Snape excused himself from the table and followed her. As he had expected she went to her quarters. From down the corridor he could hear her slam her door. He knocked softly on the door. After he didn't receive a response, he knocked again as he cracked the door. "Athena?" he asked tentatively. He had no idea what had set her off, and had no desire to receive her wrath.
When he slipped into her sitting room, he noticed it was deserted. From her bedroom, he could hear muffled sobbing. He was about to leave her in private, unwilling to intrude, when his foot brushed a piece of parchment on the floor. A part of him said that he shouldn't read it, but he wanted to know what had upset her.
After reading it, he wished he hadn't. The letter said that her grandfather had been killed chasing dragons in China. He would not have expected an American wizard of that age to be chasing dragons. He placed the letter on her desk and was about to leave when he heard her sobbing again. How wonderful it must be to have a family you care about. He wouldn't know. His father had been an abusive drunk and his mother had passed on years ago. He could remember nothing of any of his grandparents.
Cautiously, he approached her door. Peering into the darkness he thought he could see her, lying on her bed, crying. He moved into the room and sat next to her. "Athena?" he asked tentatively.
She sat up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. "Oh, Severus."
This time he did not feel at all uncomfortable wrapping his arms around her. He would not give her any false platitudes. He didn't know her grandfather. He simply held her and brushed her hair, trying to make her feel safe.
"It's not fair," she whispered.
He said nothing and simply held her.
Finally, she pulled away from him and wiped the tears from her eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to monopolize your evening. I know you said you had papers to grade."
At a time like this, she still thought of him. This small gesture surprised him. "It's nothing," he replied. There was no barb hidden in his words. He found he really meant it. "How do you feel?"
She wiped the tears from her face with her hands. "I loved my grandfather. He always treated me like a princess. But at the same time, he used to teach me some rather interesting aspects of magic. He was still so full of life and only eighty. It's hard to believe that he's gone."
He had nothing to offer and given his lack of social niceties he opted to say nothing, though he did hand her his handkerchief when she seemed unable to find hers.
"Do you have any family?" she asked.
"No," he replied shortly. When he saw her flinch he added, "Both of my parents died long ago and neither felt any ties to their families."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she replied.
He waved off her concern. "There is nothing to be sorry about. My father was morally reprehensible and my mother's death was a release from the years of torment he subjected her to. I can only imagine that my father's family was as bad as he was. I know nothing of my mother's family."
"I didn't realize," she said sympathetically.
"It's nothing." He had no desire to discuss his family. The day he came to Hogwarts had been one of the best days of his life. Nine months out of the year he was safe.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel my lesson tomorrow," she said apologetically.
"Don't worry about that," he replied softly. He was still surprised that she could be so caring of others at a time like this.
"Oh, Severus, he was such a wonderful man. I can't believe he's gone."
"I'm sorry, Athena." He had felt relief when he received the letter telling him his father was dead. When his mother died, he had felt sad, but he also knew that her life had not been pleasant and she welcomed her death as a release from the pain. Of course, that had meant that he then had his father's undivided attention during the summer, and that miserable bastard had always worked out his pent up aggressions soon after Severus returned from Hogwarts. No, he had not really experienced any grief at the passing of either of his parents, at least not like Athena felt now.
"What was he like?" he asked. He wanted to understand her, to understand what it meant to be part of a loving family. He had never really known happiness as a child and the way she spoke about her family gave him the impression she was well acquainted with that feeling.
"My grandfather? He was a wonderful man." She snuggled against him, wanting to be held and he leaned against the headboard for support. "I was the youngest and his favorite grandchild. I learned as much from him as I did my grandmother, though about different things. He always had an affinity for magical creatures that was missing from most wizards. He was always going on an expedition to research some creature. He has something like forty different books published on magical creatures. I've lost count, though I have copies of them all at home and they are all well read. He used to like to quiz us on his travels. I think his love of nature is why he fell in love with my grandmother.
"You would have liked him. He loved knowledge for knowledge's sake. He instilled that in his family. Whenever the grandchildren would visit, he would send us on scavenger hunts. I know my parents liked it because it kept us busy and gave the adults time to socialize without herding children. I think my grandmother liked it because it kept him out of trouble for three or four days while he set it up." She paused and stared out her window at the dark night. There would be no more scavenger hunts. She had hoped her children would be able to experience that joy, but that was no longer possible.
"Do you want me to go?" he finally asked.
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around him. "No, I don't want to be alone. Not tonight. Please, stay with me?" she pleaded.
He found he could not refuse. "I won't leave you." He let her talk about her grandfather late into the night. Until now, he had never realized how empty his own childhood had been. He tried to hold back his feelings of remorse. There was no need to let her know how he felt.
Finally she said, "I have to leave in a few hours. I'll be gone four or five days for his funeral."
"You need to do what is right," he replied.
She smiled softly at him. "Thank you for being here tonight. You've made it more bearable. I was his favorite grandchild, so it's been hard for me, but telling you about him has really helped." She fell into his arms once more. She felt protected with him holding her and found she didn't want him to leave.
"I'm your friend. I will be here for you," he replied. He could wait a few more days. He had hoped for tonight, but not under these circumstances. The strange thing was, he found he really meant that he was her friend.
She kissed him. "I know this isn't how you wanted to spend your evening. I'll make it up to you when I get back."
He ran his fingers through her hair. "Oh? How so?"
She got up on her knees, as if to crawl out of bed, and kissed him deeply. "I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. Thank you for staying, but I need to pack and get ready to travel to London."
She started crawling out bed, but he grabbed her wrist. "I am not fond of surprises," he said with mock gruffness.
She smiled at him. "Trust me. You'll like this one." She reached across and ran her free hand down his chest.
"You're a sneaky little nymph," he replied mischievously.
"You have no idea," she purred. She slipped out of his grip. "I'll see you in a few days."
His lust told him he shouldn't let her go, but his rational side won the argument and let her go. It would be a long few days until she returned.
As the days passed, Severus became more vindictive than usual. He was even deducting points from the Slytherins. She had left him in a highly frustrated state. Why had she decided to kiss him like that right before leaving? It reached the point where even the staff started avoiding him. He wasn't sleeping well and what little sleep he did get seemed to be filled with dreams of her. None of his meditation techniques were allowing him to clear his mind.
Over the holidays, he had conducted as much research on Dryads as he could, even going as far as the London Wizard Library. Nothing had given him the slightest clue as to how a nymph exerted her power over her intended target. In fact, that was about all he had been able to determine. Unlike a Veela, a nymph only affected a man when she wanted, but they could be incredibly seductive when they chose their mark. For example, the Sirens were nymphs and they used to lure sailors to their deaths.
He had frowned when he read that, but then he knew there were different types of nymphs. The Dryads were some of the most reclusive of the nymphs. Other than their affinity with trees and nature, there was little written on them. Even searching the books written by Jebediah Winters, he gained little enlightenment. How strange that a man who had lived with a Dryad for decades had not chosen to write anything about them.
He momentarily considered asking Hagrid, since the man seemed to have an unnatural attraction to anything that lived in the Forest, but he thought better of that idea. Aside from the fact the two of them rarely spoke, there was also the fact that Hagrid was absolutely atrocious at keeping secrets. As he had no rational reason for wanting to know about the Dryads, there was no point in asking Hagrid.
He would have to settle for learning what he could when she returned, whenever that might be. He knew that she had said for four or five days, but how long did it take to bury an old man? She had been gone three days already.
It was late on January seventh when Athena returned. So late, that it was in fact early on the eighth. It was cold and snowing a very damp and nasty snow, the kind that was very difficult to walk through. She could understand why the Inuit had so many names for snow. All she could think about was curling up somewhere warm. Preferably with someone warm. Unfortunately, her thoughts kept drifting from that to the funeral during the long walk from the gates.
As was common with dragon victims, her grandfather's funeral had been closed casket. It had actually taken place the day she returned. The next two days the family had spent time remembering their fondest memories, honoring the great man that had been Jebediah Winters. This last day had been Athena, her mother, and her grandmother spending time in the woods. Lumea had decided that she could not live in the house without her beloved Jebediah and would move back to her tree where she could be closer to her Sisters.
Both women understood their elder's decision and supported it. They would know where to find her. Besides the house had been built near Lumea's tree solely so Jebediah could be with her. In time, she might be persuaded to visit those staying at the house, but now, she needed time away.
Carmen had walked arm in arm with her daughter as they returned to the house one last time. In time, Carmen and her sisters would decide what to do with the house. Hopefully with Lumea's help, but for now, it would be closed and warded against intruders.
"I'm sorry you had to come home under such circumstances," Carmen had said.
"I know, but I also know Grandfather. He always did have horrible timing."
Both of them laughed at this true statement. "How is Scotland?"
"Very nice. I'm glad I had the opportunity to go on exchange." She hoped her mother would let it go at that. She really didn't want to explain Remus, and she wasn't entirely sure there was anything to explain about Severus. That man was still a closed book. She wondered why he was so afraid to let anyone get to know him and she had made it a bit of a project to befriend him and earn his trust.
"Is the staff as fascinating as you thought?"
"More so. I've been working closely with the Potions Master lately. I've learned an awful lot from him. That and they have the most fantastic library. I've spent hours there." She couldn't contain her enthusiasm.
"I'm glad to hear you are happy. Though I was hoping it would be for something more than books," she replied with a disappointed sigh.
"Geez, Mom, I didn't go to Britain looking for a husband," Athena replied defensively.
"No, you never go anywhere looking for a husband. You know, you're not getting any younger. You're in the prime of your life. You should be settled and having a family of your own," Carmen chided.
"We are so not having this discussion. Besides, you were older than I am now when you met Dad," Athena said as she tried to walk away from her mother.
"What about that Potions Master? I seem to recall you saying he was near your age," Carmen teased.
"Mom, we aren't talking about my life." Why was it that mothers seemed incapable of letting adult daughters remain single?
"So…there is something there," Carmen taunted.
Athena had never been any good at evading her mother. "Maybe, I don't know."
"You've been there since the end of August, more than four months, and still nothing?"
"Mom!" she whined. She definitely didn't want to bring up Remus. That had been ugly, yet wonderful and she knew that she could go back to him anytime, but the doubt that it was pheromones rather than emotions would always be there.
"You can't tell me we didn't teach you better. After everything you've learned, you still haven't gotten him?" Carmen tsk-tsk'd.
"Mother!" She really did not want to be having this discussion and didn't care that she sounded like a petulant child.
"Oh! I see what it is. You're trying to get him the old fashioned way. How charming." Carmen smiled. "So…will you be moving there when it's all said and done?"
"Mom, I love you and Dad, but I have to be getting back. It's very late in the UK. And I'm not moving anywhere. I like my job at Reese, thank you very much." She kissed her mom's cheek and headed to the house to pick up her bag. She could not believe her mom. Her own father's funeral and she was asking about Athena's love life, or actually commenting on the lack thereof.
"Attie, what is it, honey? I've struck a nerve, haven't I?" Carmen asked. When she saw her daughter stop, she moved next to her and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You can tell me what it is. I am your mother, you know."
"I know that. It's just…my life is really complicated right now. I was starting to figure it out before I had to come back here. More of Grandpa's bad timing."
"Come on, let's get inside, make some hot chocolate and we can talk about this. How about some marshmallows to go with it?"
"Mom, I'm not a little girl," she protested.
"You will always be my little girl," Carmen said warmly. Once they were settled in the living room, she asked, "Now, honey, what's bothering you? It's obviously man trouble."
Athena took a sip of her hot chocolate and took a deep breath. "Oh, Mom, you wouldn't believe the year I'm having."
"Just start at the beginning, dear," Carmen encouraged.
She started with her first meeting of Severus and how he was so cold to her. Then she started talking about Remus.
"He sounds wonderful, Attie. Is he why you aren't with Severus?"
"He is wonderful, but there's more to him. You see, he's a werewolf."
Carmen gasped, "Oh, no."
"You knew?" Shock and anger were Athena's competing emotions.
Carmen hugged her daughter. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. I hadn't thought you would ever come across a werewolf. Besides, you haven't shown many Dryad traits and we were hoping it wouldn't affect you. It doesn't affect Celeste."
"Mom, I'm not my sister. I never have been. We're both so different from each other."
"I know. I should have told you. I'm sorry. So you broke it off with him, I take it?"
Athena nodded. "I can't be with someone when I'm not sure why he's with me." She kind of glossed over some of the other events, not wanting to make her mother feel any worse. Then she told Carmen about Severus and how she had finally started getting him to come out of his shell.
Carmen took a sip of her drink and looked over the rim at Athena. "So…it is the Potions Master, isn't it?"
"I don't know. I just got him feeling comfortable talking to me, though he still gives me funny looks from time to time since he knows what I am. And then I'm not exactly sure why I like him. I mean, he's not exactly handsome or anything."
"Well, what do you like about him?"
"He's smart, has that impeccable dry British wit, a voice that is to die for, he listens to me and I think he respects me, but I'm not sure about that. But, I'm not quite sure who he is. He doesn't like to talk about himself."
"Well, you've kind of said you aren't looking for anything permanent, though I really wish you would reconsider that, so why not just see what happens?"
"I wish you would please stop trying to marry me off. I'll find the man I'm going to marry in my own time."
"I know, dear, I just don't want you to miss out the best part of life. And there's always Remus if things don't work out with Severus." Carmen smiled, hoping to make her daughter laugh.
Athena shook her head and chuckled at her mom's poor attempt at a joke. "I'll keep that in mind if things get truly desperate. Now, have you interrogated me enough that I can go?"
Carmen stood up and hugged Athena. "Have a safe journey. I love you, darling."
"Thanks, Mom. Love to you and Dad. I'll see you in June."
Athena shook her head to clear the memories away. Finally, she was at the castle and climbed the steps. Out of habit she headed up to her quarters and set her suitcase on her bed. She thought about lighting a fire, but then she thought about the same thing she had thought about every night, Severus Snape.
She changed out of her travel clothes, quickly showered and stood in her bathrobe, staring at the wardrobe, trying to decide if she should go see him. He was a man that valued his privacy and might not appreciate her stopping by without warning, especially at this hour. She sighed and slipped into her nightclothes. Tomorrow was Saturday and she could find him in the morning.
Once again, Severus was the first person at breakfast. Since he couldn't sleep, he decided there was no point in arriving at breakfast later. As the other members of the staff trickled into the Great Hall he would furtively look up, hoping to see the flash of red hair. Each time he was disappointed. Apparently Athena had not arrived during the night.
Since when had he liked red hair? He had always associated it with the Weasleys and he detested the entire lot of them. That family was a disgrace to the Wizarding world. But her hair isn't red, he rationalized. Her hair is auburn. Much warmer and less obnoxious than the true red that is the Weasley trait. Quit obsessing about her, he chided.
His reaction to her absence was beginning to disturb him. He knew she claimed that she had no influence on men, but he was seriously questioning that assertion. The bigger question was whether it really mattered. To him, it did matter. He had an innate desire to be in control of his actions. He most definitely felt as if he was not in control.
Not since he was a teenager had he found himself having such vivid and numerous dreams about a woman. This was completely irrational.
"Severus, are you feeling ill?" asked Pomona.
"I'm quite all right." He really had no desire to discuss his personal affairs with anyone, especially a woman.
"Are you sure?" she asked, not quite believing him. She could see the dark circles under his eyes, his agitation and like everyone else, she had seen his increasing hostility to anything that moved.
"I am not ill, madam," he snarled.
Pomona wisely decided it was best to engage Filius in conversation and leave Severus alone.
He couldn't take any more of this. If he stayed at the table too long, he was sure that Albus would make his way down here and he most definitely did not want to deal with that man today. He slammed his silverware onto the table, and hurried out of the room, black robes billowing behind him.
Athena woke up late, since she was still on American time. Checking the clock, she saw that breakfast had started fifteen minutes ago. She dressed quickly, hoping to catch Severus before he left. She was hurrying to the Great Hall when she heard someone coming up the stairs. By the shadow, she was almost certain it as Severus.
In her typical playful fashion, she decided to hide in the alcove and surprise him as he walked past. Glancing out of the shadows she could see that it was indeed Severus. It looked like he was heading for the staff room. She smiled at the thought of being with him again. She enjoyed having his arms wrapped around her and he wasn't a bad kisser, either. When he was even with the alcove she reached out to pull him into the shadows.
The next thing she knew she was being slammed against the wall with an arm pressed against her throat and wand aimed at her. She pulled on his arm, struggling for breath.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see that his attacker was Athena. He released her and sheathed his wand. "Do not ever do that again. I could have hurt you," he growled.
Her surprise was slowly being replaced with fear. What had she gotten herself into? Why would he attack someone in the castle? "What's wrong with you?"
"Why are you jumping out of shadows at me?" he asked gruffly.
The alcove suddenly felt very small with him looming over her and she had to get away. She slipped out of the alcove and ran.
Severus stepped out of the alcove and called, "Athena!" but she kept running. He hadn't meant to scare her, but the years had honed his reflexes to automatically react to a perceived threat.
Albus stepped up beside Severus. "I think you should follow her," he said softly. When Severus didn't move, he prodded, "Go, my boy."
Athena ran blindly after Severus released her. She had never seen anything like the look in his eyes as he attacked her. Instinctively her feet took her to the one place she could be safe, the Forest.
Almost as soon as she was in the Forest, Medea was at her side. "What's happened? Why are you here?"
"Medea, it was horrible. He attacked me."
Medea stopped her. "Who attacked you?"
"Severus."
"We will stop him. You will be safe here. We will join you after he is gone."
"Thank you." Once Medea was gone she took a moment to try to get her bearings. She knew there was a small clearing nearby that had an old hollowed out tree stump that should provide some protection from the cold.
Severus took off down the hallway after her. He was heading towards her quarters when he heard the door to the entrance close. Surely she hadn't gone outside dressed as she was; it was snowing quite hard outside. He hurried down the steps and opened the door. There were footprints leading away from the castle, but he couldn't see her. "Accio cloak," he said as he waved his wand. There was no sense in both of them catching pneumonia.
Once he had his cloak, he headed out into the storm, holding his cloak tight to keep it from blowing in the wind. He was having a hard time following her footprints, as the wind and snow were filling them quickly. As he had expected, they led him to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. At least the Forest provided some shelter from the wind, but she should not be out without her cloak. Unfortunately, her footprints were harder to follow because the snow cover was sparser.
As he tried to move deeper into the Forest, he began to get the impression the trees were against him. His cloak kept snagging on tree branches and the path seemed to be narrowing until he could go no farther. He pulled out his wand and considered cutting a path through the trees, but then he remembered that if the Dryads were having the trees attack him, he would only anger them more by retaliating.
Every time he would head in the direction of the castle, the forest would get less dense. The Forest is definitely against me, he thought.
Without realizing it, he found himself surrounded. "You aren't wanted here, human," said the Dryad in front of him.
"I have to see her," he replied authoritatively.
"She does not wish to see you. You will leave," ordered the Dryad.
"I will not leave until I have seen her," he insisted.
"If you do not leave now, you will not leave," replied Medea.