Chapter 4

J.K. ROWLING owns all characters except for Laurel who I created myself, I am not doing this for money, only the pure enjoyment of the thing. So ends my lame little disclaimer, okay? Don't sue!

Romance rising action. R/R please :)

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Laurel woke up warm and comfortable. Eyes squinting against the watery light of day, she tried to roll out from under the heavy weight that lied upon her. Attempting to open her eyes again proved futile, and she settled with feeling what was on top of her. Soft, furry, large...

'The fur-trimmed blanket Snape loaned me...' her haggard mind thought. She smiled widely to herself and rolled out from under it's heavy weight, but immediately leapt back on top of it when her bare feet came in contact with the cold stone flooring.

"Brrr!" was the only thing that escaped her lips, besides her breath that was visible inside of the cold chamber. Resting on her stomach atop the high bed, she tried to hold back the large mass of purple nightgown she was adorned in.

"Purple nightgown?" she mused aloud. 'Oh yes," she thought again. 'Another gift of Snape's, he can't be all evil!' She sighed and rolled her shoulder once before making a grab for her filthy sandals just a few inches from her outstretched hand. Straining vigorously she stopped with a sudden cough, the air was freezing her lungs and it was hard to bear.

She sat with her legs folded underneath herself, trying to figure out what to do. She could make a run for the rest room that was naught 15 feet away from where she rested. However, she could not be sure of the conditions of the flooring in there either. She sat for a few more moments in chilly silence.

"I need something longer than my arm! How foolish of me," she said, chastising herself aloud.

Stretching the morning kinks out of her long leg, she laid down on her stomach once again. This time she faced away from her intended quarry and stretched with all her might. She felt her pinky toe brush the tiny strap of her sandal and she pinched at it desperately, her eyebrows knit in concentration.

Then without a missing a beat, the soft, smooth, slippery blanket that had been warming her the night before, began to give way. Beneath her weight it descended in a sort of slither towards the floor and a small, "Oh!" of surprise escaped her lips, as she felt her foot and then her body make contact with the cold floor.

She let out a shrill shriek of indignation, as her skin was covered in pimply goosebumps. The large furry blanket, having now caused an avalanche effect of sorts, had also made it's descent upon her. The attack upon her senses was followed by the heavy blankets and sheets that had now turned from friend to foe, overnight.

She was in complete darkness as she writhed in the large mass of bed coverings. Grumbling and gasping as she somehow managed to kick herself in the arm. She heard the sound of rapidly approaching foot falls and tried desperately to untangle herself from her self imposed war, but only managed to be drawn in further.

There was a rapid pounding on the door and a voice floated through the air, "Laurel? What's going on in there?!" Squeaking in fear she tried madly to undo her embarrassing predicament.

"Nothing! Go away, everything's fine here! Please - just go away!" she cried desperately, kicking herself in her other arm.

The echo of the other person's voice was lost as she struggled. She paused in time to hear the door being violently rocked, someone was trying to break down the door!

"What are you doing!?" was her muffled yell, as she tried one last attempt to unfurl herself from the bedlam by standing up. This proved fatal to her labors and she toppled back onto the floor, gasping for air, her cheeks red with adrenaline and soon to be, embarrasment.

The sound of the latch breaking as the door was hit once again, resonated through the chamber, as did the noise of it slamming against the wall. Ceasing her struggle, she lied still and heard the puzzled sounds being made by the unwelcome intruder.

The next moment there was a burst of sunlight as she was rolled out of the large blankets in one harsh flip. Landing with a loud, "Oof!" Laurel shook her head slowly and looked up from her back once again, at Severus Snape. She'd never seen him smile before and wasn't quite sure if she ever would want to again. His gaze was simple scrutiny no matter how his lips accompanied them.

"Well my lady," Snape said bemusedly. "Glad to see you're up bright and early this morning. I was sent to check on you by Dumbledore, seems you have overslept. You musn't be late for your first breakfeast, it's required you make your appearance known, as to not scare the children."

He turned halfway toward the door and snickered, "And might I suggest that you impeach your modesty a bit more around the students Proffesor Laurel?" The world was still spinning as she dragged the purple nightgown back down to her hips, glaring defiantly at him. "I do not believe classes that require such... visual aids, are not given to anyone but 7th years at Hogwart's."

At that she opened her mouth to speak but was cut off abruptly by Snape once again, "I will wait for you in my chamber Proffesor, and please, would you mind taking better care of my property next time I loan it to you?" Surveying the tangled heap of the blanket on the floor, and the rip in the purple nightgown that hung limply from her shoulder.

Snape allowed himself a malicious grin, his black robes billowing enormously behind him as he fled the chamber. It was wise to be out of there before Laurel could gather her wits about her again. He knew better than anyone at Hogwart's that crossing her could prove fatal.

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Never had Laurel felt her blood boil to such a high degree as it did now. The embarrasment she suffered from his hands was more than she could bear, and to have him see her dressed in underwear? The thought almost made her weep. However, Laurel came from a long line of strong elves, and she was determined to uphold both her own and their honor.

Giving herself a mental shake, Laurel donned the Muggle clothing that she had been forced to wear when riding the Iron Bird. She winced at the smell that arose from them, and grudingly put them on. She could hardly stand the smell of herself, how would others fair while meeting her?

She sighed and shook her head in self-pity. Laurel straightened her spine once again however, and marched to the chamber door which was unusually ajar. She took notice of the broken latch and the adrenaline of rage began to creep into her blood and into her eyes. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror by the door, she saw that they were glowing.

Laurel was on the war path.

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Severus was calmly rearranging his set of eagle feather quills when there was a loud crash from behind him. Whirling in self-defense he grabbed his wand to take aim at the suspect.

Laurel stood in his door way. 'Obviously furious,' Snape regarded in complete delight. The white streaks in her hair stood out more prominently due to it's unruly state once again. Her skin was glowing with the hue of fresh-picked peaches, and her eyes- her eyes were positively flaming.

Snape swallowed slowly. Half in fear and half in awe he stood there shaking. 'There is nothing more terrible or more beautiful,' his mind thought unbidden. 'Then an angry Egyptian Elf." She surveyed him fiercely and jerked her head in the direction of the empty corridor behind her.

"Let's go eat," she commanded. With that, he followed the sound of her lightning quick footsteps all the way up to the Great Hall, for her welcoming breakfeast.

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NEXT IS CHAPTER 5! YAY! R/R PLEASE :) THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS THUS FAR! :)