Chapter 9: Half-Blood
She and Hermione on a Hogwarts staircase. It is moving and Hermione is still laughing. "Hogwarts is amazing," she says, "sometimes I can't believe this is my life."
"Welcome to the world of magic Hermione," Selina says, "get ready. It's all very confusing."
"It's wonderful," Hermione breathes.
Selina feels someone dreaming. He is looking for her.
Severus Snape is below her, sitting on a bench. He is the same age as her, but if they were to stand shoulder-to-shoulder she would tower over the slight boy. He is thin and skittish. She sees traces of Harry in the way he looks around nervously. His dream is quiet. No birds fly overheard and no children play in the nearby park.
A branch snaps. Severus jumps up, turning his head sharply towards the noise. A girl approaches him. She is a burst of colour in the dim surroundings. Her hair is luminescent in the sun.
She sits beside him, looking around nervously.
"Look, Sev," she whispers and shows him a dead flower. She whispers into her hand and brings the flower back to life, its grey petals reversing in time, regaining their brightness and colour. Her blue eyes are illuminated with joy. She twists her hand and the flower floats away. She laughs, high and melodic. It's magic.
"Selina," Severus whispers to the girl, losing himself in her eyes, that should be green and not blue, "Show yourself."
Selina wakes up happy. She hadn't walked through a new person's dreams in over a year. She forgot how wonderful that first contact felt. How intimate and personal sharing a dream is, unlike any interaction in the waking world. Except for maybe when her and Harry were very young, sharing their cupboard and being everything for the other. Severus had called her to his dreams, had invited her to his mind.
The other girls in her dormitory are already up and getting ready for the day. Selina runs a brush through her hair and clips hair around her face with a green velvet barrette. If she had inherited her mother's eyes as Harry had, she would be nearly identical to the girl of Snape's dream. She thinks of her mother, eleven years old, coming to Hogwarts from the muggle world. How she must have felt, surrounded by magic for the first time. And then encountering the cruel absurdity of blood politics.
"You better figure out your wand today, half-blood," Pansy is standing behind her, watching Selina put citrine earrings in. Selina looks at Pansy through the mirror. The girl wears a hard expression. She is determined to dislike Selina.
"I'll try," Selina says, turning around to face her, "any advice?"
Pansy scoffs at her and walks away.
Daphne is getting ready at the dresser next to Selina. She is arranging a black ribbon into her blonde bob. "I would talk to Flitwick if you continue to have trouble," Daphne advises from her mirror, "and make sure your movements are exact." Daphne flicks her wand and casts accio. Her book bag floats towards her.
"I will, thanks Daphne."
Daphne doesn't look at her. She links arms with Pansy and the girls head off to breakfast. They leave Selina behind, again, who had not yet put on her boots. Once they leave, Selina calls Kaya to her to make sure the snake hadn't stolen anything else from any housemates in the night. Kaya crawls up her leg and settles into her pouch, a comforting weight against Selina's skin. Selina grabs her expanded satchel with her wand, books and quills inside and leaves for the Great Hall. Draco waits for her in the corridor. He is glaring at her, a threat behind his eyes. He stands in the corner, his wrist twitches and his wand is in hand.
"Good morning Draco," she says in a sing-song voice.
He grabs her harshly and pins her against the wall.
"What did you do to me?" he hisses, pushing his body against hers. She can feel his wand prodding into her side.
"It's a secret," she says, unafraid of the boy who has foolishly bound himself to her. Draco's face twists at her words.
"Potter," he seethes, "what you did is illegal. How did you compel me to go along with that madness?"
"I didn't cast a spell. Magic guided us," she whispers into his ear.
"You have made yourself a dangerous enemy, Potter," he spits, "when I tell my father what you have done to me."
Selina regards Draco calmly. She places her hand on her chest and says to him seriously, "You have made me a vow, Draco. Can't you feel it? You won't tell anyone. You can't tell anyone anything about me."
Draco turns red and digs his wand harder into her side. He starts to incant a curse.
"Kaya, crawl around Draco's neck,"
Draco cries as Kaya jumps from Selina's robe and wraps around his neck.
"I am surprised you forgot about Kaya so soon. Don't try to attack me again, Draco," she warns, walking away from him and off to breakfast.
"Kaya to me," she whispers as she leaves the common room. The snake flees from Draco and hurries back to its mistress. Draco is left in the corridor, panting in fear.
She makes it to the Great Hall the fastest yet. She makes no wrong turns and congratulates herself when she makes into the cavernous room full of students. Hermione sees her approach their table and makes a space for Selina to squeeze into among the rambunctious Gryffindors.
"Harry!" Selina says in greeting, "I heard you got every spell yesterday!"
"So did Hermione," Harry says, looking towards the bushy-haired girl.
"You were faster than me in transfiguration."
"You beat me in charms."
"Okay, you're both amazing!" Selina says with false exasperation, "I get it!"
"I heard you couldn't get even one spell yesterday," says Ron Weasley, who sits across from Harry says, "even Longbottom managed a lumos."
"Ron!" Hermione says in outrage.
"What?" asks Ron.
"Uh, yeah," blushes Selina, "maybe I'll get it today."
Harry gives Ron a hard look.
"Don't worry," Hermione says reassuringly, "you're an amazing witch."
"Yeah," Harry says, "you're the most powerful of anyone here. You'll get it," surprising Selina. Harry doesn't often talk about her unusual magical abilities. And if he does, it's generally because he is worried or nervous about Selina's extra-oddness.
"I don't know about that mate," interjects Ron, again, "you're the boy-who-lived, and besides wizards are usually more powerful than witches anyways."
Hermione shoots Ron the coldest look Selina has ever seen from her. Selina grins at Harry. He grins back. She is glad he and Hermione are friends. They'll be good for each other.
"I don't know about that Ron," says Selina, "Daphne Greengrass, a witch in my class, performed a perfect summoning charm this morning. That's a fifth-year spell."
"She did?" Hermione asks, in horror, looking at Harry to convey the urgency with which they should study.
"I know," says Selina grimly, "and meanwhile, I'd have as much luck using a pencil to cast spells."
Ron laughs at that.
Selina's classmates continue to ignore her. And as she expected, she fails to cast any spells. McGonagall tells her to ask another student for help and Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, tells her to practice every night for at least an hour, focusing on pronunciation and precise movements. At every failure, her classmates cast significant glances at each other. Slytherin House prided itself on having ambitious and achieving students. Potter, the half-blood, was making them look bad.
As she walks between classes, Selina watches the portraits and keeps a sharp eye for ghosts. She saw them when they made their grand entrance for the welcome feast but hasn't seen any since. She is curious about ghosts. In Riona's time, they didn't exist.
In potions, Severus Snape refuses to look at her. He doesn't even goad Harry. Rather, he ignores both Potter children entirely. Selina is disappointed. She thought he would say something. He knew she was in his dream. He sought her out. She felt him and surely he felt her. It's an intimate thing, to share dreams.
Selina partners with Hermione and shows her how to set up a brewing station, how to arrange bowls and tools and how to adjust the temperature on the enchanted gas burner. A potion's burner is one of the few muggle imports commonly used in the wizarding world. Most wizards have a hard time controlling a fire to the exact degree needed with their wands. Selina notices that Snape does not have a burner under his cauldron, at the front of the class.
Once their station is set up, Hermione takes the lead with ease. She follows the instructions precisely and makes a high quality boil-cure potion by the time class ends. "You're good at brewing," Selina compliments, "you pay close attention."
"It's like cooking or science," Hermione says, "not very difficult if you read the instructions."
"It's not like that," Selina says, "there is no science behind potions. The ingredients are more important than the instructions." Before Hermione can ask more, the bell rings and Selina has Defence Against the Dark Arts. "Ask Harry," Selina says, "he's a good brewer."
"He says you're better," Hermione says as they pack their books and part ways.
Selina smirks, "of course I am. Riona is obsessed with brewing."
In the main corridors and classrooms of the vast school, her classmates ignore her, and she moves in obscurity, but when she makes her way into the south part of the castle, below the ground and through the many winding corridors of the dungeon, it's another matter entirely. She hears voices echoing around a corner from her. There are no doors in this corridor, just two turns at either end and another turn that leads to a dead end.
"Did you hear that Potter hasn't cast a single spell?" The voice of an older boy echoes around the corner to Selina. They are ahead of her.
"The boy-who-lived can't cast?" A girl asks. Selina can hear the excitement in her voice at the prospect of Harry being a failure, the tantalizing prospect if the boy hero did not live up to his heightened reputation.
"No, his sister. The Slytherin."
"Disgraceful," the girl says, "a Slytherin who can't cast spells. It's the second day already."
"Carrow thinks she's a squib," he says.
"She wouldn't have gotten her letter if she was a squib," the girl argues, "but she could have hardly any magic at all. Her mother was a mudblood, after all."
"A half-blood in Slytherin house is already disgraceful enough," he agrees.
Selina stands back. She doesn't want them to see her. She hangs back in the dead end for a while, until she hears no voices. She treads lightly through the corridors and listens carefully. She is relieved once she is in her bed, in the safety and sanctity of dreams.
The next day is much of the same. Selina cannot cast a thing. She tries her best and practices movement between classes and during lunch. But it's hopeless. Her wand is inert.
At lunch, Pansy Parkinson begins to mock Selina over egg sandwiches.
"I suppose you'll drop out over the weekend, half-blood," Pansy sneers, "you are an embarrassment to us. You should just leave. Unless of course you cast a spell. But if you haven't managed by now…"
"There are other types of magic other than spells," Selina defends herself, "I'm the best brewer in the class."
"Potions is hardly real magic Potter," Draco hisses, hatred dripping from every word.
"Yeah," Pansy agrees, "that's woman magic. Without a wand, you are just pathetic. You don't belong in Slytherin. You hardly would even belong in Hufflepuff," she finishes with a laugh.
"Are you sure you are the best brewer?" Daphne asks, "I saw that Granger did your whole potion yesterday." Selina shouldn't be surprised that Daphne was paying attention to her. Daphne watches everyone closely.
"I've been brewing at home for two years. I even made veriteserum last summer," Selina brags.
"That's a restricted potion," Daphne says coolly.
"Oh," Selina says, "uh I didn't know." Her face feels hot and she looks down.
"It doesn't matter if you can brew," Pansy asserts, "you aren't a real witch until you cast a spell."
"You're right," Tracey says to Pansy, "apparently even squibs can make some potions."
Selina finishes her sandwich and heads to herbology, once again, by herself. She sees Draco's eyes on her, but when she turns to him, he averts them.
Riona is inside a Roman house. Through the window, she sees wizards surround the house, ready to break open the door to kill her, Aiva, and Stefan. They should not have come here. Riona's mother had insisted that she try to talk to the governor, to negotiate a much-needed peace after their previous peace has collapsed. The Bretha had been hunted and raped, and they have killed in return. The Prophetess begged for an end to the violence, for a peace to be negotiated.
But the Emperor's reinstated governor did not accept her offer, and Riona's mother was impaled by a sword, before her eyes. Riona saw the slaughter of her mother's inner coven, all eight of them, struck down by wand and sword. Their spells are fast, and the witches had nowhere to flee, any advantage they have, they left behind in the woods.
Riona escapes with Aiva and Stefan, but just barely. Their coven has been decimated, but Riona must survive. She looks to her sister, only eight, looking to Riona desperately to save them all. Aiva and Stefan should have waited in the woods. Riona's mother was wrong to lead them all here, to their deaths. A mundane Roman family stands in the back of the house, waiting fearfully for the witches to do something, or for the wizards to break in.
"Riona," Stefan bids her urgently, fear in his eyes and spurring her to action. They don't have much time. Riona calls to the snake in her basket. A magical beast blessed with powers of persuasion. She had done the ritual on her own to bless the snake, with the help of Aiva and Stefan, both bound to her and united with her in magic.
She speaks to the magical snake in their shared tongue, "Send these people into the streets. Bid them to attack the wizards with all their strength, with their entire lives." The snake hisses in agreement and approaches the family, hissing and dancing with its neck, drawing the family into its compulsion. The family runs outside, throwing themselves at the wizards with knives held before them, meeting their deaths head on and fearlessly.
"Run," Selina urges to her companions. They escape the house and flee down the street to the city gates. Spells hit the ground behind them, but they are all quick in their movements. The wizard miss their mark.
Riona prays to the earth under her breath, giving the Roman family, fighting to their deaths, as a sacrifice to the dirt and the plants. She whispers the gift of their blood and bones in exchange for her safety and the safety of her followers.
Stefan glances at her as soon as it is safe and they have fled far from the city, deep into the woods. They breathe easy as they stop running. Stefan is not happy. He thinks she does not respect life enough, that her regard for others, especially non-witch others, is practically none.
"What else could I have done?" Riona asks with a cry. Her mother's death plays over in her head. She had gone to her knees, her proud mother, the powerful Prophetess. She had knelt to the interloper, the foreign pirate governor, and had been killed on the spot. Riona burns in anger.
"She gave herself up," Selina asks, "and all of her friends. Why?"
"She likely saw a vision," Riona says, "our position was desperate."
"Vengeance is yours," Selina feels the magic of retribution and of broken vows.
"Power is mine to take," Riona says, "in that, we are similar."
Selina waits for Draco outside the boy's dormitory, "Kaya," she says, "fetch Draco. Don't let anyone else see you." If Kaya could smile, she would have. She eagerly darts into the room. Riona's fear still races through Selina. She shakes herself into her reality and out of Riona's. A minute later, Selina hears Draco yelp and hurry in the hallway.
He is panicked and pale. Kaya rests around his neck, "Potter, get your snake off me." He says, trying to move his mouth as little as possible.
"I think she likes you," Selina says.
"Get. It. Off."
"Kaya, to me," Draco shudders at the sound of Parsletongue. Selina laughs in delight at the fear that she can feel, deep in his vow to her. She feels his fear and his attraction.
"You fear me," Selina tells him, matter-of-factly, "You don't have to. If you don't raise your wand to me, that is."
"What do you want?" he says, ensuring that every word sounds as hateful as he can manage.
"I want you to walk me to and from the Great Hall."
"What?" Draco looks outraged by the request.
"People hate me," Selina says, and admits in a whisper, "I'm afraid of these blood fanatics."
"Why in the world would I help you, Potter?" Draco seethes, "you are just a wretched half blood. I might hate you the most."
"I also need you to help me with my wand," she continues, as if Draco hadn't spoken, "sit with me in transfiguration and charms."
Draco scoffs, "I won't. Shove off, Potter."
Selina frowns a bit at that. "I have ways to make you," she points out.
"I'm not following for your tricks again, Potter," he seethes, "you won't get me alone."
Selina looks around at the empty hallway, "well done?"
"Whatever," he says, turning towards his dormitory, "don't talk to me."
"Look at me," she commands him, feeling the vow connecting them. With a magical vow between them, it's even easier to push her will over Draco's, "come close." He has no resistance against her. Draco steps close. "Walk with me to breakfast. And sit beside me in the Great Hall."
Draco's eyes glaze and he walks with her out of the common room and all the way to the Great Hall. They walk in silence. They get to the Great Hall, and he sits beside her. As he eats, his own consciousness returns to the forefront of his mind. He looks around, confused. His eyes settle on the girl beside him, eating oatmeal and drinking tea. He prepares himself breakfast, trying not to reveal his panic over what had just happened. He remembers walking with her and taking the seat beside her. Except but it was like he was only a passenger in his own body. It makes Draco think of the imperius curse. But Potter can't use a wand. And even if she could, the imperius curse is very difficult to master. When breakfast is over, neither has said a word.
Selina leans over to Draco and whispers, "help me in transfiguration or I will make you." Draco nods and clenches his fists. He follows behind Selina. They passes Snape in the hallways. Snape, as he has been since that first day and first dream, ignores Selina but watches Draco closely, who avoids looking at his godfather. Seated in desks, Draco keeps his back turned from her. Professor McGonagall has written the lesson's plan on the board. Pansy, meanwhile, is sitting without a partner and makes significant glances towards Draco. Draco steals a sideway glance at Selina and widens his eyes, trying to communicate with Pansy despite the vow that binds him and the magic that compels him.
So far, the class (except for Selina) has turned a matchstick into a needle, and a button into a penny. Today, they will turn an old quill into a pincushion. It was the most challenging transformation so far. After McGonagall writes the incantation on the board and practice the movements with the entire class, the students are left to work. McGonagall approaches Selina and speaks to her quietly in her Scottish accent, "Ms. Potter, have you managed to transfigure your matchstick yet?" Selina is grateful that McGonagall is being discreet, but she knows the entire class watches her, eager to witness her continued failures. Selina shakes her head and doesn't look at the teacher. "Have you spoken to Professor Snape?" McGonagall asks, "perhaps you would benefit from some tutoring."
"Thank you, professor," Selina says shyly, "but Draco has offered to help me today. I'm sure I'll figure it out."
"Very well, that is generous of you Mr. Malfoy, fifteen points to Slytherin for helping a classmate," Selina smirks at Draco. He doesn't smile back.
"Okay, Potter," Draco says, as soon as McGonagall leaves to assist Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff, "show me your spell." Selina takes out her hardly used cherry wand and points it at the matchstick. She incants the spell. The matchstick remains the same. Draco watches closely.
"You're doing everything right, as far as I can tell. Watch me." He points at the matchstick and transfigures it perfectly. There is no visible spell, but Selina can see the matchstick wobble, then explode into something new.
"I don't get it," Selina says frustratedly, "I can tell that your magic likes your wand. My wand hates me I think."
Draco rolls his eyes, "it's your wand Potter. Make it like you." Selina tries again but fails. Over and over. She is nearly in tears by the end of the class but refuses to let Draco see her. Draco manages to transform his quill half-way through class and focuses his attention on Selina. But Draco doesn't understand what her problem is. "It's a mental block, Potter," Draco says, "you have magic. Obviously." He glances to her robe, where Kaya sleeps.
"My magic is different," Selina says, "I don't think I can do this."
"Well then," Draco says, with a sincere smile, "you'd have to go home, wouldn't you?"
"I suppose so," Selina says. She is sad. Regulus had so much faith that she could figure out her wand, but he is wrong. "Reg promised me that I'd be able to figure it out."
"Did he?" Draco says, "according to the prophet, and my father, Regulus Black was talented. And twisted. How did you end up with him? Is it true you were once with muggles?"
"You wouldn't be able to tell anyone anyways. Why do you even care?"
Draco hisses under his breath to her, "did he teach you how to do illegal rituals?"
"We can talk about it later, if you're so interested," Selina says, "but no, Regulus is not my teacher." Selina thinks of Regulus, her godfather and remembers she hasn't dreamed with him in weeks. She misses him.
Selina meets Regulus in his dream. He is with Severus Snape on the astronomy tower. Severus is becoming a man; his shoulders grow broad and his posture is straight. Regulus is still slight and boyish. He is angular, with sharp cheekbones and thin face. His black hair falls messily out of a ponytail and onto his face. They both look very serious.
Regulus steps towards Severus and says something to him. He takes hold of Severus' hand.
"Selina," Regulus is speaking to her, "this isn't something I want you to see."
"Do you love him?" Selina asks, "Severus?"
"I did love him, at one point," Regulus says, "I don't anymore."
Regulus is quiet as they sit in his desperation and his heartbreak.
They walk through the corridors of Hogwarts. Regulus is her age, and they walk side by side to the common room. They follow the twists and the turns through the basement corridors. Selina yearns for companionship in the Hogwarts of reality. Regulus clasps her hand.
"I was lonely in these dungeons for many years," he says, "I hope you do not suffer the same fate." They are lounging in the Slytherin common room on the big couches. Regulus dreams the room as enormous and dark except for the fireplace illuminating the three of them. Dream-Severus is sitting nearby, reading a book. "Slytherin House was difficult for me when I was at Hogwarts. I expect it will be even more difficult for you." Regulus cautions, taking a tea from a passing house elf and glancing towards Severus. Regulus' voice echoes through the room.
"I am a half-blood." Selina says, "and I still haven't cast a spell."
"You have strengths Selina," Regulus says to her, "many strengths, but you are not invincible either."
"I have Kaya with me," Selina says, imagining a dream version of the snake to run through her fingers.
Regulus smirks. They sit in front of the fireplace; Selina rests her head on Regulus' shoulder.
Accompanied by Draco, Selina heads to Snape's office. Last night, in the common room, a group of sixth-years cornered her and 'advised' her to improve or face the consequences. Selina thinks they would attack her. She feels the strength of their hatred. And Regulus had warned her of the violence of Slytherin.
Having Draco with her makes her feel better. At least with him, she doesn't have to hide herself. And he is an heir, so she doesn't think older students would confront her with Malfoy at her side. He really hates her though, which is unfortunate. Especially because she is starting to enjoy his hilariously over-inflated sense of self and acerbic tone.
That morning in charms, Professor Flitwick was very concerned by her continued inability to cast a spell, already a week into the term. Like McGonagall, he asked her to speak with her Head of House.
His office is on the same side of the castle at the Slytherin dormitories. But his office is on the eighth floor or maybe the ninth, Selina is unsure. Hogwarts likes to move around. Although the Slytherin dorms are always in the same place, down deep in the dungeons, even below the Black Lake. Selina is sure that without charms, the place would be infested with mildew like the abandoned root cellar she found at Regulus' farm in the summer.
"I wish Slytherin House was on a higher floor," Selina says to Draco, "the views of the forest from up here are amazing."
"It's tradition to stay in the dungeon," Draco says snappishly, "Salazar Slytherin put the enchantments in the House himself."
"Well," Selina says, "the corridors are not great. You know, dark, and long, and drippy. And it takes so long to get anywhere."
"Gryffindor is apparently on the 30th floor or something ridiculous," Draco says.
"I think I saw a ghost in the basement the other day, not one of the regular ones either," Selina changes the subject, "a woman. Do you know her?"
"No," Draco says.
"Ghosts are creepy," Selina says, "do you know that the oldest ghost alive is only one thousand years old?"
"Who cares?" Draco dismisses.
"Why aren't there older ghosts?" Selina asks, "or did something happen a thousand years ago that make it possible to become a ghost? Or do ghosts have an expiry date?"
"Seriously Potter," Draco snaps, "nobody cares about ghosts. And I don't know what an 'expiry date' is, muggle."
"Will you wait for me while I talk to Snape?" She asks him. They've reached a tall door with a golden plaque with Severus Snape written in calligraphy.
"If I say no, will you force me?" he challenges her.
"Fine," Selina says, "just leave then."
After knocking, Snape lets her in. He has a nice office, with a good view of the Hogwarts grounds where she can see students milling about.
"Ms. Potter," he says, without looking up from his desk, where he scribbles on parchment with an eagle-feather quill. Selina searches his office. He has no personal effects, no pictures or objects, nothing that reveals who the man is.
"Professor Snape," she says, taking the seat across from him.
He won't look at her.
"Sit down, Potter," he says shortly, "I'm busy, so please, be quick about it."
"I can't use my wand, sir," she says, placing the holly instrument on the table. Snape looks at the wand. Selina wonders if he is thinking of her mother again, who also carried a holly wand.
"What do you want me to do about it?" he asks, returning his attention to the parchment.
"The other teachers told me I should ask you for help."
"If you can't manage a single incantation, I think you are beyond my help." He says shortly.
Selina watches his black hair move as he continues to write furiously. Selina says nothing, waiting for him.
"Is there anything else?" he prompts, after a few minutes.
"Why won't you look at me?" She watches his smooth handwriting flow from his quill.
"Surely, you know the answer to that Potter. Don't play dumb," his tone is acerbic, dripping with impatience and contempt for the girl across from him.
Selina is hurt, "I thought you would help me." Snape says nothing as he continues to write on his parchment. With a sigh, she gets up to leave.
"Potter," Snape adds as she is nearly at the door, "if you don't manage a spell by Christmas, you best not come back."
Selina stands up, feeling tears well from Snape's abrupt manner. He had no compassion for her at all. In fact, like Draco, he would love to see the back of her. Selina walks to the common room alone, feeling comfort in the weight of Kaya, sleeping against her skin. People stare at her as she passes them, many of the Slytherin's openly glare and mutter.
In the common room she sees Draco sitting with Theo and Daphne. She approaches Draco directly. "I won't need your assistance any more Draco," Selina says, "thank you for all your help." She leaves Draco there, probably to tell whatever lie he told his friends to explain why he has been walking with Selina Potter to meals and sitting with her in classes.
Selina doesn't want to be around someone who hates her. She will have to protect herself if she finds herself at the end of a wand, even if is forced to reveal some of her secrets. She is alone down here, with a single friend. Selina must gather her coven to grow in power. But how is she supposed to do that if everyone hates her? Selina hears Riona whisper to her as she drifts to sleep 'power is already yours, Dreamwalker.'
Severus is in potions class. A large man with a huge moustache is looking into his cauldron.
"Ooho!" the large man says, "a delightful improvement," he compliments, "you two, as ever, never fail to impress me."
Severus grins at the girl next to him. He and Lily behind a cauldron were a strong duo. His precision and her intuition made for the strongest brews. He sees blue eyes in her face, searching and open. His smile disappears.
"Leave," he snarls.
Severus is in his office. A red headed girl sits across from him, her wand placed on his desk. He is drawn into her gaze like a fish caught in a whirlpool in the middle of the ocean.
"Selina," he says, "I asked you to leave."
She speaks to Severus for the first time in the dream world. "What did you do to the potion?" she asks, looking into the cauldron. A sleeping draught, maybe?
"Why are you here?" Severus asks, "why do you insist on haunting me?"
"Haunting you? We are dreaming, Severus."
"I want you to leave," he says. She feels his shame and his rage, colouring his memory and twisting Lily into Selina, love into fear.
"I feel your regret," Selina whispers, "and your shame. They will destroy you, Severus Snape."
"Leave me! You are not welcome here!" Snape yells out, again, as if he could evict her from his mind. He had already invited her in.