He did what he could to heal her. It took every healing spell he knew and potion he brought. A moment longer and she surely would have died. Neither of them knew how long she had been tortured or even why. Was she targeted or just a victim of circumstance? They couldn't guess and wouldn't know until they could ask her. It didn't take long for him to find the bites that were scattered across her body, nobody especially someone as young as she was deserved what she had been through. Of course he knew what they were, all wizards knew of the mythological creatures that existed upon the earth. To be subjected to vampire venom repeatedly and then have it sucked back out before you could be changed made the crucio curse look like child's play. It angered him immensely.

The anger coursed through him strongly making him unable to sit still so instead he paced the now clean-living room while Renee bathed and changed her daughter upstairs.

So entranced in his own thoughts, he didn't hear Renee come down the stairs until she spoke.

"Thank you Severus. I think she's going to make it now."

Not even the dry tears staining his friends face was going to deter him from finding out what the hell was going on. What he had just become a part of?

"Who is she really Higgs? Why the hell did a vampire have her? It's not like them to torture unless its personal. What are you not telling me?"

"Honest Severus, I have no idea why there was a vampire her or what she wanted with my daughter."

"You're avoiding the other question." He strode right up to her. "Who is she? Why does she resemble Lily?"

Renee sighed deeply running her hands down her face. "I… I can't tell you."

"WHY THE HELL NOT?!"

"You didn't let me finish what I was saying Severus." Renee glared back at him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath to steady himself. "Continue." He said through clenched teeth trying to calm himself.

"I can't tell you YET." She held up her hand quieting him when he went to speak. "She doesn't know the truth either…. It wouldn't be right to tell you before she even knew."

Severus walked to the armchair and tossed him self unceremoniously in to it. He rubbed his forehead feeling a headache coming on.

"Fine, but I want to be here when you tell her. I deserve to know as well besides we also need to ask her about the vampires. What if there are others after her?"

Renee nodded. "We should probably try to sleep. Do you think it'll be safe?"

"I warded the house already, nothing and no one is getting in unless I allow it." He sighed again leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

Renee laid across the couch, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. The stress of the day catching up to everyone quickly.

It was pitch black outside when their eyes opened again. A scream startling them both awake and into action, running up the stairs to Bella's room.

They stormed through the door to see her thrashing about on the bed. Renee sat on the bed and shook her daughter roughly. "Wake up Bella! You're safe!"

The girl's eyes flew open and she sat up quickly scurrying as far back in her bed as she could. Her eyes darted every where making sure she was truly safe. Brown eyes landing on her mother making her relax before she looked behind Renee and spotted a tall man with shoulder length black hair. It took her a moment but she remember him saving her and she blushed sheepishly. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"It's alright sweetheart." Renee cooed. "Why don't you try to get some more sleep. You're safe and we aren't going anywhere."

Bella looked down avoiding their stares. "I… I don't think I can go back to sleep."

Something in her body language and the way she spoke told Severus it was more than that. He slowly approached the girl so as not to startle her in her fragile state. Stopping at the foot of her bed he spoke softly, "Why?" His eyes glanced to her mouth seeing her chew on her lip. It was an obvious tell. She wanted to hide something. "You can tell us. We can't help you unless you do. You're not alone anymore."

At his words the girls' eyes darted up to meet his own and Severus was momentarily stunned. It was the first time he had gotten a truly good look at her face since she had been cleaned up. Yes there was an obvious resemblance to Lily but at the same time, this girl put his childhood friend to shame. Bella's eyes were bigger and brighter. Her eyes were warm and showed her emotions as vividly as a wizard picture book. There was gratefulness directed at him along with fear, rejection, pain. All of which he was used to, except the gratefulness. That was something foreign to him. Her hair wasn't completely red like Lily's either. It was a chestnut brown with strands of red in it that only highlighted her features and thicker with soft waves that framed her face. Her cheekbones were high making her eyes stand out even more.

At first when he saw Bella he was angry. It was obvious there was a connection to Lily and he felt as though this girl would be exactly like the friend her once had who had turned her back on him but one look into Bella's eyes and he knew that wasn't true. She knew what that betrayal was like and wasn't willing to do the same towards anyone she cared about. His prejudice towards the girl drifted away in that moment and he softened his eyes towards her. Something that he had only ever did towards Renee or his god son Draco.

He sat down slowly on the end of her bed and patted her foot gently.

"Why won't you be able to go to sleep?"

"She…" Bella wiped at the tears that began to fall. "Every time I would start to fall asleep she would bite me…"

Renee gasped and Severus growled. "Sleep deprivation. Another form of torture. Why did she do this to you Bella? This isn't typical vampire behavior."

Her eyes grew wide as saucers, "You know what she is?"

The girl's surprise caused him to snort and cross his arms over his chest, "Of course I do, I killed the bitch." He grumbled.

"SEVERUS!" Renee went to chastise but his remark only made Bella laugh hysterically.

She fell back on her bed laughing so hard she gasped for breath.

Renee smiled seeing her daughter smiling even after everything she had been through. Severus smirked and winked towards Renee causing her to huff and roll her eyes.

When Bella finally calmed down she sat back up and chuckled. "Thank you, I don't remember the last time I laughed. How did you kill her by the way? You're just human."

"Because I'm a wizard obviously."

Bella's mouth fell open.

"She doesn't know about magic." Renee sighed and turned her head away from Severus's glare.

"What the hell do you mean she doesn't know about magic? SHE'S A WITCH! She should have been practicing magic for years already!" Severus stood up and threw his hands in the air. "She might have been able to defend herself and none of this would have happened."

"I know okay! I feel awful but I didn't know she was going to be targeted by vampires!" Renee shouted back

Bella's eyes darted back and forth between her mother and the man she now knew was Severus. "I'm a witch?"

Her question causing both adults eyes to dart to her.

Bella thought for a moment, was that why? Was that the answer the whole time? "Is that why my mind can't be read?" She asked looking up at the man. She had a feeling he would answer her questions bluntly which would be nice a change. He didn't seem like the type to avoid the truth.

The man stared back curiously, "What do you mean your mind can't be read?"

Bella blushed, "There was a vampire that could read minds but…. He could never read mine."

Renee was surprised by this information while Severus tapped on his chin and hummed. He pulled out his wand, "Mind if I try?"

"You can do that?"

"Any wizard that can do a legilimency spell can." He saw her confusion so he elaborated. "It's a charm that allows the caster to see into a person's mind, delve into their memories. It will allow me to find out why this vampire couldn't."

"Oh!" Bella exclaimed excitedly. She scooted closer to the end of the bed and sat on her knees. "That's fine, go ahead."

Renee spoke up, "Just to test it Severus. If it does work don't go delving into her mind."

"I'm not about to invade a teenager's privacy." He rolled his eyes than waved his wand. "Legilimens." He felt his own mind move towards her before being tossed out so hard he stumbled back a couple steps with a grunt.

"Oh my God! Are you alright? I'm so sorry." Bella grabbed his hand and pulled him before he could stumble so much he fell.

He quickly righted himself and looked at her with surprise. "I'm fine young one. It seems even without you knowing about magic you are a master Occulumens."

"What does that mean."

"It's the counter charm to Legilimens. Its when one can block their mind from being intruded or interfered with."

"So there isn't anything wrong with me? My heads not broken?" She stared at him with hopeful eyes.

He couldn't understand why she would think something like that. Even the way she stood like she was unsure and closed off. The girl's self-esteem was completely gone and he couldn't understand why when she was gorgeous. She certainly didn't act anything like Lily. Maybe he had made a mistake.

"No there is nothing wrong with you. You just have a very powerful magical mind. It's rare to be able to do it so easily but it's a good thing."

At that she smiled brightly at him than ran into his arms and hugged him tightly causing him to sigh. "You're certainly Renee's daughter." He glared at his friend. "Why must you be huggers?" He grumbled with no real malice causing the young girl now in his arms to giggle.