Hi everyone! im really sorry about how long it took me to update this, for those of you who are actually reading this. i could give you all a bunch of excuses, but i'll only give one. Grade 12 SUCKS! i definitely wish i was already finished school. but theres only a couple months left ^^ yay!
anyway, about this chapter. i had actually already written about half of it months ago, so the writing style might change a bit halfway through coz i did this short story writing course thingy at the start of the year, so yeah...
anyway, i'll shut up now.
Enjoy!
Albus followed Severus up the stairs, hooking his robes up above his ankles so he wouldn't step on them. He felt a gaze on him and looked up, meeting the curious eyes of the five-year-old. He smiled gently at her, receiving the tiniest smile in return before she pressed her face against her brother's jeans clad leg. He chuckled lightly as they continued down the hall.
Severus came to a halt before a door and slipped his hand into his pocket, frowning slightly as he dug around for the key to the room. He was uncomfortably aware of the presence of his headmaster not a metre away. A small giggle drew his attention down to his sister. He raised an eyebrow at her, still searching for the key. She smiled and pointed at the pocket next to her, and he chuckled and pulled the key from there. Turning, he fit the key in the door. Opening it, he ushered his sister in and held it open for his headmaster.
"Thank you, my boy," Dumbledore said kindly, eyes twinkling at the teen as he entered the room. Severus flushed slightly and followed after him, shutting the door quietly and joining his sister on the bed furthest from the door. He watched nervously as the headmaster took in the small room, his bright gaze running over the two unmade beds that were the only indicators that anyone inhabited the room.
"Sev?" Erin whispered, leaning against his side. He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed gently, dragging his gaze down to his sister's curious eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile, flicking his gaze up at the headmaster who had finally settled into the lone chair in the room, his vibrant robes sticking out like a sore thumb.
"So then, Mr Snape," Dumbledore began, linking his spindly fingers in his lap. He gave the two children a kind smile, gaze gentle and reassuring as he eyed the little girl clinging to her brother. He brought his gaze back up to the youth, taking in his appearance with a critical eye. He frowned slightly as he eyed the gauze on the boy's face, but smiled reassuringly as he caught sight of apprehension in the boy's gaze. "What shall we do now?"
Severus glanced down at his sister, before once again meeting the headmaster's gaze. He bit his lip indecisively. "Sir, um… could we, I mean… may I possibly – er…" he hesitated, unsure how to explain himself.
"If it is at all possible, my boy, I promise to assist you in any way I can," Dumbledore said kindly, watching the oddly nervous teen with twinkling eyes. He had never seen the young Snape 'babble', but it was definitely amusing to say the least!
Severus once again glanced at his sister, and then looked pleadingly at the headmaster, not knowing how to explain his request. He sighed with relief when the headmaster's eyes lit with comprehension, and a kind smile adorned his face.
"I see," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. He looked the two over appraisingly, noting the protective arm wrapped tightly around the child's shoulders, grey eyes gazing up with such love and trust.
"First things first, my boy," the Headmaster began. Severus looked up in surprise at the sudden grave tone, and startled when he found solemn blue eyes gazing at him steadily. He swallowed nervously, unknowingly tightening his grip around his strangely silent sister.
Blue eyes watched the unconscious gesture of protectiveness, and a thought began to niggle at the back of the old man's head. He noted that the little girl, Erin he believed, had hidden her face in the side of her brother's shirt.
"...sir?" Severus asked hesitantly as the silence dragged on.
Albus shook himself, abruptly bringing his mind back to the matter at hand. "Ah, yes, forgive me. I wished to know if you had left anything out of your letter. Anything you wish to tell me face to face?" he stressed the last statement, eyes flickering to the gauze taped to the student's face, and suddenly Severus understood. He felt himself relax slightly, and released his breath.
"If you mean my face, sir, it's just a cut. Nothing serious." He glanced down at his sister, noticing for the first time how she was hiding from the piercing gaze levelled at the siblings. Frowning slightly, he glanced between the headmaster and his little sister. His hand unconsciously began stroking her hair, and he subtly shifted so she was pressed solidly to his side.
"Hm." The headmaster sighed, eyeing the gauze once more. "A trip to Madam Pomfrey is in order for you in the near future, Mr Snape."
Severus grimaced slightly, his abhorrence of hospitals – or infirmaries – rising at the statement. Then he froze, his mind finally processing just what the headmaster had actually said.
He could go back to Hogwarts? But he had missed the train... not that he didn't want to go, he did, but... what about Erin..?
His thought process was interrupted when a soft hum suddenly sounded from in front of him. Looking up, he found his professor leaning back in his chair and gazing at them thoughtfully.
"I believe, Mr Snape, that it would be best if your sister stayed with you," Albus suddenly announced, sharp gaze noting how the reluctance and hesitation drained out of the boy as soon as the words had left his mouth. A small smile touched his lips as he noted the small, curious grey eyes of the little girl finally making an appearance. Apparently she too had been worried about that.
"Well, is there anything you need to collect? Clothes, books?" the headmaster asked suddenly, looking thoughtfully up at the ceiling.
Severus blinked, startled by the sudden change of subject. "Uh, no, sir. We got everything we needed this morning. I actually have it all shrunken in my pockets," he replied, struggling to remember everything they had bought.
"Good! Now then, I would like you to both accompany me to Hogwarts, where we can discuss your situation further." The headmaster abruptly stood, before beginning to dig through the multitudes of pockets ensconced throughout his outfit.
"Er, alright sir," Severus said hesitantly, standing and holding his hands out to his sister, picking her up and setting her securely on his hip. He approached the headmaster cautiously, stopping a few feet away. He blinked in surprise as the headmaster gave a satisfied chuckle and pulled out a child's stuffed cat, the long fur ruffled after its entrapment. The headmaster looked at it happily before drawing his wand and tapping it on the head, murmuring a few words Severus assumed where a spell.
"Now," Dumbledore said, beckoning the siblings closer. "Have either of you ever used a Portkey before?" he smiled happily as Severus shook his head in the negative, Erin merely staring at him in incomprehension. "Well, then, you're in for a treat! Now, I want each of to grab hold of the toy." He held out the toy expectantly, waiting patiently for first Severus and then Erin to each touch it. He then lifted his wand and muttered, 'Portus'.
A pop accompanied the disappearance of the trio from the room; the only evidence that anyone had been occupying the room was the rumpled bed sheets and suspicious sparkles that seemed to accompany the headmaster everywhere.
Madam Pomfrey surveyed her domain with a critical eye, sharp gaze inspecting every surface for a trace of disorder or grime. Nothing. Perfectly clean, not a spec of dust anywhere.
Pomfrey allowed a satisfied smile to adorn her face as she smoothed her apron absently, allowing herself to relax for the first time that day. It was Friday afternoon, a week after the beginning of the term, and it had been quite quiet so far. Very few fights had broken out, and pranking was at an all-time low, which was definitely something to marvel at.
I suppose the Marauders haven't caught their favourite target yet, she mused, grimacing slightly as she thought of her most common visitor. It wasn't that she didn't like young Severus, she did! He was one of the few students who could actually hold a conversation with her about the medicinal potions. It was just… he was here so often. And no matter what she did, she couldn't get him to go to the headmaster about the Gryffindors. Oh, he tried to deny it, but everyone with half a brain cell would be able to figure out was responsible for all the infirmary trips. And without his statement, anything she said would just be shot down.
As Poppy wandered aimlessly towards her office, she was startled out of her thoughts by a loud POP!.
Spinning around at the distinct sound of a Portkey, the nurse found herself facing a strange sight, one that froze her in the midst of motion.
The headmaster of the school, dressed in neon blue robes with little silver sparkles clutching a child's stuffed toy, whilst smiling down at a teenage boy dressed in muggle attire sitting on the floor with what looked like a child grafted to his chest. The boy had short, semi styled black hair and pale skin, but what drew the eye was a large piece of gauze taped to the side of his face.
The boy visibly shook himself and gave the headmaster a soft glare, rubbing his hand gently over the girl's back, shifting his feet to help himself get up.
"I apologise, Mr Snape," Albus chuckled, offering the boy a hand up. A small huff was his response, but Severus accepted the help, and was startled by the firm grip the headmaster used to pull his student to his feet.
"Mr Snape!" Poppy exclaimed, startled by the sudden appearance of the student she had just been thinking about. "What are you-"
"Poppy." The headmaster's sudden interruption stopped his Medi-Witch's expected quest for answers, and when she was silent he continued, "Young Mr Snape and his sister will be staying in the infirmary for the next few days. I trust you don't have any issues with this?"
"What? Of course not, Headmaster." Poppy dropped back into her brisk, no-nonsense Medi-Witch persona. "Mr Snape, can you and your… sister, stay here for a few moments? I have to speak with the headmaster."
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Severus said, watching as the two adults left, heading into the office and shutting the door behind them.
Was the Sparkly Man gone..? Erin wondered, not knowing if that would be a good or a bad thing. But it didn't really matter, she convinced herself. She still had Sev. Her wonderful, awesome big brother who would never leave her. She let herself relax in her big brother's arms as she felt his hand rubbing soothingly over her back. The sudden tug of the... Patkey? No, that didn't sound right... Party? Definitely not... hmm... she wondered if Sev remembered what it was called. She hoped he didn't, because he might want to go on one again... and that would NOT be fun.
"Erin?"
The little girl pulled her thoughts away from the musing of the name of the strange teleport-thingy and looked up at her brother, noting how he was looking at her in that strange way he had... secretly, Erin thought it was a really sad look, but it also made her think that her big brother was worried she might run away or something. Silly Sev. Did he really think she'd leave him? It was so silly!
"Yes Sev?" Erin said quietly, blinking up at him. Yep, he was still looking sad. Well, she could stop that! She reached a hand u and patted his cheek, smiling happily when he relaxed and finally grinned at her. He had such a nice smile! She could never figure out why he looked grumpy all the time.
"Are you okay?"
Erin paused and looked at him oddly. Of course she was okay! The Sparkly Man had gone, and she was with her Sev! "I'm okay, Sev!" she chirped, wrapping her arms around his neck and beaming at him.
Still smiling at her, Sev moved from the centre of the big room over to the side, and Erin finally took the chance to examine where they were. It was a big, big room! And it was all white! Erin didn't think she had ever seen a place so white in her life! Her eyes widened in horror as a thought came to her, and she snapped around to look at her brother, who had seated them on a bed - also white. "Sev! Are we in heaven? Was the Sparkly Man an Angel who came and tooked us away coz we died?"
"What!" Severus exclaimed in shock, staring at his sister who was looking up at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.
Great. How was he going to explain this?
Hey! so what did you all think? i really do adore how sev is totally awesome to his sister :P i would really appreciate it if you guys tell me whether u think i should make the slytherins kind or just plain evil... i really dont know how im going to portray them...
anyway, the reason i actually decided to put a chapter up is because i got a review in the last week or so, and they prompted (ie guilted) me into continuing the story. so, there you go! if you review you're more likely to get an update! though they may be a bit sporadic, because QCS is coming up as well as me stressing about university choices and such... anywho...
REVIEW!