Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights go to JK Rowling. I only own my own OCs.

Chapter 9: The Ringing

January 3, 1993 - 10:15 am

Hogwarts was quiet and still, lingering with students who stayed at school for the holidays. Teachers sat in their offices to embrace the calm. Severus Snape, however, was the exact opposite.

Snape paced in his chambers, awaiting for his daughter to arrive. Her letter concerned him quite a bit. Where was the sudden feeling of helplessness coming from? Had he done something that upset her? Was it the Malfoy boy? All these questions ran through his head continuously, looking for an explanation. It didn't make sense - a young, bright girl who is normally confident, snarky, and brave, seemed distant and lonely. It put him on edge.

A knock on the door brought Snape out of thoughts and back to reality. He turned around and noticed Draco Malfoy stepping into his office.

"Draco."

"Hello, Professor. Have a moment?"

"Only one."

Draco smirked at him. "I was just hoping that you've heard from Sienna? I didn't receive a letter over break and I was wondering-"

"And you care because?" Snape inquired.

Draco's normally pale face turned a light shade of pink. "I-uh-sort of just wanted to know how her Christmas was and if she was alright?"

Snape noticed this was very out of character for Draco. The boy whose sly and condescending was curious and thoughtful for his daughter. Snape, although cautious, was enlightened by the fact that Draco was thinking about someone other than himself.

"She wrote me Christmas Eve and said it was delightful. Although… you might want to speak with her."

Draco gave him a confused look. "Did something happen?"

"Not sure. She wouldn't say. I was hoping maybe she'd tell you."

Draco seemed taken aback by his comment. Does he look…concerned? "Professor, is everything alright?" Draco asked.

"I believe so, Draco. If you will-"

"Yes, I'll see if she'll tell me."

"And you'll report back to me?"

"If she doesn't first, yes."

Snape grinned at the boy, thankful for his help. "Great. Do you need anything else?"

"No, sir."

"Then why are you still standing here?"

Draco smirked, walking towards the door. "I left a moment ago, remember?"

Snape nodded at the boy, smirking.

January 3, 1993 - 1:08 pm.

Sienna arrived back to Hogwarts with open arms. After feeling this sense of loneliness at home, she was relieved to walk into the castle and feel wanted again. She hopped off the carriage with Mavi's cage in hand and her bag on her shoulder. Tom's diary sat on the side of her bag tucked away in the pocket. Her hair braided to the side, some hairs loosely flowing in the cold January wind. She was wrapped up in her maroon sweatshirt and black scarf. She shivered, tugging her sweatshirt closer to her.

She walked into school with the rest of the first year Slytherins, and headed straight for the girls lavatory. She set Mavi and her bag down and ran into the stall. Afterwards, she washed her hands and looked up into the mirror. Although she has fair skin already, she looked even more pale and her eyes sunken in quite a bit with dark circles becoming more and more prominent. She's twelve - why is she suddenly looking like she just took all her O.W.L. exams? Sienna sighed and splashed some water on face. She grabbed her things and headed for the common room in the dungeon.

Sienna walked the corridors with a new heaviness on her shoulders. She was walking mindlessly when she heard a whisper coming from next to her on her right.

"Kill…mudbloods…"

Sienna stopped dead in her tracks and the hairs on her neck stood on end. She slowly turned her head to the right and saw nothing, but the whispers continued.

"Sienna...Snape…"

This time she felt panic rise in her chest. She went to turn and run, but bumped into a warm body. "Woah, Snape. In a rush to see me?"

She looked up and saw the cold grey eyes she missed the past couple weeks. All of a sudden, the whispers stopped and she felt her shoulders physically relax. She took a deep breath, but her face was still showing a shade of fear. Draco saw this and his face shifted. "Sienna. What's wrong?"

Sienna forewent the words. She immediately dropped her things and wrapped her arms around Draco's torso, burying her head in his chest. Stunned by the action, Draco slowly wrapped his arms around the girl.

"Snape. Talk to me." He said gently, but did not receive a verbal reply, only arms that squeezed a bit tighter. He sighed. "Let's get you to your father."

"No!" a panicked Sienna exclaimed.

"But Sienna-"

"Please, Draco. H-He can't find out."

He pulled the girl away from his chest and put his arms on her shoulders. "You need to tell me what's going on."

"I-I can't. H-He'll know..."

"Your father won't find out anything if you-"

"No, not him!"

Draco's face turned into a perplexed one. "What? Then who, Sienna?"

She realized what she had said and her eyes went wide. She had said too much. Tom would find out. He's going to be angry with her. "I have to go." she said suddenly. She grabbed Mavi's cage and her bag.

The ringing started again.

"Wait! Snape!" Draco stepped in her path to make sure she didn't get far from him. "It's alright."

"No! Move, Malfoy."

Draco's face flashed a sense of hurt, but as quickly as it came it disappeared. "Sienna, I'm not going anywhere."

"Y-You don't care. We're not even friends."

"What? Where are you getting this from?"

"I just know it. You didn't write over break."

"Because I thought you'd be busy with your family!"

"So? When has anything ever stopped you from doing what you want?" Sienna said harshly. Where was this all coming from?

Draco sighed, frustrated. He ran a hand through his blonde hair. "Will you please tell me what's going on? You left here before Christmas happy and...and… normal. Now you're hesitant and terrified of your own shadow!"

"Stop acting like you care all of a sudden!" She shouted.

"What are you even talking about, Snape?! I never acted like I didn't care!"

"You're lying!"

"I'm not!"

"What is the meaning of this?" came a new voice from behind Draco. Sienna looked over his shoulder to find her father standing there, both annoyed and concerned.

"D-Dad."

"Good to see you as well, dear. May I ask what is going on right now and the reason for the shouting?"

Neither Draco nor Sienna responded to the man. The ringing Sienna heard suddenly got louder. She flinched at the irritating noise.

"Sorry, sir. I was trying to help her, but she-"

"It's nothing, dad. I apologize for shouting." She suddenly said, avoiding eye-contact interrupting Draco's apology. Both Snape and Draco turned to look at her. At the sight of her, she was suddenly more pale than she was five minutes ago and a light shimmer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Sienna?" her father questioned.

When Sienna moved her head up to look at him, she suddenly became dizzy. The ringing was almost unbearable. "D-Dad…" Then her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she started to fall forward. With a quick reaction, Draco moved and caught the girl who was limp in his arms. He quickly looked up at the professor with panic written on his face.

"Sir?!"

Snape was now the one panicking. "Give her to me, I'll take her to the hospital wing. Go get Professor Dumbledore."

Draco nodded and passed the girl to her father. With one last glance at her, Draco moved past them and headed for the Headmaster's chambers.

January 3, 1993 - 11:54 pm

Snape sat in the chair next to his daughter's hospital wing bed, staring at the unconscious girl. A piece of parchment set next to him on the night table, a quill and ink beside it. This letter to Alesia will not be pleasant, and frankly he was dreading it. Trying to explain to Alesia what happened caused Severus to have anxiety, which not many things did.

This child is going to be the end of me.

He sighed and folded it. The school owl sat in the window about a few yards away. Severus walked over and gave it to the owl, and it flew away into the night.

Footsteps entered his ears from behind him. He turned around to find the Malfoy boy again.

"Draco." Snape nodded to him.

Draco looked distraught. "Sir. How is she?"

"Resting, thankfully. Madam Pomfrey gave her a healing potion to help her fever. She's stable for now."

Draco nodded. He was relieved to hear that. He cleared his throat, "I just figured I would check on her."

Snape nodded. "Thank you Malfoy. Do you want to sit with her?"

Draco blushed, "Oh, no no. That's alright."

"I do need to get back to my chambers, classes start again tomorrow."

Draco nodded, understanding. "Alright. I'll sit with her until she wakes up."

With another nod, Snape was up and out the door.