CHAPTER 4

How could he have forgotten who she was?
Well, he hadn't forgotten the events or those involved, he could never forget; but he had not connected Laenaya Darkstrom the new Potions Professor who happened to be a Vampire, with General Darkstrom. She seemed so different now.

What he had witnessed her do, was not something he would have associated with how she was now.

She had been a vicious creature who drained a helpless victim of their blood and then tossed them aside like rotten fruit, but now, she was simply a Being teaching at Hogwarts, as some had suspected that Filius Flitwick was part Goblin, Laenaya was a Vampire, and in addition to being as annoying as Flitwick, she was a nuisance to Snape, not so different from Remus Lupin.

'How could Dumbledore let her teach here?' even before finishing this thought he guessed the answer.
She was, ultimately, in the same position as he was. Dumbledore was giving her a chance to redeem herself. His anger subsided for a moment in empathy for her, but then the memory of her actions flooded back into his brain along with his anger. How could one know if she even wanted to redeem herself?

Just until a few minutes ago she had been to him no more than a squatter whom he wanted to be rid of so that he could go back to his home but now he felt contempt for her.

Every time Voldemort tortured him, it was like hell, and Laenaya had been the cause for one of those times. It was infuriating.

He was now even more determined to be rid of her, it could not be so difficult. After all, she did pose a serious threat to the students, he had seen what she was not afraid to do.
In addition to that, she had let her fangs protrude at him only because of a pathetic little argument, she was easy to anger.
Vampires have the ability to retract their fangs, and all because of a little disagreement, she could not control them.

Even though Vampires have been officially classed as Beings with rights for many years, Snape knew that most Wizards still had prejudices concerning Vampires.

He recalled an article by Rita Skeeter in which she stated that the Ministry of Magic should be "stomping out Vampires" rather than "quibbling about cauldron thickness."

"Severus, still up and about?" Dumbledore was coming up the hallway, proudly wearing a nightcap stylishly adorned with little stars and moons.

"Just making sure that all the students are safely tucked into their beds, as new threats have recently arisen at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore sighed; he sensed what this was about. "Severus you absolutely must come and try some Fizzing Whizbees, I know you'll adore them."

"Oh joy…"

Now in Dumbledore's Office, Snape told him everything that happened at Malfoy Manor and about Laenaya's fangs.

"Severus, I understand that you feel this way about Professor Darkstrom, but there is no need to take such rash actions. She has not yet taught a single lesson, I would like to think she deserves a chance. I'm sure she didn't mean to have that unfortunate accident."
Dumbledore was smiling reassuringly over his desk at Snape.

"I am well aware that it was unintentional. However, should this persist, action will have to be taken. She is not to be trusted."

"One could have said the same of you Severus, but I did not, and so you are here and have proven that you were to be trusted. I am simply asking that you give her time, and the benefit of the doubt.
Now, you haven't had a single Fizzing Whizbee, at least take one of these, they're excellent. "

Snape rolled his eyes and taking a Lemon Sherbet, left the Headmaster's Office, cloak undulating behind him.

Laenaya was lying in her new bed where sleep was not coming to her. It would be difficult to get used to sleeping during the night and work in the day, but at least she would be protected from the sunlight by the Dungeons.

Rolling around in her bed, she could not stop thinking about what she had just done.
What she had done several years ago in front of Snape was in itself enough reason to make him not trust her, though he didn't seem to remember, but flashing her fangs at him as a result of a mere heated discussion would not help her situation at all.

'That's what being in the presence of all these humans will do I suppose…'

She looked around Snape's old room, which she had not redecorated yet. It still smelled of him, a pleasant smell of a slightly perfumed man, and shoe polish.
Though one would never have expected this gesture from Snape, he had known that Laenaya would not have enough time on the first day to bring in all her belongings and arrange everything so he left her his bed neatly made with freshly washed sheets.

His room was small compared to what she was used to but she didn't mind.
Having formerly been a soldier, she was used to resting places that were much worse.

There was a small window on one of the walls, way up high, but Laenaya could see that it had not been opened often, Snape seemed to dislike the sunlight as much as she did for there was even a black curtain in front of it.

Besides the spacious bed, nothing seemed particularly intricate, his furniture, which he had kindly left for her to use, was simple and practical; all black of course.

Although his vacant taste of decoration was much different to hers, she felt quite comfortable in his room. At the moment, only her sword hung on his wall, but when the rest came, her lavish paintings, statues and weapons would complement his simplicity very well, and he had enough space for her most treasured books.
After living for a few hundred years, her entire collection of books was as big as the entire Hogwarts library, but she didn't need them all.

She felt bad enough about the accident she had had with her fangs but the still lingering smell of him around his room was not helping her forget.
He seemed to be angry with her from the moment she walked into Hogwarts.
It occurred to her that what she did at Malfoy Manor probably led to grave consequences for the Death Eaters. Feeling even guiltier, she decided that it would perhaps be best to apologise to him as soon as possible, so she got up and left the room.

"Stalking for prey already Miss Darkstrom?" Laenaya had just wanted to knock on Snape's door when he emerged from a corridor behind her.

Laenaya tried to take his comment lightly and took a step towards him.

"Professor Snape, I have come to show you my good intentions."

Snape raised an eyebrow but let her continue.

"First I must ask, do you remember me?"

Snape glared at her for the fact that she was openly addressing their previous acquaintance.

"One never forgets the Cruciatus Curse Miss Darkstrom." He said this not to make her pity him, but to provoke her.

She did not take it that way though and frowned with pity.

She bowed her head slightly before getting on her hands and knees and placing her forehead on the floor.

"Professor Snape, please accept my apology! I have given you many reasons to distrust me and have caused you great pain, albeit unknowingly."

Snape was shocked, what was she doing?

"What in Me-" he began but she interrupted him.

"I deeply regret that because of me, you had to suffer a curse and that on top of that, I have without reason, displayed hostility towards you. Professor Snape, please forgive me!"

"Merlin's Beard, woman! Get up!" With that he pulled her into his new quarters and looked around him before shutting the door, to make sure no one had seen that.
Were he not Severus Snape, his face would be burning red at this moment.

Laenaya was confused at the annoyance he was displaying, did this mean he wasn't going to accept her apology? She didn't apologise very often, perhaps it came across as not being genuine.

"Sit!" he motioned towards a sofa chair. She sat down and he noticed that she wasn't wearing any shoes, or any proper clothes for that matter. Just her nightgown. The hair that fell over her arms and back only barely concealed several tattoos.

She obviously still had a lot to learn about Hogwarts, and humans even.

"Miss Darkstrom, I take it that you have good reason not to be wearing any robes or shoes?"

Now she was getting angry again, he couldn't treat her like a student! But she couldn't very well apologise to him and then yell at him again so she took a deep breath.

"I was not aware that it was a requirement."

"It is a requirement. If the students saw you dressed this way, they might assume that it is no longer necessary to follow Hogwart's rules of proper attire. It is a matter of discipline as well as a precaution to prevent illnesses from the cold." He decided not to address her tattoos.

"I see." She nodded in understanding.

"As for what you just did in the corridor Miss Darkstrom," embarrassment swelled up in his stomach at the thought "It is not common practice for humans to offer remorse in that way, at least not in this day and age and in this part of the world."

"Oh…" Her cheeks turned red and Snape could not help but notice how vulnerable she looked now.

"I'm sorry Professor Snape, I did not know how else to show how deeply sorry I am. It is common practice amongst Vampires."

"Simple verbal or written apologies will suffice from now on." He looked at her, eyes glinting.

She felt grateful for his careful handling of the situation, she had not expected him to even listen to her let alone gently explain the proper way to behave. She stood up and walked over to him.

"Thank you Severus." She smiled at him and placed her hand on his shoulder to express her gratitude, she was sure that she could do this as she had seen students do it, and teachers as well through the course of the evening.

Her touch had sent waves of energy through his body, as he was not used to being touched, he drew back almost instantly.

Laenaya, even more confused assumed that he drew back because he thought she was going to attack him so she took another step towards him and once again placed her hand on his arm, this time more affectionately.

Though the surge of energy he felt at her second touch was not as great as the first time, he began to feel even more uncomfortable because he sensed that she had put in more affection the second time.

"Get out." He said this quietly but harshly.

"Have I offended you?" she could smell his anger.

"Severus?" she was looking up at his face. "Severus? Is everything alri-"

Snape interrupted her by grabbing her arms and violently shoving her into the wall and pinning her to it. His face was only inches in front of hers, she was looking right into his eyes.
She could have thrown him off her, but she decided to let him take out his anger, even though she could not understand why he was so angry.

He was breathing heavily and she could feel his breath on her face, it was nice.

He leaned in even closer, his nose almost touching her face.

'What is he doing?'

Suddenly he moved his head back and let her go.

"It's Professor Snape." He said calmly.

He casually walked towards the door and opening, motioned for her to leave, which she did.

Closing the door, he walked back into his room and sat on the bed.

He couldn't believe what he had just done, one moment he was angry, and the next…he didn't even know.

'Couldn't she have learned about proper behaviour before coming here?'

Why did she have to touch him? She was probably trying using her Vampiric Charming Spell to lure him into a trap.

'Damned Woman' he thought.