Under My Skin

Chapter 7

The students were finally arriving tonight. Even though it was early in the morning, Grace Vasquez was so glad something was going to take her mind off Severus. He was all she could think about for the past week. And it really baffled her at how much she thought about him. Severus this, Severus that. It unnerved her a great deal and she just wanted something to take her mind off it.

"Mind if I come in?" asked a shaky, female voice. Grace looked up to see Minerva McGonagall leaning against her office door frame.

"Yes, of course. Professor, are you alright?"

"Fine, dear. Just fine." McGonagall's voice was still shaking as she sat down on a chair in front of Grace's desk. Grace closed the door behind the aging woman. As Grace studied her, she heard an abrupt knock on the door.

"Grace, open the door. It's Sev -- Snape," Grace heard from the other side of the door. Her breath hitched as she walked slowly over to the door and opened it. As soon as she did this, Severus came rushing in, saying, "Have you seen -- oh, McGonagall. Thank the gods you are alright!"

Grace had never seen Severus worried. His cheeks were paler than usual and his breath was ragged. "What happened?" She turned towards McGonagall now.

"Minerva was attacked by your husband," he replied with venom. His black orbs bore into Grace's steel greys.

"That's not possible. Julian is --"

"Here, Professor. Unless he has a twin..." Severus cut in sharply.

"You all don't even know what Julian looks like." She just knew Julian would not harm anyone. He was too kind and gentle.

"We don't need to see what he looks like. He specifically said, and I quote, 'Bring me Grace, damn it. I'm her fucking husband and I want to talk to her,'" Severus smirked. He looked different now, almost too confident for his own good.

Grace's head was hung low as she replied, not even looking at Minerva, "I'm so sorry, Minerva. Is he still in the castle?"

Severus almost wanted to rush over and comfort the now sobbing woman. She looked so helpless and Severus had never felt this way before in his life. Well, except when Hermione Granger cried in her seventh year when her ball of fur she claimed was a cat died.

"I think so. Oh, don't blame yourself, Grace," replied Minerva in a calm and gentle tone. Instead of replying, Grace slowly walked out the office, leaving the other adults to stare at one another. "Severus? Perhaps you should go follow her and make sure she doesn't get hurt. Julian seems awfully vicious."

"Of course," Severus choked and stormed out the office, black robes billowing around.

Grace didn't even get a chance to see Julian. When she asked Argus Filch if he had seen her husband, he said he saw the odd man leaving Hogwarts' grounds. She was disappointed, but began walking to her rooms, possibly to write that horrid ex-husband of her's a hateful letter, when she bumped in to Severus.

"Miss Vasquez--"

"Grace!" she yelled softly, agitation apparent in her voice.

"Grace," he corrected himself stubbornly, "we need to talk."

A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews! It seems that people aren't very interested in this story. So, if you're not, just let know. I've got the next few chapters written, and I really don't want to waste my time! I hope y'all ARE still interested in the story, though. Oh, and soonnn, not now, but sooonnn Hermione will be coming!

Innogen and m428 -Hmm... I wonder ;-) I guess you both will just have to continue reading this story!