A/N: This story is set 3 years before Harry's arrival at Hogwarts and will be more or less following canon articles wherever applicable, but when not its all original fiction guys.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters created by JKR soooo, don't sue, thanks.
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"Oh my god! Professor Snape! I'm so sorry, I—" Caroline stuttered as she slid off Snape's chest and helped him off the floor. He stood and brushed himself off before noticing her red puffy eyes. His demeanor calmed down and he spoke in as gentle a manner as he could fathom, he knew his penchant for being cold and cruel but this was not a case where he wanted or needed either.
"I'm fine. I'm not a cripple I can take being tackled by a student without being the worse for wear. Now, where have you been that you've missed not only my class but every other class you had today?" He looked at her in what he hoped conveyed concern; he couldn't stand the thought of her crying.
"Sir I'm sorry but—"
Caroline couldn't finish what she was going to say because Bill appeared behind her, eyes full of loathing hatred for Professor Snape. She stood between the two looking back and forth from their faces at the mirrored emotion on each of them. Caroline was ready to push them apart when Bill grabbed her upper arm as soon as she moved eliciting a small squeak in surprise and pain. Snape saw that and quite possibly turned angrier. It was Bill who spoke first.
"Professor Snape, thanks for catching her, we were going to have a nice long chat about things when she started running."
Snape sneered, "Scared her off did you with your lack of intelligence? No, you Weasleys never could keep hold of your women."
"That's none of your business, sir." Bill spat struggling to maintain control of his speech.
"Ah, but it is my business when students, particularly those of my own house are being manhandled by students from an inferior house. You are going to break her arm off if you don't ease up on that death grip you have on her."
Bill turned to Caroline and caught the tears welling in her eyes; he looked down to where he had taken hold of her. He released her and noticed her flinching and edging away from him when he let her go.
"50 points from Gryffindor for attacking another student. You're lucky I don't have you expelled for this, I'd much rather take points away from you than drag her through another messy ordeal. In your arrogance you failed to accommodate Miss Black's present situation and caused her physical harm. I am taking her to the Hospital wing to treat her bruises which are sure to form."
Snape reached out to pull Caroline close to him and to emphasize his superiority over Bill he wrapped his arm around her waist tugging her along. To Bill's chagrin she left willingly, still with that frightened and hurt look on her face. Snape looked over his shoulder, seeing Bill still present he slipped his arm from around her waist to gently press at the small of her back pushing her in front of him cutting off Bill's sight of Caroline. As soon as they left, Bill turned grudgingly back to the calls of his friends.
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Snape let a curling grin spread on his face; he had snatched her up right in front of that arrogant Gryffindor and left him speechless. He looked down at Caroline who seemed to only be moving because he still had his hand at her back. Seeing that they were alone and far from the Hospital Wing he stopped. Caroline stopped walking and looked up at him, her eyes still red and puffy with a blank gaze. He looked intently into her eyes and found the exact same inside that was being reflected outwardly. She projected only anguish, cold and numb. Snape grabbed her head, his fingers in her hair as he tilted her face upwards.
"Please don't cry anymore." He whispered to her. "I can't stand it when you cry, and I will not let anyone make you cry."
Caroline gave a slow smile before lunging into him hugging him tightly.
"Oh Professor—"
At first he left his hands in the air where they were before she lunged at him unsure about where to put them. It's just a hug from a very emotional student there is nothing wrong with comforting a grieving student. Snape reassured himself as he returned the hug and held her while she began again her weeping into his coat. Snape stroked her hair while she shook until finally her dry sobbing came to an end. Caroline looked up and sniffled, wiping her nose as Snape provided her with a tissue.
"Thanks." Caroline uttered hoarsely and wiped at her face.
"It's alright, here let me see your arm. If it's not too bad I can give you a potion to cure the bruise without having to go to the trouble of entering the Hospital Wing."
Snape gingerly took her arm and rolled up her sleeves revealing medium tanned flesh and near the upper part of her arm a darkening bruise in the shape of firm grasping fingers.
"Hmm, yes, I can deal with this. Come with me to my office and we'll take care of this right away." He said in as professional a tone as he could manage.
He carefully rolled back down her sleeves and led the way back to his quarters. They walked in silence, Snape made several side glances only to see that Caroline kept her head pointed down at the floor as they walked. Snape opened the door to let Caroline in before closing the door shut behind him. He cast a cushioning charm on one of the chairs for Caroline to sit on before rummaging through his shelves for the bruise potion. Measuring out the proper amount he passed the small tin cup to her. She swallowed it with a grimace at the after taste but otherwise sat without much emotion. After putting back the cup Snape stood in front of his desk sitting on the edge arms crossed staring intently at Caroline with arched brows.
"So, do you care to tell me where you've been today that's caused all this commotion? Or do I have to pry it out the hard way?"
Caroline lifted her head from staring at the floor to look him directly in the eye with a slightly disappointed frown.
"I've told you I'm sorry for missing class, but I don't think you have any right to pry into my private business."
Snape put his hands up in the air, "Alright, alright, I won't pry but I would like to know what happened." In more a subdued tone he continued, "No one but you and Dumbledore knows what's going to become of you, and as your Head of House I serve as your mentor and would like to assist you if I you'll let me."
Caroline looked down again and sighed deeply before looking back up, "Well, I, I've not been expelled if that's what you're asking." She smiled wryly. "But I have been disowned by my parents, they've given me enough to pay for the rest of my Hogwarts books but other than that I don't know."
Snape nodded his head, "I knew it was you who caused that turmoil in the Great Hall. I just didn't know how you did it. My dear, while you are indeed an excellent witch, you can be sloppy. You forgot to cover your trail and hide the fact your abilities are so superior to the others that you had every professor here look towards you. The only thing we couldn't put to your mischief was a definite fact. For that I applaud you."
He saw Caroline's small blush burn brighter on her cheeks and smiled.
"But that would only cover for about less than half the time you were gone."
Caroline snapped to attention, her cheeks still red but diminishing her eyes following his every movement as Snape moved to take a seat in the other chair in the room, letting his elbows rest on his thighs as he pressed his fingertips together. She shifted in her seat before speaking.
"After I left I was walking back to the common room and the same man who was in Dumbledore's office came up behind me and asked to buy me lunch. I forgot his name, just that he had long platinum blonde hair and wondrously gray eyes. I've never seen that color iris before."
Snape tensed up, he knew just whom she was describing but wanted to hear her say his name. "What was his name Caroline?"
"He mentioned he was on some Board of Governors for the school and that he would gladly take me into his home so I wouldn't be put out on the street. Oh! I remember his name now, Lucius, Lucius Malfoy."
Snape clenched his teeth, Damn you Lucius!
"Professor? Are you okay?" Caroline peered at him apprehensively.
He shook his head and leaned back, "Yes, I'm fine. Well Caroline if you need someone to talk to please don't hesitate to come to me. I want to help you."
Caroline nodded and smiled, "Thank you Professor, I appreciate it."
She brushed past his leg and as she stood up Snape's hand flew out to grab her wrist before she rushed off. "And if that Gryffindor ever hurts you again let me know, he can't go about harming you like that and getting away with it."
Caroline grinned and patted his hand, "Of course he won't hurt me again, not while I've got the meanest Professor in town playing bodyguard."
She slipped out of his grasp and walked out the door leaving Snape to his thoughts. As soon as the door latched shut behind her he heard flapping wings at his window, moving to open it a large black owl flew in. Clutched in its talons was a note addressed to him.
Dear Severus,
If you haven't already been told yet I will be taking custody over Caroline Black and she will be coming to stay with me at my Manor at the end of term. I have a request to ask of you, she is a powerful witch and would make a valuable ally. I will have you train her in all your knowledge, see that nothing in her education is incomplete. I will be contacting Dumbledore tomorrow and letting him know of my wishes. See that you succeed in this endeavor I will not allow this opportunity to slip away.
Lucius Malfoy
Snape was beside himself he nearly shouted in glee, Lucius had thrown in his lap exactly the leverage he needed to get Dumbledore to come to his senses. Surely that old fart will still want to leave it up to Caroline's decision, but this letter plays into my favor. Caroline will be mine.
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Caroline jumped onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow as she came to an end of her recounting of most recent events leading up to Snape's office encounter.
"So then this really tall, nice looking almost white blonde guy with gray eyes comes walking in calling himself Lucius Malfoy. Apparently," She continued in a very mocking tone, "he's 'very concerned' about my welfare and that he had heard of my 'plight' and would like to help. While also making some cryptic suggestion that I send letters to some mad man in Azkaban with my same last name, Sirius Black."
"Holy fuck! I KNEW it!" Meagan shouted.
"Knew what?" Caroline asked confused.
"Well, I didn't actually know but I guessed, from your last name and all! You're from the Black Family of Pureblooded wizards!!"
"Why are people making such crazy assumptions like that? So they're a Pureblooded family with the same last name, what about it?"
Meagan shook her head while Caroline sat completely astounded on her bed with the thought she could be related to a murderer. Meagan, in lower tones spoke, "Just that, they were fond of the Dark Lord's agenda in purging the school and others of Muggle blood, leaving only Pureblooded Wizarding families to have any sort of control."
Caroline's eyes widened, "But I don't believe in that!"
"They were one of few who weren't outright members of his New Order, but they agreed with his ideas and went along with it."
Caroline stepped back, "What kind of fucked up family is this?!"
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Bill stood grounded to the spot, unable to believe what his eyes were showing him, that bastard is TOUCHING her right in front of me! His jaw was clenched so tight that it hurt when he finally let when Snape had rounded the corner taking Caroline with him. What the hell was I thinking? Bloody hell she's not going to talk to me ever again! Bill formed two fists and punched the nearest knight in frustration before storming off to meet up with Jeremy and Paul at the Quidditch Pitch. He borrowed a broom and flew around the pitch watching the team practice and catching any stray Quaffles thrown his way. When he got bored with that he zoomed up high into the sky at the broom's full speed before plummeting back down to the ground only pulling back at the last moment to avoid smashing himself to pieces. Practice ended after he had spent the last 10 minutes doing the same stunt. Bill showered before the rest of the Gryffindor team entered the baths and was out storming back across the field to the castle when Jeremy and Paul caught up to him. Paul caught up first clapping his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey man, what's with you today? Did Caroline give you a spanking you didn't want?" he chuckled.
Bill stopped walking and violently pushed off his hand causing his friends to take a step back. Jeremy gave Bill a grim look, "Look, whatever fight you had with her gives you no right to take it out on us. We've done nothing wrong, we're your mates, and we're here to help you out if you want it. Let us."
Bill and his friends stared each other for a few seconds before Bill finally calmed down and apologized, "You're right Jeremy, I'm sorry Paul. No hard feelings?"
"None at all, mate." Paul grinned and punched Bill lightly in the arm. "But seriously, what made you want to kill anyone on sight just now?"
Bill scowled, "Snape."
"That slimy git? What did he do?" Paul frowned.
"Oh only that he somehow found a way to turn my actions against me to scare off Caroline."
Jeremy pursed his lips, "Sorry to burst your bubble but Caroline is a very strong individual and from the looks of it it'll take more than just one incident to prevent her from every speaking to you again. Just say you're sorry to her and make it up to her."
Paul grinned, "Come on, sulk later, it's the weekend so you can see her later. Plus, I'm starving!"
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That night Caroline decided to give the map a try, speaking the words after putting her wand to the parchment revealed a detailed map of Hogwarts. She watched as little dots with the names of the person floated above them. She waited for Meagan to come out from the bathroom before speaking.
"Hey Meagan, you up for a little adventure tonight?" Caroline grinned playfully.
Meagan fell across her bed, "God Caroline, you were only just disowned this morning!" she said sarcastically.
"Rubbish!" Caroline said in an imitation British accent, "Besides, with this baby we'll never get caught! Come lookit!"
Meagan hopped off her bed to sit next to Caroline staring amazed at what she saw.
"Bloody hell! I've heard stories about a map like this…where did you get it?"
"Filched it from Filch's office last night." Caroline beamed at her pun.
"Oh you!" Meagan swatted at Caroline's head, "Damn, yea we really need to test this out, but I'd rather not now. You're crazy for wanting to go do something this reckless when you've only just got away without expulsion."
"I'm high on an adrenaline rush now. I'm not expelled, just disowned and Snape loves me, fucking LOVES me! I'm in a happy place now."
"In that case, get your happy ass back in here and shut it. I'm not going to let you get thrown out because you couldn't sit still. Give me the map!" Meagan shouted and snatched up the parchment.
"He-ey! No fair! Give that back! I found it fair and square!"
They wrestled a bit but Meagan just held it over Caroline's head, "No, you're not getting this back until I see you've calmed down."
"Jesus fucking Christ, I'm not a baby. I'm tired, 'night."
Caroline jumped on her bed and drew the heavy drapes; she used her wand to change into her pajamas and pretended to sleep. Meagan, making sure she wasn't looking hid the map somewhere on her side of the room and turned out the light. Caroline lay awake on her bed after the light went out, listening quietly to the even breathing of Meagan as she fell asleep. She couldn't help but replay all that had happened today in her head, eventually she dozed off dreaming of one man in particular bringing a sly smile to her face.
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Bill woke up the next morning fully rested but apprehensive about yesterday's events. He hadn't the slightest idea how to approach the girl who had so completely captured his attention. Not when she was constantly shadowed by a one Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master and master of sharp stinging remarks. The one girl in all the school I fall for is also the one girl whom the most hated teacher has taken a liking to. Just my luck. Bill thought bitterly as he yawned and stretched his sleep stiff limbs. Looking out the window he saw it was once again a nice sunny day out, this brought a smirk to his face as he remembered something Caroline told him, how she simply adores reading outside under a tree on days like these. He got up, washed his face and headed downstairs for breakfast, dryly taking note at the empty room. Damn those two, can't even wait for me to get up to eat together.
Trudging along the halls he dumped himself onto an empty seat next to Paul and Jeremy who were half way through with their monstrous piles of food on their plates. They nodded to each other before turning to Bill.
"Morning Bill, Paul and I were just talking about something we thought you might want to hear."
Paul nodded in assent before adding, "Yea, in fact, it was Meagan's friend who clued us in."
Bill's interest was piqued, "Wait, where did you find the time to talk to her roommate?"
They both had huge grins on their faces oddly reminiscent to Bill's younger twin brothers who've always had a knack for creating trouble at home.
"Last night, while you were sleeping," Paul grinned adding, "Apparently Caroline found her way into Filch's office one evening and picked a rather interesting piece of parchment off his desk without his noticing. Showed it to Meagan; it's a map of Hogwarts showing the exact location of everyone on the map so you'll always know where everyone is. Nifty little thing, she took it away from Caroline because she didn't want her to end up in more trouble. Won't tell us how it works though, but that's how she found us she says."
Jeremy took note of the vacant look on Bill's face and rolled his eyes, "What we're trying to tell you is that we have a way for you to meet up with Caroline without Snape interrupting you every time you come within 50 meters of her."
Bill's jaw dropped, "That's fantastic! Do you think I can see her some time today?"
Paul and Jeremy again had that sly look about them and whispered their plan to Bill. Today is going to be a good day. Bill thought to himself grinning and looked over across the Hall to see Caroline just arriving for breakfast. When he turned back to his friends his eyes came into contact with Snape's seething glare from the raised platform where the professors ate. Smirking back he turned back to his friends and plotted the best time to catch Caroline alone.
A/N: Oh my god! I'm so sorry for being so incredibly late! I know I said at the latest it would be a week but I think I have underestimated this semester's work load .
With that in mind I may become even more sporadic in my posts, but really, email me, a barrage of emails until I update if you see it's taking forever (that is more than a week, because that's what I said I'd stick to).