Again, I apologize for the long delay in posting this chapter. I'm still struggling to work through some personal issues. Some days are better than others.
I just wanted to thank everyone for your patience and understanding, as well as your continued support with this story. Please be assured that I have no intentions of abandoning it.
A huge thank you needs to go out to the following for leaving such wonderful reviews: TardisGhost, Jo odbpq, Justforloveknowsnobounds, elvinscarf, Friedbananas, animechick247, little-red-wolf 5793, NansNugget, pineapple-pancake, CygnusRift, kat11c, krausa4017, Guest reader, d'elfe, Cat2k10, MissLini, ColdOnePaul, Ladyxx, Evilhyperpixie13, Tobiramamara, and A5mia. I have read each and every review and greatly appreciate them all. They certainly managed to bring a smile to my face.
Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it :)
A raging snowstorm swept through the Highlands in which the castle of Hogwarts was nestled in, the swirling snow causing near white-out conditions that continued well into the following day. Waist-high drift banks made it near impossible to venture outside, and Herbology lessons were cancelled for the day, possibly the rest of the week.
Following the tail winds of the frigid and ferocious storm came another attack that sent the entire school reeling in shock.
News of Nearly-Headless Nick and Justin Finch-Fletchley's petrification had soon reached every ear, bringing with it mounting and very real panic. Before it had merely been the mystery revolving around the Chamber of Secrets, but now the stark reality of their situation was becoming very real to everyone at the school. It was now apparent that the Monster of Slytherin was very dangerous indeed to have been able to petrify a ghost, and everyone was fast realizing that they were no longer safe. Not even at Hogwarts, which was supposed to be the safest place in the wizarding world.
A riotous stampede almost ensued as students scrambled to book their seats on the Hogwarts Express to return home for the Christmas holidays and escape the danger lurking within the castle walls.
"Will you be going home as well?" Tracey asked Lauren shortly after she had put her name down on the Hogwarts Express list.
"Yup," Lauren replied, popping the 'p'. "I don't fancy spending Christmas here with a monster roaming the halls. I much prefer staying alive."
Lauren had debated whether to remain at the school or not, but in the end she had thought it would be best, and safer, for her to stay out of events. Not only because her Muggle-born bloodline practically ensured that she would become a target for the Basilisk, but there was also the fact that she needed to preserve the original story line. She couldn't interfere or meddle too much, even though she was tempted to do as such.
"I don't blame you," Tracey muttered as they made their way back down to the Slytherin Common room, the various corridors gloomy and oppressively deserted as many students had chosen to remain in the relative safety of the Great Hall or their Common Rooms. To say the current mood permeating the castle was all doom and gloom was an understatement, and tensions were running exceptionally high. "Draco's staying, though."
Good, Lauren thought to herself. He needs to be here when those three meddlesome Gryffindors use the Polyjuice potion to try and get some info out of him.
Lauren feigned surprise as she replied. "Oh? I thought he would have been the first one on the train back home."
"I think he wants to try and discover the location of the Chamber of Secrets. Or, more importantly, uncover who the true Heir of Slytherin really is."
Lauren gave a derisive snort.
"Besides," Tracey continued, "he's a pureblood. Draco's in no real danger of being attacked."
"True. But you're a half-blood, Tracey. You're not in any real danger, either," Lauren pointed out. "So why go home?"
"Because it's Christmas and I want to spend time with my family, Lauren. That's what you're supposed to do at Christmas. Put up with annoying family members and overeat," Tracey replied philosophically, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Then, reverting back to all seriousness, she continued, a frown pulling at her brows as she concentrated on the main topic at hand. "But that's the thing, Lauren. I'm not so sure that being a half-blood ensures my safety. Salazar Slytherin was warped in his ideologies, and only wanted witches and wizards of pure blood status to attend Hogwarts. Maybe his heir shares those same values. Once he has purged the school of all of the Muggle-borns, who's to say that he won't target the half-bloods next."
Lauren had no answer for that.
If the whole Tom Riddle diary episode had been successful, would Voldemort have focused his attention on the half-bloods next?
Thankfully, they would never find out the answer to that question. Harry Potter would soon destroy the diary and eradicate that threat.
All Lauren could do was stay as much to the sidelines as possible and let things play out the way they were supposed to.
But, unbeknownst to her, Lauren's presence had already set off a butterfly effect; the ripples slowly spreading out, changing and tweaking events ever so subtly, unnoticed until one stepped back and viewed the full and final picture as a whole – a picture Lauren would not be able to see until the very end.
~oOo~
Lauren stood in the centre of the bleakly quiet and barren Slytherin Common room, her trunk packed and ready by her feet while she waited. Artemis' cage was perched upon the top of her trunk, though it was unknown whether her traitorous pet would choose to go home with her or remain with his one true love, otherwise known as Severus Snape. The devotion that raven held for the Potion Master was almost sickening.
A humourless chuckle escaped her lips. Not that she could blame the blasted bird. She, herself, was not immune to the dark and magnetic pull that was purely Severus; an attraction that Lauren could not wholly deny, no matter how hard she tried to fight it.
She was, for a better word, completely and utterly screwed. Unless she somehow managed to get over these inappropriate feelings – which seemed every unlikely as the days and weeks progressed. If anything, her feelings were intensifying to a discomforting level. Which was not good. Not good at all.
"Not going to stay here for the holidays?" a familiar drawl sounded from behind her, startling her from her thoughts.
The Hogwarts express had departed a few hours before, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle being the exceptional few Slytherins who had chosen to remain behind for the holidays.
Lauren whirled around to see Draco leaning against the wall, his arms loosely crossed over his chest and one ankle crossed over the other as he watched her with an air of nonchalance. His ice blue eyes, however, held a shrewdness that foretold that not much escaped his notice.
"Nope. I'd rather be home for the Christmas holidays instead of here waiting for another attack to happen and being bored out of my skull," Lauren drawled back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She had to be careful not to reveal to Draco that she was fearful of being attacked and petrified. That would surely lead to a discussion that would reveal her true blood status.
Draco regarded her for a moment before nodding to himself, satisfied with her answer.
"I've heard that you're going to stay here and try and find the Chamber of Secrets. Aren't you afraid of being attacked?"
Draco smirked at her question and pushed away from the wall, shoving his hands in his pant pockets as he strolled towards her, coming to stand before her. "Pureblood, remember? I'm not in any danger."
Lauren cocked her head to the side as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'd bet all the gold in my vault that if you thought for one moment that you were in actual danger, you would be the first one on that train back home, wouldn't you?"
His smirk broadened at her statement. "Of course."
"So how do you plan to discover who the Heir really is?" Lauren asked after a few beats had passed.
"No idea yet. But I'll figure it out. One thing my father taught me is to be aware of my surroundings and notice everything that goes on around me. He always told me that it's best to gather information discreetly rather than barge in and try and force it out of a person."
Lauren's thoughts immediately went straight to Ron and Harry who would soon be using the Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Crabbe and Goyle. How those two blundering idiots with their lack of finesse had managed to infiltrate the Slytherin House and not be caught was beyond her. Lauren had to assume it had been all blind luck. Though...not so lucky for Hermione Granger. The insufferable know-it-all would soon end up turning herself into a cat, and Lauren was a bit peeved that she would miss out on witnessing that!
"So quietly sit back and observe?"
"Something like that," Draco replied.
"Any idea where you're going to start?"
"No, but I'll figure it out."
"I'm sure you will," came her sarcastic reply.
"Well, if worse come to worse, I'll just restart the rumour that you're Salazar Slytherin's heir and that I'm best buddies with you. Should work in my favour."
"You're forgetting one thing, though, Draco. We're not best buddies."
"Of course we are, Ward."
Lauren couldn't very well dispute that claim, for it had become apparent some time ago that Draco was now part of her and Tracey's group, and had firmly established himself as their friend.
How did my life come to this? I'm friends with one of the most hated characters in the Harry Potter franchise...Though, Draco isn't all that bad. At least he isn't to me or Tracey.
At that very moment the door to the Common Room swung open and in strode Severus Snape, swathed in his usual black and his features set in his usual stony surliness. His sharp gaze flickered towards Draco, though his expression held little to no surprise, and then he turned his attention to Lauren, causing her breath to catch in her throat as his dark voids tried to suck her into their fathomless depths.
Goddammit, Lauren. Get a grip!
"If you are quite done playing catch-up with idle gossip, Miss Ward, I suggest we get a move on. I have more important things to do today than wait around while you dawdle.
His words, spoken in cold detachment and sneering haughtiness, stung. Lauren blinked back at him, feeling utterly confounded as her brain desperately tried to comprehend what the hell was going on. It had been quite some time since Severus had spoken to her in such a manner, almost as though she were some other bothersome student instead of the friend she was sure she had become to him. The fact that he was treating her as such hurt more than it should.
"Don't mind my godfather, Ward," Draco drawled, his words punctuating the air. "He's an arse to everyone. Well...except me. But that's because I'm special."
"You may be my godson, Draco, but if you dare call me an arse again, I can assure you that you will find out very soon that you are not as special as you think," Snape remarked, his softly spoken threat hanging heavy in the air.
Draco, realizing his godfather in this moment was very serious, gave a slight nod of his head, his pale features flushed pink at the reprimand he had just received.
"Now are you ready, Miss Ward? I don't have the patience to deal with your childish shenanigans today," Snape bit back, rounding on Lauren once more.
Lauren frowned as she regarded the aloof, haughty and severe man before her. What the hell, Snape?
Then her brain finally caught up when he surreptitiously arched a brow at her, giving her a subtle hint.
Ah...this is all for show. He doesn't want Draco to realize that he and I are somewhat quite friendly towards each other...
Lauren quickly composed herself and met Snape's gaze head-on.
"Of course, Professor Snape," she remarked dryly. "Let me just get my things."
Lauren quickly miniaturized her trunk and Artemis' cage, sweeping up the now matchstick sized items off of the floor before pocketing them and turning around to face Snape once more. She didn't dare ask about Artemis' whereabouts in front of Draco, lest she give away the fact that she and Snape were practically co-parenting the vexatious bird.
"Have a good Christmas, Ward," Draco called out as Lauren followed the sinisterly silent Snape to the doors.
"You too, Draco. And do try and stay out of trouble," she remarked, not bothering to glance over her shoulder at the boy.
"Where would be the fun in that?" came his rather amused reply, which was promptly cut short as Snape firmly shut the door.
A few seconds of silence ticked by, Snape refusing to meet her inquiring gaze as he stared hard at a spot on the floor. Finally, when he spoke, his words were strained and held a hint of annoyance.
"You and Draco seem to have grown rather chummy with each other."
Lauren opened her mouth to respond, but Snape brusquely swept past her, his black cloak melding in perfectly with the murky shadows cast by the dimly lit torches in the dungeon corridor.
What...what's happening?
"I suppose," Lauren replied, huffing as she struggled to keep up with his long strides, but was failing miserably. "What of it?"
"Oh nothing. Though, a thirty-something-year old woman striking up a friendship with a twelve-year-old boy would be considered rather...injudicious, don't you think?"
"Injudi...what?"
Snape smirked, his gaze trained ahead. "It means to show poor or unwise judgment.
Lauren scowled up darkly at Snape's profile. "Firstly, it's not like I had much of a choice. My options of friends are very limited, considering that I am, in fact, stuck in a child's body!" she snapped.
The corners of Snape's mouth curled up in his trademark sneer, hinting that he didn't believe her for one second.
Incensed, Lauren barrelled on, "And besides, It's not like I actively sought out to be friends with the prat. He was like a stray that decided to adopt me."
"A...stray?" There was no doubt now that Snape was highly amused.
"Yes, a stray," Lauren affirmed, refusing to back down now.
"I don't think I have ever heard that word used to describe Draco before."
"Well, first time for everything," Lauren muttered.
Snape hummed noncommittally to himself as they continued down the corridor.
"There's something else bothering you, isn't there?" Lauren asked after a few seconds had passed.
"Perhaps."
"Oh bloody hell, just spit it out already and stop with all these riddles. You and Dumbledore seem to share that very infuriating trait. You must hold tea parties on a regular basis and discuss how best to annoy everyone around you."
Snape's sneer morphed into a sly grin. "Replace the tea with Firewhisky, and you have painted a pretty accurate picture."
Lauren gaped at him and halted in her tracks. Snape stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her, a questioning brow raised.
"Did...did you just make a joke?" Lauren gawped.
"It has been known to happen from time to time," Snape remarked dryly, his deep baritone slithering along her skin and making her shiver.
Lauren momentarily closed her eyes and shook her head, mainly to dispel the inappropriate ache that had formed low in her belly. Severus' weapon was his voice and his slyly spoken words, and Lauren was hardly immune. Though he was using neither against her right now, Lauren knew she would be a goner if he ever dared to do so.
Goddamn teenage hormones! Fuck! I am so screwed, and not in the way I want either!
Lauren sucked in a deep breath and opened her eyes, calling on her Occlumency to retain some sort of dignified front that gave away none of the internal struggle that was warring within her.
Snape eyed her with a sharp-eyed gaze. Deciding not to remark on her odd reaction, he instead asked, "Will your friendship with Draco alter future events?"
Her pulse quickened, for Lauren had often wondered the same thing. And truth be told, she had been harbouring the hope that she could somehow change Draco's fate and alter his path. Hopefully for the better.
The intensity of Snape's gaze ratcheted up and Lauren quickly glanced away.
"Nope," she mumbled, her lie weighing thick and heavy in the air between them.
A few moments ticked by and her heart rate increased to a wildly beating tempo when Snape closed the distance and was now standing before her, tall and imposing.
"Look at me."
Lauren sucked in a deep, steadying breath, knowing full well that she could not avoid Snape or ignore his request much longer. Fortifying her Occlumency shields into place, Lauren slowly lifted her gaze.
Snape's black eyes narrowed into slits as he studied her unreadable features.
"What are you hiding from me?"
"A lot," Lauren replied, sounding braver than she actually was.
In a flash, Snape's hand shot out and he had her chin clasped between his thumb and forefinger, his grip vice-like as he forced her to look at him. Before Lauren could so much as react, Snape suddenly dropped his own carefully erected Occlumency shields, and Lauren gasped as his magic crashed over her in a molten river of sizzling sensation that left her utterly boneless and weak.
Unable to concentrate, Lauren's shields succumbed and crumbled against the onslaught that was purely Severus' magic. Lauren almost sagged against the staggering and unbearable sensation, but Snape's iron grip kept her grounded as he held her upright.
"It would be all too easy to extract the information you choose to withhold from me right now while you are vulnerable and weak and...distracted..." he intoned, his murmured words caressing along her suddenly heated skin and causing a blazing trail.
How can he think straight right now? she thought as she stared into the dark recesses of his eyes that threatened to suck her in and hold her captive for all eternity.
Snape continued as though he were totally unaffected. "When it comes to my godson, I would go to extremes lengths to ensure his safety."
At least we have that in common. We both want Draco safe in all of this...This crystal clear thought somehow made its way to the surface of her jumbled mind.
Lauren swallowed thickly, once and then twice as she tried to form a coherent sentence. "Then do it. If you think it will help Draco, then do it. Because I'm going to need help with this. I'm going to need your help. In fact, I am asking for your help."
Snape blinked once in what was obvious shock at her challenge, but he hastily masked his features into an unreadable mask. He stared down at Lauren for a few moments longer before releasing his grip on her and stepping back. Lauren stumbled back, her back hitting against the rough stone wall behind her, and she sagged gratefully against it for the much needed support. She rubbed at her aching jaw, closing her eyes tightly and trying vainly to forget the feel of Snape's long-fingered hand upon her bare skin and how wrong, yet so right it felt.
The silence stretched between them and Lauren, finally having managed to regain her composure, cracked open her eyes and stared back at Severus, who was looking marginally more pale than usual.
"How much danger is he in?" Snape finally asked, his usually silky voice rough and strained.
Lauren blew out a deep breath and pushed away from the wall, her legs feeling much steadier than before. "He's not going to come out of this unscathed, if that's what you're asking. None of us are."
"You are playing a very foolish game by asking for my help," Snape finally remarked.
Lauren sighed and rubbed tiredly at her forehead. "It may be foolish, but I was telling the truth. I really am going to need all the help I can get, and I would prefer that help coming from the one person I trust the most."
Snape was deathly silent as he regarded her. Lauren held his gaze and finally he glanced away. "Let's get you home," he muttered and, turning on his heel, ascended the staircase without looking back to see if she was following.
Lauren inwardly growled in frustration, but trailed silently behind him, knowing it would be no use trying to force an answer out of him. The idea had been implanted in his head and all Lauren could do was wait and hope that he would eventually agree. Because Lauren was certain on one thing: she could not do this on her own and she was going to need his help.
Their progression to the Headmaster's study was made in complete and utter silence, the stone gargoyle leaping aside in the face of the waspishly uttered password made by Snape. Severus then stepped aside and motioned with a long fingered hand for Lauren to precede him, his features still set in that of stoniness.
Lauren hesitated. "Wait...what about Artemis?"
"The bloody bird knows where you live, Miss Ward. If he wishes to be in your company, then he will come and find you," came his icy response.
Lauren glared back at him, unamused by his bristly attitude towards her, and brushed past him as she made her way up the stairs.
The Headmaster's office was currently empty, and Snape wasted no time marching towards the fireplace and flinging a fistful of Floo Powder into the hearth, turning the flickering golden flames a brilliant emerald green hue.
Snape nudged his head impatiently for Lauren to come to him. One look at his stony expression foretold that it would be unwise to refuse him.
Lauren closed the distance and was somewhat surprised when Severus raised his hand, waiting for her to place her hand in his own long fingered one.
Lauren briefly hesitated, but then accepted his outstretched hand. Their fingers automatically interlocked, curling perfectly around each other, and Lauren had to resist the shudder that coursed through her at how perfectly they fitted with each other.
It's like my hand was made to fit with his...
Lauren mentally slapped herself. You can't be thinking stupid things like that, Lauren!
Snape, for his part, seemed unaffected as he straightened up and stepped into the fireplace, tugging on Lauren's hand with more gentleness than she was accustomed to by him, though he still remained closed off and aloof. Lauren did no miss the way his grip tightened on her hand ever so slightly as he called out her place of residence; a grip she was grateful for as they were suddenly spinning wildly to their destination. Lauren instinctively shut her eyes tightly and prayed for the wild ride to be over with.
And, thankfully, it finally did. Lauren blinked open her eyes and stepped out of the fireplace, her stomach roiling uncomfortably. She sucked in a deep breath, waiting for the sensation to subside. Finally she glanced up and saw that she was back home in her manor.
Snape instantly released his hold on her hand and withdrew his wand, casting a cleansing spell upon both Lauren and himself. Once his task was complete, he resheathed his wand and finally lifted his gaze. Lauren was disappointed to note that he had reverted once more to the haughty and formidable Professor once more.
"I shall return for you the evening before the school term is to resume. I trust that you can stay out of trouble for that short length of time?" he asked with a scathing bite of sarcasm.
Lauren rolled her eyes at him. "I have a house-elf spying on me twenty-four seven, ready to alert you or Dumbledore if I so much as try anything I'm not supposed to. Besides, there's not much trouble I can get into really."
"Knowing you, Miss Ward, you will find a way," came his ever dry and pessimistic reply.
Lauren ignored him and brushed past him as she stepped further into the kitchen, noting that it had been recently scrubbed clean and there was even a pie was baking in the oven, the crust almost a perfect golden brown.
"Speaking of my spy, where is Blinky?" Lauren asked, turning around to face Snape.
Snape opened his mouth and was about to give her a snide comment when a shrill squawk of fear echoed throughout the house.
Lauren and Snape shared a look and then immediately dashed towards the living room, where the cry of distress had come from. They found Blinky backing away nervously from Artemis, who had one of Lauren's socks clutched in his beak.
"Is he...trying to gift her with one of my socks?" Lauren asked.
"It would seem so." It was hard to tell, but Lauren thought she detected a hint of amusement in Severus' voice.
"Would that even work? Technically, Blinky is not my house-elf. She belongs to Hogwarts and serves under Dumbledore. And Artemis is a bird. There's no freaking way that him giving her one of my socks will somehow set her free..."
"By her apparent fear, I would hazard a guess that you are considered her Mistress for the duration of the school holidays, and therefore the same rules apply. And, twisted as it may appear, Artemis has established himself as her dominant..."
Lauren would have scoffed at the ludicrosity of it all, but Blinky let out another terrified squeak as Artemis hopped closer towards her.
"Artemis! That's enough!" Lauren scolded.
The raven paused and cocked his head to the side, giving Lauren a beady-eyed look as he sized her up. Then he blatantly turned his back on her and ruffled his feathers, a gesture that clearly stated that he had no intentions of listening to Lauren.
"Do something!" Lauren exclaimed, rounding on Severus, who was looking more delighted as the seconds ticked by.
"Whatever for?" he asked, folding his arms in front of him as he watched the scene play out before him.
"Because the poor elf is scared out of her wits! And the bloody bird only listens to you. So do something!"
Snape turned a lazy look upon Lauren; a look that morphed into that of shrewd calculation. "Only if you swear that you will stay out of trouble."
Lauren gawped at him. The bastard is blackmailing me!
"Seriously?!" she shrieked. "Blackmail?!"
Snape gave a single nod of his head. Lauren stared back at him, not quite believing that he was pulling this stunt. She was about to blatantly refuse, but another whimper punctuated the air.
Lauren glanced at the terrified elf, and then back at Snape.
"For the remainder of this Christmas holiday only?" she asked, having learned her lesson all too well when it came to making a deal with this particular Slytherin.
His smirk broadened at her clarification. "You learn fast. Yes, for this Christmas holiday only."
Lauren glared back at him, desperately trying to think of another way out of this.
"Your answer, Miss Ward."
Another whimper punctuated the air, sounding like nails on a chalk board to Lauren's ears.
"Fine!" Lauren snapped. "I'll stay out of trouble to the best of my abilities for the remainder of this Christmas holiday. There! Happy?!"
Mirth flashed within those dark depths, and then Snape abruptly turned his attention on Artemis. Lauren watched with stunned fascination as he raised his hand and snapped his fingers together. Instantly the raven dropped the offending sock and launched into the air, circling the room once before landing on Severus' shoulder, now the very picture of obedience.
Lauren spared a glance at the house-elf, who had taken the opportunity to scamper back to the relative safety of the kitchen, and then rounded on the two infuriating males in her life.
"If I didn't know better, I would say you two planned all of this..."
"That would be rather sly and very much Slytherin of us," Snape deadpanned. Lauren didn't miss the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Flinging her arm out, Lauren snarled, "Out! And take your blasted bird with you!"
A low chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head, clearly unimpressed. "You need to work on being more formidable, Miss Ward. You thirteen-year-old self hardly induces any fear within a person."
A growl escaped her lips. "I'll show you intimidation, you sneaky bastard," she ground out as she withdrew her wand from the sleeve of her robe, preparing to hex him with a nasty spell. Her wand had barely been freed from its sheath when it was blasted from her hand, clattering to the stone floor.
"You were saying?" Snape asked lazily.
Lauren tore her stunned gaze away from her expelled wand and glanced up to see Snape staring back at her with smugness painted all over his features. His wand was gripped loosely in his pale hand and pointed down at the floor. Lauren was reminded yet once again of what a formidable adversary Snape really was. She hadn't even seen him withdraw his wand, let alone cast the Expelliarmus spell.
Inhaling deeply through her nose, Lauren turned her back on him and marched towards the kitchen. "Smug bastard. Now get out!"
His deep, low chuckle followed her to the other room, and the sudden silence that followed foretold that he had Floo'd out, leaving her very much alone. A loneliness that Lauren found she could not quite tolerate.
Seeking a distraction, she went to look for the house-elf and try and calm her down. Anything to keep her mind off the dark Potion Master. Even if it meant dealing with a wailing elf. Not for the first time Lauren wondered how her life had come to this.
~oOo~
True to her word, Lauren remained house bound and out of trouble for the next few days. She had only ventured out to Diagon Alley once to do some Christmas shopping, but that expedition had been a rather short outing as there were only three people on her Christmas list that she wanted to buy gifts for, and those three people most certainly did not include the Golden Trio.
For Draco, Lauren had found a miniature broom about the size of her hand that had been enchanted to fly and zoom around the air. Upon the handle a few simple words had been engraved: 'Still the best to me.' Lauren suspected that Draco would appreciate this simple gift more than something of great monetary value.
Tracey's gift had been easy this year: posters, key chains and everything Lockhart related that Lauren could get her hands on. She had detested buying them, especially when the shopkeeper had given her a knowing look, thinking that Lauren was purchasing them for herself. It was testament as to how much she valued her friendship with Tracey that she didn't immediately incinerate all the items and had kept them intact long enough to wrap them and send them off to the girl.
Shopping for Severus Snape, on the other hand, had proven near impossible, and Lauren had spent a good portion of her time searching and searching for the right gift for him. Finally she had stumbled upon something in a little store tucked away in a back alley, and Lauren knew as soon as she had laid eyes on the item that it would be the perfect gift.
Lauren awoke Christmas morning to a silent house, which was not out of the norm, and she hadn't expected anything less. There would be no gaggle of people she considered close friends or family congregated around her, wishing her a Merry Christmas and laughing and chatting while passing around gifts. There would be no sense of contentment and merriment filling the air today with its Christmas festivity.
No, empty silence would be her only companion this day, and Lauren was contended with this. It was a way of life she had grown used to.
There were two parcels waiting at the foot of her bed, and Lauren tried to ignore the painful stab in her chest when she realized that there was nothing from Snape – only one each from Draco and Tracey. Not that she had expected anything from the acerbic Potion Master, especially not after his vehement vow that she would never receive another gift from him after her reaction with the obsidian pendant. But still, a small pathetic part of her had been hoping that he would have at least have thought of her. The fact that he hadn't even wished her a Merry Christmas hurt more than it should have.
Lauren sighed and went about opening the Thank You letters from her friends, who had no doubt been up at the crack of dawn in their childish exuberance.
As predicted, Draco had not stated as much, but Lauren could tell that he had been deeply touched by her gift. And, being the prat that he was, had gifted her with a signed and framed poster of Lockhart. He must have had it enchanted as well, for the blasted thing refused to burn to ash in the fireplace, and no other spells left a mark on it. Lauren kicked it to the side and made a mental note to give it to Tracey when she returned back to school.
Tracey's gift was a tongue-in-cheek book on proper etiquette around teachers, and another book on how to make and keep friends. Tracey, it would seem, was still pissed about Lauren's little stunt of turning Lockhart into a peacock.
The rest of the day passed in a blissful and peaceful tranquility, with Blinky making an exceptionally delicious turkey Christmas dinner with all the trimmings to go with it.
Belly now full, Lauren snuggled up in the armchair in front of the crackling fire, becoming deeply immersed in a book (not the ones Tracey had given her – those had mysteriously disappeared).
Suddenly the fireplace flared a brilliant emerald green and Lauren barely had time to register what was happening before a dark form stumbled out, doubled over and shaking silently from head to toe as he clutched at the side of the fireplace for support. It took her a few moments to register that it was Severus Snape.
Oh shit! Something's wrong. Is he hurt?
These rapid-fire thoughts flew through her head as Lauren scrambled from her chair and was instantly at the Potion Master's side.
"Professor Snape? Are you hurt?" she asked, unsure of what to do.
The shaking intensified, and Lauren was starting to grow seriously worried.
Suddenly a foreign sound punctuated the air and it took Lauren a moment to realize that Severus Snape was not hurt but was, in actuality, laughing.
His deep, rich laughter filled the air and all Lauren could do was stand there and stare at him, completely at a loss for words.
What. The. Hell?!...
A few more moments passed and finally Snape straightened up with visible effort.
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" Lauren asked, still unsure what to do. This was a side of him she had not yet encountered.
Snape's already broad grin widened, his black eyes sparkling with mischievous delight. "I've just returned from the Hospital Wing."
Lauren frowned. "Yeah. So?"
Snape bent at the waist, his raven black hair falling in a glossy curtain around his face. "Guess who made a huge mistake with the Polyjuice Potion and managed to turn herself into a cat."
Lauren blinked back at him as realization dawned on her, and she mentally kicked herself for not remaining at the school to witness that sight! That would have been the highlight of her school year. And judging by the mirth dancing within his swirling dark eyes, it was clearly now one of Snape's more memorable moments.
A broad grin of her own stretched upon her lips. "Oh please tell me that you managed to get a picture of Granger as a cat?!"
A pleased glimmer entered his eyes at the fact that Lauren shared his morbid delight at Hermione's misfortune.
Straightening up, Severus shook his head from side to side. "Unfortunately, Dumbledore explicitly warned me to behave myself."
"Pity," Lauren muttered. "I would have loved to have seen that myself. So, I take it you have been tasked with brewing the potion to turn her back to normal?" she asked, choosing to return back to her armchair.
"Yes," Snape replied, settling into the sofa opposite her.
"Can I help you brew it?" Lauren asked, unable to mask her eagerness.
Snape eyed her thoughtfully and finally gave a nod of his head. "Of course. I'll drop by tomorrow and we can brew it together. It should take a few hours to complete, though I may or may not have insinuated that it would take a few weeks to administer the potion and for the effects to take place and for Miss Granger to return back to normal."
Lauren gawped at Snape's obvious twisted and very sadistic sense of humour – a sense of humour that she, too, possessed – and she couldn't control the delighted giggles that escaped her lips. Her giggles quickly morphed into full-blown and unrestrained peals of laughter.
Snape seemed pleased with her reaction and settled back comfortably in the sofa, stretching his long legs out in front of him and folding his long-fingered hands over his middle. In this moment he perfectly emulated a cat of prey; completely relaxed and fluid, but could revert into a dangerous predator in the blink of an eye.
"Oh that's perfect," Lauren wheezed. "Absolutely brilliant!"
Snape inclined his head in smug acknowledgement, a shadow of a smirk playing upon his lips. Then he glanced around the room, his features morphing into that of thoughtfulness.
"You have foregone the usual and annoying festive Christmas decorations," he mused aloud.
"That's because I usually spend Christmas alone. What's the point of decorating when it's only me."
Snape nodded, more to himself than her, but made no other comment as silence settled comfortably between them.
"I haven't seen Artemis, not since this morning," Lauren stated, breaking the lull.
"The greedy bird is currently suffering from what I can only term as a food coma from all the Christmas treats he has scoffed down today, and is currently asleep on the back of my armchair."
"He didn't get the treats by himself. You indulged him, didn't you?" Lauren teased.
"No, I didn't," Snape snapped back.
Lauren grinned at Snape's obvious lie, and his refusal to admit that he held a very soft spot for the raven.
Glimpsing the knowing look she was shooting him, Snape stood in one motion, causing his robes to flare open and reveal his many buttoned cloak underneath. Lauren blinked in surprise at the sight, and then a warm, pleased sensation coursed through her veins at the realization that he was currently wearing the Christmas gift she had given him.
All the buttons had been replaced with the new ones she had purchased for him; each depicting a silvery raven in flight upon them.
Snape caught her staring and promptly pulled his robes shut tightly around him, hiding the fact that not only did he clearly like her gift, but had willingly chosen to wear it.
"You're wearing them," Lauren mused, sitting up straight in her chair.
A frustrated growl echoed in the back of his throat and then Snape snapped churlishly, "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Miss Ward."
Knowing it was best not to push it with him, Lauren nodded and muttered, "Of course. Good night, Professor Snape."
Suddenly a small parcel landed on her lap, causing Lauren to jolt. It was small and palm sized, wrapped in bright shiny red wrapping. Snape clearly had gone back on his vow and had purchased her a Christmas gift. The thought made her almost lightheaded with giddiness ,and her heart started hammering wildly in her chest as she picked up the small present
He actually thought of me...
Lauren glanced up, just catching sight of the tail end of his robe rounding the corner as Snape swept from the room, and her house, without a word of goodbye.
Lauren debated whether to chase after him, but knew he would be long gone by the time she made it to the kitchen fireplace. Instead she settled back in her chair and unwrapped his gift, trying hard to ignore the way her hand was trembling slightly.
Lifting the lid of the tiny box, Lauren frowned. For there inside, nestled among crinkly and crisp white tissue paper, was a small crystal orb about the size of a golf ball. Lauren plucked it up between her thumb and forefinger, lifting it to the light to view it better. Nothing happened, no matter how hard she peered at it.
Placing it aside, Lauren caught sight of a neatly folded note inside the box. Fishing it out, she hastily unfolded it and skimmed over the message scrawled in red and spidery handwriting.
This Orb of Intention will glow blue and be hot to the touch when imminent danger is upon you. Keep it on you at all times, Miss Ward, so that you will be suitably warned of impending danger and may take aprropriate measures to protect yourself.
The note was to the point and held very little thanks or anything personal, but she wouldn't have expected such a thing from him. Snape was not that type of person, and Lauren had to read between the lines to decipher his message. And his message was quite clear. Snape cared about her safety and well being, and by extension her. Between the obsidian charm dangling from her bracelet and this orb, he was trying to protect her as much as he possibly could under the circumstances without giving too much away.
With Snape it was what he didn't say that said the most. His actions spoke louder than any words could.
The warm fuzzy feeling intensified within her chest, settling deep into her very core, and Lauren pocketed the orb, vowing to keep it on her at all times.
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