Hi ya'll.Just to warn you/tell you I GOT THE LEADING FEMALE ROLE IN MY FALL PLAY! YIPPIE! Lol...but unfortunately that means that my stories will fluctuate (that is so miss-spelled um...change frequently? Lol) in how oftenI post. I've said this several times before but I just thought I'd warn you but I have no repeat no intention of abandoning this story, not matter how long it hasn't had a post. : P Now to the reviewers (I love it when you guys review)

BabeBunny-Lol, well here's more for you. Keep reviewing please: )

Laragirl007-I suppose I'm doing my job as an author right if you "can't let go of this story?" Lol. Thank you for saying it's good and I'm glad you like it. I love Severus too and I'm not telling no one a jot about what is going to happen between Leo and Sev because that'd ruin the story. And no, I won't kill my protagonist unless it the end of the story and trust me (RED ALERT! She divulging story secrets!) Lenore doesn't die in this story. Here's the update. : P

A.S. Leif-Hello: P Lol, I am way to hyper for it to be this early. Lol. Anyway,the "detail" as you put it is just more showing things in another person's perspective I guess. I dunno, I just wanted to show that SOMETHING is happening while she's unconscious. My other stories will progress but albeit much more slowly than this because this is what my main muse is and I don't want to get the stories...confused? Is that the word, no its more I don't want the stories to become too similar. Thanks for the luck, I'll keep it with my faerie dust. Lol. I'm trying my best to keep Severus in character because his character is going to be showing some startling changes here and there throughout the story but I'm trying to keep it as much like J.K. Rowling's Severus Snape (in her first five books the sixth one should die a long and horrible death.) As for Severus fixing his behavior and not doing well, lol, no one gets anything on the first try and Sev is definately not going to get parenting that quickly, nor will Leo let him. Well, here's another chapter! I'll post on the other stories as soon as I have time, I have my stupid Senior project to work on...yuck: ) Well I'll look forward (as always, lol) to hearing your opinions on this chapter.

Lost in a Sea of Faces-I didn't ask for a lengthy review I asked for a review and trust me your review is longer that some of my others but I don't care about the length IT'S A REVIEW I'M HAPPY! Lol. There is a reason, though, why I portrayed Adem, Saffron, and the others in that light.Centaurs are magestic, prolund, and proper but think back to her 'dream' and they talk about Near-Humans, Centaurs that end up looking like humans and having human traits. The Clan of the Vahe, Adem's clan incase you don't remember, embracessed parts of human culture, hense Saffron and her oils, the type of friendship they have and on top of that their attitudes towards humans in general. Besides I can't write a whimsical person, it's too day-dreamy for me. As for putting I have no idea what you are talking about, Adem finds her and then it is switched to Severus, which has that Dumbledore was explaining something with Weasley in the room, therefore taking from logic from the previous chapter they cannot be in the same area as Leo, Tink. Besides whenever I put something there the damned site takes it out. The house elf is of little importance, I just needed a way for Albus to know of Adem's appearence. It's assumed that the elf apparated there. Review "Mr. Brady"

FOR GIVE MY LATIN, TRANSLATIONS ARE AT THE BOTTOM!


Chapter Thirteen

Pain and Due Time

Pain was the first thing to greet her the moment consciousness decided that it was time to come back. She moaned softly. There was no way that it could have been just some horrible nightmare, not with the type of pain that was shooting up her back. Her wrist no longer ached and, though her throat was sore, she didn't feel a pain in her chest when she breathed, a definite improvement.

She swallowed hard, the liquid burning her aching throat. She forced her eyes open and found that she merely met black once more. She was still blind. "Damn," she muttered blinking.

"Eloquent." A voice from somewhere in the room said.

She felt her muscles tense. "Who's there?" Her mind raced, who could be watching her? "Remus?" She reached out her hand, trying to find he person.

"He is asleep next to you." Came a familiar voice that made her shiver but she immediately regretted it.

"Ow," she moaned involuntarily.

"Are you in pain?"

"No shit Sherlock, I just fell down how many flights of stairs?" she snapped, her hand searching for Remus.

"Language, young lady. And without knowing what floor you were on how do you expect me to know how many floors you fell?" She rolled her eyes as her hand found a knee. "I was asking because if you were in pain I was going to give you a potion."

"I don't trust your potions, hell I don't trust you." She shook the knee. "Remus? Is that you?"

A snort of someone waking up filled the air. "Wha—Lenore!" a hand grabbed the one she had extended.

She gave his hand a squeeze. It felt good to know he was there. "Remus, you're still here…" she whispered softly.

"I told you I would stay. How are you feeling?"

She shifted but pain shot through her back, tears springing to her eyes. "My back hurts."

"Just try to stay still, all right sweetheart?" he said brushing hair off of her face. "Severus would you get Poppy please,"

Lenore knew that Snape had just delivered Remus with one of his famous sneers before she heard his footsteps receding. "Why does my back hurt so much?" she whispered, a stray tear escaping her eye.

Remus wiped it away. "When you fell it looks like you hit a railing, your back broke." She drew in a sharp breath. His hand squeezed her comfortingly. "Among other things, your wrist was broken, leg nearly shattered, and you had several cracked ribs that caused internal bleeding. Your hit on the back of your head impaired your vision but Poppy says with rest and the proper medicine your vision will return."

"Will I ever walk again?" she asked remembering a muggle friend who had her back broken in a car accident. She was paralyzed from the waist down.

"Of course you'll walk again." Came a strong voice.

"Who's there?" she asked panicked.

"I'm Madame Pomfry, the Mediwitch here at Hogwarts. What hurts dear?" the voice came closer and closer till Lenore was certain she was beside the bed.

"My back, it hurts really bad." She mumbled.

"I had Severus make your special pain potions, bring one over here."

"NO!" she exclaimed but then regretted it because her soar throat protested and gave her a coughing fit.

"What?" three voices joined together.

"I don't trust him." She whispered the truth, not caring if he was in the room.

Silence followed the statement. "I see." Came Madame Pomfry's voice.

"Lenore, he would not hurt you intentionally," Remus said softly.

She opened her mouth, preparing to tell him about the night he hit her and the bruise on her arm but something stopped her. "Fine." She said unemotionally. She pushed her wants and fears aside, holding out her free hand. "Give it here."

Another moment of silence passed until a vial was pressed into her hand. "Now be careful, don't sit up too quickly and don't choke. You're aggravating your back enough as it is."

Four hands came around her to help her rise into a sitting position. Her back screamed in protest and she almost passed out because of the pain. She fumbled with the cork. "Here, I'll—" started Snape but she yanked the bottle towards her.

"Just because I'm blind and in pain doesn't mean I'm helpless, go tend to your potions or something." She snapped working the cork out. She dumped the liquid into her mouth and swallowed it, making a face at the taste. "Ever hear of flavoring?"

She heard footsteps recede and the hands helped her lay back down. She felt exhausted. "Albus will be in later to hear what happened." Madame Pomfry said as Lenore settled down.

"Will," she swallowed hard. "Will I be able to walk again?"

"Yes dear, of course. Magic healed your back and everything else but there is still swelling on your legs and back. I don't want you walking for the next few weeks."

"Weeks?" she gasped out. She did not want to be bedridden that long.

"The next three days I want you in bed. Albus already arranged for a, what did he call it, a Wheelchair."

"Wheelchair," she repeated numbly, her eyes growing heavy.

"Apparently Muggles who have no use of their legs use it. You hit your back very hard, young lady. Do you want to injure yourself further?" She shook her head. "Your sight will heal in due time, until then one of your daily potions will a be a sight restorative." She shifted, her back numb, closing her eyes for a moment.

"Lenore?"

Her eyes flew open. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Adem."

She blinked and reached out her hand. Another's caught hers, giving it a tight squeeze. "Albus is here also."

"Thank you." She whispered softly. Silence followed it but she wanted him to know how grateful she was that he found her. "For coming after me, getting me help."

"Eccere amplector adulescens alius." He said softly. "I will protect you as if you were my own puer," He spoke gently and with the kind of love in his voice that her mother used to have. She didn't understand what he said but the tone expressed his affection for her.

"But she is not your own and I have yet to hear a decent explanation as to why you have a rune on my daughter's hand." Snape's silky cold voice flowed out.

Lenore froze; she didn't know he was here. "Severus, Adem will explain it in due time. While Lenore is awake shall we hear how she took her fall?" Albus's tired voice rang true and he sounded exhausted.

"Albus, where are you?" she asked, her head moving. The pain potion was obviously still working but she hated laying on her back.

"Over near your right." He answered, his voice coming closer.

"Where's Remus?" she questioned swallowing hard.

"He, I'm afraid, was forced to leave due to his Order mission. He asked me to give you his regrets and made me promise that if anything worse happens I will contact him, regardless of his position."

"Well tell him to shove it, I'm not going to compromise him no matter what happens. What ever he is doing he could die." She was merely making an assumption due to the war and Remus's leaving that what ever he was doing could be deadly if he crossed the person.

Albus's chuckle sounded as he sat down next to her. "Now, will you tell me what happened? You took quite a spill. You were also murmuring something about a rat."

She swallowed hard. "Will you help me sit up?"

"That's not a good idea, Lenore." Snape's voice said sharply.

"Well I don't like feeling as if I'm staring at the ceiling. Besides I'm not going to spend the next days staring at what would be the ceiling. It throws my perception off." She retorted.

Two strong arms soon accompanied by another pair slowly eased her up. A sharp pain hit her back but she ignored it. She didn't want to give Snape the benefit of the doubt. Pillows where fixed behind her back and she settled down. The effort didn't tire her out as much as it had the time before. She reached out to the right, searching for the reassurance that someone was there.

Dumbledore's hand grasped hers. "I am here. I know it is hard for you but please tell me what happened."

She swallowed hard. "Well…I was wondering the halls, exploring and the like. I had just finished part of the seventh floor." Her memory was a bit disjointed. "I was singing something…oh Hushabye Mountain."

"Hushabye Mountain?" questioned Albus.

"It's a song from a movie, Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang, I let you watch it. Remember?" she began humming the tune before she sang. "A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain."

Dumbledore laughed. "Oh yes! Blows softly o'er lullaby bay." He sang the next verse.

She giggled half-heartedly. "Well I was skipping, happy about…" she then remembered what she had been happy about. She, for once, didn't want to say. She didn't want to inflict that hurt on Snape. She may hate him but sometimes, a nagging in the back of her head annoyed her, telling her that Stef would not be proud of her behavior.

"Happy about what?" questioned Adem.

She had forgotten he was next to her. She let out a breath. "Happy I could explore the halls without the poltergeist annoying me. I made friends with the Bloody Barren and now he doesn't bug me." She lied quickly. She had made friends with the Bloody Barren but Peeves actually liked her so he didn't prank her. She went on, trying to picture what had happened. "I was just about to go down another hallway but…but a rat caught my attention." She swallowed hard. "I started to chase it."

"Why?" Albus had the hint of amusement in his voice, as if he already knew.

"I wanted to stun it and leave it on Snape's pillow, I wanted to see what his reaction would be." She said quickly.

"Severus," Albus's voice warned.

She could only imagine the look on his face. "I didn't do it, obviously. I was chasing him down the stairs to the sixth floor but then I lost him. He kept having the flash of silver on his foot." She remembered that the clearest. She heard an unearthly silence pass around but she assumed it was because they wanted her to continue. "I started singing again, a song I made up…what was it…"

"What does the song matter?" snapped Snape's annoyed voice.

"Something in the song must have gotten the rat mad." She retorted remembering that the rat didn't show himself as an Animagus until she started singing the fake song. She struggled to find the tune she made up. She then said the words of the song, rather than singing them, unsure of herself. She swallowed hard, blushing lightly with a faint smile, she couldn't help but think how stupid the song was. "I saw the rat and was going to get it but…but then he changed…the rat was an Animagus."

She shivered at the thought of the rat-like man. She swallowed hard and continued. "I asked him who he was and what he was doing in Hogwarts…he had a silver hand, I thought that was weird but he used it just like it were a regular hand…but…" she shivered again. "I asked if he was a criminal and he looked surprised but didn't answer. I took off running down the flight of stairs but he caught me half way down." Adem squeezed her hand comfortingly. "He was holding me and I fought him, scratching, hitting, trying to get free. I started to scream but he hit me…trying to cover my mouth. That was when the staircase moved. The movement threw him off balance and his weight made me fall over the side."

Someone in the room drew in a sharp breath. "I managed to grab his robe…but he took it off, letting me drop. I hit another staircase after…after something hit my back. I was rolling down the stairs when they moved and I fell off." A tear escaped her eye. "He was trying to kill me." Silence followed her story. Her eyes darted wildly, trying to see something, or hear something, anything to be sure that they believed her. She didn't want them thinking she was lying. "Do you believe me?"

"Of course we do, Lenore." Albus's voice hurried to say. "I'm sorry but I was unaware that Peter Pettigrew could get into Hogwarts."

She heard someone stomp out; door slamming behind the person she could only assume was Snape. "Who?"

"He betrayed James and Lily Potter to their death and set up Sirius Black as a mass murderer."

She drew in a sharp breath. "Good Merlin…so….so I was actually talking with a murderer." She shivered.

"Kali," Adem said the name the centaurs had been calling her. She looked in the direction she thought he was. "Now that you are safe, I must leave." She squeezed his hand. She didn't want to be alone. She knew that Albus was going to leave soon and she hated the idea being alone with Snape. "Yes, I know, but my clan needs me." He said, as if sensing her thoughts.

She nodded slowly. "Thank you for saving me."

"Adem," Albus's tone was casual but she knew, without even being able to see him, that he wanted something. "Why did you cause the rune to appear on her hand? Why are the centaurs protecting her?"

You mean Albus doesn't even know! Her thought exclaimed. Adem spoke in his low voice. "Conciliatrix ea alibi." Came his answer. She still didn't understand what he said meant but she heard him leave.

She swallowed hard. "Albus," she reached out her hand. His hand took hers. "Why does he keep saying that? What does it mean?"

She could feel his eyes on her. "All in due time, Lenore."

"But why does he call me Kali?" she asked nervously. "I mean, I don't hate the name, I've never really heard it before I met him but he acts as if it was my given name."

"All in due time, child." She heard him stand and he squeezed her hand. "All in due time." She heard him walk towards the door. Before he left he said something to the mediwitch who scurried over fussing over Lenore.

"Due time," Lenore whispered allowing the sleeping draught and pain potion take over. She didn't want to wait until 'due time' was over.


Eccere amplector adulescens alius-You're welcome, young one.

Puer-child

Conciliatrix ea alibi-she who unites is here