Chapter 4 – Red Handed

It was six weeks into the school year and things were progressing well.  Sophie's house was coming along wonderfully and quickly as Ron was fixated on earning what he considered to be a staggering salary.  The outside of the house was almost complete, sooner than Sophie had hoped. 

While his friends were busy with their extra curricular actives his work gave him a sense of purpose.  He was surprised at how much he enjoyed earning his own money, and buying things.  Most of all, however, he enjoyed telling his Mum not to worry about him because he was able to take care of himself.

The best part of working with Sophie, however, was not the money.  She didn't treat him like a child doing some errands.  She treated him like an adult, but even better, like a capable adult.  He could talk about his family, his friends, and his life while he worked at his duties and, since Harry or Hermione could visit when they had free time, sometimes he felt like he wasn't truly working at all. 

Ron also noticed a change in Ginny.  She never really talked about her work, taking Sophie's trust in her very seriously.  Though she did not discuss what they did or what they talked about, Ron could tell that Ginny was a different person -- a little more mature, a little more open.  She was distant after her first year, when she was possessed and then kidnapped by Tom Riddle.  She seemed to be detached and almost afraid to talk about anything of substance.  But lately she was talking; about her classes, her feelings, the world and its problems.  At first Ron thought it was just the feeling associated with earning your way, like an adult, but he had started to wonder if she wasn't something else.  He wondered if she wasn't actually taking sessions with the doctor.

She wouldn't be the only one.  People were constantly coming to see her.  At first, people were very secretive about it, making excuses to see her. They treated her like an oddity, as if she was the new exhibit at the local zoo.  She was interesting and odd.  Then during a class one-day some Slytherins were teasing a HufflePuff girl for having tea at Sophie's and Professor McGonagall snapped.  "I have gone to see Dr. Young myself," she claimed.  "She is an intelligent woman with amazing insight and extraordinary life experiences.  If you want to find out about the world around you she would be an excellent resource, as well as a friend."

With her openness, Professor McGonagall removed the stigma associated with seeing Sophie and suddenly made it fashionable.  People could talk to her without feeling like others would think they were falling apart, or already unhinged.

Her popularity incensed Professor Snape to no end.  He had predicted her demise within the first month of her appointment and had lost a bet he placed with Professor Vector.  He did not like losing.

Yet, though things were going well, Sophie felt like she wasn't being useful enough, that she needed to dig a little deeper.  She noted that of all the people who came to see her there was not one Slytherin in the bunch.  During meals, however, they seemed the most interested in her.  They watched her, either with open hatred or stolen glances and she could not help but wonder if it was the fact that she was a Muggle that kept them from asking for help. 

She needed to find a way to reach them. She needed help and there was only one person she could turn to.

The better part of the last month and a half was spent trying to avoid anymore confrontations.  She had hoped the distance would make Snape a little more willing to talk to her.  It was now time to test that theory.  For the sake of those she promised to help she needed to talk to him, and hopefully find a way to reach the students most at risk of falling through the cracks. 

After dinner one evening, she decided to walk through the dungeons, to his quarters, and ask for his assistance.  Going into the middle of his territory was giving him the advantage, but she also knew she would probably have better luck convincing him that way.  Giving someone else the upper hand was not something Sophie was good at, but one control freak could spot another, and she knew the only way he would agree to help was if he was in charge of the situation.  

She walked down the long corridor that led to his classrooms and private office.  It was quite a suffocating experience though it was not as dark as she thought it would be.  While coming around a sharp corner she heard a noise coming from a small room to the left of the main classroom.  She recognized it as Snape's office and walked over.  Unsure if she was feeling, relief or fear, she stepped forward and opened the door only to find the room empty.  There was, however, another door in the back of the room -- and it was open.  She walked over to it in time to hear a bottle dropping and a voice cursing and it was not the voice of the Professor.  Sophie froze.  'What was going on?'  She slowly crept up to the door and peered inside.  A student was rifling through the materials in the room.  It was full of Snape's potions supplies and this student was looking for something in particular.  She stood up straight when she realized who he was.

"Looking for something, Mr. Malfoy." She leaned up against the wall as he whirled around, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I…I… was just getting something for Professor Snape."

"Were you really? Then I suppose you would not mind if we walked over to his quarters and asked him?"

With this Draco pale went whiter.  "He's busy.  That's why he needed me to get this for him."

Sophie walked over to Draco and pulled the vial from his hands. She looked at the label and stood for a moment studying the small bottle.

"We're going to his quarters right now."  She pushed him out to the corridor and to the set of doors at the far end.  Hoping this was Snape's private rooms she knocked on the door, and shortly a very annoyed looking Severus Snape answered.  His black shirt was partially unbuttoned and his hair was slicked back as if he was just out of the shower.  She had never seen him out of his robes and was pleasantly surprised at how nice he looked in regular clothing.  Much less like an overgrown bat and more like…well…a man.  A sexy man at that.  She refocused her attentions to the situation that brought her there.

"Sorry to bother you so late in the evening, but young Mr. Malfoy was helping himself to your supplies and I wanted to make sure he was doing so under your instructions as he claims."

The look on Snape's face spoke volumes.  "Come inside.  Both of you."

He took the vial out of Sophie's hand.  Belladonna.  "Who were you planning to drug, Draco?"

He looked to the ground.  "I don't know what you mean Professor.  I was just looking for-"

"Do not lie to me boy," he snarled.  "This herb is known for its ability to render people immobile.  It is dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced wizard and fatal if over administered.  Somehow I doubt you would take the time to measure it properly.  What were you planning to do with this?"

Draco did not answer and continued his inspection of the floor.

"If you will not answer to me then you will answer to the Headmaster."

Draco looked up sharply. "I'll be expelled."

"Well…light dawns on marble head," Snape replied with a smirk. "I see you finally realize the gravity of your actions."

"Please, there must be another way. "  Draco was appealing to the head of his house and not to the Professor whose trust he had just broken and there, Sophie saw an opportunity -- and she never missed an opportunity.  "If I could interrupt, Professor.  I know that you will want to think of an appropriate punishment for Draco's actions, but I am wondering if I could offer a suggestion.  Let Draco come into sessions with me.  We will meet every week for the rest of the school year."

Draco looked horrified, Snape intrigued. "And why would I agree to this?"

"Because we both know what that vial in your hand was probably meant for, and we also both know that expelling Draco would not be to anyone's benefit, least of all his.  I am asking for your permission to handle this."  She looked at his eyes intently, pleadingly.  He seemed to grasp what she was trying to say and slowly began to nod his head.

"I think that could be a fair compromise.  It was Dr. Young that found you and I think that forcing you to meet with her on a regular basis is a suitable punishment…though some might consider it rather harsh."

Sophie smiled out of the corner of her mouth. 

Draco stood looking at the both of them wondering what was going on.

"You may leave now, Mr. Malfoy, but you will be back tomorrow after your last class to clean up the mess you made.  It will be the first of a week's detention.  You just volunteered to take my inventory."

He did not say a word as he fled the dungeons.  Sophie and Severus looked at each other guardedly until Snape finally spoke, "Do you really think he was going to use the belladonna to kill himself?"

She shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time I saw it.  It's quick and painless, all in all not a bad way to go.  He was ransacking your stores in desperation like…like the last act of a boy who wasn't worried about the consequences.  I think I can help him, and I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity."

"Yes, well you have survived longer than I had anticipated.  I have to give you some credit for not folding under the pressure -" A thought suddenly occurred to him.  "Why were you down here in the first place?"

"I was looking for you. I wanted a way to reach your house.  Not one Slytherin student has come to see me and I was hoping that you would help open some doors."

"Well it seemed things took care of themselves.  How fortunate for you."

She let her eyes drop and for the first time looked where she was.  His rooms consisted of an antique four poster bed and dresser, a large oak desk, a comfortable looking armchair and shelves and shelves of books and papers.  She walked over to the volumes and started reading the names.

"I am not under the impression that I invited you to stay."

She ignored him. "You know his father right."

"I do have the distinct pleasure."

"He is a formidable man," she said gravely.  "He made my skin crawl when I first saw him.  It was the same feeling I got when I first looked at Draco…and then I saw the look in his eyes.  I expected fear, anger, surprise.  But instead…instead I saw emptiness.  He was on a mission.  He needed that vial."

"Forgive me, but I have a difficult time believing the spawn of Lucius Malfoy would take his life."

"We are not all so in control of our emotions, Professor." Her voice softened as she turned to face him.  "Most of us get overwhelmed.  Most need help coping with life, friends, family, colleagues…"

"Are you implying that I lack the ability to feel emotions or that I lack friends?" He pursed his lips.

"Neither," she said with a gentle smile.  "I am saying the world doesn't have to be harsh and cold and mean.  It can be soft….and warm … and kind."  She moved closer to him, her eyes never leaving his.  'He obviously has no idea I'm flirting with him.  Well so much for that,' she thought.  "I guess I should be going.  If you would allow me some time, I would like your help in dealing with Draco." 

"I thought your meetings were confidential."

"Draco did not come to me as a patient.  He is being punished.  Should I feel that I could get more out of him if he had the privilege of privacy I will evoke that right as a doctor, but in the meantime I think your help would be invaluable.  That is if you could bring yourself to work with a mere Muggle."

It was a challenge. She was challenging him -- and he knew it.

"I will work with you out of our common goal and nothing more.  Draco is in my house and he is deserving of help as much as anyone else. Now if you don't mind…."

She walked to the door.  "Thank you," she said as she held out her hand.  He took it and they shook hands. A temporary truce?  Perhaps. She smiled and walked out and he stood looking at his hands, her words ringing in his ears, "Soft….and warm…..and kind." If he did not know better he would say she was flirting.  He looked up and walked over to his bathroom, he needed another shower, a cold one.