Waking Up

When Orion awoke it was still dark out.  She reached for her watch on the nightstand, but the table was gone.  She sat up, with watery, droopy eyes, and realized she wasn't in her room.  Then she saw him sleeping, or trying to do so, in the chair by the fireplace.  She guessed it was about six, so that would give him three hour's time to rest before breakfast.  Avery pulled herself out of the warm, safe bed, and went to the chair.  Severus was still wearing his cloak and robes.  His hair was matted to his head, as he had been tossing and turning ever since he was forced into such a position.  She brushed his hair back behind his ear, and gasped as his arm flew up and grabbed her wrist.  She should have seen that coming.  The man was incapable of human contact, so when some poor soul even so much as brushed passed him in the hall, he would know, and they would pay dearly for it. 

                "Something I could help you with, Miss Avery?  Would you like me to fluff your pillow?  Read you a story?  Perhaps I could get you some warm milk to help you sleep?"  She yanked her wrist from his strong grasp.

                "I was just going to offer the bed to you.  You have three hours until breakfast," she replied as she made her way to the door.  "Oh and Professor," Severus turned his aching head toward her, "Thank you for the most wonderful night's sleep I've had in months." 

Severus Snape dragged himself out of the chair.  His back screamed with pain, as did his neck.  He climbed into his bed, still warm from where Orion lay.  He cursed his own sarcasm and prayed that the rest of the day would be less harsh to him.

***

Three and a half hours later Orion and Albus were finishing their breakfast when Severus came slugging in, his step lacking its usual grace. 

"Severus!  Nice of you to join us," smirked the Headmaster, "Come, have a seat."  Straying from his normal seat at the end of the table, the professor was forced to take a seat by Orion, where a large platter had appeared with his breakfast on it.  The woman had her feet propped up on the table, and looked very refreshed.  He wanted to strangle her. 

Orion watched Snape trudge to the chair next to her.  She couldn't help but laugh when she saw the dried up drool on the corners of his mouth.

                "Sleep well, Professor?"

                "No, but if it wasn't for you I would have."

                "You never told me I had to drink it in my own bed," she whispered to him.  "How was I supposed to know it was that potent?"  The man gave her a fierce look, and Albus, who was listening with a hidden amusement, spoke up.

                "Please children, do try to get along."  With that both Orion and Severus shot him a fierce, and very adult-like, look.  He laughed.  Just then a very exotic looking hawk flew into the Great Hall.  It landed on the woman's propped up leg. 

"Hallo Skye," she said as she pulled the small piece of parchment from his leg.  Skye was an Australian Seahawk.  He had dark colorings and a six-foot wingspan.  Three solitary feathers stuck out from the top of his proud head and he had claws like razors.  But the most unique thing about the bird was the way the feathers laid right beneath his left wing--they formed a star.  That was the main reason Hagrid had bought him for Orion--that, and he claimed the animal looked like her.  Or rather, resembled her powerful existence.  Avery unrolled the parchment to read:

Dear Orion,

                Thank you for your letter, it was nice to hear from you.  Things are going fairly well here.  I talked to Aimee Pearla (the woman who Draco told me to go to).  She's really amazing, and I'm so glad I found her.  I finally got a trial and the opening arguments start next Thursday.  To be honest, this is all happening really fast, but I'm glad its happening.  I apologize for the short letter, but I need to run out and get Harry a birthday present.  I'll write again after the trial starts.  Give my regards to the rest of the staff...well, maybe not Snape. 

Best  wishes,

Sirius Black

                "Well.  It seems as though Sirius has finally found himself."  Orion showed the letter to her Godfather, who suppressed a laugh after reading the last sentence. 

"What has the traitor got himself into now?" Severus asked.  Obviously not because he cared at all about Black, but because he didn't much appreciate being left out of the conversation.

"Sirius has got himself a trial next week," Orion answered, looking into his eyes for the first time since last night.  He looked so tired.  Skye squawked.  "Sorry, old boy.  Everything's already been cleaned up."  The bird picked menacingly at her hand, then flew off and out of the hall. 

"Leave it to Hagrid to pick out the ugliest bird in the world," Snape said when Skye was out of earshot.

"Shut up.  You're the ugly one."  The two people looked at each other and laughed at their childish remarks.  Dumbledore excused himself, leaving the two professors alone in the Great Hall.

"I'm sorry about last night," Severus said.

"I'm sorry also."  There was a moment of silence before Orion spoke again.  "So how was your summer?"

"Fine, just fine.  Quite enjoyable without the pesky inhabitants of this castle."

"Oh come on, we're not all that bad," she smiled.  The man played with the hems of his robes.  "Did you go on any great adventures?"  He looked up, a bit startled by her question.

"No.  None as great as yours anyway."  Was it a compliment?

"Well, mine have definitely diminished in greatness.  They're all the same.  Bad guys, dark places.  A wave of my hand or sword and bam, I'm off again."  Orion got up from the table and went to the window to peer at the morning sun.  Hagrid was walking to his hut, obviously having completed whatever Albus had asked of him.  He saw the women and gave a giant smile and a hearty wave.  Orion returned the gesture.  Then she turned back to Severus.

"Let's take a walk."  The professor leapt from his chair and with robes billowing behind both of them, they walked out of the hall.