Ch. 6 : The Uniform
Tabatha's looked at herself in the mirror, for what seemed the fortieth time.
"I look sixteen" she groaned, as she held the long black robe open and peered at the uniform underneath.
She certainly did have a schoolgirl look about her, turning sideways she smoothed down the dark gray sweater with her hand running it from her neck to the hem, the sweater was not tight but it was shapely and turning sideways she could see that she defiantly filled out the chest well. She was also aware that due to her height the skirt and robe looked shorter than she believed they would have been intended to be.
Tabatha walked back over to the package, looked and side and almost immediately decided that in order to avoid looking like she stepped out of some teenagers wet dream she would opted for the dark black stocking over the knee high white socks that were both provided.
Tabatha walked over to the love seat and pulled the socking up and finished the look with the black shoes that came along with the whole deal.
"Thank God there not heals" Tabatha said relieved as she stood up. "I can hardly walk now as it is".
Looking again in the mirror she run her fingers though her short locks, "hmmm I need something to pull this back", she spoke out loud as she looked around the room.
Finally her eyes rested on a green tie back for the bed curtains. Tabatha walked over and carefully took the tie back down and tied it back behind her ears. "There we go!" she beamed "instant headband".
With that she walked over to the bedroom chamber door and pulled it slowly open. Poking her head out she looked around for a moment to see if Professor Snape was there. After a quick once over Tabatha stepped out of the dark bedroom into the potions master's office.
Severus was no were to be found she thought for a moment to wait for him to come back to get her, when her stomach spoke up with a loud growl. "I almost forgot I haven't eaten in two days" she thought as she rubbed her stomach. Not wanting to wait any more Tabatha decided to try to find her way back upstairs on her own. She walked over to the office door and pulled it open stepping into the dungeon corridor.
Outside Severus was taking a morning walk by the lake, he paused and looked out at the calm water, a breeze blew gently causing his hair and robes to gently rush past him and he had finally stopped that fluttering feeling in his stomach. Severus closed his eyes and felt the wind on his face, he tried to imagine what people got from supposed "simple pleasures" but he felt nothing. In fact the only thing he had felt in a long time besides is devotion to Lily's memory was how this strange girl made him feel. Severus mind was in knots, he wanted to feel, he wanted to not live in the prison of his own doing, but he felt guilty. He destroyed lives, many of them, and he need to be punished for it, even if the only person punishing him was himself. But this girl, damn this girl, she interested him and he wasn't sure what to do this was uncharted territory. He had a job to do; he had to make a proper witch out of her, if that was even possible. In truth Severus didn't have much too any faith in people on a whole, but Dumbledore instructed him to, and like a repentant servant he would.
The sound of children pulled Severus out of his mind and back to reality. He looked around It must be about 8 am and it would be time for breakfast. Severus turned around and walked up the back lawn making sure to avoid everyone he came across. As he marched into the castle he ran right into Dumbledore.
"Severus!" the old wizard cocked his head and smiled "How was your ward last night?"
Severus took a deep breath closed his eyes in distain and slowly spoke "I assume my ward was just fine".
"Good, good!" Dumbledore went on is a pleasant voice "I where is she? I trust she got my package I would love to see how she looks"
A look of confusion washed over Severus "I have no idea where she is?" Then he peered at the old wizard out of the corner of his eye "What package?"
A look of concern crossed Dumbledore face "Severus, are you meaning to tell me you don't know where she is?"
Severus lips thinned and he closed his eyes for a moment. He assumed the phase "I have no idea where she is" was extraordinary clear… evidently not it would seem.
"Yes sir" he said in a exhale "that is what I mean."
Dumbledore stepped closer causing Severus to get on the defensive. "Severus, you are in charge of this girl, at all times do you understand me?"
Severus looked away but answered softly "yes sir, I'll go find Ms. Rewolf and bring her to the great hall".
Dumbledore smiled again. "Lovely, I can't wait to see how she is doing" with that Dumbledore walked off.
Severus sighed and turned around to walk toward the dungeon when from behind him he heard the old wizard call out.
"Don't doddle to much now; I will have a place set for Ms. Rewolf next to you".
Severus looked up at the ceiling and cursed "bloody hell", finally striding down the hall in a mass of black furry.
Down in the dungeon Tabatha Rewolf was just stepping out into the corridor. The scene was quite a bit different from last night. Light from the high windows lit up the space making it more cheerful, at least at cheerful as a dungeon could get she believed. Tabatha walked through the dungeon ante room and climbed the stairs to the main floor. When she stepped into the entrance hall she could surly tell that this castle was a school; there were children basically everywhere, most of the time in small groups. They were all dressed in the same robes however there were four different colored patches on each one. She looked down at her own crest; each child seemed to belong to a corresponding color and animal.
"Odd clubs" she murmured . Gazing up she saw a group of students on a stairwell, they were standing there for a moment and then the whole set of stairs started to move. Tabatha gasped and backed right into a group of students.
Turning around she brought her hand to her mouth "oh I'm so so so.."
"Why don't you watch where your bloody going!" a young boy with platinum blond hair hissed at her he was wearing a the familiar green snake patch.
Tabatha was shocked and tried to say something but the young boy cut her off laughing he jeered to his friends all of which also had the green patch "oiy you think they have a age limit wouldn't you, either that she's so stupid she's been held back for years".
Tabatha stepped back as the laughter erupted before she could say something a voice from behind her said in a very determined tone "Why don't you bug off Malfoy!"
The blond Malfoy boy looked past Tabatha and glared "Make me Potter!"
Tabatha turned around and standing there was a boy no older than twelve, he had black un kept hair round glasses and the greenest eyes you've ever seen. He had a scare that you could barely see under his hair but Tabatha swore it looked like a lightning bolt she also saw that his patch was red. In his hand he held what looked like a long stick and it was pointed right at the Malfoy boy.
"Don't think I won't try" the Potter boy declared bravely.
Malfoy looked like was weighing his options then stepped down "come'on Crabbe, Goyle he's not worth it" and with that the group of angry boys walked away.
Tabatha looked back between the boys leaving and the boy standing before her for a moment in shock but quickly regained her composer
Tabatha took a few steps towards the young wizard and smiled "I think I owe you a thank you, what's your name"
They Potter boy looked up at Tabatha and returned the smile, 'My name is Harry, Harry Potter".
Tabatha knelt down a bit, her smile getting warmer, "well Harry, I'm Tabatha, Tabatha Rewolf and I suppose you're my hero now aren't you"
Harry blushed as this nice lady with kind eyes looked down at him "Oh no Ms. Rewolf, I'm not a hero it was just the right thing to do".
Tabatha stood up "well Harry you may be right but to me your still my hero" Harry's grin widened
Tabatha's looked around the hall for a moment then back to Harry "Harry, do you think you could show me were to get some breakfast? I am very new here and I think I'm totally lost."
Harry seemed to be pleased with a new heroic task to perform "Yes of course this way" he motioned down the hall.
Tabatha and Harry were just about to round the first corner when they came face to face with the Potion Master.
Severus had been looking all over the dungeon and the main floor for this girl and he was not amused, he had just about to give up and again resort to magic when rounding the corner they almost collided.
"Professor Snape sir!" Harry exclaimed "I'm sorry I was just taking Ms. Rewolf to the Great Hall for breakfast"
Severus would have answered sooner but he couldn't help looking Tabatha over, all his anger from his search for her washed away. "Where on earth did she get that outfit!" he thought. His eyes roamed and up and down her figure, pausing at her sweater and then down to skirt. She did have curves, Merlin did this woman have curves. Severus mouth went dry again, his breath shallowed and he licked his lips slowly, he felt like a hormonal teenager.
"Yes Potter…" Severus' voice trailed off though he never took his eyes of Tabatha "….Take Ms. Rewolf to the Great Hall, I will be accompanying shortly".
Harry had never heard the professor act this way, in fact it was the first time he was not outwardly chastised for some manor great or small. However Harry did not practically want to see what would happen if he questioned his Professor.
"Yes sir, right way" Harry reached for Tabatha's hand and noticed she too was taken back from his behavior. Perplexed by his gaze Tabatha took the young boy's hand and walked down the hall turning her head to watch Severus eyes follow after her.
Severus watched dry mouthed till they left his view then taking a deep breath frantically looked around the hall. Towards the end of the hall he saw a small door, Severus raced towards it and looking around to make sure no one saw he ducked into one of the many broom closets at Hogwarts.
Hiding in the dark of the closet Severus leaned against the far wall, he was completely embarrassed. He could hear how ragged his breath was, his stomach was fluttering a millions of miles per hour, and all he could see behind his closed eyes was Tabatha Rewolf.
A/N: I am really interested to see what people think of this chapter, please feel free to right review, or send messages!