A/N: Hello lovelies! It's been a while since I last updated. I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for the support that you've given this story. You make updating worth it. So, please enjoy this tiny little update.

OOOOOOOOO

Avonlea and Snape spent the rest of the week together at dinnertime. The space between them on the couch in Snape's living quarters grew smaller and smaller, allowing for more conversation to happen and a new bond begin to bloom. Both still woke up in the middle of the night, yearning for the touch of the other, but resisted the urge to share that information with the other because of the fear of making a huge mistake in Avonlea's fate.

The Veela Halfling was receiving blood from Mungo's in small donations, secreted to her by Professor McGonagall herself. Avonlea didn't want to admit to the woman that she needed more and more blood to survive and less of human food as each day passed. The older woman just seemed to know by looking at Avonlea.

"You can't tell Snape," Avonlea said, holding McGonagall's arm to keep the woman from leaving her private common room. "Please, Professor. I don't want to put pressure on him. And I don't want him to know how bad it's getting."

"He's bound to find out if you stop eating food during your private dinners together, Miss Raven," McGonagall reminded her. "This isn't something that you can hide from him for much longer."

"I know, Professor. I know, but things are changing for me and him. We may be able to save my life from becoming an undead one…I just can't force him into it." Avonlea held the older woman's gaze. "Please, let me be the one to tell him when I feel the time is right. Please, Professor."

McGonagall had looked sternly down at Avonlea for several moments in silence. "Very well, Miss Raven, but tread carefully. You are running out of time."

Avonlea had watched the headmistress walk out and returned to her meal of blood. That had been three days ago and now the Halfling sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, trembling under a cloak of a blanket. She bit her bottom lip as she tried to control the shakiness of her hand as she wrote an answer to Carissa's letter. Blood filled her mouth with its tangy copper taste as she told Carissa about how she and Snape were so close that they had finally reached the point where they would go to bed with each other.

"I'll even wear that nightgown that you bought me," Avonlea whispered, scrawling down the final words.

The Halfling rolled the parchment up once the ink was dry enough and rose to her feet. She shivered under the blanket that she wrapped around herself and moved over to the nearest window. An owl sat on the windowsill, watching her as she approached. Avonlea handed him a scrap of meat before tying her note to his leg.

"Take this to Carissa," she ordered softly, stroking his head briefly. "And don't bring another note back. I can't let her know what's really going on right now."

The owl let out a small hoot before turning his back on her. He ruffled his feathers and then jumped into the air, taking off into the setting sun. Avonlea watched him until he grew too far for her to see. She reached out and closed the window against the cold of the outside.

Avonlea swiped her tongue over her bottom lip, licking up the blood that she had brought to her own skin. Her body trembled and her knees grew weak as she moved back over to the fire. She sank onto her knees there and wrapped the blanket more tightly against her.

A clock chimed somewhere in the castle, signaling the beginning of the dinner hour. Avonlea closed her eyes against the world and took a shaky breath.

I can't do this, Avonlea thought, feeling tears slide out from beneath her lashes. I can't go see him like this. I can't. He'll have to forgive me just this once. He'll understand that I need a break. That I have to do this on my own, for just today.

Her eyes opened as her stomach growled. "Oh God…"

OOOOOOOOO

Snape stood in his living quarters by the fire, watching the twisting tendrils of flame dance in the dark stone hole. Avonlea was ten minutes late and he had never known the girl to be late for anything in her life. He thought of sending a Patronus out to her, demanding her to make her presence appear, but held off.

Perhaps she is on her way and had to stop for something, Snape thought, leaning an elbow against the warm stone mantle. I should give her a few more minutes. If she does not appear within five minutes, then I will go out and fetch her myself.

"Master Snape," a House Elf said, appearing in the room with a small pop. "I come bearing a letter for you."

Snape looked down at the grubby little creature and saw that he was offering a piece of folded parchment. He snatched it from the House Elf and turned his back on the creature. The Elf bowed and was gone with another small pop.

The dark professor recognized his name in the script of Avonlea and quickly opened the parchment. His brow furrowed as he read the words on the note.

Professor Snape, I know that I am late for dinner with you, but that can't be helped. I will not be able to have dinner with you tonight as I am not feeling my best. Please, don't come looking for me. Please just leave me alone for tonight and I will try my hardest to have dinner again with you tomorrow night. I just can't do it tonight. So please, don't try to make me come. I'd be bad company. Please, enjoy your night as you would have without me. –Yours Truly, Avonlea

Snape noticed how several of the girl's letters were written shakily as if she was struggling to control her quill. He read the letter once and then read it again, trying to make sense of what the girl said.

How could she want to stay away when time is ticking away? Snape wondered, crumbling the letter up and throwing it into the fire. He leaned his elbow back on the mantle and stared bitterly at the flames. Does she think that she can play around and skip out on times where we can bond in an attempt to save her life? Are all of our attempts to save her life made in vain?

"I'm going to see her," Snape decided, pushing himself away from the fireplace. "The blasted girl owes me answers."

Stepping briskly through the halls of Hogwarts, Snape scowled at everyone that crossed his path. He ignored the paintings that spoke to him and scared the students that dared come near him. His cloak billowed behind him, whispering on the stone floor.

Professor Snape drew up sharply near the common room entrance that would lead him to Avonlea when he saw that McGonagall was approaching as well. He lifted an eyebrow as he noticed the large container in her hands.

"Minerva?" he said.

"Severus," McGonagall said in kind, turning her gaze on him. "What are you doing here?"

"Miss Raven is late for dinner. I am here to see what is delaying her," Snape explained, crossing his arms. "What are you doing here?"

The older woman shifted the container in her in hands. "I have something that Miss Raven needs." She shook her head and turned to face the painting the hid the common room's entrance. "You might as well come in."

McGonagall gave the stupid password that caused the painting to swing open and stepped through the opening. Snape followed her and saw that Avonlea was kneeling before the fire, her back turned to the entrance.

"Miss Raven," McGonagall said, making her presence known. "I've brought company."

The girl visibly tensed up and let out a small choked sob. "Please, make him go away. Please…please…please…"

"I'm not going anywhere, Miss Raven," Snape stated, crossing the distance between them.

Avonlea scooted closer to the fire, keeping her back to him. "Please, sir. You don't want to see me like this…Please, just go."

"Miss Raven, I'm not leaving." Snape put his hand on her shoulder. "Look at me." She shook her head. "Look at me now."

Slowly, the girl turned her head to look at him and he pulled back slightly. Her eyes were wide and bright, leaking pink tears. Blood dribbled down her chin from between bloodied lips and he saw that she had bitten her own arm. The blanket that she had wrapped around herself was soaked in her blood as she shivered near the fire.

"Miss Raven…" Snape whispered, staring at her.

More tears fell from the girl's eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. So sorry…"

OOOOOOOOO

A/N: It's certainly a tiny update, but that's all that the Plot Bunnies would hand me at the moment. Please leave a comment or two in the little box and I'll see you around later. Thanks! -Scarlet