A/N: Cassie...

Cassie: Hiya!

A/N: My Disclaimer... growls

Cassie: Aww...but nobody wants to read your crummy story!

A/N and Caitlin: CASSIE!

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Disclaimer: Don't Own...Don't Sue.

Falling Into the Darkness; a Sepant's Tale

Chapter Three
"Scarlet Fever"

Gasping for air, Rane ran a shaky hand over Severus' heaving chest as he tried to regulate hi breathing. Cool air floated through the open window, showing off hte night's cruelty. Against her bare skin the soft, silk sheets felt cool. Exaution filled her as she buried her face in Severus' neck.

"I love you, Scarlet." Severus mumbled, stoking her hair.

"I love you, too."

"Come on you two!" Bellatrix scolded. "We're gonign to be late!"

Rane groaned and clung to Severus, refusing to open her eyes.

Severus sighed. "Wake up, sweetheart."

Lucius and Rodolphus snorted at the comment while the two girls "aww"ed. Rane opened her eyes to Severus' cringing face.

"Bugger off." Severus grunted. "All of you."

Rane had refused to move until she heard the soft click of the door as the foursome left. She sighed and sat up, hugging a sheet to her chest. Severus smiled up at her. His usually shady eyes reflected of the early morning sun opening a brief gateway into his soul. The purity was astounding and yet it was shadowed by a troubled past. This momentary lapse of protection answered all of the "why"s Rane had formed.

"I suppose we should get up. What do you think, Sev'?"

"I think..." Severus began, hoarsly, rolling onto his side and propping his head up with his elfbow. "...we should sleep another hour and skip classes today."

Rane chuckled. "Alright, sounds good to me!" She fell back into the pillow and smiled as Severus pulled her closer.

The dead trees loomed above their heads closing out any sunlilght that thretend to shine though. The darkened pat created a forbidding aura causing Rane to stare in wonder. She shivered and unconsciencely her body gravitated towards Severus' body heat. They continued to walk in silence down the tunnel-like path for a while, often hearing a snarle or a screetch from some unnamed creature. After what seemed like hous of walking the trees ended in a pool of silver liquid. The wine-color sky an illusion for it did not reflect the water. No light dared to show with the exception of the hoak bloody sky and the turquoise water nymphs that danced along the surface of the lake. An old sign floated gently in the air, magiced to be iluminated with the words "Salazar's Greatest Secret".

"Where are we?" Rane asked.

Severus glanced around the Forbidden Forest silently before turning back to Rane. "Just a place...only the Slytherin's know it's here. I sometimes come here to think...or when I'm having an extremly bad day."

Eventually they sat down at the waters edge. Rane played with the hem of his sleeve like she'd done on the way to Hogsmade. This time, however, her allowed her to finger his scars from where he had slit his wrist and trace the lines of the Dark Mark.

She looked up at him after a short while and kissed his lips tenderly. As the kiss broke she leaned into him and let silence become her.

Bellatrix dipped her quill into the vile of ink before continuing to sketch on Rane's arm. The others leaned in curiously, determined to be the first to see what it looked like on her. Rane rested her head on Severus' shoulder and patiently waited.

"So, Scarlet, I hear you and Severus went for a little tromp in the forest while the rest of us were rotting away in class." Lucius drawled.

"Rane smirked and closed her eyes as she recalled the moments of nirvana. Severus slowly, almost reluctantly, wrapped his arms around her.

"It suits you." Bellatrix hissed, admireing her aritwork. Narcissa nodded in agreement while Rodolphus smiled evilly. A temporary Dark Mark sneered mockingly at them, bearing its teeth in almost a smile-like gesture.

As she spotted the Mauraders, Kiri, and Lily, Rane broke out into a sob. Tears curved gracefully down her paled face. She made a show sliding down the wall in mock-devistation, pretending she didn't notice the six students apporaching her.

"Rane?" James' voice was stained with a startled nature. It softened into a soothing tone. "Rane? What's wrong?"

"He-he's...I...w-we...I didn't..." Rane began to sob uncontolably, clinging to her brother who had sank to his knees beside her.

"It was Snivellus, wasn't it?" Sirius spat.

Rane managed to nod as she looked up to meet all of their gazes.

James snarled, "What'd he do? Did he hurt you, the bastard."

Rane shook her head. "We...w-we were just...t-talking." She choked. "He...tried t-to... But I d-didn't w-want to...he g-got mad at m-me." She began to cry again.

She felt somebody lift her away from James. The ground distanced from her body. Rane didn't realize just how strong Remus was until he cradled her in his arms. Rane's sobbing had slowed as Remus carried her bridal-style to the Common Room...the rest followed, watching curiously. Her shallowed breaths became deeper so they matched Remus'. The soft, somber sound of his hearbeat brought her to sleep. Before she slipped into her slumber-commaher mind registered on one thing, Stage One of the Plan-Evaluation: Success.

Two weeks later...

Rane, Lily, and Remus sat out by the lake studying for Transfigurations. Three-hundred-and-thirty six hours had passed since Rane last saw Severus; she missed him. But, then again, she was begining to relate to her old way of life. For the thought, she'd mentally kicked herself; she belonged with the Slytherins, didn't she? Didn't she?

"Do you know what you're wearing to the dance this weekend?" Lily questioned.

Rane shook her head. "I gotta go shopping."

"Good, I'll go with you; I've got nothing."

"I can't beleive you're actually going with James, Lil'." Remus interjected.

Lily nodded. "I find it more unbeleiveable that Kiri is going with Sirius."

Rane chuckled, yes it would, indeed, be an intersting sight to behold. Sirius, playboy and sex-god of Hogwarts, is going with Kiri, thin-short-bispecaled genius.

"Who are you going with, Remmy?" Lily asked.

"Nobody."

"What?...even Peter has a date!"

"Rubbing it in, Lily."

Rane smiled secretly, "Perfect."

"Wadda 'bout you?" Lily turned to Rane, failing to stiffle a yawn as she spoke.

"NO one has asked me." Which was a lie; many people had since they caught wind of the new that Severus and she had "broke-up"-she'd meely turned them down.

"Then go with Remus, stupid."

Rane and Remus exchanged glances before Rane wispered an, "Alright", and smirked in triumph. Slytherin gets as Slytherin wants.

Stage Two of the Plan-Evaluation: Success.

Rane and Lily had separated after finding two different stores. Rane silently weaved though the isles. At first, Rane had almost puchased a dress hat she knew Severus, Lucius, and Rolophus would...love...but, on a second thought, would probably scare Remus and give James a heart-attack (if he hasn't had one already).

Finally, she came acros a dress most woul classify as pretty...but Rane despised the word. It was flowing, innocent, and (most of all) something a Gryffindor would wear. Severus would be appalled but the dress wasn't to impress him.

"Maybe something lacy, underneath?' Rane smirked eyeing hte launderay section.

123 step...123step...123 step...round and round.

Rane relaxed as she allowed Remus to lead her around the dancefloor. Unnamed faces around them were shadowed as they, too, moved slowly and rythetically to the mellow music. Rane could feel Severus' dark eyes boring into her from within the depths of bodies. For some strange reason a sudden wave of fear struck Rane and she pulled herself into Remus.

As the song ended Rane and Remus made their way to the side of the room, hands entwined. Lily, James, Sirius, and Kiri almost immedeatly joing them.

"Looks like the ol' Rane's back!" Sirius exclaimed when Rane cuddled up to Remus. She offered a slight whine as a rebuttle.

James heaved a sigh. "I'll kill that slimy git if he bothers you agian, Rane."

"I was just tricked in by his darkness." Rane said truthfully. "Something evil and yet gental..." Rane's voice faltered as she realized it was becomming affectionate so she contorted her face. "But...he was a batard... I-I have to go."

Rane fled the room, knowing that the wearwolf would follow. She made her way towards the Gryffindor dorms with a staffering gate. As they foundd the potrait Remus announced his presence.

"Where are you going?"

Rane turned towards the tawny-haired man and smiled lightly as she watched the moonlight shine through the window shimmer happily in his golden-honey-brown eyes.

"I love you, Remus." Rane whispered and, for a moment, she beleived it.

A smile crept to the corners of Remus' lips and he pulled Rane to him, kissing her chastely. Remus pushed away slowly and looked at her strangely.

"We should get back."

Rane shook her head, "We wont be missed."

Rane and Remus stumbled up the stairs, kissing feverishly. They tumbled onto Remus' bed. Remus cautiously undid the ties on the back of Rane's dress, nipping at her neck. Rane ran her fingers through his hair trying to pull him, if possible, closer.

Remus juerked away suddenly. "I-I gotta...take a shower."

"Oh no you don't, buddy." Rane let out a small wimper of protest before pulling him back down on top of her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rane nodded and kissed him brutally.

He began to tug down the shouldersw of her dress, kissing , biting, and licking every bit of skin he revealed.

He stoppen again. "Rane...?"

"You talk too much, Remmy."

He growled playfully in protest before pulling down the top of her dress.

Rane lay awake, listening to the soft sound of Remus' breath. Cautiously, so she wouldn't wake him, Rane rolled Remus onto his back. She stradled his waist before casting a sleeping charm on his form. After transfiguring a quill into a knife, she brought the tip to his forehead and pressed down hard before swerving the metal shard as a snake would move- creating the letter "S". She etched more letters into his skin until it finally read, beneath the red pools, "Scarlet Fever". She kissed his lips a final time and smiled as bood slithered freely down his face.

Rane struggled to reattach her discarded dress and, after tuching the blade safetly away, made her way back to the Slytherin Tower. Up the narrow passage, through the magically sealed door, and to the bed on the far side of the room. She knelt on the bed nect to Severus' sleeping body shaking him slightly. His eyes fluttered open and he stared at her for a long while before pulling her down beside him.

Stage Three of the Plan-Evaluation: Success.

A/N: Gaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh? What a head ache...oh my goddess... Cassie! Call in reinforsment...damn gummy bear...oh hello! Um...reveiw and I promis I wont let these mutan gummys take over the Rain Forest, Cassie!-bring me the spatula!