Chapter 15

Severus Snape

"Hey wake up!" Hermione whispered to me. I was trying to hold on to the dream of the desert and a man that was leaving me. I was all alone and screamed for him, but he continued walking and did not turn back.

"Wake up!"

"What is it?" I asked lazily turning from one side to the other.

"We are in big trouble!" My eyes flew open, and they met hers. What was I doing here? Why was Hermione with me? Where was I?"

"Why will we get in trouble?"

"Calm down! We just need to get you out so McGonagall wouldn't see you."

"What about the kids?"

"Whatever, let's go." I jumped out of the bed and reached for my box. Walking after Hermione we met Harry and Ron that looked dumbfounded at us.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked me. He was kind of amused about a Slytherin being in the Griffindor tower.

"We had an adventure last night." I answered him.

"What? You went somewhere without us?"

"Calm down Harry! We just went to the girl's bathroom." Hermione explained. Harry gave her an "oh" kind of look and looked at me.

"So how did you get in here?"

"Something scared us, and it was kind of late, and Snape was running after us, so we kind of hid inside here."

"You are in deep trouble! Some Slytherin girls told Snape that you didn't spend the night at your dormitory. He went to check on you today, and he found your bed empty."

"Ron you're kidding! You are, aren't you?"

"No, he's not! We heard it this morning."

"Oh shit! I'm going to die! I don't want to be questioned by Snape!"

"Come on, we better escort you back to the Slytherin tower."

"Can you guys wait for me before going to breakfast?"

"Ya sure! Come on." We walked down the stairs into the common room that was empty. Hermione gave out a sigh of relief that no one saw me. She opened the door, and we walked to the opposite side of the school.

"What did you see anyways?" Ron asked us curiously. I guess he was over our fight on the train and the little scene in the living room at Black Manor.

"I think it was a ghost."

"A really ugly one at that!"

"It didn't look human at all!"

"You think it was a ghost? Why do you think it?"

"Ron, we can tell a ghost from a troll. It was transparent and was floating above our heads! I'm just glad it didn't follow us."

"Me too. We're here; I'll be fast." I marched to the portrait of the old man. He looked at me with disgust, and his eyes shifted on Hermione, Harry, and Ron.

"Who are you?" He asked me.

"Oh, Natalie Weasley; I'm in Slytherin." His eyes were round as two galleons. He wanted to say something, but his tongue was tied in a knot.

"Who is this guy?"

"Shish!"

"Don't shish me!"

"Ron!"

"What?"

"Stop talking! It is Slytherin we're talking about! We're not welcome in here!"

"Both of you shut up!" Harry screamed at them.

"I never heard of a Weasley being in Slytherin." The old man began once again.

"I'm sorry that you haven't, but I suppose there's a first time for everything."

"Don't be smart with me little girl! I've been on this wall for about a century. I knew Salazar Slytherin himself! What a nice man he was..."

"Ya so nice that he decided to kill people!"

"RON!" All three of us screamed at him. The old man eyed him suspiciously and continued speaking.

"Like I was saying, nice man was Salazar Slytherin. He was a powerful wizard indeed. He was very proud, too. There were good reasons for whatever he did."

Before Ron could say anything Hermione covered his mouth with her hand. He hurtfully looked at her and then crossed his arms and stared on the ceiling. Harry gave me a "hurry up" kind of look. Hermione didn't look that hot either. The old man was getting on her nerves as well.

"It's very nice about Salazar, but I really have to go. We'll be late to our first day. We have classes today, remember?"

"I don't know! I never attended Hogwarts. I was just a friend of Salazar and a caretaker. Very well then, password."

"Thestral!" The portrait moved out of the way, like this night, reveling the round entrance to my common room.

"I'll see you in a few. I would invite you in, but I don't think you'll be welcomed the way you should."

"We don't want to go in!" Ron spat out.

"Speak for yourself!" Hermione shouted at him and entered behind me. "I'm coming with you."

"No way! You'll get into trouble! What if Snape is in there?"

"Don't worry Ron! Besides you heard what the hat said. If we'll be friends our powers will grow stronger. Furthermore, you got a chance to see their common room, and I haven't. I was in the bathroom covered in fur, so I think it is only fair to go and see what it is all about."

"And you believed it? What do you mean, 'it's only fair?'"

"The Sorting Hat doesn't talk just because it has nothing to do. You figure it out. Come one Natalie." I once again found myself in the gloominess of the common room. My spirit was slowly fainting. I wished I could go back into the warmth of the Griffindor tower where the red and yellow radiated heat. In my case it was silver and green that chilled me to the bone.

There was no one in. Everyone left to the Great Hall. I'm not blaming them; Hermione needed to stay unseen. I'm not sure why she came with me. I didn't wish to send her on her way; she did take me to her dormitory. We quickly raised up the stairs and into my room. My school robes had a green serpent pressed on the upper right corner. A Slytherin scarf and gloves lay upon my trunk. All the beds were empty except mine. A folded piece of parchment lay on my bed. I looked at Hermione, but she walked up to the window to see the view. I picked it up and unfolded it. My eyes met with the most exquisite handwriting that I came to see. Each later was of the same size under the same angle.

" Professor Snape would like to see you in his class after your potion lesson is finished. He wasn't very happy about you not being in your bed. Just make a good alibi.

Lana"

"Who's Lana?" Hermione asked me. She came up so quietly that her voice drove me out of my shoes. "Sorry."

"I'm not sure who she is. I didn't have a chance to meet all of my roommates. I'm going to get it today."

"Don't be so blue! You might not have potions today."

"With my luck, I will." I pulled on the school robes, and we walked back to Harry and Ron.

"What took you so long?" Harry said very annoyed, as we walked to the Great Hall.

"The old man is insane! He told us stories of his life. It was horrible."

"Ron, don't be so dramatic. We're getting our classes today!" Hermione eagerly changed the subject. Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. "What? I'm happy about it!"

"I'm sure you are! Hermione don't you like doing anything else besides studying?"

"Of course I do! I hang around you, and you are enough adventures to last me a lifetime." She looked hurtful at Ron and walked before us all.

"Why are you so gloomy?" Harry asked me.

"I thought this school would be wonderful, but so far I have nothing but bad luck. Snape wants to talk to me. Some girl wrote to me that he was raging. I wonder what he'll do. I already have a detention."

"We all do." Ron said miserably.

"Don't worry about it! Snape screams, I know, but he can't do anything stupid. He can't kick you out of the school. You need to stay here under protection."

"Thanks Harry, but I rather wish for Snape to leave me alone." We finally entered the noise Great Hall; I waved them good-bye and walked up to my table. There were no place where I could sit so no one would talk to me. I hated to sit by Draco. I stopped to look for a free sit, and from a corner of my eye I saw a girl waving to me. With no better plan I walked up to her. She had long black hair and brown eyes. She looked Asian.

"Hi! I'm Lana!"

"Oh, hello. Thank you for the letter, now I have time to prepare."

"You are welcome. I didn't have a chance to speak to you yesterday. Mary said you were sleeping already, so I didn't bother you."

"How did Snape find out that I was out of bed?"

"I don't know," she shrugged her shoulders and took a bite out of a muffin, "he came very early in the morning. Thank God we were dressed already. He didn't even knock! He shouted at us when we said we had no idea of where you went. Mary said that she heard you leaving the dormitory late at night, but she thought you went to the lady's room. That is when Snape got really angry. He scared us half to death. He told me to tell you that he wants to see you, so that is what I did."

"What a psycho." I took a sip of pumpkin jus and looked at the teachers' table. All of them were chattering among one self. Snape was talking to Professor Dumbledore about something. He was probably talking about me sneaking off in the dead of night.

"He's not that bad. He actually cares about his students. We all like him, when he's in the good mood."

"Ya, I'm sure I'll love him."

"What is your career choice?"

"A Healer, you?"

"Me too! My mum was a Healer; she kind of inspired me."

"What about your dad?"

"I don't have a dad. He died when I was five, and my mum died last year."

"Sorry, I..."

"Don't worry about it, I'm dealing pretty well. They just found her dead. That day the ministry called my aunt and that's how I came to live with her."

"My parents are dead too, but they both died this summer."

"Sorry, it was tough the first couple of month, but afterwards it became easier."

"Ya, easier." We sat in silence thinking about our own problems when the hall was covered in owls that hooted in the air. A small envelope fell into my hands.

"Our schedules!" A small boy that set besides me shouted.

"Zip it!" Draco screamed at him. For a moment our eyes met, but I swiftly drew them away and open the envelope taking out a piece of parchment.

"Great!" I said irritated.

"What?"

"I have double potions today! I have to look as Snape's face for four hours and then talk to him."

"I can wait for you. All of our classes are the same, so I can wait for you."

"You'll do that?"

"Sure why not." I was surprised, I didn't think that Slytherin are capable to have real friends.

"Thanks."

"No problem, I'm glad that Griffindor have potions with us, too"

"Ok, are you sure that you're in the right house? How did you get to Slytherin?"

"Oh that little thing, I don't care for it. I have friends in Griffindor. My boyfriend is Griffindor too." Her cheeks turned a bit pink, and she lowered her eyes back to the parchment.

"You don't belong here."

"I must, if the hat put me here. It's never wrong!"

"Well, maybe we are its two big mistakes. Come on lets go."

"Oh, I promised Seamus that I'd meet him before class."

"That's ok, I'll see Harry and Ron, they have potions too."

"Ok, I'll see you later." She rose and disappeared into the crowd. I took another sip of my jus, and also rose to walk up to Harry and Ron.

"Going somewhere?"

"Well, aren't you a very observant boy. I'm glad that you can tell a person from sitting, standing, and going. What a great job!" I turned around and also disappeared in the crowd.

"What did Malfoy want?" Harry asked me as soon as I walked by.

"I don't know? I didn't stick around to find out."

"I guess Snape if killing you today."

"Don't remind me about it. Where's Hermione?"

"Oh, she left to Care of Magical Creatures. She wished you best of luck."

"Remind me to thank her, if I get a chance."

"Sure! Ron told me to go on. Hermione forgot her book here, so he went to give it to her."

"Ok, what is on your schedule anyways?"

"I have double potions with Slytherin today, Charms with Slytherin and Defense against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw tomorrow. Lets see, I have Double Transfiguration with Slytherin on Wednesday, Defense and Charms on Thursday, and potions with Transfiguration on Friday."

"Well, I'm not going to see you on Friday."

"Why?"

"I have Herbology with Hufflepuff and then Trans...oh I'm going to see you, never mind." We finally reached the dungeon where Snape's class was taking place. It was filled with many little bottles; packets with colored grass, different papers, and other things with which I was not familiar.

"Ron's here already. Do you want to sit with us?"

"No that's ok; I'll sit behind you with a friend." He looked at Lana that was waving to me.

"Ok, Glad you got some friends."

"Ya me too." I sat comfortably besides her and took out a piece of parchment, ink, and a quill.

"We'll have fun in this class!" She said excitedly.

"You like potions?"

"I love them. It's my favorite subject of all!" Suddenly the door to the dungeon flew open with a loud bang on the stone wall and immediately shut itself with another loud bang. The loud talking fell to silence, and all eyes were concentrated on Professor Snape.

"This is your most important and the most difficult potion class that you'll have through your entire years of school. There are many new ingredients, strategies, and ways to make mistakes." Harry whispered something to Ron, and Ron began to snigger.

"Did I say something funny, Mr. Weasley?"

"No sir."

"Have Mr. Potter perhaps?"

"No sir." Ron shook his head.

"Well, share it with the class! Come on, Mr. Weasley, don't be shy. It must have been important if you decided to talk about it in the same time as I was talking. I see that my class needs a good laugh, so Mr. Weasley enlighten us. Better of, Mr. Potter, since you started this whole conversation lets hear what you had to say to Mr. Weasley." Draco was laughing his head off along with his two cronies.

"I have nothing to say sir."

"Good, twenty points will be taken from Griffindor. Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir."

"As I was saying, we will be concentrating on a single potion for weeks at times. They are not easy to make and are time consuming. You will copy the procedures onto your paper, and you'll begin the potion today. Get on it." He waved his wand before the black bored and the invisibility potion's ingredients and procedures became clear upon it.

I was swiftly writing closely observing Snape in the same time. From time to time I felt someone looking at me, but I never caught who it was. The moment I rose my eyes all others were fallen to their parchment.

"I would like you to begin the potion immediately after you finish."

The four boring hours passed uneventfully. Harry and Ron were always the center of attention thanks to Snape, and all others laughed at Professor Snape's remarks. Finally the bell rang, and we were free for the day, some of us more then others.

"Miss Weasley, I would like to have a word with you."

"Ok, I'll see you guys in the Great Hall."

"You don't want us to wait?"

"Thanks, Ron, but I think it would be better if you don't hear the whole thing."

"You'll tell us?"

"Of course! Lana, you don't have to wait. I got to go somewhere afterwards."

"Ok, I'll see ya then." I came up to Professor Snape and patiently waited for my horrible fortune.

"Miss Weasley, there are some rules that every student in this school has to follow." He began looking me strait in the eyes. "I don't know what went on in your other school, but it is not tolerable here."

"I'm sorry professor, but what are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that if it is after your curfew, then you should not take the matter into

your own hands and do whatever you wish." His voice slowly began to rise.

"I still do not understand."

"Are you denying the fact that you were out of bed last night, and had not returned to it until this morning?" He jumped off his sit screaming at me.

"I was out of bed during the night, but just because I had to use the lady's room. I hope that is not against the rules."

"Don't you be cocky with me. At what time did you return?"

"Right away sir. This morning I woke up rather early, and I went to the Quidditch stadium to see what it was like. I don't know why you assumed that I was absent from my dormitory for a period of this whole night." Suddenly I felt a tickling sensation in my head, as if a flow of warmth passed through it. I became a little woozy. My vision became blurry. I could hardly stand in place. A picture of me entering the bathroom last night flashed before me. I saw a shadow that came from Hermione, but it was difficult to say. I immediately blocked the thought out of my mind and pushed Snape out of it as well. I shoved him back with such a force that I found myself in a small dark room with a small boy sitting in the corner. I heard loud screams somewhere near. I heard glass breaking and a woman cursing someone. The picture changed and I saw a group of Death Eaters. They were before the fire that burned green, not far away stood a creature with red eyes and whispered something. He was looking strait at me. I tried to free myself from Snape's mind, but I couldn't. I heard myself scream, and I painfully fell to the floor hitting the desks with my left side. For a while I couldn't understand where I was. My body was shaking and my head was aching. I was out of breath. I raised my eyes and Snape's met them. He looked rather worried. He was also out of breath, but he reached for me to help me get up. As I rose to my feet the pain in my chest was so severe that I almost fell.

"Are you all right?"

"Professor Snape, I would advise you to not snoop around my mind in the future. Like you I can very well block people out and like you I can snoop as well; however, you do not see me doing so. Do you have anymore questions that you would like to address to me?" It was more difficult to breath as time went on. I was feeling nauseous.

"You are free to go. I would advise you to go to the Hospital Wing. Let me help you."

"No thank you. I'll make it on my own. I hope you'll excuse my absence from the detention that I was supposed to serve today." I turned around and grabbed my bag. It was amazing that I could walk out from the dungeon as if nothing happened; however, with each step I felt more lack of air. My vision was blurring with each passing second. I leaned on the wall to take a rest.

"Huh, it's you again! Did Professor Snape give you a nice punishment for sneaking around?"

A/N

Sorry that I keep you guys waiting. There are so many things going on that I have no time. School started and I came across some problems. I hope to update sooner, but I can't promise anything.

Cheers!