A/N: sorry, the delays were awful. working five to six days a week is totally kicking my ass. I give you full permission to do likewise, since i took so long. lol.

oh, yes... and much love goes out to donotsrock, my newest reader, for the review, as well as, of cours, remi and courtney (bloodofthefae). and we all still love Linny and sarah (princessbabe0069) even when they don't review.. *hint hint* lol. ok, yes, on with the show!!

Chapter 7: Wake up call

"Rakka?"

"Rakka!"

"RAKKA! GET UP!" Isamu yelled in Rakka's ear, probably about three and a half hours after Rakka finally got to sleep.

"Uggh. Go away." Rakka muttered back.

"You've got your darling Snapey's class first, wouldn't want to be late!" Isamu drawled in the most disgustingly romanticised way possible, then burst into laughter.

"I don't have to go."

"You don't say?" Isamu sat on the end of the bed. "Special treatment again? Hmm..."

"It's not what you think. I was up half the bloody night with him."

"Oooh!"

"..In the dungeon."

"Rakka! I'm ashamed! How positively kinky of you!"

"Not like that, you idiot! We were making potions!"

"Ohh... is that what they call it these days?"

"......I'm going to kill you."

With that, Rakka took the pillow she'd been attempting to block her ears with, and smacked her cousin square in the face with it.

"Fine, be that way," Isamu huffed.

"You've got a class to get to. Go. Now."

"Hmmph!" Isamu huffed out of the room, and, with a sigh, Rakka fell back into her remaining pillow, and fell back to sleep.

Snape was not suprised when Rakka didn't show up to Advanced Healing Potions. He was a little suprised that she didn't visit him all afternoon, either. It was very unlike her character to not even stop by, either to say hello, or to get her work from that morning's class. In the hallway before the last class of the day, he managed to spot Eana Remillius, a good friend of Rakka's, and one of the few people he ever saw her with in the hallway.

"Miss Remillius," he called her over. At first, she looked started, then nervous, as though she thought she was in trouble.

"I didn't do it this time, I swear, Professor Snapey person," she stumbled.

"Where is Miss Darkflame? I haven't seen her all afternoon, and I wish to speak with her," Snape said, trying not to sound nervous.

"Ohh... you're looking for Rakka, right, lady?"

"Did you just call me a lady?" Snape frowned, a bit puzzled. Remi bit her lip at though thinking, then shook her head quickly.

"Nono. I haven't seen Rakka all day. It's weird," Eana frowned. "It's not like her to skip classes, she's a good little potato. Have you checked the infirmary?"

"Not yet, thank you, Eana," Snape said distractedly, perhaps a bit more confused than he had been at the beginning of the conversation. He had no class to teach right then, so, with his worry increasing, he headed off to the infirmary.

"Madam Pomfrey?" he asked cautiously, standing by the desk at the front door to the school's small magic hospital. "Madam Pomfrey?"

"Yes, yes I'm coming," she muttered, leaving one of the screened off sections of the large room. "Oh, Severus, how are you? I was just administering that potion you and Miss Darkflame made for us the other day to Miss Haridon."

"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey, I was just looking for a student. I was wondering if she's been in here."

"Well, who are you looking for?"

"Rakka Darkflame."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't seen her since she was here with you last night," Madam Pomfrey frowned.

"Thank you for your time," he smiled curteously. "I've got to be going now. Let me know if you run low on either of those potions, alright?"

"Any time, Severus, my dear," she replied. "I will be needing more of the wormwood potion tomorrow, I should think. There's just enough to get us through one more night."

"Alright, well, I'd best get going. Farewell, Madam Pomfrey," Snape turned on his heel as calmly as he could, returning to his office, still clinging to some lame hope that she would turn up at his door sometime in the night.