Pieces of Me: Chapter Two

Summary: Ashlee's mother dies, and guess who has to move back in with her father? Moving from France to England isn't exactly the top priority on her to-do list; And going to Hogwarts hasn't exactly got her thrilled. But what happens when old friends are re-united?

Disclaimer: See previous chapter/s.

A/N: A special thanks to my reviewers; love eternity(Casey, ur a sweetie), Siri Lupin, and Cybele2. I love you guys.

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Last Time:

They had been searching for the snitch for what seemed like forever when a voice called from the entrance of the pitch.

"Malfoy! Here!" it called.

The voice struck a memory cord in her mind. Ashlee suddenly stopped flying as her eyes fell upon the owner of the voice. Draco looked from her to the man in a billowing, black robe.

The next thing Ashlee knew, she was falling through the air; wind pressing against her ears, blocking the scream, which emitted from her mouth.

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Chapter Two: Upside-Down.

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Her soundless screams continued until suddenly she landed softly into strong arms. Sometime during the fall she had closed her eyen; when, she didn't know, but she had. She slowly opened them and a gasp escaped her mouth.

"Severus?" she breathed, her eyes wide.

"Ashlee, are... you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

The sound of Draco landing somewhere behind her made her turn to look at him.

"Nice catch, sir," Draco commented, his eyes also wide. "You okay, Ashlee?"

Ashlee smirked, and told Severus to put her down. "I'm fine, I need... I need to sit," she said hurriedly and rushed towards the exit of the Quidditch Pitch.

Ashlee stumbled into a stairwell and sat down on a set of steps, her breath heavying. She had completely forgotten he was here, that he taught here. How could she have forgotten? How?

Footsteps sounds loudly on the floor just near the stairwell. "Ashlee...?" Severus' voice echoed through entrance. "I know you're in here."

"Severus, leave me alone," Ashlee sighed, leaning against the cold wall.

Severus stepped in front of the stairwell, a soft smile on his mouth. "Can I sit?" he asked, indicating the spot next to her. Ashlee didn't answer, not that she was expected to. Severus took a seat next to her, his arm going around her waist, pulling her towards him.

Ashlee leant her head on his chest; tears escaping from her eyes, making trails down her cheeks. Having someone close enough to hold her made her miss the hugs her mother used to give her when she was feeling down.

Severus brushed his hand over her cheek, wiping the tears away. "It can't be that bad, Ash."

Ashlee turned her face up to him. "Do you even remember what he's like? He doesn't even care that she died. And he wouldn't even care if I... died. No-one would care!"

Severus moved away from her slightly, so he could look at her properly. "Are you saying I wouldn't care?"

"Sev, I didn't mean it that way."

"It sure sounded like you did," Severus said, standing up.

Ashlee's eyes narrowed. "Look, you shouldn't even be here. You're ruining everything. Just, keep out of my way."

"What do you mean?" Severus asked, his own eye narrowing.

"You can't know. Just leave me alone. I... I don't need this right now. My mother just died. You're a complication."

"I'm a complication? Listen to yourself, Ashlee."

"You haven't even got a clue!" Ashlee screamed and pushed passed him and out of the Quidditch Pitch entrance.

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Ashlee reached the castle just as the stern woman, Minerva McGonagall - her father had said her name was, exited.

"Miss Brayden? I've been looking for you everywhere," she snapped, obviously irritated. "You must come this way, quickly."

McGonagall led her all the way back to Professor Dumbledore's, the headmaster's, office. She ordered her into a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. Dumbledore stared at her from over the top of his half-moon glasses.

"Miss Brayden, we meet again," he said, smiling. When this man smiled, it was as if his whole face smiled; it was disgusting to see a man who should be under immense pressure - now that Voldemort was gaining power like wild fire,

and his death eaters being re-released from Azkaban - smiling as though it was any-old ordinary, cheery day.

"I guess..." Ashlee muttered, though with a quick cough from McGonagall, she added, "sir."

"Do you know why you are here?" Dumbledore asked.

Ashlee shrugged, "No."

"It's too late into the semester to go to all the trouble of a public ceremony, like the first years get. So Professor McGonagall and I came to the decision that you could simply be sorted in this office. Right now."

"Now?" Ashlee almost choked, she shot up straight.

Dumbledore nodded then turned to McGonagall. "Minerva, the hat, please."

McGonagall immediately brought a crumpled, disgusting, and extremely old hat forward and placed it on top of Ashlee's head.

"This hat is sick and wrong," Ashlee commented to the elder professors. The smile on Dumbledore's face as the hat wriggled on her head. "Arghhh!!!"

"Relax, girlie, didn't that rat bag of a father of yours tell you I was a talking hat?" the hat sked her.

Ashlee gasped, her eyes wide. "It talks?"

"And thinks," McGonagall told her.

"Anyway, back to business; sorting you. Well, your father was a Ravenclaw, but you're so different to him... You're so much like your mother. She was a Slytherin, but..."

"What?!" Ashlee burst out, "My mother? She lived in France."

The hat chuckled. "Your mother left for France in her third year," Dumbledore informed her.

"No... you've got it wrong. She was born in France. She lived there her whole life. She never even visited England once. You've got the wrong person..." Ashlee stumbled over the words.

"Cherisse Minette? She was your mother, was she not?"

All Ashlee could do at this moment was blink at them. Her mother was Cherisse Minette. Why had her mother lied to her? This was about to turn her whole world upside-down, she just knew it.

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End Chapter...

Gosh, I'm just a drama addict. Can you blame me though? It's just so much fun, don't you agree? Anyway, update and tell me what you think, I can't wait foryour reviews.

Until Next Chapter,

Always,

Elle, kisses and cookies.

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