Chapter two: "A chance meeting"
Tears stung Pyretta's cheek. She felt so lonely, she didn't have any friends or anyone to talk to. Today was her sixteenth birthday, not that it was even important to her father, the idea of him throwing a sweet sixteen party was laughable. He did everything he could to make sure she was unhappy. He wanted her to only feel hate. I'll make myself happy one way or the other! she thought angrily. She saw the two cronies set at the front of her open door talking to themselves(judging by the voices it was Crabbe and Goyle), keeping a watchful eye on her. Brainless gits! she thought to herself If he told them to jump off a bridge and drown themselves, they would! She hated the Death Eaters as much as she hated her father.
A slight tingling sensation began at her fingertips. Owing to the fact that her hand must be falling asleep she flexed her fingers, but it didn't go away. Instead it got stronger, spreading down to her knuckles then to her wrist. Now she felt like her whole hand was on fire. She freaked out and moved her hand in a quick movement. Without warning the bookcase across the hallway was engulfed in flames. Her two guards now directed their attentions to the burning bookcase, looking clueless at it. This was her chance. She slipped past the two pratts(who were now jumping around wondering what to do), ran down the stairs and out the door. She made it to the gate musing to herself how dumb her guards were. Once she passed through the gate she disapparated with a small *pop*.
Inside Crabbe and Goyle finally cast a water spell on the bookcase. Relieved that they had put out the fire before their master found out, they smiled at one another. But when they turned their eyes where they should have been, they saw that Pyretta was gone. They searched the room high and low but she was nowhere to be found. Goyle turned to Crabbe, his mask hid the worry on his face but not in his voice.
"Uh. Crabbe, the Dark Lord isn't going to be pleased with this!"
"We're in deep trouble Goyle!".
Pyretta apparated in a small town, she looked up at a sign close by her that read "Welcome to Hogsmeade". This was no help to her. Never being allowed off the grounds of her fathers estate, she still had no idea where she was. Looking around at the shops though, she could tell this was no muggle town. As she walked down the street she saw witches and wizards hurrying along to their destinations, barely raising their eyes. Wait, was that a goblin she just saw!?! Pyretta mused to herself. The air smelled fresh and sweet, slowly she was starting to feel alive. Temptation almost caught her as she had just walked past a sweet shop called "Honeydukes". She gazed at all the different chocolates and sweets in the window but she had no money. She moved along passing another store called "Zonko's Joke Shop". I bet that's an interesting place, she thought. But now she was feeling a bit thirsty. Pyretta spotted a pub across the way, remembering that she was broke she thought maybe she could just get a glass of water.
"The Three Broomsticks" she read on a sign before she entered. The place was packed. Groups of people sat at tables talking amongst themselves. Pyretta finally spotted an empty table(after what felt like standing there for an hour). As she headed for it, she over heard a group of young witches talking:
"Oh he is so handsome!"
"And he's rich, I mean loaded!"
"Can you believe he's single?"
"Remember he was at Hogwarts with us, he was one of the top in the class."
"Did I mention how rich he is?"
"If only he'd ask me to marry him."
"Dream on, your not good enough for him!"
The girls now all turned their attention to a young man sitting by himself. Waving and winking at him, Pyretta thought how silly and immature they were acting. She sat down and looked at the man these girls were gawking at. He isn't even all that good looking! Pyretta lied to herself(in fact she thought he was quite good looking if he didn't look so smug and overconfident!) His hair looks to greasy, and that nose. I've seen hippogriff's with smaller beaks! Pyretta's thoughts were interrupted.
"Welcome to the Three Broomsticks. I'm the landlady Rosmerta, what can I get for you dear?"
"Um. uh, just a glass of water please."
"Nothing else?" Rosmerta looked slightly hurt.
Pyretta lowered her voice "I'm sorry but I have no money and I'm really thirsty."
Rosmerta smiled at her then walked away. She returned a short while later with a large foaming tankard of something Pyretta never before had seen, Pyretta looked up at the pretty landlady. "Uh. sorry but what is this?"
Rosmerta smiled again. "Butterbeer, my own mix, best in the land."
"Oh. but I told you before, I haven't any."
"Don't worry dear, it's been taken care of. By the way, the gentleman sitting over there sends his love." She pointed to the man the young witches were drooling over. Rosmerta smiled and walked away.
The young man with the shoulder-length, greasy black hair and rather large nose raised his own tankard to her. Pyretta nodded to him in a sign of thanks and took a sip of the butterbeer. This is way better than water, she thought, But who is he to think he can win me over with a drink?!? She noticed that he didn't take his dark eyes off her. Arrogant prick! He does seem to think much of himself! Yet she felt flattered by his attention.
She kept drinking, looking over at him occasionally. Their eyes would meet and he would wink or smile. Pyretta would giggle to herself and even once winked back. Oh god! She thought as she saw him get up from his seat and start in her direction. Acting like she hadn't noticed him coming over to her, she got up herself and headed toward the door. She nodded to Rosmerta and left. She crossed the street and looked back, the young man just had exist the pub and was starring right at her. Pyretta started walking quickly not really sure of where she was going but every time she looked behind her there was the young man a few paces behind. The smile on his face remained. She decided to play a game of cat and mouse with him, running along the street, ducking behind corners, but he would find her.
She had to admit it, she was having fun. For the first time in a long time, she was enjoying herself. She kept running and he kept following. Faster and faster she started to run until Pyretta ran into a thick of woods. She looked around, the young man was nowhere to be found. Damn, why did I have to run so fast? She took another look around. she was more lost then before. Pyretta felt a soft tap on her back, startled she spun around. There standing behind her was the man, holding a single red rose. Was it her imagination or did he become more handsome(still ignoring the fact that his hair was greasy and nose was large and hooked)?
"A little jumpy are we?" he asked her
"You caught me off guard, that's all." Pyretta answered.
He took the rose and caressed her cheek with it. "For you, though it's beauty is dulled compared to yours."
Pyretta didn't know what to say or how to react.
"Well..?" He asked
"Well what?"
"Do you accept my gift or are you playing hard to get?"
Did she hear him right!?! "EXCUSE ME, BUT.." She started but before she could finish she felt his soft lips press on hers. He backed off but Pyretta still had her eyes closed leaning slightly. She opened her eyes, came to her senses and looked at him, was he actually smirking at her!?! "HOW DARE YOU! I didn't give you permission to do that, you slimy. you overconfident. oh I am so furious."
He started laughing "You know you liked it!"
In fact she did rather like it but she wasn't about to admit it, not to a complete stranger particularly one with such a big ego. "So you know, I found that very rude of you! You're a stranger and, and. well the fact is I don't know you!" She didn't know what else to say.
He laughed a little more. "You're cute when you're angry, did you know?" he asked. "If it bothers you that much, we shall exchange names, then we won't be strangers anymore. Will that help you to accept my gift?" He held out the rose once more. Pyretta couldn't help to smile, he was very charming.
"I'll go first. Allow me to introduce myself, my good lady, I'm Sev." before he could finish a large black horse strode up with a hooded and masked man up top. The horse stopped in between them and the man looked down at Pyretta.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? YOUR FATHER IS IN A RAGE!"
Pyretta right away recognized the voice, it belonged to another of her father's henchmen, Igor Karkaroff. He turned his head from Pyretta to the young man. Karkaroff kicked him to the ground and warned him: "BE ON YOUR WAY NOW AND FORGET THIS EVER HAPPENED!" With that said he grabbed Pyretta and carried her off.
The young man got up from the ground fuming, he sneered at the trampled rose. He started back towards Hogsmeade still angry and confused about what just took place. Who was she? Why was that man so eager to get him away from her? And more importantly who was her father? He walked into town(still brushing the dirt off his robes), lost in his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice.
"Ah, young Severus Snape."
Severus looked up. "Mr. Malfoy, how goes the day?" He asked curtly
"Severus please, our family's have known each other for ages. Do call me Lucius." He gave Severus a smile. "The day is going as well as it can for me, but I happened to see you get into a bit of a tumble already today." He reached up and extracted a twig from Severus' hair.
"Oh. you saw that did you?" Severus asked.
"Um. indeed I did. I would advise you to be more careful. It's not so bright to go picking fights with masked men, not these days."
"Right, I'll bear that in mind."
"Don't think that I'm threatening you Severus, us pure bloods have got to look out for one another. So you fancy her do you? Well I can't say that I blame you, Pyretta is very beautiful. So lucky the man that gets her."
"Pyretta. is that her name? Do you know her?"
"Yes I do know her, very well. Dear me Severus, I've never seen you this getty over a girl before."
"Please Lucius, be kind, tell me how I can see her again."
"Oh I'm afraid that's very impossible Severus, very impossible. but wait, there might be away."
"How? I'd do anything!"
Lucius Malfoy lowered he voice, his eyes flashed strangely "The Dark Lord."
"You mean you-know-who!?! What does he have to do with this, I don't under."
"You have a brain, do you not? Then please use it. Good lord Severus join him, join us!"
"What does he have to do with Pyretta?" He was still puzzled.
"Pyretta is the Dark Lord's daughter. Now what say you Severus Snape? Join and be with her or be slaughtered with the rest, it's up to you! Frankly I don't see what all your thinking is about!" Lucius growled looking at Severus' confused face. "Oppose and die or join and live and possibly get the most beautiful woman in the land by your side. Come on Severus, decide now!"
Severus could hardly think. How could she be He-who-must-not-be-named's daughter? She was so beautiful, her chocolate brown eyes alight with fire, her long silky light brown hair that passed her back. Everything a man could ask for and she took interest in him. He felt it in the kiss they shared but she was the Dark Lord's daughter, would they have a chance?
"Severus what say you, yes or no?" Malfoy pressed on.
He did want to be with her. Whatever it took he was going to be with her. He made up his mind. "I'll do it then."
"Good, I knew you'd come around Severus, you're very clever. Now to business, shall we?"
They walked off together.
Tears stung Pyretta's cheek. She felt so lonely, she didn't have any friends or anyone to talk to. Today was her sixteenth birthday, not that it was even important to her father, the idea of him throwing a sweet sixteen party was laughable. He did everything he could to make sure she was unhappy. He wanted her to only feel hate. I'll make myself happy one way or the other! she thought angrily. She saw the two cronies set at the front of her open door talking to themselves(judging by the voices it was Crabbe and Goyle), keeping a watchful eye on her. Brainless gits! she thought to herself If he told them to jump off a bridge and drown themselves, they would! She hated the Death Eaters as much as she hated her father.
A slight tingling sensation began at her fingertips. Owing to the fact that her hand must be falling asleep she flexed her fingers, but it didn't go away. Instead it got stronger, spreading down to her knuckles then to her wrist. Now she felt like her whole hand was on fire. She freaked out and moved her hand in a quick movement. Without warning the bookcase across the hallway was engulfed in flames. Her two guards now directed their attentions to the burning bookcase, looking clueless at it. This was her chance. She slipped past the two pratts(who were now jumping around wondering what to do), ran down the stairs and out the door. She made it to the gate musing to herself how dumb her guards were. Once she passed through the gate she disapparated with a small *pop*.
Inside Crabbe and Goyle finally cast a water spell on the bookcase. Relieved that they had put out the fire before their master found out, they smiled at one another. But when they turned their eyes where they should have been, they saw that Pyretta was gone. They searched the room high and low but she was nowhere to be found. Goyle turned to Crabbe, his mask hid the worry on his face but not in his voice.
"Uh. Crabbe, the Dark Lord isn't going to be pleased with this!"
"We're in deep trouble Goyle!".
Pyretta apparated in a small town, she looked up at a sign close by her that read "Welcome to Hogsmeade". This was no help to her. Never being allowed off the grounds of her fathers estate, she still had no idea where she was. Looking around at the shops though, she could tell this was no muggle town. As she walked down the street she saw witches and wizards hurrying along to their destinations, barely raising their eyes. Wait, was that a goblin she just saw!?! Pyretta mused to herself. The air smelled fresh and sweet, slowly she was starting to feel alive. Temptation almost caught her as she had just walked past a sweet shop called "Honeydukes". She gazed at all the different chocolates and sweets in the window but she had no money. She moved along passing another store called "Zonko's Joke Shop". I bet that's an interesting place, she thought. But now she was feeling a bit thirsty. Pyretta spotted a pub across the way, remembering that she was broke she thought maybe she could just get a glass of water.
"The Three Broomsticks" she read on a sign before she entered. The place was packed. Groups of people sat at tables talking amongst themselves. Pyretta finally spotted an empty table(after what felt like standing there for an hour). As she headed for it, she over heard a group of young witches talking:
"Oh he is so handsome!"
"And he's rich, I mean loaded!"
"Can you believe he's single?"
"Remember he was at Hogwarts with us, he was one of the top in the class."
"Did I mention how rich he is?"
"If only he'd ask me to marry him."
"Dream on, your not good enough for him!"
The girls now all turned their attention to a young man sitting by himself. Waving and winking at him, Pyretta thought how silly and immature they were acting. She sat down and looked at the man these girls were gawking at. He isn't even all that good looking! Pyretta lied to herself(in fact she thought he was quite good looking if he didn't look so smug and overconfident!) His hair looks to greasy, and that nose. I've seen hippogriff's with smaller beaks! Pyretta's thoughts were interrupted.
"Welcome to the Three Broomsticks. I'm the landlady Rosmerta, what can I get for you dear?"
"Um. uh, just a glass of water please."
"Nothing else?" Rosmerta looked slightly hurt.
Pyretta lowered her voice "I'm sorry but I have no money and I'm really thirsty."
Rosmerta smiled at her then walked away. She returned a short while later with a large foaming tankard of something Pyretta never before had seen, Pyretta looked up at the pretty landlady. "Uh. sorry but what is this?"
Rosmerta smiled again. "Butterbeer, my own mix, best in the land."
"Oh. but I told you before, I haven't any."
"Don't worry dear, it's been taken care of. By the way, the gentleman sitting over there sends his love." She pointed to the man the young witches were drooling over. Rosmerta smiled and walked away.
The young man with the shoulder-length, greasy black hair and rather large nose raised his own tankard to her. Pyretta nodded to him in a sign of thanks and took a sip of the butterbeer. This is way better than water, she thought, But who is he to think he can win me over with a drink?!? She noticed that he didn't take his dark eyes off her. Arrogant prick! He does seem to think much of himself! Yet she felt flattered by his attention.
She kept drinking, looking over at him occasionally. Their eyes would meet and he would wink or smile. Pyretta would giggle to herself and even once winked back. Oh god! She thought as she saw him get up from his seat and start in her direction. Acting like she hadn't noticed him coming over to her, she got up herself and headed toward the door. She nodded to Rosmerta and left. She crossed the street and looked back, the young man just had exist the pub and was starring right at her. Pyretta started walking quickly not really sure of where she was going but every time she looked behind her there was the young man a few paces behind. The smile on his face remained. She decided to play a game of cat and mouse with him, running along the street, ducking behind corners, but he would find her.
She had to admit it, she was having fun. For the first time in a long time, she was enjoying herself. She kept running and he kept following. Faster and faster she started to run until Pyretta ran into a thick of woods. She looked around, the young man was nowhere to be found. Damn, why did I have to run so fast? She took another look around. she was more lost then before. Pyretta felt a soft tap on her back, startled she spun around. There standing behind her was the man, holding a single red rose. Was it her imagination or did he become more handsome(still ignoring the fact that his hair was greasy and nose was large and hooked)?
"A little jumpy are we?" he asked her
"You caught me off guard, that's all." Pyretta answered.
He took the rose and caressed her cheek with it. "For you, though it's beauty is dulled compared to yours."
Pyretta didn't know what to say or how to react.
"Well..?" He asked
"Well what?"
"Do you accept my gift or are you playing hard to get?"
Did she hear him right!?! "EXCUSE ME, BUT.." She started but before she could finish she felt his soft lips press on hers. He backed off but Pyretta still had her eyes closed leaning slightly. She opened her eyes, came to her senses and looked at him, was he actually smirking at her!?! "HOW DARE YOU! I didn't give you permission to do that, you slimy. you overconfident. oh I am so furious."
He started laughing "You know you liked it!"
In fact she did rather like it but she wasn't about to admit it, not to a complete stranger particularly one with such a big ego. "So you know, I found that very rude of you! You're a stranger and, and. well the fact is I don't know you!" She didn't know what else to say.
He laughed a little more. "You're cute when you're angry, did you know?" he asked. "If it bothers you that much, we shall exchange names, then we won't be strangers anymore. Will that help you to accept my gift?" He held out the rose once more. Pyretta couldn't help to smile, he was very charming.
"I'll go first. Allow me to introduce myself, my good lady, I'm Sev." before he could finish a large black horse strode up with a hooded and masked man up top. The horse stopped in between them and the man looked down at Pyretta.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? YOUR FATHER IS IN A RAGE!"
Pyretta right away recognized the voice, it belonged to another of her father's henchmen, Igor Karkaroff. He turned his head from Pyretta to the young man. Karkaroff kicked him to the ground and warned him: "BE ON YOUR WAY NOW AND FORGET THIS EVER HAPPENED!" With that said he grabbed Pyretta and carried her off.
The young man got up from the ground fuming, he sneered at the trampled rose. He started back towards Hogsmeade still angry and confused about what just took place. Who was she? Why was that man so eager to get him away from her? And more importantly who was her father? He walked into town(still brushing the dirt off his robes), lost in his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice.
"Ah, young Severus Snape."
Severus looked up. "Mr. Malfoy, how goes the day?" He asked curtly
"Severus please, our family's have known each other for ages. Do call me Lucius." He gave Severus a smile. "The day is going as well as it can for me, but I happened to see you get into a bit of a tumble already today." He reached up and extracted a twig from Severus' hair.
"Oh. you saw that did you?" Severus asked.
"Um. indeed I did. I would advise you to be more careful. It's not so bright to go picking fights with masked men, not these days."
"Right, I'll bear that in mind."
"Don't think that I'm threatening you Severus, us pure bloods have got to look out for one another. So you fancy her do you? Well I can't say that I blame you, Pyretta is very beautiful. So lucky the man that gets her."
"Pyretta. is that her name? Do you know her?"
"Yes I do know her, very well. Dear me Severus, I've never seen you this getty over a girl before."
"Please Lucius, be kind, tell me how I can see her again."
"Oh I'm afraid that's very impossible Severus, very impossible. but wait, there might be away."
"How? I'd do anything!"
Lucius Malfoy lowered he voice, his eyes flashed strangely "The Dark Lord."
"You mean you-know-who!?! What does he have to do with this, I don't under."
"You have a brain, do you not? Then please use it. Good lord Severus join him, join us!"
"What does he have to do with Pyretta?" He was still puzzled.
"Pyretta is the Dark Lord's daughter. Now what say you Severus Snape? Join and be with her or be slaughtered with the rest, it's up to you! Frankly I don't see what all your thinking is about!" Lucius growled looking at Severus' confused face. "Oppose and die or join and live and possibly get the most beautiful woman in the land by your side. Come on Severus, decide now!"
Severus could hardly think. How could she be He-who-must-not-be-named's daughter? She was so beautiful, her chocolate brown eyes alight with fire, her long silky light brown hair that passed her back. Everything a man could ask for and she took interest in him. He felt it in the kiss they shared but she was the Dark Lord's daughter, would they have a chance?
"Severus what say you, yes or no?" Malfoy pressed on.
He did want to be with her. Whatever it took he was going to be with her. He made up his mind. "I'll do it then."
"Good, I knew you'd come around Severus, you're very clever. Now to business, shall we?"
They walked off together.