Thank you all for following my story, I appreciate it! If you could please leave a review and let me know how I'm doing, that would be great! I intend to update daily. As always, I do not own any of the characters other than Elaine. *

Elaine hadn't spoken to Severus since that night. He'd held her as she cried, comforting her and offering reaffirmations that what happened wasn't her fault. She tried a couple of times to catch his attention, but it was obvious he was avoiding her. At meal times he did not make conversation or look at her. He simply ate in a strained and awkward silence and left as quickly as he was able to.

She sighed. She knew she shouldn't have told him what was going on. He must think her to be a fragile little girl to have been reduced to such a whimpering mess. At least he was kind enough to try to console her.

Feeling far more miserable than she thought possible, she headed to her class. Today they were learning a simple reflection spell, to dodge hostile jinxes.

A boy, Neville Longbottom sat near the back of the room, his eyes down cast as always. He didn't seem to have much confidence, and she knew that Snape was kind of a bully to him, as well as other students.

"Mr. Longbottom," she called on him, sympathy flashing through her at his flinch. She smiled at him, making her voice gentle. "would you please help me with an example?"

His eyes were wide with fear, but he consented, coming to her. His hands were clenched at his sides and his shoulders were practically even with his ears. The other students watched him curiously, one boy- Draco Malfoy- sniggered to another Slytherin boy, no doubt making a bet with the other. Poor misguided child.

She strained to make her voice as positive and cheerful as possible, addressing Neville with enthusiasm, "Alright. Take a dueling stance. I want you to attempt to stupify me. I will use protego to reflect it. Then, I want you to try."

Neville was shaking at the prospect and fell awkwardly into a dueling stance. She smiled brightly and him and walked to the other side of the room. She took a deep breath and nodded at him encouragingly.

"Begin!"

Neville screwed his eyes shut, "Stupify!"

"Protego," Elaine said firmly, swatting it away with ease. Neville opened his eyes slowly and let out a sigh of relief. The students clapped and the other Gryffindors shouted words of encouragement and praise.

"Now," Elaine began, grinning at Neville who immediately stiffened again. "You will deflect my spell with protego. I have all confidence in you."

The boy gulped, but took a deep breath and waited for her to ready her stance. She nodded to him and then said, "Stupify!"

She held her breath as Neville froze in horror, but at the last moment his wand whipped forth. "Protego!"

"Fantastic!" Elaine said, bouncing slightly on her heels and clapping. Neville was blushing, but he stood just a little straighter. "10 points to Gryffindor."

Snape P.O.V shift.

Night had fallen on Hogwarts Castle making it seem especially eerie. He stirred Elaine's potion again, satisfied with how it was turning out. He hasn't spoken to her in three days. In truth, he'd been avoiding her. There was something about that tiny Professor that made him feel more human. She didn't shrink from him when he was nasty, nor did she quip or snap back. She accepted his remarks with grace and dignity.

He couldn't keep his mind from wandering back to her confession. To see her in all of her trembling had almost broken his heart. She was bottling up all of her emotion, not letting any of it escape. Thinking herself weak for being so affected. That's why she was getting sick during meals. The body did not work well under such stress and often refusal or inability to stomach food was one of the side effects. It was worrisome, but of course, he was doing what was appropriate.

His potion would allow her to relax and allow her to process and accept what had happened. That was the most important part. To slow the mind and still the invasive thoughts that came like knives at the least convenient times. His mind wandered back to her embrace. He held her almost tenderly, in a way that he had never held anyone before. Her small body was like a child against his. He could feel her bones, her fragility. She carried the scent of hyacinth and sunshine.

Snape cursed under his breath, having accidently rested the side of his hand along the rim of his hot cauldron. A thin line of red raised immediately. He whispered a healing charm to it, and the sting subsided. It would do him no good to dwell on the small Professor. He would brew her potions and acknowledge her problems but there would be no more embraces.

Oddly enough, the idea made him sad. Earlier in the evening, she had sought him out. She lingered in front of his door for a few moments, hesitating to knock. He wasn't sure if he would have invited her in tonight or not. He was so confused and angry to have his thoughts in such a tangle. He would be undone if she embraced him again, laying her cheek against his chest and looking up at him with wide grey eyes full of trust and friendship. The warmth of her body blending with his and her hair like silken threads in his palm...

He heard a small sound, between a gasp and a cry that pulled him away from his lingering thoughts that were bordering dangerously on fantasy. With a concerned frown, he glanced at the potion. Ideally, he would have liked to brew it for a little longer to make it more potent, but it was ready now and would suit the purpose. A dose from it would be fine, and possibly better in order to see how she reacted to it. He hoped it would act as he meant it to. It was after all, of his own invention.

He measured it out carefully, cooling it with a charm and putting it in a vial. He strained his ear to pick up the small sounds from Elaine's room. She was having a night mare.

He quickly went to her room, standing in front of the door in hesitation. Would it be rude to enter? Inappropriate? Perhaps she would be grateful that he woke her from the nightmare. His brow was furrowed as he watched the door.

"Alohamora," he whispered, his heart pounding as the lock clicked. He opened the door quietly and followed the soft sounds of weeping into the bedroom. He slipped inside quietly, his eyes adjusting to the complete darkness. He lit up his wand with lumos.

Elaine was whimpering and writhing, the sheets and covers twisted around her. Her short blue nightdress was bunched up around her hips. He froze. Deep purple and yellowing bruises still shone on her inner thighs. More marked her upper arms and shoulders. He had been wrong in assuming that the attack had been some time ago. From the looks of it, it was merely weeks from her arrival at Hogwarts.

No wonder the poor woman was having such a time with the fear and anxiety. He sat down on the bed next to her and carefully brushed her hair away from her damp forehead. Her eyes flew open and a scream caught in her throat as she stared up at him. He quickly snatched his hand away, doing his best to erase the compassion and worry from his features.

"Elaine, your potion is ready. You were having a very disturbing nightmare from the sounds of it. I heard you from my office." He frowned, producing the potion vial from his robes. She blinked up at him dumbly before looking down. She pulled her dress down to cover the bruises with one hand and laid the other over her breasts.

"Thank you, Severus..." she said, her face turning red. He nodded to her in acknowledgement and began to leave. Her hand was ice cold on top of his. He looked at her questioningly, and she adverted her eyes, gripping his hand tighter, a silent plea.

"Do you wish for me to stay here?" He swallowed past the lump in his throat. His insides quivering.

" Yes, please..." she whispered, "Severus."

"It's inappropriate for a man and a woman to share a bed, Professor Chapel..." he began nervously, but one look into her grey eyes shattered his logic. He slowly took off his robes, shoes, and socks but left his shirt and pants on.

She smiled at him gratefully and scooted over to make room for him. He straightened the blankets and settled next to him, his heart fluttering. She curled against him and laid her head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of him heart. Soon enough he was lulled to sleep by her warmth, his last waking thought was of the small vial resting on her night table that she had yet to take.