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another chapter is being started *sigh* another story is still not updated much to the chagrin of a dear friend. And bickering with a death eater "sibling" will only acquire unnecessary headaches. I could use a calming drought...

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Out of Sight Out of Mind

3. My clothes don't seem to want to wear me

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Lesson learned: if you find yourself in a situation and are unable to touch any object...make sure you can put your clothes back on before getting into the shower.

I do not believe I have ever been this embarrassed.

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Her head peeked out behind the shower curtain. She had forgotten to find some towels and gazing around, unfortunately none were present. Summoning a house elf did seem the most probable solution; she wasn't about to yell for Snape, and gave an involuntary shudder at such a thought.

Her wand zoomed from the top of the toilet seat and into the palm of her sopping wet hand with the help of 'accio'. Outstretching her arm into the air, the wand emitted a display of orange sparks followed by the 'pop' of a house elf appearing before the shower curtain.

"Umm, sorry to disturb you but..." Dawn trailed off, the elf wasn't listening. Its eyes wandered around the bathroom searching for the one who called.

"Did Miss call Toodles Miss?" the squeaky voice panicked, and Dawn sighed. It was only then she remembered that she was supposedly invisible to those around her. Did that mean no one could hear her as well? The elf darted out of the room in pursuit of the one who called. She groaned, the elf would most likely bother her professor. Not even here for twenty minutes and his lecture of "no disruptive noise" was about to be forgotten.

"Did master call Toodles sir?" A dark figure of the potions master could be seen sitting at the desk in the corner of the room, and appeared to be grading essays. It appeared he did not enjoy this task.

A growl escaped from the man, and he looked up to see a trembling elf before him.

"Did master—"

"I heard what you said the first time," he sneered. "And no I did not summon any house elves..." Severus trailed off and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew exactly who summoned the elf and why. "I require the use of some fresh towels."

"But master just said—"

"I know what I said!" the man glared, frightening the elf furthermore.

"Toodles so sorry! Toodles will bring fresh towels right away. Right away sir!" and the little house elf disappeared and reappeared in a flurry of tears with two fluffy ebony towels.

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"I suppose you were the one to invite that cloying elf into my chambers," A silky voice drifted in from the doorway of Dawn's bathroom, disregarding any aspect of privacy. The shadow of the girl could be seen leaning against the royal blue tiles, and a smirk played upon his lips when she straightened up at the sound of his voice. "I would have expected to hear from you if anything was needed, perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps actually forming words is beyond your mental capacity," the voice drawled on.

"Err..." Dawn peeked her head out from behind the shower curtains once again. A blush clearly visible upon her cheeks. The potions master glared at her for putting him at such a position. Playing babysitter for a pathetic student.

"You want these I suppose?" Nod. "I should probably make you beg for them, seeing as you disturbed my peace." At which the girl paled, and sighed.

"Please...?" Well that was unexpected, but if Snape had been surprised his face did not express it and merely levitated the towels before her.

"I will be heading to the Great Hall, dinner is to be served in a matter of time. I expect you to follow as soon as you dress." And Severus left in the usual swirl of billowing robes.

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"Ah, Severus good of you to finally arrive. I trust your guest finds her room suitable?" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling amusedly as he approached the professor.

"I would not know Albus, I am afraid that my so-called guest has barely spoken more than two words." He emphasized 'guest' with as much disdain possible. 

"Give her time...she is a shy girl, but she will soon warm up to you if you attempt to engage her in conversation. Severus could have spit out the pumpkin juice he was in the process of swallowing, and gave a loud snort.

"Headmaster, I have no intention of having this girl warm up to me." Dumbledore frowned slightly, and dinner went on as usual.

The hall was beginning to file out, dinner had finished, desert had been served and Severus wished to escape the noise that surrounded him. But a conversation between the headmaster and the charms professor caught his attention.

"I'm sorry I had not mentioned this to you earlier Filius, but I'm afraid Ms. Dawn Gray will not be in attendance for an uncertain amount of time."

"Who Albus?" The tiny professor seemed at a loss to whom this girl could possibly be, which unnerved the potions master, who truth be told had forgotten about the girl over the course of the meal.

"Ms. Dawn Gray," the headmaster had restated not seeming surprised that the girl's own head of house did not even recognize her name, "a seventh year Ravenclaw." Professor Flitwick seemed to be lost in thought for a moments time then finally came to a realization.

"Yes, yes. I know now, a quiet one isn't she? I believe she had some thoughts of going into the ministry..."

"Something like that I suppose, but I am afraid that a family emergency has come up and she was called home. I'm sure the matter will be resolved in no time though." Severus realized that the headmaster's last comment was directed to him; of course he would be the one to end up fixing this blasted mess.

"Oh dear, give her my condolences will you. Now I believe that I must prepare the lesson plan for tomorrow, my first years have already stormed through the levitation charm, I'm going to try and present them with a wonderful surprise..." and with that the tiny professor scurried off to his office.

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"You were not at the Great Hall," Dawn jumped as the door to her chamber slammed shut. She had become lost in thought while gazing into the fire now ablaze in her room, and she hastily wiped away the tear on the brim of her eyelashes. The action ignored by the professor. He eyed her up and down, observing that her clothes were still not on. A towel though had been transfigured into a type of bathrobe, still black and still very fluffy. Her hair hung in loose tendrils that remained damp despite the heat of the fire. It was now that her attention was given fully to Snape, whose gaze was upon her. A faint blush appeared.

"Explain. Now," his voice was harsh and demanding at which she only shrugged. The action caused Snape's anger to flare, "I want an answer!" He snapped.

"I-well...I mean, Icouldn'tputmyclotheson." She suddenly found the floor intriguing, her face now completely scarlet.

"I am afraid you're going to have to articulate this time and you will address me by sir," Severus sneered. He was not amused by this answer.

"I could not put my clothes on...sir" Her whisper was barely audible.

"And what pray tell stopped you from doing such. Please do not inform me that aside from being incapable of normal communication, you have lost the function to adequately dress." Dawn's eyes narrowed but she remained looking at the floor.

"My hands went through them," she muttered. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose "but I noticed that when u handed me the towels I was, um well able to use them..."

"No." his voice was flat. There was no way in hell he would help dress the girl, whose head now snapped up. It seemed he had finally gotten her to say something.

"You can't expect me only wear a bathrobe, do you?"

"This conversation has already ended; I expect a seventh year should be able find other means to clothe oneself." And indeed it was, the professor stormed out into the sitting area slamming the door behind him, again in a swirl of billowing robes.

She sighed, the only thought occurring to her: 'I wish I could do that,' and fell back on the bed.

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yea I think chap 3 will remain that long cause it just feels like it needs to end there. Chap 4? Who knows when...