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 12:

After a quiet dinner, Severus locked himself in his room once again.  Samantha sighed a deep breath, walking to the library.  She paced a few moments before collapsing into the armchair nearest the roaring fire.  The room was dark, echoes from the storm outside resounding.  The room was incredibly warm.  Almost hot.

Sinking back deep into her chair, she felt her eyes slowly close.  She relaxed, forgetting about the events of the day.  Her sore body groaned from walking around and trying on clothes.  She was exhausted.  A small voice in the back of Samantha's mind whispered for her to go to her room and sleep.  She was close to obeying when a loud, booming voice startled her awake.

"Severus!  Severus!  Where are you?"

"He's not here.  Who is that?"  She looked to the fireplace, where she recognized the head of the Headmaster.  Why was he yelling?  He looked incredibly worried.  Samantha stood up and started for the door.

"Severus!  Severus, the Headmaster – "

But before she even reached the door, it swung open, revealing a frantic-looking Severus.

"What is it?"

Samantha pointed to the fireplace.

"Leave us, Miss Smill.  Please."

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            Samantha nervously paced outside the library doors, wondering what in the world was happening.  She wrung her hands.  She twirled a lock of her hair.  After an hour, she sat on the floor, leaning against the heavy oak door.  Their conversation inside was hushed, because she could hear nothing, save the storm.

She had fallen asleep, sitting on the floor, after two hours.  That was when the front door flew open.

Samantha's heart leapt to her throat as she was startled awake the second time for the evening.  She jumped to her feet, trying to see who it was.  Heavy wind blew water into the foyer, and Albus Dumbledore came storming into the house.

Confused, Samantha turned to the doors behind her.

"I thought – "

She tried the knob, but it was locked.

"Severus?" she called, as she knocked on the door.

"Step aside, my dear."

The Headmaster drew his wand, and blinked several times, thoughtfully.  Then he muttered a charm that blew open the doors.  He swept inside, Samantha in his wake.  She was surprised to see Severus collapsed on the floor, near the fireplace.  Her hand flew to her mouth, when she saw his wrists.

Headmaster Dumbledore reached his side and assessed the situation.  He looked up carefully at Samantha while he covered Severus with his own cloak.

"My dear, would you please call me Buttercup?  And would you mind waiting for me – er – in the sitting room?"

            Wondering why he didn't want her help, she nodded dumbly and left.  She hunted down the house-elf and sent her to her master's aid.

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            It was well past midnight.  The doors to the library shut tight.  Samantha had waited in the sitting room for ages, but now she was pacing outside the library.  What was happening?  What was wrong with Severus?  And why won't the Headmaster let her help?  She stopped in her tracks.

            Samantha knew why he wouldn't let her help.  She's a Death-Eater.  She'd forgotten so soon.  She pulled the fabric of her shirt up her arm and looked at the menacing mark on her arm.  It was fainter, but still visible.  Before tears could well up in her eyes, she forced herself to think of Severus.

            Had he really slit his wrists?  Why would he ever do such a thing?  And she had been waiting just outside… She shivered.  The front door was still open, sending blasts of cold, wet air into the house.  She pulled out her new wand and used it to silently shut it.  And lock it.

            A heart-wrenching wail and a loud crash turned her attention sharply back to the library.  She crept close, and listened at the door.  She heard Headmaster Dumbledore's soothing voice.  It sounded like he was trying to be reassuring, but there was a definite hitch in his voice.

            "My boy, it was not your fault.  We simply did not know.  We weren't prepared."

            "It was Black.  I knew it was.  I knew it.  And I did nothing.  Bloody hell."  Severus groaned in agony.

            "The Aurors are investigating as we speak.  We don't know who did it, but we will find out.  I must meet with Hagrid in a few moments, so I must leave.  I want you to come with me."

            "I can't."

            "Why not?"

            "The girl."

            Samantha stepped back.  The girl.  Was that her?  He must mean her.  He can't leave the house, because he must watch the Death Eater.

            "She can look after herself, you know."

            "I can't leave.  I can't go with you.  I won't be able to look at that boy.  Ever."  He was overcome with tears.  Severus sobbed loudly, and almost awkwardly.  He didn't seem like the type that would ever cry. 

Samantha stepped further back from the door.  She heard footsteps.  Headmaster Dumbledore.  She frantically debated whether she should run down a hallway or strike a pose that suggested she was waiting out of hearing or hide herself, but she hesitated a moment too long.  So she just stood there, feeling a little guilty for eavesdropping.

The doors of the library opened to reveal the Headmaster.  Samantha tried looking past him at Severus, but the Headmaster shut the doors behind him.  He put his hand on her shoulder, ushering her with him as he walked to the front door.

            "My dear, I need you to take care of him."

            "What is going on, Headmaster?"

            "A bit of a crisis."  A dark look passed over his face.  He implored her with his eyes.  "Please, Miss Smill.  He's in a fragile state.  Stay with him tonight.  All night."  Samantha nodded.  And he continued.  "He lost someone very important to him this night.  And he's taking it very hard.  Very hard indeed," he said, glancing back at the library.  "I'll come and see him in the morning.  And you can both come with me tomorrow.  But for now, for tonight, stay with him.  He needs someone, Miss Smill, to be with him.  Promise you'll keep by his side."

            Samantha nodded, as he wrapped himself in his cloak.  She opened the door and he stepped outside, disappearing into the storm.

            She licked her lips and looked toward the library.  Severus.      

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            She drew in a shuddering breath and opened the library doors.  Samantha couldn't help but feel a little helpless.  Especially since she didn't fully understand what was happening.  Severus lost someone?  Someone's died?

            She nearly sighed, but upon seeing Severus, she stopped herself.  She walked to him.  He was sitting by the fireplace, still on the floor, curled into a ball – his head on his knees.  His body shook slightly with each sob.

            She winced.  She knew he wouldn't want her to see him like this.  But she had promised the Headmaster she would stay with him.

            "Severus?"  At the sound of her voice, he stilled.

            "Go away."
            "I can't."
            "Why not?"

            "A promise."

            He straightened, sitting up as though he were fine.  Samantha caught a flash of white bandage, hidden under the cuff of his black shirt.  She looked away.  She sat down in a chair by the fireplace.

            "I'm fine.  Now leave."  His voice was still choked, but he sounded just like his normal harsh self.

            "I can't."

            Severus turned to look at her.  The same way he had looked at her for the first time.  Like a careful measuring.  Or a calculation.  What she feared most – a judgment.  She tried to keep her face serious, sincere.  He stood up, and she watched his graceful body stretch.  He was barefoot, in his black button-up shirt and black dress pants.  His black hair hung lank around his face, shadowing his features.

            Samantha stood as well, trying to hide the blush on her face.  She felt guilty for looking at him like that.

            "Headmaster Dumbledore told me to stay with you tonight."

            "You've been staying with me for the last several nights – "

            "I mean, stay with you.  I am to be by your side this whole night, Severus."

            He looked angry.  He looked furious.  Samantha stood slowly, reaching a hand slowly to her pocket.  In case he lost control of his temper, she'd have her wand ready.  But instead, he stormed away, out the door.

            She ran to follow him.

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            He stormed upstairs, to his old bedroom.  To her room.  She stumbled up the stairs and turned the corner to find him rummaging through the.  She walked in, watching him cautiously.  He didn't look as angry, only desperate.  He was searching for something –

            Severus found it.  He was looking for his sketchbook.  He sat on the bed and beckoned her to him.  Her heart pounded in her chest at the way he crooked his finger at her.  His eyes were calling to her, radiating energy like she'd never seen before.  Anger, passion, longing.  She stepped forward, feeling self-conscious.  She shot a glance at the mirror, catching a brief glimpse of herself as she walked to the bed.  She was just as disheveled as him.  Barefoot, white sweater, gray wool pants.

            She sat next to him, wondering what he was doing. 

            "I tried to kill myself tonight."

            Tears pricked her eyes and she tried to put her hand over his.  But he pulled away.  She looked him in the eyes, surprised to see the anger pouring through.

            He opened the sketchbook.  And Samantha noticed his tears trickle down his face.

            "Why?"  She whispered, afraid of shattering the moment.  He looked into her eyes, not trying to disguise the pain or the tears.

            "Because she died tonight."  He flipped several pages in the book, stopping at the picture of the red-headed girl looking coy.  "She died."

            Samantha was speechless.  She truly had no idea what was happening.

            "What do you mean?  She must be our age!  She's so young!"  This only evoked a choking sob from Severus, who nodded in agreement.

            Samantha tried brushing hair out of his eyes, again he pulled away.  He flipped a page, scanning the detailed sketch of the smiling young girl.

            "I loved her."  He muttered, through his tears.  "I loved her so much."

            "Why?"

            He looked up, around the room, thinking.  Then he turned to Samantha, a hint of a sad smile on his lips.

            "I don't know.  Everything about her.  Everything."

            Samantha licked her lips, wanting to take his hand, to comfort him, but he would only keep pushing her away.

            "She died tonight.  Her and her husband."  Her husband?  She was married?

            "What happened?"

            "Lord Voldemort."

            Samantha stood up and took several steps away.  Lord Voldemort happened, that's what.  He killed Severus' beloved.  And Samantha was one of his followers.  This was quite a twisted story.  Her shame and guilt swept through her once again.  Shameful for being a Death-Eater, guilty for being attracted to someone like Severus.

            "Their son was spared, but no one knows why.  The Headmaster has gone to investigate and to take the Potter boy to a secure location."

            "Potter?  Potter?"  She'd heard that name before.  But where?  She scanned her mind, trying to recall events pre-Severus.  The Death-Eater ceremony.  She heard someone mention that name at the ceremony.  But who and in reference to what?  Samantha paced, rubbing a hand to her forehead as she strained to picture who said the name.

            "That Potter will pay.  He won't keep secrets from us any longer.  Not if we can help it!"

            "Malfoy."

            "What?"  Severus looked at her confused.

            "It was Malfoy.  I'd heard Potter's name at the De - at the ceremony.  It was Malfoy.  He said that Potter would pay.  And something about keeping secrets."

            Severus looked at her, measuring.

            "I'd expect such talk from Malfoy."

            "Severus, who's Black?"

            He turned his gaze back to his lap.  He didn't answer her.  He didn't look at her.  He didn't move for a long time.  She sat down next to him, taking his hand in hers.  He didn't pull away.

            "Severus, why do you blame yourself?"

            He broke down again into tears, and when Samantha pulled him into an embrace, he didn't fight her.  He let the sketchbook slip onto the bed beside him.  And he cried on her shoulder while she ran her fingers through his hair.  Samantha wiped her tears on his shoulder.  She had the feeling that this night would be their last together. 

And that the next day, the sun would rise over a different world.  A changed world.  But for now, they were together, and he was letting her hold him.

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Sorry I took my sweet time updating!  Please reread Chapter 11, I changed it a little and added a section.  Hope you're enjoying this.  This was the last chapter in the past.  We'll fast-forward about 15 years to Harry's 7th year.  Should be interesting!

More soon!

Please review!  Thanks!

--Eclipsed Planet