CHAPTER 17: THE GIFT
EXT. TO INT. THE GREAT HALL, HOGWARTS CASTLE - EVENING (MAY 21ST, 1976)
It was a cold and windy evening over the rolling sodden hills of the Hogwarts school grounds. A late winter ice storm had come to Hogwarts, drenching everything in its wake in a shinning sheet of ice. And an icy blast of cold air from the Northeast was making it all the more harder to keep warm in the layers of winter robes that the students were wearing. Inside the Great Hall, every single candle, torch and fireplace was lit, keeping it as warm and inviting as the Great Hall had always been. At least in here, the cold didn't reach the students as much as it normally did down in the Dungeons, which were always known for being cold, dark and drafty.
"You really should eat something, Veri. We're going to have one of our last Quidditch matches come Saturday. Are you not excited about it?" said Marie Windbellows, a fellow Ravenclaw student, sitting next to Verena with a saddened look on her face, while Verena was brooding and sulking quietly, poking at her dinner with a fork. Even now, in her last year at Hogwarts, she was still thinking about what she had done to Lily and most importantly to her, what she had done to Severus. Severus had been one of her best friends for almost as long as she had been in school, but now that she had further driven a wedge between Lily and Severus, Severus was no longer seeing or speaking to her, no longer sitting with her under the tree they use to sit together under or taking early evening walks with her over to Hagrid's. Verena was now left on her own, without anyone that she considered as her friend to spend time with. Lucius Malfoy had graduated long ago, as did several of her other friends and acquaintances while many of those that were from her time had moved on to bigger and better things. Marie Windbellows was one of the last students from Verena's time that she knew.
"Forgive me, Marie, but I'm not much in the mood to eat something right now. I just wish to be left alone for the moment, thank-you." said Verena softly.
"As you wish," said Marie softly in return, "But just so you know, Lucius Malfoy is here today. He's thinking about taking up a teaching position here at Hogwarts."
"A teaching position? My Lucius Malfoy? That doesn't sound like something that Lucius would want to do. Wherever did you hear something like that?" said Verena, looking a Marie puzzlingly.
"From some of the Slytherin students, I overheard them talking yesterday," said Marie as Verena looked away and began shifting her eyes and looking around in mild bewilderment, "Wouldn't that be nice for you, Veri? Being able to see Lucius and tease him again? It would be like old times for you."
"Did someone at this table mention my name?" said a familiar voice behind Marie and Verena. Verena and Marie looked behind them and saw that it was Lucius Malfoy, dressed in his fancy black robes and wearing a black hat, his snake-headed walking stick positioned next to him.
"Lucius, my old friend, I am so glad to see you. I didn't even know that you were here." said Verena, as her reaction was almost instantaneous when she suddenly stood up from the Ravenclaw table, gave Lucius a hug and then took Lucius by the arm. Lucius was of course mildly puzzled by the reaction, but never the less was delighted that Verena was once again showing an interest in him. Out of mild curiosity, Severus gave one brief and cold glance over at what Verena was doing from the Slytherin table, but than went right back to looking down at his Dark Arts book and eating his dinner.
Verena than spoke to Marie and the others that were sitting in front of her, "If you fellow students don't mind, Lucius and I are going to take a walk together for a while. Don't wait up for me."
And with that, Verena and Lucius left the Great Hall together and without another word spoken.
EXT. THE BACK COURTYARD, HOGWARTS CASTLE - EVENING (MAY 21ST, 1976)
In the back courtyard behind Hogwarts, Verena and Lucius were strolling side by side and arm to arm, walking over the icy cobblestone surface underneath their feet. With Lucius at the castle, it was almost as if the fight between Verena and Severus had never happened and as Verena had suspected, Lucius still had feelings for her.
"I have heard, Verena, that Severus is no longer speaking to you, may I ask why not?" asked Lucius.
"It's a long story, Lucius, and I'd much rather not think about it at the moment. Besides, you're here and from what I have heard, you are thinking about taking a position here at Hogwarts, may I ask which one?"
"A simple one..." - Lucius turned on his heels and faced Verena - "A position next to you...if you will have me."
"Now Lucius, don't you start that again," said Verena with a soft giggle, moving around Lucius and walking on, "And besides, I know that your heart remains with Narcissa, it always has. Though I don't deny the fact that I find you to be a most handsome and interesting toy to play with." - Verena turned on her heels quickly and faced Lucius before placing her back up against a part of the back courtyard wall, bracing one leg up against the wall.
"You are a tease, Verena. All you ever do is tease me and it's driving me up the wall!" - Suddenly, Lucius quickly got on his knees in front of Verena and grabbed onto Verena's waist, looking up at her with wide staring awe, almost bewitched eyes, "I have a confession to make to you, Verena...I love you, Verena. I've loved and wanted you for as long as I've known you."
Verena's eyes began to widen as she spoke, mildly confused, "Lucius, what in the world...?"
"Please, let me finish. Forgive me if I am to forward about this, but I have to tell you now. You are a beautiful and wonderful woman, Verena, and truly a sight to behold. I love you and I must ask you...I want you to be my wife, Verena. I can take you anywhere you like, do anything you want me to do, go anywhere with you. I am a powerful and rich man, Verena. I could give you anything you would ever want or need."
"You...you love me that much?" said Verena, suddenly taken aback by Lucius's sudden proposal of marriage to her and looking on in a saddened look of confusion. She then thought a bit further, "Wait, is this why you've decided to take up a position at Hogwarts? So you can be with me? I...I never knew that you cared for me and loved me that much, you never said!" - Verena moved up closer to Lucius, placing a hand on his shoulder, looking down at him.
Lucius looked down towards the ground and continued, "I know, I should have told you sooner, before you found an interest in Severus, but I didn't know how to approach you on the matter. I suppose I was being a coward, though I know I shouldn't have been. But with Severus no longer seeing or speaking to you, I felt that I was the right time to confess to you. Please, Verena, will you give me the honor of accepting me as your husband? I know I can make you happy if you would just give me a chance."
Verena stood silent a moment, trying to take in all that she was seeing and hearing. She never knew that Lucius cared so much about her and she was tempted to accept his offer of marriage. But she knew that Narcissa had gotten there first and had long since taken Lucius's heart. The only reason she believed Lucius was confessing his love for her now was because something bad must have happened between him and Narcissa, much like something bad had happened between Verena and Severus. Lucius might have loved Verena, but he didn't love Verena the way Verena loved Severus, at least as far as she believed. But as tempting as Lucius's offer was, Verena felt that she could never love Lucius like she loved Severus, even though she did find Lucius to be a handsome and powerful catch.
After a long pause, Verena went down on her knees in front of Lucius and spoke, placing both her hands on Lucius's forearms, "...I would give you a chance, Lucius, I most certainly would...but I can't."
"But...why not?" said Lucius, who then looked up at Verena in confusion, unsure of what to say next.
"Please, before you say anything more, let me explain. I do love you, Lucius, allot in fact, but only as a friend. And I am indeed tempted to accept you as my husband, for I know that you could make me happy and give me everything that I would ever want. But I know that in the end, it would never work out between us, for your heart truly belongs to Narcissa and not to me, just like my heart will always truly belong to Severus and not to you."
"But...Severus shunned you, he...hurt you and broke your heart...!" protested Lucius.
"No, Lucius," said Verena curtly, "I hurt him when I fought with Lily, it is Severus who I have hurt. I know, I shouldn't have teased and tormented you like this all this time, but ever since I met you, I found you to be a great and wonderful person, handsome and intelligent and more worthy of Narcissa than I could ever be of you. But in truth, I was teasing and tormenting you out of spite since I wanted to make Narcissa jealous of me. And all because in my eyes back then, I felt that she didn't deserve you and thought that if I could drive a wedge between you and her that I might actually have a chance to steal your heart before she did, feeling that I was more deserving of you than she ever was."
Lucius listened on in confusion as Verena continued, "Yes, Lucius, there was a time when I wanted to be the one to possess your heart. But over time, as I would watch the relationship between you and Narcissa develop and grow, I realized how selfish I was in trying to take you away from her, just as I am selfish now for trying to keep Severus away from Lily. I am nothing more than a selfish, backstabbing, tormented and bitter creature that doesn't deserve friends as wonderful and beautiful as you and Severus. Though I can not deny perhaps, that in another life and if things had turned out differently back then, I would have taken you as my husband. But I think that the only reason why you are confessing to me now is because you and Narcissa had a falling out, am I right?"
Lucius stood up once more, looking on in disappointment, then turned away from Verena, angered, "I found her in the arms of another man, Verena, a man that I never knew loved Narcissa as much as I did."
"I think I know who you're talking about, Lucius, and frankly I'm not surprised since I often saw Narcissa teasing and flirting with him when you weren't around and not looking. Victor Scabior, is it not?"
Saying nothing for a moment, Lucius pulled out his wand and glared at it sinisterly, then spoke, "I wish I had stopped Scabior when I had the chance, but there were to many people around at the time for me to truly protest about it, even though it didn't seem to matter to Narcissa then that she was breaking my heart. Now Scabior threatens to take Narcissa away from me!" hissed Lucius as he hid his wand back into his walking stick again, "She broke my heart, Verena, much like you're breaking it again now. I'm sorry that I ever came back here, hoping that I might find happiness and solace in the arms of at least one of the women that I loved. Now I am alone."
No, Lucius, you are not alone, you just don't realize it yet," said Verena, standing up and walking up behind Lucius, placing her hands on his shoulders once more. But Lucius quickly knocked her hands off of him angrily, continuing to look away in disappointment.
Verena continued, "Please, Lucius, you must understand, my heart is and always shall be with Severus, even though we are no longer friends. Forgive me, but I know that Narcissa took your heart a long time ago and even if we were to send our relationship further, you will only end up going back to Narcissa, just like I would end up going back to Severus...Go back to her, Lucius, it is obvious to me that you have yet to completely loose her, so you still have a chance of getting her back, unlike in my case I think now. Beg for her return, Lucius. Plead for her, pursue her and prove to her that you are the one for her," - Verena than turned away sadly and began walking off, "...Just don't go and make the same mistakes that I did and completely loose the one that you truly love."
And with that, Verena walked out of the back courtyard and towards the back entrance to the castle. Lucius then turned and looked towards Verena briefly, looking on sadly, before she completely vanished into the castle. It was clear to Lucius that Verena was right.
INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, FIRST FLOOR CORRIDOR - MORNING (MAY 22ND, 1976)
"It's a shame to see you go, Lucius," said Professor Dumbledore, walking next to Lucius and escorting him down the first floor corridor, "I was hoping that you would stay on and take over as Dueling Teacher and Head Of Slytherin House. But you say that you've found a position at The Ministry Of Magic?"
Dumbledore and Lucius stopped at the entrance to Hogwarts Castle and turned to face one another as Lucius spoke coolly, looking towards the entrance a moment before looking back, seemingly distracted, "I have, and it is particularly more interesting and profitable than any position you could give me...sir..."
"Of course, Lucius. With a wizard of your power and standing, you will certainly succeed in political and ministry work of some sort, perhaps as a judge or government official. But as for myself, I remain settled in quite nicely as the Headmaster of Hogwarts and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope that your new position in the Ministry will serve you well, Lucius." said Dumbledore as he looked at Lucius a moment. Lucius than noticed a familiar face looking in at him from out beyond the entrance to the castle. Much to Lucius's delight and surprise, Narcissa was waiting for him out in the main courtyard, looking on at him in a way that told him that she was disappointed with herself. The castle and everything around it was covered in ice and snow, looking ever more like an enchanted winter wonderland rather then early spring.
Lucius then gave a small grin and looked back at Dumbledore, "Indeed, it certainly will...now. Good day..."
and with that, Dumbledore bowed his head, turned and walked back down the corridor while Lucius walked off and out the entrance to the castle, unaware that Verena was watching from above, looking down and perched on the roof of the entryway. After a few moments of indistinct talking between Lucius and Narcissa, Narcissa and Lucius embraced one another, followed by a passionate kiss between them. Verena, looking on icily, sighed quietly and then looked away and off towards the direction of the Crying Ruins and the rolling snow covered hills beyond.
INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, ENCHANTED PORTRAITS, 5TH FLOOR CORRIDOR - EVENING (JAN. 9TH, 2018)
As other people in their portraits slept quietly in the 5th floor corridor, Verena and Severus were laughing softly and chatting with one another in the portrait of Snape's bedroom, engaging in passionate love making and well earned pillow talk. As they lied naked in bed, covered up under warm blankets, Verena was flirting and teasing Severus, which quietly amused Severus to no end. Clearly giddy from all the love making, Verena and Severus would pause briefly, staring mischievously and alluringly at one another before they would start quietly giggling again, then smiling gently, amused with one another as they lied on their sides facing one another, there heads lying on the same pillow.
"Why do you love me so much, Verena?" said Severus softly as Verena stroked his hair.
"I think you already know the answer to that, Severus. And you, why do you love me so much?"
"I think you already know the answer to that, Belladonna." said Severus with a smile, sounding mischievous.
Verena then stopped stroking Severus's hair as she giggled softly, then grabbed onto Severus playfully as she spoke, "I guess we both know the answer to that question, we don't have to ask..."
Severus paused and smiled as Verena giggled softly once more, then Severus said with a slight shake of the head, "Uh...No..."
Verena then gave a brief soft giggle, then gave a wide grin as she cuddled up close to Severus, wrapping her arms around him in bed as much as possible, "Oh, I do love you, Severus, and it's a shame that we can't tell anyone about us. It's also a shame that we've forgotten the fact that we were supposed to go out tonight for your birthday."
"Oh, was this my birthday present from you this year? Blimey, we are getting less for birthdays these days. Not that I am complaining, I'll take whatever birthday gift you give me."
"No, it most certainly is not!" said Verena with a scoff and a smile, "Now close your eyes..."
"Must I really? I'm having a hard time not seeing you."
"Oh, you...flirting to the last, you beautiful drink-driven stallion you. Now close your eyes and no peeking," said Verena softly as Severus grinned mischievously.
"You know I always find surprises to be a bit of a tease, Belladonna, but that is the whole point of it all isn't it?" said Severus coolly as he smiled mischievously and did what he was told. Verena, with a smile, then turned over and reached for a package that was hiding underneath the other pillow, turned back around and then brought it up to Severus's chest, "Now you can look."
Severus opened his eyes once more, only to look upon a small rectangular shaped package, neatly wrapped in solid black gift wrap with dark green iridescence on it and decorated with a elegant dark green bow.
"What is in this then?" said Severus as he smiled at Verena and then sat up in bed, sitting the package on his lap.
"Open it and see," said Verena, looking up at Severus and smiling, still lying down with her head on the pillow next to Severus. Severus, looking back behind him at Verena, smiled mischievously down at Verena a moment before looking back at the package. Then, smiling and in a mildly excited manner, Severus began tearing off the gift wrap. Verena then sat up next to Severus and looked on silently as Severus opened the package. Inside the package, Severus gazed upon a long and shimmering black silk scarf, neatly folded up in the package. It was about 9 feet long and with an elaborate and beautiful blue iridescent pattern on it which ran down the center of it. The pattern on it was the same as the pattern on the handle of Snape's wand. It was also extremely soft and warm to the touch. But this was no ordinary scarf Verena had given Severus, but a special enchanted scarf would not only glow in the dark, but gave an extra strong boost of magical power to any spells and incantations that the wearer would cast, increasing the power of the spell or incantation hundredfold.
Severus glared at it a moment as he spoke, "I know what this is, I had one while I was in school long ago, when I got it as a present from someone. Though I never knew who gave it to me. It was my most favorite scarf in the whole world and I wore it often to help me in my Dueling and Spell Casting classes, until I lost it in Hogsmeade. It was the best present that I ever got...I even tried looking for another one, but to no avail. But however did you manage to find one, Belladonna? These types of scarves are extremely rare and very hard to find."
"I found it in Hogsmeade not to long ago. The previous owner thought that it was no good to anyone because he thought it was cursed, so gave it to me after I won a few chess games off of him. He obviously didn't know much about such scarves, which is a shame really, he missed out on using it...put it around your neck and see what happens."
Saying nothing more, Severus pulled out the scarf and looked it over a moment. As Severus held the scarf in both hands, he could sense and feel the power resonating from within the scarf, a seemingly ancient and familiar power that only Death Eaters seemed to sense and comprehend. Wide-eyed and smiling, Severus placed the scarf around his neck, which almost instantly began to glow a brilliant blue hue.
Verena smiled as she watched the scarf glow around Snape's neck, then watched the light from the scarf fade as she spoke, "I knew that you would like it, since it suits you so well. Also, I can clearly tell that it once belonged to a very powerful Death Eater. And I also knew that you once had one, so got you another...or did I? Look on the label of the scarf and tell me what you find."
Severus, mildly puzzled, did what Verena asked and looked on the label, which was sown in one end of the scarf. Severus then noticed the mark on the label of the scarf and quietly gasped, "Hold on a moment, that's...that's my mark! This is the very scarf that I lost long ago! How did you ever manage to find it again? Wait, how did you know that this was once my scarf or that it had my mark on it?" - Severus shifted his eyes, mildly confused and mildly excited at the same time. Verena simply grinned mischievously and giggled softly in response as Severus looked at her mildly confused once more. After a brief pause, he spoke, "Oh, nevermind..."
And with that, Severus grinned mischievously and grabbed hold of Verena playfully and fell back on the bed with her once more, Verena squeaking gleefully.
INT. TO EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, SCHOOL GROUNDS - LATE AFTERNOON (MAY 22ND, 1976)
As the afternoon classes were coming to a close for the day, Verena gathered up her books and began walking towards the Hogwarts school grounds towards Hagrid's Hut. Verena needed to talk to someone after having disappointed Lucius by not accepting his proposal of marriage, and Hagrid seemed to be the best person to talk to at the moment. Though Verena was happy to have seen Lucius again, she was now feeling even more depressed, now having not just lost Severus's friendship, but Lucius's friendship as well it seemed. As Verena walked towards the back entrance to the castle, Verena began to overhear a group of Slytherin students chattering amongst one another in a circle and began listening in:
"I wish that I knew of a really good present to give Ambrosia for her birthday two days from now. She deserves something special after loosing her mother like that, and just before her birthday to." said the first boy in the group.
"It's a shame really, she was so close to her mother, now it's just her and her father though God knows how they are going to fair without having a mother around. Though I suppose that her father will marry again later, he is fairly well off. Isn't Ambrosia having some trouble focusing her magical powers in Spell Casting and Charms class?" said the first girl in the group.
"Not just in those classes, but in Dueling class as well. Ambrosia very nearly hit me with a Jinx spell not to long ago. I'm telling you, she's a menace that girl. Maybe her wand isn't working properly for her for some reason..." said the second boy in the group.
"...Or maybe she's just distracted by all the trouble and torment she's been having lately. She's lost all confidence in herself, that girl. I wish there was something we could do for her." said the second girl in the group.
The first boy spoke once more, "Well, there is one thing, but I highly doubt that we could find one. Have any of you ever heard of an Aurianas scarf?"
The first girl spoke after, "I've heard of those, but only in ancient wizard legends. It is said that they were once spun from the silk of Fyremantulas, able to focus and enhance the magical powers of any wizard or witch. But I heard that only Death Eaters had them at one time and no one I know of has ever seen one. I also heard that they glow in the dark to light your way at night when you are without any other source of light. I also heard that in a fight, they can be used to pull magical energy from out of the surroundings of the wearer and then send that power against their opponent."
The second boy then spoke, "I've heard of those to, but they're only legends, those scarfs. I know I've never seen one. And besides, how would you recognize one if you saw it? It's not like they take pictures to identify them and all that."
The first boy spoke again, "I know. It's a shame they don't actually exist, cause I know that if they did, I would get Ambrosia one for her birthday."
The second girl spoke once more, "Well, we can't now, can we? Since they don't actually exist...do they?"
Verena quickly walked off, appearing as though she wasn't listening in. Verena knew all about the scarfs that the group was talking about, since she herself had once owned one in her long lost past, when her father, Alistair Witchazel II, gave her one for her birthday. But it had gotten lost, never, she believed, to ever be seen again. As she continued over the Hogwarts school grounds, she began to listen to a couple Gryffindor students sitting together underneath a tree nearby. It became obvious to Verena that these were students belonging to the Marauders, gawking at Verena as she passed them:
"Hey, check it out, it's Verena Witchazel," said the first boy student.
"Oh really, I don't see her. All I see is a traitorous Ravenclaw who hangs around with Slytherins. Did you know that she had a fight with Snivellus a few days ago? He told her never to see or speak to him again," said the second boy student next to him.
"Oh really? I thought I heard Severus's angry shrieks not to long ago. Perhaps we should go 'cheer' him up yes? Perhaps pull down his trousers for good measure..." said the first boy student once more.
The two Gryffindor students laughed as Verena narrowed her eyes at them and passed them. The students clearly knew that she had a fight with Severus and that she was no longer his friend.
INT. HAGRID'S HUT - LATE AFTERNOON (MAY 22ND, 1976)
"It's not right for the Marauders to pick on Severus like that, Hagrid, especially when it's his just trying to learn magic and live in peace," said Verena, acting gloomy and distant as she cupped her hands around the teacup which sat on the table in front of her while Hagrid poured freshly made peach tea into it, then sat down the teapot on the table when it was full. The inside of Hagrid's Hut was as cheerful and pleasant as it had always been. And with a fire in the large fireplace being the only source of light in the room, it made the setting peaceful and serene, despite the fact Verena's thoughts lied elsewhere.
Verena brought the teacup up towards her mouth as she continued, "I just feel so bad for him, Hagrid. I wish that there was something I could do to help him protect himself from the Marauders. If only I had not fought with Lily that day, we would have still been friends, me and Severus, even now. And having the children of the Accusers spying and wandering about in the walls of Hogwarts doesn't help either." - Verena took a sip of her tea, then continued further - "But like any children, they delight in eating candies and sweets so me and Severus did manage to pay them off with the fruits, candies and sweets that we left out for them that night when me and Severus first encountered them. Normally, saying that the walls have ears and eyes is just a metaphor, but in this case, the walls literally do have eyes and ears, so we have to almost constantly be on our guard and mind what we say and do within the walls of Hogwarts."
"Well, yeah need not be worrin' about that anymore young Witchazel, with the spies bein' in the walls and all that," said Hagrid, sitting opposite of Verena at his table.
"How so, Hagrid?" said Verena, putting down her cup and looking puzzlingly at Hagrid.
"Well, an official order came down from the Ministry yesterday. The school staff has been ordered to sponge the walls and get rid of them before the end of the school year. We have been knowin' they've been in the walls for sometime yeah know. But what we don't be knowin' is how they got there in the first place. I was wonderin' if you might be knowin' young Witchazel, since you seem to have been knowin' that they were there all this time."
"I'm not that young anymore, Hagrid, but even I don't know the answer to that one. Though I highly doubt that sponging the walls will keep the Children of the Bitter Wood away for to long. Maybe for a few years perhaps, but that spell can never keep them away forever. It will work though never the less for now. I really hope the school staff doesn't hurt them even if they are considered pests." - Verena then sipped on her tea once more.
"Right you are, young Witchazel. And about wantin' to find a way to help young Severus, I think I might be knowin' what to do about that." said Hagrid as he got up from his table and walked over towards his cupboard, Verena looking on. After a few moments, Hagrid pulled something from out of his cupboard and turned to show Verena what it was.
"This might be able to help Severus a bit, young Witchazel. What do you reckon?" said Hagrid.
Verena's eyes grew wide as she looked down at the item in Hagrid's hand, then spoke, "Hagrid, I know what that is! But however did you find one?"
"It use to be belongin' to my great grandmother five times over. She was bein' a Death Eater back in her day. A good Death Eater though, before they all went south, in a matter of speakin'. It can be yours now if you be wantin' to give it to young Severus."
Verena gasped quietly, "Hagrid, you never told me that you had Death Eaters in your family, I never knew. But I can't take this from you, Hagrid, it belongs to you and your family. Do you not realize what this is?"
"I reckon I do, otherwise I wouldn't be wantin' to give it to you to give to young Severus. I can't use it cause I don't want to. And besides, it's just sittin' in my cupboard collectin' dust and I reckon it needs to be takin' out and used. It bein' yours now, young Witchazel. Give young Severus a special gift, but don't you be sayin' it once be belongin' to me."
INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, TOWARDS THE SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOMS AND INTO THE SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOMS - EVENING (MAY 22ND, 1976)
"Hey Snivellus! Wait! We want to give you a present!" cried James Potter, who was followed along by Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew as they chased Severus down the corridor towards the Slytherin Common Rooms. Severus was running away as fast as he could, neither wanting to stick around or fight with James Potter and the Marauders. Once around the corner, Severus stopped a moment to catch his breath, only to hear James Potter speak out once more, "What's the matter, Snivellus? Don't you want a present? We have one for you. We even fished them out of the Black Lake just for you. Come out and get it over with." said James as he pulled out a small jar, which was filled to the brim with black-green Salamander-weed and crawling, sliver colored Itch-Worms. James intended to pour the contents of the jar onto Severus in order to make Severus itch uncontrollably and force Severus to have to go to Madame Pomfrey to get the antidote.
But Severus had no intent in letting James get a laugh at his expense, so was staying hidden and away from him. Severus quickly ran off once more, running towards the entrance to the Slytherin Common Rooms and going through it. Once inside, Severus was safe and able to calm down. His eyes then fell upon the coffee table sitting in front of the lit fireplace, where he beheld the sight of a small package, neatly wrapped in black wrapping paper and a elegant green bow. Severus, as if compelled to do so, walked up to the package and picked it up, looking it over. He then noticed a tag tied to it and read it: 'To Severus, may it help you find more confidence to stand your own ground...'
"A gift...for me?" said Severus, mildly puzzled. Severus very rarely ever got gifts, so the sight of this package with his name on it was a bit of a surprise. But unbeknownst to Severus, Verena was hiding and peeking out from behind a drapery up on the staircase landing, watching Severus as he opened the package and took out the item that was in it and looked it over. It was the Aurianas scarf that Hagrid gave to Verena to give to Severus. As Severus's eyes widened, mildly in awe, he realized what it was and placed it around his neck, smiling gently as it glowed its brilliant blue hue. Verena then smiled softly, then hid herself completely behind the drapery once more, going out the hidden door behind it.
CONTINUED...CHAPTER 18...