared down his nose at her. "Intuition?" he patronized. "And tell me, Miss Ward, do you harbour the delusional notion that your...intuition is far more superior than that of the written works of Potion Masters and Mistresses - who were infinitely more advanced and skilled than that of a child such as yourself – and as such you consider their knowledge beneath you and that you can do as you please?"
Lauren knew the best course of action was to ignore him. But she had always been abysmal at heeding her inner voice of reason.
"Yes, especially when those Potion Masters are snarky gits who are so narrow minded and arrogantly set in their ways that they cannot comprehend that not only can advancements be made on their potions, but there is also room for improvement. Even if the form of improvement comes from a child who possesses more intuition than they do!" she snapped back.
There was a collective gasp from the class, most comprehending that Lauren had just insulted Snape on a very high level. But the two in question were too busy glaring at each other to pay them much attention.
Then Snape's eyes flickered down to her cauldron and when he slowly raised his gaze to hers, a cruel smirk was curling his thin lips.
"Ah, but we shall never find out if you are indeed correct, Miss Ward – you failed to continue stirring your potion and, as such, it is now ruined."
Lauren's eyes widened and she glanced down to find that her potion had, indeed, started boiling over in a thick, unusable sludge.
"So much for intuition," Snape sneered condescendingly.
Lauren clenched her fists and was about to let loose an angry string of retorts mixed with a healthy dose of insults, when Snape continued on silkily, sounding almost too pleased with himself, "See me after class, Miss Ward."
A growl of frustration escaped her lips, which only caused his smug smirk to broaden before he swept away from her station and headed back to the front of the class.
Of all the people I could have developed feelings for, it had to be the cruel, sadistic, snarky dungeon bat of Hogwarts! Lauren mentally fumed as she proceeded to clear up her mess of a potion.
The bell rang, indicating the lesson was over, and the rest of the class filed out while Lauren remained seated on her stool, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she inwardly seethed. The door slammed shut behind the last student and Lauren steeled herself for the confrontation that was to sure to come.
A dark shadow fell over her, but she stubbornly refused to acknowledge Severus.
"Look at me, Miss Ward."
Lauren clenched her jaw and slowly raised her head, that odd tingly sensation settling in the pit of her stomach when their eyes locked, which she stubbornly ignored.
"What?" she snapped.
Snape slowly folded his arms in front of him as he regarded her, his expression set into that of cool assessment.
"What is troubling you?" he asked in a restrained tone, almost as though it were taking all of his will power not to shout at her.
"Nothing," Lauren replied agitatedly as she ran her hand through hair, the charms on her bracelet tinkling with the movement.
Snape's sharp gaze was drawn to it and quicker than the blink of an eye, he had her wrist clutched in his long-fingered iron grip. Lauren instinctively slammed her Occlumency shields in place when her magic flared out with almost violent yearning at his touch, and she desperately tried to yank her arm free, but Snape held fast. He must have erected his own Occlumency shields for he seemed oblivious to her magical reaction, his sharp gaze narrowing in and focusing on the small obsidian pendant dangling from the bracelet; the black a stark contrast to the rest of the silver.
"You have been acting strangely ever since I gave this to you," he stated, his tone now becoming brittle.
Sudden panic lanced through her at the thought that he might try to take the gift back. Even though there was no special meaning behind it, she valued it all the same. It had come from him - a rare gesture that meant more to her than she cared to admit.
"No, I -."
Snape violently flung her wrist aside, almost as though he were disgusted. "It was just a silly, cheap trinket given to an equally silly child. There is no special gesture or meaning behind it, Miss Ward – that I can assure you. Though your reaction has made me see that it was foolish to do so, and I can assure you that it's not a mistake I will make again," he spat out.
His words were like a slap to the face, hurting more than they should have.
"It's not the gift -."
Snape gave a derisive snort as he levelled her with his best baleful look. "Do not patronize me, Miss Ward. You clearly mistook a meaningless gift to mean something more – hardly surprising considering that you are but a child."
Lauren shot up to her feet, her stool clattering to the hard stone floor as her anger bubbled to boiling point. "Stop calling me a child!"
"Then stop acting like one," he countered without missing a beat.
They glared at each other, the seconds ticking by in painful progression.
Finally it was Lauren who caved. "It's not the gift. I most certainly didn't take it to mean anything more than just a simple birthday present," she ground out, her body still trembling with pent up fury.
Snape regarded her critically, his penetrating gaze boring into her as he tried to discern any lies on her part. Finally he blinked and folded his arms in front of him once more, his temper marginally back under control as he asked, "Care to explain what is really going on then?"
Lauren deflated. She had been hoping that the conversation wouldn't have come to this. "Not really."
His dark eyes flashed and Lauren hastened on before he could cut her down with another verbal tirade.
"It's not something that I really want to discuss with you. Trust me, you don't want to hear it."
Severus was silent for a few moments. "You don't want to tell me, or you don't feel comfortable discussing it with me?"
Lauren bit her bottom lip. "A little bit of both."
Snape peered intently at her. Then a cool, shuttered facade overcame his features and when next he spoke it was with arrogant detachment. "Considering that you do not trust me enough to confide in me, then I suggest that you sort out whatever is bothering you. And quickly. I have no desire to deal with a tiresome, hormonal teenager any more than I have to."
"That was mean."
"It was meant to be," Snape snapped back.
Lauren stood rooted to the spot as she discerned a flash of hurt in his eyes before he quickly hid it.
Shit. He thinks I don't trust him.
Before she could open her mouth to say otherwise, Snape flung his arm out and pointed towards the door. "Now get out!"
His cold dismissal hurt like a physical slap to the face. Lauren blinked back the tears that had sprung unbidden to her eyes and, knowing it was no use trying to explain without revealing the truth to him, she exited the classroom. The door slammed shut behind her with a resounding bang, causing Lauren to startle.
Fuck. That did not go well. But Snape can never find out. His reaction will be a hundred times worse if he ever learns that I like him as more than a friend.
But as she headed to her next lesson, which she was exceptionally late for, Lauren could not deny that she was feeling like absolute shit. Their fight had been terrible and she could still picture the hurt flashing within his eyes – a hurt she had caused.
Her heart gave a guilty, painful twist and then her steps halted as a thought slithered into the recess of her mind.
Are my feelings for Snape a product, a side effect, of this magical bond we share?...
Her brows knitted together.
Is it this bond that is causing these feeling to arise?
Lauren stood rooted to the spot as the implication of this theory hit her hard. But she had no way of really knowing for sure. She knew for certain that she couldn't ask Snape – he had stubbornly refused thus far to offer any further explanation on the subject. Dumbledore would be equally less forthcoming. So that only left one option: the library.
~oOo~
The weeks that followed their argument was absolute torture. Snape, for his part, completely ignored Lauren, even during their private lessons. Very little conversation passed between them then, with Snape only issuing a few abrupt commands before he launched into brutal and swift attacks, which Lauren valiantly tried to deflect and shield herself from. Afterwards, he would simply leave the room, leaving Lauren alone to tend to her various cuts and scrapes.
Tears stung her eyes as she applied the salves and downed the pain potion that he had, thankfully, remembered to leave for her, but she knew she could not cave on this. But she had no idea how to make things right between them either. So they continued on with this spiteful dance.
Lauren found herself spending more and more in the library, trying to research this magical bond they shared. She had spent a vast amount of time and effort flipping through any book that she thought looked promising, but with little to no luck. Her next alternative was going to have to be the Restricted Section. Only problem was, she needed a permission slip from a teacher to enter that section of the library.
Lockhart was out of the question. He hated her, especially since she was now rudely interrupting his class on a regular basis, making it no secret that she despised the man with well-timed snide comments. McGonagall would pry too much, as would the other teachers. And Snape...well, he was definitely not an option right now. Lauren's only alternative was to continue searching on her own and hopefully stumble upon the answer along the way. Thus far it wasn't working.
Halloween was soon upon them, bringing with it the brisk and cool change in temperature and weather. The Forbidden Forest had turned a breathtaking hue of burnished red, brown and golden yellow, and the Great Hall had been decked out in Hagrid's giant jack o' lanterns that floated above the tables, their carved out faces glowing orange. All-in-all, Hogwarts gave off a distinctive Halloween atmosphere.
This should have been a time to feast and pig out on all the good Halloween food but, unfortunately, Lauren's extra 'Potion lesson' fell on that night.
She made her way to the Potion classroom and gave a respectful knock before waiting. There was no reply and Lauren tried again with the same result. She finally pushed open the door to find the room jarringly empty. Usually Snape would be seated behind his desk, marking a pile of essays as he waited for her. Not today, though.
Lauren briefly contemplated simply just turning around and leaving, but knew that wouldn't be a good idea. Snape would not appreciate her playing hooky. Deciding to try his office, she swung open the door to reveal a sullen and brooding Professor Snape seated behind his desk, a glass of Firewhisky clutched in his hand.
Lauren paused, contemplating whether she should just leave. Snape clearly was not in a good mood, especially if he was resorting to drinking this early in the day, and she really didn't have the energy to face his cruel wrath tonight.
But as she stared at him, Lauren knew she couldn't just leave. She stepped further into the room.
"Are you okay?" she asked tentatively.
Snape did not deign to acknowledge her and, instead, raised his glass to his lips, taking a small sip of the amber liquid. Then he set it back down on his desk with a soft clunk.
"Nothing that I feel comfortable discussing with you," he intoned with dry bitterness, causing Lauren to flinch as her own words were flung back in her face.
Ouch, that hurt. Snape probably felt the exact same way when I told him that.
Lauren swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat and glanced around the room. Artemis was perched upon the bookshelf, eyeing her with the same amount of cold disdain as his Master.
Great. Even my bird now blames me for this fuck up.
She turned her attention back to Snape, not knowing what else to say. "Are we not going to practise duelling?"
"No."
Lauren breathed in deeply through her nose, finally having enough of this animosity brewing between them. "You could have at least informed me."
"I just did."
"You know what I mean. It wouldn't have taken much effort to send me a note saying that today's lesson was cancelled."
"And why should I, considering that you have not exactly been forthcoming with me either, Miss Ward."
Lauren's patience had now reached its end, and she had now had quite enough of his churlish attitude. "That's rich coming from you. You've been withholding information from me from the get-go."
"No idea what you mean," he deflected with effortless ease before raising his glass to his lips once more.
Lauren closed the distance and slammed her palms against the surface of his desk as she leaned forward and levelled him with a stern glare; one Snape returned with equal intensity.
"Yes, you do."
Snape glared back at her, his eyes darkening as his temper started to rise to the forefront.
"The magical bond we share?" Lauren pressed. "What aren't you telling me about it?"
Her question had an immediate impact. Snape stilled, the very air between them fortifying like an invisible wall.
Lauren pushed away from the desk when it became obvious that he wasn't going to answer her.
"God dammit! I have a right to know, Severus," she snarled.
"Professor Snape," he corrected caustically, snapping back into Dungeon Master mode. "And no, you don't have a right to know. You have absolutely no right to demand an answer either."
"Yes I do, considering that concerns me as well, and that it's affecting me!"
Snape blinked, his anger fast giving way to shock as her words sunk in. He laid down his glass and clutched the armrests of his chair. "Affecting you how?"
Lauren quickly realized that she was soon about to let slip the truth, and she quickly backpedalled. "Nothing. Forget about it. I'll just leave you alone to...wallow, or whatever it is what you were doing" she snapped, whirling around to leave.
The door slammed shut in her face and Lauren spun around to shout at him, only to find Snape looming over her, a hairbreadth of space separating them. She stepped back, her back hitting against the hard wood of the now shut door.
"Affecting you how?" Snape repeated, his words drawn out in a dangerous growl.
Lauren swallowed hard at his close proximity. "Let me out."
"Not until you tell me," he demanded.
Sudden anger flared within her. "How about you tell me about this bond?" she fired back.
"You are in no position to demand such a thing," Snape retorted, bending slightly at the waist so that his face was now inches from her own. His hot breath fluttered across her face and Lauren closed her eyes as her senses became overwhelmed with his intoxicating scent.
He's too close. He's too distracting. Focus on your anger, Ward. Don't cave.
She drew in a deep, shuddering breath and slowly opened her eyes, almost toppling over into the dark abyss of his obsidian gaze. Somehow, though, she managed to ground herself and keep her senses.
"I guess we're at an impasse then. If you refuse to explain this bond fully to me, then I think it's only fair that I do the same."
His expression hardened, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Do not play games with me, Miss Ward," he warned, his softly spoken words slithering along her skin and causing goosebumps to rise.
Lauren let out a short humourless laugh. "Oh, this is no game, Sir. Believe me, I know that. Now tell me what is going on."
A few beats of poignant silence passed between them as they stared at each other, each willing the other to break and crumble. Then Snape suddenly straightened up like an elastic band being released and, without another word spoken to her, whirled around and stormed to his private chambers, the door slamming shut with an echoing bang.
Lauren thunked the back of her head against the door behind her, a growl of frustration escaping her lips.
Well, that went well. Great job, Lauren, she chastised. But the bleeding sod still didn't give me an answer!
Anger unfurled within her once more.
Enough of this. I'm going to get an answer one way or the other.
Lauren pushed away from the door and stormed over to the one Snape had just left through and that led to his private chambers. She hammered on the door, demanding that he let her in. Silence was her only answer.
Sensing that he would continue to ignore her, Lauren kicked the door in her frustration and immediately started hopping on the spot as a sharp pain lanced through her foot. Finally the pain subsided and she glared daggers at the door before she stormed out of the Potion classroom and slammed the door shut behind her, hoping that it had been loud enough for Snape to hear.
Fuming with righteous anger, she stormed mindlessly through gloomy corridors until she finally found herself at the library.
I'm here now. Might as well see if I can find anything new...
Lauren spent the next two hours poring over volumes of tomes in her search for an answer to the magical bond. But, just like before, her search proved fruitless. Lauren snapped the last book in her pile shut and let out a frustrated huff.
Then movement caught her eye and she spied the severe looking form of Madam Pince, the librarian, shuffling around as she returned some books to their rightful place.
Lauren waited for her to return back to her desk before she approached.
Madam Pince's parchment-like skin and sunken cheeks, as well as he hooked nose and stern demeanour, gave her the distinct look of an underfed vulture. Her raven black hair was tied back in a neat bun and was mostly hidden under a pointed black witch's hat, adding to the overall effect.
"Excuse me, Madam Pince," Lauren greeted politely.
The librarian glanced up sharply at the interruption, not bothering to offer her a smile.
"I was looking for a book that deals with magical bonds..." Lauren trailed off, realizing that she did not know the right terminology for it. "I'm not exactly sure what it would be called, but I know it's rare and it's a bond, or a connection, formed between a witch and wizard."
Madam Pince was silent for a few seconds as she contemplated Lauren's request. "The magical bonds that you're talking about would be considered old magic, folk lore if you will. I do happen to have a book that might deal with the subject."
Hope swelled within Lauren's chest; hope that she was finally going to get an answer to this riddle.
Madam Pince turned sharply and made her way to a tall cabinet that housed the old fashioned library card system. Lauren watched as the librarian flipped through the cards crammed in one of the narrow drawers until she finally found the one she was looking for and withdrew it with a claw-like hand whose nails had been painted black.
She returned to Lauren. "The book you are looking for is called Olde Magical Lore Unravelled. Unfortunately, it has been checked out."
"Of course it is." Lauren muttered, deflating. She then paused, a sneaky suspicion occurring to her. "Was it Professor Snape by any chance who checked it out?"
Madam Pince glanced down at the card clutched between her thumb and forefinger and gave a curt nod of her head. "Yes, Professor Snape was the one who checked it."
Lauren pursed her lips, her ire at the dark Potion Master growing quite substantially. She thanked the librarian and decided to head back to her dorm room, knowing there wasn't much else she could do about it tonight.
Trust Snape to have the very book that I am looking for. He's certainly hellbent on me not finding out the truth about this bond. I guess my only alternative is to write to Flourish and Blotts and order a copy for myself...Or demand it from Snape tomorrow...
Lauren was so absorbed in her thoughts that she let out a startled yelp when something crashed upon her head, her vision becoming obscured with red.
A delighted high-pitched cackle followed suit and it didn't take long for her brain to catch up with what was going on.
Peeves!
Lauren swiped the sticky strands of hair from her face, grimacing when her hands came away red.
What the hell did he throw at me?!
Her gaze landed on an ink well shattered by her feet on the floor.
Ink. He bloody well doused me with red ink! This is so going to be a bitch to wash out!
"Peeves!" Lauren growled, withdrawing her wand. "You bloody annoying pest! When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you had joined the afterlife instead of remaining a poltergeist here!"
Peeves, clearly unconcerned by her threat, cackled even louder.
"ICKY WARD! ICKY WARD! COVERED IN RED FROM TOES TO HEAD. ICKY WARD! ICKY WARD!"
"I'm so going to exorcise you!" Lauren shouted as she started firing hexes at the poltergeist.
Peeves cackled delightedly as he avoided her hexes and zoomed away, blowing raspberries in his wake.
Fuelled by her raging fury, Lauren chased after him, her wand clutched in her hand, but soon lost sight of the poltergeist. She rounded a corner and skidded to a halt when she came upon Harry, Ron and Hermione huddled together and staring at something on the wall.
The Golden Trio whirled around at the sound of her approach and openly gaped at the sight of her, their eyes widening like saucers. Lauren frowned at their reactions and was about to snap something at them when she caught sight of something peculiar - Mrs Norris hanging by her tail from a torch bracket, stiff as a board and her yellow eyes glassy.
Bright red letters above the petrified cat caught her attention, and her gaze flickered upwards to read the ominous message written in blood on the wall: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.
Lauren blinked at the words, her brain battling to catch up with events.
The distant rumble of the approaching crowd foretold that the Halloween Feast had ended and the students were now heading back to their dorms, blocking off both corridors. Then, like a crashing wave, over a hundred students spilled into the corridor, coming to a complete halt as they stared at the scene before them.
A few moments of stunned silence followed and then Draco pushed through the crowd impatiently, his shrewd eyes landing on the bright red words scrawled on the wall.
"Enemies of the heir beware!" Then his gaze landed on Lauren and he openly gaped in shock at the sight of her. He quickly recovered, though, and asked, "Is that blood, Ward?"
Lauren snapped out of her stupor and swiped her sticky hair from her flushed face, smearing more ink all over her face. She was uncomfortably aware of how all of this must seem.
Bloody Peeves. He had to pull this stunt now of all times. When I get my hands on him, I'm going to kill him all over again!
"No. It's -."
"What's going on here? What's going on?" Filch's wheezy demand sounded as he limped through the crowd, bow-backed and greasy looking as ever. His watery eyes landed on Mrs Norris and he let out an anguished wail that filled the dead silence of the corridor.
Lauren wanted nothing more than to make her escape, but knew she couldn't leave now undetected.
Suddenly Filch rounded on Harry. "You!" he screeched. "You've killed my cat! You've -." He stuttered to a halt at the sight of Lauren covered in red ink that looked suspiciously like blood. He gawped, a choking sound gurgling in the back of his throat. Then he regained his senses. "You've killed her!" he cried, pointing a yellow nailed finger at her. "Both of you! You've both killed my cat!"
"Don't be an idiot!" Lauren snapped, finally having enough of his wailing. It was like nails on a chalkboard to her ears. "I didn't kill your cat."
"Then why is her blood all over you? I'll kill you! I swear I will!"
"Argus!"
Dumbledore swept past the congregated crowd, followed closely by Professor McGonagall, Professor Lockhart, and Professor Snape.
Snape paused, coming to a standstill when his gaze landed upon Lauren, and he arched a questioning brow at her. Lauren scowled back at him, their spat from earlier on still fresh in her mind.
"They killed Mrs Norris!" Filch declared, pointing his finger back and forth between Harry and Lauren.
Dumbledore eyed both Lauren and Harry with equal measure and then calmly detached the petrified cat from the bracket before instructing Filch, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lauren to follow him.
Fuck. So now it begins. And it would seem that I am now a prime suspect. Great. Just freaking great.
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