A/N: Next Chapter, here we go. I'm actually writing the next one, so I can't promise an update next week. Oh well. We'll see.

Chapter Six: The Same

I woke up to see pale grey eyes staring at me. "Not this morning," I said, turning over quickly.

I heard Lucius chuckle behind and messed up my hair playfully. "You didn't set your alarm sweetheart; did you get something last night?" he asked.

"A headache," I replied. "What time is it?"

"Time for you to get ready," he started to shove me out of my covers.

"Is Kali awake?"

"Do you want her to be?" he replied with a question.

"I do not know," I said. "I am not interested this morning Lucius. I'd appreciate it if you just left me alone."

"You aren't interested in what?" Lucius asked sternly, shoving me right out of my bed. "What, exactly, are you not interested in? Is it me? Because I'm pretty sure you've said different before. Is it Kali? Maybe she would like to know. It'd be unfair to lead her on like that."

"She seems more interested in your son," I snarled, shuffling to the bathroom.

He followed swiftly behind me, making me wish I hadn't actually looked to see. "Draco is interested in his assigned wife and her only," he replied coldly. "I doubt he'd be interested in Kali anyway, she's rather interesting herself and I'm not sure what Draco would do if the person he liked was more interesting than him. He's rather spoiled, if you haven't noticed."

"I haven't noticed," I said sarcastically. "I only have taught him for all of his schooling years."

I tried to shove him out of my bathroom, but he grabbed my arm quickly. "What happened? Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I answered. "But I'm really late."

Lucius looked at me for a moment, staring into me with his grey eyes. "Do you really want me to leave?" he puckered his lips in a mocking tone.

Merlin, he's childish. "No," I said, poking his chest. "I don't think so. You can talk to me while I shower. What's the news between Narcissa and you?"

"Nothing exciting," he replied. "Some git was over and she wanted me out of the house. So I came here to watch you snooze."

"How sweet," I made sure that sarcasm dripped from every letter.

"Are you undressing?" Lucius questioned.

"Will you be watching?" I asked.

"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before," he replied.

"Oh fuck," I sighed for a moment, sitting down on the floor.

"Severus?" I watched Lucius lean over me while my thoughts swarmed deeply into my mind. "Are you alright?"

I leaned over to get my wand, so I could turn on the shower. I flicked the wand, removing my clothes and turning on the shower. "Fine," I replied.

I stepped in to avoid him. What he said was what I said to Kali. I'm becoming just like him. Of course, shower curtains would not keep Lucius Malfoy out of the shower that he wanted to be in. I watched him walk into the shower and his clothes removed themselves so that they wouldn't get wet. "What's wrong?" he asked, turning me around. I felt him begin to rub my back. "You can tell me."

"Kali is still mad at me," I stated, pulling away from him.

He pulled me close again, showing his authority. Again, he tried to rub my back. "Well, you were mad at me the first time," he said with silk lining his voice. "You forgave me," he rubbed harder, in case that would help.

It did. "It's not just that," I gave into him. "It's what she said. She had brought up..." I trailed off, leaning into Lucius' tough hands.

"Shh," Lucius cooed. "I'll talk to Kali."

"I don't know if that's the best idea," I replied. "I don't think she's particularly fond of you. Not that I blame her."

I felt one of his hands stroke my hair, probably trying to clean it. "Well, I have nothing else to do this afternoon," I felt his lips change into a smile against my shoulder.

"Just be careful," I stated.

"But that's no fun," he replied, squeezing my hand. "Would you like to shower alone, without me?"

"If you don't mind," I said, pulling away from his hand again.

I felt his hand wrap around my neck as he pushed me up against the shower wall, where the ice-cold tap rubbed against my leg. Lucius' lips pressed against my ear harshly. "I'm nothing but nice to you and offer favours, but you still don't give in. You owe me a lot, Severus. I'm not one to get pushed around," he snarled.

As quick as his mood had changed into anger, he was out of the shower to leave me alone. I rushed to get out, since I was almost positive that I was late. When I finally did step out of the shower, Lucius just watched me carefully as if I had committed a crime or something. Well, a crime he actually was upset about. "I'm off," I stated. "You are welcome to stay here."

"I'll straighten out your lady problems," he crossed his arms, like it was just a chore for him and he hadn't actually offered.

I ran into Kali when I walked out of the bathroom. "You forgot to charm the damned fireplace," she stated.

"I've got to go to class," I said and grabbed random marked papers that I had stacked on my desk the night before.

"I don't want strange people to be in here while I am sleeping," she said.

"You know Lucius," I said. "And you handled the last intruder quite well, at least I thought you did." I turned to face her coldly. "Did you think you handled it the wrong way, sweetheart?"

She scowled and walked into the bathroom. I quickly left the room as I heard her yelling at Lucius. This morning, everyone's in a bad mood. I walked into my class to see most of the class there already. I started to teach immediately and scolded anyone that walked in later than I had, even if they were not actually late. The first class went by quickly and none of the students dared to comment on my growling stomach. I quickly summoned some food from my room into my class. I wolfed it down before Miss. Granger came in alone and on time. I wiped several crumbs from my shirt and she smiled at me. "Miss. Kali isn't present today?" she asked, casually.

"No," I replied. "I'm afraid not. I'm not exactly the friendliest person, so I had probably offended her in one way or another and she is not interested in hanging around with a potions professor."

"An old, dusty potions professor," Granger corrected.

"Thank you," I said, pouring sarcasm from my mouth. "I really needed that."

"Is she okay?" she questioned.

I shrugged in a child-like fashion. "I don't know. I didn't get a chance to ask this morning. I think she is," I said.

"Do you think I could stop by to say hi?" she asked. "Later, of course, not missing your class."

"I would hope not," I stated. "She doesn't need friends. She should be let out soon enough anyway. It's dangerous to befriend her."

I noticed the desks start to fill up and her male friends had already taken their seats. Her eyes narrowed into a spoiled glare. "You don't even know her. I can't believe they'd shove a girl like her with a horny git like you. If Dumbledore knew what you were doing with her, stashed away in your room like that, you wouldn't be at this job - I assure you of that much."

I lowered my voice so the other students wouldn't hear me. "Albus Dumbledore does actually know what I'm doing with her, not that it is any of your business."

She scoffed. "And you still work here?"

"It's not like Kali is complaining," I replied.

"She should," she leaned close to me, so that no one would hear her either. "She was rather upset with you before."

"She told you?"

"Impulse," Hermione replied. "I didn't tell anyone."

"Are you finished?" Draco Malfoy shouted. "I wouldn't mind to get some learning done. I'm rather sick of watching you flirt with your students."

"Detention Mr. Malfoy," I stated. "My patience doesn't exist this morning."

"I think that calls for a loss of points!" Ron Weasley shouted from his seat in the back of the class.

"You now have a detention as well, Mr. Weasley," I said. "I suggest you move to your seat Miss. Granger."

The class dragged by slowly as I tried to get some information to drain into their brains. Eventually, something broke my droning voice. Pomona Sprout rushed into the room. "Se... Professor Snape!" she started to push me out of the room. "They need you in the infirmary immediately. I'll watch your class!"

"What about your class?" I questioned, not used to having someone shorter than me pushing me around.

"I don't have a class at the moment, don't worry. They need you," she said.

I began to walk towards the infirmary, ready to hear Poppy complain about some sort of victim that Kali might have attacked. But something popped into my head. What if she woke up? I smiled to myself as I opened the door to the hospital room. Any hope that was in my face was immediately drained from it. Kali, well a monster was chained to the bed attacking anyone that was near her. Minvera McGonnigal, Lucius Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore and Poppy Pomfrey all struggled to avoid her fury. Lucius was dripping with blood that I suspected to be his own. As soon as they all realized my presence, they stopped moving, even the beast that had been Kali. I felt my jaw drop as I saw her in her complete form. Whatever Lucius had done, pissed her off to a dangerous extent. Large, larger than her body, peach-grey wings had sprouted from her back, but they were bleeding where they met her back since they were tied down rather furiously. A tail with three sword-sharp ends came from her previously lovely bottom, but it was also tied down. It twitched once and a while, but it had a hard time moving. She was no longer clothed, but giant metal plates covered any part of her that would have been interesting. Her skin was the same deathly colour of her wings, but most parts were covered with the metal plates anyway. Her face was completely different than Kali's and I would have referred to she as an it, except I actually knew something about the species. It resembled a dragon and a horse combined: a long snout, covered in the plates (I guess you could call them scales) a large mouth with flaps of skin covered million of tiny teeth and a brown curly "mane" grew from the top of her head halfway down her back. Pure red eyes watched me as her chest heaved, out of breath. Her hands were, in fact, hands; they were just the sickly colour, with several scales, and each finger was a lot longer than human hands. The nails were a long longer and formed to a point. Her feet and legs resembled massive tree trunks, where feet didn't actually exist and they were just massive stumps. Albus stated the obvious, "Kali has transformed again."

Kali acknowledged her name by glancing at Albus, but her blood red eyes went back staring at me once more. I felt the hair on the back of my neck raise. She knows it too. "I want her unchained," I stated in my teacher tone.

"Well, you can't have everything Severus," Lucius snarled, sitting down in a seat.

Kali wasn't moving anymore, but most of her body was, in fact, chained down. "You know damn well she can get out of those chains Albus," I stated. "If she tried."

"How do you know?" Minerva McGonnigal smirked at me. "Does she resemble someone you know?"

I scowled at her. "If you won't removed the chains then leave me alone with her. I can handle this situation and I can do it alone," I said.

"Fine," Albus said. "We'll all leave."

I noticed Poppy put her arm around Lucius waist, to help him move. "Come on Mr. Malfoy, we'll get you cleaned up."

I noticed Lucius had a face filled with fury and would not look at me. He was unusually quiet. "I'm not sure what you were doing in Severus' room in the first place," Minerva stated, following the nurse and the victim out of the room.

Albus smiled at me. "Good luck," he stated and disappeared into the doorway as well as the rest.

I closed the door quietly and looked down at Kali, who still watched me. I couldn't tell what her expression was, but I sensed that she was calm. "Was Lucius mean to you?" I said in a babying tone.

I heard the monstrosity snort and noticed it yawn. "You know, don't you?" I sat down on the bed beside it.

It's shoulders shrugged carefully and I noticed her cut her own chains. I let her escape and doubted that she would attack me, but I kept my wand handy in my sleeve, just in case. The creature had the same personality as Kali so I quickly suspected that she didn't remember what she had done while she was transformed and it wasn't some beast slumbering inside of her. I wondered how a muggle could get magic powers and still have no magic ability. She struggled with the chains that were on her wings and I undid them for her. It obviously caused her pain. "Why don't you change back so I can talk to you?" I asked her.

I noticed it make various clicks, as if it was talking to me. I sighed, picking up the language. "So, you do know then," I said.

I watched her head nod and I swear I saw her face smile, if that was actually possible. I started to unbutton the buttons on my shirt. "Does Kali know?" I asked.

The beast again snorted, impatient with me. I sighed and finish undressing myself. I closed my eyes and began to bear the pain that was transformation. I wasn't surprised that Kali went unconscious when she changed; sometimes I wish I would. I opened my eyes acknowledging the completeness of the transformation. My sight was black and white and slightly distorted. I was used to this though, since I transformed a lot. "It's about time," I mentally translated Kali's voice into English.

I was what she was. I clomped over to where she was; still hating what was my feet. "I'd rather not blow my cover," I snarled, sitting down beside her.

"Well it's not like I remember anything anyway," she stated.

"What if someone walked in?" I asked.

"Then I would eat them."

It was hard to tell if she was joking or not, but I decided it would be best to pretend she never said it. "So we're the same," I stated.

"Damn straight."

"Are you mad with me?"

"Always," she stated.

I tried to picture Kali instead of the beast beside me. "Do you feel like changing back?" I asked.

"What if I don't remember?"

"Then I'll explain it to you," I said.

"Everything?" she asked.

"Everything," I repeated in a different tone.

"Promise?"

She was acting quite childish, which frustrated me. "I promise," I echoed her for the second time.

"Well, you go first," she said.

I nodded and began to transform back. I stood up and clenched my teeth again. I still could not get over the feeling of wings folding back into my back. The pain was excruciating, but it was over quickly. "Your turn," I replied, looking at the beast sitting calmly on the bed.

It took my eyes a few moments to get adjusted to the colour, so I missed most of Kali's transformation. Her back still bled furiously, but there was a time when mine had done the same. I looked down at myself for a moment and began to dress myself – quickly. "At least you still have clothes on," she said. "You also have been swearing a lot as of late."

"Well I don't care if you hear me swear," I stated, looking back to her. "You are far from one of my students."

She smiled, showing off her teeth. "That's sweet of you," she said. "I remember everything though."

"You do?"

She nodded, still smiling. "That's why I'm smiling. You have the same problem I do! Can you believe it? I can't believe that we even met. If Lucius hadn't picked me up we probably would have never found each other."

"So you're glad now?" I asked, fighting with myself not to look at any of her parts that should be covered.

"Not really," she said. "But I don't feel so alone."

"I don't think you ever were," I replied.

Even though whatever magic a relationship between us might have held was stolen away by me raping her, she still smiled bashfully at me. It was almost like she had forgotten everything that had happened and was giving me a second chance. I sat down on the hospital bed beside her. She instantly crawled onto my lap and placed her head underneath my chin. I placed my arms around her, to protect her nudity from any eye. "Severus," she had started. "Do you think you could fix my back?"

"Oh," I had almost suspected something romantic. "Of course."

I removed my arm from her back and ran my wand against her room. I watched stitches stitch up the wound, imperfect. "Done," I replied.

She pushed me down on the bed and without saying a word, she laid herself down on top of me. I must have had a startled look on my face, since she laughed light-heartedly at me. "We're the same," she said.

I had a hard time keeping eye contact with her. I admitted to myself that I was frightened of how happy she was with me. "Not exactly," I said. "You are female and I am not."

I was startled when she kissed me softly on the lips. I didn't get a chance to kiss back before she pulled away. "You're different you know?" she said.

"I've known that for a while," I replied and wrapped my arms around her lower region, so I wouldn't touch her stitches. "Does that mean you've forgiven me?"

Now she couldn't make eye contact with me. Why do I always ruin everything? "Severus," she sighed. "I remember eating that man. He was after you."

"You protected me, subconsciously, but you did," I said.

She drew tiny circles on my chest and bit her bottom lip. "I forgive you," she replied, quietly.

"What was that?" I attempted to tease her. "I didn't hear you."

She kissed my neck softly. "I forgive you. You wouldn't have done it if you didn't have to."

"I think I like Snape better than Severus." What made her change overnight? Was I still speaking to the beast? I doubted it. I watched everything slow down before my eyes as she watched me carefully. I heard her every breath as she leaned into me to kiss my face again. I wanted to be with her. I needed to be with her. I would change for her. I ducked away from her kiss and switched our positions. I wanted to be in control for the moment. "Kali," I stated. "Do you honestly forgive me?"

She looked away, again. It was frustrating to think that she could turn angry with me at any moment, but I had to know. I'd do anything to make it up to her. "Well," she ran her hands across my chest, as if she was deciding. "I'll get over it," she stated plainly. "It wasn't your fault and it's taken me a while to see that. I just know when this whole mess is over, I want to remember the good things about you."

"You won't stay here then?"

"No," her blue eyes seemed more intent on my chest than with my eyes.

"You should be going home soon," I replied. "We have everything figured out."

She closed her eyes and hugged me from beneath. I almost slipped on top of her, but kept myself stable to look at her. "I just don't want to interfere," she said, as my shirt grew damp. It was obvious that she had started to cry. "I don't belong here."

"So you belong in a little apartment with George?" I put more sarcasm into my sentence than I wanted, but hoped it would work anyway.

"Maybe," she said. "He will have money when I return. So he can finally pay me for my services."

"I never got started on my painting," I stated more to myself than to her.

"Well, you have a lot of painting to do in a short time," she smiled.

Her eyes finally locked with mine. I took a chance and pushed my lips against her lips. I used both of my hands to hold her head as our tongues danced together. I never want this to end. I was pushed off the bed suddenly, with a sharp pain in my side. It hurt, but not a lot. Not enough. I sat up to stare at three of my students staring at me, one with rather angry eyes. "Hermione!" Kali spoke faster than I could. "It wasn't what it looked like. I wanted to-"

Hermione's voice cut hers off. She was, actually, quite terrifying when she was angry with her wand pointed at me, her hands were steady and her tangled hair flew back away from her face. I quickly suspected that Potter or Weasley held a fan. "Don't try to protect him," Hermione said. "He's not going to get away with it this time."

"Don't be thick Miss. Granger," I said. "I may not be very attractive or the friendliest character there is and I'm not really the favourite teacher around here, but I do have a life. Is it too hard for you to understand that I may actually like someone?"

I decided against bringing her love life into the situation. "Well, er-" she had to think fast, but I had embarrassed her. "You had raped her before."

"Well Kali has a huge fucking mouth, doesn't she? Did she explain that I didn't have a choice? Probably not because both of your skulls are too thick to look at the whole picture," I said, letting my anger take over me.

I was almost positive that I would not have my job for next year. "Why the hell do I have to be called thick?" Kali stood up and jabbed me in the chest. "You have no reason to insult me. Hermione made an honest mistake, so you don't really need to insult her either. Is thick the only insult you have?" she threatened me. "'Cause I have a little list in my head about all the things I could call you."

Kali was still threatening, even though she was naked. I guess a naked female had never told me off before, but she was embarrassing me in front of my own students. I pushed a glare in her direction, positive that the two silent boys in the room were checking her out. "I've been called everything in the book, my dear," I decided to take a classy route out. "Whatever you called me would only hurt me because you said it, not because of the words itself."

I noticed her blush as she grabbed sheets from the hospital bed to cover herself up better. She was no longer so proud. "Sorry Severus," she stated. "I guess I just went out of control."

"Hold on," Hermione finally spoke again. "If you guys were just having a good time, then why is her back bleeding?"

"If you looked at her as much as your two friends did," I watched Potter and Weasley's cheeks burn, "You would have noticed that her back is stitched up. She is in the infirmary for a reason. I did not put her here."

"Oh," Hermione stated, with a little bit of disappointment in her voice. "Then why is she in here?"

Kali was about to tell her, but I covered her mouth. "That is none of your business, Miss. Granger. You do not need to know everything," I stated.

Granger raised a pale eyebrow. "Kali seemed to be interested in telling me."

"That is Kali, not me," I said. "If I was her I'd keep it private. Shouldn't you three be in class?"

"We're between classes sir," Potter piped up. "We're probably already late for our next class."

"Shouldn't you be going to it?" I questioned.

Hermione smiled rather viciously at me. "After you, sir," she snarled.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor," I stated, letting each letter drip slowly from my mouth. "You attacked me as well as interrupted a private time. I think I'm letting you off easy. I'll inform Professor McGonnigal as soon as I leave this room."

Granger opened her mouth to protest, but left the room quickly followed by Ron Weasley and then Harry Potter. Harry glanced at Kali before he left the room, but I wasn't sure if Kali had noticed. I took her by the hand. "Would you like to go back to the room and get dressed?" I asked.

She played with my hand, swinging it childishly. "Are you actually going to go back to class?" she didn't answer my question.

"I must," I said. "Pomona Sprout has a class now and I doubt that there is anyone there at the moment."

"Well, I'll wait in the room for the end of the day then," she let go of my hand. "But you'll start painting when you get back, right?"

"For you? Of course," I smiled.

She returned it bashfully, but looked down at herself. "How am I supposed to get back to my room?" she asked.

"You could transform and walk there," I said. "That way you'll show everyone that you can control yourself."

"But what if I can't control myself?" she questioned.

"Then I'll control you," I smiled.

She nodded slowly. "I don't have the slightest idea what I am doing," she said.

"Why did you change in the first place?" I asked.

"To protect myself," she stated.

"And why do you want to change now?" I asked.

"So no one sees the lack of breasts," she stated.

"Essentially, you are…"

"Protecting myself," she smiled. "Okay, I think I can do this."

I watched her close her eyes and try to change. The stitched from her back tore and wings ripped out of her back, literally. I noticed a small pool of blood begin to form around her legs. Her nudity began to be covered by her scales. Her back still bled. I was surprised she was still conscious. I held onto her to support her. "Stop," I said as she leaned against me. "I'll just carry you like this. It's far enough."

She relaxed in my arms as I awkwardly carried her, draped across my shoulder. I opened the door with my foot and started to walk from the room. Albus stood there. "Is she alright?" he asked, curiously.

"She's fine," I said. "At least I think she is." Kali raised her clawed hand to attempt to give a thumbs up. "I have taken fifty points from Gryffindor. Is there any reason why you let three students into the room?"

"They must have snuck by," Albus sighed. "Minerva is watching you class for now. I suggest you get there after you finish dressing Kali."

"Okay," I said, struggling for a moment.

Albus opened the door for me. "Be careful with her. She is rather fragile."

"Doesn't seem to be at the moment," I said, realizing that she went unconscious.

"I didn't mean physically," Albus closed the door.

I blinked for a moment, staring at the closed door. I wish he'd just say what he meant. I dislike riddles. I sighed and lugged the unconscious Kali to my room. As I walked several skippers and wanderers watched me, but said nothing. I continued my pace to finally reach my room. At least she hadn't reawakened or anything. She just snoozed quietly on my shoulder, and the bleeding lessoned as I put her down on what used to be my bed. I sat down for a moment, trying to decide how she would change back if she wasn't awake. I poked her softly on the cheek. "You might want to change back."

Screw Minerva. I'll take my time here. I heard Kali mumble, well it was more of a growl, as her eyes opened the look at me. "Change back and I'll get you fixed up."

She nodded and I turned away as she changed back to who she was supposed to be. "Done," she said, quietly.I watched her stand up and stretch. "My back..."

I ran my wand across it, trying to do a better stitching job than before. "All done," I said with a half smile.

"Are you going to wait around here? Or are you going to go to class?" she asked.

"I think I'm going to wait around here," I stood up so I could be near her again. "I want to be with you."

I ran my hands up her back, avoiding my poor stitching. She leaned back into me. "I'm going to leave soon," she stated. "There's no reason for me to be here, is there?"

To be with me. "I guess not," I replied. "I'm not forcing you to stay."

I held onto her, pulling her close to me. I wasn't sure how to articulate what I wanted to say to her. She left me breathless and speechless. She did not compare to anyone I had ever met and she was leaving me. She pulled away from me. "Maybe I should start packing," she said.

I scoffed to myself. How can I feel this way about her? I barely know her past and her personality. It's just an infatuation because I am bored. "May I paint you while you pack?" I asked. "I'm not very good, but I'd like to try."

She smiled half-heartedly at me. It was easy to tell that she wasn't interested, but I took advantage of her doormat personality. "Sure, should I get dressed?"

"Would I sound like a pervert if I said no?"

She laughed. "Yes, yes you would," she said. "I'm not attractive while I'm packing. You can see all my bones moving around in my skin."

"Then don't pack," I said.

"But I'm in that packing mood," she said.

"Fine fine," I said. "Go put your little muggle clothes on and I'll bring out my paints and such."

I watched her grab some clothes and leave. I sighed softly, when I was sure she couldn't hear him. I want you to stay.

A/N: And, there it is! I hope you liked it, if not enjoyed it.

Thanks to my reviewers DeathlyNightshade, Sesshomaru's Angel and Smiley Face3!

Yep. That's all I have to say. DeathlyNightshade is very cool. She's been e-mailing me. Just so you all know. Things get more exciting in the next chapter. At least... well I think so. I don't really know because I haven't finished it yet haha.

Thanks sooooooooooo much for reading!!