Disclaimer: See Ch. 1.
Sage paced in front of the statue of the goblin, running a hand through her slightly disheveled hair, her blue eyes glancing around quickly, a paranoid air to her. She brought a hand to her mouth, nibbling at her nails.
"Oh, my dearest Sage, what could you be doing at this hour, outside of Dumbledore's office?" A cold voice asked from behind her. Before her eyes, Lucius Malfoy revealed himself, casting aside his silvery invisibility cloak. He brought his own perfectly manicured hand up, casting a critical eye at his own nails. "I still can't believe you were thought cunning enough to be in Slytherin. You're pathetic, Cartonis."
"And what are you doing out at this time of night, Malfoy?" Sage asked, an impassive mask slipping over her features. "Getting a snack from the house elves, or are you simply out harassing whomever crosses your path?"
"Oh, simply excellent comeback, Cartonis." Lucius said, an insincere smile plastered on his pale features, his cold gray blue eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light of the torches. He strode over to her, throwing his cloak to the floor, pulling a hand back…
A hand that was caught in the nimble thin fingers of Severus Snape…
"Malfoy, what in Hades do you think that you're doing?" Severus said, his voice barely above a whisper. He wrenched Lucius' wrist, causing the lighter man to hiss in pain. Lucius twisted out of his grasp, rubbing a digit on what would surely be a hand shaped bruise on his wrist in the morning.
"Nothing that concerns you, Severus." Lucius said, his voice calm and collected. He turned to stalk away, but Severus caught him but the shoulder, wheeling him around to face him.
"You stay the hell away from Sage, Lucius. If I ever hear about you threatening her again, you'd best watch yourself… You never know what kind of potions could end up in your food…" Severus threatened. The look in the darker man's onyx eyes rang true.
"Release me."
Severus did so, but not before yanking Lucius towards him first, bringing him within inches of himself.
"If I ever see you near Sage again, you will suffer, Lucius. Do you understand me?" Severus hissed into the blonde's ear. For a moment, Lucius merely stared at the other man. Severus snaked a lithe hand into the other man's hair, pulling him closer to Severus. "Do you understand me?"
Malfoy simply looked at Severus, a murderous glint in his eyes, before twisting himself out of Severus grip and storming away.
"Are you alright, Sage?" Severus asked, turning to the young woman, all anger dropping from his face, revealing worry and relief. He brought a hand to her cheek tenderly, rubbing smooth circles with his thumb.
"I'm fine." Sage said, her voice tight. She turned away from Severus, walking past him down the hallway. "I've got to go."
"Sage… Wait. Please."
Sage turned towards Severus, her eyes cast to the floor.
"What?"
Severus walked towards her, running a hand through his hair. He pulled her close to him, whispering into her ear.
"I'm sorry."
Sage looked at him like he had grown two heads, her eyes wide.
"Well, I wasn't expecting that." Sage looked up into Severus' eyes, a small smile quirking her lips. She kissed him lightly on the forehead, petting his hair. "I love you, Severus. I don't want you taken away from me by him."
"I don't want to be taken away from you… And I won't be." Severus lowered his voice. "I need him. I've no one else to turn to, love."
"Yes, you do. My mum and dad said that you could stay with us, Sev." Severus growled at the nickname. Sage laughed quietly. "Severus, you have other options. I'm sure that Professor Dumbledore would let you stay here, and there are plenty of people who would take you in."
"Who would take in a murderer?" Severus whispered, his face turned away from Sage. He bowed away from her, slamming his fists into the cold stone wall repeatedly, cursing loudly each time his flesh hit the ancient sandstone.
Sage stepped back, staring at Severus in astonishment.
"You admit it, then. I thought you might've been the one to do in that Hawkins man… That particular curse was a dead give away. But I hoped… I promised to myself that you weren't the one who did it. Or that Malfoy forced you to…"
"But, alas, no. I did it. And you want to know the sick part of it, Cartonis?" Severus asked, a gleam in his eye. "I enjoyed it.
"I knew that it was wrong, and I still know that it was wrong… But the feeling is almost… Indescribable."
"Severus?"
"Sage, I highly suggest that you leave me be. I don't want you to be swept up in this, too."
"Sev, please…" Sage whispered, extending a hand to Severus shoulder, fingering a lock of hair.
"I said leave me be." Severus pulled away from her, walking, almost running, away from her.
Sage felt tears coming to her eyes as she turned to go down the hallway.
"Miss Cartonis?" A voice called from behind her. Sage turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing in front of the statue of the goblin, a sad smile on his face. "May I ask what you're doing in this particular part of the school at this time of night?"
Sage felt her stomach drop; the aged professors' words nearly matching those said by Lucius Malfoy merely moments ago.
"Sir… I… I'm sorry. I…" Sage stumbled over her own words, fighting between telling Dumbledore everything and her loyalty to her own house and her love.
"Why don't we have a talk, Sage?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing for her to follow him to his office.
A/N: I'm kind of stuck here. I'm not sure what exactly is going to happen next, but I guess that's half of the fun, eh?
A/N2: The title of this chapter is borrowed from John Saul… His book "Comes the Blind Fury" is truly awesome. : )