Threndle (who is not really in this chapter, but was in a previous chapter) belongs to Emma.

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Severus rushed into the common room, his ebony dress robes billowing behind him. He stopped in the center, to listen for any sign that he wasn't the only one there. To his dismay, it seemed he was alone. He released a low growl of irritation, as he surveyed the room. Figured he'd think it was some serious accident, when she was probably going to the bathroom to help with some womanly need of sorts.

He turned toward the doorway, rolling his eyes. He'd been on edge ever since his mark had been activated and Jupiter had entered the Hall of Shadows. Even if this was a false alarm, there was something amiss in Hogwarts. But, right now, he didn't have the energy to search the grounds for the exact problem.

Jupiter ran into the common room just in time to see Professor Ubel run past her, carrying Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be crying.

Jupiter turned to follow, but Ubel turned and said "It's fine dear. No need for you to follow."

Confused, Jupiter walked into the common room to sit down. Severus was all ready in the room, looking as confused as she.

"I guess Draco hurt himself," she said, and shrugged.

"Wonderful," Severus spat, glaring out the doorway. Even if the boy was a brilliant Slytherin, he did seem to whine a little too much sometimes. He turned to Jupiter, raising an brow and shaking his head.

"What a waste," He growled, stalking toward the door to leave. This was ridiculous.

"Oh come on. Stay a little while. We can talk. Just talk," She added with a smile, and sat down on the couch by the fire, patting the seat next to her.

Severus eyed Jupiter for a moment, trying to judge her true intentions. Content enough that she seemed harmless, he walked over to the couch and sat down at a safe distance from the girl.

"Talk then," He said, his voice still a little gruff. He was still angry about getting worked up over nothing, but a foolish accident Malfoy probably made. He was most likely at the moment complaining to his father about the safety of this school. He sighed, and leaned back into the softness of the couch. At least he wasn't stalking about the ball, pulling couples apart.

Jupiter lay down in his lap and faced him, putting her hands on his marked arm. She had a question that she was pretty sure he wouldn't like, but maybe he wouldn't run away if she was lying on him.

"So what does it...do?" she asked, pressing lightly on his arm where she knew the mark was, "Does it hurt?"

Snape swallowed hard, as Jupiter lowered herself to his lap and latched onto his arm. He glanced at the abhorrent mark, cringing slightly upon sight of the horrid stain.

"It signifies one's allegiance to Voldemort. It doesn't hurt at the moment. I, myself, haven't truly figured out what it truly does. Yet, it seems to emanate hatred and pain, causing the bearer to illustrate the same feelings," He stated in a uniform voice. He hated talking of that fragment of his past. He had done so many irrational and noxious things in his youth, why was she bringing it up?

"Oh," Jupiter said shortly. She felt bad for asking, but she needed to know, "Why?"

Why? It was the way he was raised, he knew nothing more than a world of darkness and hate. His late parents had raised him, trusting that someday he himself would walk in their footsteps; and unfortunately he didn't disgrace them.

"I didn't know any better. It was the way I had been raised," Snape replied quietly, as if he spoke the words too loud the whole world would hear him. He had never had to explain his life and choices to anyone before, and frankly it was making him uncomfortable.

"Oh," Jupiter said again, thinking it over. She guessed she'd sufficiently built up to the question that had been haunting her for a long time now.

She ran her fingernail down Snape's arm, then rolled over a little and kissed his stomach lightly.

"Severus," she asked slowly, "Have you ever killed anyone?"

Snape's eyes grew cold as he stared down at her. Not from the fact that she had kissed his stomach, but from the weight of her question. What could he tell her? No, of course not, love, I just watched.

"What is this all about?" He asked, a touch of anger sliding into his lowered voice. Did she suddenly not trust him? He had never shown any hostile actions toward her, or had she suddenly decided to believe some horrid rumor?

Jupiter's heart sank. She'd pushed too far, gotten him upset at her. She always pushed too far.

"I just wanted to know, I know it's really personal, and I know you don't like talking about it, but I just..." just wanted to know more about the man I gave my heart to, she finished mentally.

"I just wanted to know. I'm sorry I asked," she said meekly, shutting her eyes.

His cold glare softened at sight of her turmoil. It wasn't her fault that he had made mistakes in the past, yet, he just didn't have the self-possession to speak about them freely.

"Don't be sorry, It's not your fault for being curious," He said softly, he looked away from her. Now he couldn't even look at her, without feeling guilty in an odd sense. He didn't deserve the girl laying on his lap, he didn't deserve any girl in this school. Or anywhere. But least of all Jupiter.

"It's just that I…" He paused for a moment, swallowing his words. What could he say to excuse him from the horrors he had caused? She deserved to know, but how could she if he didn't have the nerve to tell her?

"I don't know…" He sighed, bringing a hand to his face. He didn't like being under this unfamiliar pressure.

"I don't think any of us really know," Jupiter said, into the folds of Snape's shirt. She shifted position slightly and rubbed the fabric of his outfit between her fingers absentmindedly.

"My parents were death eaters," she said at length, "But I was very small at the time...They didn't bother to hide it from me, like they never bothered to hide anything from me. They didn't go out of their way to explain it to me either, though. I saw them kill someone once. It was a girl. She was a little older than I am now..."

Jupiter didn't seem particularly disturbed by the memory. It could have been because she was so young when it had happened, but Jupiter couldn't really feel upset about it. She figured she was just broken emotionally in some places. Or cracked, anyway.

So the madness of the Dark Lord had touched Jupiter directly, thought Snape. He should have been surprised, yet he really wasn't. Back then, it was a rare time when you didn't come across a family without at least one Death Eater in it. It was a bloody infamy that Jupiter had to witness the horrors of the time directly. Yet, she, like many, didn't seem too effected.

"Your childhood doesn't sound too far from mine," Severus replied faintly, as memories of his abject youth seeped into his mind. Memories that he wanted to forget.

Jupiter sighed a little and bit her lip. She snuggled a bit closer to Snape.

"I'm sorry I brought it up, I didn't mean to depress you."

Jupiter had ended the conversation with her last remark, yet a question still lingered in the back of his mind. Why did she bring it up in the first place? He didn't want her to not trust him. Yet, he felt ever more, if he told her everything he had done that she wouldn't trust him. It was a paradox, either way there was doubt in his mind.

He heaved an arduous sigh. He was reading too much into things. Perhaps it was just curiosity on her part. Yet, he wouldn't find out now.

"You didn't depress me, my dear," Severus replied implausibly. Yet, it was slightly truthful. He was more deep in thought than depressed. Now, he couldn't shake the fact that perhaps Jupiter was having her doubts about him. It was all too good to be true, anyway.

"Well then what's wrong?" she asked, sitting up and shifting so that she was sitting on his lap with her head nestled underneath his chin.

"Jupiter," He said quietly, placing his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Why did you choose me over all the prince charmings? I'm much older than you, I'm a flat-out jerk, and I'm not exactly what one would call attractive, love," He replied coldly, as if loathing his own words. He released her chin, yet didn't look away. He was preparing for the answer that he feared was coming.

Of all things, Jupiter hadn't expected him to say that. She thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I know you're older than me, but I think you're very attractive...and...It's hard to say, Severus...I've always admired you. You're not afraid to be different, you never care what others think of you," she fiddled with her fingernails in thought, "And because you seemed a lot like me in some ways...Kind of broken inside. And I've always felt that if I ever had the chance, I could tell you anything. Like I could relate to you on some mental level I can't connect to anyone else on...I can't put it all to words."

Severus was deeply surprised with her answer. He didn't have a clue what she was going to say, yet he hadn't expected what came out of her mouth. She admired him? What was there to admire? Why was it whenever he asked a question, only more questions arose? He sighed, and wiggled himself from underneath Jupiter and stood. He turned back toward her, his black eyes holding some unknown emotion.

"I'm hardly admirable, Jupiter. As I am nothing like you. You are an amazing girl, Jupiter. Don't compare yourself to me," He stated plainly. This was the reason he avoided personal private conversations. All his uncertainties always slipped out. Outside he may look calm and collected, yet within he was what she just said. Broken.

Jupiter put her face in the couch cushion. She lifted her face up so she could speak.

"Please don't say that," she rolled back over onto her back and flopped her head down onto a pillow in frustration. She was suddenly very angry. She stood up and advanced on Snape. She pushed him lightly.

"Severus, why do you always do this to me? One moment you care, the next moment you don't, then you say you care but you don't act like it, and then you say don't you don't but act like you do! You keep me running around in circles after you. You deny me the only thing I've ever asked of you!"

Severus grabbed her hand before she could retract it from his chest, pulling her close to him, till they were a mere speck apart. He bent down so his face was in direct alignment with hers, his murky eyes not flashing with anger, yet another similar emotion.

"Because I'm scared, Jupiter. I'm scared out of my bloody mind!" Severus hissed, his voice frenetic. He threw her hand down and backed away from her.

"I'm terrified of you, Jupiter. The fact that someone shares feelings other than hatred for me is horrifying. You're the first woman in my life that hasn't looked at me as merely a tool to progress herself further into the world. Whatever you are expecting from me is too much," Severus snarled, as he collapsed on the opposite couch, his black eyes seething with emotional excess.

Jupiter's forgot her anger instantly and it was replaced with shock. He'd never been so forward with her...Before then, he'd only hinted at things, let things show in his beautiful eyes... But now...

Jupiter walked to the couch and knelt down beside it, not touching Snape.

"I'm sorry, Severus...I know it must be so hard for you. I guess I did bring it upon you rather quickly," she moved herself to the couch, and wrapped her arms around him in a protective, comforting manner, and kissed his forehead, "I'm very sorry...I'm here now and I do care about you, a lot, but I'm willing to let you adjust to the idea...just....just don't go away from me anymore," she said, a little tearfully.

Severus closed his eyes, as Jupiter soothingly placed a kiss on his forehead. He opened his eyes undecidedly, not wanting to wake up to the pitiless world about them. He looked up into the girl's unwavering sapphire eyes, feeling a knot form in his stomach. He would never fully comprehend why this beauty saw anything in him desirable. Yet, he couldn't run away from everything forever.

He pulled Jupiter into his embrace, pressing his lips against her silky raven hair, inhaling her mesmerizing scent like a drug.

"How could I lucidly say no?" He breathed softly, not wanting to pull to far away from the girl, for fear she would vanish, and this would all be a dream.

Jupiter filled with joy. How did she exist before she asked him to the dance? Her life had been so...shallow. So trivial. Now she had some sort of real meaning.

She held Severus tightly to her. She laid kisses all over his face, ending with a quick smooch on his lips. She looked into his eyes and mouthed, silently, "I love you," and kissed him on his nose.

He wanted to ask her why, but he knew that would only lead to more arguments. He felt awkward and uncertain staring into the young girls eyes, like he wasn't truly there experiencing this. What was wrong with him? He should be glowing with elation, yet something was still holding him back. He stared back at her, the indecision reflecting in his distant ebony eyes.

"I…I'm sorry," He stammered, sitting up. Something was plaguing him, still that question she had asked before. Would things be different, if he had answered? Would they still be in this room?

"What would you do if I told you I killed several hundred people, Jupiter," Severus stated bluntly, holding her by shoulders and looking her straight in the eyes. His glare had changed dramatically from his previous soft gaze, now it was bitter and hostile.

Jupiter's eyes widened. He'd rarely, in the six years she'd known him, seemed so deadly serious as now.

Jupiter's insides froze at his words. Part of her was afraid, part or her was excited at the idea, excited at his dominating grip and tone, and all of her was intimidated.

"I, uh," she stammered, her mouth opening and shutting, "I don't...know..." she said truthfully. She knew instantly that the answer she gave was the wrong one. "What I mean is, I don't know what to say without making myself sound heartless," which was completely true. She would care, if it was hundreds of people she cared for. Hundreds of people she didn't care for would certainly shock her, and maybe make her a little sad, but...

A malicious smirk formed across Snape face, of course she'd say that. Who would know what to say to such a blunt statement? She was young, did she know who she was wrapping herself to? He leaned in closer, his eyes joining in his mouth's grin, as they narrowed upon the girl.

"Of course you wouldn't…" He rasped almost silently, his grin fading as he pulled away at a painfully slow pace.

"I wouldn't unthinkingly devote yourself to someone you know nothing about, love," Snape replied at a slightly bitter tone. He wasn't attempting to scare her away, merely show her that not everyone is what they seem. He didn't want her to get wrapped up in something she had no desire for. Or perhaps he did want to push her away, to help her get over him, so she could live a normal life. His darker side, also, enjoyed seeing her squirm just a little too much for his own good.

Jupiter felt faint. Was he implying that he had? Was he testing her loyalty? She hadn't the foggiest idea, but a Jupiter somewhere hidden in the recesses of her mind was shivering in delight. A few other Jupiters stared at her in horror.

"Severus...What are you-" she cut herself off. "What a stupid question. You know damn well what he was saying!!", part of her said. Another part said, "No harm in asking..."

"What do you mean, Severus?" she forced out finally.

"You know exactly what I mean, Ms. Vrij," Severus replied, his wolfish grin returning. He released Jupiter, stood up, only to grab her hands again and pull her up with him. He swung her around so that her back was facing the wall between the exit toward the girl's and boy's common rooms. The fire flared behind him, casting an eerie glow upon the pair, causing Snape's glare to look almost demonic.

"My precious, I was a Death Eater. You do know what they do, of course?" He asked, cocking his head to one side, as his sinister eyes remained glued to her face.

"Just in case it has slipped your mind, they kill people for the Dark Lord. They torture them for information, maim them to kill the pain, destroy them for their beliefs," With each word he stepped closer to her, until she was pressed against the wall and Severus hovered over her.

"They embodied every evil and vile thing upon this wretched planet, my darling," He growled nefariously, as he placed one hand on the wall above her shoulder and the other one caressed her cheek lightly.

"Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?" He whispered viciously into her ear, as his hand held her head so she couldn't move away. He grinned inwardly, this would either send the girl screaming away or running into his arms. He was surprised he still had some of his old flare in him. He just hoped he hadn't scarred the girl…too much.

Jupiter was frozen with surprise. What was going on? He'd never acted like this before, as far as she could remember. She always pictured him as a bitter man who was really a softie inside, never this. She could barely imagine him being so dominant

Jupiter's inside's were arguing fiercely with one another.

The part of her telling her to flee was dying down...She was scared yes, very intimidated, but she'd gotten into it all too fast. She had cared about him too much, too quickly. He had too much power over her for her to openly oppose him now...When he was so close...so...she inhaled shakily...close...

The air in her lungs escaped in a pathetic whimper, and she stood there, voluntarily unmoving but trembling. She could feel his hot breath on her shoulder. She felt as if she would melt if he so much as breathed heavier on her neck.

Severus released Jupiter from his stone cold grip. He pulled away from her, now he was merely standing before her. His eyes had quieted and he seemed to revert to the Snape he had been a few moments before.

"That is my past, Jupiter. You have to accept the fact that I am no knight in shining armor, far from it, in fact," He declared delicately, not wishing to intimidate the girl further. He knew he had clearly surprised her, since she seemed frozen to the spot on the wall.

"I care for you all too much to let you stumble into anything. You may leave now if you wish," He said with a wave of his hand. He didn't really want her to leave, but he knew that most people would walk quickly out and then run down the hall screaming madly for their lives. He had also detained her for quite some time from the ball that every student had been pining for, for ages. He just had to make her understand that she was professing her love for a man she didn't clearly understand.

Jupiter's heart settled down a little as Snape let go of her. She leaned heavily on the wall, while she settled down. What had she expected? Had she thought he would kill her? Rape her? Now that she thought about it, probably not in the common room. Part of her was disappointed. She took a deep breath, and let it go.

"I'm not going," she said very firmly, jaw set in that familiar determined way she had, when she was bent on getting what she wanted, which was most of the time.

Snape raised a brow at her words and a soft grin spread across his face. He was happy that she hadn't done what he had expected.

"Very well," He replied, leaning himself against the wall beside her. He eyed her for a minute, taking in her reaction. She seemed relieved, in a way, that he had backed down. But, she also seemed something else… dissatisfied, perhaps?

"What's wrong, my dear?" He asked nonchalantly, as if nothing had just happened.

"Oh, it's nothing, love, I was just sort of hoping you might ravish me without warning a moment ago, or threaten to kill me or something dangerous and, might I mention, extremely sexy...but I'm all right," she thought silently. No, it just wouldn't sound right if she tried to say it.

She shook her head as if trying to dislodge an errant thought, "Nothing...Nothing, I'm fine," she said, and gave him a little smile.

"You're fine?" Severus repeated incredulously, his onyx eyes peering askance at her. An obvious lie if he had ever heard one in his life. He turned toward her, blocking out the fire light once again. A lean hand was raised to her chin, as he gazed sharply into her alluring cerulean eyes.

"Don't lie to me, love."

What could she say? What could she possibly say to him? She couldn't very well tell him the truth, what would happen if she did? Hmmm...what would happen if she...but not.

"I'm all right...I was just thinking, 's'all..." she mumbled lamely.

"Don't stutter, love, it's not very becoming," He scolded playfully, twirling a bit of hair between his fingers. He knew very well what he was doing, but he still had some of his previous adrenaline running through his veins. A little harmless torture, a little teasing wouldn't hurt her.

"You were thinking...?" He continued for her, waiting for her to finish the sentence herself.

Why was he following her train of thought? It was like he was reading her mind, the tone he'd said it in...Oh gods, what if he could? Jupiter blushed a bright red, remembering all the times she'd been fantasizing about things she shouldn't have when she was around him.

She shook herself mentally. It was a ridiculous idea. But her face was still burning with the blush, the things she'd thought of! She laughed nervously.

"Now, you're the reticent one? Imagine what a few moments can do to a person," He ruminated, continuing to fiddle with her hair gently. He had noticed her cheeks flare a vivid scarlet, yet he overlooked it. He decided that, perhaps, he should try a different tactic.

"Well, if you decide to tell me, I'll be over here," Severus stated with a smirk, as he turned to walk toward the couch. He sat down brusquely, waiting patiently for Jupiter to come to him.

What was he doing? What was she doing? She found herself acting as if he were an innocent, yet she knew he wasn't. Maybe it was his avoidance of her, maybe it was his bitterness, but she'd always seen him as rather innocent. But now that she really thought about it, it seemed ridiculous. He was a grown man, and an ex-death eater at that! He'd seen people die...hell, if she'd interpreted correctly, he'd killed people before...so he was likely experienced in more ways than one. Certainly more than she. It was a strange thought.

And she was being shy. She was not, by nature, a shy person. She was a flirt, a tease, a seductress. And he was making her falter.

She slunk over to him. He knew she would, she knew she would. She did. She didn't know what to say to him...but maybe if she got close enough, she wouldn't have to say anything, it would say itself. She walked over to him and sat next to him, and kissed his shoulder meekly.

It seemed that the tables had turned, as Jupiter crept over to where he was seated. His grin only twisted further at her compliant response. He slowly turned toward her, taking one of her hands in his. Gently, he kissed the palm, all the while staring into her charming sapphire eyes. A familiar wash of anguish swept over him, and his eyes flashed with an uncouth emotion. Yet, this time he didn't want to maim the girl before him, he wanted to do something, in his opinion much harder to ration.

Without a moment for internal deliberation, he had Jupiter pinned against the back of the couch, his mouth planting wet kisses down her smooth neck. Inside he was yelling profusely at his animalistic behavior, yet his vindictive side merely grinned wickedly and thrust the ethical Snape away. He could feel the sheer power of the baleful mark upon his forearm coursing though his veins, goading on his frenzied acts. The battle within raged on as he endeavored vainly to fight off the powerful influence of the mark.

Jupiter screamed in shock, tensing up as he attacked her, but only for a split second. Within moments, a previously dormant Jupiter had come to life and taken over, shoving her logical and moral thoughts away.

She pulled his face to her and kissed him with a vigor such as she had only dreamed about before. She'd been waiting for this moment for six years. Six years of tension, longing, fantasizing within her own head all compressed into a single moment.

She wrapped herself around him passionately, completely ignoring the part of her that politely pointed out that this was the COMMON ROOM and that they could be found any second. At this moment, she didn't care.

Severus released a feral growl, as Jupiter returned with the same ferocity. He wanted to shove her away more than anything, yet the supremacy of the mark was not allowing him any say. He began pulling at the girls dress with an animalistic zeal, not bothering to be gentle with the girl. He whipped her around, so she was now beneath him, his eyes gleaming with a sinister passion.

He couldn't believe what he was doing, he was acting like he had when he was a member of the Death Eaters, under direct influence of Voldemort. The fiend must be in the castle to have so much control over his actions. All he could do was watch in horror as he massacred the girl beneath him, praying to the gods that no one walked in.

Jupiter couldn't think, couldn't comprehend. She felt him against her, yet it felt as if he wasn't there in some way. It was too strange. It was what she wanted, yes, but something was wrong. Even her libido agreed with her. It had to stop.

She let go of him, and tried to push him away. She screamed again, but this time in resistance. He grabbed her wrists and held them down beside her shoulders so she couldn't push him away. Ye gods, the man was strong. She struggled vainly, eyes shut, shouting at him to stop with increasing desperation.

His crazed eyes narrowed as Jupiter attempted to fight him, yet he hesitated for a moment. Multiple emotions began to race across his face, as his sane part attacked with a stronger ardor. He pushed away from her quickly, his eyes wide as he sucked in a large breath of air, as if he had been holding it for the past few minutes. He had lost control, and he had almost hurt her. He closed his eyes in agony, the dark thoughts still rushing like mad through his cluttered mind. It was all too much for him to handle.

He stood up suddenly, taking a few staggering steps away from her, his hands clenched in an effort to gain control. Everything was spinning, it seemed the very reality about him and dissolved and left him in a whirlpool of haunting images and tortured cries. The world had lost its mind. The two ends of the scale began to mix together, mixing the bad and the good, the scared and profane. He unleashed a cry of agony as he clutched his head in desperation, he couldn't handle this twisted reality. He made a dash for the door, he had to retreat from the room before he actually harmed Jupiter. With a slam of the common room door, he was gone.

Jupiter lay, stunned, on the couch. She took a moment to regroup. There had been so many mood changes in the past twenty minutes, and Jupiter was almost finding it hard to keep up. She was alone, and worried about Severus, and disappointed, and her body was aching with desire, and it was all so strange...

She stood shakily. Her dress was torn and hanging off her listlessly, her long hair was bedraggled, her headband hanging halfway down the length of black tangles.

Her wrists were still red from struggling. She stood, and went to the dorm and lay down on her bed, dress torn, with welts on her stomach and thighs from Snape's fingernails. She slept.