Chapter Four:- Snape and Kindness

Jaye ran and ran, tears streaming down her face. She pulled open the door of an empty class room and collapsed into a chair, laying her head in her hands. There was a soft tap on the door.

"Jaye?" An awkward, greasy-haired teen with a hooked nose was standing at the doorway. "Are you alright?"

"Oh Severus…" Jaye stopped mid-sentence. "I can talk!" she exclaimed happily. Severus looked at her strangely. She giggled to see the confused look on his face.

"Never mind, yeah, I'm ok. At least…" she sighed. Severus pulled up a chair next to her. "Well, I think I nearly killed my best friend."

The young man's eyes flashed with interest. "Tara? I can't say that would be a great loss."

Jaye sighed. "I still don't understand why you two don't get along…but that's beside the point. She means so much to me and I totally screwed up."

Severus was unsure of what action to take. Should he pat her on the back or leave her to wallow? Finally, he decided on the latter.

"Jaye, I have to go, but we'll meet at the usual time, usual place tomorrow?"
Jaye smiled weakly. "Sure, I'll see you then Sevvie."

"Don't call me that." He shut the door softly behind him. Severus walked down the Charms corridor, thinking about the girl with the ice-blue eyes. As he rounded the corner he saw a figure jogging towards him. Oh no, it's a Marauder! Remus…my favourite half-breed! He scowled at Remus as he got closer.

Where is she? Remus thought as he jogged down the hallway. Up ahead he noticed a slouching figure with greasy black hair. Ah-ha, Severus Snape…my old friend. He sniggered.

"Severus, my good man." Remus feigned manners. "You haven't seen Jaye, have you?"

Severus stared into Remus' eyes. Knowing that he was an expert Occulems, Remus averted his gaze.

"I see." Said Severus quietly. "I suppose you're just like Sirius, roll 'em in and spit them out. Well, go ahead and try, Jaye will see straight through you."

Remus blinked, seemingly unmoved by this uncharacteristic speech. "So…do you know where she is or not?"

Severus simply snorted and continued on his way. Remus jogged onwards until he heard sobbing coming from a room to his right. He knocked tentatively.

"Come in!" Came Jaye's voice, slightly muffled.

"Jaye, you can talk!" Remus uttered as he walked in and took the seat Severus had just departed.

"My thoughts exactly." She said. They smiled at each other…then Jaye's grin faulted and she began to cry again.

"Hey, hey, hey. Tara's alright, you know." Remus rubbed her arm in what he hoped was a comforting way. "Professor Bhoy's calmed down and he wants to know he didn't upset you too much."

"I nearly killed her." Jaye whispered. "You don't know what it's like. She was turning blue. I did that to her and there was nothing I could do to help her. She just sat there, choking on nothing…clawing at her throat. You don't know what it's like, almost killing your best friend."

If only you knew what I went through every full moon. Remus shuddered.

"She's forgiven you, Jaye."

"Then why isn't she here?"

"She would be, but the Professor made her go up to see Madame Pomfrey. Before she left she gave me this."

He pulled out a piece of parchment. Jaye recognised Tara's scrawled writing.

J,

Don't worry about it! Payback for Blind Man's Bluff. BTW, how hot is Sirius?? T xoxo

Jaye chortled and pulled herself together. "Thanks Remus, I needed to see that."

Remus raised one eye-brow. "May I read it?"

Jaye eyed him suspiciously; he shuffled and tugged at his collar. "You already have! So, what do you want to know?" Remus opened his mouth in mock outrage.

Then he asked, "Blind Man's Bluff?"

"Oh that!" Jaye laughed again. "Well, one time when we were playing it, Tara ran off and I was in. I walked straight into the river by our place and nearly drowned."

Remus smiled. "I see, so now you're even."

"That's right. So then, I suppose we better head back to class."

Remus shrugged. "I like it here."

"Me too." They grinned at each-other stupidly.

"THERE you are!" Sirius burst through the door. "I couldn't bear to be in that classroom with Wormtail, he might've disapparated my arms next!!"

"Padfoot." Remus shook his head. "Weren't you going to follow Tara up to the Hospital Wing?"
Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Yeah…well, I thought I'd be of more use back here."

Remus shut his eyes for a moment. "Ok. Well, I guess we should head back."

"Why rush?" asked Sirius. "We could show Jaye ROR."

"ROR?" Jaye inquired.

"What do you say Moony?" Sirius prompted him.

"No." Remus shook his head. "I'll show her another time. Bhoy's probably waiting for us."

Sirius shrugged. "Alright. No skin off my snout."

"What's ROR?" Jaye pressed. Remus' lips curved upwards.

"I'll show you one day, I promise. Come on."

They made their way back to the classroom. When they got there Peter and Sirius refused to work with each-other. James and Lily joined them, and James offered to work with Peter.

"That leaves us then, Jaye." Lily smiled. Jaye examined her closely.

Lily had long red hair, currently tied in a loose ponytail. Her lips were nearly as ruby-red as her hair and her teeth were perfectly even. But her eyes were the true star. A vivid green, they stood out clearly from the rest of her face. They shone by some inner light. Jaye was mesmerised by them for a few seconds.

"Of course. Um, what spell were you and James working on?"

"We were working on Jelly-Legs, what about you and Tara?"

"Silencio." Jaye bit her bottom lip. "Shall we stick with Jelly-Legs?"
Lily grinned. "I think that's best."

The rest of the class flowed on un-interrupted. At the end, a pair who had been working on Levitation Enchantments had both said the spell at the same time. The charms ricocheted off each-other and both hit another girl. Unfortunately for the Ravenclaw, the two charms joined forces and she was stuck to the ceiling before she knew what was happening.

And I salute you for your courage

and I applaud your perseverance

you hid away from much through humour

your choice of armour was your intellect

And I'm thrilled to let you in