Rachael jumped up in surprise. Accident? Train? Was Severus okay?
"Teachers! Report to the Entrance Hall immediately!"
As Dumbledore said this, the teachers began filling out of the room. Dumbledore came over to Heather.
"Rachael, I need you to take Severus to the hospital wing. I think that Madame Pomfry should be able to help him."
"Yes, Professor, but what happened.I mean."
"Your guess is as good as mine, Rachael."
"You don't mean.Voldemort?"
Dumbledore just sighed and left the room. Rachael stared after him for a second, then walked over to Severus. His face was deathly pale. I reminded her of.well.
Flashback to Rachaels 4th year at Hogwarts...............
"Jay! Come up now! Come on Jay, don't be a prat, you'll drown!"
Jay had been under the water for almost a minute now, and Rachael was starting to get worried. She knew that Jay could hold his breath for longer than anyone she knew, but it had been a really long time.........
Rachael flew the broom to the ground and looked at her watch. Two minutes. Then three. At four minutes, Rachael started screaming Jay's name. There was no answer.
Rachael went to get Professor Dumbledore at six minutes, tears streaming down her pretty face.
End Flashback
Rachael snapped out of her reverie, and with a flick of her wand had Severus in the air on a stretcher. Rachael lead the way to the hospital wing, Severus following her up in the air.
***
Severus Snape woke up to a sea of darkness. Then he blinked. He saw a face. He blinked again. It was Rachael Potter.
"Ahhh!!!"
"I guess he's awake," came Potter's voice.
"Yes I'm awake, and what the hell am I doing here?"
"Well.you came into the Great Hall screaming something about the train and an accident and then-
"The train! Get to the train! The students, they're in danger! Volde-what's so funny?"
"Nothing.except that you've been unconscious for a day, and a little behind the times. First off, the students are all safe, and have been sorted. We were not introduced at the feast as you were unconscious, and I was in here with you. Second, it was Voldemort's doing, he was trying to scare Dumbledore, and it worked but.how did you know that?"
"No reason.you waited here with me until I woke up?"
Rachael looked embarrased, and Severus was sure he could see a small tinge of pink in her cheeks.
"Well.I uh.I mean." Rachael trailed off.
"She stayed here until I woke up! What does that mean?"
"It means Severus, that you just like her even more."
"I do not! Wait a second, am I talking to myself?"
"Yes, and it's very sad. Go talk to lover girl!"
"Shut-up," Severus grumbled. He didn't like her, did he?
"So.everything okay?"
"I guess."
"What's wrong, Severus, you look like the world is coming to an end."
"What if it is?"
"Than life as we know it ends. Your point?"
"Gee, your optimistic."
"Aren't I?"
"A little too optimistic, if you ask me."
"It beats being pessimistic."
"Are you calling me pessimistic?"
"Me? Never!" Rachael blinked innocently.
Severus let out a dry laugh. He suddenly felt the urge to go and put his arm around Rachael, comfort her, kiss her.
"You're really worried about James aren't you?"
"Yeah. I feel like it's my fault."
"But it's not."
"I know.but I feel like that all the time."
"Yeah, Rachael Potter, supergirl that carries the world on her shoulders, closet thing to God you can get."
"Hey!"
"Oops. Are you still in your bad mood?"
Rachael smiled slyly at him. "Maybe."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. Goodbye, Severus, feel better."
"I swear, that girl is harder to figure out than alchemy."
***
Rachael walked out of the hospital wing feeling confused. Why had she stayed with Severus?
"Because you like him."
"Do not!"
"You keep telling yourself that, Rachael dear, I'm sure that you'll believe it in the end."
"Oh shut-up."
"Umm.Excuse me?"
Rachael looked down. It was a small redheaded student, most likely a first-year.
"Yes?" Rachael said pleasantly.
"Umm.my name is Billy Weasly, and I'm a first year, and I'm in Gryffindor, but."
"You don't know how to get to Gryffindor Tower?"
Billy nodded.
"All right, then, you're in luck, I just happen to know where that is. Follow me. By the way I'm Professor Potter, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Oh, hi."
Rachael reached Gryffindor Tower, then realized she didn't know the password.
"Billy, I'm sorry, I don't know the password, so-
"Ah, yes, but I do."
It was Minerva McGonagall.
"The password is "little piggy". Now get off to bed."
Billy Weasly went into the portrait hole, thanking both teachers profusely.
"Thanks Minerva.sorry I wasn't at the feast."
"That's okay, I'm sure Severus enjoyed your company."
"And just what is that supposed to mean, Minerva?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"Listen, there is nothing going on between me and Severus Snape. Nothing!"
"Whatever you say."
"There is nothing going on between us, right?"
"I told you you'd believe yourself in time."
"Once again, shut-up."
***
Severus wasn't exactly very good at teaching. His best subject had always been Potions, and it was hard to control his temper around a bunch of idiot first years that couldn't even light their fires.
Severus also liked to take points away from Gryffindor. He didn't like Gryffindor. Still, as many points as he took away, most of the students like him. In fact, the only other teacher that was as popular as him was Potter.
Rachael Potter. The name seemed to ring bells in his mind and make his heart beat at twice its regular rate. He was almost over his denial stage, and was beginning to accept the fact that he liked a Potter. He just assumed it would wear off in time. He was very wrong.
***
The school year had gone along fairly well so far. Nothing odd, nothing new, same old. Rachael was still trying to convince herself that she didn't like Severus. It was getting harder each time she tried.
It was Christmas (and Chanukah too! lol) time, and the castle was full of joyous spirits. Except Rachael's. She usually loved Christmas.but this year.it was hard. She and James had always spent Christmas together, and this year they were going to do something special with Lily. But since James was gone.
That did it. Rachael was already in a depressed mood, as she couldn't get over her recurring dream, which she could never recall. Rachael took off for the forest sobbing, not hearing the person in the shadows following her
***
Severus saw Rachael running from the Great Hall. He was worried about her, Rachael was the strongest person he knew. If she was crying, then something really awful must have happened. So he left also and followed her to the forest.
"Rachael? Rachael what's wrong?"
"Go away, Severus."
"Ouch. Hey, why the sad face?"
Rachael just glared at him.
"Okay.maybe I'd just better go."
"Wait.sorry.I didn't mean to, it's just that."
"What?"
Severus walked over to her.
"Well, every Christmas James and I used to get to get together.but we can't this year and it's all my fault."
Rachael burst into tears again.
Before Severus knew what had happened, he had taken Rachael in his arms, picked her up, and walked back to the castle.
***
Rachael felt very stupid, being in Severus' arms, but she didn't trust herself to walk. She was very thankful Severus was there, he felt solid.
Severus set her down in the Entrance Hall.
"Thank you Severus, I don't know what happened to me, I just."
"Shh.it's okay, I understand."
They stood there silently for a moment, staring at each other, until Rachael noticed something.
"Hey Severus?"
"Yeah?" said Severus, sounding concerned.
"Look up."
Severus looked up, and saw what they were standing directly underneath.
Mistletoe.
"Teachers! Report to the Entrance Hall immediately!"
As Dumbledore said this, the teachers began filling out of the room. Dumbledore came over to Heather.
"Rachael, I need you to take Severus to the hospital wing. I think that Madame Pomfry should be able to help him."
"Yes, Professor, but what happened.I mean."
"Your guess is as good as mine, Rachael."
"You don't mean.Voldemort?"
Dumbledore just sighed and left the room. Rachael stared after him for a second, then walked over to Severus. His face was deathly pale. I reminded her of.well.
Flashback to Rachaels 4th year at Hogwarts...............
"Jay! Come up now! Come on Jay, don't be a prat, you'll drown!"
Jay had been under the water for almost a minute now, and Rachael was starting to get worried. She knew that Jay could hold his breath for longer than anyone she knew, but it had been a really long time.........
Rachael flew the broom to the ground and looked at her watch. Two minutes. Then three. At four minutes, Rachael started screaming Jay's name. There was no answer.
Rachael went to get Professor Dumbledore at six minutes, tears streaming down her pretty face.
End Flashback
Rachael snapped out of her reverie, and with a flick of her wand had Severus in the air on a stretcher. Rachael lead the way to the hospital wing, Severus following her up in the air.
***
Severus Snape woke up to a sea of darkness. Then he blinked. He saw a face. He blinked again. It was Rachael Potter.
"Ahhh!!!"
"I guess he's awake," came Potter's voice.
"Yes I'm awake, and what the hell am I doing here?"
"Well.you came into the Great Hall screaming something about the train and an accident and then-
"The train! Get to the train! The students, they're in danger! Volde-what's so funny?"
"Nothing.except that you've been unconscious for a day, and a little behind the times. First off, the students are all safe, and have been sorted. We were not introduced at the feast as you were unconscious, and I was in here with you. Second, it was Voldemort's doing, he was trying to scare Dumbledore, and it worked but.how did you know that?"
"No reason.you waited here with me until I woke up?"
Rachael looked embarrased, and Severus was sure he could see a small tinge of pink in her cheeks.
"Well.I uh.I mean." Rachael trailed off.
"She stayed here until I woke up! What does that mean?"
"It means Severus, that you just like her even more."
"I do not! Wait a second, am I talking to myself?"
"Yes, and it's very sad. Go talk to lover girl!"
"Shut-up," Severus grumbled. He didn't like her, did he?
"So.everything okay?"
"I guess."
"What's wrong, Severus, you look like the world is coming to an end."
"What if it is?"
"Than life as we know it ends. Your point?"
"Gee, your optimistic."
"Aren't I?"
"A little too optimistic, if you ask me."
"It beats being pessimistic."
"Are you calling me pessimistic?"
"Me? Never!" Rachael blinked innocently.
Severus let out a dry laugh. He suddenly felt the urge to go and put his arm around Rachael, comfort her, kiss her.
"You're really worried about James aren't you?"
"Yeah. I feel like it's my fault."
"But it's not."
"I know.but I feel like that all the time."
"Yeah, Rachael Potter, supergirl that carries the world on her shoulders, closet thing to God you can get."
"Hey!"
"Oops. Are you still in your bad mood?"
Rachael smiled slyly at him. "Maybe."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. Goodbye, Severus, feel better."
"I swear, that girl is harder to figure out than alchemy."
***
Rachael walked out of the hospital wing feeling confused. Why had she stayed with Severus?
"Because you like him."
"Do not!"
"You keep telling yourself that, Rachael dear, I'm sure that you'll believe it in the end."
"Oh shut-up."
"Umm.Excuse me?"
Rachael looked down. It was a small redheaded student, most likely a first-year.
"Yes?" Rachael said pleasantly.
"Umm.my name is Billy Weasly, and I'm a first year, and I'm in Gryffindor, but."
"You don't know how to get to Gryffindor Tower?"
Billy nodded.
"All right, then, you're in luck, I just happen to know where that is. Follow me. By the way I'm Professor Potter, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Oh, hi."
Rachael reached Gryffindor Tower, then realized she didn't know the password.
"Billy, I'm sorry, I don't know the password, so-
"Ah, yes, but I do."
It was Minerva McGonagall.
"The password is "little piggy". Now get off to bed."
Billy Weasly went into the portrait hole, thanking both teachers profusely.
"Thanks Minerva.sorry I wasn't at the feast."
"That's okay, I'm sure Severus enjoyed your company."
"And just what is that supposed to mean, Minerva?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"Listen, there is nothing going on between me and Severus Snape. Nothing!"
"Whatever you say."
"There is nothing going on between us, right?"
"I told you you'd believe yourself in time."
"Once again, shut-up."
***
Severus wasn't exactly very good at teaching. His best subject had always been Potions, and it was hard to control his temper around a bunch of idiot first years that couldn't even light their fires.
Severus also liked to take points away from Gryffindor. He didn't like Gryffindor. Still, as many points as he took away, most of the students like him. In fact, the only other teacher that was as popular as him was Potter.
Rachael Potter. The name seemed to ring bells in his mind and make his heart beat at twice its regular rate. He was almost over his denial stage, and was beginning to accept the fact that he liked a Potter. He just assumed it would wear off in time. He was very wrong.
***
The school year had gone along fairly well so far. Nothing odd, nothing new, same old. Rachael was still trying to convince herself that she didn't like Severus. It was getting harder each time she tried.
It was Christmas (and Chanukah too! lol) time, and the castle was full of joyous spirits. Except Rachael's. She usually loved Christmas.but this year.it was hard. She and James had always spent Christmas together, and this year they were going to do something special with Lily. But since James was gone.
That did it. Rachael was already in a depressed mood, as she couldn't get over her recurring dream, which she could never recall. Rachael took off for the forest sobbing, not hearing the person in the shadows following her
***
Severus saw Rachael running from the Great Hall. He was worried about her, Rachael was the strongest person he knew. If she was crying, then something really awful must have happened. So he left also and followed her to the forest.
"Rachael? Rachael what's wrong?"
"Go away, Severus."
"Ouch. Hey, why the sad face?"
Rachael just glared at him.
"Okay.maybe I'd just better go."
"Wait.sorry.I didn't mean to, it's just that."
"What?"
Severus walked over to her.
"Well, every Christmas James and I used to get to get together.but we can't this year and it's all my fault."
Rachael burst into tears again.
Before Severus knew what had happened, he had taken Rachael in his arms, picked her up, and walked back to the castle.
***
Rachael felt very stupid, being in Severus' arms, but she didn't trust herself to walk. She was very thankful Severus was there, he felt solid.
Severus set her down in the Entrance Hall.
"Thank you Severus, I don't know what happened to me, I just."
"Shh.it's okay, I understand."
They stood there silently for a moment, staring at each other, until Rachael noticed something.
"Hey Severus?"
"Yeah?" said Severus, sounding concerned.
"Look up."
Severus looked up, and saw what they were standing directly underneath.
Mistletoe.