Chapter Four

During the following weeks Claire often pondered over this strange encounter. She tried to find out about wizards in libraries and on the Internet, scanned newspapers for anything about Death Eaters and a Dark Lord, but she always drew a blank. If a Wizarding society really existed, it kept itself well hidden. She also caught herself looking for her visitor in the streets, but with millions of people living in London, she told herself, this was highly improbable.

At night she tried her best to 'empty her mind' and 'block her thoughts'. She didn't know if she did it correctly, but somehow she succeeded in getting rid of the nightmares.

Autumn passed into winter. Claire and two of her colleagues were heading for the underground station after the school Christmas dinner. It was a wet, foggy night. Claire had left her car in the school car park; the other two lived near the end of the underground line.

"Is it alright for you to walk to the car park alone?" Mark, an elderly history teacher asked. Claire laughed. "Yes, of course, it's only five minutes, I'll be fine."

Mark shrugged. "Well, it's not the best neighbourhood and it's past midnight."

"Don't worry, I'll manage."

Claire left the train at the next station and climbed the stairs into the street. It was even foggier here. Were there footsteps behind her? She paused and listened. Nothing. She shook her head and set off briskly towards the school. When she turned into a dimly lit alley she heard the steps again. She quickened her pace. Then she saw two figures in front of her. She stopped and looked over her shoulder: Two figures behind her.

They were getting closer. Panic began to rise. This couldn't be true, this couldn't happen to her! Claire wasn't able to do another step, she just stood and waited. Four men, young by the look of their clothes and movements, hoods drawn up against the cold or to hide their faces.

"Hey, look what we've got here."

One of them approached her, snatching her handbag before she could do anything. He opened it and looked inside.

"What's that? Five quid and an old mobile? That all?"

Clare nodded. She had left her large bag in the car. Angrily, the man pocketed the money and the phone and threw the bag at her.

"You're wasting our time," he hissed at Claire.

"No," one of the others said. "she owes us something, doesn't she? Couldn't pay the toll." Slowly he sauntered up to Claire. She moved backwards in panic, away from him, until she hit a brick wall. Quickly he was upon her and pressed her to the wall. Claire tried to think of everything she had ever heard of such situations. What was one supposed to do? Shout? She took a deep breath, only to find a hand clamped over her mouth

"Don't even think of it."

Another hand tore at her coat, at her dress, groping for her breast.

Desperately Claire struggled against the man's body.

"Hold still, you bitch."

He slapped her face. With a movement of his head the man ordered his companions over; two of them came, took her arms and pinned her to the wall. She felt her dress rip. He tore at her underwear. She tried to kick him, which resulted in another slap on her face. She could taste blood on her lip.

"Stop it. Leave her!"

The voice was soft, but menacing. The men let her go and turned. Claire sank to the ground. A dark figure had appeared in the alley, shrouded in black from head to toe.

"Who are you to tell us what to do? We're just having fun."

"Leave her," the voice repeated.

One of the men went for the newcomer, only to find himself lying on the ground a second later. The dark figure had hardly moved.

"Right, who's next?" he sneered.

The largest of the four lurched forward - and joined his friend on the ground. Suddenly, Claire saw a knife glimmering in the hand of the one who had attacked her. She gasped as he jumped at the stranger's back. But the dark man spun round, caught the attacker's wrist and a sharp kick into his groin sent the knife to the floor.

Quickly the stranger picked it up and confronted the four men.

"Can you do now as you are told? Leave."

His voice was cold and hard as steel. They struggled to get up and ran away.

The stranger came over and lowered himself next to Claire. He gasped in surprise and pulled down his hood. Claire's jaw dropped.

"You!" She breathed.

Severus Snape inclined his head in an imitation of a bow and gave her a wry smile.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine," Claire answered.

He stood and pulled her up, too.

"It's too cold on the ground. Are you alright?" He looked at her intently.

Claire realized that her bare breasts were showing under her torn dress. Hastily she pulled her coat closed.

Then she started trembling. She couldn't help it, couldn't stop it. Her teeth were chattering,

tears running down her cheeks. Snape watched her helplessly for a few minutes, then put his arms around her awkwardly and pulled her to his chest. Claire stiffened for a moment, but then gratefully accepted the warmth of his body, the regular rhythm of his heartbeat and the soft stroking of his hand on her back. Finally she relaxed and when she thought that she could control her body and her voice, she stepped back.

"Thank you," she said, wiping the tears from her face. "I'm sorry, it's so stupid of me…"

"Wandering around this alley in the middle of the night? Alone? That really is stupid."

His voice was rough with anger.

"I just wanted to go to the school car park, it's not far from the tube station. We had our Christmas dinner tonight…" she trailed off, shrugging.

"So you're on your way home. Are you capable of driving?"

Claire nodded. "Yes, absolutely, I'm better now, I think I can drive. I'll be on my way now. Thank you for your help."

She smiled at his doubtful expression and turned into the direction of the school, when suddenly brown specks appeared before her eyes and she crumpled to the ground.

He caught her before she hit the floor.

"I don't think you can drive," he muttered, "and I don't think you should stay alone tonight. Do you like pizza?"

Claire just stared at him. He smiled.

"I've just bought one and I'm going to share it with you."

He reached at the top of the brick wall and took down a pizza carton, then put his arm around her shoulder and steered her out of the alley.

Thanks to J.K.Rowling for the inspriring characters