Disclaimer: see first Chapter.
Chapter Two:
"Miss Tanner, follow me."
Chloe followed the dark man-no, Severus- through the many hallways and down numerous staircases. She noticed that with each floor the temperature dropped considerably, until it was near a freezing temperature. Severus stopped in front of a statue of the moon goddess Phoebe, and turned to her.
"This is the entrance to your quarters, my rooms are behind the portrait of Salazar Slytherin down the hall, the wards will be set to recognize you. Set your password and the only ones who can enter here will be those who have it, and the teachers." Snape turned and left without another word.
Chloe watched him disappear down the dark hall, shook her head, and turned back to Phoebe. The statue smiled at her and asked for her password.
"Chicago." Chloe said.
The statue nodded and spun around to reveal a large circular room with a burning fire. Chloe barely took in the handsome green furnishings before heading to a door on the right, seeing the bathroom. She closed the door and went for the one next to it, which opened into a lavish bedroom. Chloe dumped her trunks on the floor and collapsed onto her bed.
"You can come out now, dad."
Richard stepped out of the fireplace in her sitting room and entered her bedroom. He smiled down at his daughter and opened his mouth to speak but Chloe silenced him with a hand. She waited for him to sit down in the high-backed chair next to the bed before she spoke.
"Dad, I am now a STUDENT at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Therefore, I am not in the mood to discuss my day, how I'm feeling, or my flight here. I am in the mood to sleep, preferably an alcohol induced sleep, and I'd appreciate you leaving me to it."
"Chloe, alcohol is forbidden to students of the school, I'm afraid you'll have to pass on that one." Richard smiled.
"I AM NOT A BLOODY STUDENT! I fully intend to get royally drunk!" Chloe hissed, not bothering to sit up in bed.
"Chloe, you're slipping into your Irish accent again…" Richard warned calmly.
"As I often do when I'm bloody upset, you well know that!"
"Work on it, Love." Richard said, and got up to leave. "Night, Chloe."
"Bloody Hell!" Chloe muttered into her pillow.
"Same to you, dear." Richard sighed before disappearing in to the fire.
Chloe sighed and got up to find something suitable to drink. Halfway across her sitting room, however, she was startled by Phoebe spinning the wall around the face her. She jumped in surprise and Phoebe gave an apologetic smile.
"There is a man outside who wishes to speak with you…the same one you arrived with I believe."
"Let him in."
Chloe slumped into her couch and watched Severus Snape slip past the statue's opening. He crossed the room wordlessly and handed her a small bottle. Chloe took it, glancing at him quizzically.
"Care to join me in getting royally drunk?" he asked.
Chloe summoned two glasses from the cupboard, and set in for a long night with her new "confidant". She poured out the contents of the bottle and handed him his glass.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A question I never thought I'd hear from a woman who drinks martini's at nine a.m." Severus remarked dryly.
"I'll never know what that woman was thinking." Chloe muttered, taking a swig of the hard liquor.
"How else could I have identified you in a bar, Miss Tanner?" Severus asked in his silky deep voice.
"A picture is worth a thousand words, Professor." trying her best to match his tone.
A casual nod and dismissive hand wave later, Severus got up to leave. He returned his glass to the cupboard and motioned for her to keep the bottle.
"Save it. After tomorrow, you'll need it." he said dryly.
"Tomorrow?"
"Your first day of classes. You should pass out in a few minutes." Severus gave a curt nod, and vanished behind Phoebe.