Author's Note: OMG! I AM ALIVE! Thank the Lord for winter break and it's two weeks of laziness. I will hopefully get chapter eleven up! Maybe before or after finals…. Shit… finals…
Sadly, no reviews to respond to…. Oh how lonely I am.
Summary: End Sixth year to Seventh year. Severus Snape's sister dies and he inherits something he never wanted, but slowly and surly will grow on him. With the war starting, is it possible for him to keep the things he cares for safe? PRE-HBP
Disclaimer: I'm not married, I have no kids, I'm not British, and I am so not a genius. So in conclusion, I do not own Harry Potter. And if anything seems familiar to you, then I don't own it! I do own the plot and any OC characters!
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And as I walked on though troubled times,
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes,
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony…
-(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding by Elvis Costello
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Thicker Than Water
By: LalathePanda
Chapter Ten: Danger Zone
Just as he set his foot on the other side of the entrance an unexpected feeling cam over him. Colin turned his head and smiled briefly.
He opened his mouth and said softly, "I knew you'd come."
"Did the inner eye tell you that?"
Colin gave a small but empty laugh. "Don't be so sarcastic, Professor." The Potion professor didn't reply as Colin pulled out a fairly new piece of parchment. It was a duplicate of the Marauders' Map. Snape nodded.
Colin saw the glint in his dark orbs. "So, how long have you've known?"
"For a few days. It's been plaguing Bella's mind for quite some time," The older man leaned against the stone wall as Colin stepped out of the entranceway. Colin made the connection in his mind. Snape knew how to use Legilimency
"Do you know if-" Colin began.
"She's not coming," Snape said icily. It cut though any shred of hope Collin had. "I'm quite pleased that she isn't going to join this little troupe. Bella doesn't have the mentality to fight in such a war. She's too Americanized for her own good, I say." The last part was more for himself rather than for Colin.
"What I am not please with is that all her friends are leaving her alone during such a morose time," Snape said in a voice that shook Colin's spine, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of realization. "I would comfort her but…" Snape's voice faltered.
"You lack people skills?" Colin offered bluntly. He flinched when Snape shot a glared at him.
"The others are already far off, they made their decision, but you have a choice, Creevey."
Colin turned his head and looked down the dark tunnel. The soft glow from Neville's wand was almost a small speck. He heard Ginny calling for him to hurry up. Colin looked back at Snape but found that he wasn't there, as if he vanished into the night.
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Bella was lying on the scarlet sofa. She kept her eyes on the only source of light in the common room. The dull embers glimmered before her eyes. A few moments ago she woke up in a empty dorm room. Her heart sank when she saw the neatly made beds around her. She wanted to go and say good-bye, but she was afraid that if she would see them again she would impulsively join them.
She could here the clock ticking. Did they escape the castle already? Did a professor prowling the halls catch them? Did that cat see them and alerted the hall keeper? Where did they find the courage to leave?
Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She always needed a time of solitude to think, just like her mom. The thing is, Bella had the whole day to think in peace but her mind was either clouded or blank. She couldn't shift through her thoughts and organize them. There was either too many or none at all.
Then her eyes snapped open at the sound of the portrait opening. She jolted up and looked to see who came. Her face tensed for a moment but relaxed when she saw whom it as.
"Hey," she said. She tried to smile, but couldn't bring herself to curve her lips.
"Hey your self," Colin replied. "What? Not happy to see me?" He grinned as he went towards her.
"Why are you back?"
His grin fell. "Do I need a reason?"
"Not really."
"Good." He jumped over the back of the sofa and landed right next to her. He placed his cloak over them. "It's too dark. This room is so gloomy. Finally showing your Snape blood, eh?"
"Oh quiet, you're ruining the moment."
Colin lit the fireplace. The Medieval décor was greeted by the friendly glow of the fire. Soon, after a comforting period of silence, the two fell asleep.
On the other side of the castle, a certain potion professor drowned a glass of amber liquid before leaving his quarters, donning black robes and a white mask hidden in his sleeve. The tattoo of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth was burning on his forearm. He moved quickly around the castle before he slid though the opened front doors. Once he was a certain distance away from the school he apparated into the night.
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At last, spring came. The snow was beginning to melt away and once the sun showed its face. Bella stared blankly at the window one afternoon during Charms. A quill was in her hand but she only took half a page of notes in the past forty minutes. Colin sat next to her and was already on the very end of his parchment. Colin side glanced at his friend before sighing and returning to his notes.
"It's been a week," Bella muttered to Colin.
"What?" he whispered as his quill moved across the parchment.
"It's been a week since we've last heard from them."
Colin yielded his note taking and looked to see if Flitwick was nearby. "Bella," he started, looking at her. She continued to glaze out the window. "You know what kind of situation they are in. They don't have the time to stop and send a letter to you every other day. You also know that it is dangerous to keep sending owls."
Bella just signed.
Colin shook his head and lowered his head down and continued to take notes. Bella's eyes drifted from the window to the students in the classroom. During her first day of classes, the classroom was filled with thirty something students. Bella now could count nineteen students. She sighed, resting her chin in her lifted palm. For a split second, she wished that she could go back to the trouble-free life back in America.
When the class was dismissed the two went to their next class, Potions. When they entered the classroom, Snape was sitting at his desk with a red quill in his hand. They took their seats and pulled out their potion books from their bags. Once the bell rang, the door automatically closed and Snape rose from his desk. With a flick of his wand, notes appeared on the board.
The lesson went by swiftly and just as the class was dismissed, Bella was asked to stay after class.
"What's up?" Bella asked in a chirpy voice. Her uncle visibly twitched.
"I am going to be absent for a few days," he said, as he placed a stack of papers on top another stack.
"Because…?"
"Business," he replied as he straightened out hit quills.
"Oh, a few days?"
"Four or five."
"That's almost a week."
"I know."
"Oh… okay." Silence fell on them like a crumbling brick building. She tapped her hands on her thighs. "So… is that all?"
"For now."
"Okay… bye." She swung her bag on her shoulder and left the classroom. Just as she was outside she stepped back into the room. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
She nodded and then left the room. The door swung and then closed and Snape was by himself again. With a sharp sigh, he placed another stack of paper on the ever-growing tower of parchment paper.
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"If you keep eating at this rate—I'm sure Moaning Myrtle will get a roommate."
"Shut it, Colin," Bella stuffed her mouth again with more pieces of food from her dinner meal.
"Are you stress eating?"
"No."
"Depression?"
"No."
"… I know! You want more body fat to insulate you during the cold nights!"
"What in Merlin's hat is wrong with you, Colin?"
"Sorry!" he said as he slipped his arm over her shoulders and brought her closer to him. She rolled her eyes and threatened him with a fish stick. "Ew, fish! Put that down before the fish-ness disturbs all that it good and holy!"
Bella then stuffed the piece of fried fish into mouth and chewed it loudly. "You nit-wit."
"So-- your grumpy uncle is going to be gone for a while?" he inquired. A spot at the head table was noticeably empty.
"Yeah, a week."
"Yes!"
Glare.
"What?" Colin retorted. "What do you want me to say? 'Aw shucks! I didn't want him to go!'"
"True…" Bella replied thoughtfully. She pushed her plate away from her and began to stand up. "I'm full so I'm going to head back to the tower." Colin nodded and went back to his meal.
Bella left the Great Hall and walked down the torched lit corridors. Her hands were shoved into her pockets as her shoes clicked on the stoned floors. The halls were empty because most of the students were eating.
"All by yourself? Tsk-tsk-tsk. That's very dangerous."
Bella whipped around and her eyes narrowed. "Malfoy."
Even though the members of the house of Salazar Slytherin were decreasing every few months, Draco Malfoy still walked the halls of Hogwarts. It was a mystery why he hadn't left the school and joined with his father.
He advanced towards her as she stood her ground. He wore a high quality black robe that enhanced the tone of his pasty skin. A few strands of fair blond hair fell over his grey eyes, and leather gloves covered his hands. It sparked a feeling of suspicion in Bella's mind.
"Your dear old uncle isn't here tonight isn't he?" he said as he was getting closer and closer to the Gryffindor. Involuntarily, her feet moved back a few steps.
"That's none of you business, Death Eater," she sneered at him in a very Snape-like manner.
"Aw, don't be calling names, half-breed." He replied back sarcastically. He walked around her and stopped at her side. She turned and faced him. "Besides," he drawled. "Whatever is your uncle's business is my business too."
He moved one step forward. She moved back one-step. Unfortunately for Bella, she didn't know he was backing her into a wall. A wall in an empty hallway. A hallway that hardly anyone passes though at this time of night.
Bella made a sharp gasp when she felt the cold wall against her back. Her heart shook in her rib cage as he smirked. He slid the glove off his right hand and placed his pale fingers on her left breast.
"Is your heart beating fast now?" he asked in a deadly low voice.
"Don't touch me you-" Bella as she reached for her wand. He dropped his hand into her pocket and swiftly took out her wand. She glared at him as he pocketed her wand.
"Glaring isn't going to save you," he cooed at her as he traced his index finger on her jaw line. She smacks his hand away from her face.
Draco's eyebrows tensed.
SMACK!
He backhanded her. The blow was strong and powerful. Her face turned to the left as her hair fell and covered her face.
"Don't you dare touch me, bitch!" he snarled at her, his face so close that the spit that flung from his mouth fell on her eyes. Her cheek burned and her eyes stung with tears.
Without warning he pulled her hair, jerking her head up, and pushed her against the wall with great force. She winced when his body pressed against hers. "Listen, whore! Consider this a warning to your uncle. If he falls out of order again, you will pay. Hear that? You." He brought it thumb up to the cheek he didn't attack and dug his nail deeply into the skin and dragged it along the cheekbone. She felt liquid running down her cheek.
"That should leave a mark," He muttered, digging the nail deeper, causing her gasp in pain. He then took his bloodied thumb away from her face. "Ugh… sullied blood. Repulsing." He cleaned his thumb on her uniform before stepping back. She fell to the floor as he took out her wand from his pocket. Draco carelessly threw the wand at her before turning on his heels and walking away. The wand bounced off Bella and rolled in front of her. She blankly stared at the wand as the clicking faded.
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"Ah, so, Miss Snape, care to elaborate?' Madame Pomfery took out a bottle of cream and smoothed it over the magically stitched-up facial wounded.
"I missed a step and a piece of broken glass on the floor cut my cheek," Bella replied as she flinched at the stinging sensation from the cream.
The medi-witch sighed. "Clumsy. Just like your mother." Bella's eyes glanced at the aged witch. "I remember when I first started working here, you mother came in a few times. She had either tripped on her own feet or missed a step or two down the staircase."
Bella's eyebrows rose at the new information. She never recalled a single memory of her mother every being clumsy or making a silly mistake. Belinda Rose Snape Dougherty was always graceful.
"All done," Pomfery stole a look at the clock. "Oh dear, past curfew. Let me make a note." She rushed to her desk and picked up a quill and a piece of parchment and quickly jotted down a one-sentence note and signed her name at the bottom. "Here, this should get you back to the tower with no problems."
Bella muttered her thanks before leaving this Hospital wing. She clutched the note in her hands before walking down the corridor.
A week later, Bella found herself working on a Charm assignment. Her quill was poised, ready to answer the long list of questions. She gazed out the window at the sea of black ink covering the sky. When she decided to go back to her work, a figure caught the corner of her eye.
It was her uncle.
He was limping.
Bella hastily stuffed her homework into her schoolbook and then dumped it with Colin. Bella then went through the portrait hole.
Colin didn't say anything but placed the red schoolbook beside him. Ever since last week, Bella acted a bit strange. Colin just allowed it to slide by. "Snapes, such a dodgy family," he muttered as he moved his quill across the parchment.
Bella found herself standing before her uncle's private room. She knocked.
"Who is it?" came a gruffly voice.
"It's me," Bella replied loudly. She heard the sound of feet moving towards the door. When the door swung open Bella straightened out her back. "Hey."
He nodded and stepped aside. She walked in and saw that the fire was already lit. On the fireplace's ledge, a glass filled with a fire-brown liquid sparkled.
"How was the trip?" she asked innocently. She plopped down on his green Victorian armchair.
"Good."
"Was it dangerous?" she prodded. He didn't even glance at her.
"No," he answered firmly. "It was a slow and dreary business trip."
"Oh fun," Bella said, knowing he wasn't going to answer her next question. Severus glanced on the thin line on her cheek.
"What is that?" he asked, slowly advancing towards her.
"A scar."
He stood before her and his hand scooped her chin. He turned the scared cheek towards him.
"How?"
"Fell."
"Why?"
"Missed a step."
He released her chin, satisfied with her answer. "I know how to make a salve to make it go away."
"It's okay," Bella hurried. "It's not that noticeable." Her fingers' traced the faint line.
He nodded and lifted his glass and drowned down half of it. He set his glass back on the ledge and tapped his wand. The glass was full again. Unknowingly, Bella stared blankly at the glass. Her trance broke when he lifted the glass off the ledge and brought it to his lips. She shook her head and took in a deep breath. Facing her uncle, she said, "Is there something I need to know?"
The liquor barely wet his tongue. The glass went back to its old spot. He cleared his throat.
"Excuse me?"
"Is there something I need to know?" she repeated.
Severus stared at her. He had to refrain himself from digging through her mind.
"No."
"Sure?"
"Go to bed."
Bella jerked her head back. "What?"
"Go to bed," he repeated, swirling the alcoholic liquid in his glass. "You have five minutes before nine."
"Oh." She lifted herself off the chair. "Well, then… good night." She made her way to the door. He replied softly. His muscles relaxed once he heard the door closed.
Slowly, he pulled out the white skull that was hidden in his inner cloak pocket. He tucked the mask safely in the third drawer of his dresser. After placing a few lock charms, he fell on to his bed and stared at the ceiling. The taste of sweet fire still on his tongue.
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Colin,
They are advancing. As they get closer, more join their ranks. Be ready. Does she know the truth? We'll be back, but we don't know when.
-Flaming Fox and gang.
Colin read the short letter twice. Moments ago, he was at the Owlery when a grey owl came and dropped a rolled up letter in front of him. It was from them. The letter was meant for his eyes only. If it were to be shared, it would've came during the morning like all the other mail.
He did the usual procedure by throwing the letter into the burning common room fire. He then pulled out a quill and a small piece of parchment and jotted down a quick reply. As he wrote, Bella entered the common room.
"What are you writing?" she asked out of curiosity, as she headed for the stairs.
"A letter to my mum," he replied, looking over his shoulders. She nodded and said goodnight before disappearing up the steps. Minutes latter he finished the note.
Gang,
Thanks for the heads up. No, I don't think she knows yet. Come back soon, and in one piece too. Good luck.
-Colin
He then rolled up the letter and sealed it with his wand. He placed it in a secret compartment in his cloak. He rubbed his temples. No one was ever going to be ready. He picked up his stuff and left for bed.
When the students woke up the next morning, they found themselves four students shorter than the night before. The tyrant known as Draco Malfoy finally answered his calling.
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Author's Note: YAY! Another chapter done! I hope this one was good, my BETA-er said it was. So that makes me happy. Oh gebus, I have so much homework this winter break. It's not a lot, just two assignments from English, a project too, another project in Biology plus lots of extra credit that I need to do. Oh gizz… I still have holiday shopping to do… crappers….
Update of my life: During the time while I was writing this chapter I was single at the beginning, and then a girlfriend when I finished writing the chapter and now I am single (and loving it) again. Three weeks. First boyfriend/ kiss too. He was an asshole. Was mean to all my guy friends. Stalked me everywhere. Was too touchy…. During the last leg of the relationship I was practically hiding from him. My BETA-er said if I stuck with him longer (even two more weeks…) he would've gotten even more controlling to the point where he would be abusive either physically or sexually. So dramatic. Now I am single and I bet I wont be bitter this year on V-day.
Advice: never ever ask for a lap dance from your feminist-ish girlfriend. Save yourself some grief.
I hope the Draco scene didn't cause too much chaos in your minds. I personally thought it was okay to write. My BETA-er said it would push Bella to become more suspicious of her uncle.
Anyways, please REVIEW! I'm bored and reviews, good ones, amuses me. If you guys want, visit my myspace and see the pathetic person who writes this lame excuse of the fanfic. The link should be in my profile… but the main point is to REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
Happy Holidays!
-Lala the Panda