yea i forgot to add an A/N to the last chapter i was in a ruch to get it done with. this is my first big story that i want to actually finish, so ill need a bit of help from you lovely readers. im begging you to read and review so i know if im doing a good job or if im making a fool of myself. any comment will be greatly appriciated.
enuff babbling, ill get onto the story
disclaimer: anything you dont recognize is MINE!
Severus Snape apparated outside the gates of Hogwarts, in his death eater uniform, aching and shaken. He had, once again, endured the cruciatous curse more than twice tonight, and to top it off, had to witness, and participate, in the killing of one of his prized students entire family.
Evelyn O'Brien had always been an exceptional student. Bright and cheery, even in his class, she always laughed and had a smile on her face. And he even acknowledged her work and effort, a rare thing for him to do for anyone outside his own house. Though, to maintain his reputation, he would always wipe away that sweet smile with the subtraction of her house points. "a great pity she wasn't in Slytherin, a great pity indeed." he thought idly. And now she was an adult, still a student perhaps, but an intelligent and mature student, maturer than her classmates at least. He had heard her berate her closest friends for insulting teachers, such as himself, or for telling inane and obscene jokes. She seemed like the kind of girl who would excel greatly in potions, an art he could tell she enjoyed. And he was planning on offering her an apprenticeship when she graduated. He figured there was no need to waste a mind as brilliant as hers.
And now, stumbling over the grounds of Hogwarts, intent on informing the Headmaster of the sad news, he was not sure that his prized student would ever be the same again.
After several minutes of regaining his balance and silent thoughts of how she was handling this horror, if she even knew yet, he found his way to Dumbledore's office.
"Severus my dear boy, what may I do for you?" the headmaster welcomed his much younger friend.
"Albus, do not act so cheery, you know perfectly well that I just came from a death eater revel." the Potions master snapped.
"I apologize Severus, you are quite right, But you are back in one piece, and for that I was relived," the old man replied, offering a lemon drop to severus, who declined as usual. "Now on a more solemn note, who's family was attacked?"
"Evelyn O'Brien's family. I made sure she was not on the premises, and she is not hurt, but I don't have a clue as to where she is or if she knows yet." snape answered warily.
"Oh dear..." Albus said idly, the twinkle in his eye fading away replaced with sadness. The tired old man let his age show for a moment, as he gravely placed his face in his wrinkled hands, thinking. Deciding upon something, he raised his head again.
"Severus, I want you to find Evelyn, she could've very well found out, but if she hasn't, I want you to take her away from the house. And if she has already discovered this tragedy, comfort her, explain what happened, bring her here. Bring her home."
"Albus, I must decline, im not suited for comforting grieving little girls," Snape protested.
"On the contrary, she is not a little girl anymore, she is an adult. I think you may be the best person to retrieve her. She is in distress, and you and I both know would keep your head while giving the best explanation possible. She deserves the truth, not white lies. And you yourself have suffered losses such as this, you will understand her the best." albus said. "I insist you go and bring her here."
Muttering about meddlesome old fools and their caring ways, Severus was once again, cold, tired and aching, and setting out to find the young girl- or woman as albus stated- who both aggravated and intrigued him all at once.
Evelyn, could now be found, at the very end of the beach, sitting on the large rocks, covered in barnacles and seaweed. Her knees were brought up to her chest, and her head was cradled in her hands, wet with hot tears and blood not of her own. She cried still, harder and louder than ever. She vaguely wondered if she would ever be happy again. And she still asked that haunting question: why.
Why her? Why all this pain? Why did the world decide to torment her? Why why why! She felt lost, she felt alone, she wasn't even sure what to do anymore, or where to go. Did it matter? She asked herself. Would anyone really care anymore? No, I think not. She replied, feeling once again empty and bitter.
"I don't think anyone will care if I exist or not," she whispered in her despair.
"Now that's not entirely truthful, miss O'Brien" a deep voice replied to her.
Evelyn looked up. There stood her feared potions master, dressed in his usual attire, his black robes billowing about his feet, his boots sunken into the white sand. Evelyn turned away, not caring if it was rude, even though under normal circumstances she would never think of being rude to a man she considered a genius and a great mentor. But these were not exactly normal circumstances. She sniffled pitifully, tears escaping her red eyes. She could imagine she looked terrible, and this made her cry harder, her shoulders shook with her sobs.
And then, she felt a hand on her shoulders, placed awkwardly, yet it was comforting all the same. Desperate to find solace, to not be alone anymore, she lunged at the dark man and clung to him for dear life, sobbing louder. She was grateful that some one found her, that someone cared. In her grief she could almost feel secure, being in someone's arms again.
WOOT! i finished! please R&R!