Chapter Twenty-Nine

Voyage to the Stars

Reign walked away from her encounter with Draco hoping that something good would come of it.  What she had witnessed between Father and Son was enough to make her blood boil.  She would have stopped the abuse if she hadn't been so afraid. 

The elf shivered as she imagined what would have happened if she had interfered like she had wanted so desperately to do.  But at least she had eased the boy's pain...physical pain, that is. 

Reign attempted to soften her own tenderness by pulling back her sleeves and rubbing her scars.  They itched uncontrollably, but that was most likely due to the fact that they were not fully recovered.  But Reign knew that they would never be, and that made her rub even harder as she walked back to the stands.

            "There you are," came a voice ahead of her.  She looked up with glistening eyes at Severus.  He came toward her and—noticing her anguish—took her wrist in his hand and kissed it gently.  Even through the gauze, Reign could feel the warmth from his lips—though it wasn't enough.

Two very shocked first year Ravenclaws stopped in their tracks directly behind Reign.  The Potions Master glared at them and opened his mouth to take away points but they had left immediately after he gave them his infamous scowl.  So he returned his concentration to the elf.

            "If you give your attention to them, they will only grow more bothersome," he said softly.

            "How can I not give my attention to them?  Severus, look at them!"  She ripped off the coverings and shoved her injuries in his face.  "Look at his marks upon my skin and tell me that they don't gain attention all by themselves!"  Severus frowned and lowered her wrists.

            "Reign, relax.  Put your bandages back on."  That was all it took for her to obey—his silky voice telling her to relax.  Even she couldn't disobey his orders when he spoke to her like that. 

The woman scowled at him as she wrapped her wrists and hid them in her pockets.  Taking her by the arm, they began their journey around the field.

Harry stood in the middle of a large group of Gryffindors as he tried to make his way toward the locker rooms.  Hands were flying everywhere—shaking his hand, patting his back—and a wave of compliments flooded his ears.  He caught a glimpse of Reign as she walked by with the Potions Master.  It was a difficult task, but he managed to squeeze his way through the crowd to meet her.

            "Well done, Harry.  Congratulations."

            "Thanks.  I'm glad you got out in time to watch."

            "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."  The elf smiled at the Seeker, who was already grinning by the time he arrived.  Severus tapped his foot impatiently and refused to make eye contact with Harry...until Reign jabbed him in the side.

            "Congratulations, Potter," he mumbled.

            "Thank you, Professor."  Severus was about to make a rude observation, but was stopped when Reign took notice of his open mouth.  She shook her head at him as if to say, 'Don't even think about it'.  It was enough for him to shut his lips and cross his arms in disgust.

            "Harry, come on!"  Ron called from the back of the dissipating crowd.  His face turned a brilliant shade of red when Reign waved to him. 

            "Well that's my cue.  Thanks again for coming."

            "It was a pleasure.  Congratulations again for a great game." 

            "It wasn't that great," Severus mumbled after Harry was out of earshot.

            "For pity's sake, Severus, just because you have a grudge against the boy--"

            "I do not!"  He folded his arms across his chest and frowned like a young child.  Reign laughed at his behavior, but stopped when more sharp pains struck her.  She scraped her wrists together to dull the pain but it just made them burn even brighter. 

            "Reign..." Snape warned from her side.

            "I can't help it!  It's these bloody bandages!"  She ripped them off again once and for all and threw them to the ground.  Then she smothered them into the dirt with her boot, smiling satisfactorily at the ruined bindings.  Severus just shook his head—there was no stopping her when she had her mind set.

Reign lifted her hands into the air and let the cool breeze wash over her wrists.  They were being suffocated under the bandages; all they really needed was fresh air.  As they walked Reign lowered her hands and gazed into the distance.  It was around noon and the rooftops of the shops of Hogsmeade glittered in the afternoon sun.  The elf looked once more to her wrists and wondered how she was going to hide them from prying eyes.

            "How about a trip to Hogsmeade?" she asked, turning to her companion.  Snape stopped dead in his tracks.

            "You're joking." 

            "I never joke," she replied with a devilish grin.  "Oh come on, what better way to spend your Saturday than shopping?"  The word rang in his ears and created a massive headache that spread through his entire head, causing his face to contort.

            "I don't shop," he stated plainly.

            "I could really use the company," Reign begged, folding her hands in a praying motion as she moved toward him.  "Please, Severus?  I really need something heavier to wear...and I'd like to find some gloves...PLEASE?"  She let her bottom lip quiver as she pouted in front of him.  The man rolled his eyes.  "Besides, I could use a pair of good strong arms to carry my packages for me," she said as she squeezed his upper arms.

            "Well gee, why didn't you say so in the first place?  Of course I'll go shopping with you if I can be your slave."  The sarcasm dripped off of every word.  Reign laughed and punched his arm playfully.

            "Honestly, Severus, besides lowering your students self-esteem by marking up their papers and scaring the wits out of young children as you march through the halls, what else have you got to do today?"  A sigh escaped his lips as he surveyed the elf standing in front of him with her hands on her hips and one eyebrow raised in anticipation.

            "This had better be quick."  A wide grin crept slowly across Reign's face as she took his arm.

*** 

Saturday was always the busiest day for the shops at Hogsmeade, and that day was no exception.  Severus had regretted agreeing to the trip from the start, but as soon as they were pushing their way through the crowded streets of the town, he immediately wanted to turn and run as fast as he could in the opposite direction.  He would have, too, if a certain young elf hadn't been holding on to him to prevent his escape. 

A small bell rang as they entered Gladrags Wizardwear.  The old witch behind the counter grimaced at Reign's back as she glanced around the shop at the racks of clothes.  Severus saw the woman and gave her a look of his own.  She immediately straightened and went to the back room to avoid having to deal with the new customer.

Reign stood in the middle of the shop and spun in a slow circle, searching for the perfect coat.  There were loads of cloaks of every color, but most shrouded the smaller coverings beside them.  Reign strained to see between the large fabrics, and finally she saw it. 

She walked swiftly toward the rack and shoved her hand between two vibrant blue cloaks.  She dug deeper and deeper until she finally retrieved what she had been looking for.  It was perfect.  The coat was as black as night itself—even darker than Snape's layers.  Reign slid into the jacket and marveled at the silver clasps and hidden pockets.  The sleeves were cut up to mid-forearm, but the slits were held together by black leather string.  The coat fell to just above her knees and had a small slit up the back to allow for easy sitting.  Amazed, her eyes slid over the material as it fell gracefully over her body. 

From the other side of the shop, Severus watched her curiously.  She seemed mesmerized by the coat, as if she was almost meant to find it.

            "It looks beautiful on you," he said as he approached her.  The contrast of her pure white hair with the dark coat was truly stunning.

            "Thank you."  She looked up and smiled at him, then walked toward the counter where the shopkeeper had just returned.  Setting her elbows on top of the wood, Reign stared hard at the woman and said, "I need some gloves."  The old witch waved them behind the counter and into a back room. 

Along the walls were shelves upon shelves of gloved hands.  Vibrant colors and fur lined fabrics were just some of the extras that adorned them.  Reign went to a pair of hands that wore black, fingerless leather gloves and wrapped around the wrist.  She pulled them from the hands and placed them on her own.  Once again, they were perfect.  They covered her scars completely but were loose enough to keep them from itching, and were fingerless—which allowed her the freedom of working with her hands without the hassle of heavy fabric.  With the coat and gloves still on, Reign went back to the main room of the shop.

            "I'll take these too," she said, raising her hands for the woman to see.  The witch punched a few buttons on the cash register and waited patiently as Reign retrieved her money pouch.

            "That'll be 105 Galleons."  Reign heard Severus gasp and clear his throat from behind her.  She looked up at him and saw that his eyes had grown rather large.

            "This is the other reason I wanted you to come with me," she started, "I still have no idea how the money system works here."

            "Obviously," he said, leaning on the counter.  He glared at the shopkeeper.  "Don't you think that 105 Galleons is a little pricey for a coat and a pair of gloves?"

            "Sorry, sir, but that's what the price tag says.  090 for the coat, and 015 for the gloves."  Snape reached around the elf's neck and retrieved the tag. 

            "Why you conniving hag," he spat, "this says 060 for the coat, not 090.  You can read, can't you?"  The witch's face turned bright red as she re-did her calculations.

            "75 Galleons," she mumbled.  Reign held out her pouch and let Severus count out the money.  As they left, they could hear the shopkeeper spitting curses at their backs…up until a young man and his wife entered the shop, dressed exquisitely and looking very wealthy.

            "Are we done?" Severus asked as they pushed their way through the mass of people.

            "Yes, yes, I suppose."  Reign smiled when she heard the sigh of relief from Snape's direction.

***

After dinner Reign and Severus went up to the Astronomy Tower together.  The elf sat on the brick and dangled her feet over the ledge while Snape sat next to her with his back against the wall.  It was a clear night and the stars were shining their brightest as they sat silently gazing at the landscape laid out below them.  Reign still wore her jacket and gloves.  She played with the leather strings and Severus smiled to himself; she looked once again like a child with a new toy.

At the same time, however, she looked similar to a ghost.  The wind was stronger atop the tower and it whipped her hair around her face.  The moonlight shone upon her pale head and it cast an eerie glow about her features.  She raised her face to look up at the stars and became like a doll with her sudden stillness.

            "The stars are beautiful tonight."  Severus nodded in agreement, though he wasn't looking at them.  He could tell she was thinking.  Her eyes glistened with tears and her face twisted to stop them from falling.

            "What is it, Reign?  What are you thinking?"  She turned to him and a solitary tear fell down her cheek.  He reached up and wiped it away, his hand still lingering on her skin.  The elf turned away and wiped her eyes. 

            "My mother would always tell me that I was a gift from the stars.  We would spend hours outside gazing at the sky at night.  Then she would put me to bed, and she would sing to me.  She had a beautiful voice—even Jonah wasn't too old to listen to her song.  It would lure us to sleep and then she would blow out the flame of the candle and leave us, still humming her melody.  And then she would go out into the main room where my father sat reading, or doing paperwork for the elders, and she would lift him out of his chair and they would dance.  Sometimes I would creep to the door to peek out and watch them," she laughed at the memory of herself squeezing her small face through the tiny opening of her bedroom door. 

"They floated across the floor like angels.  The smiles on their faces grew wider with every step, and with every dance their love grew deeper.  I would watch them until my eyes started to close on their own, and then I would go to the window and pray to Kor that I would find someone like my father, and I would be as happy as my parents."  The tears came freely then, and Reign didn't stop them.  "I would pray to those stars every night that I would be happy, when I should have been praying for the happiness and safety of my people."  Her legs stopped kicking in the air and she drew her knees up to her chin.  Severus peeled himself off of the wall and inched closer to her. 

            "You can't change the past, Reign," he soothed her.  "No one can."

            "I know, I know.  But I still feel guilty.  I feel like I should have done something.  Or that I should be doing something now."  She looked up to the moon and sighed.  "What do I do now?" she asked it.  Her eyes closed as she soaked in the moon's rays, hoping that she would receive an answer. 

The wind suddenly ceased and the animals of the night became silent.  Severus remained motionless as Reign listened to the moon.  The light washed over her and whispered in her ear. 

            "Calaë," it said softly.  The elf felt tiny pricks spread over her body as the light seeped into her skin.  Snape noticed the miniature sparks and gave a small grin; she sparkled in the light as if she was pure magic. 

            "Calaë," whispered the moon again.  Reign nodded and opened her eyes.  When she lowered her head soft clouds rolled in and covered the moon.  She lost her sparkle as the light disappeared behind the billows, but a twinkle still remained in her eyes.

            "Home," she whispered, gazing out into the night.

            "Home?"

            "Home.  Yes."  Her mind was still elsewhere.  Severus placed his hand on her shoulder to bring her back.  "I need to go home," she said, looking into his dark eyes.

            "You mean back to your village?"  The elf nodded.  "But I thought it was destroyed…"  She turned away from him and lowered her head, thinking.

            "Perhaps I was mistaken.  Perhaps there is something left."  Looking back at Snape, she said, "Severus, I need to go back...I am being told to...I am supposed to go back..."

            "But--"

            "I want to go home."  Severus dropped his hand into his lap and gazed inquisitively at the elf.  He had never seen her look this determined.  Her eyes contained an intense passion that he dared not contradict.

            "Then you should go home."

            "Will you come with me?"  The man drew in a sharp breath and straightened in his seat. 

            "I don't think so, Reign.  I have so much to do here; it wouldn't be possible for me to just up and leave--"

            "We could wait until the summer.  I wouldn't mind...the weather would be nicer for traveling anyway..."  The man shook his head.

            "I just don't know..."   

            "Please, Severus.  I would feel a lot safer if you were with me."  Her eyes penetrated his own and pleaded with his heart.  Snape bit his bottom lip.  "And I would really enjoy your company."  A small groan sounded in his throat.  Never in his life had he traveled so long with someone to some place he had never been to.  It was an adventure he wasn't sure he was ready for.

            "I will have to think about it."

            "That's all I ask," she replied with a small grin.  Reign slid off of the ledge and straightened her coat.  "It's late.  I think I'll head off to bed."  Severus nodded and followed her lead back down into the castle.  At the entrance to her rooms, they embraced.

            "Thank you for a truly wonderful day."

            "It was my pleasure," he replied as they parted.  "Sleep well."

            "And you also."  Reign watched as Severus turned and walked back down the corridor, his black robes billowing behind him.  She was so grateful for him.

***

Inside her chambers, Reign removed her new jacket and placed it in her wardrobe.  After setting her gloves on the nightstand she went to the bathroom.  The elf let the water run over her scars before splashing some of the liquid onto her face.  It was cool and refreshing. 

She opened her eyes when she didn't hear the familiar sound of the miniature waterfall.  Screaming, Reign fell back into the wall and onto the floor.  She sat clutching her heart until her pulse returned to normal. 

Had it been a hallucination?  What had she just seen?  She knew the answer to that; she had seen drops of water.  They were suspended in the air.  Like crystals, they hung below her only for an instant.  When she crawled back to the sink they were gone.  The water poured out of the faucet like it had before the incident.  She turned it off and stumbled back to her bed.

Looking to her scars, she scowled, and then ripped off the sheet from the headboard.  Glaring at the snake—whose eyes glowed bright green—she asked with a shaking voice,

            "What have you done to me now?"