A/N: There is a bigger A/N at the bottom, but I want to apologize for this being late. My laptop got a nasty virus and it is holding my files hostage. Me being the person I am snuck onto the laptop (as I was told not to) and dived in to save my stories and various pictures. So I saved this story, on a lot of floppies, but it took me a while to transfer it to my computer. It's all good now! I hope you like it!

Chapter Three: Sleeping Love

I sat on my bed, trying to remember all of the information that I had been reading. I didn't doubt a word I had read, since it would explain a lot of different things that had happened to me. Plus, things were chaotic now; why not add magic as well? Is Severus awake? I opened my door a crack. I walked closer, ignoring the creak of the floors. He snoozed quietly on the bed, but I had expected someone with his appearance to snore. Why not add another flaw to the list? I glanced at the clock, but I wasn't sure when his alarm would go off. I didn't want him to wake up and see me staring at him; he'd get the wrong opinion. I sat down on his bed. It was easy to tell that he hadn't showered since we were in the jail cell. He didn't have any sheets on top of him, but his shirt covered his chest barely. The stitches on the wounds that needed it were poorly done, but were probably good enough for him. I jabbed in softly in the side. He turned over and groaned, but there wasn't any sign of awakening. I looked at him carefully. I ran my hand along his long crooked nose – no response. I crawled closer to him. His face intrigued me. It showed so much emotion, but there was also a lack of. He had been through a lot, but hid everything behind a wrinkled mask. I ran several of my fingers across his pale lips. For a second, I imagined my and his lips together, but I shook my head and took the thought from my mind. This he noticed. I moved my hand as he turned over once more, muttering a name. It wasn't my name. It wasn't close to my name, but I couldn't make out the entire name. I took a deep breath as he rubbed his leg lightly. He was waking up and I was leaning over him. I watched him stretch and smile for a brief moment as his jet black eyes opened swiftly, looking only at me. "What are you doing there?" he questioned.

"Trying to wake you up," I said, shyly.

He sat up and rubbed his face. "Why on earth are you doing that?" his voice sounded weary, but still stern.

"Well, I'm pretty sure I succeeded," I said.

Severus sighed, moving away from me. "Then why did you wake me up?" he asked and startled to hobble over to the bathroom.

"I don't know," smooth, real smooth.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm going to shower then, when you figure it out, let me know," he said and shut the door to the bathroom.

I sat down beside the door in a daze. What am I supposed to do for the rest of the day? Can I go home soon? I shook my head and waited for Severus' return. I shut my eyes for a moment and let the sound of the shower seep into my mind like rain being pelted softly against the window. He did not hum like I did, but I couldn't hear any noises from him. I could wash up while he was showering, I didn't want to keep him waiting. I opened the door, just a crack. He hadn't even stepped into the shower yet. I almost shut the door quickly, but he just stood there, staring at his face in the mirror. I doubted he could see me since I was on the floor. I saw the black scars that I had remembered from earlier. I didn't know that scars could turn black. I quickly noticed a large tattoo on his back. It was slashed up slightly and I guessed that I couldn't see it earlier from the blood that covered his back. There was still some dried blood on it. It resembled my tattoo. He had been watching me through the mirror. Shit, what am I doing? "I-I'm sorry," I stuttered as he gave me glances of death through his pitch black eyes. "I was just going to wash up while you were in the shower."

"That's fine," he said, casual in his nudeness. "I would have preferred that you waited until I was actually in the shower."

I bit my lip carefully, but kept eye contact with him. If I didn't then he'd get the wrong opinion. "I thought you were," I said. "The shower was running and-"

He scoffed and stepped towards the shower. "It's fine," he said. "I'll go in now, do you have clothes to change into?"

"No..." I said.

"Then take whatever you'd like from my drawers," he said. "You'll probably pick one of my best clothes again."

He muttered the last sentence quiet and harsh. His words washed over me like boiling water. I was an inconvenience. A burden. I closed the door and left him to his privacy. I can't believe I picked out his favourite robes. I went through his drawers and closets to find something that he wouldn't actually want, no matter how unflattering it was. I found some and creaked opened the door once more. He was finally in the shower. I slid in and shut the door behind me. I don't know why. I watched Severus' silhouette stand in the shower, letting the shower flow across him. His head turned towards me, watching me. I turned away, as if he could see any of my body parts anyway and started to wash myself off. I had showered the night before; there was no point in showering now. I quickly bathed myself in the sink, to get rid of all the stink lines that would soon be visible. I felt his eyes on my back and I quickly dressed myself. It was creepy, but I could think of a lot of other people that would have made this experience worse, Lucius being one. I closed my eyes as Severus stepped out of the shower; I would have been able to see him through the mirror. He brushed up against me, either by accident, or to show me that he was done, OR for some perverted reason that I'd rather not think about. "All washed up?" he questioned in some sort of monotone tone.

I nodded. "Yes. Are these clothes fine?" I asked.

He snorted and looked at my outfit. "They're not very flattering, but whatever you want," he said.

"Well, they're not your favourite clothes, right?" I said.

"No, I don't even think they're mine," he said.

I shrugged. "I don't need flattering clothes anyway," I muttered. "This is more like a vacation."

"Would you like a swimsuit?" he snarled with sarcasm dripping from his mouth.

Scratch the vacation idea. "No," I said. "I just meant I see no point in dressing up. You're clothes aren't very flattering on you."

I watched him put on his clothes, since the most important parts were already covered. He scoffed at me. "If you look like an animal people will agree that you're one. I'm afraid I don't have a figure like yours that needs flattering," he said.

Is that a compliment or an insult? "You don't exactly have women's clothes laying around," I said.

He smirked viciously at me, "You never asked."

"Oh, so you do?" I asked.

"No," he replied. "I don't, but I can ask some of the female teachers if they have anything for you."

I rubbed my head, frustrated with him already. "That'd be nice, thank you," I'm sure I didn't sound as thankful as I actually meant.

His hand went on my back of my neck. "It's no problem," he said. "Do you think you can handle the chain again?"

I shrugged and held in a sigh. "If I need too, that's fine," I said.

He nodded, reluctantly and his cold hand was removed from my neck. "I'm afraid so. Some of the students were present for your," he paused. "Outburst."

"Okay," I said. "Where am I going?"

"Breakfast," he said, putting the chain around my neck. "Stay close to me so it doesn't tighten up, okay?"

I nodded and responded by standing close to him already. He didn't say anything as I followed him down several hallways. I knew that if I ever had to wander around myself, I'd get lost. Severus and I walked up some staircases, which seemed to move before my eyes. I opened my mouth to question, but I quickly remembered the books on Hogwarts that I had read. Apparently, it was a high-class school. Of course, I learned as soon as Severus opened the doors to where I guessed we would dine, that not all of the students would be fantastic. I stayed close to his side like he had requested earlier. I tried to block out the whispers. This is just like when I was in high school. I found myself clinging to his arm. It was so unnerving. I hated being the centre of attention, but for a dangerous reason was even scarier. Suddenly a voice spoke out over the crowd. "What is she doing here?"

I turned to look at him. I quickly suspected it was, in fact, Lucius' son. He had short platinum blonde hair and stunning grey eyes. I would have found him attractive if it wasn't for the fact that I had almost digested one of his fingers. At this thought my stomach turned. Severus' kept walking and it took me a couple of seconds to realize that. "Excuse me!" Lucius' son screamed, obviously used to getting his way. "I don't want her here. I'm not eating if she stays."

Oh boo hoo. Does he really expect me to starve? Oh I wouldn't starve, I'd eat one of his fingers. "That's enough Mr. Malfoy!" Severus said, stopping. Luckily, I was watching his feet at the time, so I knew when to stop. "This girl has to eat. She's on a chain and I doubt she really wants another bite of you. She's harmless at the moment, but if she doesn't eat, then she may not be."

I'm harmless at the moment? I took a deep breath and stayed beside him. I didn't plan on eating anyone. I moved with his feet as he started to walk again. Obviously he was a well-respected teacher, or all of the students were scared shitless of him. I could understand both of those. I sat down on the cold floor beside his chair. I was thankful for this, since I couldn't see the faces of the students who feared me so. Severus' cleared his throat as his black eyes looked at me and then at the empty chair beside me. I slid up into the chair carefully and ignored Albus' greetings. I looked around to see who was serving, but before I could check there was food on the plates. Magic; right. I ate slowly and kept my eyes lowered. I didn't want to make any eye contact, except for with Severus. His arm slid around my back as he talked to the female professor beside me. "Would you be willing to make a dress for Kali?" he asked the woman.

I looked away from her and tried to avoid Severus' eyes. I noticed a very large man, both wide and tall, sitting at the other end of the table. He had a large brown fuzzy beard and the same kind of hair. He winked at me, but I looked away as my face started to burn. Severus had been tapping on my arm nervously, but I doubt that he had noticed. "Of course," the woman said. "I'll just take some measurements later."

"Okay," Severus said. "Thank you." His dark eyes watched me for a moment and I felt myself blush even more as I made constant eye contact. "Aren't you going to thank her too?"

Just throw a couple of paint cans on my face. "Oh!" I turned to the woman and smiled back at her rather pudgy grin. "Thank you very much."

I lowered my head down as everyone chatted, excluding me. I wasn't hungry and I had hardly touched my plate. No one noticed though, but I couldn't go off and explore the school since I had a chain around my neck. I kept myself busy by looking up at the endless ceiling. For some unknown reason there didn't seem to be a roof and this intrigued me. I watched clouds float by, several resembling various objects. It was a gorgeous azure colour and I wondered how I could get one in my room. Severus put both of his hands on my shoulders. "You like it?" he asked.

I tipped my head slightly to see him, upside down. "I do," I said.

"Should I take some of this food for you?" he asked.

"Why would you?"

"Well, you have barely eaten anything and I have to prepare for class," he said.

"Okay," I said. "May I sit in your class with you?"

"Wouldn't you prefer to read?" he asked. His lips lightly touched my ear. "I'm rather dull," he whispered.

I turned around to face him. "I could read in your classroom," I said.

"Okay, fine," he didn't seem pleased with me. "I'll let you sit in my classroom. Come on."

He tugged lightly on the chain for me to follow. I hadn't noticed, but a lot of the students had already left. I reminded myself to observe more people the next time I had the chance to. I followed him, closely, since I could feel the cold chains against my neck now. I didn't want him to hurt me, or anyone to hurt me. I'm not strong. He took of the chain when he entered a dark room. "Just don't move around much, you'll scare the students if you do," he said.

I looked around the room, noticing that there were little cauldrons set up at the tables that were probably meant for pairs. It reminded me of chemistry labs, but I went to investigate the cauldrons. The one I looked at was filled with a clear liquid that I suspected was water. I blinked at in and touched the odd pull on it. Underneath the pulley there was lots of flasks, beakers and test tubes. Little labels were stuck onto them, saying what was contained in each one. Severus was organized at least. "This is really organized," I tried to compliment him. "You did a great job."

I raised my eyes to smile at him, but I noticed him piling black pillows and dull-coloured blankets. "Thank you," he said. "I need to be organized for these students."

He seemed too busy with his pillow fort to acknowledge me. "What are you doing?" I asked, stepping out from behind the desk.

I watched a small amount of colour fill his pale cheeks. "It's cold," he said. "I thought you'd like a comfortable place to sit while you read."

A chill went up my spine from my toes. I hadn't actually noticed how cold it was until he mentioned it. Obviously, my curiosity had taken over any feeling. My feet were going numb though and I needed something to cover them with. "Thank you," I said, realizing that I had almost forgotten to thank him.

He nodded, acknowledging my thanks and sat down at his desk. I wandered over to his desk and looked at the mass of papers organized in small piles. "Is there something else you need?" he seemed slightly frustrated. I guessed that class would be starting soon and he wanted me sitting down.

"Something to read maybe?" I smiled awkwardly.

I hate having to depend on other people. "Oh," he opened one of the many drawers. "Here are a few. I recommend this one," he tapped a book with a black cover. "It is very descriptive."

I took note of that and kept it on the top. Of course, I didn't under half of that magic stuff, but I wanted to witness it. "Thank you," Is that all I can say? Thanks? Damn, I'm filled with thanks.

My pile of books led the way to the bed that Severus had made me. As soon as I had sat down, there was a small stream of short students filing into the classroom. I watched them from beneath my covers; I had buried myself deep beneath the black silk and kept the black book close to me. Everything was black. I should ask Severus about why he likes black so much. I opened the book carefully, just in case something had planned to jump up at me. Severus didn't seem the type to scare me for no reason though. I bet that large fuzzy man would try to scare me, or at least say "hi". I raised my eyes above the boring lines that were in the book to watch the students.

They seemed to be first year students, since he started from the beginning. At least, I thought it was the beginning. At lot of their nervous eyes glanced at me. There were probably tons of rumours about me already. Be careful or I'll eat you. Severus had an interesting teaching fashion. He seemed to scare the students into learning. Adding points, subtracted points, where are all these points coming from? I raised my hand. This, of course, added more attention to me. "What is so interesting?" Severus asked, glared at his students.

One, I wasn't sure who it was, spoke out. "Miss. Kali has her hand raised, sir," he said, nervously. His hand was shaking in the air.

Miss. Kali, eh? I like it. Severus turned to face me. He gave me the same horrible look that he gave his students. I stared at him blankly; my hand was shaking just like the first-year. I thought I was going to wet myself. "Yes?" he asked with sarcasm. He wasn't amused with my childish ways.

"Can a certain house get negative points?" I asked. "You've taken a lot away." There were a lot of whispers and I watched him glare at me. "Just a question," I went back to his so-called great book. "I didn't mean to offend."

He took the book away from me. He was grinding his teeth. "They won't reach negative points," he said, staring me down. I guessed that he used intimidation to get his way. I did feel like I was going to piss myself. He leaned closer to me, so his students wouldn't hear him. "And I don't appreciate your running commentary."

I nodded and snatched the book back from him. "Fine," I replied, stubbornly.

He stayed near to be for a second, just looking. I, daftly, stared back. He stepped back, blinked and then went back to teaching like he hadn't stopped to stare at me. Creepy. I stretched out in my tiny bed and yawned, not feeling like reading. I spent most of the time just watching everything. I doubted that I could do anything that the first years were doing, but I had read that only certain people actually had magic in them. I was quite glad about that though. I'd prefer Severus as a protector more than a teacher. "Okay, you're dismissed," his voice marked the beginning of another class.

I hadn't seen any magic at all. I quite disappointed and I watched his eyes lower down to my place on the floor. "Is that it then?" I asked, not realizing how daft I was.

"No," he scowled, like I was stupid. Damn, I am dumb. What was I thinking? "It's a school, my dear. I do have more than one class in a day."

"I-erm..." I quickly tried to cover up my mistakes. "I meant is that what your class is going to be like? No super spells or anything?"

"If you wanted to see magic that badly than you should have gone to another classroom," he said.

"I'm supposed to stay with you because I'm so dangerous," I said.

He sneered at me. "Just don't talk this time, okay? It's hard enough to control a class without your 'witty' comments. Were you the class clown when you went to school as well?" No, actually, I was just asking a question. Do I have the nerve to say that? "Please just stay quiet." No, I don't have the nerve.

"Okay," I nodded, watching students walk in.

I recognized the first three immediately. They were the three from the donut shop. Of course, they didn't seem to recognize me. I buried myself in the black sheets so that they wouldn't. I wasn't sure if I wanted them to see me in the condition that I was in. They did seem to greet Severus quite well. I'm not sure if that was a good or bad thing. Before I even had the chance to eavesdrop Lucius' son walked in. "Oh, so that thing is going to watch us learn now?" he said, glaring at me.

God, just let him leave me alone. "Where else is she supposed to stay, Mr. Malfoy? In the Slytherin common room?" Severus asked him.

His protecting words became softer than the blankets I was hidden in. "Well," Lucius' son seemed taken back slightly. He probably doesn't stand up for people to often. "She's not chained up or anything."

"Tell me," Severus started. "Does that girl seem at all threatening to you right now? I think she looks rather adorable, hidden like that."

I blushed, but my cheeks were too deep for anyone to notice. Lucius' son stepped closer to me, as if to get a closer look. I was tempted to make some sort of quick movement, but I feared Severus' reaction. His grey eyes lingered on me for a while, just watching. "I do agree sir," Lucius' son said, still eyeing me like some sort of sour candy. "But I keep remember what she had turned into."

Severus threw his fist onto his desk in front of him. Whoever wasn't eavesdropping into the conversation was now. "We don't know what had caused her rather destructive change, Mr. Malfoy, but I recommend that you do not entice it to come out and attack a more vulnerable part of your body," Severus said, quite calmly.

A couple of the students chuckled quietly, since I thought he was referring to his rather personal organ. Even it he wasn't, the look on Lucius' son's face was priceless. His two rather large friends beside him seemed to look confused, but kept looking at me. I was very uncomfortable. I think Severus noticed how awkward I looked. He walked over to me as the class started to settle into their desks. "Are you okay?" he asked, cautiously, as if I was a bomb that was going to explode.

"I'm fine," I said, looking up into his dark black eyes. His hair was hanging down slightly, since he was looking down at me. He looked sad – depressed maybe. Had I done something to him? "Are you okay?"

He smiled weakly and crouched on the ground so we could look eye-to-eye. "I'm fine," he repeated my words and probably my tone as well. "You'll be fine, I promise I won't leave you alone. Just read," he smiled weakly.

Something was bothering him that I didn't know about. How would I know about it? I barely even know the guy. "Okay," I said. "Thank you."

I doubt he heard me, since he stood up and already started to teach. I buried my nose into the book, actually reading this time. It must have been important if he really wanted me to read it. It wasn't as dull as I had originally thought.

Severus' cold hands on my head had brought my attention away from the book, if not startle me slightly. "Classes are over," he said. I had stopped watching them. I suspected I was a slow reader. "I'm just going into another room to check on something. Do you want to wait for me here, in my room or right outside of the door?"

I thought about it for a couple of moments, but I kept remembering Lucius' son's cold stare. I wanted to stay close to Severus. "Right outside of the room, if I'm not intruding," I said.

"Just so long as you don't follow me in," he replied.

I nodded slowly. He put the chain back around my neck without saying a word. I followed him. There was some sort of silent agreement between us. I actually enjoyed the silence. It was calming, in a weird sort of way. We seemed to be in their hospital-type section. Severus acknowledged the nurse, but I didn't look up at her. It was slightly degrading to walk around with a chain around my neck. "Stay here, okay?" he said, talking to me as if I was his pet dog.

"Fine," I said, crossing my arms stubbornly.

I watched him walk into the room and attempt to push the door shut. He let the chain fall to the ground. I quickly stopped the door with my foot. I wanted to be able to hear him. For some reason his voice gave me comfort. I have to remember to ask him if we can go to my apartment and get my clothes; I'm not sure if I'll like these dresses. "Well, you're the same," Severus' voice reached me. It was a whisper, so I sat closer to the door so I could hear him better. "Do you want to hear about my day? I can't actually remember the last time I've spoken to you."

I couldn't hear the voice that he was talking to, but I heard him sigh. "I know I promised you I wouldn't go back, but I'm helping Dumbledore and I think he needs me right now. A lot of people do," he said.

Silence again, but there was the lack of his sigh. He spoke. "I found this girl," he said, quieter. "She reminds me a lot of you," his voice cracked slightly, but it quickly went back to normal. "I think I need to protect her, so don't get jealous or anything. You know how I feel about you."

I wanted to see the person he was talking to. How was this person like me? I held onto my chain so it wouldn't drag on the ground and crawled slowly into the room. He was sitting down. "I really miss you," Severus said, with a quiet sigh.

He didn't notice me. Maybe he's on the phone. I crawled closer, trying to sneak a peak at anything. He wasn't on a telephone; he was sitting next to a hospital bed. There was a woman. I wouldn't describe her as pretty, but I wouldn't have described Severus' as handsome on first glance either. Her hair was a long pale blonde, straight and limp. She was deathly pale, but her eyes were closed. I quickly suspected that they were the same colour as my eyes, since Severus had said I reminded him of her. Eyes were usually the main point. She was very thin, but it was hard to tell since she was underneath covers, like I had been previously. There were tubes of all kinds going into her, everywhere. She was obviously very ill and maybe she was in a coma. She hadn't been responding to anything Severus had said. Her lips were thin and almost matched the skin. Every once and a while her chest would raise and then fall again, but it was rare. I think one of the machines helped her breathe, but most of it was different than the things I was used too; that could have been because the stuff she was hooked up to somehow involved the magic that I had just been introduced to. "I'm so confused," Severus said, startling me. "I don't know what to do about her, about anything really. I just wish you were here."

His long fingers tangled up with her short skeleton-like ones. I backed up. I didn't need to see the image of him leaning over her like that. I was almost positive her hands were colder than his. "Kali," he said, making me stop backing up on all fours. "I asked you not to follow me."

My head lowered, ashamed of sneaking a glance as his deathly love. "I'm sorry sir," I said. "I-I didn't know."

A/N: Hurray and there it is! I hope you like it. Blah I realize Snape's a little soft, but I'm sure if he was a real and he met me he'd be a smidge nicer... right? Okay, let's just say he would to make me feel better....

Thanks to my reviewers DeathlyNightshade and bluechocobo! They're being framed on my wall – I swear. Actually hotmail just bumped up my storage, so I get to keep all my reviews! Hurray! I actually have them all from when I was first here, but now I am rambling. I hope you liked it. Ah I love reviews.