I tried to keep to myself next few days since I had no friends except for Ariana and Harry, but both of them were sort of angry on me at that time. Therefore, it was not that difficult to achieve it. Plus, thanks to knowing Marcuse's schedule, I managed to omit meeting him for next five days. If you think about it, it was really an achievement, we were in the same house after all.
There was one person in Hogwarts who apparently worried about me and didn't want to just let me be. I didn't mind professor Snape's attention thought. In fact, I enjoyed.
It was him who proposed me to come to study for my NEWTs in his cabinet, so that the other students (ok, he used other, meaner, word to call the students) didn't disturb me. We both knew he just didn't want me to suffer in Marcuse's presence. It made it even sweeter gesture for me.
I came to him after dinner almost every day and studied, while he was preparing some potions for Madame Pomfrey, sorting ingredients correcting essays, reading Daily Propeth or even going out to take care of something and leaving me alone in his office...
I usually stayed until ten, last few minutes with tea cup in my hands and discussing something with Professor or just listening to him explaining me where to find a rather precious ingredient for a potion, about mischievous Weasley twins or sometimes even about the times when he used to be a student at Hogwarts.
It was Friday and on my way to Professor Snape's office the inevitable happened... I met Marcus.
At first, I didn't realize I am not alone in the corridor. I was deep in my thoughts, thinking about how thing went wrong with Harry and Ariana for me. 'Am I that bad person that no-one wants to talk to me?' I thought to myself. 'Ah, but... I have at least uncle Remus and professor Snape. They care.'
Luckily, I was few steps from professor Snape's door, so I fastened my pace and hurriedly knocked on his door, doing everything to omit looking at Marcus. I failed. It was stronger than me, I had to look at me. His icy eyes made me freeze. He looked at me from above, shoving me he is much more then me. Suddenly, his expression changed and he was not sure of himself anymore. That's when I realized professor Snape opened the door and had full view of me standing next to his door and Marcus few steps behind me, observing me.
"Get out," professor hissed and Marcus almost sprinted out of the corridor. I must say that at that moment, I was afraid too. But I was not afraid of professor, no. Instead, I was afraid about him, so that he wouldn't harm Marcus and end up in Azkaban.
Thanks Merlin, Marcus left and there was no reason for him to use his wand against Marcus.
Since then, I was not afraid of Marcus because I knew he wouldn't dare to touch me anymore.
Also, I realized that I don't like Marcus anymore. My heart belonged to somebody else. Somebody who cared about me. Somebody very intelligent with no shallowness.
It was a short moment of realization when I acknowledged that I was in love with professor Snape and did not know what to do about it.
I felt free, lost and clueless where it was leading.
...
We walked in quick strides down the corridor towards the fourth floor. Exactly the place headmaster Dumbledore warned us about not to go to in the beginning of the school year.
When I said we, I think I should have rather said, Professor Snape was the one who walked in quick strides, while I was almost running, trying to keep up with his pace. I was tall for a girl, but he was even taller than me.
My breathing got louder and I wouldn't be surprised if he told me some mean remark about it. He didn't though. There was no time, we had to hurry to save Harry.
I was not even surprised about three headed dog and don't even know how we got past it and other obstacles on our way. Professor Snape must have done something, but I don't remember.
Finally, there was Harry's skinny body lying on the ground.
"Harry!" I cried out loud and hurried toward him. He was unconscious.
Snape leaned over him and cast some spells I couldn't hear. I was also leaning over Harry's body, not knowing what to do, how to help professor...
Suddenly, we were not alone, there was Professor McGonnagall and headmaster Dumbledore, also casting spells and levitating the boy to infirmary. I had no idea how they came in, I was in that big shock.
"Thank you Severus for informing us, we will take care of it now. Go to Ms Black," Dumbledore told professor Snape and they left in a hurry.
"Camille, are you allright?" he asked me and I realized everything was shaking slightly and there were strange noises. And then I realized it was me. I was crying.
He approached me and put his hand on my arm. When he saw I am not resisting, he hugged me.
"Shh... Don't worry. He will be fine," his deep voice tried to call me down. It worked with the combination of the hug that lasted at least for one minute.
"Come, I will make us tea," he offered, his face pale as always but his eyes... his eyes were full of life.
I automatically held his hand and I could see he wanted to object but something stopped him.
We went to dungeons, to his private quarters and I sat on the green couch by his fireplace, finally releasing his hand from a rather tight grip. It must have hurt him, I am sure. He did not complain. He rarely complained about me.