Chapter 6

The next day Nyx waited for Hermione at the same painting with the snake man. Seeing how they had class together they usually walked together. That way Nyx wouldn't be late, or too early. She spoke merrily with the paintings, talking about the adventure she'd had in the Dark Forrest. They replied with how happy they were she wasn't killed.

"Well, if it isn't Nox talking to her only friends." Malfoy exclaimed, coming down the stairs, grinning at her.

"Well if it isn't Malfoy. Glad to see you finally got your head out of daddy's ass long enough so I could look into your eyes to tell how much of a bloody git you are." She replied, looking at him seriously. He snarled and stomped forward.

"At least I have a Father you filthy mudblood orphan!" She cocked an eyebrow, noticing how close he was. He had her pinned to the railing, his nose maybe an inch or so away from hers.

"Does your daddy talk to you this close? I knew rich little snobs enjoyed looking at their gold so in order to pay attention to the person their talking to they make it so their eyes can't focus on anything else, but come on. I'd hate to see you and your father talk." She snickered. "It'd look a lot like you two were kissing." She whispered.

"Watch yourself mudblood!" He growled his breath hot on her face. "You dare insult my father, and you'll find yourself sucking on a bloodied lip."

"How about you offer me something else to suck on?" She grinned, her eyes narrowing. He stared into them, a heat flushing to his faces as his eyebrows furrowed even more. For a split second, her violet eyes flashed to a green color before flashing back. He swallowed hard, not sure what to say after that. Backing up he turned and headed down the stairs, his friends following him. Nyx watched, a grin on her face as she pushed her red hair out of the way.

"Hey, sorry I'm late." Hermione said behind her, coming down the stairs. "Was that Malfoy?" She looked after the blonde as he headed down the stairs. Nodding Nyx looked back and smiled lightly.

"Yeah."

"He didn't give you a hard time did he?" She looked like she was apologizing. "He can be insatiably rude sometimes. Come on, let's get to class." Grabbing her arm she headed down the stairs, following the blonde Slytherin boy. They walked together for a bit until she stopped. "Oh I have to stop by one of the other rooms really quick, I'll be there in a bit." She replied letting go of Nyx's arm. The red haired girl nodded slowly and watched as Hermione turned and made her way down the hall to another classroom. She didn't think much of it. Turning she continued the rest of the way, heading towards the potions room. Entering she quickly found her seat and sat in it, watching as the other students rolled in. Nyx looked around for her potions professor, hoping he wouldn't be absent. When the door opened a few minutes after the start of class, and in came their dark clad teacher, she sighed lightly with relief, spinning the glass jar in her hand.

"Turn to page 394." He demanded, standing at the front of the room.

"Excuse me sir, but…where's professor Lupin?" Harry questioned, looking up at him. The black clad teacher looked at him, his nose crinkling a bit as he did so.

"That's not really your concern, is it, Potter? Suffice to say, your professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time. Page 394." He turned and continued on.

"Werewolves?" Ron cocked an eyebrow, looking at his book.

"But sir, we've only just begun learning about Red Caps and Hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks-"

"Quiet!" he interrupted, turning on Hermione who had just suddenly appeared out of thin air. Nyx looked at her confused. She hadn't noticed her come in. In a matter of fact, she hadn't noticed her come into a lot of her classes. Just…kind of show up. Maybe it was because she was paying less attention to the door and more attention to the teacher?

"When did she come in? Did you see her come in?" Ron turned to Harry, whispering. Apparently they hadn't seen her come in either.

"Now, which of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf?" He turned on a slide of a werewolf, attacking something. It was a pretty well drawn picture, of course Nyx had never been one to judge things such as that poorly based on drawing style. She was a pretty artistic person, and she was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to draw a werewolf as well as she could a human. Speaking of which. She heard a swat against a desk that made her jump a bit as she pulled out a blank drawing pad. She left her drawing Quill in the ink as she pulled out a mechanical pencil. "No one? How…disappointing." He looked at the class. She looked up, juggling between paying attention, hiding her drawings and drawing.

"Please, sir, an Animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice in the matter. Furthermore, the werewolf actively hunts humans and responds only to the call of its own kind." Behind her Draco let off a loud but low howl.

"Quiet Malfoy!" He looked at the blonde. "Though one must admit to feeling your pain. That is the second time you have spoken out of turn Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself? Or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?" Nyx looked up, noting the apologetic look in her eyes. Nyx couldn't watch her get yelled at, not when she was their friend. She felt obligated to say something. She raised her hand, tucking her drawing pad under her book and hiding the mechanical pencil. "Yes, Miss Fairbourne?" He looked up at her.

"If I may say sir," She put her hand down. "Not to say that you are wrong or anything sir, but you asked the class if they had any answers. When no one answered there was a time window open for anyone to answer without punishment so she wasn't really talking out of turn. You asked the question to be answered by anyone in the class, therefore deemed everyone the right to answer." He started walking over. She bit her lip nervously as he did so but kept a firm voice. "So if anyone else would have answered they wouldn't have been speaking out of turn. But Malfoy," She looked back over her shoulder at the blonde. "Was contributing no knowledge to the rest of the lesson, instead he was acting like an ass and only making mocking noises. If anyone should be scolded it should be him for acting like a 3 year old muggle. It's a great distraction sir and it's not very appreciated amongst your class if you scold the Gryffindor's and don't punish the Slytherin. We're all equal and should be treated the same way sir. A crack across the knuckles with a metal ruler for the Gryffindor, deserves a crack across the knuckles for the Slytherin."

"Enough, Miss Fairbourne!" He looked at her seriously. "This is my class room, I'll deal out the punishment how I deem necessary."

"I forgot sir, the saying An eye for an eye doesn't apply to Hogwarts. Everything is run unfairly here, which is why when a student is bullied to the point where they'd rather commit suicide then come to potions class the teachers don't do a damn thing but squat with their thumbs up their ass and it's quite frankly bullshit." She was getting upset. "Here I thought that with all of your knowledge and capability to understand lesser beings such as ourselves you'd understand that you're no longer a teacher but one of those bullies." She swallowed, staring up at him defiantly.

"Wipe the look off your face Miss Fairbourne before I do it for you." He leaned down, growling, his nose an inch from hers.

"What look? The look of deep depression as I watch you choose favorites and slash people down?" She whispered. "How about I cave into my deepest desire that was inspired from all of the crap I get from your Golden Students and hang myself from the rafters in the prefect bathrooms?" The harsh expression from his face slowly changed before hardening again. Pulling away he turned and headed back to the front of the room.

"Five points from Gryffindor. As an antidote to your ignorance, I prescribe two rolls of parchment on the werewolf by Monday morning, with particular emphasis placed on recognizing it." He stopped, spotting Harry looking at parchment. "Passing notes, Potter?" He snatched it from him and looks at it. "Not exactly Picasso, are you? I hope you demonstrate more talent on the Quidditch pitch this weekend then you do as an artist. If not, I fear you'll perish, given the weather forecast. Until that time, however, you'll forgive me if I don't let you off homework. Should you die, I assure you…you need not hand it in." Behind her Crabbe, Goyle and Draco laugh a bit.

"Nice speech Nox, when you hang yourself from the rafters be sure to record it so I have something to laugh at on the weekends." They laughed again. Standing she grabbed her stuff and made for the door.

"Miss Fairbourne, I didn't excuse you from class." Snape hollered at her. Turning she shrieks, crying.

"You can shove this class and your little boyfriend up your ass! I'm sick of this place and I'm sick of you!" Turning she ran out, crying. She'd never been told to actually kill herself before, let alone record it to give them something to laugh at. She didn't know where she'd go, or where her feet were taking her. The first door she saw she yanked it open and threw herself in. It was a small room, one with a ladder but she ignored the size of it and slammed the door behind her. Sliding to the floor she pulled her knees to her chin and cried. She knew she was supposed to ignore Draco. She knew that he was just a foul mouthed jerk, but being told to record her own death for humor for him was a lot to deal with.

And then there was Snape. He was just as horrible as Draco. "Stupid." She sniffled, wiping at her eyes, crying harder. "Just when I want to apologize he turns into a dick." She pulled her hair out of her face, looking off into the darkness. "I should have kept my mouth shut. I should have, it wasn't my place to say anything…but he's just…" snarling she snapped her foot out. It hit a shelf about knee height. A few small objects fell off, hitting her shins then the ground, shattering. She stopped; her eyes open wide in the dark. A thick lusty smell filled up the room. She gagged a bit and pushed herself to her feet. Reaching out she tried to push the door open but it wouldn't budge. Coughing she covered her face, trying frantically to get out, feeling around for any lock that must have slipped down. Her head began swimming as the smell suffocated her.

Pounding on the door she swayed, hitting the door, her legs giving out. She slid down slowly, what little vision she had left was gone and soon the sound of her own coughing was dulled out. Hitting the floor, she was smothered into unconsciousness, the lusty, musk scent filling her head as she was forced into sleep.

The hot sun beamed down on her face, the sound of birds chirping overhead, the feeling of the soft grass on her arms and legs. Opening her eyes she saw above her a clear blue sky with white fluffy clouds. The air around her smelled of roses and lilies. Sitting she looked out around her. She was in a field by a babbling brook, not a single house as far as the eye could see except for a single shack on the edge of a lake not even 50 feet from the little babbling, manmade brook. The flowers and grasses had a misty gold look to them that shimmered in the sunlight. Smiling she pushed herself to her feet and looked around. She didn't know where she was. She had no idea where she was, but it was pretty.

Walking to the rivers side she looked at the clean, clear sparkling water. Little fish swam around, swimming against the current as a frog leapt from her presence into the water. She laughed lightly and leaned down. Kicking her shoes off she waded into the brook. The water was cool but a perfect temperature for swimming. Standing she looked down, brushing the hair out of her face as the small fish swam around her feet, nibbling on her toes. She giggled.

"Who are you?" A boy questioned behind her. She whirled around and looked. Sitting under a large oak tree was a pale, black haired boy. He was about 15, 16 years old. He had a long face that looked drawn out, tired, but his eyes sparkled like the water in the sun.

"My name is Ellenyx." She replied, pulling her hair over her shoulder and out of her face. On the boys lap she noticed a book and beside him a cup of Quill's and a large vial of ink. "What are you reading?" She questioned, turning, heading up to sit next to him, being careful not to leave her shoes too close to the brook.

"Oh, I'm writing." He replied, seeming shy. Sitting next to him she pulled her knees to her chest and looked at what he was writing. It seemed to be a story of some sort with random doodles all over the page.

"Is it a story?" She pushed, seeming interested. He nodded slowly.

"Yeah." He looked back down at his book and started writing, his pale cheeks turning a light shade of pink. She looked at him, noticing more features than she could before down by the water. He had dark eyes and a large crooked nose and thin drawn lips. He was thin and not very well kept, almost like he'd been neglected.

"What's it about?" she asked again. He hesitated, his hand stopping. His head didn't move as his shoulder length shimmering hair hung down, covering most of his face. He looked up at her, confused.

"You want to know?" He questioned. She smiled, nodding.

"Well…sure. I'm always interested in a good story." Resting her chin on her hands that were rested on her knees she waited, watching him intently. He blushed harder and looked down.

"I uh…it's about a boy who became famous." He said simply then fell silent. She smiled, waiting for more. Nervously he held his finger in the page he was on and flipped back to the beginning. "The main character is a boy named Xander. He was born and raised to an abusive family. His parents always argued, and he spent most of his time crying, begging them to stop. One day, when he was nine, he met the most wonderful girl with fiery red hair. Her name was Rose. She happened upon him when he was in the front yard, watching as the happy families entered and left their houses. The boys house was the only one with a dead garden in the front, it was dead, like the love at in his family." He explained, his eyebrows furrowing. "She began speaking with him, and soon, he witnessed love again." He smiled. "It was like a new flame of hope in his heart. But when he went to see her one day, she was gone. Every trace of her was gone, and with her, went his heart.

"He was devastated. He grew up researching desperately, working on a way to bring her back, to see her again. When he finally created an exact replica of her from a lily. He was over joyed. Learning about his grand invention, creating a human from a plant, he became the world's greatest inventor." He stopped. He didn't look up at her, biting his lip.

"It's not the same as having her, is it?" Nyx questioned, looking at him. He shook his head.

"No, the plant Rose never aged, and never loved him back. And because of his invention, people created their perfect partner. But the plant people couldn't have children, so eventually they were labeled as abominations and millions of people were slaughtered in attempts to get rid of the plant people. In the end, Xander ended up alone again, sitting in the very house he grew up in. Until she came back. Seeing her, grown up and even more beautiful than before he stood to greet her, hugging her, but she refused to let him touch her. He called him an idiot, and that he was the cause of the murders. It was his fault her son was killed. And so she left him." He stopped again. "In his depression, he commits suicide, unable to face the world after everything that happened."

"It's definitely not a comedy I'm guessing." She mused, looking out over the water. "Pretty gloomy stuff he had to deal with, all he wanted was the one he loved. How sad." She frowned. He started writing again. "I know how he feels." She looked back down. The boy looked up, his forehead crinkled. Turning she shook her head, shaking off the frown and smiling. "You'd like to think someone would love him in return, whether or not he knew they did. I mean, someone always has someone to love them." She added. He didn't reply, instead, he sat there and thought. She sighed, smiling and laid back, her hair sprawled out around her.

"So…do you always come here?" he questioned after a few minutes. She looked at him and shook her head.

"No, this is my first time being here." She admitted. "But it's lovely. Perfect for writing, or being with the one you care for deeply." She smiled staring at the sky.

"Why aren't you here with the person you care for deeply then?" He put his book down.

"He doesn't know I like him." She admitted. "We're strangers, and I'm sure he doesn't like me in return." He laid down next to her and stared up at the sky. A warm breeze blew over them. Closing her eyes she relished the feeling. A warm musk smell mixed with the flowers and the lake, teasing her senses. Rolling over she held her skirt down, making sure it didn't rise up and faced the black haired boy, smiling, though her eyes remained shut. "I'd never admit it to anyone though." She whispered.

"Then why tell me?" He questioned, rolling over onto his left, looking at her. He took note of her features. Pale skin with slightly rosy cheeks, and beautiful violet eyes. Her hair was red, with an orange tint. She was beautiful, like a Dahlia flower.

"I feel like I can trust you." She looked up at him, smiling. He felt his cheeks burn a bit and looked away.

"Who…who do you like?" He questioned. "Please don't tell me it's Sirius." He grimaced. She laughed lightly and shook her head.

"No." She closed her eyes again, thinking. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him or not but figured she might as well. It was hard to keep it bottled inside, and maybe if she let it out into the open she'd finally get her true feelings straightened out. "His name is Severus." The boy stared at her as she spoke. "Severus Snape." She continued, his full name tasting like sugar dancing on her tongue. She felt her heart flutter at her words, her heart pounding against her rib cage. Neither of them did anything for a good while. Shifting the boy leaned over. She looked at him curiously. Cupping her face he pressed his lips to hers, his eyes closed. The kiss felt like a sudden rush of cold that ran through her, followed by a jolt of electricity that temporarily stopped her heart, then fire spread through her nerves. He pulled away an inch, looking into her eyes.

"I'm Severus," He whispered. Her heart stopped as her eyes opened wide. She should have known, they looked so much the same, and here she was, spilling her guts out to him the whole time. Her cheeks burned a bright red as he kissed her again. Any embarrassment that she had felt before was completely burned away with the second connection of their lips. Wrapping her arms up and around him she kissed back, pulling him closer. "You're the first." He whispered, pulling back, keeping his arms around her.

"First for what?" She looked at him, her head spinning as her heart pounded violently in her chest.

"The first girl to show any real interest in me." He replied, brushing some stray hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "My looks aren't chasing you away." He seemed a bit depressed as he said it.

"Your looks?" She cocked an eyebrow.

"My nose, my hair, my skin," he touched them all as he named them off. "They're ghastly. My huge nose, or my greasy hair and pale skin…you can't tell me you didn't notice." He looked at her skeptically. Reaching up she ran her fingers through his hair. It wasn't greasy, it was just such a glossy black that it looked like it was.

"They're lovely." She whispered. Cupping her face, he kissed her again, this time passionately. His hands shot to her hair as he moved on top of her. His kisses turned her lips numb as his tongue pressed into her mouth. She shivered as the numbness started to spread. Soon she felt nothing. All sensation disappeared. Her eyes closed, and even when she opened them again, the darkness stayed. Everything went quiet.

Her eyes snapped open, her heart fluttering. Sitting up she found herself in a familiar room. The hospital wing. Her hand shot to her heart as she panted. She was sweating; some of her hair sticking to her face and neck.

"Is she awake?" She heard a man ask; although she couldn't tell who at first because of how harshly her head was swimming.

"I believe so." A woman replied. Nyx's head snapped up as Madam Pomfrey walked in, followed behind her was her potions teacher. Her heart fluttered, trying to jump out of her throat at his presence. How are you feeling darling?" She questioned, sitting next to her in a chair.

"A-amazing." Nyx whimpered, looking at her.

"I'd think you would." Snape commented, looking at her sternly. "Snooping through my shop, stealing my potions." His eyes narrowed a bit. "That potion that you destroy was Amare Somnium. Do you know what that is?" He crossed his arms.

"N-no sir." Nyx stuttered.

"Amare Somnium is a potion used to relieve people who have insomnia or night terrors. It's considered, the Perfect Dream. Just a little bit of it will have your mind in a state of bliss. If not woken out of it, you could very well sleep until your heart stops beating. Very much like a coma." He replied. "It takes what you desire the most, and makes it a reality."

"That was…" She groaned and covered her eyes, finally realizing what he'd said. "A dream."

"You're lucky I woke you up," he growled. "If it had been up to me I would have let you sleep until you died!"

"I wouldn't have been able to thank you more if you did sir." She replied, her voice sounding musical as the very real reminiscence of her kiss tingled her lips.

"Fight nice you two." Madam Pomfrey snorted, standing. "And Severus," Nyx felt a shiver run through her at his name. "don't make her cry this time." Turning she headed into the next room. It was silent as they stared each other down. Her eyes were sparkling he noticed, but the effects from the dream should have been wearing off by now. The side effects didn't last much longer than a few seconds after the moment she woke up.

"Tell me Miss Fairbourne what were you doing in my potions room?" He questioned, staring at her.

"Crying sir." She admitted truthfully. "I didn't know it was your potions closet, I just entered the first door I saw"

"And why did you leave my room without permission?" He crossed his arms.

"Malfoy had told me that when I hung myself from the rafters to record it so he'd have something to laugh at on the weekends." She didn't care at the moment if she ratted anyone out. All she cared about was telling him what he wanted to know. All she cared about was pleasing him, which was a side effect she'd more sooner than later regret.

"I see," He looked her in the eyes. "Tell me everything that goes on between you and Mister Malfoy. I want to know everything." He took a seat. She stopped, finally realizing that she had the chance to live or kill herself. Ratting would definitely lead to her death.

"It's not very important sir." She looked down at her lap.

"It sounds important to me Miss Fairbourne. If you're running off to cry in a dark cramped closet there's obviously something going on that should have something done about it." He rested his hands on his knees.

"It's nothing sir." She fell silent. He didn't say anything for a long time and the silence was driving her insane. She wanted to reach over and kiss him. To run her fingers through his hair, to call him lovely. She wanted him to be the boy from her dream, so eager to experience love by the brook. The depressed, thin, pale boy with those sparkling wondrous eyes. "Oh, I uh…" She looked around. "Where did my bag go?"

"Over by the door." He pointed. Nodding she pushed herself to her feet. She was a bit shaky from the forceful sleep but other than that she'd never been better. Walking over she grabbed her bag and opened it. Pulling out the jar that had been stored recklessly –she was surprised it hadn't broken already- she headed back over to the bed and sat down.

"I wanted to apologize sir." She replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Apologize for what?" He looked at her curious.

"For calling you a badge banger." She replied. "Taking things out of proportion and getting angry with you for something stupid." She replied, looking down at the jar in her hands. He looked at it, wondering what it was. Handing over the jar she forced a smile. He hesitated, looking at it. After a second he took it and looked at it carefully.

"What is this?" he swished the liquid inside around a bit.

"I…got it from the spiders." She smiled. Standing she headed for the door. He stared at the jar shocked. Those words triggered something. He'd heard those words before. Those same exact words. "Good night sir." She turned and left leaving the shocked Potions teacher to himself, heading up to her room. She must have been out of it for a while judging by the darkness of the corridors. Rushing up to the Slytherin Common room, she threw herself in the bed this time, wrapping herself in her blankets. She tried desperately to sleep, wanting to continue her perfect dream, but the smile on her face and the pace of her heart made it impossible. There was no doubt about it. No matter how one sided it was, she was absolutely in love with her Potions teacher. Stupid Hermione for jinxing her!