A/N: Disclaimer - I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters apart from
Rhan. I hoped you enjoyed the last chapter. Here's the next. Enjoy!
Severus Snape turned over onto his side with a grumble. The thoughts running through is head was enough to keep anyone awake. Refusing to open his eyes and admit defeat he pulled his black bed sheets up over his head and waited. Nothing happened. He was still as awake as a woodlice being fed caffeine.
Growling he threw off his bedcovers and glanced at his clock, glowing dully into the darkness.
3:15! He thought irritated. Perhaps a walk around the castle would tire his restless mind. Climbing out of bed he pulled on a pair of black robes and ran a finger through his messy hair.
He walked through his rooms and out of the dungeons making his way up towards the Great Hall slowly. The lights had burnt low, casting looming shadows in every corner, flickering and wheezing, dying as they finally burnt out.
The castle was unusually quiet over the holidays; even Filch and Mrs Norris were not patrolling the corridors as they were during the school year. Only a few students remained over the summer. The only noise made was the clicking of Snape's black polished shoes as they made rhythmic, regular contact with the stone floor.
Walking out towards the main doors and up the stair case, a noise behind him caused him to spin around, robes flying dramatically. The doors to the school had opened up and standing there shivering slightly was a short feminine pupil. He could only make out the silhouette of the person, and could see that she was carrying two bags over her shoulders.
The girl walked in slowly, appearing not to have seen him and closed the doors. She stood still for a moment and Snape could make out her shoulders shaking slightly. A small sob escaped from the girl and Severus made his way down the stairs and towards the girl.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice cold but slightly curious.
"P-Professor Snape, sir," Rhan said quietly, looking up, her dark hair falling over her face.
"Ms Mackenzie, What are you doing at school at three fifteen in the morning?"
"I-I M-my," Was all she could say before breaking down into sobs. She leaned over and rested her head on his chest. Snape looked down at the girl and gingerly patted her shoulder.
"I think I should take you to see Professor Dumbledore," Snape said feeling rather uncomfortable with this situation.
She nodded and sniffed. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Thank you," She whispered. Snape watched her as she turned and bent down to pick up one of her bags. His eyes found a dark shade on her cheek. Cupping her face he brought her closer to one of the lamps.
In the light, Snape could see it was a large and painful looking bruise which had tried to be covered up. He could see streaks of some sort of make up over it, obviously where she had been crying.
Rhan turned away casting her eyes to the floor. Opening his mouth to say something, Severus decided otherwise and took charge of the other bag slinging it over his shoulder. He set a fast pace as he led her away down a wing she had never knew existed. They walked in silence, only the occasional sniff reminded Snape that she was still there, walking in his shadow.
If Rhan was not so upset she would have been intrigued by the decoration and unusual look of the walls and a number of doors which led off of them in contrast to the rest of the castle. He stopped outside a wooden door with a golden phoenix on and knocked three times.
Rhan could hear grumbling coming from the other side of the door, a grunt as Dumbledore fell over something and eventually the door being opened.
"Severus, what in Merlin's name are you doing waking me at this hour?" He asked yawning, and shoving his night cap with a pom-pom on the end out of his face.
"I have found a lost rather upset student wandering into the castle. I think it might be in you interests if you deal with her," He said coolly before turning his back and striding off down the corridor back to his bed.
"Ah, Rhan." Albus said, seeming to wake up a little more "Come in, come in." He invited her in with a wave of his hand. With a flick of his wrists the lights were on but doused slightly.
*~*~*~*~*
Snape strode back to his rooms, slammed the door to the dungeons and stalked into his rooms. Instead of going straight to his bed, he sat in a comfy armchair facing the fire. Lighting the fire with a flick of his wrist and a muttered word, Snape stared into the orange and red flames as they rose up the chimney.
Instead of his mind being clear after the walk, he had gathered other thoughts which irritated him but intrigued him at the same time. What was Rhan doing in the caste in the middle of the summer and in the middle of the night? Why was she so upset?
Well, obviously she has had a fall out of some sort with her family. His logical side thought. But why come here, instead of staying with one of her giggling friends like Granger?
Snape sighed and immediately regretted storming off after he had taken her to see Dumbledore. There was no way he could sleep now, but what choice had he? Still he didn't move from the armchair. Something strange had come over him for that brief period of time when Rhan was crying against his chest. A feeling which confused him. He wanted to protect her; he wanted to stop her crying. Shaking his head, he thought back to anything else which may help him work out why she was there.
The bruise? He thought. That must have something to do with it, and the way she tried to cover it up.
Severus, would you mind coming to my rooms immediately. Dumbledore's voice echoed around the room. Springing out of his chair, Snape walked briskly out of the room and towards Dumbledore's.
Opening the door, he found Rhan sitting on Dumbledore's bed, munching on a chocolate frog. Her eyes were red and puffy and were focusing on a rather interesting spot on the carpet. In the better light, Snape could see the bruise; it was a deep purple colour with flecks of yellow. He couldn't take his eyes off it.
"Severus, would you mind escorting Rhan to one of the student summer rooms." Snape looked at Albus and then nodded.
Snape picked up one of her bags and waited for Rhan to stand up and pick up the other one. Walking slower this time, Snape allowed himself to study Rhan. Her shoulders were drooped and he could see that she was still crying. He rested a hand on her shoulder, she acknowledged him.
"Don't worry," Her voice was barely audible. "I'm ok,"
That was the most outrageous thing that he had every heard anyone say. About to say so, he closed his mouth and bit down on the reply. It would do no good. Stopping outside one of the empty student rooms, Snape muttered the password, Flamencio and a portrait of a skinny pale man snorted and grumbled before he swung forward allowing entrance to the room.
Snape waved his hand and the lights appeared.
"Here you go, Ms Mackenzie. Your rooms."
Rhan said nothing, not even acknowledging. She just stared into the room and broke down into tears again. Snape walked in and put the bag down by a dark wooden desk. He led her to the bed and she sat down, resting her head in her hands.
Snape hugged her shoulders briefly, unsure about what to do. Rhan rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, as an attempt to stop the flow of tears. Severus rested his arm on her back and rubbed his hand up and down as an effort to reassure her.
Rhan's sobs stopped. In his arms, she felt safe. Her father wasn't going to hurt her whilst he was here. Snape stood up to go.
"Don't leave me," Snape turned round to face Rhan and looked at her having trouble hiding his surprise behind his emotionless mask. "Please," She whispered.
Snape said nothing but sat down on the bed next to her. He allowed Rhan to rest her head on his chest again and he hugged her. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Eventually, Snape noticed the steady rise and fall of her chest and cease of tears which only meant one thing - she was asleep.
Laying her down on her bed and drawing a blanket over her, Snape sat in a chair by the fire and watched her as she slept, mesmerized by the beauty of this girl.
Severus Snape turned over onto his side with a grumble. The thoughts running through is head was enough to keep anyone awake. Refusing to open his eyes and admit defeat he pulled his black bed sheets up over his head and waited. Nothing happened. He was still as awake as a woodlice being fed caffeine.
Growling he threw off his bedcovers and glanced at his clock, glowing dully into the darkness.
3:15! He thought irritated. Perhaps a walk around the castle would tire his restless mind. Climbing out of bed he pulled on a pair of black robes and ran a finger through his messy hair.
He walked through his rooms and out of the dungeons making his way up towards the Great Hall slowly. The lights had burnt low, casting looming shadows in every corner, flickering and wheezing, dying as they finally burnt out.
The castle was unusually quiet over the holidays; even Filch and Mrs Norris were not patrolling the corridors as they were during the school year. Only a few students remained over the summer. The only noise made was the clicking of Snape's black polished shoes as they made rhythmic, regular contact with the stone floor.
Walking out towards the main doors and up the stair case, a noise behind him caused him to spin around, robes flying dramatically. The doors to the school had opened up and standing there shivering slightly was a short feminine pupil. He could only make out the silhouette of the person, and could see that she was carrying two bags over her shoulders.
The girl walked in slowly, appearing not to have seen him and closed the doors. She stood still for a moment and Snape could make out her shoulders shaking slightly. A small sob escaped from the girl and Severus made his way down the stairs and towards the girl.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice cold but slightly curious.
"P-Professor Snape, sir," Rhan said quietly, looking up, her dark hair falling over her face.
"Ms Mackenzie, What are you doing at school at three fifteen in the morning?"
"I-I M-my," Was all she could say before breaking down into sobs. She leaned over and rested her head on his chest. Snape looked down at the girl and gingerly patted her shoulder.
"I think I should take you to see Professor Dumbledore," Snape said feeling rather uncomfortable with this situation.
She nodded and sniffed. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Thank you," She whispered. Snape watched her as she turned and bent down to pick up one of her bags. His eyes found a dark shade on her cheek. Cupping her face he brought her closer to one of the lamps.
In the light, Snape could see it was a large and painful looking bruise which had tried to be covered up. He could see streaks of some sort of make up over it, obviously where she had been crying.
Rhan turned away casting her eyes to the floor. Opening his mouth to say something, Severus decided otherwise and took charge of the other bag slinging it over his shoulder. He set a fast pace as he led her away down a wing she had never knew existed. They walked in silence, only the occasional sniff reminded Snape that she was still there, walking in his shadow.
If Rhan was not so upset she would have been intrigued by the decoration and unusual look of the walls and a number of doors which led off of them in contrast to the rest of the castle. He stopped outside a wooden door with a golden phoenix on and knocked three times.
Rhan could hear grumbling coming from the other side of the door, a grunt as Dumbledore fell over something and eventually the door being opened.
"Severus, what in Merlin's name are you doing waking me at this hour?" He asked yawning, and shoving his night cap with a pom-pom on the end out of his face.
"I have found a lost rather upset student wandering into the castle. I think it might be in you interests if you deal with her," He said coolly before turning his back and striding off down the corridor back to his bed.
"Ah, Rhan." Albus said, seeming to wake up a little more "Come in, come in." He invited her in with a wave of his hand. With a flick of his wrists the lights were on but doused slightly.
*~*~*~*~*
Snape strode back to his rooms, slammed the door to the dungeons and stalked into his rooms. Instead of going straight to his bed, he sat in a comfy armchair facing the fire. Lighting the fire with a flick of his wrist and a muttered word, Snape stared into the orange and red flames as they rose up the chimney.
Instead of his mind being clear after the walk, he had gathered other thoughts which irritated him but intrigued him at the same time. What was Rhan doing in the caste in the middle of the summer and in the middle of the night? Why was she so upset?
Well, obviously she has had a fall out of some sort with her family. His logical side thought. But why come here, instead of staying with one of her giggling friends like Granger?
Snape sighed and immediately regretted storming off after he had taken her to see Dumbledore. There was no way he could sleep now, but what choice had he? Still he didn't move from the armchair. Something strange had come over him for that brief period of time when Rhan was crying against his chest. A feeling which confused him. He wanted to protect her; he wanted to stop her crying. Shaking his head, he thought back to anything else which may help him work out why she was there.
The bruise? He thought. That must have something to do with it, and the way she tried to cover it up.
Severus, would you mind coming to my rooms immediately. Dumbledore's voice echoed around the room. Springing out of his chair, Snape walked briskly out of the room and towards Dumbledore's.
Opening the door, he found Rhan sitting on Dumbledore's bed, munching on a chocolate frog. Her eyes were red and puffy and were focusing on a rather interesting spot on the carpet. In the better light, Snape could see the bruise; it was a deep purple colour with flecks of yellow. He couldn't take his eyes off it.
"Severus, would you mind escorting Rhan to one of the student summer rooms." Snape looked at Albus and then nodded.
Snape picked up one of her bags and waited for Rhan to stand up and pick up the other one. Walking slower this time, Snape allowed himself to study Rhan. Her shoulders were drooped and he could see that she was still crying. He rested a hand on her shoulder, she acknowledged him.
"Don't worry," Her voice was barely audible. "I'm ok,"
That was the most outrageous thing that he had every heard anyone say. About to say so, he closed his mouth and bit down on the reply. It would do no good. Stopping outside one of the empty student rooms, Snape muttered the password, Flamencio and a portrait of a skinny pale man snorted and grumbled before he swung forward allowing entrance to the room.
Snape waved his hand and the lights appeared.
"Here you go, Ms Mackenzie. Your rooms."
Rhan said nothing, not even acknowledging. She just stared into the room and broke down into tears again. Snape walked in and put the bag down by a dark wooden desk. He led her to the bed and she sat down, resting her head in her hands.
Snape hugged her shoulders briefly, unsure about what to do. Rhan rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, as an attempt to stop the flow of tears. Severus rested his arm on her back and rubbed his hand up and down as an effort to reassure her.
Rhan's sobs stopped. In his arms, she felt safe. Her father wasn't going to hurt her whilst he was here. Snape stood up to go.
"Don't leave me," Snape turned round to face Rhan and looked at her having trouble hiding his surprise behind his emotionless mask. "Please," She whispered.
Snape said nothing but sat down on the bed next to her. He allowed Rhan to rest her head on his chest again and he hugged her. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Eventually, Snape noticed the steady rise and fall of her chest and cease of tears which only meant one thing - she was asleep.
Laying her down on her bed and drawing a blanket over her, Snape sat in a chair by the fire and watched her as she slept, mesmerized by the beauty of this girl.