VIII

Eight Chapters and I get the feeling that I am no where near close to the end……Wow!! Thanks to all reviews, I appreciate them J

My characters have taken over my story.... I am no longer in control of their destiny, so anything goes here guys (Except for Slash, as there is NO WAY IN HELL that Snape is Bi or Gay!!! Now, Serius and Remus on the other hand…) and of course, my usual disclaimer: JK Rowling is a God, I only own the troublesome Cassandra Caliga…. There is no financial point to all this, I am simply a Harry Potter fan in love with a Slytherin Man!

When she awoke the next morning, Cassandra felt decidedly better. She sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes, peering over towards the window where the light was shining through, glaring off the sparkling clean stone floors. Her stomach rumbled at her angrily, and she wondered at that, as she had learned to ignore her body's cries for food over the last few months. It was a glorious feeling, being so in control of something, anything in your life. There was not much else she could have any say in now, and the discomfort she felt at this was palpable. Looking around, she was shocked to see that in a large lounge in the corner, Professor Snape sleeping, head in the crook of his arm. She looked on wondering, worried for a moment that he was sick. Stupid git, of course he's not sick…he's here because of you! You probably scared the shit out of everyone with your disappearing acts to the washrooms, and then…. Suddenly the events of last night came flooding back, overwhelming her. Choking back a sob, she covered her face in her hands biting her lip to stifle the noise. Get with the program, Caliga - show no weakness. Remember what your mother always said. If they find weakness within you, they will use it against you. Steeling herself, she quelled her emotions. One question still niggled at her though. She remembered Snape taking her down to his chambers, and then passing out. Then she was in the infirmary, and something very strange had happened. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. It was all so strange.

"Cassandra!" A voice spoke out, and Madame Pomfrey was at her bedside. Lost in her thoughts, the girl had not noticed the witch coming in.

"How are you feeling, dear? " the concern in the Witch's voice was noticeable, and Cassandra stiffened.

"Quite fine, thank - you. I would like to know what happened, and then I would like to leave and go back to my dorm. I have schoolwork due for tomorrow." Suddenly haughty, chin out, Cassandra was going to admit nothing to anyone. Of course, she was fine. She always was. Just that. Fine. Under any circumstances.

Eyeing her cautiously, Madame Pomfrey went on, checking the tubing that went into Cassandra's arm, looking her over closely, checking pulse and waving her wand to get her temperature. Frowning slightly, the witch asked again " Are you sure that you are feeling fine? Your blood pressure is a little low, as is your heart rate. You are not dizzy, or nauseated?"

"As I said before" Letting a sharp edge come into her voice, eyes glittering " I am quite fine, thank-you. Lying is not one of my character traits." Cassandra snapped back.

"Neither, apparently, is honesty." a silky smooth voice cut into the conversation. Snape was now, clearly, awake, and looking down at her with a strangely, unlike his usual scorn. Was it, pity, concern, and a glimmer of pride? Cassandra was unsure as to what to think of all this, and for a moment a wave or uncertainty washed over her. Then, getting her emotions leashed again, she scowled up at the witch.

" I. Am. Quite. Fine. Nothing a little sleep wouldn't fix. I wish to leave."

Madame Pomfrey stepped back, unnerved, then spoke in an oddly cold voice.

"Severus, perhaps you would feel more, comfortable, speaking with Miss Caliga about the matters of last night. I have more appreciative patients waiting for me in the other room who need my assistance. "

She left the room without another word. Cassandra felt a momentary pang of guilt; the witch had been very kind to her. Damn being so distant and aloof. Damn genetics, Damn her upbringing. Damn it all.

Snape was looking hard at her, and she didn't have the nerve to look into his face just yet. He had a way of making her feel stripped, as if her soul was at his disposal, to be read through like a cheap novel and then tossed upon a shelf for pondering at a later time. The last thing she needed was for him to know her weaknesses, that she felt pain, the horror that haunted her. He was her Professor and Head of House for Merlin's sake! She wanted respect, not pity. Understanding was not high on the priority list either. Let me be.

" A charming performance, Cassandra. Most impressive." His cutting comment outraged her, and for a moment she literally saw black, imaging a thousand curses which could be placed, knowing full well it would never happen as she was now in Snape's debt. Of all the terrible things that could happen, she now owed him one. A big one. Still fighting, she felt the irresistible power of him willing her to look up at him towering over her. The urge to resist was strong, but the force he exerted was overwhelming. How can he do that without touching me? She wondered. I've heard of magnetism, but this is a whole new level. Then I wish I had that kind of power. Some magic within, that is. Glowering, caught somewhere between rage and shame, she looked Snape directly in the eye.

"That is better." He sat down in the chair beside the bed. " Now we can begin to discuss the matter at hand."

Appreciating his cold, clipped tone so much more than the slightly hysterical medi-witch's, Cassandra relaxed her body back into her pillows, feeling exhausted by the mental battle that had just occurred. Her mind, however, was still on guard, edgy and reactive. Just try to catch me, she thought furiously.

Snape raised his left eyebrow at her, and a realization burned through her skull. Damn it! He fucking well knew what I was thinking. Feeling momentarily outdone, she focussed on clearing her mind completely. Sensing this, the tall dark man beside her bed began to speak.

" At some point you will have to thank Madame Pomfrey, and apologize." Cassandra rose to object, but the look on Snape's face changed her mind. He continued "However, I am not here to give you a good manners lesson. I need to know a few things, and I will start with what happened the other night. Do you remember me taking you down to my chambers?"

"Yes. " she replied honestly. That part she did remember. "You gave me something to take away the pain, and then I fell asleep. I could feel someone carrying me through the halls. Was that you?" she asked suddenly, unable to remember.

"Yes. Is that all you can think of, Miss Caliga?"

"No. There is some more. It's just very disjointed, and I find that disturbing. " Her voice quavered for a moment, and she cursed herself inwardly for her weakness. " I remember you putting me down on the bed in the infirmary, and yelling for Pomfrey. Then you both left the room, and I was falling asleep, and suddenly, the fireworks started. Then I was gone. I disappeared."

"What fireworks, Cassandra? What do you mean?" I frown crossed his face as he remembered her whispering " I disappear" before her second seizure had began.

"As I said, I saw the fireworks and then I was gone. I couldn't see anything or feel anything after that, I could just hear everyone speaking..."her voice trailed off, and an expression of panic came over her face as she remembered the conversation she had heard. " What the hell happened to me, Professor?"

Uncharacteristically, Snape reached over and took her hand. Cassandra was so shocked by this she did not even think to pull back; she just looked searchingly into his face.

"So then, this has never happened to you before, Cassandra?" he asked quietly.

He used my first name… how odd. Maybe he's going to tell me I am dying… her thoughts trailed off and she found her voice " Never."

Snape sighed and quietly began explaining what had occurred, the treatment, and all the concerns that he and HeadMaster Dumbledore had for her. As he did so, he was watching very closely for signs of another episode. Stress could be a trigger, he had been told, and the last thing he wanted was to set off another neural storm inside the girl's head. She still looked very wan and weak, even with all the care. And those eyes… they looked almost tortured. Currently they were unnaturally bright, and the girl was fighting hard to maintain her composure. Why not cry youngster? Why not let it out and move on. Something inside of him snickered. Why not indeed, Hippocrates? Indeed. When Snape began to explain about the daily medications, he got his first real reaction from the girl.

"Never!" She snarled. " I will not be reliant on something like that for the rest of my life. I am far stronger than that! This will pass, just like the migraines eventually do."

Snape was not entirely surprised by her reaction. " Not comfortable with having to rely on anything, are you? Let me tell you " His tone changed slightly for the first time in their conversation. " There is no discussion about this. You are still a child, you are currently under my care and custody, and this is how it shall be. IF you choose, I can be your best support and ally. However, if you choose otherwise…. I can make your life a living hell."

Rather than looking shocked, as he expected the girl looked rather, well, relieved of all things. She even smirked.

"No one in my life has ever had the guts to actually tell me what to do." She said sardonically " about bloody time someone stood up to me. Do you know what it is like to be 5 years old and rule your life? Having adults cower before you, and not knowing why? My mother was terrified of me, and guilty as all get all about my not having a father. Not exactly a comforting feeling, I assure you of that." She paused for a moment " and in regards to the living hell you spoke of, I believe I am already there."

With that, tears sprang from her eyes for the first time in years, and she turned away from Snape, hiding her face in her hands.

"Merlin's hat!" Snape swore under his breath. This was most unexpected, and he was not sure what to say to the crumbling figure in front of him. Think, man, think! What would Dumbledore say? Probably something profound, and profundity was not in Snape's mental make-up.

" There Cassandra. You will make it through this. You have survived worse." With that. He stood up, walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down beside her. Her body was now racked with sobs, and the pain and hurt of many years was coming out in a torrent. As he sat, she reached over and wrapped her fingers into his robes. Startled, he wrapped a protective arm around her frail body and let her sorrow rain down upon him.