CHAPTER FOUR

Akasha sat in the Gryffindor common room that afternoon during break, staring absently into the unlit fireplace.
"If you stare at it hard enough, you might actually start a fire," Sirius said sarcastically as he sat down next to her. Looking serious, he added, "Want me to hex Blackthorn for you?"
Akasha shook her head mutedly, still gazing at the fireplace.
"At least you're not yelling at me," he said optimistically.
He scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her waist. She smiled slightly and looked down. He cupped her chin gently, tilting her face up to his.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said quietly.
"Tell me," he prodded, pouting stubbornly.
She sighed. "What's wrong are prejudiced people like Blackthorn who think they are so much better just because they have 'purer' blood," she answered tiredly, like a child reciting a hated lesson.
"He really got to you," said Sirius. "I guess I can relate."
"How can you!" she said angrily, pulling away from the handsome boy. "No one can! I don't need you're pity, Sirius. I get enough of that from everyone else. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be late for class."
She turned and stalked through the open portrait hole, knocking over a group of first years as she went.
"Women!" he said exasperatedly to himself...

...That day was a living nightmare for Akasha. She knew she would have a couple of teachers who would not accept her, but she'd never imagined that every single one of them would hate her. All except for one. Her Divination teacher, Professor Spinks; a withering, old woman with a gentle nature and understanding heart.
When Akasha had climbed into the Astronomy Tower for class, Professor Spinks had given her a warm smile and patted her on the hand.
"You keep strong, child," she'd croaked, making Akasha slightly uncomfortable. "They may spit in your eye, but you'll have the last laugh. Be proud of who you are! There's nothing wrong with you, beautiful creature!"
"Um...okay..."
And then Spinks had limped off and class had begun. But even now, as she lay wide-awake in bed, she still couldn't get the old bat's words out of her head.
Be proud of who you are...
Akasha didn't think that was possible. Not when she hated herself as much as everyone else did.

CHAPTER FIVE

The weeks went by where Akasha remained polite to Snape, and Sirius ould glare silently everytime he saw her at it. Soon, it was Halloween and everyone was gathering in the Great Hall with their costumes on for the Halloween Ball.
Akasha walked into the hall, pleased to see many appreciative eyes turn toward her. When she got to Snape, she twirled around, showing off her costume. Tonight, she was a She-Devil in a red vinyl cat-suit with a red pitchfork in her hand and real black mini-horns magicked onto her forehead. She had bewitched her eyes so that the irises looked like flames, and she had chunky red streak of color in her dark hair.
"Wow," Snape murmured, looking at the cat-suit that clung to her like a second skin.
"I love Halloween so much," she gushed delightedly. "It's my birthday, you know?"
"It is?"
She grinned"Mmm-hmm! I'm 18 now." She paused, taking in his choice of outfit. "Where's your costume?"
"I just decided to wear my uniform..." he said, embarassed.
"Nah, he just didn't have a costume." James laughed as he walked up with Sirius, Lupin and Peter.
"I did-" Snape began defensively.
James pointed his wand threateningly at Snape. "Did I say you could speak, Snivellus?"
"Leave him alone, man," Sirius said tiredly, looking at Akasha. "Hey," he said quietly to her.
"Hey," she said nonchalantly.
The boys looked back and forth between the two of them, as if watching a very interesting game of wizards' chess.
"Listen..." Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "Would you like to dance-with me, I mean...?"
Akasha stood silent for a long moment, as if she wasn't going to answer, but then she sighed and said, "Alright, then."
Sirius smiled brilliantly, his fake fangs gleaming in the candlelight. So he's a vampire, she thought amusedly...

Sirius pulled Akasha close, his hands resting on the small of her back, and inhaled the heady and intoxicating scent of her. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck and pulled herself even closer, her breasts pressing firmly against his chest.
Akasha let her head fall against his shoulder. Her fingers played with the silky hair at the nape of his neck. Teasingly, as they swayed slowly to the music, she pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the base of his throat. She felt his pulse jump beneath her lips and his arms tightened convulsively around her.
"Tease," he growled, his breath hot against her ear.
She nipped lightly at his neck. Tempted herself with the pleasure-pain of hunger throbbing in her fangs as she tasted his skin, licked the salty sweat off the tender area where jaw me throat. But she kept herself from biting harder. She didn't want to...bite him. Or kill him. Yes, she wanted to tast him so badly that her veins burned with the thought, but she wasn't about to become the mindless killer she had once been.
I'm getting in too deep. The thought hit her just as his lips descended upon hers. And then every instinct in her shouted: Run!
And she did. She pushed a confused Sirius away and ran from the Great Hall. She didn't know where she was going, but she soon found herself on the lake edge, staring into the blackened water.
"Akasha!" someone called from the castle. Snape.
She fell to the ground, her legs giving out from beneath her. She buried her face in her hands. I can't do this, she thought miserably. I could fall too easily... and if he knew... I couldn't stand for him to hate me...
"Akasha?" Snape sat down next to her and placed a concerned hand on her vinyl-encased shoulder.
Akasha looked at Snape. This one, I don't have to worry about, she decided.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Akasha leaned against him and sighed. "Nothing; just found myself disgusted and felt I needed to get away," she said calmly.
Snape seemed too shocked by her body leaning into his to pay any attention to what she was saying. He drew in a shaky, nervous breath. Akasha wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself closer to him, knowing exactly what she was doing to him.
She sighed again. Her hand brushed against his inner thigh; and then higher still, seemingly unknowing, and found him aroused by her not-so-innocent explorations. He let out a ragged groan and pulled her tighter. She looked up. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.
"Severus..." she said quietly.
He looked at her dazedly, pupils dilated, nostrils flared. "Y-yes?" he stuttered nervously.
"I'm tired. I think I shall go to bed now," she said, and then stood.
"Oh," he whispered, crestfallen.
"Goodnight." She bent down and kissed him lightly on the cheek,
Even in the dark, she could see he was blushing.

CHAPTER SIX

Akasha yawned loudly and pulled the hangings of her bed aside. Everyone was still at the Ball and she had the Girls' dormitory all to herself. She changed into her nightclothes tiredly, pulling the silky green slip over her head.
She turned to her bed, bending over to pull back the covers, and then she saw it. A small, black box sitting on her pillow.
Akasha took a quick step back, staring at the lone birthday present. "Oh, God."
At the sound of her voice, the present began to unwrap, the ribbon slowly sliding apart and the box lid levitated up from the rest of its body.
A cold, mirthless laugh filled the room. "Ah, Palida Mors... Make it fast."
Panic rose in Akasha's chest as she saw what rose from the box. She ran to the staircase, but just as she reached it, the wooden stake pierced through her back, making her cry out. Every ounce of strength poured from her body as she tumbled down the stairs.
Distantly, as she drifted into blissful unconsciousness, she heard someone calling her name as they ran to her. But she couldn't move, couldn't utter a word. All she could do was lay there as everything turned to black...

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