Author's Note: A special thanks to FireChileSlytherin36 for giving me that extra kick to finish this damn chapter….and for nagging me to no ends, but I appreciate it!
Sorry for the long wait, because of my severe writers block some parts of this chapter might be a bit…cheesy.
Another thing, I know I said that this would be the last chapter with memories, but I just couldn't shorten it that much so this is the second to last chapter. Next chapter, you just wait it will have Severus' and Hermione's reactions in it. I am just ecstatic with excitement.
I also found out that it's a very bad idea to hand write your story in bright neon orange on white paper….very hard to read.
WARNING: Slight Dumbledore Bashing, Dumbledore fans beware!
Chapter 26
The End and the Beginning
Severus and Sarah were crouching, well hidden, behind a tree next to the lake. A few feet away Lily was nervously approaching James.
"James," she said nervously.
"Lily," his voice cracked and Severus had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
"So, uh, I heard you and your friends apologized to Sarah and Sev,"
"Yeah, we were….out of line," it looked like it was killing him to have to say that.
"Well, uh, th-thanks for doin' that."
"No problem."
No one said anything for a moment so Severus lifted his hand as if he was expecting something to be placed in his palm and pointed his finger tips at Lily's feet and blew slightly. Instantly a soft wind pushed her feet a step forward, "So, James you….you know…want to go to the ball with me?"
James' face lit up, "Yes! I mean….sure…….whatev…."
Lily smiled and through her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
………
Severus and Sarah were snickering as Lily walked up to where they sat in the library.
"So…how did it go?"
"As if you two don't know," she slammed her books on the table earning her a hard stare from the librarian, "don't think I didn't hear you two behind that tree, probably snogging."
Sarah laughed out right and Severus went bright red, "I never knew you could blush, Sev, you must be human after all," the meaningful joke sent the two girls into another round of laughter and Severus to blush even deeper.
………
Ash was sitting nervously in the Gryffindor Common Room, a black fedora twirling absent-mindedly in his hands, his left food tapping the floor restlessly.
"Well hello there," a girl walked up and smiled at him, "names Alice. Who are you?"
Ash looked surprised, "Ashitaka Jodiki," he stood and bowed formally, "at your service."
Alice smiled, "You must be that foreign kid Sarah's been bragging about,"
"I never realized I was something to brag about," he said, his voice was soft and sweet.
"Alice….who's this?"
Alice turned around, her dark hair bouncing and light pink dress twirling. A boy, with buck teeth stood behind her in dark dress robes.
"Oh Frank, this is Ashitaka, Sarah's 'friend'. Remember her telling us about him?"
She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Frank relaxed, "Hello there,"
Ash bowed his head in greeting, "Ashitaka Jodiki,"
"Frank Longbottom."
"Ash…." A familiar voice caused the room to freeze. Slowly Ash turned around to see Sarah. She was stunning. Her brown hair was straitened so it fell to her bare shoulders. She wore a form-fitting strapless green dress, a black shawl draped over her arms.
"Sarah," it was the first time he ever used her first name, "you look beautiful."
She blushed, "You do, too,"
He was wearing, what looked like traditional dress robes, dark green to match her dress, with an even darker cloak. The fedora sat on his head perfectly.
Alice walked up to her, "I wish you would have told me your 'friend' was such a babe,"
A soft coloring spread on Ash's cheeks and he ducked his head, embarrassed.
"Alice….you have a boyfriend…" she whispered back, giggling, and "Come on Ash."
………
The great hall was decorated very similar to the Yule Ball, "Come on, Ash….don't tell me you're nervous."
"Maybe you didn't realize." He had taken on a French accent to disguise his voice, "I'm standing in the middle of MY school. No one recognizes me and they think I'm FRENCH!"
"Is that such a bad thing….ugh…come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor….the very empty dance floor. She nodded to the band and they began to play a medium paced Waltz, "Sarah…" he growled.
She put her hands on his shoulders and forced him to move in time with the music. His movements were awkward at first, until he began to loosen up and he turned out to be a very good dancer.
Their bodies fit together perfectly as they did the Habanera (a slow English Ballroom Dance), he quickly took the lead. Slowly, the party began to liven and other couples joined them as the song changed to another slow waltz.
James and Lily glided past, she sent an inconspicuous wink in their direction and he blushed (again).
It was a normal slow song, when the young couples just clung to each other. It was hard to tell where on person stopped and the other began. They were barely moving, just swaying back and forth, eyes closed as their arms wrapped around each other.
A minute passed and the music sped up into a fast Italian Mambo. Sarah began leading him off the floor, but catching her hand, he pulled her back to him, "Let's dance."
Their feet and bodies moved as one. She stepped back when he stepped forward, their hips rocking in time together, robes twirling when he sent her into a spin.
At the peak of the music a circle was formed around them, the lights flashing, and the crowd cheering. When the music ended they were both red in the face with excitement. He led her off the floor as another waltz began.
………
They were out in the Forbidden Forest, sitting on the ledge of the Mystic Water in the Dark Unicorns Clearing, "That was fun." She said. He smiled, but it faded slightly and he turned his head away.
"Ash, are you alright?"
The sigh he heaved was answer enough, "What's going to happen to us, Sarah?"
"What do you mean?"
He stared at her, "We're a modern day Romeo and Juliet….how are we going to make this work?"
"We'll figure it out," she stood as if to walk away, but he caught her gently.
"We can't ignore this."
She sighed, sitting down next to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he in turn wrapped his around her waist. Resting her head on his chest, he smiled. "We're only fifteen," she yawned, "we have two years to work it out…I think," another yawn, "You should come visit us in the summer. Mom and Dad, "a longer yawn, "would love to meet you…" she trailed off, her eyes closing in content.
………
"Can
you believe it, Sev?" Lily's boisterous voice filtered through
the hallways, "Christmas is over all ready, half the year to
gone…only half a year left."
"Nice math skills," he
commented, disinterested.
"So how's it going with our newest inner –house couple?" Sarah asked Lily.
Her face darkened, "All right…I guess."
"Why only 'all right'?" Severus looked defensive, "if he's –."
"No, it's nothing really, Sev, don't get all protective. He and his 'friends' are determined to get me to hate you. Questioning your motives towards Sarah, he's implying that you…."
"Go on…"
"That you…hurt her."
Severus froze, "That bastard." He went white with anger, his hands clenched at his sides, "that bastard." His voice rose, and then taking a shaking breath he stared at Lily with a scary calmness, "where was he last, Evans?"
"Sev, don't do anything stupid. He may be a dumnass, but he's still my boyfriend."
"I won't. Where is he?"
Lily only hesitated for a split-second, contemplating whether to argue or not, "The quidditch pitch."
He spun on his heel and without so much as a glance in their direction, stalked away.
………
"Potter."
James was startled out of his game by Severus' yell, "You lying bastard, Potter."
Sirius and Remus landed next to James looking more confused, "What are you talking about, Snivellus?"
Severus didn't rise to the bait, "Stay out of this, Black, this doesn't concern you, besides," his fiery gaze never left James' face, "he knows what I'm talking about."
James sighed, "Get out of here, Sirius, Remus, get Peter and leave."
Their rebuttal was squashed when both, Severus and James, sent warning glares.
When they were gone Severus began tapping his foot impatiently waiting impatiently for an answer.
James didn't have one.
"Listen Potter, it's not the fact that you were insulting me," his voice was soft yet firm as if he was speaking to an ill-mannered child, "insult me all you like, I don't care, but as soon as you drag Sarah into this you've gone to far," as he spoke his voice got softer and softer, the threat growing.
All James could do was nod.
Hermione was surprised by Snape's passion when he was protection Sarah. He really cared about her.
More memories went flashing back, including the infamous Whomping Willow incident and she soon found out how cruel the situation really was.
………
"Ashitaka, you idiot, why did you go?" Sarah was hovering over him. He was stretched out on his back in his hidden room. His hands were pressing down hard on his side, wincing when blood seeped through his pale fingers.
"Couldn't let him think….me a coward," he laughed; it was forced and pained.
"Ash, did he…let me see that," she pulled at his hands revealing the bloody mess beneath, "Ash!"
"Don't worry, I'm a Demon, it won't hurt me," he flinched when she began tearing at the cloth of his robes.
"Sarah, I can handle it don't worry," he sat up to try to fight with her.
"Stop fighting me, Ashitaka Jodiki, sit still."
The cloth ripped more revealing what he always tried so desperately to hide.
The scars…
They criss-crossed across his back and chest, marring, pail, hair-less skin, "Ash…?"
"I told you I could handle it," he growled darkly at her.
Instead of leaving like he obviously expected her too, she silently pulled out her wand, then forcing him to sit back began healing the wound, mending the muscle and skin.
Her silence was not dismissive or angry; but thoughtful and concerned. When she was finished they both sat their in an awkward silence; a discomforting silence.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?" she accused softly.
"I….can we change the subject?"
"Yes," pause, "but the discussion isn't over…so," she brightened, "what were the punishments?"
He scowled as he pulled on a fresh t-shirt, leaving him in nothing but that and black pants (a very charming outfit for his figure, Hermione blushed), "I got a week for breaking the rules and he got a week for tying to kill me. Show's you how much my life is worth to that Gryffindor loving bastard."
………
Dumbledore flinched at the harsh words and Hermione couldn't be happier. It was obvious by the punishments that he valued the Gryffindor name over a Slytherin student's life and she was disgusted with him.
………
"That bastard, even if I am a Gryffindor he should have gotten more than a week. He should have gotten expelled."
Severus sighed, stretching long dexterous legs and circling his snowy-white feet, "well, just think," he said yawning, "Two more years and this will all be over."
………
Severus and Sarah were casually walking down the hallway, neither speaking, just comfortable in each other's presence.
"He's the one that killed your mom – the one who did this to you."
He tensed slightly at the mention of his mother, but relaxed submissively, "Yes."
"I wish you told me."
"I didn't want to drag you into my problems. You don't deserve that."
She stopped abruptly and slapped him across the face just hard enough for the sound to echo in the deserted hall ways.
"That's no excuse Ashitaka," she screamed at him, "we're supposed to trust each other, remember? We're supposed to help each other with our problems not make some lame excuse about not wanting to hurt the other. What happened to that relationship, Ash?" she spun around hugging herself.
"I'm sorry, Sarah, but there is no way to change what I did…or didn't do." He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him, "No more secrets. I promise."
………
"Severus," his voice was soft; startling him out of his walk, in the background Sarah could be seen walking the other direction.
"Lucius," was the only response the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Slytherin got.
Severus attempted to continue walking, but Lucius caught his arm , "adorable the relationship you and that Gryffindor girl have. I don't think I've ever seen you talk to much. You make such little attempts to speak with your House."
"Let's just say we don't agree on some things." Severus said softly, pulling out of the vice grip Lucius had on him.
"Come on, Severus," Lucius said softly, almost lustfully, sending shivers through Severus' body, "you're a Slytherin…we've all come from…difficult childhoods. We are a haven for people like us. A family."
Severus was startled by that, then disgusted, "you mean a cult."
"Yes and no. We serve one master who knows what it's like to be pushed out of society and looked down upon like a parasite. He is a father to those of us who have none. He protects us, Severus….think about it…..it will lead to great things Severus, very great things." The burning passion in his voice was almost convincing enough, but Severus pulled out of the trance.
"I'll think about it, Lucius, now….good day."
End
Here is a little hint to the beginning of the next chapter.
"This sounds dangerous, Ash."
"I know."
"So what are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know yet." Their was an odd forcefulness in his voice that wasn't normally their and his eyes darkened, "it sounds too much like a cult,"
"Are you going to check it out?"
"Haven't decided yet, what do you think?"
"I think," she paused, "I think this is going to sound stupid…but, you've never had friends besides us, maybe it'll be a nice way to meet people. You should check it out..."
Dun Dunn Dunnnnn….what could that be about, I wonder….
