AN: Ack! I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd posted! I'm really, really sorry! Now, last chapter you saw a little bit of a tender side to Snape and a little more obnoxious side to Marie, thus proving that she isn't quite the Mary Sue you all thought her to be. You also got to see a mushy side to Draco. A little OCC, I know, but aren't most Draco/Ginny relationships. Anyway, don't worry he'll be back to his smug self in just a little while. OH, I saw the Harry Potter move. The special affects are great, especially the Quidditch,:: winks at singer: In this chapter, Snape reads a letter and Hermione finds something…. interesting.
"Come on, Marie, wake up," hissed Hermione. The two had spent the night in Marie's old room and the sun was just rising into the sky.
"It's to early to stare into a crystal ball," Marie whined as she pulled her pillow over her head. Hermione looked at her friend with an amused glance. She was harder than Ron to get up in the morning, for a moment Hermione wondered how awful their children would be about getting out of bed, but she quickly pushed the thought from her mind. It was best not to dwell on things that might never be.
"Oh, come on," Hermione said grabbing her friend's pillow and pulling it off of her face. She repressed a giggle as she looked at the squished up face of Marie who was still fighting in vain to keep the room's meager light out of her eyes.
"Why does Divination have to be done so early in the morning?" the redhead moaned.
"Well, Professor Trelawney says that psychic vibrations are clearest in the morning," Hermione stated matter-of-factly, "but I think she just wants an excuse to make you get up early."
Grudgingly, Marie got up and fumbled into the bathroom. She needed a shower, or she wouldn't be able to stay awake under the heavy scent of incense in Professor Trelawney's tower room. Once Marie got out of the shower, she tied a green silk robe around her. It was a little small, but since only Hermione was in the room it made little difference.
"Hermione, what are you looking at?" Marie questioned when she saw the other witch examining something on the side of her desk. Hermione's head automatically shot up.
"Oh, nothing," she stammered. Marie made a mental note to figure out what Hermione had been looking at when she returned to her room later that day. Letting the subject go, Marie walked over to her trunk which she had moved into her old room the night before, and pulled out a pair of jeans, t-shirt, underwear, and bra. She retreated back into the bathroom and changed.
"Are you ready?" Hermione asked as Marie walked out.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Marie said sitting on her bed to put on a pair of white socks and her tennis shoes after that.
"Now don't be such a worry wart. If Harry and Ron were able to pass the final then you shouldn't have any problems."
"Ah, but Hermione you forget. I haven't done this in three years and I still don't really remember how to," Marie replied with an exasperated sigh while she tied her right shoelace.
"Magic is like riding a bike. Once you learn you never really forget," Hermione said, her old bossy tone creeping back into her voice. "Now come on. I don't want to have to miss lunch because Trelawney gets upset you were late."
"All right," Marie complied. She was about to step out the portal when her hand instinctively shot to her neck. Something was missing. "Oh man!" Marie moaned, running over to the table that sat next to her bed. She spent a few minutes searching franticly before finding her star pendant and fastening it around her next. "I can't go without this," she answered the strange expression on Hermione's face before leaving the other girl as she walked over to the door. Hermione took one final glance over at the initials that had been carved into the side of Marie's desk, and, sighing, she shut the door.
Severus entered the Slytherin common room in a positively foul mood. He had forgot his first fight with Weasley when he had taken Marie back to her room, but soon afterward, Ron had approached him again. At first the boy had restrained himself with an amazing amount of self-control, but that quickly deteriorated into hysterical begging, and eventually blatant anger.
"She can't stay here!" Ron had cried.
"I see no reason why not," Severus had returned.
"For the love of God, Professor, put aside whatever hatred you have for all of us, and let Marie come to the Burrow for awhile. She'll be with her friends, she'll be safe, and my mom will make sure she's up to her old magical self in no time. You have to see the reason in it!"
"I see no reason to send her with you. With our luck you one of you wonder Weasleys will let something slip, and Marie will go stark raving mad."
"We will not! If you're worried about that then why leave her here for Peeves to do it on purpose!"
"This is none of your concern, Mr. Weasley. Goodbye."
"This isn't over Snape," Ron had snapped as he slammed the door shut.
That had been early this morning while Severus had been brewing the concoction he now held in his hand. Ron did have a point, no that Severus would admit it, Marie needed to be around other wizards, learning how to live as a witch if she had any hope at surviving this ordeal.
Severus glanced around the common room, and saw the person he was looking for curled up on one of the couches. He was a bit surprised that Draco had even bothered coming back to the castle, knowing that Marie might kill him on sight. It was obvious from the girl's display two days ago that things were nowhere near patched up between them.
Sighing, Severus looked down at the potion he had made. It had been meant to help with any damage Marie had done to Draco's face, but there wasn't a scratch on him. He had always been that way, a quick healer, probably a side effect of having been beaten as a child. Another potion wasted. Severus threw the vial into the fire where it burned leaving behind a green flash of light and the smell of lilacs.
The professor was about to leave when he caught sight of a letter that had fallen on the floor next to Draco. Severus picked it up, and with the lack of respect for others' privacy that he had acquired after years of Slytherin and Death Eater spying opened it. He glanced over its content once, with mild curiosity and nearly gagged when he read Draco's out pour of emotion for the Weasley girl, but the letter made him think. Was Draco right? Would it really be better for Marie to go to the "Burrow" instead of staying at the school? He would have to think on this a bit more, but for now he was set in his resolve. Marie would stay at Hogwarts. It was best for her! It was best for Weasley! But most of all it was best for Severus' peace of mind!
Silently the potions master left the common room. The door didn't even click when he shut the front portal.
AN: DUN DUN DUN! Uh oh, Severus is thinking things over. What do you think is carved into Marie's desk? I'm going to try to have the next chapter up for you this weekend, but I'm kind of busy so, no promises.
Avalonians:
~*Crystal Lily*~: Well, I'm glad I fooled someone. You were meant to be torn between Snape and Sirius as being the father! Sorry, if you were disappointed.
Tyria Bell: Glad you like Snape's more compassionate side!
Mystical Kiwi: My sister totally agrees with you about the whole Draco being the hottes thing! I personally am partial to Harry, Ron, Remus, and Sirius, but I can only really have one. It's not fair. ::pouts::
Luinthoron: I read some for your stories, and I think they're really great! I really do! Just thought you should know! Thanks for reading!
Bleak Winter: I'm glad you like it!
Singer: Oh, so much to tell you and so little time! First, thank you for reminding me that I hadn't posted on this in a while. I didn't even realize that I had this chapter done. Second, and Anne will kill me for not telling you sooner, but you are going to be a bride's maid. So am I. It'll be fun, but we aren't really sure when the wedding is planned for yet. Severus is freaking over the death eater thing, and Anne, well Anne is having some problems that are unique even for her. Third, I really do want to write that Bahamas thing. Fourth, thanks for letting Sarah the Goblin Queen join the fan club. She was soooooo excited! Fifth, I glad I gave you a new favorite quote. That scene was one of the funniest for me to write. As to what's up with Anne, you'll find out later. Did Remus bite her? Um…what do you think, because I'm not telling, but remember it could have been a supporter of Voldie Moldie, because they are after her you know, Remus, or even a certain Vampire that we all know is, well, a bit insane. (I know I mentioned Gift already.) Well, I'll talk to you some more later; I don't want people to think I'm playing favorites.
