Hi! Thanks for the reviews, and thanks for being patient enough to wait for the new chapter. I have had some computer problems and that's partly why this chapter is sooo late. sorry about that. Hope you enjoy the chapter below :D Take care!
Planning and a talk with Dumbledore
The room was quiet, as no one knew what to say. Severus thought over their options.
He was sure that Theresa didn't want anyone to know about this, or at least as few as possible. If she was to leave school for a while, then they would need permission from the headmaster, and to gain permission, they would have to tell him the truth or a really really good lie. Severus knew that even if they were able to lie to the headmaster he would discover the truth faster than they could say Lemon drops.
Ronald Wesley looked at the sleeping girl and sighed. " I don't like the idea of her going away, but if this is the only way, then I want to come with her." Before Severus could protest or even manage to reply in any way, he held up a hand.
"Listen Professor, you will tell me that I have to finish my studies here, am I right?" Severus nodded slowly, where was the boy going?
"We are in our last year here, and I have no real reason to complete it. With the way I have chosen to go, I don't need the NEWT exam or any other education really. I planned on taking the NEWT:s just to get my mother of my back, but I would gladly rethink my decision if Tess needs to leave. I want you to understand that I care for her as much as I care for my family, and I refuse to leave her."
Severus could not help but admire the young redhead. He sure knew what he wanted, and he was so loyal...so gryffindorish!
Draco had been quiet for a while now, but what he said next shocked both of them.
"I could report to Dumbledore that my father plans an attack against her. At least that is half true. He is always plotting something that has to do with Theresa in one way or another."
Ron wasn't sure is he should faint or just laugh at what he just had heard. Malfoy going against his father? That had to be the joke of the day!
"Oh wipe that grin of your face Weasley, or I will do it for you!" Malfoy raged and Ron quickly went serious again. Okay, so now was not the time for a fight, no matter what the ferret did. Malfoy he corrected himself. He had to stay friends with the annoying snob at least for now, and calling him ferret, even in his mind, would do no good.
"Boys, behave or you will wake Ms Potter, something I'm not so sure that you want. She need to sleep." Snape gave them a stern glare.
Ron wondered why Snape was acting all protective over Tess now. What had changed? Seriously? There had to be something.
"I do not like the idea of you talking ill about your father in front of Dumbledore, even if you mean nothing but well about it. Draco, it will do us no good if Lucius finds out that you are going against him. Ever since the dark lords demise, he has been constantly trying to find a way or another to bring him back, or kill Theresa Potter. Do not risk anything with telling Dumbledore anything that can anger Lucius if he finds out, and believe me, he will."
Ron started to walk around in the room. The idea of having Tess of the school was a good one, he admitted that. They only needed a good enough reason to take her away from there, and Tess needed to agree to it. He refused to do anything against her will. She needed to make that decision for herself. And when he thought about it, why not tell Dumbledore the truth? Or at least a bit of it? What harm could it do? Dumbledore liked Tess, so surely he would gibe his permission to take her off the school ground for a while.
Ron shared his thoughts with the other two, and they agreed that it was the best way. Tess wouldn't like it, but together maybe they would be able to convince her that it was the right decision.
Theresa needed help with her self esteem, and that was something they would have a hard time helping her with if they stayed at their current location. There was simply to much distraction and other things going on.
"I will talk to Dumbledore tomorrow, and if he agrees, we'll leave for Snape Manor next weekend. If Ms Potter agrees of course." He added, looking at Ron.
Theresa woke up in the same bed as she had woken up in the day before. Snape's bed. She looked around inside the room and noticed the sun shining in through the window despite they being under ground. Charmed windows was something that Tess always had liked. You could have sunshine every day that way, at least when you looked at the weather from the inside.
The clock on the night stand showed 8.23 am and not a sound was heard from the other room. Snae was obviously in class now, seeing as the classes started 23 minutes ago. She threw the blanket to the side and rose out of the bed. She was still weak and shaky from the whole ordeal, and she berated herself for being so weak.
The last days happenings came back to her and she sat down on the bed again. What a mess! And what would they think? Snape? Draco? Ron? And the whole school? What if someone else found out about what had happened! She wouldn't be able to live with the shame.
She felt unwanted tears make their way down her cheeks, and she brushed them away angrily. She was just too pathetic. She needed to get a grip of her useless excuse of an human being and act like a normal person.
She looked around for something to wear and fond a pair of jeans and a large T-shirt on a chair standing against the wall. She stood again and blushed when she saw that she was only wearing her bra and panties. Who had undressed her? Ron? She hoped so. At least he had seen her in this naked state before, and she knew where she had him...but what if it had been...no she did not want to think about that.
She dressed quickly and opened the door to the adjourning room. It was empty and she sighed in relief. She wanted to be alone for a while, and she guessed that Snape would come back after the first lesson to check on her.
She sat down on the sofa, looking for something to do. Even if she was tired and sad, she was restless and needed something to do to get her mind off things she didn't want to think about. When she couldn't find anything within reach that perked her interest, she rose again and walked over to the professors desk.
The papers she had graded yesterday was still there, along with an unfinished pile of first year pop quizzes at the look of it. She wondered briefly if Snape would mind her correcting them, and when she was unable to find anything else to do, she picked the pile up and and started to read them one by one, stopping here and there to make a mark in the marginal or write down a short comment.
Draco's first class had been charms along with the Ravenclaws. Flitwick had been lecturing about the use of charms in defence and Draco had only been listening with an half ear. His mind was on Theresa Potter, something that both surprised and scared him a bit. What was it about that girl that he hadn't noticed before? But that he could see so clear now?
During all their school years, they had treated each other with less respect than Draco treated his house elves, and that said something. Now, something he had no explanation to was beginning to happen. Some would have said that he was starting to have romantic feelings for the young woman, but he knew better. No, this was something else.
He had never had any siblings, but he wondered if the feelings he had for her was like that of a brother wanting to protect the little sister.
He had been thinking much about her lately, to much, and his studies was starting to pay for it. He hoped that they would find a solution for her soon, or he was going to get totally nuts. Why was he so worried about her! Malfoys were not worried! Never. They made people worried, but for them to be...no it was unacceptable.
On top of all this, his friends had noticed that he was distant and was constantly pestering him about it. Pansy had been trying to get his attention for quite some time, but he had ignored her. And Blasie wasn't that much better. He smiled knowingly at him form time to time and he suspected that his old friend understood what or more like who was taking up all his time.
"For next week, read chapter two and three in the text book. We will be reading chapter one later this term, so if you do not want to you can skip that chapter." The professor ended the lesson and stepped down form the pile of thick books he had been standing on while lecturing. Draco almost smiled when he remembered how funny they all had thought him to be when they entered Hogwarts for their first year. Despite being small, Draco had respect for the little wizard. Not many persons had earned that respect with Draco, but the little professor had gained it by not favouring any house, and by his experience. He had after all been the best dueller during his younger years.
Draco picked up his book bag and threw it over his shoulders. When he exited the classroom, he nodded to Weasley who was talking to Neville Longbottom. He got a sharp nod in return and almost smiled when Longbottom looked like he had seen a ghost. well, that was interesting´he thought while he headed for the next class before lunch.
When Severus ended the first lesson for the day, he picked up some of the essays that the students had handed in and walked out of the classroom and down to his chambers. When he got to the door, he saw Dumbledore standing outside, sucking on a lollipop. Severus shook his head. The man was going to die of to much sugar.
"Ah, good morning Severus, great day, isn't it?" Severus wasn't too sure about that but nodded anyway.
"What can I do for you Headmaster?" Severus asked, walking up to the man, not making any move to open the portrait and let the aged man in. Severus knew what the headmaster wanted to talk about, and he was unsure about what to tell him. He couldn't lie to the headmaster, that was not an option, but stretching the truth was something that he was used to.
"I want to know what have happen to Miss Potter, as I know she is here. I knew she was here whole yesterday, but I thought that maybe there was some natural explanation. But now, I need to know what's going on."
Albus Dumbledore's tone wasn't demanding, nor harsh, but it held a power that Severus had the utmost respect for. He turned to the painting and spoke the password. The painting swung open and both men entered the rooms within.
The first thing Severus laid his eyes on was Theresa Potter who was sitting with a pile of essays in her knee and reading them one by one, obviously grading them. She looked up when they entered and when she saw who it was, she got to her feet in a hurry.
"Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore." She looked at the floor.
"Miss Potter, there you are. I have been wondering as to why you are residing in the potion masters rooms, and I came to get some answers."
Severus wasn't sure if the headmaster had seen it, but the girl flinched at the words "answers". Why was that?
Theresa did not make any move to talk, so Severus spoke up. "Headmaster, I am unsure if she will be wanting to speak about what have happen, and if she want to, I think that her friend Mr Weasley should be present while doing so."
He was surprised that he had suggested such a thing, and so were both Theresa and Dumbledore too.
"No it's okay Professor, I can do it without him." Somehow he doubted it, but he wasn't going to argue. What she said next surprised him.
"Professor Snape? I don't think I will be able to talk about this. Perhaps you can tell him?"
And he did, to his own surprise. When he was done, Albus Dumbledore was looking a bit pale.
"I can see that we have a serious problem here. What do you suggest we do?"
Severus hesitated a few seconds before answering. "I think it would do her good to be away from the school a while. I want to take her to Snape Manor."
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