Kriss woke up, feeling groggy at first, not knowing why she was in the hospital wing. Then she remembered what had happened, hitting her like a slap the face. The pain of the memory caused an ache in her stomach, making her roll over onto her side. It was then that she realised she was not alone. Sitting by the side of the bed was Claudette, still fast asleep and two more chairs were occupied by Xanthe and Lucinda, also asleep.
Kriss sat up a little, grimacing at the pain in her back, which had been caused by Caecius throwing her against the floor.
Madame Pomfrey came bustling in, noticed Kriss was awake and stopped by her bed.
"How are you feeling dear?" she said kindly, smiling, her head on one side.
"I'm alright, but my back really hurts though" she said, bending forward slightly and grimacing again
"Let me have a look" Madame Pomfrey said walking forward. She lifted Kriss's nightdress up at the back, (which someone had obviously fetched for her) then gently touched the sore area with her soothingly cool fingers.
"Oh yes, quite bad bruising. I'll soon have that sorted out." Taking her wand out of her apron pocket, she pointed it at Kriss's back, muttering quietly.
Ater a while the pain started to fade and Madam Pomfrey stopped.Kriss sat back feeling much better. Questions then entered her mind.
"What's happened? Have they arrested Caecius? Where's Sev..Professor Snape?" Kriss asked needing to put her mind at rest.
"I think he can tell you himself.." The nurse said as the door opened and Severus walked in. Madam Pomfrey walked back to her office again saying "I'll leave you alone to talk" and shut the door behind her.
Kriss felt tears coming into her eyes with relief at seeing the man she loved. He walked towards her and stood uncertainly for a moment, looking at Kriss's sleeping friends. Then standing by the other side of the bed he leaned over towards Kriss and curled his hand around hers, looking at her with concern in his eyes.
"How do you feel?" He said softly
"Better for seeing you" Kriss whispered, smiling up at him. She maneuvered her hand around so that it now clapsed his in return.
"I can't stay long, I have to go and meet Dumbledore in his office. The Ministry has been contacted and they are coming to collect Caecius. I have to tell them what I know about the attack and they also want to talk to you of course, when you have recovered sufficiently." He said looking at Kriss with the softest expression she had ever seen on his face. He hung his head, sighing
"I'm so sorry, I could have done something about him earlier but I didn't, I.." But he broke off, unable to say what he felt
Kriss slid her hand out of his and touched his face. He gripped it against his cheek, closing his eyes and screwing them up for a second.
"I don't blame you, none of this was your fault. If I had gone to Dumbledore in the first place, when the first attack happened and told him my suspicions about who it was, then this may never have happened. It was my own stupid fault, I was afraid of people finding out and thinking me weak and pitying me, or something. I just didn't want that sort of attention, I thought I could handle it by myself." She paused, looking down and taking her hand away from his face "I thought that he would forget about me and leave me alone. That never happened did it" she said resentfully
"I should have been there to protect you, I should have acted sooner. I was so worried about people finding out about us that I have been more cautious about what I say or do than usual, especially with people who I know are secretly Voldemort supporters" he said
"What! You mean you still see the others, but I thought most of them were in Askaban! What's going on with you Severus? Is this the business you keep going off to attend to?" Kriss's voice was angrier now but still hushed
"I still can't tell you about that, not yet, but I promise I soon will. Just believe me when I say that I am no longer an active Deatheater, I may have just made it appear so, to certain people" he looked over at Kriss's friends as he said this and had leaned in even closer.
"Are you saying that..that you're pretending to be one? Why? Has it something to do the Ministry? Are you working for them, against Voldemort's followers?" Kriss asked curiously
"Not exactly, no, but lets just say that the people I'm working for find my ex Deatheater status very useful." He whispered in reply
Suddenly he stood up and moved back, looking past Kriss. Claudette had woken up; she rubbed her shoulders, trying to loosen the stiffness out of them.
"Morning Kriss, how are you? Oh! Hello Professor Snape, has that 'pig' been taken off by the Ministry yet?" she said looking expectantly at Severus
"No" he replied, stiffening himself up and putting on his usual stern expression.
"Oh, I can't wait to see him get his just deserts, I hope they lock him up and never let him out!" Claudette said angrily. This outburst woke Lucinda and Xanthe who rubbed their eyes and looked around dazedly
"I have to leave now, " said Severus, walking over towards the door. But just as he was about to go through it he looked at Kriss, his face softening slightly, then left.
"What I want to know is.." Lucinda started to say, "what's been going on between you two and for how long?" she finished, nodding towards the door
"What are you talking about Luce?" Kriss replied as if confused, but feeling panicked inside about what Lucinda knew
"Come on Kriss, it stands out a mile that there's more between you two than just student and teacher. Last night, the way he was with you, so tender and loving. He's never been like that with anyone else and you responded to him in the same way. Anyone else who just been raped would have felt he was the last person they wanted near him, but the way you looked at him, it was if you loved him." Lucinda said raising her eyebrows as she looked at Kriss
"We do have a close friendship, yes, but that's all." Said Kriss, not meeting her friends gaze
"Oh, I see" she said in an unbelieving tone, "is that all! You didn't even bother trying to cover yourself up, when he came in, like you were used to being naked in front of him! You certainly seem more than just friends to me!" Lucinda pushed, unthinking, but Claudette nudged her
"Luce after what she's been through she doesn't want 'twenty questions'. Just leave her be will you!" she said, looking sympathetically at Kriss
"Sorry Kriss, I suppose you'll tell me when you're ready" Luce replied, glaring at Claudette
"So, did he..did Caecius actually.." Xanthe insinuated, not wanting to say the actual words
Kriss looked down at her hands "No, but he wasn't far off, if Sev..I mean Professor Snape hadn't come when he did.." she trailed off
"Oh! He is such a 'piece of work'. He must have been watching for ages, waiting for his chance to get us out of the way. I can't believe we all fell for that distraction trick! I know what I'd like to do to him" Claudette said suddenly
Kriss smiled at Claudette for saying this, but then she had a worrying thought that wouldn't go away. Caecius's father had close ties within the ministry and might be able to get him off, or even get a good lawyer to make out that Kriss was lying. Because actual sexual contact had not occurred, she had to prove intent. She made a decision.
"I'm going now, I have to tell them everything before Caecius manages to convince them otherwise. We all know what a good liar he is." She said getting out of bed unsteadily and going to the cupboard next to her bed. She found some clothes in there and some toiletries, she piled everything on the bed
"Are you sure kriss? I mean are you really ready to face him yet?" Luce asked concerned
"Yes, I've never been surer." she said resolutely
Kriss, flanked by her friends, walked up to the statue outside the stairs to Dumbledores office. Not knowing the password they looked at each other uncertainly for a moment. Kriss started shouting first, calling his name at the top of her lungs, followed by her friends joining in.
"What is this noise all about?" Said a voice behind them it was Professor McGonagall. "Oh it's you Kriss," she said looking at her sympathetically "he's up there with the Ministry officials now, are you sure you're ready?"
"Yes I want to tell my side before Caecius distorts the truth, " Said kriss determinedly
"Very well then, follow me " said McGonagall. She uttered the password, which was 'whomping willow'. After waiting for the statue to open up she ascended the stairs, followed by the girls. When they got to the top, they all waited for a while, as the Professor went in first to announce their presence. She peeped her head around the door and called them in.
Kriss hesitated for a moment, feeling scared, what if Caecius was in there. Could she really face him, this soon?" She took a deep breath and deepening her resolve, walked in.
Inside was Dumbledore, sat at his desk, Professor Snape beside him and the Ministry officials sitting on the opposite side. They all looked up at Kriss and her friends as they walked in.
"Ah, Kriss come and sit down" said Dumbledore, conjuring up extra chairs, for her and her friends to sit on. Once they had sat he introduced them "This as you know is the Head of the department for Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones and these are her assistants; Sydney Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks (who scowled slightly at Dumbledore when hearing her name in full)and the court scribe Percy Weasley, who is here to write down what you say.
"So Kriss are you ready to tell us your side of the story? We've already heard from Caecius and Professor Snape." Said Amelia Bones in a kindly voice
"Yes I am" said Kriss, feeling nervous now. Her friends touched and stroked her arms to comfort her as she said this, she smiled at them gratefully.
Kriss proceeded to tell her side of the story and every one listened pretty much in silence, with only Amelia interjecting now and than to ask further questions. She of course left out the fact of her relationship with Professor Snape, which she managed to skirt round. Her friends also gave their accounts of what happened.
Severus had remained emotionless throughout, staring straight ahead. Kriss knew that he had to remain distant from her in public, but it still hurt to see him sitting there seeming to ignore her.
"Well I think we have all the evidence we need now to arrest Caecius, you will have to say all this again at the trial Kriss. If you want to change your mind about any of the details, say now, because you cannot do so once you have signed this" Amelia said taking the scroll that Percy had written her evidence on and passing it to her. Kriss took the scroll and then passed it on to her friends who also signed it.
"Where is Caecius?" kriss said tentatively, hoping he was no longer at the school
"He's being held here for the moment, but don't worry he can't escape. My assistants here have come to collect him and take him to the Ministry" replied Amelia reassuringly
Kriss felt that this had been quite an ordeal, reliving the attack, especially in front of people she didn't know. But she knew she had to be brave and carry this through, she couldn't let Caecius get away with it this time, he had to be punished.
Kriss and her friends went back down to the main school and braced themselves. They dreaded returning to the Slytherin common room, as Claudette and friends had already started to endure jibes from Caecius's cronies.
As they entered the common room and everyone saw who it was, there was stony silence. Kriss with her friends surrounding her, walked towards the stairs to their dorm. As soon as they started to ascend them, talking started again.
As soon as Kriss got to her bed she collapsed onto it, letting the tears fall freely now. The tears soon turned to racking sobs and her friends surrounded her, just letting her cry it all out. When she was done, she sat back against her pillows and sighed deeply
"I suppose I'd better inform my parents " she said, dreading what was to come