Chapter Ten: A Different Light
Reign knew she needed to go to bed, but she had a feeling she needed to be elsewhere. On an impulse, or perhaps a sixth sense, she went down into the dungeons. When she opened the door to the Potions classroom, her eyes fell upon Severus Snape, lying unconscious on the floor. She ran to him and knelt down. His face was even paler than usual, and his eyes were rolled into the back of his head. She slapped him repeatedly and yelled his name, but he remained motionless. Reign retrieved a vial from her pouch and, after pulling the top out, dabbed the liquid on his temples, under his nose, and on the sides of his neck. It took a few seconds, but he awoke with a start.
"Miss Chambers?" he whispered, blood crusted on the corners of his mouth. She took hold of the end of her robe and spit on it, then wiped the blood away. Then she helped him up off the ground, which was quite the feat seeing as he had been lying on the stone floor for many an hour and had yet to regain all feeling in his legs.
"Let's get you to the infirmary," she suggested, but he refrained from moving.
"No, I would be better off in my own bed." After noticing her disapproval, he added, "Please." The woman helped Severus into his chambers and laid him down on his bed. The sheets were as black as everything else about him. The four-poster bed had a canopy over it and was neatly made. Unlike his office, there was no clutter in the room. There was a large window with curtains pulled over it and shelves from wall to floor lined with books. An enormous fireplace resided at the far side of the area, and in front of it were two oversized ivy green chairs. An immense wardrobe stood at the left of the bed; it looked ancient. Reign helped remove his damp and filthy robes, boots, and shirt. Then she examined his injuries.
"Ouch!" he cried as the elf pressed into his bruises on his arms and chest.
"Relax," she smiled. She began to hum a beautiful and soothing tune. Though it looked she just seemed to be pressing harder and harder, the bruises became less noticeable and the soreness within them receded. As he looked down to his chest where her hands were, he noticed a brilliant golden light. It enveloped them as she kneaded his sore muscles. He grabbed them, making them lose their glow, and also Reign's concentration. He looked up into her eyes, shining green and wide. Never had he known such kindness from another being--though he wasn't sure if it was just that or merely obligation.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing?" He could have said it with malice, but instead it was said with a pleasant curiosity.
"I'm healing you. Now let me finish." She pulled away from his grasp and reached into her pouch. Severus hadn't even noticed that she had changed back into her original elfin form. As she turned her head he observed her ears—elongated with a slight inward arch. A hoop earring dangled from the top of the right ear, carved with symbols he assumed to be words of her native language.
"You don't have to do this."
"Would you rather I leave you here to die?" The man's eyes grew wide. Reign laughed. "You have a punctured lung and internal bleeding," she said calmly as she wiped his blood from his mouth. Then she pulled the cork out of the vial and gave it to him to drink. "This will stop the bleeding," she answered his inquiring look. As he choked the potion down, the elf snickered once more. Her eyes were truly the most beautiful he had ever seen. When he had engulfed the entire contents, he lay back against his headboard and closed his eyes. He could tell it was effective once he began to breathe regularly again.
"How do you say 'thank you' in your tongue?"
"Ki nörh."
"Ki nörh," he repeated, "Thank you. For this," he smiled as he sat up and handed Reign her vial, "and for not questioning me about what happened."
"I was assuming you were just going to tell me." Severus cocked his head, and after recognizing her sarcasm, laughed right along with her. He had an infectious laugh, very carefree and sincere. He also had a way of changing emotion so rapidly it was uncanny.
"You should turn back into a human." Reign's smile faded.
"Why?" Severus looked into her eyes, now curious—his were worried.
"He knows you are here." Reign dropped her head, then raised it to the ceiling. Severus couldn't tell if she was concerned or furious.
"How does he know? You said my secret was safe with you."
"And it still is!" he shouted as he shot up and grabbed her arm. Reign was slightly shocked, and showed it too. Severus let go instantly and calmly explained. "He has an emerald. When you transformed into your normal self it sensed your elfin powers." He swung his legs over the edge of the bed so he was sitting next to her. "I swear I told him nothing." Reign got up and paced around his room.
"If he knows, there's no point in hiding myself anymore." Severus nodded in agreement. "Unless I leave." The nodding stopped.
"I think you are much safer here; if he finds you he will most definitely kill you." Reign looked into his eyes—sad and soft. She sighed.
"You do owe me," she said. "I need your help destroying this potion." She held up the bottle filled with the liquid that brought her there in the first place and placed it in his hands. "I will give us two weeks. If no progress is made, I shall be forced to leave."
"Sounds like a plan," he said, giving the vial back to Reign. It was then that Severus noticed the tattoo on her shoulder for the second time. "What is this?" he asked, stroking the spot. Reign pulled away.
"It is the symbol of my clan. The three stars represent the three great elfin kings that started our tribe, and the crescent moon is the sign of our god, Kor."
"It's beautiful. And these?" he asked, touching the lines under her eyes. 'This is an odd side affect' Reign thought as she leaned back.
"It's supposed to represent a comet. I was the only child born the year this comet passed the earth, so this symbol is to remind me of my individuality." She put the bottle back into her pouch and stood up. "It's time for you to get some rest." She walked to the door and opened it. "Goodnight Professor."
"Goodnight, Miss Chambers." He winked.
Reign headed back to her room, pondering her decision the whole time. There definitely was something wrong with her behavior. If she were acting like normal she would have already left Hogwarts for a safer place. But now, after seeing Professor Snape in such a different light, seeing him intimidated by someone else, she almost felt…sympathetic toward him? She wasn't sure if that was the right word. But she was afraid that the right word would also be the very most wrong word.