Title: The Darkest Part of Dawn

Chapter: To the End

Author: TigerTiger02

Disclaimer: This song is by My Chemical Romance, the only things I own Sio, Vessa, and Astrid

Timeline: Ginny's sixth year, might have some OOTP and HBP

Dedication: to Nikki and Tarryn, who lent their traits to Vessa, Sio, and Astrid. I love you guys.

"Oh god…" Vessa whispered over and over again. The whole remaining student population was frozen. Even Filch stood there staring dumbly at crumpled form that was Sio.

"Damnit!" Astrid cursed, "I can't find a pulse!" she yelled angrily. "Damnit Sio! Don't you dare do this to us! Don't you dare die!" she yelled. She began to use CPR on the young vampire. Vi had managed to break away from her brother and was trying to stay out of Astrid's way as she pressed her cloak against the rapidly bleeding wound.

"Someone see if he's still alive!" Astrid commanded. No one moved, "Damnit people he's not gonna hurt you just bloody check before I curse the lot of you." It was then that a Ravenclaw's curiosity got the best of him and he dropped down besides the Death Eater and checked, "Nope. Dead as a doornail." He said, "How is she?" he asked as he scrambled through the pools of blood and studied the fallen girl.

"Barely alive, I don't how much longer I have until her heart gives out." Astrid panted out as she was thoroughly sweating as she continued to work on Sio. "She started breathing again but I don't know how much longer I can keep her heart beating. Someone get Madame Pomfrey and fetch Professor Snape if they can find the slimy bastard." Astrid panted out once more. A second year scrambled up and dashed out, hopefully to return with Medi-Witch. The brave Ravenclaw stood up.

"I'm a seventh year by the way, William Jaxx." He said as he stood, "I'll go out into the battlefield and see if I can locate someone."

"No!" shouted a girl, who was clearly his girlfriend. "Don't do this Will!" she said as she rushed over.

"I'm sorry Jem," he said gently, "Someone has to find a teacher to help. We need an auror also." He finished. Lucky for him and Jem a flustered looking Auror with bright pink hair came stumbling in.

"I just ran into some Second Year, what happened?" She said and stopped to stare in horror at the two bodies.

"Apparently someone lost track of this Death Eater and he came in, this brave girl stood up to him, which is a surprise considering she's a Slytherin, and he Cruicoed her. She managed to get up and Stupefy him, she must have put everything into it because he's dead and she's dying." William the Ravenclaw said.

"Oh my god…" the young Auror said. She conjured up a wolf Patronus with a message and it dashed away. "Keep working on her... Episky!" she said and pointed at the now uncovered wound on Sio's stomach. The wound didn't heal but it did stop bleeding and start to scab over. Vessa continued to weep, and the only other hall was Astrid grunts and pants as she continued to pump Sio's heart for her.

He calls the mansion not a house but a tomb.
He's always choking from the stench and the fume.
The wedding party all collapsed in the room.
So send my resignation to the bride and the groom.

Severus Snape could never be mistaken for a man who cared for anyone. But when he had seen the overly insane Crowley, who had been insane even before he was hit with one too many 'Crucios', wander from the battle to the school he worried. What if Bloody Stupid Potter decided to try and apprehend the man and was killed? Thankfully he saw several minutes later, Tonks rush inside after she had knocked out a particularly nasty Death Eater.

Surreptitiously Severus Snape fired off various incapacitating spells and made his 'Death Eater' spells miss everyone else. Of course this made him look like an incompetent spell-caster but so what? He was after all quite good with potions.

A Patronus in the form of a wolf, Tonks's he surmised correctly, dashed through him and went on to Dumbledore. 'The Death Eater that came in here is a dead and a student is dying.' Tonks' voice filled his mind, 'Need Severus…' Snape quickly cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and dodged various people fighting on his way. He remembered just in time to take his mask off and shove it in his voluminous robe pocket.

He walked through the halls trying to appear unaffected. He wondered which student had been brave, or stupid, enough to try and take on a Death Eater. He would put his money on any one of the Gryffindors, more on the Golden Trio.

When he stepped into the Great Hall he quickly surveyed the scene. Tonks was blocking his view of the person who had been stupid enough to try and attempt to take on a Death Eater. Nearby Duvessa McKenna was sobbing loudly. Ginny Weasley was trying to comfort the distraught girl. The Hufflepuffs didn't know where to look and they glanced around fearfully. The Ravenclaws as always were appearing interesting it what was happening, some were speaking quietly to others. Gryffindors were snickering to themselves and talking loudly. Hermione Granger was staring curiously at the scene and trying not to appear gleeful while her boyfriend Ron Weasley was quite gleeful, and Harry Potter had a neutral look on his face. He was probably thinking how lucky he was that he didn't have to face off with the insane man.

Snape turned his gaze to the still Crowley. The man was lying in a pool of his own blood and he looked quite dead. Tonks turned around, "Thank god you're here." She mumbled and stepped out of his way. Snape felt a sinking in his heart. No wonder why the remaining Slytherins were looking grim. Siobhan Greenwich was being feverishly working on by Astrid Croft. "Hang on… Damnit… don't you dare go towards that white light or I swear on pain on death I will kick your ghostly astral ass to hell and back!" Astrid was muttering as she continued to simulate Sio's heartbeat.

Snape had never known exactly how much blood was in a human body but it was evident that there was quite some by the amount on the floor. Sio was as pale as snow; she had a bluish-gray cast to her. Astrid had paused for a moment to check if her heart was beating, a few seconds later she performed CPR again. Sweat glistened on the pale girls face, her eyes glittered with unshed tears and she continued to ramble to the almost corpse in front of her.

Snape turned to Tonks, "What the hell happened here?"

"I guess the Death Eater came in here and she stood up and taunted him. Sounds impulsive to me but she must have known she would get out of the Crucio he put on her alive. She would have made a damn good Auror." At this Vessa began to sob harder, Snape shot Tonks a glare and she flushed, "I guess he had it on her for at most five minutes. She managed to get up when he lifted it off of her and turned his back. She took this chance and Stupefied him. She must have put everything in that to cause this damage." Tonks muttered in awe. "I've never seen one with this much damage. She must have not known that this would happen."

"Where the hell is Poppy then?" Snapped Snape his anger evident in his voice.

"Right here!" Madame Pomfrey dashed in. "Oh dear, oh dearie me!" she said as she looked down. "I'm not going to be able to help her much. She'll have to go to St. Mungos." Madame Pomfrey conjured up a stretched.

"What are we going to do about her heart?" Tonks asked quietly, "It's not beating on its own." Madame Pomfrey cast another spell that did basically what Astrid was doing as soon as the purple-haired girl scrambled away.

"Severus I have to ask you to come with me. Nymphadora stay here with the children." Madame Pomfrey said.

Let's go down!
This elevator only goes up to ten.
He's not around.
He's always looking at men
Down by the pool,
He doesn't have many friends.
As they are face down and bloated,
Snap a shot with the lens.

Madame Pomfrey was not a woman who was easily scared but the sight in the Great Hall had scared the wits out of her. Sio was such a nice girl, if not a little angry. She didn't deserve to die. She didn't deserve to be a vampire. The poor girl was so thin and fragile. Something was wrong with her. Her friends were right. Hopefully Mungos could help with whatever it was. As Poppy eyed the alabaster face of the girl who had been in her care only a few days ago she felt a great sadness weigh heavily on her. This girl had so much before her before the end.

If you marry me
Would you bury me?
Would you carry me to the end?

Since Severus Snape was the Head of Slytherin, her house, and she had no guardian, he had been asked to serve as her temporary guardian. This meant that he had to stay here and watch over her, even if he was allowed to leave he probably wouldn't have. He should have known that Sio would be the one to do this, such impetuousness he had rarely seen. He had seen it in the Potters and the Blacks in his childhood. Now at his old age, though one could hardly count 33 as old age, he rarely saw impetuous students. Many were now too afraid to do anything that brave, or stupid. He didn't blame them, this war wasn't something children should be involved in, yet their 'savior' was a moody 17-year-old with an attitude problem and a problem with authority. God help them all.

As he stared down at the 17-year-old girl, he had to wonder what had made her do it. Was she unhappy and it had seemed like a good idea, suicide by Death Eater? Had she not even thought about it? Did she think that she would pull through alive since she had extra abilities? Did she just not give a shit? Were her brains addled some how and no one had known? Any one of the theories could be true.

She had such a close brush with death, even Harry Potter hadn't come that close despite popular belief. The Healers had said she was lucky. Though she had powerful magic, the fact that she wasn't a feeding vampire had crippled her body. She was barely on a functioning level; they were surprised that she had even survived. Everything had checked out as being fine with the exception of her heart, which couldn't beat on its own. The Healer had explained patiently to the impatient Potions Master that she didn't have enough blood in her system to keep the heart beating. He had also mentioned that her lungs were damaged by what appeared to be at least three years of smoking.

"We need to give her a Blood Replenishing Potion as soon as possible, and we have a potion that can clear all the tar out of her lungs." The Healer had said.

So say goodbye to the vows you take.
And say goodbye to the life you make.
And say goodbye to the hearts you break.
And all the cyanide you drank.

Severus had watched helplessly as they attempted to give her the Blood Replenishing potion. She couldn't, or wouldn't, swallow. Finally they managed to coax her nearly dead body into taking it. The effect was tediously slow; it was about an hour ago that they had finally taken the spell off her. A Healer had leaned down and placed her head on Sio's heart, listening carefully while feeling for a pulse.

"Success!" She said happily. "She'll survive; there might be some brain damage however. Also she depleted her magical core, so she will have to wait until she is healed and well to do even a simple spell. We'll be keeping her for the next week for observation." All Snape could do was nod. He was powerless here. He let himself drift to sleep.

She keeps a picture of the body she lends.
Got nasty blisters from the money she spends.
She got a life of her own and it shows,
By the Benz she drives at 90 by the Barbies' and Kens.If you ever say, never too late

Sio was barely aware of her surroundings. Everything was so bright and bold, loud and brash. She whimpered in pain. Her body ached sharply. What the hell had happened? She remember the Crucio and she remember getting up and pushing all of her power into what? That's where everything got fuzzy. What spell had she done? Did she faint? Where was she? Finally Sio allowed herself to become adjusted to everything. Opening her eyes the first thing she saw was a window, it looked like such a beautiful day outside. The second thing was her Head of House, Snape, slumped in a chair apparently asleep.

Sio had to wonder why he was here, but then it hit her. She had no legal guardian. Of course they would ask Snape to stay; he was technically her "parent" since she was a student in his house.

As she stared at her sleeping Professor she realized that Severus Snape was a handsome man. His nose wasn't as large as one might think, nor as crooked. It wasn't very aquiline in her opinion, but it resembled her mentor's Captain Jack Sparrow. His lips were neither thin nor full but pleasantly in between. His long sooty lashes rested upon the swell of his cheekbone. His face was all sharp edges and hard planes, his cheekbones high and slightly prominent. She reached a tentative hand out to touch his hair slightly, wondering if it was really greasy after all. It wasn't. She couldn't have been more surprised, it was really freaking soft! She figured that leaning over cauldrons all day and living in dark, damp dungeons would make ones hair appear to be like that. And it's so soft that she can't pull her hand away. Quietly she speaks to herself, "Stop it Sio… I know its like bunny soft but pull your fucking hand away… stupid hand, won't cooperate…" she murmured.

If you ever say, never too late
I'll forget all the diamonds you ate.
Lost in coma and covered in cake.
Increase the medication.
Share the vows at the wake.
(Kiss the bride.)

She was lucky that she had pulled away for someone would surely catch her. She had turned away so as not to be tempted and was looking out the window. What had happened to her? She stared blankly at the window.

"Miss Greenwich?" She jumped slightly and jerked her head at the soft voice. A Healer stood in the doorway.

"Yes?" She drawled out.

"Good, good, I've been looking all over for you. I'm sorry I haven't been working here for long. I worked at my father's practice for three years." The woman shrugged slightly. "Alright now hold still." She muttered a charm while pointing at Sio with her wand. A piece of parchment flew out of the wand and landed on Sio's lap, words began to fill the page quickly but at the angle she was at she couldn't see what was being written. The unnamed healer didn't read it aloud but merely skimmed it. "Everything is in order it seems. Oh my!" She said suddenly, "Oh dear, it seems you've had some memory loss?"

"I can't remember what happened after I got up from the Crucio." Sio whispered.

"Oh well, nothing important. You heartbeat is a little fast…" she murmured as Sio suddenly began to sweat. The Healer glanced up. "Dear me, you'll need a sedating potion. Are you in any pain dear?"

"A-a-a little…" Sio half panted and half stuttered out. The Healer frowned suddenly and muttered another charm, before Sio's astonished gaze glowing red numbers shot out of her forehead. The red numbers read 103.2.

"Oh my, I'll be back in a few minutes with a couple of potions. You stay put." The Healer was obviously nervous as she walked briskly out of the room. Sio was freezing cold. Her teeth chattered and her whole body felt numb. She tightly closed her eyes. When she opened them Severus Snape was staring right back her.

"You're awake. I didn't think you would wake for much longer." He commented dryly.

"Why? What happened Professor?" He stared at her in shock; his obsidian eyes widen imperceptibly for a moment before he narrowed them and searched for a lie.

"You don't remember?" he finally asked.

"I remember the Crucio… and I remember getting up and getting ready to… put everything into… I don't know what." She flung the sheets and blankets off, suddenly hotter then she had been only a few minutes ago.

"You stupefied him." Snape answered without trying to make it more then it already was.

"So?"

"So you put all of your power into that one spell and killed him… nearly killing yourself in the process. It was a stupid thing to do. Very Gryffindor-ish." Snape's words cut her deeply but she remained stony faced.

"How near is nearly?" She asked, something flicked in Snape's eyes before he spoke.

"You were dead."

"What?" her sharp voice cut through the tension and made the Professor wince. She pulled the blankets back on while shivering.

"I don't think you were dead for long but Miss Croft used Muggle CPR to resuscitate you. Your heart couldn't beat on its own; there was too little blood in your system to allow it." Sio paled considerably and let her exhausted body fall back onto her pillows. A sudden wave of pain drilled through her and she clenched her hands into fists so tightly that it drew blood.

"Miss Greenwich… Siobhan?" Snape questioned aloud. Sio gave a whimper and twisted in pain. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. Snape noting the blood that was getting on the sheets stood quickly as the Healer came, literally, strolling into the room. Nearly dropping the potion in her hand she rushed over.

"Miss Greenwich I need you to swallow this." Her face contorted in inexhaustible pain but her hand shot out none the less and she downed the potion. Within seconds her whole body relaxed and she lay there, seemingly ignorant to the Healer checking her vitals and leaving, and to Snape who had shed his outer robes and rolled the black sleeves of his dress shirt up. She was grinning widely.

"Whoa…" she murmured and turned to Snape with the wide grin still fixed on her face, "Sign me up for this kind of pain therapy." She said lazily. Her eyes roved over him, they were quite glazed over. "Hey! Pretty tattoo… wait that's no tattoo!" she gave a high pitched giggled and with a blur of movement held onto his arm.

If you marry me
Will you bury me?
Would you carry me to the end?
So say goodbye to the vows you take.
And say goodbye to the life you make.
And say goodbye to the heart you break.
And all the cyanide you drank.

Severus Snape was no idiot, he knew that the specific potion she had taken was the kind that made people so sedated that they did things that they later did not remember. For her the dosage was slightly higher, so she wouldn't remember this in all likeliness. He might as well indulge the poor, stoned girl.

She was studying with a sort of awe to her face. Tentatively she traced her fingers lightly over the black skull and snake. Snape couldn't remember the last time he had seen someone so focused while on this particular potion. She turned her overly bright, but slightly glazed eyes to his. Without saying a word she dropped a kiss on the Dark Mark and slumped into his arms.

Panic seized him and he felt for a pulse frantically before remembering that people who were given a higher dosage did end up having induced sleep. Sighing in frustration at his stupidity he laid her back on the bed and tugged the covers up to her chin. Her lips were parted as she breathed deeply and evenly.

So say goodbye to the last parade.
And walk away from the choice you've made.
And say goodnight to the heart you break,
And all the cyanide you drank.

He observed her silently as she rested. It was still unclear to him why she had jumped into a losing fight without a thought. He shook his head, clearing the thoughts about the sleeping girl-no woman- in front of him. He wondered what the Dark Lord would make of this. A girl with enough power and potential to kill a man with a single stupefy. Merlin… he didn't even want to know what Voldemort would do to her if he found out.

Frowning down at her he brushed a lock of her hair from her face. She nuzzled his hand and made a noise close to a mewl. Snape jerked his hand backward, as if burned, and left to contact Dumbledore.

So say goodbye to the vows you take.
And say goodbye to the life you make.
And say goodbye to the heart you break.
And all the cyanide you drank.

Vessa sat in her bed unable to sleep. She wondered what had motivated Sio to do such a stupid thing. She wondered if Sio was even alive. She wondered if Sio would be okay if she didn't die. Mostly she wondered what that look on Snape's face had been when he had seen that it was Sio on the floor.

She shook her head, and knew she wouldn't be able to get any sleep tonight. Creeping into the boy's dormitory she pondered which bed was Draco's and which Blaise's was.

"Drake? Blaise?" she called softly. Two curtains opened at the same time.

"Vessa? What are you doing here?" Draco voice first.

"I can't sleep… I keep thinking about Sio."

"I know I can't either." Blaise said as he swung his feet to the floor. He Accioed his pants and tugged them on. Draco stood and fumbled for a shirt. He finally found a random shirt that probably wasn't even his and pulled it on.

"Let's go to the RoR." He said.

So say goodbye to the last parade.
And walk away from the choice you've made.
And say goodnight to the heart you break,
And all the cyanide you drank.

As Draco paced in front of the wall Blaise and Vessa talked.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I don't know… I mean she barely slept or ate… I should have known she would have done something like this. I didn't even try to keep her from standing up." Vessa sighed and buried her face in a hand, rubbing her temples before straightening when the door appeared. Both waited for the young Malfoy to open the door.

"Astrid?" the question lingered on his tongue and he walked into the room. Blaise and Vessa exchanged worried glances.

Vi was sitting there wringing her hands nervously, one of which immediately went into Blaise's. Draco had his arms wrapped around Astrid, who was shaking with sobs.

"What are we going to do? What if she's…" Vi left the question open.

"Dead?" Vessa asked, her dark eyes burning brightly. "Sio is too tough for this. She's not the type of girl to lie down and let death take her away. She'll fight. And if she doesn't then Snape will make her."

"Severus?" Draco asked in shock.

"Think about it… ever since she yelled at him during class he's been weird around her." Astrid said as she jumped into the conversation.

"No way… you're not saying that he's… attracted to her are you?" Blaise asked, his eyes darting to each of the girls.

"Maybe, she is one of the first people to stand up to him, and she is his type." Vessa said.

"Oh how would you know his type? Did you walk up and ask him? 'Professor Snape what type of woman is your type?' 'Well Miss McKenna, Miss Greenwich is exactly my type but don't tell.'" Draco said in first a falsetto voice and then a deep baritone voice.

"Don't you dare mock my Malfoy." Vessa's voice was low and dangerous. She turned away suddenly ashamed and glanced out the window. "Fuck forget everything I said. Let's sleep."

To the last parade.
And the parties fade.
And the choice you made.
To the end

Jenifire: wow I'm so happy that someone actually likes this. You have no idea how much you made my day. I started to jump up and down! Nope… Not a Sio/Vessa… it was going to be for awhile and I just got started on a Snape kick for some really weird reason… it's all someone else's fault…. Anyway I totally had plans for them then I was like… Hmmm Sio/Snape… could be interesting… Vessa might actually end up with one of the Weasley's… like Bill or Charlie.