Chapter 11-  Sognare Meno il sonno

(Dream Less Sleep)

Severus stood at the entrance of the Great Hall.

"Well for god sake Severus, don't stand in the doorway, come on."

Lucius walked ahead of him, grinning as he looked around the room.

"Coming coming."

Severus too couldn't help smiling when he saw his own friends.

Lily Evans squealed from across the room as Severus slowly walked in.

"I'll be back in a moment James..." Lily muttered as she slipped away from her boyfriend the famous James Potter.

"Sev!!!!"

 Lily skidded across the room then caught Severus in a hug, earning a few scowls from teachers and students.

"Hello Lily."

Severus said in a most amused tone of voice.

 Lily scoffed.

"Hello? Hello is all you can say to me after- how long has it been? Months?!" Lily patted her head girl badge in a very 'hint hint nudge nudge look what I am Sev' way.

"Don't over exaggerate Lily. Ah I see they have made you the ruler of the school for the year. Congratulations Lily." Severus paused then hugged her, which was unusual because he didn't really volunteer to hug.

"Thanks Sev…. verus." She quickly added the verus after seeing the look he gave her. She tended to overuse the nickname Sev.

"Look you had better go back to the Gryffindors, before Potter comes and mashes me into a wall, I thought I might save that for tomorrow."

 Severus said, his gaze wandering to his Slytherin friends that were gesturing for him to go over.

 Lily glanced back at her own friends and sighed in agreement.

"Yes I suppose you are right. I'll meet you around the lake, 4-ish tomorrow ok? Good."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and bounced away before he could comment.

"Long time and absolutely no see Snape!" Evans said as Severus strolled over.

"Indeed." He replied sharply before spotting Lucius who was grinning at the two, now clutching Narcissa.

"What are you grinning at? Oh Good evening Narcissa." Severus said, being a moron- because he could be.

 He took Narcissa's hand and kissed it. Lucius was quick to swat him away

"What is with the formalities Sev?" Narcissa freed herself from Lucius and embraced Severus in what was a rather long hug.

"Whats the matter?" He whispered as he saw Narcissa's smiled had disappeared as she clung to him, under the impression nobody could see.

"What is always the matter?"

Lucius.

 She took her face away from his chest, the thickly painted smile back on her face.

Aeolus sauntered up and greetings erupted from the growing group.

 Aeolus had with him Georgina Crighton, his newest girlfriend. He had only just broken up with Scarlet North Romatti, a girl from their group that Severus "dated" for 9 months, so naturally everyone was surprised to see him with this new girl.

Aeolus and Severus edged away from the group.

"So did you enjoy your summer?"

"What sort of question is that?"

"A simple one Severus." Aeolus turned to face him better. "Okay, different question. How did the…. Death eater thing go?"

"I knew you'd do this!"

"Do what? I'm your friend I can be concerned about you can't I? You look like you've lost weight so whatever you were doing over the holidays can't have been good for you."

"I did nothing, everything went fine I am still alive aren't I?" Aeolus raised both eye brows and considered this for a moment.

"Well you may be alive but you certainly don't look it."

 Severus narrowed his eyes as Aeolus strolled back to Georgina.

~~**~~

" Sevvy!... Ouch, sorry oops didn't see you there."Severus looked around the crowd.

"I'm here Sevvy, no over here. Get out of my way Lucius."

"Sorry….."

"You should be… Ah hello Cissa.. No….. Sevvy! Look this way!" Severus scanned again.

"Akira!" Severus moved again away from the crowd. Akira Black beamed at him before pouncing on him.

"I haven't seen you ages Severus!"

"It hasn't been that long…"

"Well it feels like ages and look at you…. Your hair is longer… and you are taller. You seem to have grown up over the holidays" Akira hugged him. A lot of people seemed to be hugging him.

"Like wise... oh... look the first years are coming in moment, Shall we sit down?."

~~**~~

"I was afraid you went to France without telling me."

"I wouldn't do that Akira, and you should know well enough, I hate France…. Filthy place"

"Funny. So where were you? Brighton? You never wrote back to me. Bad boy!."

"For a little while yes.Oh sorry did you write me a letter?... I never got it" He trailed off lying through his teeth.

"My holidays were pretty boring. Sirius was driving me out of my mind and I saw plenty of that bloody Potter. I sent plenty of owls to you, but obviously you didn't get them. I saw Narcissa, and I saw Lucius but I didn't get to catch up with you. I suppose you missed out on all the gossip then. Well Gina decided to ask Aeolus out which was a shock and Evan's parents divorced. Sevvy? Are you listening to me? Sevvy?"

Akira reached across the table and poked Severus with her fork. Severus has been staring up the table for the latter part of his conversation with Akira, at Morganna Montague.

 I wish you would get over it Severus

He'd been watching her share a joke with Narcissa, straining to hear her musical laughter and light voice.

Far too good for the likes of you.

"Yes I'm listening…"

 He said almost sadly as he went back to staring down at his food.

"You know you seem very distant Severus. If there is something the matter you can tell me." Akira smiled brightly at Severus. Severus looked up at her.

"Thank you Akira. I'll keep that in mind."

~~**~~

Akira had always been simply the most elegant of the Slytherin group Severus had belonged to for the past 6 years. She was tall and elegant with her long blood red hair and icy blue eyes. Very beautiful to look at and surprisingly actually very smart. She had gained place in Lucius Malfoy's group by attitude. Many others gained place by their name or wealth, but it was her attitude. Severus gained his place by name, wealth and intelligence. The attitude was something that developed over time for him.

 Akira was lovely to a select few but otherwise she was particularly nasty. A lot of people gave her grief over being Sirius Black's sister.

And just for the record they were usually very sorry afterwards.

A lot of people looked at Severus Snape and Akira Black and wondered what exactly was going on between them. Sometimes they were very close, arm in arm, hand in hand.

Sharing a joke in the corridor or secret, her lips lingering close to his ear both shooting glances with private looks on their faces.

And sometimes they would be arguing in the dungeons. Sometimes they appeared to be just friends and other times appeared to be much more.

Severus Snape didn't know what was going on between them. And neither did Akira Black

~~**~~

"Could you go any slower Potter?"

"I could try."

"Could we start the year off on a good foot? Starting with you getting the hell out of my way."

"No. Did you enjoy your holidays Snape?"

"Yeah Snape. Did you have fun?"

"Loads of Fun Black, now please cease to inconvenience me further- no actually cease to exist would be nice "

"Big talk for such a small Snake."

Severus, James and Sirius stood in the Entrance Hall as students poured out of the Great Hall. Severus looked as though he was going to kill someone, James looked the same.

"Severus!" Lucius stopped at the stairs down to the dungeons and called for him.

"I'd be careful this year Potter."

"Is that a threat?"

"Severus!" Lucius called again

"Go without me…"

"Yes we are busy Malfoy.I'm sure Snape doesn't need to hold your hand"

"Excuse me." Lucius sneered.

 Severus groaned softly as Lucius walked over.

Akira had been standing close by, watching her brother and his friend hold Severus up.

"Problem gentlemen?" Her merry voice floated over to them, as did she.

She floated up in front of Severus and kissed him.

James's jaw hit the ground

Sirius was almost sick.

Lucius's eyebrows flew off his face.

"Oh my god… no... Akira stop! … James…. My sister." Sirius stumbled off followed by James.

Lucius was rocking from foot to foot lightly, clearing his throat.

"Okay they are gone…."

Severus seemed to be enjoying this.

Lucius was wondering how long they could keep going for.

 Akira needed to take a breath.

"Severus… Akira, you can stop… they've g- Oh For god sake stop!!!"

They broke the kiss and Akira started giggling. Severus froze.

"Well…. done Akira…"

"I know." Akira floated over to Narcissa and they both started giggling. Lucius scowled

 "See you in the common room Sev." She called over her shoulder.

Severus was still frozen to the spot.

Lucius seized his arm and started dragging.

"I really don't know what is wrong with these girls. Would you wipe that grin off your face please?! Sickening!"

~**~

Severus lay on the Slytherin common room floor the next afternoon, doing some leisurely reading. Or so the Slytherin head had thought the last time he had come around to tell everyone to be quiet.

Tomii sat near him, a sea of notes sitting around her.

"Hey Severus, I didn't see you there on... the… floor."

"That's why I was on it." He said sitting up with a grin.

"Oh dear lord, please Severus help me, only one school day and I have so much history homework. Do you know the year the Great Goblin Rebellion of 1652 was in?"

"Oh, I don't know. This is just a wild guess as I don't pay much attention in history, but could it be 1652? I could be wrong." Severus lay back down, this time on his back so he could look up at her. Tomii thought for a moment then cursed.

"Sorry … I'm so stupid…Oh I'm Sorry Severus. I'm just so stressed." She put her head in her hands and he sat up again.

"Don't worry happens to us all, bloody teachers."

"Yes I suppose." She nodded then looked up at him. "Where is Lucius? You are usually with him."

"I don't know. Whats the time?"

"4:13… why, where are you going? Oh never mind..."

Severus dashed out of the Slytherin common room, and then ducked back in to retrieve his cloak.

~**~

"Aha! The snake approaches! Where the hell have you been?"

"Lost track of the time Lily sorry."

"Well step into my office,  take a seat, make yourself at home"

Severus sat down by Lily. They always managed to meet by the lake. Sometimes by plan sometimes by dumb luck.

They sat silent for a few moments as Severus skipped various rocks across the lake.

"I can tell when something is the matter Severus. We are usually able to tell each other everything."

Severus was silent

Lily stared out across the lake.

"I'll torture it out of you. Your hair is looking unusually long you know…"

"Fine! What do you want me to tell you?"

"That you were miserable without me, and cannot spend another day without me." Lily said dramatically."Or perhaps not. I know… tell me about Akira. What is going on there hm? Hm? Hm?" Lily nudged him continuously and he gave her the tiniest peak of a smile.

"I honestly I don't know. I'm very confused about that so… just don't ask…."

"Oohh Severus Snape confused. That's a first." She looked at him. Obviously her efforts to get a laugh out of him were futile. She was usually able to get even Severus Snape to laugh.

They sat silently together for a few moments more.

"You know Lily, it was really horrible. I think I've just made the biggest mistake of my life."

She knew instantly what he was talking about.

He closed his eyes and she put her arms around him.

~~**~~

"Severus are you paying attention?"

"I haven't the slightest clue what you are talking about, but yes I'm paying attention Lucius."

"Well." Lucius spread out a map of Hogwarts before them. "You know how I was telling you, when the Mark on your arm- the Dark Mark-"

"I know what it's called- Idiot" Severus snapped.

"Some one is moody."

"No just tired."

"Anyway, when it burns, he is calling us to him and it's imperative that we go. So I have devised a plan to get us out of Hogwarts…"

"Without getting caught?"

"Let me finish Severus!.......... I've forgotten what I was going to say."

"Get on with it."

"There is a locked corridor here. Do you see? We can try and figure out the counter curse to the charm that is locking it."

"We?"

"You"

"Excuse me Lucius. This is not my idea."

"Okay fine, I will figure that out. Anyway we follow this corridor and it should take us to this flight of stairs then out a tunnel to the school grounds. Do you see, just there "
"I wonder what else goes out that tunnel."

"It's not a sewerage pipe Severus. You are safe"

"Oh I'm going to sleep much better tonight."

"Anyway there is a path here between some trees and the forbidden forest. The keeper of the keys lives just down there and would probably see you cross. If so climb these trees."

"I'm no orangatan. I do not climb trees."

"I've had a look, its safe. The trees don't bite and one of the branches extends right into the forest so all you have to do is hop off."

"Yes I'll just jump off and break my neck, no problem Lucius." Severus reached out and clipped Lucius around the head. "You idiot."

"Or for the girls like you, there is a tree you can climb down. Then we go a little further into the forest..."

"Further? This is the forbidden forest we are talking about. Its called Forbidden Forest, because it's forbidden, that's why we don't go in." Severus started to chuck bits of paper into the fire in the Slytherin common room as Lucius groaned at him.

"..Anyway a little further is a port key. And that's how we get to Master. And come back the same way. OK?"

"Whatever I'm going to bed." Severus picked the map up, screwed it up and threw into the fire before disappearing off to his dormitory.

"Andare marcire nell'inferno Lucius Malfoy."

~~**~~

Lucius Malfoy, Aeolus De Salis and Evans Rosier slept soundly, but one lay half asleep, tossing and turning.

The silence was broken by coughs, one after the other.

On Severus Snape's pillow specks of blood could be seen.

But he was unaware in his dreamless sleep.