One year after Rubida Luna

A Random Encounter

Severa knew it was extremely stupid to be browsing Knockturn Alley especially during these dark times. Voldemort was reaching a new height of power. It was summer though dammit, and Sevvie wanted to go shopping.  Luckily, Severa's dark clothing and pale complexion helped her fit in with the normal patrons. She had no doubt that most of the wizards and witches she passed were busying themselves with errands and acquirements for their evil deeds and the torturing of Muggle-borns and their sympathisers. Severa hated them, hated the lot. Her mother was a muggle-born and feared for her safety everyday.

Severa took notice of an interesting display in one of the shop windows and entered. Like most stores in Knockturn it was dark, musty, moldy, and covered with cobwebs. Severa brushed some dust aside from a shelf with her black-gloved hands and picked up a blood candle. It was held in an onyx bowl, and she liked it. She might as well buy that along with the real object of her hunt.

She ducked under a string of drying pig hearts and ran smack into some one. "Watch where you are going, stupid girl," said a condescending sneer from above her. Severa looked, regaining her balance and swallowed her tongue. Before her stood six feet of regal beauty. His robes were coloured in dark, rich hues, grey-blue gazed at her in mild interest under hooded lids. Pale blonde hair fell past his shoulders. He was gorgeous! He was…oh Lord…he was Lucius Malfoy!

"Um…" was all Severa managed to utter.

Lucius cocked a dark eyebrow and lifted Severa's chin with his snakehead cane. "You are…vaguely familiar. You're Slytherin, aren't you?"

"Was," Sevvie croaked, "I graduated last year."

Lucius chuckled. "Ah, then you must Miss Severa Rimmer…or Iphigenia Lister. I think Draco ranted on about you more than he did the Potter boy."

"I-I'm Severa." She realised she was at her least articulate. She was battling between being fearful, hateful, and totally enthralled with this man.

"Rimmer…yes. Your mother-"

Severa's mind clicked and prepared itself to take on complete hate as he was about to slander her mother. But a familiar voice cut the blonde man off. "Lucius." Oh, this was too much for poor Severa's nerves and circulatory system! "Bullying children again, are we?" Severus Snape asked in an oddly friendly tone.

"Not at all." Lucius removed the cane from under Severa's chin and she rubbed her jaw. "Friendly conversation, no grave matter." He smirked. "Severus."

Snape gave the other man a curt nod as Lucius walked past him and out of the shop. The two Sevs stared at the door, Snape glaring. " 'No grave matter' indeed…I'll put you in one soon enough," he muttered.

"He'll make a lovely corpse," said the glassy-eyed young woman. Snape jumped, forgetting she was next to him.

"Severa Rimmer," He whispered harshly, "what in Hell's Fire are you doing in a place like this?"

"Shopping," she said, indignant.

"The last thing I need is your morbid fancies getting you targeted by Lucius bloody Malfoy!"

"Well," she whispered, matching his anger, "excuse me for wanting to buy a new skull! I'm here now, and I am going to get one! I am not going to let that creep ruin my fun!" She brushed past him and continued to browse the shelves.

"Is isn't safe for you here, with your mother…"

She ignored him, picking up assorted human skulls and examining them for fractures, holes, or missing teeth. Snape knew he ought to have left then; let the girl deal with whatever may befall her, but a twinge of protectiveness nagged at him. Severa noticed him following out of the corner of her eye. "What do you think?" She asked, holding up a skull of an adolescent dragon. "I suppose the boys could use a pet, no?"

"Miss Rimmer, the most prudent action would be for you to leave here as quickly as possible. I don't care if your 'family' needs a damn pet or not!"

Severa huffed. "Fine." She took the skull and candle to the cashier. Snape went outside and waited. "I don't need an escort," she told him, emerging from the shop.

"Come on." He grabbed her arm and hurriedly led her back to the more cheerful Diagon Alley. "And let me never catch you down there again!" He scolded her like an eight-year-old child.

Behind her firmly closed lips, Severa clenched her teeth in frustration. She let the anger of being talked down to pass though. "Thank you," she said softly.

Snape blinked a couple times. "Pardon?"

"Thank you for your concern," she explained with a smile.

"Now Miss Rimmer…" his tone deepened in warning.

"I know, I know. Still, at least you care. Good day Professor."

"Miss Rimmer." He gave a slight bow of his head.

Both turned and walked down opposite ends of the street.