Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the series.

A/N: I realize that I repeated a line there; it's for effect. It's a smidge on the short side, sorry. I just wanted the last part in one chapter without this stuff. Anyways, this is the second last chapter - I hope you enjoy it.

Forever Red

Chapter Seven: Dying for the Second Time.

Sandra leaned over the frightened professor. Her skin was a pale grey, although most of it was covered with a long, torn dress. I suspected that it was the outfit she had died in. Her teeth were long, sharp and pure white. Her eyes burned a bright blue and seemed to glow brighter with every step closer to Professor Snape. Large bat wings sprouted from out of her back. "You know," Sandra said, stepping closer to Snape. "Not everyone a vampire feasts on turns into a vampire." Harry, Hermione and I stood in what I guessed was shock as she leaned closer to her professor. "Do you know what happens to them instead of an undead life?"

Snape shook his head, biting his lower lip nervously. He cut it with his own teeth. "I – I don't," he stuttered.

Wasn't he supposed to be strong in these types of situations? I cursed myself for being such a coward. I shoved my hand into my pockets as Sandra spoke again, "A death," she licked her lips, seeing the blood on his. "A long death. It could be painful if you put up a fight," I watched Snape's eyes widen as he realized he was back against a wall. She put her thin, grey hand on his chin, raising his head to see him better. "But you wouldn't dare put up a fight, would you?"

Snape looked at us for a moment, but I quickly realized he was looking for Selena. I looked around. Did she run away and leave Snape for death? The coward. I watched Snape relax in her grasp. "No," his eyes lowered. "I wouldn't."

Why was I calling Selena a coward? I had my wand in my hand, but feared to use it. Sandra started to turn back into a more appealing form. The wings folded back into her back as she spoke, "That's a good boy," she let go of his chin. "It is too bad Selena has a thing for you, you would have made a great vampire."

She leaned over Snape, bringing her teeth close to his neck. Do something Ron; it's up to you. I heard Harry scream a spell pointing his wand towards the preoccupied Sandra. Good ol' Harry. Sandra, unfortunately, was expecting the spell and lifted Snape into the line of fire. "Is that all the great Harry Potter has?" she stood up, dropping the limp professor onto the floor.

"N-no," Harry stuttered, keeping his wand outstretched.

"Oh, you're so scary," she rolled her blue eyes with sarcasm.

Hermione shouted a different spell and pulled out her wand. Of course, since Sandra was expecting something from Harry, she dodged it causing a large hole to form in the wall. "I guess it's bus boy's turn. Are you going to do something Ron? Or are you to frightened?" Sandra pouted her lips. "God forbid you do something without you precious Selena to protect you."

She noticed Selena was gone as well. I kept my wand in my pocket, waiting for a better time to use it. "I forgot my wand," I lied, lowering my eyes.

"Lack of looks and a lack of a brain. Selena got it all when she chose you," she mocked, watching the three of us carefully.

Did she realize Selena was no longer going to go after me? She stepped closer to us, watching our reactions. "If you keep stepping closer I won't miss," Hermione threatened, narrowing her eyes.

"You think magic'll harm me?" Sandra crossed her arm with a small smile trying to escape from the corner of her mouth.

"I believe that it WILL harm you, just not kill you," Hermione said.

I stepped behind Harry and Hermione, so I wasn't going to get in their way. "Try me," she opened her arms wide, leaving her drained heart exposed.

I watched feeling my hand twitching as I awaited something to happen. Sandra's smile start to fade into a somewhat shocked expression. What seemed to be sand started to pour from her open mouth. I hadn't heard Hermione say a spell, but my eyes were too clung to Sandra to even glance at Harry or Hermione. I quickly noticed that sand, or dust, began pouring from where her heart was as well. Suddenly, I began to put it together as I noticed Professor McGonnigal's head appeared from behind Sandra. I steak began to show itself from where the sand was pouring out of her chest. I watched pain fill Sandra's face as she fell to the ground. "Severus!" Selena broke the eerie silence.

I watched Selena, much like Sandra before her, fall to her knees in a vast amount of pain. Tears fell from her eyes and she wrapped her arms around Severus' waist. "What..." Harry asked the question that Hermione and I were too nervous to ask, "What just happened?"

Professor McGonnigal looked away from Selena and Snape. "Selena went to get me, since she, for obvious reasons, didn't have a steak," she stepped closer to us, so Selena wouldn't here. "Is he alright?"

I glanced down at Sandra's remains. A pile of ash took the place of her body. "I don't know what spell Harry used," Hermione said, looking to Harry.

"I-I j-just," he bit his tongue for a moment, trying not to stutter. "It was just supposed to make the person limp and unconscious so that we'd have time to find a steak and steak her."

My heart leaped as Hermione grabbed my arm. "I'm fine Mr. Potter," Snape said. I turned to look at the Professor who rubbed his head and sat up. Selena curled up in his grip. "Thank you for trying anyway and thank you Minerva for disposing of the horror."

"You're welcome," Professor McGonnigal beamed proudly. "What are we going to do with Selena?"

"I won't bother Ron anymore," Selena said. "Promise."

Professor McGonnigal turned to look at Hermione, Harry and I. "It is time for you three to return to your rooms. We'll settle things in the morning," she said.

Hermione let go of my arm as we left the room.