Rhan walked into the Great Hall the next day, taking her usual seat next to
Snape and Dumbledore.
She greeted Snape quietly and watched as her plate was filled up with fried eggs, bacon, toast, sausages, fried bread and fried tomato. For the first time since she had arrived, she had an appetite. She picked up a fork and toyed with a piece of bacon before eating it, savouring its taste.
A flutter of wings overhead raised everyone's eyes. The post had arrived. Among the tawny and barn owls, Rhan's heart lifted as she saw a blur of white. A pure white snowy owl plopped down by the side of Rhan's plate and goblet of orange juice.
"Eira!" Rhan exclaimed, removing the piece of parchment form her leg and allowing her to eat the rest of her bacon. After gobbling the bacon, Eira gave Rhan an affectionate nip and flew off.
Rhan glanced down at the piece of parchment. Everyone was looking at her. She gulped and tore the official looking seal. Unrolling the cream sheet with shaking hands she glanced through the emerald green writing and gasped. Shaking her head, she dropped the parchment and closed her eyes, resting her head in her hands. *So soon?* She thought.
"Rhan?" McGonagall asked questioningly.
Rhan stood up and ran out of the Great Hall. Snape pushed away to follow her but felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He sat back down very slowly and attacked his piece of toast taking slow deliberate bites, chewing it methodically and swallowing. He glared at Dumbledore and anyone else foolish enough to look at him. He pulled his newspaper out and with a snap began to read it, his face hidden.
Curiosity and worry made it difficult to read the newspaper. Turning to the second page he almost dropped it in surprise. A picture of Elena Mackenzie's body covered the top half of the page along with a scowling Gary Mackenzie. He read the column.
The body of Elena Mackenzie was found by a fisherman, washed up on the bank of the Thames River yesterday morning. Her body was so misshapen that the only way she could have been identified was by the DNA on one of her fractured teeth. Gary, husband to Elena Mackenzie, has been charged with murder and will be facing the Ministry of Magic on Friday 23rd August.
*~*~*~*~*
Rhan ran out of the school and into the grounds. The sky was covered in grey fluffy clouds; a wind picked up and whipped at her loose dark hair. Rhan ran round to the lake and found a little alcove of boulders where she sat down, brought her knees up to her chest and cried. The clouds cried with her, showering the grounds in huge droplets of water, soaking Rhan through.
*This is it.* She thought, *It was stupid of you to think that it would not come to this. Everyone would find out sooner or later.* It just seemed like a lot sooner than she had hoped.
Rhan cried. Proper pain filled sobs causing her to shake and her head to cloud up. Tears streamed down her face soaking her T-shirt. Every time she could open her mouth, a horrible wailing sound would emerge filling the air around her. She coughed and spluttered when she tried to cease the tears. A lump formed in her chest like a solid black stone resting there.
For hours she sat there, alone, sobbing her heart out, mourning for her mother. She could gradually feel herself grow tired, her tears trickling down her face, yawns emerging instead of sobs. Her eyelids grew heavy and she slept.
Her dreams were ridden with her mother. Memories of when she used to tuck her up in bed, read her stories, hold her when she cried, kissed her better when she hurt herself. She found her mother being swept up in a huge hurricane streaked with red. Rhan reached out her hand and grabbed her, but slowly her grip failed her and she watched as her mother disappeared completely. The hurricane slowly shrank and in its place stood her father, looming over her, robed in black, holding his wand over her, an evil smile playing on his lips.
She woke with a start. Her back was stiff. The wind had died and a fine drizzle coated the air and grounds. Pushing herself up with a groan she wiped her eyes and made her way back up to the castle shivering.
She climbed the deserted stairs up to her room, leaving a trail of water behind. Her clothes stuck to the outline of her body, and her hair hung in rat-tails down the side of her face. She whispered the password to her room and walked in, a cloud of heat hitting her, causing her to shiver.
She stripped down and changed clothes silently. Still she was shivering. Leaving her rooms she made her way down to the school's kitchens and stopped outside a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Tickling the pear, who squirmed and let out a giggle, she watched as the portrait lifted revealing the kitchens and a few dozen house elfs running about.
One of them saw her and stopped at her.
"What could Boggle do for you, miss?" The house elf asked, looking up innocently at her with those huge lamp-like emerald green eyes.
"Could I have a warm drink?" She whispered.
"Certainly, take a seat and Boggle will serve you,"
"Thank you," She said quietly watching the house elf scuttle off.
She looked around, kettles whistling and house elfs talking filled the huge expanse of the kitchens. She watched amazed as they scampered about doing their own thing, each knowing what the other was doing. At first it seemed like chaos, but as you watched them you saw that it was in fact a very organised chaos.
Boggle scampered over to her. In his hands rested a silver tray with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of chocolate biscuits.
"Here you go, miss." He said.
"Thank you," She said and walked back to her rooms.
Curling up under her duvet she held the mug in both her hands and felt as the heat given off warmed her fingers. She sipped it and sighed as the hot liquid slid down her throat, settling in her stomach.
Placing the empty mug on her bedside table she curled up under her duvet. She had tried to show the world, but it had showed her. Now she would hide and burry herself from everyone. She pulled the covers up over her head and closed her eyes. She didn't have to go to the funeral. No one could make her.
A few hours later saw Rhan still under her covers, allowing silent tears to run down her cheeks. A knock at her door shook Rhan from her trance like sleep. She made no move to answer it, just stared at it through a gap at the side of her covers.
A knock and another and finally a muffled "Rhan?" could be heard.
Rhan closed her eyes and said gingerly, "Who is it?"
"Severus,"
Silence filled the room as Snape waited impatiently on the other side of the door.
"Come in," She said after a while.
She listened as the door was opened and Snape walked in. He sat down on the side of the bed and looked at the bump in the covers. She popped her head out and looked at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy where she had been crying.
She looked at him for a moment, and then stared at the mug on her bedside table.
"They all know don't they?" She asked indicating the teachers and the students.
Snape took his time before answering, "They are just concerned."
*She is unaware of the column in the Daily Prophet* he thought. For a moment he didn't know what to do. *She has the right to know, but what would knowing do to her?*
Rhan nodded, they all knew. "I have to go tomorrow." She said.
"Why? Not because they are concerned?"
"No, it's my mother's funeral." She said hoarsely.
Snape nodded and pulled her closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his body and buried her face into his robes. A smell of brandy, spices and soap filled her nose. She couldn't help but feel comforted by this.
Lifting her head up slightly, she whispered, "Come with me?"
Snape blinked a few times in shock and swallowed. "If you want me there,"
"Thank you," was all she said before she rested her head on his chest. She moved into his lap and sat there huddled up to him, his strong arms wrapped around her, protecting her.
"Rhan, there's something I need to show you." Severus said reaching into his robes and pulling out the Daily Prophet. Rhan sat up and looked at him for a moment waiting for him to hand her the newspaper. He turned to the second page and handed it to her, his stomach tying itself in knots.
She glanced through it, her face unreadable. Nodding she handed it back and huddled against him.
*Everyone knows now.* Rhan thought. *Hermione, McGonagall, anyone who reads the Daily Prophet. All those eyes staring at her, smiling at her sympathetically, not knowing what to say to comfort her because they had not felt what she had felt. They would all know what her father done; they would all know that the same blood ran through her veins. The same blood that had killed her mother.*
Snape stayed with Rhan that night, holding her and comforting her. He often found himself looking at her wishing he could take away all the pain she was feeling.
He knew what she was going through; of course he would never tell her that. No one knew that, and that was the way it was going to stay. He had spent twenty five years burying the emotions Rhan was feeling now and he wasn't going to bring them back up. Not now, not after all those years. He felt his muscles tense for a moment, his teeth grind and his hands form fists. Blocking the images beginning to enter his head he physically made his muscles relax.
*~*~*~*
Rhan awoke the next day to find Snape's arms around her. She sighed and slid out of her bed. She turned and looked at him, so relaxed and at peace he looked, a slight smile on his lips. Rhan walked into the bathroom, washed and dressed. When she walked back in Snape was sitting in her armchair.
"Can I use your shower?" He asked.
"Sure, towels are in there on the left," She said. He smiled and walked into the bathroom.
Seven minutes later they were walking down the corridors towards Dumbledore's office. Rhan was dressed in black linen trousers which flared slightly at the ankle, a black shaped top with long sleeves which flared covering her hands. On her feet she wore black boots. A small black tiara was placed on her head with a flimsy black muslin material over her face.
Snape wore his usual black robes although they seemed smarter in a way which Rhan couldn't put her finger on. His hair was combed back into a ponytail at the base of his neck.
They both walked into Dumbledore's office and he looked up at them. He had been expecting this day. In silence he embraced Rhan and then handed her a flowerpot full of floo power. She gave him a weary smile and took a handful. Tossing it into the fire, she shouted clearly the destination of the funeral and stepped in.
The service lasted two and a half hours; it went like any funeral would be expected to. Tears were shed, goodbyes spoken and tissues crumpled. They had celebrated her life, laughed at the good times and remembered the happy memories.
When they arrived back at Hogwarts, they took a walk around the grounds stopping under a tree. Unlike yesterday's downpour, the sun was shinning and the sky was cloudless. English weather, typical!
Rhan gazed around the grounds, letting the sun's warmth lift her up. She turned to Snape.
"Thank you for coming with me," She said.
"That's ok." He said.
She leant closer and let her lips brush gently against his. He stiffened up for a moment but then relaxed into the kiss, pulling her closer. Feeling her red plush lips against his cool ones was like fire and ice meeting, sending a whirlwind of emotions through both their bodies.
She greeted Snape quietly and watched as her plate was filled up with fried eggs, bacon, toast, sausages, fried bread and fried tomato. For the first time since she had arrived, she had an appetite. She picked up a fork and toyed with a piece of bacon before eating it, savouring its taste.
A flutter of wings overhead raised everyone's eyes. The post had arrived. Among the tawny and barn owls, Rhan's heart lifted as she saw a blur of white. A pure white snowy owl plopped down by the side of Rhan's plate and goblet of orange juice.
"Eira!" Rhan exclaimed, removing the piece of parchment form her leg and allowing her to eat the rest of her bacon. After gobbling the bacon, Eira gave Rhan an affectionate nip and flew off.
Rhan glanced down at the piece of parchment. Everyone was looking at her. She gulped and tore the official looking seal. Unrolling the cream sheet with shaking hands she glanced through the emerald green writing and gasped. Shaking her head, she dropped the parchment and closed her eyes, resting her head in her hands. *So soon?* She thought.
"Rhan?" McGonagall asked questioningly.
Rhan stood up and ran out of the Great Hall. Snape pushed away to follow her but felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He sat back down very slowly and attacked his piece of toast taking slow deliberate bites, chewing it methodically and swallowing. He glared at Dumbledore and anyone else foolish enough to look at him. He pulled his newspaper out and with a snap began to read it, his face hidden.
Curiosity and worry made it difficult to read the newspaper. Turning to the second page he almost dropped it in surprise. A picture of Elena Mackenzie's body covered the top half of the page along with a scowling Gary Mackenzie. He read the column.
The body of Elena Mackenzie was found by a fisherman, washed up on the bank of the Thames River yesterday morning. Her body was so misshapen that the only way she could have been identified was by the DNA on one of her fractured teeth. Gary, husband to Elena Mackenzie, has been charged with murder and will be facing the Ministry of Magic on Friday 23rd August.
*~*~*~*~*
Rhan ran out of the school and into the grounds. The sky was covered in grey fluffy clouds; a wind picked up and whipped at her loose dark hair. Rhan ran round to the lake and found a little alcove of boulders where she sat down, brought her knees up to her chest and cried. The clouds cried with her, showering the grounds in huge droplets of water, soaking Rhan through.
*This is it.* She thought, *It was stupid of you to think that it would not come to this. Everyone would find out sooner or later.* It just seemed like a lot sooner than she had hoped.
Rhan cried. Proper pain filled sobs causing her to shake and her head to cloud up. Tears streamed down her face soaking her T-shirt. Every time she could open her mouth, a horrible wailing sound would emerge filling the air around her. She coughed and spluttered when she tried to cease the tears. A lump formed in her chest like a solid black stone resting there.
For hours she sat there, alone, sobbing her heart out, mourning for her mother. She could gradually feel herself grow tired, her tears trickling down her face, yawns emerging instead of sobs. Her eyelids grew heavy and she slept.
Her dreams were ridden with her mother. Memories of when she used to tuck her up in bed, read her stories, hold her when she cried, kissed her better when she hurt herself. She found her mother being swept up in a huge hurricane streaked with red. Rhan reached out her hand and grabbed her, but slowly her grip failed her and she watched as her mother disappeared completely. The hurricane slowly shrank and in its place stood her father, looming over her, robed in black, holding his wand over her, an evil smile playing on his lips.
She woke with a start. Her back was stiff. The wind had died and a fine drizzle coated the air and grounds. Pushing herself up with a groan she wiped her eyes and made her way back up to the castle shivering.
She climbed the deserted stairs up to her room, leaving a trail of water behind. Her clothes stuck to the outline of her body, and her hair hung in rat-tails down the side of her face. She whispered the password to her room and walked in, a cloud of heat hitting her, causing her to shiver.
She stripped down and changed clothes silently. Still she was shivering. Leaving her rooms she made her way down to the school's kitchens and stopped outside a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Tickling the pear, who squirmed and let out a giggle, she watched as the portrait lifted revealing the kitchens and a few dozen house elfs running about.
One of them saw her and stopped at her.
"What could Boggle do for you, miss?" The house elf asked, looking up innocently at her with those huge lamp-like emerald green eyes.
"Could I have a warm drink?" She whispered.
"Certainly, take a seat and Boggle will serve you,"
"Thank you," She said quietly watching the house elf scuttle off.
She looked around, kettles whistling and house elfs talking filled the huge expanse of the kitchens. She watched amazed as they scampered about doing their own thing, each knowing what the other was doing. At first it seemed like chaos, but as you watched them you saw that it was in fact a very organised chaos.
Boggle scampered over to her. In his hands rested a silver tray with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of chocolate biscuits.
"Here you go, miss." He said.
"Thank you," She said and walked back to her rooms.
Curling up under her duvet she held the mug in both her hands and felt as the heat given off warmed her fingers. She sipped it and sighed as the hot liquid slid down her throat, settling in her stomach.
Placing the empty mug on her bedside table she curled up under her duvet. She had tried to show the world, but it had showed her. Now she would hide and burry herself from everyone. She pulled the covers up over her head and closed her eyes. She didn't have to go to the funeral. No one could make her.
A few hours later saw Rhan still under her covers, allowing silent tears to run down her cheeks. A knock at her door shook Rhan from her trance like sleep. She made no move to answer it, just stared at it through a gap at the side of her covers.
A knock and another and finally a muffled "Rhan?" could be heard.
Rhan closed her eyes and said gingerly, "Who is it?"
"Severus,"
Silence filled the room as Snape waited impatiently on the other side of the door.
"Come in," She said after a while.
She listened as the door was opened and Snape walked in. He sat down on the side of the bed and looked at the bump in the covers. She popped her head out and looked at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy where she had been crying.
She looked at him for a moment, and then stared at the mug on her bedside table.
"They all know don't they?" She asked indicating the teachers and the students.
Snape took his time before answering, "They are just concerned."
*She is unaware of the column in the Daily Prophet* he thought. For a moment he didn't know what to do. *She has the right to know, but what would knowing do to her?*
Rhan nodded, they all knew. "I have to go tomorrow." She said.
"Why? Not because they are concerned?"
"No, it's my mother's funeral." She said hoarsely.
Snape nodded and pulled her closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his body and buried her face into his robes. A smell of brandy, spices and soap filled her nose. She couldn't help but feel comforted by this.
Lifting her head up slightly, she whispered, "Come with me?"
Snape blinked a few times in shock and swallowed. "If you want me there,"
"Thank you," was all she said before she rested her head on his chest. She moved into his lap and sat there huddled up to him, his strong arms wrapped around her, protecting her.
"Rhan, there's something I need to show you." Severus said reaching into his robes and pulling out the Daily Prophet. Rhan sat up and looked at him for a moment waiting for him to hand her the newspaper. He turned to the second page and handed it to her, his stomach tying itself in knots.
She glanced through it, her face unreadable. Nodding she handed it back and huddled against him.
*Everyone knows now.* Rhan thought. *Hermione, McGonagall, anyone who reads the Daily Prophet. All those eyes staring at her, smiling at her sympathetically, not knowing what to say to comfort her because they had not felt what she had felt. They would all know what her father done; they would all know that the same blood ran through her veins. The same blood that had killed her mother.*
Snape stayed with Rhan that night, holding her and comforting her. He often found himself looking at her wishing he could take away all the pain she was feeling.
He knew what she was going through; of course he would never tell her that. No one knew that, and that was the way it was going to stay. He had spent twenty five years burying the emotions Rhan was feeling now and he wasn't going to bring them back up. Not now, not after all those years. He felt his muscles tense for a moment, his teeth grind and his hands form fists. Blocking the images beginning to enter his head he physically made his muscles relax.
*~*~*~*
Rhan awoke the next day to find Snape's arms around her. She sighed and slid out of her bed. She turned and looked at him, so relaxed and at peace he looked, a slight smile on his lips. Rhan walked into the bathroom, washed and dressed. When she walked back in Snape was sitting in her armchair.
"Can I use your shower?" He asked.
"Sure, towels are in there on the left," She said. He smiled and walked into the bathroom.
Seven minutes later they were walking down the corridors towards Dumbledore's office. Rhan was dressed in black linen trousers which flared slightly at the ankle, a black shaped top with long sleeves which flared covering her hands. On her feet she wore black boots. A small black tiara was placed on her head with a flimsy black muslin material over her face.
Snape wore his usual black robes although they seemed smarter in a way which Rhan couldn't put her finger on. His hair was combed back into a ponytail at the base of his neck.
They both walked into Dumbledore's office and he looked up at them. He had been expecting this day. In silence he embraced Rhan and then handed her a flowerpot full of floo power. She gave him a weary smile and took a handful. Tossing it into the fire, she shouted clearly the destination of the funeral and stepped in.
The service lasted two and a half hours; it went like any funeral would be expected to. Tears were shed, goodbyes spoken and tissues crumpled. They had celebrated her life, laughed at the good times and remembered the happy memories.
When they arrived back at Hogwarts, they took a walk around the grounds stopping under a tree. Unlike yesterday's downpour, the sun was shinning and the sky was cloudless. English weather, typical!
Rhan gazed around the grounds, letting the sun's warmth lift her up. She turned to Snape.
"Thank you for coming with me," She said.
"That's ok." He said.
She leant closer and let her lips brush gently against his. He stiffened up for a moment but then relaxed into the kiss, pulling her closer. Feeling her red plush lips against his cool ones was like fire and ice meeting, sending a whirlwind of emotions through both their bodies.