.: I really do need to read over my stuff better before I post it. I was on a role yesterday with inspiration, but because I was sick I messed up a lot and when I did read over my chapters I was too drowsy from my meds to notice that whole WORDS were missing…I apologize. Thank you all for your honest critiques. I know my writing isn't perfect, so I like to hear what people think I did well, and what I didn't. Thank you for reading:.
The Saints of Donovan
Chapter 8: Teenagers
Nessa's stay in the house was a nice change. When Severus had to leave in the day Nessa stayed home and sometimes would talk with Donovan about what she did and where she grew up. Donovan found Nessa a much easier person to talk to then Severus, and found himself divulging onto her his life story and what it was like back at the orphanage. She was a much better listener. He wasn't even uncomfortable talking about Catholicism and listening to what Nessa had to say about her belief. He would never expect to talk so deeply with Severus.
When Donovan and Nessa ate lunch she would demonstrate her powers and the things she could do fascinated him. Despite how much Donovan enjoyed her company, most afternoons Nessa would lock herself in Severus' lab, leaving him to find entertainment elsewhere. He spent most of his days in the library, reading up on magical theory and dark defenses. He became so intrigued by these topics that he scared himself. He started reading less and taking walks around the neighborhood more. There were sometimes when Donovan would sit on park benches and just watch people. Families and friends enjoying themselves in the summer heat, all oblivious to the problems of the world, just because they had the companionship of a loved one. Donovan would catch himself with a heavy feeling of homesickness, near tears and wanting to scream. He really had no friends here, and the few that he had had back in Murntown were all adopted or younger then him. He would never see them again, and he wasn't the type that made new friends easily.
One day while he was sitting on his usual bench, sketching a doodle in a note book he had brought with, a girl sat next to him. Donovan froze briefly when she did, and slowly looked over to her.
"Hi." She said, smiling broadly at him. Donovan smiled back at her; she was very pretty. She had very angular short hair cut, which was blonde with neon orange streaks. She was wearing many muggle chokers and necklaces with bright beads and charms on them. She wore a green concert tank top that had a picture of Alice Cooper on it, and her jeans were sagged with holes ripped into it. She had a pretty nice form too, although a tad bit lanky.
"Wha's your name?" she asked, pulling a cigarette to her lips and taking a puff.
"Donovan." He smiled, taking her cigarette from her, "May I?" she smiled, slightly surprised and nodded. Donovan took a puff. "What's yours?" he asked, handing back her cigarette.
"Cindy…I see you in the park all the time when I'm wif' my friends, o'er there." She said, gesturing to a group of teens smoking by a large oak. She handed him his own cigarette and lit it up for him. "We were wonderin' if you wanted to 'ang with our crew…cause some trouble? You always seem so lonely…" she said, tracing her fingers down his arm. Donovan gulped.
"Um, I dunno…what time is it?" Donovan asked looking at his watch. It was almost 8:30. "I would, but I have to get home soon or else my…my dad'll have my ass." Donovan said, getting to his feet.
"Ah come on! I's only eight o'clock! 'ow old are you anyway?" Cindy said, getting to her feet as well, crossing her arms in front of her.
"Well, I'm…I guess I could stay out a bit past my curfew." Donovan smiled.
"Tha's a boy! Come on then." She said with a wink, leading him towards her group.
"It's nearly eleven! You have not even the slightest inkling of where he went!?" Severus barked at Nessa.
"I am NOT his baby sitter Severus, and for God sake's he's seventeen years old!" Nessa barked back. Severus swooped over to her and loomed above her face.
"He is the heir of Slytherin Nessa…" Nessa simply glowered at him, completely used to his glare, "There are many radicals out there, especially the followers of Godric, who would kill him if they discovered that he was the one that will give the dark lord back power." He hissed.
"Did you ever consider that maybe he's just out acting like a normal teenager for once!?" she snapped, pushing Severus away from her. He snarled as she pushed past him, grabbing her wrist when she tried to leave the kitchen.
"You'll come looking for him with me." He said, glaring into her eyes. Nessa panted.
"Let go of me." She ordered; Severus did so. They glared at each other for a few seconds, before the door bell broke the silence. Severus swooped by Nessa out of the kitchen, and she crossed the room again, collapsing to tears at the table. She clenched her fists tightly and punching the wall twice, hunching over the table as she cried reluctantly.
Severus reached the door and threw it open. He was taken aback slightly to be greeted by a muggle police officer.
"Good evening…" Severus said, looking past the officer to see Donovan in the back of a flashing police car; his face scowling as he recognized him.
"I'm sorry to disturb you so late sir but is that young man yours?" the officer asked, gesturing to the car.
"Yes…unfortunately…what pray tell, has he done to merit an arrest?" Severus asked, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind him.
"Well, he wasn't arrested sir, but he will be receiving a warning on his record. He was with a group of local youngsters that decided it would be a gas to shop lift down at Freedman's Grocer. The group he was with has a pretty bad reputation for themselves around here, but I've never seen your boy with 'em. Nothing was found on him so he's free to go." The officer said, escorting Severus to the car. He opened the door and pulled Donovan out by the scruff of his shirt. Donovan looked down at Severus' feet, as Severus glowered down at him.
"Thank you officer…hopefully we will not be seeing each other any time soon…" Severus said, not breaking his stare from Donovan. Donovan looked up and met Severus' stone sold eyes. "In!" Severus hissed, pointing to his flat. Donovan shoved his hands in his pockets and walked briskly into the house. Severus shook hands with the officer and went back into the house.
Severus threw the door open to the kitchen, walking straight into Nessa as he barged in, almost knocking her over. Nessa had a tissue to her face and grimaced as he grabbed her shoulders in reflex. He looked down at her and realized she was shaken.
"What is it?" Severus asked, trying to look at her in the eyes. She locked eyes with him and saw under all his ceremony that he was concerned.
"Nothing, I think I'm just ill…" she said, wiping her face and trying to push by him.
"You're lying…what is it?" Severus persisted, not letting her pass. Nessa let loose an exasperated sigh.
"You're an insufferably insensitive and bitterly tempered old man, and you've been that way since before you were even old." She said, pushing past him into the hall.
"And just where and why have you conjured up these accusations?" Severus demanded, striding down the hall after her.
"Forget it Severus, you're always like this when you're angry, I can't expect you to change on my behalf." Nessa said, still ahead of him.
"What do you mean 'you're always like this'!? Like what exactly; please do elaborate!" Severus snapped as the approached her room. Nessa spread her arms and braced the door way, glaring at him as he stood in front of her.
"You just expect me to come here for the summer, simply because I work with you and I am your friend. But you just think that I'll play mummy and take care of your responsibility, and then, even dare to yell at me when the seventeen year old boy goes out for a night because you won't give him any fecking money to enjoy himself with! Books do not entertain forever, and you do not know the first thing about children or women, and you probably shouldn't be working in close contact with either!" Nessa raged, panting when she was done. She glared at him with a sort of malicious satisfaction as he stood stunned in his spot. After a long silence he cleared his throat.
"Good night." He said, turning down the hall towards his room. Nessa gaped at him as he walked down the hall and opened to door to his room.
"No no no! After all of that you must have something to say to me!" Nessa snarled as she tromped down the hall after him. Severus stopped and looked at her again.
"Good night." He said again, and then stepped into his room, closing the door behind him.
.: I really don't know what the point of this chapter was. I think I just wanted to go deeper into the characters through action. Donovan is the type of kid how does like to rebel at times (yes he smokes but only if there is a provider) and Nessa and Severus have a pretty unstable relationship. They really do care for each other, despite each others faults. I haven't decided if I'm going to make them romantic yet…I'm not positive. There's definitely the opportunity. They kind of don't know how to treat each other so I'm not so sure.:.