The smell of him, earthy and somehow spicy, sent a rush through her system.
Oh, god, it was really him.
He gathered her close; letting his senses take her in. She wore nothing but a tank top and jeans, both wet and torn. Her skin was pale, with marks and cuts covering her. Her dark red hair was dirty and limp, hanging down her back. Her eyes were shut and tears were streaming down her cheeks, leaving a trail in the dirt. Her pink lips stood out against the white of her skin, as did the blood.
She was trembling.
So was he.
"This has been quite a trying time for Ms. Weasley." Dumbledor reminded them happily. "Perhaps Ronald and Virginia could be so kind as to show Elizabeth the way to the Hospital Wing."
"But---"
"No, I go---"
"Professor---!"
Dumbledor just smiled. "Mr. William and Mr. Charles, I believe Professor McGonagall would like a word with you, and Mr. Percival as well." Bill and Percy exchanged a look, before lowering their heads. Charlie looked over Beth's head, which was resting on his shoulder. "I go---"
Beth whispered into the fabric of his robes. "Go."
His jaw clenched and his hands fisted. But he nodded.
"And I would like a quick word with Fredrick and George. And I of course need to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Wealsey, and with Professor Snape." Dumbledor smiled at Beth. "Virginia and Ronald, please escort Elizabeth to the Hospital Wing."
Some how Beth found herself in the stone hallway, with Ron and Ginny on either side. A blur, she thought, everything's a blur. Ginny kept up a cheerful conversation, while Ron jumped in from time to time. Beth basked in the knowledge of having her family back. These dizzying spells were coming back, faster and longer. So, it took her a few minutes before she realize that both Ginny and Ron were nervous around her. She fought back her dizziness, enough to stop and talk, really talk, with her younger siblings.
"The last time I saw you two," She smiled sadly and lifted a hand to Ginny's cheek. "You were just starting to read. You looked like this little china doll. You were beautiful." She felt the tears on her face but didn't care. Ginny was crying too, but when she spoke it was her normal voice. "I remember when I was crying, you made a tornado to make me laugh."
Beth smiled at the memory. "I used to do that for you all the time."
"I remember you." Ginny whispered, then gave Beth a happy hug, who laughed, and then looked at Ron. Her smile was slow and sad, and when she spoke her voice soft. "You used to be so small." Now he was almost the same height as here. "I missed so much. You have no idea what you two meant to me." She stared at Ron, who stared back, his muscle tense as stone. Then it crumbled and he told her, in such a way that made her see the little boy in him still, "I have all the pictures you gave me. All of them."
Her face lit up, for this meant more then most he could have said. "Ron," She said, then they were wrapped in a hug, no one knowing who made the first move and no one caring. Then the world stumbled once more, and her head spun into black. Her body went limp in Ron's arms, and Ginny's scream echoed off the walls. But she didn't hear that. She didn't hear anything. . .
~*~
She woke several times, a light semi-awake state. She heard, whispers, then laughter, and once heard someone shouting. Once or twice she felt some sort of liquid sliding down her throat. She dreamt as well, and she couldn't quite tell which was which.
When she woke completely, at first all she could make out was the color red. Then her eyes cleared and she saw Charlie holding one hand, Bill the other, while Percy and Ron sat at the edge of her bed. Fred and George were huddled in a corner, their backs turned to the rest of them. Ginny sat in a chair next to a pretty girl with brown hair, and a boy with glasses.
"Erug."
At once everyone scrambled to get close enough to see her, which was a bit difficult considering the size of the room, and the fact she was laying on a bed. Hands passed over, voiced floated over her, and her eyes drifted shut.
When she awoke later, the room was dark and empty. Her body was shacking, hopeless, weak shudders. A woman walked in briskly, and at the sight of her patient, quickly and efficiently poured something down Beth's throat. Peace washed over her, soothing the violent trembles, and Beth melted back into sleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, daylight was creeping in. The room was empty, save for the person holding her hand. It took more energy then she would have liked, but she managed to turn her head to look at the person clasping her hand, expecting to see red hair. But the hair was black, and hung in waves down his back. Then her eyes closed on a sigh, and she returned to her dreams.
~*~
Stupid girl, Severus thought as he walked back to his office. So I went to see her in the Hospital Wing, that means nothing. Merely curiosity. And when she moaned in her sleep, it was only natural that he lean forward. And if he didn't take his hand back when she grabbed on to it while she slept. . . well, he could be held responsible.
Stupid girl. He wasn't supposed to be thinking of her. He wasn't supposed to think about those full lips curved into a smug 'fuck off' smile. He certainly wasn't supposed to be thinking of the way her body curved and angled under those flimsy pieces of clothes she wore.
Stupid girl. He sighed as he stepped into his chambers and began readying for class. Although he hadn't slept for three days running due to his other work, it never crossed his mind not to teach his full load of students today and when the first class (Gryffindor and Slytherin) he was ready.
"Good morning class, I dear say." He sneered. This was his least favorite class. Gryffindors always pissed him off, with their foolish ways and the foolish memories that followed them. And this bunch of Slytherins disgusted him. Slimy, stupid buggers. But he continued on, as always.
During his lesson, Beth would pop into his mind at odd moments. The color of her hair. The shape of her lips. The way her lashes framed her eyes, such blue eyes. . .
"Sir?" Severus snapped back, and saw Hermione Granger with her hand raised. Of course. Did the girl never learn?
"Yes, Granger?" His back was already turned, ready to ignore whatever she had to say.
"What did you say about blue eyes?"
He stopped, shocked and horrified. His body went cold, and he turned to face his class. They were all watching him. So the entire class had heard then. But how much?
He turned on Hermione, growling through gritted teeth, "Excuse me, Granger?"
She shivered once, but never backed down. "You said something about blue eyes, sir."
"I did no such thing."
"But sir---"
"That's enough, Granger!! I did no such thing!!" He spaced each word slowly and angerly. He glared at the class. "Is that understood?"
A dull echo of 'yes sir' pleased him, and he turned back to Hermione. "Is that understood?"
For a moment he thought she would keep going on. But then she lowered her eyes and took her seat. The Weasley boy, Ron, opened his mouth, his face red. But Hermione put a hand on his arm and shook her head. He closed his mouth reluctantly.
Severus watched this display, then nodded his head, satisfied. Blue eyes? Had he really said that?
Stupid girl.
He gathered her close; letting his senses take her in. She wore nothing but a tank top and jeans, both wet and torn. Her skin was pale, with marks and cuts covering her. Her dark red hair was dirty and limp, hanging down her back. Her eyes were shut and tears were streaming down her cheeks, leaving a trail in the dirt. Her pink lips stood out against the white of her skin, as did the blood.
She was trembling.
So was he.
"This has been quite a trying time for Ms. Weasley." Dumbledor reminded them happily. "Perhaps Ronald and Virginia could be so kind as to show Elizabeth the way to the Hospital Wing."
"But---"
"No, I go---"
"Professor---!"
Dumbledor just smiled. "Mr. William and Mr. Charles, I believe Professor McGonagall would like a word with you, and Mr. Percival as well." Bill and Percy exchanged a look, before lowering their heads. Charlie looked over Beth's head, which was resting on his shoulder. "I go---"
Beth whispered into the fabric of his robes. "Go."
His jaw clenched and his hands fisted. But he nodded.
"And I would like a quick word with Fredrick and George. And I of course need to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Wealsey, and with Professor Snape." Dumbledor smiled at Beth. "Virginia and Ronald, please escort Elizabeth to the Hospital Wing."
Some how Beth found herself in the stone hallway, with Ron and Ginny on either side. A blur, she thought, everything's a blur. Ginny kept up a cheerful conversation, while Ron jumped in from time to time. Beth basked in the knowledge of having her family back. These dizzying spells were coming back, faster and longer. So, it took her a few minutes before she realize that both Ginny and Ron were nervous around her. She fought back her dizziness, enough to stop and talk, really talk, with her younger siblings.
"The last time I saw you two," She smiled sadly and lifted a hand to Ginny's cheek. "You were just starting to read. You looked like this little china doll. You were beautiful." She felt the tears on her face but didn't care. Ginny was crying too, but when she spoke it was her normal voice. "I remember when I was crying, you made a tornado to make me laugh."
Beth smiled at the memory. "I used to do that for you all the time."
"I remember you." Ginny whispered, then gave Beth a happy hug, who laughed, and then looked at Ron. Her smile was slow and sad, and when she spoke her voice soft. "You used to be so small." Now he was almost the same height as here. "I missed so much. You have no idea what you two meant to me." She stared at Ron, who stared back, his muscle tense as stone. Then it crumbled and he told her, in such a way that made her see the little boy in him still, "I have all the pictures you gave me. All of them."
Her face lit up, for this meant more then most he could have said. "Ron," She said, then they were wrapped in a hug, no one knowing who made the first move and no one caring. Then the world stumbled once more, and her head spun into black. Her body went limp in Ron's arms, and Ginny's scream echoed off the walls. But she didn't hear that. She didn't hear anything. . .
~*~
She woke several times, a light semi-awake state. She heard, whispers, then laughter, and once heard someone shouting. Once or twice she felt some sort of liquid sliding down her throat. She dreamt as well, and she couldn't quite tell which was which.
When she woke completely, at first all she could make out was the color red. Then her eyes cleared and she saw Charlie holding one hand, Bill the other, while Percy and Ron sat at the edge of her bed. Fred and George were huddled in a corner, their backs turned to the rest of them. Ginny sat in a chair next to a pretty girl with brown hair, and a boy with glasses.
"Erug."
At once everyone scrambled to get close enough to see her, which was a bit difficult considering the size of the room, and the fact she was laying on a bed. Hands passed over, voiced floated over her, and her eyes drifted shut.
When she awoke later, the room was dark and empty. Her body was shacking, hopeless, weak shudders. A woman walked in briskly, and at the sight of her patient, quickly and efficiently poured something down Beth's throat. Peace washed over her, soothing the violent trembles, and Beth melted back into sleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, daylight was creeping in. The room was empty, save for the person holding her hand. It took more energy then she would have liked, but she managed to turn her head to look at the person clasping her hand, expecting to see red hair. But the hair was black, and hung in waves down his back. Then her eyes closed on a sigh, and she returned to her dreams.
~*~
Stupid girl, Severus thought as he walked back to his office. So I went to see her in the Hospital Wing, that means nothing. Merely curiosity. And when she moaned in her sleep, it was only natural that he lean forward. And if he didn't take his hand back when she grabbed on to it while she slept. . . well, he could be held responsible.
Stupid girl. He wasn't supposed to be thinking of her. He wasn't supposed to think about those full lips curved into a smug 'fuck off' smile. He certainly wasn't supposed to be thinking of the way her body curved and angled under those flimsy pieces of clothes she wore.
Stupid girl. He sighed as he stepped into his chambers and began readying for class. Although he hadn't slept for three days running due to his other work, it never crossed his mind not to teach his full load of students today and when the first class (Gryffindor and Slytherin) he was ready.
"Good morning class, I dear say." He sneered. This was his least favorite class. Gryffindors always pissed him off, with their foolish ways and the foolish memories that followed them. And this bunch of Slytherins disgusted him. Slimy, stupid buggers. But he continued on, as always.
During his lesson, Beth would pop into his mind at odd moments. The color of her hair. The shape of her lips. The way her lashes framed her eyes, such blue eyes. . .
"Sir?" Severus snapped back, and saw Hermione Granger with her hand raised. Of course. Did the girl never learn?
"Yes, Granger?" His back was already turned, ready to ignore whatever she had to say.
"What did you say about blue eyes?"
He stopped, shocked and horrified. His body went cold, and he turned to face his class. They were all watching him. So the entire class had heard then. But how much?
He turned on Hermione, growling through gritted teeth, "Excuse me, Granger?"
She shivered once, but never backed down. "You said something about blue eyes, sir."
"I did no such thing."
"But sir---"
"That's enough, Granger!! I did no such thing!!" He spaced each word slowly and angerly. He glared at the class. "Is that understood?"
A dull echo of 'yes sir' pleased him, and he turned back to Hermione. "Is that understood?"
For a moment he thought she would keep going on. But then she lowered her eyes and took her seat. The Weasley boy, Ron, opened his mouth, his face red. But Hermione put a hand on his arm and shook her head. He closed his mouth reluctantly.
Severus watched this display, then nodded his head, satisfied. Blue eyes? Had he really said that?
Stupid girl.
