Chapter 13
"Twink!! Wake up!" someone called
"Wha--" I murmured opening my eyes to see Hermione staring at me, "AHHH!" I screamed. Hermione jumped back in surprise.
"It's just me," she said not being able to hold in her laughter.
"You scared me. What do you need?"
"Breakfast. You have half an hour to get ready."
"Only half an hour?" I asked almost panicking
"You need longer?"
"My hair takes 45 minutes."
"Magic." she said in a no-duh voice.
Grinning sheepishly I jumped out of bed, grabbed my school robes and ran to the bathroom to take a shower. I emerged 20 minuets later in my robes with my hair dripping wet and a mass of tangles.
"Help." I moaned.
Hermione and the other girls in the room laughed, "Twinkle, this is Lavender, Pavarti and Mona. Guys this is Crescent."
"Twinkle?"
"Harry gave me that nickname." I said pulling at my hair.
Hermione pointed her wand at me and I shrank back, making her laugh, "I'm just going to dry your hair, I promise." then she muttered something under her breath and my hair was dry and detangled.
"You're hair is so long," Lavender moaned with envy.
"Take it." I said as we walked down the stairs.
"No. You would be devastated if it was cut, and you know it, Twink." Hermione said.
"True. My dad loved it," I said. We made out way out of the tower, "You really need to teach me that spell."
"We can teach you so many that will take care of your hair," Pavarti said lifting a lock of my hair, "I would love such long hair, but I don't think I could deal with it."
I shrugged, "I've done it for so long, I don't really pay attention any more."
As we sat at the Gryffindor table I waved to Remus then looked around for Harry and Ron. They were no where to be found but as the food had just appeared I didn't really care.
"You know Professor Lupin?" Lavender asked.
"Yeah, he's my godfather."
"Really? Who's your dad?"
I looked at Hermione and she nodded, most of the school probably already figured it out, Black was a old name, "Sirius Black."
"Seriously?"
I chucked both at her reaction and her choice of words. "Yes."
"I figured, how common is the Black name?" Pavarti said with a superior air.
"Yes, well." I said not really knowing what to say.
"Hey, Twink," Ron said sitting next to me, "Hey Hermione."
"Hi." she said a little shyly, making me want to laugh, but the memory of Harry kicking was still fresh in my mind.
"Where's Harry?" I asked casually.
"He was in the shower when I left. I think he wanted to be sexy for you on the first day of classes."
"So he's not going to be sexy the rest of the year?" I asked.
"Don't look as me. I don't think he's sexy anytime."
"Are you and Harry?" Lavender asked curiously.
"Involved?"
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"We were taking bets on who he'd pick. I think we all lost." Pavarti said.
"No. Look I put money down on Crescent Black," Hermione said, "and you all told me there was no such person in his life."
"You should talk to Trelawny." Lavender said.
"No. It was obvious to all who were around them. Her father was trying to follow them around with mistletoe."
"Who?" Harry asked plopping down next to Hermione and smiling at me, "Morning Twinkle."
"Morning Green Eyes."
"Who with the mistletoe?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I must say you did a good job in making yourself sexy for Crescent," Lavender said flirting lightly. I felt jealousy flare up quickly.
"The things I do for her," Harry sighed dramatically.
"I'm worth it, Potter, Remember that." I pointed a finger at him.
"Of, course you are, my love."
"You know I have bruises on my shins from you?" I asked making Ron and Lavender choke on their pumpkin juice.
"How did those get there?" Ron asked suggestively.
"Oh, shut up, Ron. Think those things about Hermione but not Harry and I." I said then moved my legs before Harry could kick me.
"You're picking up." Harry murmured looking at me intensely.
"I pick up a lot of things," I said suggestively.
"We are eating here, guys," Ron moaned.
"You are the one who started this conversation, Ron." I said laughing.
"Yes, but that's not where I intended it to go."
"Alright, I'll spare you the juicy details of our sex life," I told him seriously and Harry snorted, "you have some problem with that, Green Eyes?"
"What sex life?" he asked.
"Do you want one?" I purred.
"Guys! Seriously, too much information!" Hermione said looking horrified.
"It wasn't the other night," I teased.
"WHAT?!" both Ron and Harry exclaimed and I saw what I said could be WAY misinterpreted.
"Whoa, guys, get your mind out of the gutter. That is so not what I meant."
The conversation was forgotten when our schedules appeared, Ron and Harry moaned, "No."
"What?" I asked looking at the paper.
"Double potions, with the Slytherins, on the first day," Harry told you.
"The injustice of it all," I told him sarcastically.
"You know nothing, just wait."
"Oh, it will be hell," I told him, "but we can't do ANYTHNG to piss him off."
"Why? Where's the fun in that?" Ron asked.
"He will take me away from Remus!" I told him angrily.
"What?" Hermione hissed, "when did this happen?"
"Remember when Remus freaked out?"
"Yeah."
"Then. He was mad at Snape, the fucking coward."
"Miss. Black, a word, if you please," A voice purred dangerously behind me.
"Oh hell, my luck can't be that bad, can it?" I asked not having the courage to turn around.
"It can." Neville told me not looking up. I finally turned around to see Snape glaring maliciously down at me. I risked a glance to Remus who was looking at me with an mixed expression of worry and sadness. I blew it, he was going to take me away from Remus and it was all my fault. What would happen to Remus? God, I am so stupid!
"Professor?"
"Now, Miss. Black."
"Yes, sir." I followed him out of the Great Hall with my head down, hearing Malfoy snicker as I passed. Without glancing up I knew he was leading me down to the dungeons. Probably to string me up by the thumbs I thought miserably, maybe that's all he'll do.
"Get in, Miss. Black," he spoke silkily. I realized it was his office as soon as I stepped in. Was he going to contact the Minister from here, or wait until he'd yelled at me? "Have a seat."
"I'd rather not."
"Not a offer, Miss. Black." His voice, while still smooth, left no room for argument. Sitting down I looked down, trying to prepare myself for what was coming. "Relax, you silly girl, I'm not going to kill you."
"Just ruin my life," you said bitterly, "I don't know what I ever did to you."
"Nothing. Nothing was ever your fault." He murmured to himself.
"What?"
"Listen to me good, Miss. Black, I am only going to warn you once, and that's more than some people get, you will respect me. I will not put up with any shit from you, do you hear me? I can do more than just report the foolish werewolf, I can make you remember." His voice dropped scarily at the end.
"I-I don't know what you mean," I stuttered.
"And you hand better pray you never do. Now get out of my sight."
I raced out of the room.
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Watching Crescent race from the room, from him, ripped his heart out. He was the one she ran to when she was upset or scared, back then he never thought she'd run from him in fear. Damn Selene for putting him in this situation, damn Dumbledore for letting her come here, damn Black for dying and blowing their cover, damn him for finding her and making her love him. Black was so good at that, taking the girls he loved. First Selene, then her daughter.
Severus sank into the chair behind his desk, how the hell was he supposed get through the next two years with out going to her, telling her? Lupin had forbade it, but who the hell was he? Putting his head in his hands with a sigh he fought back the sob that was threatening, Lupin might be a werewolf but he had something Severus would never have, Crescent's love.
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I ran up the dungeon stairs and ran head on into someone, hard, sending the both of us flying to the floor.
"Black, I know most women want me, but I am not used to tackling," Malfoy said, amused. "Although the prospect of fucking Potter's plaything is interesting."
I scrambled up "Fuck off, Malfoy."
"I think I already stated my position on that," he ran his fingers through my hair, "such lovely hair."
"The only reason you want to fuck me is it's the closest thing you'll ever get to fucking Harry, you fairy." I had no clue why I had said that, one of my best muggle friends was gay, I had no problem with that. But I was happy to find that my insult hit close to home.
"Watch yourself, Black," he spit venomously, stepping up so we were nose to nose.
"Eat me, Malfoy," I growled.
"Twink?" Harry called walking up behind me. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," I mumbled backing away from Malfoy.
"You've got her on a short lease, eh, Potter?" Malfoy nodded as if in approval, "yes, that's the best way to keep them."
"Shut up, Malfoy." Harry murmured looking at me with concern. My visit with Snape was back in my mind, and I knew it was showing on my face. Harry took my arm and led me down the stairs to the potions classroom, where we were alone. "Are you ok?"
"I've told you before, Harry, I'm not some delicate thing, Malfoy can't get to me. If anything I got to him. You know? I think he likes you."
"I wasn't talking about that. What did Snape want?" Harry asked purposely ignoring the last comment.
"Warning me, I have to 'respect' him."
"Do you?"
"Respect is earned and he hasn't earned it. I'll just act like I do, it's the best I can do."
Harry nodded and pulled me close, "did he threaten about Remus?"
"Among other things."
"What other things?"
"Not here," I whispered as other students filed in.
Ron and Hermione walked in and when they saw me they rushed over, "what happened?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing, well something, but we can't talk about it here."
"We have DADA next, so there's something to look forward to," Harry said looking at the schedule.
"How's Remus?" I asked them.
"He looked upset, but we didn't get to talk to him," Harry said.
"I did. He was angry about it, and something else to do about you and Snape, but not about the reporting." Hermione whispered.
"He knows," I murmured as Snape entered the classroom, subdued.
"You're assignment is on the board, I trust by now you all know what to do, with the exception of Longbottom." With that he sat at his desk and started writing something.
"How odd," Hermione murmured as we started our potion. "I've never asked you, are you good at potions?"
"Better than some," I looked pointedly at Harry and Ron, making her laugh.
"Good. It will be refreshing working with someone who is competent," she whispered.
"You don't like working with Harry and Ron?" I asked in mock innocence.
She glared at me and the rest of the class we worked, only speaking when it was necessary. I found it refreshing to work with someone who didn't keep asking what was wrong. Throughout the entire lesson Snape stayed behind his desk hunched over a pile of parchments and judging but everyone's reaction, this was not normal.
"You know, if you take a picture, it might last longer," Ron teased from behind me. Only then did I realize I was staring at Snape.
"He's not telling me something."
"There are probably many things he doesn't tell you," Hermione murmured out of the corner of her mouth.
"Oh, shut up."
"Ron if you add that you will kill us all." Hermione told him as he went to add some powder to his cauldron.
"Oops," he said sheepishly.
"Dismissed." Snape said suddenly.
"Sir?" Hermione asked, "Class isn't half over."
"Are you objecting to being let out early?"
"No, sir," she said and we all packed up as quick as possible. Harry, Ron and Hermione wanted to go back to the common room but I stopped.
"Does Remus have a class right now?" I asked.
"I don't think so. Why?" Harry asked.
"I kinda want to talk to him." I said softly.
"Do you want me to come?" he asked just as soft.
"No, I have a feeling he won't be too happy, and I'd rather face him alone." I headed to the DADA classroom and indeed found it empty. Walking through the classroom to the door to his office I was a little nervous. Would he tell me what I wanted to know? Did he even know or was I just going to drag him into this confusing mess I found myself in? When I went to knock Remus flung the door opened.
"Yes?" he asked tightly.
"Can I talk to you, professor?" I asked not knowing what I should call him.
"Professor is only necessary around others, come in, Daughter."
I followed him into the office and sat in front of his desk, wondering how to ask him about Snape. "He didn't report us." I blurted.
"I know. If he did, ministry officials would have shown up by now. I don't believe Dumbledore would let him anyway."
"You told him about the situation?"
"Of course. Daughter, this is important, what else did he say to you?" He leaned across the desk, looking at me intently. Nervously I shifted under his gaze.
"He threatened me."
"He said he was going to hurt you?" He asked seeming slightly relieved, although that was weird.
"No."
"What did he threaten?"
"I'm not sure," I lied, although not knowing why.
"Don't lie to me, Daughter," he warned.
"How do you know I'm lying," I challenged.
"Your heart rate picked up, your breathing increased, you stared sweating slightly…do you want me to go on?"
"No," I said sullenly, I thought I was a very good liar, I guess just not with werewolves.
"Truth."
"I don't know exactly what he threatened me with. He said he could do worse than report you, he said he could make me remember. What does that mean?"
"Don't worry about it." he said.
"Why are you worried?" I countered.
"Who says I'm worried?"
"You're pupils dilated, you took a sharp breath, you grip tightened on your desk…do you want me to go on?" I mimicked him.
"Touché . Let me talk to him, Moonchild, and I'll get back to you. Aren't you supposed to be in potions now anyway?"
"He let us out early."
"He did, did he? Well, go on back to your dorm, I don't want to see you out again, until DADA starts, in 90 minuets, ok?"
"Fine," I grumbled and trudged back to the Gryffindor tower. When I got to the paining I stopped, "fuck."
"I beg your pardon?" the fat lady asked, insulted.
"I still don't know the password."
"No need to be vulgar."
"Professor Lupin told me to come here and he didn't want to see me in the halls until my next class, but I can't get in there, and he's going to come check and then I'll get detention and….." I went on as the portrait swung opened and Harry looked out, grinning. "You were waiting for me weren't you?"
"Yep."
"I hate you," I said crawling in and going to the couch where Ron and Hermione were.
"No, you love me," he sat besides me and swung an arm around my shoulders.
"Right, sometimes."
"You love me all the time," he teased kissing my ear.
"Not right now," I said trying to ignore him. Laughing slightly he gabbed my chin, making me face him, and pressed his lips to mine, sweetly. "mmmmm," I murmured and pulled away a few seconds later.
"Hey, now," Harry mumbled, "What kind of kiss was that?"
"An innocent one. Do you want a nice snog?"
"That would be nice," he murmured kissing my neck softly. I looked at my watch, teasingly.
"Ok, we have 70 minuets, Go!"
"Imagine what we could do in that amount of time," he breathed in my ear before he dragged me onto his lap and pressed his lips to mine. With a soft gasp I opened my mouth to let him in. Murmuring my name softly he slipped his tongue into my mouth and laid me back on the couch. As the kiss heated up I wrapped my fingers in his already messy hair and pulled him closer. Everywhere he touched sent shocks through me. I never thought kissing anybody would be this exciting. When I wanted to kiss Harry I just couldn't get enough. When I was arguing with him, I still couldn't wait until I could kiss him.
"Oh, god, oh, Harry," I moaned leaning my head back as he kissed my neck.
"You love me now?"
"I love you always, Harry," I moaned as he nuzzled behind my ear. He pulled away and looked into my eyes.
"Do you mean it?"
"Mean what?" I asked clueless.
"You love me?"
Sitting up quickly, I saw that the common room hand emptied once we started kissing, "I-I guess. I mean, I said it, didn't I?"
"But you didn't mean to say it?" he asked incredulously.
"I mean it, but I didn't mean to say it," I said chewing on my thumbnail.
"Why? If you love someone, tell them, right?"
"Because they might die."
"Exactly."
"I didn't mean it like that," I thought out loud, "but that kind of makes sense. I never really told Sirius I loved him."
"That makes two of us," he mumbled.
"I do love you, I just didn't want to say it, before I knew it was how I felt."
"Why?"
"I didn't want you to be hurt by my inability to decipher what I was feeling."
"Thank you. I love you too, you know." he whispered kissing my neck.
"I know," I teased, making him nip at my neck. "God, Harry, how do you know how to do that?"
"How to do what?" He was now kissing and sucking on my shoulder.
"Kiss like that. You can make me shiver with just a touch."
"I don't know. How do you know how?"
"What do you mean?"
"You do the same thing to me." He told me seriously. This was a day for confessions it seemed. Maybe I could go talk to Snape and see what this whole thing is about.
"So, what did Snape threaten you with?"
"Damn I should have taken divination. I always seem to know where the conversation is headed."
"Well?"
"He said he could make me remember."
"What does that mean?"
"I have no clue."
"Are you going to talk to him about it?"
"I don't know if I want to know the answer."
"Sometimes we don't want to know, but we have to."
"I think I am going to owl my mom, try her again. I'm kind of scared to talk to Snape, after this afternoon." I nuzzled his neck.
"What did he say to you?"
"He was very polite, that's what scared me. Enough talk about him." I leaned up and captured his lips with mine. With a sigh Harry leaned back and let me talk control of the kiss. Quietly I slipped my tongue into his mouth, exploring the cavity for the first time. Any other time we had kissed like this Harry had been in control and ravished my mouth. Eagerly I took the chance to return the favor. Tangling his fingers in my hair Harry let his tongue battle lightly with mine, without taking full control, knowing how much this meant to me. Slowly I backed out of his mouth and he charged forward licking and tasting my mouth. Swiftly he flipped us over so he was laying on top of me. As his hands roamed my body, staying only in areas he knew to be save ( above the waist) I came to the realization that I didn't want him to stay there. Breaking away for air I looked at him, no this was wrong, I couldn't be thinking that about Harry. We were 16 for Merlin's sake.
"What's wrong?" Harry panted leaning his forehead against mine and running his hand through my hair in a caress.
"Air," I murmured kissing the tip of his nose lightly, "I love your hair, you know that?"
"No, but thanks for telling me," he teased lightly while kissing my cheek.
"Harry? Twinkle? We have to go to DADA," Hermione called throwing a pillow as us.
"Alright." We dragged ourselves off the couch and followed the rest of the 6th year Gryffindors out of the tower. I lagged behind and motioned for Hermione to do the same.
"See what you can make of this," I muttered, "Snape took my down to the dungeons to threaten me with 'remembering' and when I went to tell Remus, he was relieved when he though Snape threatened to hurt me."
Hermione bit her lip and got a far away look in her eyes, which I knew by experience that she was close to something so I waited patiently, "this has to have something to do with Sirius and your mom, as well. I don't know how though……you are for sure positive that Snape isn't your dad? I mean you do have quiet a lot of sarcasm."
"I am for sure. I did the damn spell 3 time, and each time it was Sirius."
"Well…..is Jake the only other guy your mom was with, besides Sirius."
"That I can remember……Shit! Remember! Ack, Hermione, do you know how to tell if someone has been obviolated?"
"I remember reading it somewhere…." she murmured flipping through the DADA text, as we were in the class room, although Remus was yet to be seen.
"That narrows the search to every book in English," I muttered darkly.
"Oh, shush, I know I read it recently……Ahh! Here it is!" she exclaimed.
"Are you serious?" I asked excitedly.
"Yes, do you want me to do it now?"
I shook my head, "No, tonight. Do you have a spell that will reverse the effects?"
"That's more complicated……umm…..give me….I will have it ready by tonight," she said looking up as Remus walked into the room.