p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The castle was quiet, it was holiday break, and only 20 students stayed behind, of those twenty; ten were Hufflepuff; five were Ravenclaw; four were Gryffindor, and one was Slytherin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"There wasn't much to do when the castle was this empty, and no classes were going on. There was Hogsmeade, but you had to be supervised. The library was open, but who wants to spend their entire vacation reading?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Severus Snape had only gone back to check on Ace once, she was asleep and wanted to make sure she would make a full recovery. The answer to the latter was yes. He wanted to know if she remembered anything from her incident that she may have said in confidence to Pomfrey, anything she remembered could help with the case against Ms Snyde, and so far the answer was no./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had within a week made a full recovery, but once she had, she went straight back to her dorms and only came out for dinner. No one had seen her since the incident, and she was too afraid to leave her room unless it was for food./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She did have the company of the sea snake if she did so close to go downstairs and talk with it. But for the most part, she stayed in her room. It was a safe Haven for her since the only people who could get in were her, Snape, and Dumbledore. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape was too proud to check on her, and since the Headmaster had other things to attend to, she was left completely and utterly alone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had discovered that the books in Hogwarts didn't contain much genealogy, so her only lead had turned into a red herring. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"People wanted her dead, she was alone, she had no parents, and her birth parents didn't exist. She was grasping at thin air, at straws. Her chest tightened up, and the air left her lungs when she thought about everything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"To say she had panic attacks would be an understatement. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"But, perhaps there was one good thing that came out of this. Cas had left a phial and further instructions for the Animagus potion, and so far she had been successful with the process, but it could still go wrong very quickly if she wasn't careful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had to have a house-elf wake her up every day thirty minutes before sunrise so the sun wouldn't touch her vial and ruin the potion, and every night she had to set the vial out. It was a tedious task, and there was no telling how long it would take for lighting to appear. And that wasn't even mentioning the tricky tongue twisted spell to go with it. So far, she was succeeding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was the end of her first week, and she had no idea how many more weeks were going to be left for the potion, and one week left of free space without Merula there. She should be enjoying the freedom, but instead, she had decided to look herself up in her dorm room and come out once a day. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She heard the pop of a house-elf and looked up from her spot on the bed to see Daisy standing next to the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Dinner is ready, young Master." And she pops back out of the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace sits up, her clothes from yesterday were all wrinkly from sleeping in them, and frankly, the sudden lack of energy to change into new clothes hit her like a freight train. She wasn't even sure she could make it to the great hall in this condition. Perhaps she did need to eat more than one meal every twenty-four hours, maybe that's why she didn't have the energy she used to./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She could hear heavy footsteps coming to her direction, they weren't familiar to her, and she was the only Slytherin here in the castle. So, whoever was coming her direction wasn't going to be kind. She had to run or fight, she had to for her sake, for her well being. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She went to move but pain only shot through her body, and she whimpered louder than she had planned on doing so, and the footsteps only grew louder and faster./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Her heart pounded in her chest so fast she could hear it in her ears, her body turned to ice and froze, and all she could do was sit there and stare at the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The door flung open, and she let out a scream and jumped behind the bed. She shut her eyes as tight as she could and hold her breath, waiting for the person that came through the door to harass o threaten her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape felt the fear, she was projecting once again, and he was more than ready to offer he lesson in legillimency just to get he to stop projecting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Ms Skotadi, there is no one else from your house here." Came Professor Snape voice cool and monotone. "You have nothing to fear." She didn't answer, she kept quiet, her breathing was rapid and shallow, and Snape walked over to the edge of her bed. He sees her hugging herself tightly with her eyes shut even tighter, and he knows what's happening. She's gone into a panic. "Ms Skotadi, I'm not going to hurt you." Her breathing gets heavier, and he knows she'll have issues if he can't get he to stop. Snape couches down in front of her. "Skotadi," he says gently, knowing that if he was equal, and tried to command the room, he would only cause harm to her, and that was the last thing he wanted for he after what she had just been through. "Look at me." She doesn't, in fact, nothing changes, but nothing gets worse, so that was a good sign. He puts a hand on her shoulder, and she freezes. Her breath hitches, her ye slam open and her head snaps up. Herr green eyes pierce into his almost black ones, and all he can see is Lily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Oh, how his heart yearns for her, how he wished he had never joined the death eaters, and how he wished she had never died. What good does it do for the living to wish upon fantasies that will never happen, that is simply… impossible.? What he gives to just see her smile one more time…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Skotadi, it's okay, you're not in danger. I'm the only one here." She takes a deep shuddering breath as tears begin to flow down her face staining her cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I apologize, professor, you shouldn't have to see me like this, or be here for me like this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""The wellbeing of my students, especially those in Slytherin house, is extremely important to me." Snape doesn't know where this softness is coming from, while he meant what he said he never showed it. So, why was she bringing out the softer side of him, that side of him that showed he still had a heart? Was it because she reminded him of Lily, or was there something more?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I'm so sorry you had to put up with me like this." Snape stands up, holding out a hand to her, his first willing act of kindness towards her. Towards anyone really. She switches between staring at him and his outstretched hand and sits there./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Do you want my help or not Skotadi?" She nods and takes his hand. He pulls her up from the floor with more force than she predicted he would and almost slammed into his chest. "Now, I know this is a very sensitive topic for you, and should you feel more comfortable talking with the Headmaster or McGonagall I understand," Both of his hands rest firmly on her shoulders. He isn't breaking contact, and she almost swears he isn't blinking. The height difference between them was quite profound, she had to tilt her head all the way up to meet his gaze now too. "But I need to know if you remember anything." She nods he head yes. And another tear slides down her face. The "incident" was extremely traumatizing for her, and all it did was make her cry, how could someone, who you've done absolutely nothing to, try and hurt you? How could someone hate you that much? What exactly had she done wrong, turned down her friendship cause she was a bully? /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Yes." She squeaks in barely a whisper./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Would you like to talk to someone else-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No." She cuts him off, and Snape quiets. "I mean no, Professor. There's no one else I'd rather talk about it with."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable." Why was he nice to her? She wasn't lily, the only thing that resemblance Lily was her eyes, and that's where it stopped. He wasn't his normal brooding, standoffish self, and no matter how hard he tried, even if he succeeded, he still cared for her in the back of his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You don't." After this whole Merula situation he would have to go back to his normal self, the fact he didn't intimidate her bothered him like nothing ever had before. He wanted her respect, and he evidently didn't have it. "I just don't want to acknowledge that it ever happened, o the fact that it terrifies me." Snape gives a cut nod in understanding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Sit." He commands and helps guide her to the edge of the bed where she sits down. "Have you eaten today?" Snape had noticed she only came out for dinner, and what little gossip thee was had floated around to the Headmaster too, including Skotadi not eating. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""What are you, my mother?" Something dark flashed in his eyes, and she realizes he missed the joke. "Did Dumbledore send you to check up on me and get my story, is that why you're here, cause if so I can speak to the Headmaster-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Oh." She pauses. "Then, to answer your question, no, I haven't." Snape snaps his fingers, and the house-elf appears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Get food for Ms Skotadi." The house-elf nods and disappears with a pop./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You could have at least said please." He turns to glare at her. "Or not…" She mumbles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You need to take better care of yourself Skotadi, or you'll end up sick for the third time this year."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I feel like that should be a record of some sort." She says with a forced smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""That's not something to be proud of." She sighs and shakes her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I'm just trying to lighten the mood, we've got serious issues to discuss and-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""We will discuss them." He cuts off the conversation, and the room goes silent. The house-elf pops back into the room and hands the plate to Skotadi. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Thank you." The house-elf pops out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""What do you remember?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Merula, it was all her, I won't defend her, but I won't go through the trauma again, Professor."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""When Merula goes to trial, you will have to testify what happened, and they will ask you to do a full recount of the incident." A brief pause from him. "What, do you, remember?" She lets out a long sigh and braces herself for what was about to come, for the trauma that was going to attack her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I went for a walk that night, right before curfew, I had just talked to Cas about lineage and the sort. I got a few ways towards your classroom actually. That's when Merula came out of the shadows. She used silenceo and stupefy…" Her voice pitches higher and tears fall down her face, she sniffles and wipes the tears away, only to quickly be replaced by more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""And then I remember being cold, so cold I woke up just as dawn was rising, hands and feet tied," Her voice hitches and she lets out a muffled sob. Severus looks down on her, he hadn't taken a seat yet, and now he hadn't planned to, not after what she was putting herself though for him, for his petty squabble with Dumbledore and the upcoming trial with Merula. Snape knew that this had truly shaken her foundation, which happened to be rock solid, or so he thought. He could see in he eyes that this haunted her, and probably would for years to emcome. He walks up to her and sits on the bed next to her./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I remember I started shivering, and as hard as I tried to stop it, I couldn't. Then, I could feel my feet or hands, and it's not like that would have mattered, mind you with my hands and feet tied up." She takes a deep, shaky breath, and she clutches at her chest. The pain was wracking her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her lungs were burning, and her chest was heaving with every inhale of her breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You need to see Madame Pomfrey." He spits out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No!" She pants out. "No, all she," She says between her breaths. "Does is calm me down, there's nothing she can do." She focuses on her breathing, forcing herself to try and take longer breaths. She tries to focus on something else other than the incident. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"What are five things you can see right now? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She can see the tan cobblestone on the walls, the white floor tile, the green and silver sheets of the beds, the brown wood framing holding the beds, and she turns her head to see Snape./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"What are four things that you can feel? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The silk covers her right-hand lay upon, her soft grey sweater, the stiff white collar that peaks out over the sweater, she can feel the weight of Professor Snape's body sitting next to her on the bed. He was heavier than her, she had to balance so she wouldn't fall into him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Three things I can hear? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The heat that pounded so loudly she can hear it in her ears, the fire in the common room that she swears is magic since it never goes out, and Snape's breathing, calm collected and steady./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Two things you can smell? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The dampness of the room due to it being warmer in the dorms than the water causing condensation to settle on the windows, and there was something herby there. Like the ingredients for potions that haven't been mixed yet, and there was something else, a hint of paper perhaps?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"One thing I can taste?/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" The taste of roast beef that was on the plate for dinner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Her breathing had slowed, and while it was slightly faster than usual, it was manageable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape watched the whole things, of course, curious at what she was doing, he never did figure it out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Are you ready to begin again?" He asks her, and she nods./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I remember shivering in waves, off and on, more intense at a greater interval as time went on, and then I vaguely remember curling up. Then I woke up in the infirmary."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You don't remember anyone rescuing you, or anything else?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No, Professor, I don't." He just stares at her. "Are my answers to your satisfaction?" He stands up, towering over her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""If I see you at all three meals and eating food, I will remove your detentions when school starts back up unless you do something to earn another one that is." He pauses and watches as her eyes go wide, and her mouth hangs open. "Unfortunately for you, Ms Snydes trial date has been set." There was quiet, she was waiting to hear when it was hoping it wasn't soon. She wasn't ready to face a courtroom and tell her recount of what had happened. "It's this upcoming Monday, the 27th."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No." She gasps and puts her head in her face. "I'm not ready! I can't go through what I just went through in front of a room full of judges." She mumbles into her hands. Severus knew what he had to do, knew this was the perfect time to take her under his wing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I may be able to help with it, but you would have to follow my instructions to the 't'. Are we clear?" She looks up to him and nods. "Then I had best you at breakfast tomorrow." She stands up and goes over to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Thank you, Professor, you have no idea what this means to me." She wraps her arms around his waist, and he raises his arms and doesn't hug her back. She pulls away and looks up to him. "Merry Christmas, Professor Snape." Snape nods and then leaves./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape didn't understand why she hugged him, as far as he knew she still hated him. Perhaps this incident had bought them closer, and if that was the case, then the private lessons wouldn't help either of them, especially since Merula had turned her ginger. The orange hair and green eyes only reminded him of Lily. Yet, there were so many differences between her and Lily. Lily was quiet, sweet, understanding, and brilliant; Skotadi was reserved for the most part unless she had a firm belief that something was wrong, Skotadi was bash and pig-headed, and she was understanding when she wanted to be. Brilliant didn't even begin to describe her, she was the brightest witch (or wizard for that matter) he had ever seen, and could very well become more powerful than Voldemort or Dumbledore. She would have to work extremely hard to be better than them, but she could achieve it, she could even make Voldemort scared of touching if she tried hard enough./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was then that he knew, no matter how hard he would try and distance himself from her, she would need his help to survive if she declines to join the death eaters, and he hoped she would. She deserved so much better than what her current life had offered her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace had decided that enough was enough and decided to go downstairs with a book and read on one of the couches near the fireplace./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had taken a shower and changed into a house sweater and sweatpants, they're traditional nightwear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She felt much better after that shower, felt like maybe there was hope again, that possibly if Merula didn't come back, Slytherin could be good to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"As she reaches the bottom of the spiral staircase, she can see Christmas tree sitting against the wall that had been decorated by her peers, and a glimmer of green satin on the ground had caught her eye. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She walks over to the tree, and there were two boxes. One wrapped in brown paper and twine and a decent size, and the other sat on top. It was smaller, no bigger than a jewellery box, and was wrapped in silver with a green satin ribbon. She checked the tags on them, and they were both addressed to her, one was from the Weasley's, and sue she was Bill had gotten her something; but, the little silver and green box didn't say who it was from, but whoever was giving it to he had money, that much was evident by the wrapping./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She kneels down and pulls the presents closer to her and removes the top one of so she can open the big one first. She pulls the twine loose and unwraps the paper where she is met with a note and a sweater./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My mum makes sweaters for us with our initials on it every year, she was counting on you to be here for break./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"I explained your situation, and she understood./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My parents and I hope your search is going well, and that you have made a swift recovery./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My dad extends an offer to you to use the ministry records if you would like./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"We'll see you at the trial./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"With warm regards,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Bill and the Weasley's/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She smiles warmly at the handwritten card he had sent her, he truly was a great friend and was always thinking about her and trying to do what was best./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She picks up the sweater and holds it up. It was solid emerald green with a silver 'A' in the middle of it, and it was the softest material she had ever felt in her life. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She couldn't wait to see him, and she only had to wait a few days./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She finally pulled the small box to her, looking for some kind of sign of who it was from, but could only find that it was addressed to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She pulled the ribbon and carefully opened the box, shocked by what was inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was gorgeous, the most exquisite piece of jewellery she had ever seen in her life. The ring was three silver snakes intertwined with their noses touching a dark green jewel, and in the bottom of the box was a piece of paper that had been folded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"For your protection./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Yet, there was still no indication of who it was from, but when she found out, she would thank them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p style="text-indent: .5in; margin: 12.0pt 0in 12.0pt 0in;"span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #007000;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"There wasn't much to do when the castle was this empty, and no classes were going on. There was Hogsmeade, but you had to be supervised. The library was open, but who wants to spend their entire vacation reading?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Severus Snape had only gone back to check on Ace once, she was asleep and wanted to make sure she would make a full recovery. The answer to the latter was yes. He wanted to know if she remembered anything from her incident that she may have said in confidence to Pomfrey, anything she remembered could help with the case against Ms Snyde, and so far the answer was no./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had within a week made a full recovery, but once she had, she went straight back to her dorms and only came out for dinner. No one had seen her since the incident, and she was too afraid to leave her room unless it was for food./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She did have the company of the sea snake if she did so close to go downstairs and talk with it. But for the most part, she stayed in her room. It was a safe Haven for her since the only people who could get in were her, Snape, and Dumbledore. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape was too proud to check on her, and since the Headmaster had other things to attend to, she was left completely and utterly alone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had discovered that the books in Hogwarts didn't contain much genealogy, so her only lead had turned into a red herring. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"People wanted her dead, she was alone, she had no parents, and her birth parents didn't exist. She was grasping at thin air, at straws. Her chest tightened up, and the air left her lungs when she thought about everything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"To say she had panic attacks would be an understatement. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"But, perhaps there was one good thing that came out of this. Cas had left a phial and further instructions for the Animagus potion, and so far she had been successful with the process, but it could still go wrong very quickly if she wasn't careful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had to have a house-elf wake her up every day thirty minutes before sunrise so the sun wouldn't touch her vial and ruin the potion, and every night she had to set the vial out. It was a tedious task, and there was no telling how long it would take for lighting to appear. And that wasn't even mentioning the tricky tongue twisted spell to go with it. So far, she was succeeding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was the end of her first week, and she had no idea how many more weeks were going to be left for the potion, and one week left of free space without Merula there. She should be enjoying the freedom, but instead, she had decided to look herself up in her dorm room and come out once a day. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She heard the pop of a house-elf and looked up from her spot on the bed to see Daisy standing next to the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Dinner is ready, young Master." And she pops back out of the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace sits up, her clothes from yesterday were all wrinkly from sleeping in them, and frankly, the sudden lack of energy to change into new clothes hit her like a freight train. She wasn't even sure she could make it to the great hall in this condition. Perhaps she did need to eat more than one meal every twenty-four hours, maybe that's why she didn't have the energy she used to./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She could hear heavy footsteps coming to her direction, they weren't familiar to her, and she was the only Slytherin here in the castle. So, whoever was coming her direction wasn't going to be kind. She had to run or fight, she had to for her sake, for her well being. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She went to move but pain only shot through her body, and she whimpered louder than she had planned on doing so, and the footsteps only grew louder and faster./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Her heart pounded in her chest so fast she could hear it in her ears, her body turned to ice and froze, and all she could do was sit there and stare at the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The door flung open, and she let out a scream and jumped behind the bed. She shut her eyes as tight as she could and hold her breath, waiting for the person that came through the door to harass o threaten her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape felt the fear, she was projecting once again, and he was more than ready to offer he lesson in legillimency just to get he to stop projecting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Ms Skotadi, there is no one else from your house here." Came Professor Snape voice cool and monotone. "You have nothing to fear." She didn't answer, she kept quiet, her breathing was rapid and shallow, and Snape walked over to the edge of her bed. He sees her hugging herself tightly with her eyes shut even tighter, and he knows what's happening. She's gone into a panic. "Ms Skotadi, I'm not going to hurt you." Her breathing gets heavier, and he knows she'll have issues if he can't get he to stop. Snape couches down in front of her. "Skotadi," he says gently, knowing that if he was equal, and tried to command the room, he would only cause harm to her, and that was the last thing he wanted for he after what she had just been through. "Look at me." She doesn't, in fact, nothing changes, but nothing gets worse, so that was a good sign. He puts a hand on her shoulder, and she freezes. Her breath hitches, her ye slam open and her head snaps up. Herr green eyes pierce into his almost black ones, and all he can see is Lily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Oh, how his heart yearns for her, how he wished he had never joined the death eaters, and how he wished she had never died. What good does it do for the living to wish upon fantasies that will never happen, that is simply… impossible.? What he gives to just see her smile one more time…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Skotadi, it's okay, you're not in danger. I'm the only one here." She takes a deep shuddering breath as tears begin to flow down her face staining her cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I apologize, professor, you shouldn't have to see me like this, or be here for me like this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""The wellbeing of my students, especially those in Slytherin house, is extremely important to me." Snape doesn't know where this softness is coming from, while he meant what he said he never showed it. So, why was she bringing out the softer side of him, that side of him that showed he still had a heart? Was it because she reminded him of Lily, or was there something more?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I'm so sorry you had to put up with me like this." Snape stands up, holding out a hand to her, his first willing act of kindness towards her. Towards anyone really. She switches between staring at him and his outstretched hand and sits there./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Do you want my help or not Skotadi?" She nods and takes his hand. He pulls her up from the floor with more force than she predicted he would and almost slammed into his chest. "Now, I know this is a very sensitive topic for you, and should you feel more comfortable talking with the Headmaster or McGonagall I understand," Both of his hands rest firmly on her shoulders. He isn't breaking contact, and she almost swears he isn't blinking. The height difference between them was quite profound, she had to tilt her head all the way up to meet his gaze now too. "But I need to know if you remember anything." She nods he head yes. And another tear slides down her face. The "incident" was extremely traumatizing for her, and all it did was make her cry, how could someone, who you've done absolutely nothing to, try and hurt you? How could someone hate you that much? What exactly had she done wrong, turned down her friendship cause she was a bully? /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Yes." She squeaks in barely a whisper./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Would you like to talk to someone else-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No." She cuts him off, and Snape quiets. "I mean no, Professor. There's no one else I'd rather talk about it with."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable." Why was he nice to her? She wasn't lily, the only thing that resemblance Lily was her eyes, and that's where it stopped. He wasn't his normal brooding, standoffish self, and no matter how hard he tried, even if he succeeded, he still cared for her in the back of his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You don't." After this whole Merula situation he would have to go back to his normal self, the fact he didn't intimidate her bothered him like nothing ever had before. He wanted her respect, and he evidently didn't have it. "I just don't want to acknowledge that it ever happened, o the fact that it terrifies me." Snape gives a cut nod in understanding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Sit." He commands and helps guide her to the edge of the bed where she sits down. "Have you eaten today?" Snape had noticed she only came out for dinner, and what little gossip thee was had floated around to the Headmaster too, including Skotadi not eating. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""What are you, my mother?" Something dark flashed in his eyes, and she realizes he missed the joke. "Did Dumbledore send you to check up on me and get my story, is that why you're here, cause if so I can speak to the Headmaster-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Oh." She pauses. "Then, to answer your question, no, I haven't." Snape snaps his fingers, and the house-elf appears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Get food for Ms Skotadi." The house-elf nods and disappears with a pop./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You could have at least said please." He turns to glare at her. "Or not…" She mumbles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You need to take better care of yourself Skotadi, or you'll end up sick for the third time this year."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I feel like that should be a record of some sort." She says with a forced smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""That's not something to be proud of." She sighs and shakes her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I'm just trying to lighten the mood, we've got serious issues to discuss and-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""We will discuss them." He cuts off the conversation, and the room goes silent. The house-elf pops back into the room and hands the plate to Skotadi. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Thank you." The house-elf pops out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""What do you remember?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Merula, it was all her, I won't defend her, but I won't go through the trauma again, Professor."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""When Merula goes to trial, you will have to testify what happened, and they will ask you to do a full recount of the incident." A brief pause from him. "What, do you, remember?" She lets out a long sigh and braces herself for what was about to come, for the trauma that was going to attack her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I went for a walk that night, right before curfew, I had just talked to Cas about lineage and the sort. I got a few ways towards your classroom actually. That's when Merula came out of the shadows. She used silenceo and stupefy…" Her voice pitches higher and tears fall down her face, she sniffles and wipes the tears away, only to quickly be replaced by more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""And then I remember being cold, so cold I woke up just as dawn was rising, hands and feet tied," Her voice hitches and she lets out a muffled sob. Severus looks down on her, he hadn't taken a seat yet, and now he hadn't planned to, not after what she was putting herself though for him, for his petty squabble with Dumbledore and the upcoming trial with Merula. Snape knew that this had truly shaken her foundation, which happened to be rock solid, or so he thought. He could see in he eyes that this haunted her, and probably would for years to emcome. He walks up to her and sits on the bed next to her./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I remember I started shivering, and as hard as I tried to stop it, I couldn't. Then, I could feel my feet or hands, and it's not like that would have mattered, mind you with my hands and feet tied up." She takes a deep, shaky breath, and she clutches at her chest. The pain was wracking her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her lungs were burning, and her chest was heaving with every inhale of her breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You need to see Madame Pomfrey." He spits out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No!" She pants out. "No, all she," She says between her breaths. "Does is calm me down, there's nothing she can do." She focuses on her breathing, forcing herself to try and take longer breaths. She tries to focus on something else other than the incident. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"What are five things you can see right now? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She can see the tan cobblestone on the walls, the white floor tile, the green and silver sheets of the beds, the brown wood framing holding the beds, and she turns her head to see Snape./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"What are four things that you can feel? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The silk covers her right-hand lay upon, her soft grey sweater, the stiff white collar that peaks out over the sweater, she can feel the weight of Professor Snape's body sitting next to her on the bed. He was heavier than her, she had to balance so she wouldn't fall into him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Three things I can hear? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The heat that pounded so loudly she can hear it in her ears, the fire in the common room that she swears is magic since it never goes out, and Snape's breathing, calm collected and steady./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Two things you can smell? /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"The dampness of the room due to it being warmer in the dorms than the water causing condensation to settle on the windows, and there was something herby there. Like the ingredients for potions that haven't been mixed yet, and there was something else, a hint of paper perhaps?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"One thing I can taste?/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" The taste of roast beef that was on the plate for dinner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Her breathing had slowed, and while it was slightly faster than usual, it was manageable./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape watched the whole things, of course, curious at what she was doing, he never did figure it out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Are you ready to begin again?" He asks her, and she nods./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I remember shivering in waves, off and on, more intense at a greater interval as time went on, and then I vaguely remember curling up. Then I woke up in the infirmary."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""You don't remember anyone rescuing you, or anything else?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No, Professor, I don't." He just stares at her. "Are my answers to your satisfaction?" He stands up, towering over her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""If I see you at all three meals and eating food, I will remove your detentions when school starts back up unless you do something to earn another one that is." He pauses and watches as her eyes go wide, and her mouth hangs open. "Unfortunately for you, Ms Snydes trial date has been set." There was quiet, she was waiting to hear when it was hoping it wasn't soon. She wasn't ready to face a courtroom and tell her recount of what had happened. "It's this upcoming Monday, the 27th."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""No." She gasps and puts her head in her face. "I'm not ready! I can't go through what I just went through in front of a room full of judges." She mumbles into her hands. Severus knew what he had to do, knew this was the perfect time to take her under his wing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""I may be able to help with it, but you would have to follow my instructions to the 't'. Are we clear?" She looks up to him and nods. "Then I had best you at breakfast tomorrow." She stands up and goes over to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;""Thank you, Professor, you have no idea what this means to me." She wraps her arms around his waist, and he raises his arms and doesn't hug her back. She pulls away and looks up to him. "Merry Christmas, Professor Snape." Snape nods and then leaves./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Snape didn't understand why she hugged him, as far as he knew she still hated him. Perhaps this incident had bought them closer, and if that was the case, then the private lessons wouldn't help either of them, especially since Merula had turned her ginger. The orange hair and green eyes only reminded him of Lily. Yet, there were so many differences between her and Lily. Lily was quiet, sweet, understanding, and brilliant; Skotadi was reserved for the most part unless she had a firm belief that something was wrong, Skotadi was bash and pig-headed, and she was understanding when she wanted to be. Brilliant didn't even begin to describe her, she was the brightest witch (or wizard for that matter) he had ever seen, and could very well become more powerful than Voldemort or Dumbledore. She would have to work extremely hard to be better than them, but she could achieve it, she could even make Voldemort scared of touching if she tried hard enough./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was then that he knew, no matter how hard he would try and distance himself from her, she would need his help to survive if she declines to join the death eaters, and he hoped she would. She deserved so much better than what her current life had offered her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace had decided that enough was enough and decided to go downstairs with a book and read on one of the couches near the fireplace./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She had taken a shower and changed into a house sweater and sweatpants, they're traditional nightwear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She felt much better after that shower, felt like maybe there was hope again, that possibly if Merula didn't come back, Slytherin could be good to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"As she reaches the bottom of the spiral staircase, she can see Christmas tree sitting against the wall that had been decorated by her peers, and a glimmer of green satin on the ground had caught her eye. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She walks over to the tree, and there were two boxes. One wrapped in brown paper and twine and a decent size, and the other sat on top. It was smaller, no bigger than a jewellery box, and was wrapped in silver with a green satin ribbon. She checked the tags on them, and they were both addressed to her, one was from the Weasley's, and sue she was Bill had gotten her something; but, the little silver and green box didn't say who it was from, but whoever was giving it to he had money, that much was evident by the wrapping./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She kneels down and pulls the presents closer to her and removes the top one of so she can open the big one first. She pulls the twine loose and unwraps the paper where she is met with a note and a sweater./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Ace,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My mum makes sweaters for us with our initials on it every year, she was counting on you to be here for break./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"I explained your situation, and she understood./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My parents and I hope your search is going well, and that you have made a swift recovery./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"My dad extends an offer to you to use the ministry records if you would like./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"We'll see you at the trial./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"With warm regards,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Bill and the Weasley's/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She smiles warmly at the handwritten card he had sent her, he truly was a great friend and was always thinking about her and trying to do what was best./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She picks up the sweater and holds it up. It was solid emerald green with a silver 'A' in the middle of it, and it was the softest material she had ever felt in her life. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She couldn't wait to see him, and she only had to wait a few days./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" She finally pulled the small box to her, looking for some kind of sign of who it was from, but could only find that it was addressed to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"She pulled the ribbon and carefully opened the box, shocked by what was inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"It was gorgeous, the most exquisite piece of jewellery she had ever seen in her life. The ring was three silver snakes intertwined with their noses touching a dark green jewel, and in the bottom of the box was a piece of paper that had been folded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"For your protection./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;"Yet, there was still no indication of who it was from, but when she found out, she would thank them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #0e101a;" /span/p
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