"She's been recovering with the Malfoy family," Dumbledore was saying, outside of the castle. They were trekking over towards the lake.
"Hmm, that explains Draco's absence," Snape said absently. His mind was elsewhere. Back at the picture he'd seen in the newspapers. He kept thinking about that mass of shinny hair and those smoldering eyes. It was wrong for him to be thinking that, but he couldn't help it. A young, beautiful girl was going to be living with HIM. He chuckled, thinking about how long it'd been since that had happened. He'd lost most of his interest in women in the past couple years. He simply didn't have time for them, what with being a Death Eater, and a Teacher. Redeeming himself and all that.
But now, he was going to be waking up to one each and every day. It was a strange, unsettling thought.
He certainly didn't like this idea. For one, despite being gorgeous, this girl was a murderess. And she would be sleeping one room away from him.
That shot a rush of blood to his lower regions. No matter how hard he tried to keep his mind off of it, the fact that this girl was going to be staying with him excited him. He visibly scowled, wishing his hormones would keep themselves in check. He didn't have time to deal with this. He had to get his mind out of the gutter.
He tried to concentrate on being angry at Dumbledore for putting him in this situation, but he just couldn't. It was certainly fair, after all the old man had done for him. And it was true that he was the one best equipped for dealing with this type.
As they approached the waters edge he could see a boat in the distance. His insides tightened up and his breath caught in his throat. He could make out four figures seated, two very close together. The tiny boat was approaching fast. Dumbledore was rambling about something but Snape wasn't paying a bit of attention.
The dark water sloshed around the edges of the craft, seeming to be urging it forward. Someone on the boat stood up, holding a lantern. It was Luscious, he saw. Below him must be his son, the pale haired, cocky Draco. And beside him, wrapped up into a small bundle, was another person. Was it her? It had to be. The only other person on the boat was a the person rowing, and surely they would have hired someone to do that, not forced the girl to.
The blanket around her, covered everything but her face, which was lost in a shadow. He couldn't see anymore clearly as the boat pulled up to shore. The girl was hidden completely.
The boat hit the ground with a thump and a creak, and the man rowing jumped out to secure it. Luscious stepped out first, followed by his son.
Malfoy had turned into a nice looking young man. The sixth year was tall, if a bit lanky. His silvery hair was longish, out grown and pushed back with stands that constantly fell into his eyes. His lips had filled out and seemed to be permanently stuck in a sneer.
The boy turned back to the boat and held out his hand to the blanket covered blob in the seat. A small, delicate hand emerged from the pile and Malfoy took it carefully and helped her up. She tumbled to shore, as if too weak to regain any balance. Draco dutifully put his arm around her to steady her. The other teachers were exchanging glances, obviously shocked to see the boy committing any act of kindness. Snape himself was a bit surprised, but not overly so. He's seen Draco be kind to those he fancied. And he imagined anyone would fancy the pretty girl under that pile of fabric.
"Ah, Dumbledore," Luscious said, giving him a quick hug.
"How is the girl?" the Headmaster asked.
Luscious nodded back to the shivering, blanket tangled mess in his sons arms.
"Recovering still. Should be well enough to attend classes, I think."
"Good, good. I can't thank you enough for taking her in."
Luscious smiled, "It was really no problem. The Blake family has done so much for us, it was the least I could do to entertain their lovely daughter."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, lets bring her in. no use standing out here in the cold," McGonagall said. Everyone nodded and murmered, and turned about.
Snape kept his eye on the girl and Draco. He had his arm around her, and was holding her close, saying something quietly. The blanket pile moved up and down quickly and started to move forward. The group took long strides back to the castle.
Snape couldn't help but feel left out of the loop. Up until a few minutes ago, he'd had no idea this was happening. The group appeared to be acting out a well thought out plan. Everyone moved as one, and did everything quickly and efficiently. And here he was, bumbling along, completely confused.
Before he knew it, everyone was gathered around the door to his private quarters. He quickly unlocked the door. A few teachers departed there. The Malfoy's and their little bundle entered, followed by McGonagall and Dumbledore, then himself.
Dumbledore and Luscious finished up some last minute business and then Luscious turned to the blob.
"Well, Natalie, it's been more than a pleasure having you. You're welcome to come back and visit whenever you please. My wife and I will be thrilled to have you."
Slowly, the blanket slide down, revealing her face.
Snape fought the urge to gasp. She was more amazing than in the picture. Her hair was practically aflame with color, ranging from black, to purple and blue. It cascaded down her shoulders and into the blanket, still wrapped around her bony shoulders. She was thinner than in the picture. Her cheeks had sunken in a bit, making her high cheekbone painfully visible. And her eyes were the color of smoke. There was no other way to describe their murky, hazel depths.
What shocked him was the long, angry red scar that ran from above her left eye all the way down her cheek. It was ghastly, the way it defaced her good looks. Snape shivered despite himself, wondering where on earth she'd gotten something like that.
"Thank you," she said. Her voice was very low and shaky. "You've been so…so kind."
Snape backed away, fearing she would break into tears. Her voice was so unsteady it seemed inevitable. But she cleared her throat and tossed her head up, forcing smile.
"Well, good luck," Luscious said. He waved and disappeared out of the room, with McGonagal following.
Malfoy leaned in and hugged the frail girl gently, as if he were afraid she'd break. But then, in her condition, it might very well he possible, Snape thought.
"Good luck," he said softly. "I'll see you in the morning. Coem find me as soon as you can."
She nodded and her turned away. He faced Snape and flashed a grin, "Take good care of her, Professor," he said, and left as well.
Dumbledore offered a few more words of advice, before departing and leaving the room empty except for Snape and the girl. He felt suddenly, very awkward.
The air seemed thin between them. She stood, looking down at the ground. Snape opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His eyes were drawn again to the scare. It hadn't been there in the pictures taken before her trail. Had she gotten it there? In Azkaban? If he were a decent man, he would have thought it was an outrage to do that kind of injury to a girl so young. But then, he'd seen a lot of the world, and he knew that bad things happened to anyone, and nothing made you immune to hardship.
Her eyes flicked towards his, catching him in her stormy gaze.
"They did it there," she said.
Snape was flustered for a moment. "Did what?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"This," she said, touching the mark on her cheek lightly, then flinching. "Everyone asks. I thought I might as well get it out of the way."
Snape was at a lose for what to say. He felt as if he'd been caught, and felt dutifully guilty.
"Well, thank you for informing me," he said blandly, "Now let me get this out of the way. You'll be living with me, therefore by my rules. I don't care what Dumbledore tells you. When you're hear, it's under my rules, understand?"
"Perfectly," she answered.
Well, that was easy, he thought. Maybe he should have been a bit nicer to her considering the circumstances, but then, he didn't believe in babying anyone. Especially not a murderer.
"Well, then. We should probably be retiring, don't you think?" he asked.
"You haven't shown me to my rooms."
"They're right there, through that hall and to the left. I assume you can find your own way."
She didn't answer, just spun around and walked along, dragging that stupid blanket after her. Her long hair tumble out and down her back.
Well, she seemed to be able to take care of herself, he thought. But as she reached for the doorknob, her saw her step falter. But, sensing it was the right thing to do, he simply turned a blind eye, and went to his own room, and locked himself in.
"Hmm, that explains Draco's absence," Snape said absently. His mind was elsewhere. Back at the picture he'd seen in the newspapers. He kept thinking about that mass of shinny hair and those smoldering eyes. It was wrong for him to be thinking that, but he couldn't help it. A young, beautiful girl was going to be living with HIM. He chuckled, thinking about how long it'd been since that had happened. He'd lost most of his interest in women in the past couple years. He simply didn't have time for them, what with being a Death Eater, and a Teacher. Redeeming himself and all that.
But now, he was going to be waking up to one each and every day. It was a strange, unsettling thought.
He certainly didn't like this idea. For one, despite being gorgeous, this girl was a murderess. And she would be sleeping one room away from him.
That shot a rush of blood to his lower regions. No matter how hard he tried to keep his mind off of it, the fact that this girl was going to be staying with him excited him. He visibly scowled, wishing his hormones would keep themselves in check. He didn't have time to deal with this. He had to get his mind out of the gutter.
He tried to concentrate on being angry at Dumbledore for putting him in this situation, but he just couldn't. It was certainly fair, after all the old man had done for him. And it was true that he was the one best equipped for dealing with this type.
As they approached the waters edge he could see a boat in the distance. His insides tightened up and his breath caught in his throat. He could make out four figures seated, two very close together. The tiny boat was approaching fast. Dumbledore was rambling about something but Snape wasn't paying a bit of attention.
The dark water sloshed around the edges of the craft, seeming to be urging it forward. Someone on the boat stood up, holding a lantern. It was Luscious, he saw. Below him must be his son, the pale haired, cocky Draco. And beside him, wrapped up into a small bundle, was another person. Was it her? It had to be. The only other person on the boat was a the person rowing, and surely they would have hired someone to do that, not forced the girl to.
The blanket around her, covered everything but her face, which was lost in a shadow. He couldn't see anymore clearly as the boat pulled up to shore. The girl was hidden completely.
The boat hit the ground with a thump and a creak, and the man rowing jumped out to secure it. Luscious stepped out first, followed by his son.
Malfoy had turned into a nice looking young man. The sixth year was tall, if a bit lanky. His silvery hair was longish, out grown and pushed back with stands that constantly fell into his eyes. His lips had filled out and seemed to be permanently stuck in a sneer.
The boy turned back to the boat and held out his hand to the blanket covered blob in the seat. A small, delicate hand emerged from the pile and Malfoy took it carefully and helped her up. She tumbled to shore, as if too weak to regain any balance. Draco dutifully put his arm around her to steady her. The other teachers were exchanging glances, obviously shocked to see the boy committing any act of kindness. Snape himself was a bit surprised, but not overly so. He's seen Draco be kind to those he fancied. And he imagined anyone would fancy the pretty girl under that pile of fabric.
"Ah, Dumbledore," Luscious said, giving him a quick hug.
"How is the girl?" the Headmaster asked.
Luscious nodded back to the shivering, blanket tangled mess in his sons arms.
"Recovering still. Should be well enough to attend classes, I think."
"Good, good. I can't thank you enough for taking her in."
Luscious smiled, "It was really no problem. The Blake family has done so much for us, it was the least I could do to entertain their lovely daughter."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, lets bring her in. no use standing out here in the cold," McGonagall said. Everyone nodded and murmered, and turned about.
Snape kept his eye on the girl and Draco. He had his arm around her, and was holding her close, saying something quietly. The blanket pile moved up and down quickly and started to move forward. The group took long strides back to the castle.
Snape couldn't help but feel left out of the loop. Up until a few minutes ago, he'd had no idea this was happening. The group appeared to be acting out a well thought out plan. Everyone moved as one, and did everything quickly and efficiently. And here he was, bumbling along, completely confused.
Before he knew it, everyone was gathered around the door to his private quarters. He quickly unlocked the door. A few teachers departed there. The Malfoy's and their little bundle entered, followed by McGonagall and Dumbledore, then himself.
Dumbledore and Luscious finished up some last minute business and then Luscious turned to the blob.
"Well, Natalie, it's been more than a pleasure having you. You're welcome to come back and visit whenever you please. My wife and I will be thrilled to have you."
Slowly, the blanket slide down, revealing her face.
Snape fought the urge to gasp. She was more amazing than in the picture. Her hair was practically aflame with color, ranging from black, to purple and blue. It cascaded down her shoulders and into the blanket, still wrapped around her bony shoulders. She was thinner than in the picture. Her cheeks had sunken in a bit, making her high cheekbone painfully visible. And her eyes were the color of smoke. There was no other way to describe their murky, hazel depths.
What shocked him was the long, angry red scar that ran from above her left eye all the way down her cheek. It was ghastly, the way it defaced her good looks. Snape shivered despite himself, wondering where on earth she'd gotten something like that.
"Thank you," she said. Her voice was very low and shaky. "You've been so…so kind."
Snape backed away, fearing she would break into tears. Her voice was so unsteady it seemed inevitable. But she cleared her throat and tossed her head up, forcing smile.
"Well, good luck," Luscious said. He waved and disappeared out of the room, with McGonagal following.
Malfoy leaned in and hugged the frail girl gently, as if he were afraid she'd break. But then, in her condition, it might very well he possible, Snape thought.
"Good luck," he said softly. "I'll see you in the morning. Coem find me as soon as you can."
She nodded and her turned away. He faced Snape and flashed a grin, "Take good care of her, Professor," he said, and left as well.
Dumbledore offered a few more words of advice, before departing and leaving the room empty except for Snape and the girl. He felt suddenly, very awkward.
The air seemed thin between them. She stood, looking down at the ground. Snape opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His eyes were drawn again to the scare. It hadn't been there in the pictures taken before her trail. Had she gotten it there? In Azkaban? If he were a decent man, he would have thought it was an outrage to do that kind of injury to a girl so young. But then, he'd seen a lot of the world, and he knew that bad things happened to anyone, and nothing made you immune to hardship.
Her eyes flicked towards his, catching him in her stormy gaze.
"They did it there," she said.
Snape was flustered for a moment. "Did what?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"This," she said, touching the mark on her cheek lightly, then flinching. "Everyone asks. I thought I might as well get it out of the way."
Snape was at a lose for what to say. He felt as if he'd been caught, and felt dutifully guilty.
"Well, thank you for informing me," he said blandly, "Now let me get this out of the way. You'll be living with me, therefore by my rules. I don't care what Dumbledore tells you. When you're hear, it's under my rules, understand?"
"Perfectly," she answered.
Well, that was easy, he thought. Maybe he should have been a bit nicer to her considering the circumstances, but then, he didn't believe in babying anyone. Especially not a murderer.
"Well, then. We should probably be retiring, don't you think?" he asked.
"You haven't shown me to my rooms."
"They're right there, through that hall and to the left. I assume you can find your own way."
She didn't answer, just spun around and walked along, dragging that stupid blanket after her. Her long hair tumble out and down her back.
Well, she seemed to be able to take care of herself, he thought. But as she reached for the doorknob, her saw her step falter. But, sensing it was the right thing to do, he simply turned a blind eye, and went to his own room, and locked himself in.