Forgotten Memories, Painful Past

Chapter Six

Babysitting Hogwarts

"Ah, Miss Sullivan." Raine examined the man who's just addressed her as she entered the Great Hall. "I'm Mr. Cornwell." She immediately disliked him. This 'Mr. Cornwell' was probably two inches short of Raine's 5'7" stature with greying hair at his temples and crown. His skin was a pinkish shade of white concealed by an overgrown beard and abnormally long and protrusive sideburns. Oh, she hated him. His potbelly and snaky grin only added to the loathing.

Taking a deep breath and recalling her mother's words from when she was young, she extended her hand politely. "I'm Miss Raine Sullivan." When he started to shake her hand, she pulled it away. "You'll probably know me as Lady Ekatarina Pietrovich," she frowned down at him.

Mr. Cornwell nodded, "My apologies, Lady," he kissed her hand diplomatically. "You may call me Erik."

"Of course, Mr. Cornwell. I suppose you are the one here to inspect my classes." Her voice was as loathsome as if Snape had spoken the words for her.

He nodded, "That's correct."

She gave a possessive glare, "Then I'll expect you not to interrupt and to be prompt." Raine nodded politely to the Headmaster before walking to the Head table. Severus watched her.

"A bit territorial, aren't we?"

Raine sat down and began eating, not recognizing Severus at all. Raising the glass of apple juice to her lips, she turned to Flitwick. "When are the rest of the children returning?"

Flitwick smiled up at her, finishing a bite of pancakes. "Tonight, just before dinner for the most part."

Severus frowned, "Don't be daft, I know you can hear me. Don't tell me this is about two nights ago?"

"Thank you," she continued with a smile to Fillius before taking a dainty bite of her own crepe.

Sighing, he spoke a bit louder. "I'm sure Albus spoke with you as well and you know fair well that you cannot let what happened between us two nights' past divide the Order."

Hissing angrily, Raine rose from her seat in a storm of fury and fled the room. Her refuge was the observatory. As if instinctively led, she found her way up the ladder and to the railing where she'd sat on numerous occasions as a student. How could he say those things aloud? She was certain every teacher took it in the more inappropriate way. Wait until he saw Eva and Serviath... She frowned. Maybe she should send them back? No, she'd promised them they could come to England with her.

"I'm sorry," Severus said softly.

"Don't lie..." She said in an icy tone.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he approached her. "Remember the last time we were up here together?"

Raine nodded, wanting to cry at the memory. It'd been so picturesque. "Why do you remind me of the past and then leave me spurned to dream of a future?"

He frowned, "Katya... I once cared for you. Things have changed, but that doesn't mean I don't still delight in the memory."

"Don't let it be a bloody memory then!" She demanded, turning to him desperately.

Severus shook his head, "Don't do this to us, Katya... To our memory!"

Raine closed her eyes as two small tears trickled down her cheeks. "What am I supposed to tell them?"

He arched an inquisitive eyebrow, "Them?"

She shook her head, wiping the tears away. "I don't want to ruin our memory." With that, she vanished down the ladder and headed for her room.

"Them..." Severus repeated contemplatively.

---

Classes started again without fail. Two new students started in the middle of the semester. They were in their sixth year, transferring from another school. Not much else was explained. Serviath and Eva Marcus were placed in to Gryffindor and Slytherin respectively. Eva was a wonderfully intelligent and curious student. She often asked advanced questions and begged Professor Snape to lend her outside reading. He had to admit, if Draco hadn't been in the same class, he might've had a new favorite student.

She had long dark hair that fell past her shoulders in faint waves and distinct green eyes that reminded him eerily of Katya. He blinked as he realized that a student was questioning him. It was her twin. Serviath. "Yes, Mister Marcus?"

He repeated the question about interchanging ingredients. 'Bright boy...' He noted, examining his tousled red hair and dark brown eyes. What an odd combination. Those two looked nothing alike... Except for their lovely milky skin.

"It's possible. The newt's eye would make it more potent but it would also make the taste beyond unbearable," the professor said snidely. "You should've read that in chapter fourteen. We worked on that in September..."

Much to the professor's dismay, Serviath only apologized and returned to his seat. After another ten minutes or so, he dismissed the class and headed up to lunch earlier. He walked down the hall, hearing a loud female voice in the Defense classroom. He peered in to see Katya lecturing.

"No, Miss Weasley, you're confusing the two. Trolls, while dangerous, are not as large or as territorial as giants." She stood and walked around her desk. "You've all seen the Care of Magical Creatures teacher? Hagrid?" The students nodded eagerly. "He's half giant. While trolls are about ten feet tall... Giants can reach twenty easily."

Several mouths fell open. Severus paused, listening further. One child raised his hand. "How do you defend against a werewolf?"

A soft smile crossed Raine's lips. "Well, Mister Clearwater, if your offending werewolf is female, it's best to merely stand still. She'll probably leave you be. As for the more aggressive males, it's best to stun them and apparate. If you can't apparate, stun it and use the Solara charm to summon sunlight. This will either cause reversal of the transformation temporarily or knock them out for a significant amount of time. I must note that it is extremely painful for the werewolf though, and if the werewolf is your friend I would recommend refraining from that solution."

A soft smirk crossed his lips. She was talking about Remus. Brock Clearwater, a Hufflepuff, grinned. "Thanks."

Setting down her book, she nodded. "Well done class. Next class we'll be outside again, so remember to practice your spells. Dismissed."

The students poured out, several Gryffindors minded the Potions Master wearily. "You're a brilliant teacher, you know that?"

Raine spun around, surprised that someone was still in the classroom she'd assumed was empty. "From someone who's been teaching for so long, that's quite the compliment."

Her formality stung him unnoticeably. "I wasn't saying it as a teacher, I was saying it as a friend."

She returned to her desk, no longer facing him. "Well, thank you nonetheless."

"Katya..."

"Raine," she corrected swiftly, "Call me Raine. Actually, you can call me Miss Sullivan."

Severus frowned, "So this is how it will end with us, is it?"

Her green eyes stared in to his fiercely, "Evidently so. You made your choice, Severus, now I have every right to make mine."

He noticed her packing things in to a box. "You're leaving?"

Raine let out a heavy sigh, "I'm not sure."

"You can't leave!"

She gave him a hopeful look. "Oh?"

Severus cleared his throat, "The students would never learn anything without you..."

"Ah," she finished. "Severus, I'm sorry but things are not working out..."

"Who were you talking about?" he questioned.

Raine arched a red eyebrow, "What?"

Severus sighed softly, "In the astronomy tower, you said something about 'them'... Who were you talking about?"

She frowned deeply. Was she caught?

End Chapter Six