I do not own Harry Potter nor any other of the characters. This story
plot is mine though and the character of Riley Brannigan (she is my
original idea).
Hey, Ohana ("family" in Hawaiian)! I'm sorry that I'm not thanking everyone individually this chapter, but I will the next chapter. Sorry again for the time this took, but I've had a hard couple of months. My boyfriend (soon to be fiancé!), the Marine, Dan, has JUST been deployed to Iraq and it broke my heart. We're super close, even closer than most couples. Not to mention, we'll be getting married in a year or two, so you can understand my pain. So, guys, whatever religion you may be, I ask that you please keep our troops in your prayers. It means the world to me and so many others. So, on a better note, please tell me what you think of the chapter! PLEASE review!
A fist pounded upon Riley Brannigan's dark wooden door, awaking her from her daydreaming slumber. She tumbled gently down from the tall, seafoam green downy covered, four-poster bed on to her barren feet, her toenails appropriately adorned with black polish. Her footsteps were clumsy upon the Persian carpeted floor, a lonely, black silk robe thrown over her tiny shoulders and mint green matching strapped shirt and boy shorts casing her slimming form. A bored expression was replaced with a "devil may care" air as her movement ceased and the door was swung open by her lithe fingers.
"Severus."
She eyed him warily, her dark eyes staring up at him from her smaller stature, locked upon his eyes burning like coals. Severus glanced over her form, the Potter boy was right, Riley did in fact look like she hadn't eaten in days. In fact, Severus couldn't recall the last time he saw her at a meal. Her usual strong, slender figure was seized by a withered, defeated, drawn ghost that stood right at his very distinguished nose.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't."
"Riley..."
Severus stepped into her room, pushing passed the lingering door. Her eyes bore into him with an unrelenting fierceness penetrating through his tough barriers. He softly placed a hand on her petite shoulder and guided her passed tables and lamps to her leather sofa. She could barely protest, Severus was a stubborn individual much like herself, and his strength surpassed her, especially in her moment of weakness. She sat, defeated, on the cold fabric allowing Severus to lower himself down next to her. He slowly folded his hands in lap and placed them in front of him.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Then I suppose you should look into a mirror."
Riley gazed up at him from her downcast glance and her eyes glittered in shock at his words. Severus untangled his long, stalwart hands and took her hand in his with a light squeeze of reassurance.
"Ry, you're turning into a ghost. To be blunt--"
"When are you not blunt, Severus?"
"Ahem... You're wasting away in front of my very eyes, you've lost the luster in your eyes--Where did that beautiful woman go with that annoyingly chipper cheerful disposition?"
Riley's dark eyes shimmered with glistening wet teardrops as she peered up gently at his face. Severus' still slight icy temperament shattered away glancing deeply into her eyes. He took his elongated hands and affectionately stroked her dark colored hair as she delicately settled her head into his risen palm.
"It's Sirius..."
Thus, Riley settled into telling Severus about her confrontation with Sirius.
"Potter."
Harry stopped in his tracks at the sound of the reverberating baritone, causing Ron, who wasn't paying attention, as usual, to bump into Harry's shoulder. Hermione's constant chattering ceased and it suddenly became deadly silent as the last of the remaining class filed out. Harry turned towards the cherry oak desk that his looming potions teacher sat at and shot a puzzled look at the professor. He slowly advanced to the desk with Hermione and Ron on his cape.
"Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, this is the one time in your entire lifetimes in which you are not needed behind Mr. Potter."
Ron's face twisted up in anger at Snape's words and Hermione grabbed his arm before a single word could be sputtered from his already open mouth.
"We'll see you later, Harry." Hermione said with a gentle, understanding tone. Harry nodded and the duo departed through the dark doorway. Harry approached the desk and stood, waiting for Snape to speak.
"I spoke to Professor Brannigan, she told me some things about your godfather and herself that she had not yet revealed to him. His actions from before clearly affected her before she could even speak. Potter, to make this as brief as possible, I want to arrange it so that Professor Brannigan and Professor Black 'happen' to bump into each other, so Professor Brannigan has a chance to talk and explain."
Harry blankly stared at Professor Snape for a moment's time, in awe and shock at what his potions professor proposed to do. He must have truly cared for Riley to go all out for her to win back Sirius, even though at one time he, himself, seemed to be in love with her. Annoyed at Harry's silence, Snape rolled his eyes and glared down at him.
"Potter, do you understand?"
"Yes." Harry replied, clearing his head of his previous thoughts to answer the professor.
Suddenly, a rap was heard upon the open wooden door, echoing the sound throughout the chambered dungeon. Snape's head snapped towards the door, trying to foresee the hidden individual at his door.
"Come in."
Snape's voice reflected a slight bit of hesitation as he spoke, straining his eyeballs trying to capture an image of the person. The soft tapping of heeled shoes clicked along the stone floor as the person came finally into view.
"Riley!" Harry cried out, surprised at seeing her for the first time in quite a while.
"That's Professor Brannigan to you, Potter." While Harry turned back to glare at Snape, Riley chuckled lightly with a strained smile lighting up her ghostly pale face.
"Harry's practically my own godchild, Severus. He can call me whatever he wants, as long as it's not something too insulting. I think Riley will do, don't you, Harry?"
Harry smiled and nodded to her tenderly, and endeared look upon his face. Harry's expression turned startled as he gazed at her appearance, she looked so tiny in her black and white pinstripe suit with a soft white spaghetti-strapped bustier underneath. Riley lowered her black leather briefcase to the ground beside her, when Harry noticed the tired look in her eyes. She had tried to cover up the dark circles up under her eyes, but apparently failed because the dark, muted rims were apparent to Harry. Concern grew in Harry as he saw the tired look creep deeper into her irises.
"Riley, do you want to sit down or something?"
Snape glared discreetly at Harry, jealous that he hadn't asked her that question first. But suddenly, when Riley began to rhythmically and unintentionally sway upon her knees, Severus rose to his feet in a swift action. Before Harry could figure out what was happening, Severus dove out from his desk to Riley's side before she, fainting, hit the ground. Harry's face lit up in horror as he watched the scene entail in front of him. Severus cradled Riley gently in his arms, his expression alarmed and worried. He patted her cheek tenderly, again and again, calling out her name, trying to achieve a response from her icy lips. He brushed back her dark hair out of her face and felt her burning, blistering hot forehead.
"She's out cold. Potter, get Madam Pomphrey, now!"
Thank you so much for reading! Pleaseee review!
Hey, Ohana ("family" in Hawaiian)! I'm sorry that I'm not thanking everyone individually this chapter, but I will the next chapter. Sorry again for the time this took, but I've had a hard couple of months. My boyfriend (soon to be fiancé!), the Marine, Dan, has JUST been deployed to Iraq and it broke my heart. We're super close, even closer than most couples. Not to mention, we'll be getting married in a year or two, so you can understand my pain. So, guys, whatever religion you may be, I ask that you please keep our troops in your prayers. It means the world to me and so many others. So, on a better note, please tell me what you think of the chapter! PLEASE review!
A fist pounded upon Riley Brannigan's dark wooden door, awaking her from her daydreaming slumber. She tumbled gently down from the tall, seafoam green downy covered, four-poster bed on to her barren feet, her toenails appropriately adorned with black polish. Her footsteps were clumsy upon the Persian carpeted floor, a lonely, black silk robe thrown over her tiny shoulders and mint green matching strapped shirt and boy shorts casing her slimming form. A bored expression was replaced with a "devil may care" air as her movement ceased and the door was swung open by her lithe fingers.
"Severus."
She eyed him warily, her dark eyes staring up at him from her smaller stature, locked upon his eyes burning like coals. Severus glanced over her form, the Potter boy was right, Riley did in fact look like she hadn't eaten in days. In fact, Severus couldn't recall the last time he saw her at a meal. Her usual strong, slender figure was seized by a withered, defeated, drawn ghost that stood right at his very distinguished nose.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't."
"Riley..."
Severus stepped into her room, pushing passed the lingering door. Her eyes bore into him with an unrelenting fierceness penetrating through his tough barriers. He softly placed a hand on her petite shoulder and guided her passed tables and lamps to her leather sofa. She could barely protest, Severus was a stubborn individual much like herself, and his strength surpassed her, especially in her moment of weakness. She sat, defeated, on the cold fabric allowing Severus to lower himself down next to her. He slowly folded his hands in lap and placed them in front of him.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Then I suppose you should look into a mirror."
Riley gazed up at him from her downcast glance and her eyes glittered in shock at his words. Severus untangled his long, stalwart hands and took her hand in his with a light squeeze of reassurance.
"Ry, you're turning into a ghost. To be blunt--"
"When are you not blunt, Severus?"
"Ahem... You're wasting away in front of my very eyes, you've lost the luster in your eyes--Where did that beautiful woman go with that annoyingly chipper cheerful disposition?"
Riley's dark eyes shimmered with glistening wet teardrops as she peered up gently at his face. Severus' still slight icy temperament shattered away glancing deeply into her eyes. He took his elongated hands and affectionately stroked her dark colored hair as she delicately settled her head into his risen palm.
"It's Sirius..."
Thus, Riley settled into telling Severus about her confrontation with Sirius.
"Potter."
Harry stopped in his tracks at the sound of the reverberating baritone, causing Ron, who wasn't paying attention, as usual, to bump into Harry's shoulder. Hermione's constant chattering ceased and it suddenly became deadly silent as the last of the remaining class filed out. Harry turned towards the cherry oak desk that his looming potions teacher sat at and shot a puzzled look at the professor. He slowly advanced to the desk with Hermione and Ron on his cape.
"Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, this is the one time in your entire lifetimes in which you are not needed behind Mr. Potter."
Ron's face twisted up in anger at Snape's words and Hermione grabbed his arm before a single word could be sputtered from his already open mouth.
"We'll see you later, Harry." Hermione said with a gentle, understanding tone. Harry nodded and the duo departed through the dark doorway. Harry approached the desk and stood, waiting for Snape to speak.
"I spoke to Professor Brannigan, she told me some things about your godfather and herself that she had not yet revealed to him. His actions from before clearly affected her before she could even speak. Potter, to make this as brief as possible, I want to arrange it so that Professor Brannigan and Professor Black 'happen' to bump into each other, so Professor Brannigan has a chance to talk and explain."
Harry blankly stared at Professor Snape for a moment's time, in awe and shock at what his potions professor proposed to do. He must have truly cared for Riley to go all out for her to win back Sirius, even though at one time he, himself, seemed to be in love with her. Annoyed at Harry's silence, Snape rolled his eyes and glared down at him.
"Potter, do you understand?"
"Yes." Harry replied, clearing his head of his previous thoughts to answer the professor.
Suddenly, a rap was heard upon the open wooden door, echoing the sound throughout the chambered dungeon. Snape's head snapped towards the door, trying to foresee the hidden individual at his door.
"Come in."
Snape's voice reflected a slight bit of hesitation as he spoke, straining his eyeballs trying to capture an image of the person. The soft tapping of heeled shoes clicked along the stone floor as the person came finally into view.
"Riley!" Harry cried out, surprised at seeing her for the first time in quite a while.
"That's Professor Brannigan to you, Potter." While Harry turned back to glare at Snape, Riley chuckled lightly with a strained smile lighting up her ghostly pale face.
"Harry's practically my own godchild, Severus. He can call me whatever he wants, as long as it's not something too insulting. I think Riley will do, don't you, Harry?"
Harry smiled and nodded to her tenderly, and endeared look upon his face. Harry's expression turned startled as he gazed at her appearance, she looked so tiny in her black and white pinstripe suit with a soft white spaghetti-strapped bustier underneath. Riley lowered her black leather briefcase to the ground beside her, when Harry noticed the tired look in her eyes. She had tried to cover up the dark circles up under her eyes, but apparently failed because the dark, muted rims were apparent to Harry. Concern grew in Harry as he saw the tired look creep deeper into her irises.
"Riley, do you want to sit down or something?"
Snape glared discreetly at Harry, jealous that he hadn't asked her that question first. But suddenly, when Riley began to rhythmically and unintentionally sway upon her knees, Severus rose to his feet in a swift action. Before Harry could figure out what was happening, Severus dove out from his desk to Riley's side before she, fainting, hit the ground. Harry's face lit up in horror as he watched the scene entail in front of him. Severus cradled Riley gently in his arms, his expression alarmed and worried. He patted her cheek tenderly, again and again, calling out her name, trying to achieve a response from her icy lips. He brushed back her dark hair out of her face and felt her burning, blistering hot forehead.
"She's out cold. Potter, get Madam Pomphrey, now!"
Thank you so much for reading! Pleaseee review!