Disclaimer:  Everything recognizable from the Harry Potter universe belongs to J K Rowling, no infringement is intended to any copyright holder

Beloved on this Earth

                                                                                                                   ~ 0 ~

Lois stumbled out of the green flames into her father's living room, her legs trembling in shock.  'That was horrible,' she gasped as Snape's tall form appeared next to her.

'It takes some getting used to,' he allowed with a condescending air.

'Getting used to?  I thought I was going to die!'

'Unlikely,' Snape mocked. 'The worst that could have happened is that you landed unannounced in some unsuspecting wizard's house.'

'Well you never mentioned that before you pushed me in!'  Lois growled, her shaky legs giving out completely as she sank onto a low chair.

'I did not push you,' he said disdainfully.

'Oh, I'm sorry,' Lois said, reviving enough to ask sarcastically, 'What would you call it then?'

'An encouraging tap.' 

'Yeah, yeah,' she groused.  'You might have encouraged me with a little more warning.  I think I swallowed a chimney full of soot.'  She coughed pathetically, glancing up from under her lashes to see if he was even slightly moved by her plight.  As she had expected, he was not looking at her at all, but was instead methodically examining the room he had landed in, his black eyes darting restlessly as he searched for hidden dangers.  Once every nook and cranny had been carefully scrutinised, he made his way back towards her, his approach utterly silent and vaguely intimidating as she stared up at him from her still seated position.

'We have no time to waste, Miss Scott,' he said silkily.  'The Floo connection is only temporary and if we do not hurry, it will be broken before we are finished.'

Lois bristled at his use of "Miss" when she knew he was fully aware that she had been married, but decided to let it go for now.  She didn't want to risk any unpleasantness over something that really wasn't that important.  Perhaps he didn't even realise he was doing it.  He always called Harry, Mr Potter or sometimes just Potter she remembered; maybe he was just one of those strangely formal types that you didn't meet very often anymore.

'Okay,' she said aloud, brushing away her irritation.  'I want to see if I can find my mum's things first and then I thought we'd go to my flat and get that closed up.  It's not too far, but we'll still need to catch a bus – it isn't really walking distance.  Perhaps a taxi,' she amended, seeing the appalled glare he shot her at the word "bus". 

Snape nodded impatiently, apparently satisfied with a taxi as a fitting means of transportation.  'Fine, fine.  Can we get a move on, do you think?'

'Certainly, do you want to help, or were you planning on standing here and grumbling?' she asked in a sweet voice.

He gave her a dark look before raising his arm in a sweepingly elegant gesture indicating she lead the way.

Arriving at the upstairs hallway, Lois quickly remembered that she wasn't tall enough to reach the trapdoor that led to the attic without either a chair to stand on, or a great deal of effort.  She was still on tiptoe, her arms outstretched painfully towards the dangling cord, when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle with awareness as Snape materialised behind her.  She lowered her arm and moved hastily away, feeling strangely awkward.  Luckily he didn't seem to notice her reaction and easily released the mechanism, allowing the steps to be lowered into the hall.  Lois clambered up into the dusty roof space ahead of him and immediately began moving boxes haphazardly out of her way.

Snape watched in disbelief for a moment before drawing her attention with a quiet cough. 'I think this might go slightly quicker if we had some idea what we were searching for before we began,' he said reasonably.

'I don't know what I'm looking for though,' Lois said not meeting his eyes.  'My dad just said that he'd kept my mother's things for me in the attic – it could be any of these.'  She said gesturing to the large number of boxes strewn across the room.

'Well if she was a witch, she would more than likely have used a wooden trunk to store her possessions in – do you know the type I mean?' 

'I think so, like a pirate's treasure chest?'

'Possibly,' Snape said, although he didn't look entirely sure.

'Okay,' Lois agreed finally looking at him for a second, before her gaze fluttered almost immediately away.  'I'll start at this end and you start over there,' she said pointing to the other side of the room.  'We should find it quicker that way.' 

Truthfully though, her reasons for moving him so far away were not purely to speed the search.  She was utterly embarrassed to realise that his closeness was having an unnerving affect on her.  Within the cramped confines of the attic there seemed to be very little oxygen available and she was intensely aware of his spicy, clean fragrance with every breath she took. Standing as close as they were at the minute, she could even feel the heat radiating from his hard body through the thin shirt he wore.  She didn't know what had gotten into her – Snape wasn't her type.  Not that she had a type exactly, but she couldn't imagine he was anyone's type with his surly manner and cutting remarks.  In the back of her mind she had been vaguely aware of his attractiveness since she had first met him. While she could see that he wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, she rather liked his harsh, intelligent features and fathomless dark eyes, he looked mysterious she decided and that voice, good grief what would that sound like mouthing sweet nothings instead of insults!

Even if he was tall, dark and just a few inches off handsome, these feelings were still something of a surprise; she hadn't been attracted to anyone since David had died.  The sudden crystal clear image of her husband was like an icy bucket of water to her heated thoughts.  There was no way she was ready to start a relationship and even if she were, it certainly wouldn't be with someone as difficult as Snape.  Emotions firmly under control once more Lois turned her attention back to her task, shooting a jealous look over at Snape who was moving his boxes far more easily than she using magic.

Had she but known it, right at that very minute Snape was battling similar difficulties in his corner of the attic.  Although he knew it was futile, he couldn't help but notice that Lois Scott was a very attractive woman.  Somewhat annoying with her constant chattering and highly personal questions, but attractive nonetheless.  Snape however, had no illusions about his own physical appearance and was well aware that someone who looked like she did, would never be interested in someone who looked like he did; he was very conscious of the fact that she had shied away from his touch on two separate occasions now.  Not that he cared of course, he was firmly of the opinion that romantic relationships between people who worked together were doomed to failure from their inception, much like any other romantic relationship for that matter, he thought cynically. 

Then again, maybe the jumpiness she exhibited around him was a sign of attraction rather than revulsion?  If that were the case, who was he to turn her away if she should indicate that she would not be averse to forming some type of liaison?  He raised his head slightly and looked over at the cause of his unsettled mood; her head was bent as she examined the boxes, and even at this distance he could see her forehead was wrinkled slightly in concentration.  Her vanilla-blonde hair was still knotted at her nape as it had been at breakfast that morning, but strands of it had come loose during the journey by Floo powder and were curling charmingly around her face and neck.  Other than that she looked remarkably serene considering all that had happened since yesterday. Seeming to sense his stare she looked up and gave him a quick unselfconscious smile, bending almost immediately back to her work without a second glance. 

He cursed himself for his stupidity; of course she wasn't attracted to him, in fact she was probably only amusing herself, pretending to be open and friendly so that he would make a fool of himself by drooling after her.  Her type always did.  Not that it mattered, he reminded himself – let her carry on with her games, she wouldn't add him to her list of conquests.  He was very aware that for someone who apparently didn't care, he seemed to be giving the matter an awful lot of thought.  

Unaware of his dark imaginings, Lois risked another glance over at Snape pleased to see he was no longer glaring at her.  He had seemed annoyed about something – probably regretting agreeing to accompany her on this trip, she realised seeing his forbidding scowl. 

'I can't believe I haven't asked,' she called over to him in an effort to break the silence that had fallen.  'What do you teach at Hogwarts?'

'Potions.'

'Really?  Do you use a cauldron?' she asked, genuinely interested.

'Of course,' he said, impatiently, obviously considering her question foolish.  'I am also Head of Slytherin House.'

'I read about the Houses, there are four aren't there?'

'Yes; Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw.'

'Which one's Harry in?' she asked and heard dark mutterings in response. 'I'm sorry, what did you say?' 

'Gryffindor,' he spat.

'You seem young to be a Head of House,' Lois said, quickly changing the subject from what was obviously a sore point for Snape.  She saw his head snap up sharply from the box he was moving and watched surprised as he glared at her suspiciously.  Once he seemed satisfied that there was no criticism implied he nodded shortly. 

'Unsurprisingly there are very few professors willing to accept the position of Head of Slytherin.  That is not to say,' he added arrogantly. 'That I am not eminently qualified for the job, but you are correct – I am younger than most.' 

'Why doesn't anyone want to be Head of Slytherin?'  Lois asked, confused; she hadn't read any mention of that in the book.

'Because nearly every witch or wizard who went over to the dark side was a former Slytherin, even with the fall of the Dark Lord it still retains something of a – reputation,' he said delicately.

'Did you go to Hogwarts?'  Lois questioned warily.

'Yes.'

'And what House were you in?' she asked, already knowing the answer from the expression on his face.

'Slytherin.'

'Oh.  What do you…' Her question ground to a halt as she called out excitedly, 'I think I've found it!  Come and look.'

Snape hurried to her side, reaching over her bent body to lift the trunk out of her hands before she broke something in the effort. 

'We're going to struggle getting that down the stairs,' Lois said, shooting him a thankful glance as he pulled the heavy trunk out from the corner it was wedged in.

Snape looked down his nose at her and drew his wand, waggling it in front of her face in a mocking manner.

'Oh,' she smiled, unembarrassed.  'I forgot.'

Lois watched impressed as Snape waved his wand and the heavy trunk lifted into the air as though it was filled with helium.  He walked back to the stairs, the trunk floating lazily along behind him, politely allowing Lois to clamber down the steps ahead of him.

'It must be really easy for you magical folks to get fat and lazy,' Lois murmured from his side as the two of them watched the heavy trunk glide easily down the steps.  'Although I see you've managed to avoid that pitfall pretty well,' she said reaching out to pinch his spare waist through his shirt.

'I beg your pardon!'  Snape said in an offended tone, backing away from her small hand.

Lois only smiled at his obvious shock at her actions.  In truth she was a very tactile person by nature.  To her, talking meant touching, hugs were offered freely and without embarrassment and she simply could not walk with a friend without linking arms. Although her playful pinch had been instinctive Lois had, for once, thought first before she reached out, recognising that Snape was an intensely reserved man, plainly not comfortable with casual touches.  She had immediately decided however, that that was all the more reason not to deny her true nature, no one should be as aloof as he was – it wasn't healthy.

'Sorry,' she said untruthfully.

Snape glared down at her, trying hard to appear disapproving.  It wasn't easy with her face grinning charmingly up at him and his side still tingling warmly from her touch.  His recent and very firmly made resolution, he realised worriedly, was already beginning to develop alarming cracks.

Lois nudged him back to awareness as the trunk still floated forgotten in front of them.  With a muttered cure he lowered it to the floor and Lois pounced on it the instant it was still.   She struggled for a moment with the heavy front fastening, which luckily was not locked.  It gave way with a loud creak and she hesitated for a second before taking a deep breath and pushing the lid open.

The first thing she saw was yards of material, which on closer inspection appeared to be robes similar to the types she had seen everyone in Hogwarts wearing.  She pulled them hurriedly out of the way and rummaged through the trunk for more interesting items. 

She immediately found what she was looking for in the form of a large bundle of photographs, held together with a ribbon. She pulled apart the bow eagerly and looked down at the faces smiling back at her.  Tears filled her eyes as she realised these were obviously magical photos.  Gazing at them, she understood now why her father had so few pictures of the women he had so plainly adored; the majority of their early married life had obviously been captured using a wizard camera and was therefore unsuitable to show an unknowing Lois.  She dashed the wetness from her eyes as she saw with delight her mother's animated features for the first time; she was standing next to her father, both looking extremely happy waving and laughing for the photo. 

Thumbing quickly through the thick pile, she came to a stop when she reached another family portrait, this one obviously after her birth as an older man, still tall and strong with a shock of pure white hair, held a tiny baby in his arms.  On his left stood her mother and father and on his right a man she assumed must be her uncle Niall.  The next photograph showed the whole family again, this time with her mother and uncle standing together, Niall's arm draped over his twin's shoulder.  They both appeared a little taller than Lois, Niall slim and slight for a man, horn-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose and a bashful grin on his face.  Both her mother and uncle shared her pale colouring and blue eyes, but other than that she couldn't really make out many similarities, she realised with regret.  The white-haired man, who must be her grandfather, towered sternly over his children in the picture, while she lay snuggled securely in her father's arms, her tiny fists waving merrily.  Lois gave a half laugh as she recognised her father's proud smile on his much younger face and wished desperately that he had shared these memories with her when he had been alive.

'We really haven't got much time, Miss Scott,' Snape repeated his earlier warning, but this time his voice was softer and if it had been anyone but him, she would have said sympathetic.

'I know,' Lois said, sniffing, and placed the photographs carefully back in the trunk for closer examination later.  Rifling quickly through the rest of the chest's contents she saw what could only be her mother's wand.  'Ooooh,' she breathed, turning to Snape.  'Will I be able to use this?'

'It will work, but not as well as a wand chosen by you,' he warned.  'Well?  What are you waiting for?' he said impatiently when she hesitated, her fingers inches from touching the wood. 'Pick it up.'

Lois warily grasped the wand, noticing as she did so the warmth that prickled through her fingers and ran up her arm.  She let out a small gasp as golden sparks showered from the wand tip.  She looked up at Snape, startled. 'Is that good or bad?'

Snape hesitated for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face.  'Good.  It probably suits you a little better than a borrowed wand generally would, because it belonged to your mother,' he explained at her questioning glance.

Lois placed the wand cautiously back in the trunk, not yet entirely comfortable with it, and was about to put the robes back on top when she saw a small wooden box sitting in the corner half hidden under a pile of books.  On closer examination, the wood appeared to be completely seamless, with no obvious catch or lock to open it.  She stared at it puzzled for a second before Snape's hand reached over to take it from her.  Drawing his wand he muttered, 'Alohomora.' and she heard a hidden catch click, as the small box sprung open.  With distracted thanks, Lois peered curiously inside, immediately recognising what had obviously been her mother's jewellery box as she pulled out a pretty necklace and some rings.

One of the rings in particular drew her attention and she lifted it clear of the box for a closer inspection.  It seemed old – the simple band of gold very yellow and gleaming dully.  As she twisted it in her fingers she saw that it was in fact two rings, the second a hidden inner ring, which rotated out, but remained joined when she pushed it.  Lifting it towards her, she noticed a faint inscription inside.  Turning the ring from side to side she could just make out the words:  on one side, were her mother and father's initials intertwined and on the other was written "Neither thee without me, nor me without thee."  This must have been her mother's wedding ring, Lois realised and let out a soft sigh, lost in the romance of the love they had shared.

Her father had never really recovered from the death of her mother.  Not that he had been unhappy, but he had never found anyone who even came close to taking her place.  She wondered bleakly if that was what the future held for her – living alone clinging desperately to fading memories of a long lost love until death finally reunited them.  A sudden cold chill gripped her, causing her to shiver at the thought of such a lonely existence

Snape made a questioning noise and she started in surprise, dragged from her depressing thoughts.  She passed the ring to him automatically and watched as he read the inscription.  'Charming sentiment,' he muttered, but without his normal sarcastic edge.  He handed the ring carefully back and Lois replaced it in the box, quickly repacking the trunk, aware time was ticking away.

The short journey to the taxi rank was accomplished without incident and they were soon at her flat.  Lois unlocked the door and stepped inside, feeling as though she hadn't been here for a hundred years.  She waited patiently while Snape again examined the room he found himself in and then said, 'Look, Professor, would you mind awfully if I dash off and get changed?  I've been wearing these clothes since yesterday.' She pulled at the modest dress she had worn to visit the Dursleys', with distaste.  Not giving him time to object, Lois trotted to her bedroom quickly stripping out of the tailored dress, which she usually reserved for church due to its plain lines and dark colour, no longer suitable now of course that it was such a vivid gold.  After a hurried shower, she dragged on a pair of jeans and teamed it with a soft t-shirt in deep blue.  Pushing her feet into socks and trainers, she was ready.

She was back in less than fifteen minutes feeling enormously better for the shower and change of clothes.  Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail and bobbed behind her as she walked.  She found Snape where she had left him leafing through one of her books.  'Do you want a drink?' she asked in attempt to be polite. 

'The time, Miss Scott.' he reminded caustically, shaking his head.

Lois bit back an angry retort, annoyed at his unfriendly manner and use of "Miss" again and headed back to her bedroom to cram her belongings into a suitcase without another word.  It was depressingly easy to tie up the loose threads of her old life and with quick letters to the hospital citing personal reasons for not returning, and to her landlord and bank to ensure her rent continued to be paid, she was done.  She would write to the few friends who would miss her once she was actually at Hogwarts and had more time.

She dragged the heavy suitcase back into the living room, unaware as she did so that her t-shirt had ridden up slightly with the effort.  She only realised what had happened, when she caught Snape staring from under lowered brows at the smooth expanse of toned midriff that had been revealed when she twisted.  'Oops,' she muttered embarrassed pulling it firmly back into place.  Damn, had she offended him?  Everyone she had met from the magical world so far certainly seemed to keep themselves exceptionally well covered – perhaps the sight of bare flesh was a huge no-no.  

'Are these clothes not suitable for Hogwarts?' she asked anxiously.

'They are perfectly adequate,' he answered, a rough edge to his voice she didn't notice in her worry about her state of dress.

'They're not are they?' Lois said, not wanting to stand out any more than she already would.  'Do witches normally only wear robes?'

'For the main, but nowadays I've noticed most children, and especially those who are Muggle-born, wear Muggle clothing out of school'

'I should wear robes though, shouldn't I?  If I'm going to be at Hogwarts, I mean,' Lois murmured despondently, suddenly very aware of how ignorant she was about even the most basic aspects of the wizarding world. 

'There is a town near to the castle, Hogsmeade – you will be able to buy robes from there,' Snape said shortly.

'Oh, good,' Lois said relieved.  'Well, that's me done, I just need to throw away the food in the kitchen and we can go.'

The trip to her father's house was uneventful and before she knew it she was standing back in the small room in Hogwarts they had begun their journey from, her stomach rolling queasily from the Floo powder.  She grasped the wall panting slightly as Snape appeared through the flames holding her magically lightened case and her mother's trunk.

'Thanks for bringing those for me,' Lois said gratefully.  'I don't think I could have held them and made it here in one piece.'

He waved away her thanks brusquely, obviously keen to bring his association with her to an end.  'I'll help you carry them to your room.  I don't know where Dumbledore intends you to be permanently, but for now it will do.'

Permanently.  The word echoed ominously in her mind as Lois trailed miserably along behind him.  His bad temper was causing her own fragile mood to plummet and ready doubts to crowd in as the enormity of the decision she had made so quickly came crashing down on her.  What had she been thinking?  She was going to give up her whole life and live in a magical castle?  Oh, God, she had made a hideous mistake!

She stopped, panic suddenly overwhelming her.  'I've changed my mind,' she almost whispered, but he heard and immediately turned to look at her, lowering the floating trunk to the ground, an impatient scowl marring his features.

'What?' 

'I've changed my mind,' she repeated.  'This was a mistake.  I want to go home.'  The last words were spoken in a lost voice, her face pale and scared.

'What do you mean; you've changed your mind?  I have just wasted the better part of an afternoon playing nursemaid to you.  Dumbledore has probably already contacted the Ministry to arrange for your training to be approved, and Professor McGonagall had to delay her own plans in order to track down how you came to slip through the net in the first place, and now you've changed your mind?'  His voice rose angrily towards the end of his speech and she stared up at him, understanding for the first time why Harry always treated him so cautiously.

'It's no good shouting,' she murmured weakly, feeling an icy numbness spread through her body.  'I'm not doing this to annoy you, I've just realised that I've made a mistake.  You can't make me stay here,' she said, her tone unconsciously pleading.

'As a matter of fact, I imagine we very easily could.'  Snape advanced on her, his footfalls almost silent even on the rough stone floor.  'I have just watched you post letters explaining your disappearance to your friends and colleagues, so no one will be looking for you and even if they were, this is the very last place on earth anyone would think to look.'  Lois gulped nervously as he impaled her with a coldly glittering gaze.  'That is of course, if Muggles were able to see the castle, which they are not,' he finished in a grimly satisfied tone.

Lois stepped away from him, inexplicably afraid of the dark menace in his voice before her fighting spirit kicked in and she straightened to her full height, glaring back at him, suddenly as angry as he.  'You don't scare me,' she said bravely if not entirely truthfully; he was a wizard after all.  He could change her into a toad and no one would ever know.  She wondered vaguely what flies tasted like. 

'Don't I?' he asked with silky menace, bending until his face was only inches from hers.

'No,' she said firmly meeting his eyes, her brief panic attack over.  And as suddenly as a light switching off, the threat seemed to vanish from him and she was left standing with the same bad tempered, but not frightening, man she has spent the day with. 

'Then I am confused,' he said in a reasonable tone, backing away slightly to allow a comfortable distance between them once more.  'You are not afraid of me, or presumably the castle and a very short while ago, if I am not mistaken, you were eager to begin exploring your heritage.'

'I was, but now I don't know…' Lois trailed off, not certain anymore what she wanted.

'I would suggest that this is simply a case of last minute nerves; you are feeling understandably out of your depth and unsure as to whether this is the right decision,' he said in a calm voice, picking her case back up.  'After a good night's sleep, you will soon realise that it would be the height of folly to turn your back on something this important because of a momentary lapse of confidence.' 

Lois felt the warmth begin to invade her chilled limbs again, realising with irritation that he was probably right.  She shot him a resentful glare and nodded grumpily.  'Okay, but if I'm still not happy in the morning, I'm going home!' 

'But of course,' Snape said congenially, seemingly pleased with his victory.  'Who suggested otherwise?'

Lois made a scornful sound and snatched her suitcase from him haughtily, the effect somewhat ruined by the fact that she almost fell once the full weight of it rested in her arms; apparently the bags were no longer magically lightened.

She whipped her head to the left searching for any trace of amusement on Snape's features, but found them studiously blank.  She watched him suspiciously for a moment before lifting the heavy luggage and marching as best as she could down the corridor, the awkward distribution of weight unfortunately making her walk resemble a duck's waddle, and Snape to have to bite back his laugher at the sight.

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A/N The inscription from the ring apparently comes from Marie de France and in the original French is: 'Ni vous sans moi, ni moi sans vous.' - I have a ring just like it but in patterned silver not gold.

SailorWade – Niall is the Irish form of Neil and is pronounced NEE-al, and in case anyone wondered Niahm is pronounced NEE-uv. I chose her name because Niahm was a Celtic goddess of beauty and brightness who helped heroes at death.