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Rating: G

Severus was sitting in the very last compartment of the Hogwarts Express by himself, as he preferred it to be. No one ever but Severus sat back there, and that was all he asked for. He could do as he pleased. Most of the time he would just read his potions books, as there was no one around to bother him and Potions was his favorite subject. There was no doubt in saying that Severus held the highest grade in Potions. Although he thought that Potions Master at Hogwarts was a bit bland Severus always paid close attention to every word that poured from his professor's mouth.

Just as Severus was getting settled in, book in hand, the compartment door slide open. Severus was about to glare and insult in every language he could at whoever had dared to intrude on his privacy. He found himself staring instead.

The girl just stood there staring back at Severus. 'I've finally found him!' Ari thought to herself, pleased.

Severus had never seen anyone like her at school before. He was sure that he would have remembered someone like her. She had four tattoos on her delicate face, a black star just above her right eyebrow, and two smaller stars under her right eye. The last was a sliver crescent moon under her left eye.

He was also certain that he would have recalled a young woman with hair like hers. Her hair was thick with loose curls that cascaded over her lovely face. It was dark and yet milky at the same time. Severus left as if he was gazing up in a starless sky.

The dress that she was wearing was unlike any that he had ever seen before. It was an ebony dress that had a low neckline traced with a black lace. The arms were made of a sheer material with sliver threads sewn in randomly, giving it a shiny appearance when the light hit at the correct angle. Severus could see her pale skin beneath it. Then upon reaching the waist of the dress the skirt seemed to float around her legs. Instead of lace outlining the edge of the skirt small silver stars were embroidered. The stars seem to glow even in the well-lit compartment.

Severus' gaze went back up to her face. She seemed to have flawless skin, as pale and clean as freshly fallen snow. Her face was free of any make-up. Severus personally thought that she didn't need to wear make-up, even if its real purpose is to highlight the better qualities of one's face. His eyes then lingered on the strange markings she had around her eyes. He knew that they must mean something to her, and he was longing to know, but wouldn't dare ask her. After all she had just interrupted him very rudely. Severus couldn't stop looking at her face though. No matter how hard he tried, his eyes kept going to her eyes; her dark mysterious eyes. They seemed to be beyond black.

'You could get lost in those eyes' Severus thought and was afraid that he might if he didn't put a stop to his staring. Severus was partially awakened when this girl walked across the compartment to sit directly in front of him.

"Hello," Ari said politely.

'Her voice is smooth, like silk,' Sever thought to himself, still unable to completely withdraw his gaze.

"You are Severus, right?"

At the sound of his name he was shocked out of his dream-like state.

"Yes… and may I inquire just who you are?" Severus said in his iciest tone, hoping to regain some air of his dignity.

"My name is Ari," she said, completely unfazed by the tone of his voice.

"And just what are you doing here? No one sits back here except for me," he added a glare to go along this time.

"Everywhere else was full," Ari replied simply.

A few minutes passed as Severus attempted to read, but this Ari girl was all he could think of. Her eyes mainly, hey were the color of the sky just before dawn, when it is darkest. Severus looked out the window wondering why he was so captivated by this girl. He hadn't had an interest in anyone before, but one look at her and he couldn't take his eyes off her. 'What's wrong with me?' Severus questioned silently. Severus then really did look outside and noticed that the train was about to reach its destination.

"You had better change into your robes," he said coldly. He didn't like people barging into his loneliness and especially into his thoughts. It unnerved him that she could do that so easily and he had only just met her.

"I don't have robes," Ari said quietly.

Severus glared and went back to his book. By a chance glance at the bottom of the page Severus noticed that he was on page one.

Revised Chapter 2