Chapter 2 : Breakdown and Returning Fears
By:Deep Shadows

Autrhor's Note: I did not intend to continue this story on, but someone asked me to update so I figured what the hell. So here goes. This kinda went on with me not having any real idea for a plot i just wanted to make Draco do somethig so vile that Snape would want to hurt him.

Draco led her out to the courtyard. I wonder where we are going? She pondered as she got on the broom in front of him. She loved his broom; it was sleek, black and had a charm on it that made them invisible in the night. "Ready?" He asked in her ear. She shivers in delight from the sensation of his warm breath on her ear. Damn He knows that makes me all tingly. "Yes" She whispered. He pushed off the ground forcefully and she let out a "YEAH!" as they zoomed out to the Grounds. Draco made a daring dash for the Whomping Willow and turned just out of its reach. Artimis screamed in pure joy. The rush of the wind made her hair fly even if it was in a braid. The pure adrenaline from the ride rushed to her head. Draco moved his hands around her waist and said "Your turn to steer." She grabbed the handle and pushed them to a dive roll. He yelled approvingly as they steered about the trees, mere feet from the ground. She pulled the broom up to incline. Suddenly Draco's hand moved to her chest. She tried to shrug it off assuming it was reactionary. "Don't move it's fine." He cooed in her ear. She turned the broom about in a 360. She lifted one hand and pushed his back down. "I don't like that." She said defiantly. He reached his hands around and grabbed the broom handle tearing it down making them go for a nosedive. Then he let go. She quickly grabbed the broom handle and yanked it up pulling them straight. His hands were on her breast again. "DRACO! Stop it!" She said wrench his hands from her chest. "Oh fine." He said grabbing the handle and turns it towards the courtyard. The broom stopped and she got off indignantly. Suddenly she was on her back, Draco looming over her. Fear filled thought of her mother and sister filled her mind. "Draco Stop it!" She yelled. He roughly put his lips to hers, sucking her bottom lip in and biting it. She tried to kick him but her legs were pinned under his. She pulled her head away and screamed "STOP IT! NOW!" Her heart was racing; she saw something in Draco's eyes that scared her. Quickly she yanked her left leg free pulling it up and kicking Draco in the groin. He moaned and toppled over, grabbing on to her shirt and she tried to move away. She quickly undid the tie on her blouse and let it flow off her. She quickly stood and rushed off through the courtyard, crying. She heard Draco's feet behind her but she was a faster runner. The she dived into the first room she past and slammed the door, locking it. She quickly turned her back to the door and collapsed sobbing; not looking to realize that she had dived into the Potion's Classroom.

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Snape had been pondering most of the evening on his conversation with Artimis. Why did she want to talk to me, of all people? It's not like its known for my knowledge in such matters he thought as he sat in his office, which was adjacent to his classroom. He was in the midst of reading another one of Granger's 'too long' essays when he heard scrambling feet and the classroom door being slammed and locked. He quickly grabbed his wand, not knowing what to expect and rushed out the door to his classroom. What he saw worried him. Artimis was sitting, crumbled in front of the door crying. What he noticed next infuriated him; she had been stripped of her shirt and was sitting there in just her bra. He quickly walked up to her and placed his cloaks around her. She shied from his touch, backing away while she looked him in the eyes and the look in her eyes was pure fear. He noticed her lip was swollen and bleeding. It looked as if some one had hit her, but the marks seemed to be bite marks. "Artimis, I'm not going to hurt you. Here." He said his voice cracking as his attempt at being soothing. He offered her his cloak, and she blinked as if she just realized it was him. Next thing he knew he was sitting on the floor, Artimis wrapped in his cloak on his lap crying. What happened to her, she never cries in front of people especially me, what do I do now? He pondered. He assumed the best thing would be to get her a shirt, but that required he pry off her vice like grip off his arm. "Artimis let me go. I am going to go get something." She slowly complied, wrapping herself in his cloak as he stood and moved to his office. I guess it's a good thing I didn't spill coffee on myself this morning. What could have happened to her to make her react in such away? He said as he grabbed a shirt from his office closet that he keeps in case something spilled on him. He swiftly walked out, moving to her side. "Th...Thank y....You." She stuttered as handed her the shirt. He turned around as she put it on and fastened it. "Drrrr....Dracoo.... heee....he..." He moved closer to her, facing her.

"What did Draco do?" He asked trying not to sound angry. What could Draco have done to Artimis to make her cower and run. She looks scared to death. He thought as she shook her head no. "Allexxisss." She whimpered.

"Did Alexis do something?" He was really starting to get confused now. "No Sir, I want Alexis." She said calming herself, breathing deeply, wiping away the tears.

"I will go get Miss. Whyte as soon as you tell me what happened and who did what." He said, trying his best to not sound demanding.

"Draco... He... He kissed me and I didn't want to be kissed... And he .... he... touched me... I didn't want to be touched!" She cried, jumping and wrapping her arms around Severus's neck burying her face in the fabric of his coat. Taken aback he put his arms around her, patting her head. That little son of a bitch.

Artimis pulled back, "Sorry Sir." She said her face turning red with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to come in here and interrupt your work." Damn her she is pulling that I'm strong shit again, I know that routine, and I play the part all to well. He thought as he shook his head. "Artimis you should be the last person apologizing and I will see to it that Draco is punished. This is unacceptable." He said standing. He helped her to her feet and she clung to his side. Then quickly realizing she was invading his personal space she withdrew. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cling. I'm just really shaken up." He nearly hugged her for that statement. What is the matter with me, I'm not supposed to care. Why did I have the urge to hug her?

"It's quite understandable, stop apologizing." He said as he walked her out the door. She swiftly looked all around expecting an attack. Snape placed a hand on her shoulder, "I think it is safe to say you are safe with me. Relax we will get this taken care of. Now come with me." He said briskly walking toward Dumbledore's office. She noticed he was ahead of her and yelped, speeding up to catch up with him. They reached the hall Dumbledore's office was on and Artimis nearly ran off. Draco was sitting on the stairs, Crabbe and Goyle beside him. He saw Artimis and stood, but quickly sat back down as he saw Professor Snape enter the hall immediately after her. She balked and turned to run, but he placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's not going to do anything while I'm here" he whispered. Thank God she's a Slytherin, And a Pureblood. Draco can't go complaining to Daddy about this. She turned and looked at him, nodded and raised her head high. They walked past Draco and them and it took all off Severus's control to not curse the smirk right off his face. Snape escorted Artimis to the office and told Dumbledore what she had told him. All she would reply was "Alexis."

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Alexis had slinked out to the courtyard behind Artimis and Draco. When she saw them take of with no altercation she turned and took a nice run. Then she went and curled up in library with one of her muggle romance novels with some hot chocolate and read. Next thing she knew she felt a pang of fear hit her and she jumped up wondering what was there to cause her fear. The library was empty, closed in fact, but that didn't matter. She spent most of her after hours in there. She assumed the fear was from her sitting alone in the darkened library. She sat back down with her book and dozed off. Next thing she knew she saw being shaken awake and to her surprise for once it wasn't a greasy haired git, but her own Head of House, Professor McGonagall. "Come with me, Whyte." She said in that 'you-are-so-busted' voice. She quickly grabbed her things and followed McGonagall out of the library. They walked towards the statue to Dumbledore's office and Professor McGonagall said the password "Bertie Botts Beans" and stalked up the stairs. Alexis heard crying and was wondering what poor soul had been made to cry in front of Dumbledore. She stepped in the office and the crying was coming from a high-back chair in front of the fireplace. Dumbledore was nowhere in sight. Professor McGonagall nodded to her and left the room. What the hell? Who is crying? She thought as she moved around the chair. What she saw first amused her, because it looked like it was Professor Snape who had his head down and crying. When she swooped around the chair ,he lifted his head and she nearly died of shock. Wrapped in his arms shaking violently was her best friend, Artimis. She was crying into his shirt and he was patting her back, whispering softly to her. The look on his face was that of sheer contempt and she at first thought it was for her, then when he saw it was her, there was a look of relief on his face. "Artimis, Alexis is here." Alexis heard him coo. Did he just actually sound like he cared? Alexis had no more time for think as Artimis launched off of his lap and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Draco.." She said in between sobs. She felt like smacking herself she should not have left them for her run and book. "What did Draco do?" She said softly holding her friends large frame in her arms. Snape picked Artimis back up and set her in the chair he had been sitting in. That was when Alexis noticed her lip and the fact that she had a man's shirt on, wrapped in Snape's cloaks. He didn't... NO don't assume just find out... then you can kill him as much as you want. She thought to herself. "Miss Whyte come over here." Snape implied walking towards Dumbledore's desk. Artimis stared into the fire, shaking profusely. "What happened to her, Professor." Alexis asked her eyes never leaving Artimis's form.

"Apparently, Mr. Malfoy sexually assaulted her." He said coldly. She looked at him and his face held and angry scowl, his eyes looked murderous. "WHAT!" Alexis yelled. Artimis jumped out of her seat, fists balled in prep for a fight. Alexis quickly walked up and wrapped her arms around her. "Don't worry girl. I'll get him back. Don't worry." She whispered. Artimis relaxed, and stood tall. She sucked in a sharp breath and wiped her eyes. She laughed "Look at me, I'm acting like a sniveling baby. Gods, I thought I had better self control. Pathetic." She said laughing at herself. Alexis stood back in shock. "You ok?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm just going to need a dull butter knife and some nails." She said smirking evilly. Alexis got the joke and bust up laughing. Then there was almost a chuckle and sigh of relief from behind them. Artimis turned swiftly. "Professor Snape, Thank you for being so understanding. I had to get control of myself. I hope my need for comfort didn't impinge on you to much." She said carefully. He nodded his head and looked at her. 'Not at all, Miss Callabella. I was glad it was me you ran into instead of some unsavory character. But I would hope the fact that I do tend to care will be kept n this room." He said quietly and seriously.

"No Problem, Alexis?" Artimis said looking to her.

"Who the hell would believe me even if I said it?" She said shrugging her shoulders.

Snape nodded and left the room. "Let's go get you some food and we can talk about this." Alexis said putting her arms around her friend.

"Alright, But don't leave me alone. I don't want to face Malfoy right now."

"If Malfoy comes near you without your consent there won't be much for you to face." She said in a serious tone. Artimis giggled as they walked towards the kitchens.

Well, What do you think? I really don't plan on doing anymore but if I hear from anyone saying they want me to do more I will. Toodles {Deep Shadows}