Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter including Harry Potter

A/N: Woah! Sorry, I was having a lot of trouble with the chapter and then school got chaotic, as it always does! I hope someone is still reading --'' I realize it's kind of lacking, but the next chapter'll pick up.

The Voice of Reason

Chapter Nine: Crowding Cave

Enya's Point of View

I used Snape's cloak to wrap myself up. It was cold outside, yet his expression was colder. I opened my mouth to talk to him, but he hadn't even noticed me yet. Thunder smashed through the air. I quickly suspected that it would rain and that I would be soaked. I wanted to run away from him; how could I even talk to him? I noticed Severus stand up to greet several of his students. I was messed over. He'd turn around to show them in and he'd see me trying to talk to him. Of course, he turned around. I opened his cloak slightly, so that maybe he'd be too distracted to even bother with me. The students walked by me, two of which eyed me. I shuddered. "How long have you been standing there?" Severus asked me.

His eyes stared into me and ignored my open cloak. "Not long," I said and closed my cloak, since it was cold anyway. "I heard a story."

"Was it any good?" he turned away from me, watching the forest carefully.

I sat down beside him, with my un-arm beside him. I didn't want to accidentally touch his hands. He watched me from the corner of his eye. He was trying to make it look like he wasn't, but it was obvious. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I heard him mutter.

He wasn't looking at me again. "You tried to save me," I said. "You did save me. I'm not to sure what to say."

"Thank you is what most people say," he said.

I watched him for a moment. He barely moved or relaxed, a gargoyle. "Thank you," I purposely brushed up against him.

He scoffed and pulled the cloak tighter around me. I felt his arm around my back as well, probably to keep the cloak on. I hated him for his habits and his teachings, but he protected me. I didn't see how he could hide heroism under his cold appearance. "What are you?" he asked bluntly.

"Human," I said. "Really the extra stuff is none of your business."

It was rather scarring to see the way he looked at me. I wasn't sure if he hated me or adored me. It was hard to tell his expressions. "Well then you can at least explain your bond with the Walken child. You protected her," he brought up another topic I did not want to discuss.

"You protected Draco," I said. "You protected Christine."

I just referred to two of my students by their first name. There should be a law against that or something. It was pointless to try to lie to him; he must have had a six sense. His arm fell from my back. "They're my students," he said. "I knew I wouldn't be hurt because of my cloak."

"It did hurt though," I said, remembering the pain in his face. "Didn't it?"

"I've felt worse," he said.

"I'm sorry," I said. "For jumping to conclusions."

His black eyes glared into me. Why the hell was he such an asshole? "I don't care," he replied, turning his lip. "I really don't. You're ungrateful and immature. I saved you because the students like you. I don't see why you can't tell me about your wings and such, it's quite the gift. If you're ashamed of it then it's your own problem, but it's not an excuse to treat me like the lowliest piece of shit."

"I didn't treat you like shit," I said.

"I think you'd be nicer to your own shit, you'd probably even be nicer to mine," he scowled at me. "You mine as well just go back in the cave if you aren't going to say anything interesting."

"Well you weren't wonderful to me," I replied.

"I'm pretty sure I made up for it, unless you aren't happy with your other arm there. I could help you get rid of it though," he snapped.

"You said yourself you weren't doing it for me," I glared.

"So then it doesn't count? You expect me to kiss your feet while you spit in my face? I don't need this."

"I don't expect you do to anything..."

He stood up. "Obviously you do. You are still here."

"I don't know what I want from you," I said.

"My cloak at the moment," he said.

"You wouldn't happen to have an extra shirt?" I smiled softly at him.

He sat down on the other side of me, where my arm could touch his. "I could offer mine, but I'm afraid I'd be shirtless then," he said.

"You're enjoying my misery then?"

"No, I'm enjoying your nudity."

"At least you're honest," I muttered.

"Actually I was lying. I'm enjoying your suffering more than your nudity," he said. "I can't see anything of value anyway."

"And if you could?"

"I'd still enjoy your suffering more," he smirked at me.

It was hard to tell if he was joking or not. He probably wasn't. His hand snuck into mine for a moment. He twisted his fingers in with mine and left me powerless. I felt tired. I wanted to sleep beside him, but I feared what he'd do to me. Was he just playing with me? He probably was. We were silent. I enjoyed his silence. He didn't mock me in any way and just kept his eyes towards the forest as if he was protecting me. My head was on his shoulder. Had it been like that for a while? How could he stay awake for so long? It started to rain. It seemed like every drop of rain attempted to hit me, but each drop burned my skin. I couldn't even begin to describe the pain to Severus, but I didn't bother to try. I realized then that I was vulnerable. My tail and wings had snuck out, as they always did when I was tired or emotional. He was looking at them. Did he hate them? Did he hate me? "It hurts," I said.

I didn't like rain. I had a certain formula of water I could actually use to clean myself. "We'll go inside," he said, with his arm around his cloak. He was probably quite thankful that it was fireproof.

I was relieved to be under a roof, but I was surprised at the tension in the air. The students were separated up and none of them were speaking. I noticed Christine shiver. Severus said nothing and tried to start a fire. I helped, quite quickly. Christine and Romana sat together. Harry and Draco sat together, but didn't seem too happy about it. The three that had come in later sat together, but everyone crowded around the fire once it had started. I sat beside Severus as my wings and tail went back into my body. He went back outside. Christine took his place beside me and Romana stole the other side. "I'll tell you my story if you tell yours," Christine whispered with a small smile on her face.

Christine waited for her classmates to start to commute until she started with her gossip. Very quietly, I said my side first, since I doubt it was as interesting. Christine's eyes shifted to Draco who quietly talked to Harry. I was thankful that Crabbe and Goyle were so loud. Apparently, Crabbe and Goyle had pretended that Draco didn't exist and went out of their way to not acknowledge him. They had greeted everyone except for him. Plus, I had mentally noted that Christine didn't seem to enjoy Pansy either. Pansy hadn't actually done anything wrong, but she hadn't done anything either. I found myself despising the students as well, but I quickly reminded myself that there were two sides to every story.