Please note, that I do not own the character of Severus Snape, or any other magical lingo.  This is a Severus/OC story.  Samantha is my own creation.

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Chapter 6:

            Severus led her to the dining room.  He explained that this is where he normally eats.  His formal dining hall was too large and fancy for means by himself.  Samantha nodded, eyeing the splendor of his casual eating place.  The room was large and a long intricately carved table sat in the direct center.  There were enough chairs to seat twenty people.  And above the center of the table there hung an enormous brass chandelier, brimming with soft white candles.  She saw about ten house elves, standing against one wall, waiting to serve.  There seemed an endless supply of house elves, thought Samantha.  Severus pulled out the first chair and motioned for her to sit.  He sat next to her, at the head of the table.  Buttercup approached him first.

            "Good morning, Master.  Tea?"

            The house elves brought in all sorts of food and lined the table.  They served Samantha and Severus large amounts of eggs, potatoes, and sausages, and then promptly cleared out of the room, leaving a resounding silence in the air.  It was a few moments before either of them moved.

            "Miss Smill, do you understand what you have done by becoming a Death Eater?  It is not some sort of…social club.  I hope you realize that it will be difficult to pull you out of this."  Severus placed his napkin across his lap and picked up his fork.

            "I know," Samantha mumbled, pushing around the pile of eggs on her plate.  "It's as though I was in some sort of trance, lured by the Dark Arts, and the initiation ceremony snapped me back to reality."  She had no appetite.  She hadn't eaten in over 24 hours, and she wasn't hungry.  Only nervous.

            "There is a definite lure from the Dark Arts.  Many people become entranced by the power, the secrecy."  He paused, looking up at her and raising his eyebrow, he added, "The danger."  Uncomfortable, Samantha dropped her head.  She let her fork fall in the plate and she covered her face with her hands.

"The danger.  If I had not been so blinded by knowledge, I would have seen the danger."  Her voice was muffled softly.  She put her hands slowly in her lap, and kept her head drooping.  "I'm sorry, Severus."

            "For exactly what, Miss Smill?  Not finishing your breakfast?"  He eyed her full plate of food as he helped himself to more potatoes.  Samantha looked up at him, and watched his hands put down the serving spoon and pick up his own fork.  Fluid.  He had an inherent grace that mystified her.  He was powerful.  And mysterious.  And possibly dangerous in his own way.  Her eyes met his questioning gaze.

"I'm sorry about that, too.  But what I meant was…I'm sorry for troubling you.  For coming here.  Endangering you."  Samantha choked on her words, remembering she was a peril in his home.  Looking back down at her plate, she whispered, "And thank you."  At this, Severus cleared his throat.

            "No need to thank anyone quite yet.  We have still to see what will become of you.  We'll speak to the Headmaster.  You will have to prove to him that you truly want to change sides.  He cannot make any assumptions that could jeopardize the entire Wizarding community."  At this, Samantha frowned, pushing her plate away.

            "Severus, do you trust me?"  She looked up into his eyes.  He immediately averted his gaze, wrinkling his brow.  He put down his fork and patted his mouth with his napkin and stood up.  He looked down into Samantha's eyes.

            "Miss Smill, if you're finished, shall we contact the Headmaster now?"

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            Samantha sat down in "her" chair in the library, while Severus lit the fireplace with his wand and spoke an incantation.  Moments later, the head of the Headmaster appeared in the flames.  Samantha leaned forward.  He was exactly as she'd pictured him.  His gray hair and beard were long, his glasses small, sitting on his nose.  But his eyes revealed that he was greatly troubled.

            "Severus, I have grave news.  But first I must know if you were at the last meeting?" spoke the Headmaster.  Severus, still standing by the fireplace, knelt down to the level of the flames, awkwardly looking at Samantha.  She wondered what meeting he meant.

"Headmaster, I am not alone right now.  With me is Miss Smill.  I spoke to you last night regarding her…situation."

            "Smill?  Dear Merlin!  Severus, you need to stay there.  Keep her with you.  I will be there as soon as I can.  Just keep her safe until then.  Severus, tell me, were you at the meeting?  This is urgent."  Severus glanced over his shoulder at Samantha and then quickly averted his eyes back to the fire.

            "No, Headmaster.  I chose not to attend."  Dumbledore looked immensely relieved.  He nodded, looking suddenly distracted.  The head disappeared in a swirl of smoke.  Severus, confused and surprised, turned to Samantha and shook his head.

            "Miss, you are in grave danger."

            Samantha felt completely frantic.  She leapt to her feet and Severus slowly rose to his full height.  She looked up to him, panic in her eyes.

            "He can't help me?!  What'll I do?  Where can I go?  They'll find me, Severus."  Tears rolled down her cheeks.  He closed his eyes, pained by her helpless pleas.  "They'll get me.  I don't want to be one of them.  I do not want to become one of them."  He opened his eyes and put his hands on her shuddering shoulders, sitting her slowly into her chair.  He knelt before her, oddly like the night before.  Her soft sobs raked her body as she tried to regain control over herself.  Sheer terror pulsed in her veins.  Her thoughts kept returning to yesterday.  She would be one of the robed, shadowed monsters.  Her stomach turned.

            "Please control yourself, Miss Smill."  His sharp voice lacked any warmth.  She blinked away several tears, her sobs calming slowly, and looked carefully at his face.  It was shadowed, the fire blazing behind him.  She couldn't make out any emotion on his face.  He doesn't care.  He doesn't want her here, and she knows he doesn't need her here, causing him trouble.  She stood quickly once more, towering above him.  He remained on his knees as he looked up to her.

            "Control?"  Her lingering panic briefly was overshadowed by her swelling anger.  Severus slowly brought himself up from his knees, his head slightly hanging.  "I know you want me to leave, Severus.  Dumbledore will be here soon to collect me.  Probably, probably…to take me to the authorities."  She shook with a new wave of panic.  The authorities.  Forget the Death Eaters, the authorities will brew her alive.  Her eyes grew large and she looked to Severus.  His arms were crossed, his head hanging.  He brought one hand up to his eyes and softly rubbed them.

            "Why would you think I wanted you to leave?  Wasn't it me who prevented you from fleeing last night?"  He caught her gaze and held it intensely.  Samantha's anger and panic melted away.  She was lost in his stare.  She remembered his warm embrace when she was flooded by her tears.  His blush when he saw her dressed in only his black shirt.  His hesitant hands unbuttoning her nightdress.  His rich, deep voice that startled her in the library.  His scrawling script, his conjured clothing, his passion for potions, his…his everything.

            "Severus," she whispered, not intending on saying anything more.  She sighed deeply, wishing that she were stuck in this home forever with him.  If circumstances were different, she'd feel like…she could fall in love…Oh no!  Her enraptured eyes grew large in realization.

            She awkwardly stepped around the chair, trying not to lose his gaze.  She retreated from him, knowing that being close to him would make separating more difficult.  Separating.  Looking into his blank eyes, she knew, when Dumbledore would arrive, she'd never see Severus again.  Ever.  She stumbled backwards, but caught herself from falling on her back.  Tears welled in her eyes.  She didn't know why, but seeing Severus was important.  She needed him.  She felt a jolt of pain, knowing that he doesn't need her.  He doesn't want her.  He doesn't know her.

            "Miss Smill, please.  Be strong.  Headmaster Dumbledore will be ready to help you.  Calm down.  And explain to me what you will be willing to do."  His tone was softer, but not entirely comforting.  Dismayed, Samantha prepared to answer him.  What she'd be willing to do?  She hadn't given it much thought.  She was too frightened for her life.  But now that she has a chance for salvation, she felt distracted by her emotions for this man.  Severus folded his arms, his back to the fireplace.

            "I'd give my life to help the Light."  She'd give her life to Severus, if he asked.  At that moment, she didn't think she'd ever trusted anyone so much in her entire life.  "I'd do anything to save innocent lives, to hinder Dark activities, to assist the Ministry.  I'll endure the Dark Lord if someday I can have my peace."  Knowing what she must do and knowing that she may never again see Severus pained her.  She fell to her knees in the middle of the quiet, shadowy room.  Her hands on the floor in front of her supported her weight.  Her wet eyes stared ahead at nothing.  The sorrow in her heart threatened to overwhelm her.  She blinked back tears, and slowly enveloped a lock of her hair in her fingers.  Strong hands seized her shoulders and stood her up.  She snapped out of the painful trance and found Severus staring intently at her face.

            "That is very brave.  I am glad to know your heart is true.  I am sure that Dumbledore will find a use for you.  Hopefully, something not too dangerous."  Samantha distinctly heard his voice break at the end of the sentence, as he pulled her in for a hug.  She wasn't sure if he was comforting her, but she got the strange feeling she was comforting him.  Sighing, she tightened the embrace, wrapping one around his neck, and the other around his waist.  When she felt his shaky breath in her hair, she sighed again.  He moved his head to whisper something in her ear.

            "That dress is very lovely on you, Miss Smill.  Very beautiful."

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Alright, I'm sorry I haven't updated in such a long time!  I had part of this chapter started and I just went through, edited and added more.  Hope you enjoy it.  I will be adding to it regularly, especially knowing there are people reading!

I'd like to say THANKS to Katie, who's reviewed and even emailed me, letting me know she wants more.  That definitely encouraged me to write!  J  Until next time…