There is something there for me. I can sense it from the other end of this long, dark hallway. The trace of pain, hatred, bitterness and loneliness creeps up my sensitive nostrils. My red eyes flare up with so much desire I'm sure they're now glowing in the dark. I walk slowly, carefully. The feelings become stronger. There is food for me. A prey. A prey with so much pain I myself would actually perish if I tried to absorb it all at once. The trace leads me to a door. I push it open, quivering with excitement, wondering what that tortured soul is going to look like. I feel a pang of nervousness as he lifts his cold black eyes off his work and narrows them at me.

"Yes?"

I smile. I am pleased with what I see.

"Yes, hello. I am your new colleague. Just wanted to say hi."

I see he is purposefully trying to look scary with his clothes, facial expressions and movements. Poor boy. I'm not scared of him at all. My red eyes stare right through his. He stares right back. (Maybe a poor boy, but a brave boy…)

"And your name is?"

"Isha Adme. And yours?"

His face twitches in annoyance before answering.

"Severus Snape. Potions master."

I tilt my head to one side and give him a friendly smile. My red eyes seem to unsettle him a little bit. His own remain narrowed.

"So, Miss Adme… I assume you will be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts?"

My smile becomes toothy now.

"Wrong my friend. Why did you think so?"

He scowls.

"Because you seem to be the only person here with enough courage to talk to me this way. There is no other explanation."

I laugh softly.

"Well… You should know I'm no ordinary person. And… I teach Care for Magical Creatures."

"Care for Magical Creatures. I see."

"Yes, I'm… Sort of… One… Myself."

I tilt my head to one side again, studying him.

"You're young," I say. "Probably the youngest one here…"

"I am twenty-nine years old, thank you very much. But it's true, I am the youngest teacher here. And I am not surprised you teach Care for Magical Creatures. It only fits a… A… Person like you."

He squints his eyes at me. "What… Exactly… Are you?"

"Hmmm. I am indeed a person… But… I am possessed. I live in symbiosis with a demon that lives inside me."

He raises an eyebrow.

"A demon lives inside you?"

I nod with a faint smile. I see how he's rolled his eyes. He obviously doesn't believe me.

"Interesting," he says in a flat tone of voice. "Does this demon have a name?"

"Knowing a demon's name gives you power over them. I know its name. You never will."

I sense his interest. He's not showing it, but my demon can feel it. Just like it can feel everything else about him. The abuse… The pain… Severus doesn't know it, but my demon can sense everything.

His face remains stiff.

"A demon lives inside you and you teach at Hogwarts? How?"

I give him a sweet smile and take a step closer to him. I lower my voice.

"Demons are magical creatures… Are they not?"

"I suppose you are right. I admit I have never before met a… Host. And I am surprised the demon inside you would even allow you to live in symbiosis."

I sense his growing discomfort. My voice is caring and soft when I speak again.

"Do not worry… My demon won't hurt you. And… To answer your question, the demon wanted to experience earthly pleasures. In a body. As a person. And me, I… I'm enjoying the power and the confidence."

He nods slowly.

"That must be a bizarre situation for you. To be so… Close with it. How would you describe your relationship? As friends? More than friends?"

My eyes light up.

"We are one," I say slowly.

"One? That's very… Intimate. Does it mean the demon can taste things? Can it feel… Physical contact?"

"It can feel… And sense…" I give him a meaningful look. "...Everything."

He closes his eyes, as if trying to ignore what he's just heard. He takes a deep breath to calm himself. Then he opens his eyes again.

"It is… Fascinating. I'm surprised by this demon… That it shares this body with you. Does it not try to take over the body…?"

"It does… But it also knows it can't get what it wants without my human side there to help get it."

He frowns at me.

"And what is it that the demon wants?"

I sit down in front of him.

"Others' emotional pain… Because my demon… Is the demon of pain," I say with a straight face.

His eyes widen as he listens.

"The demon of pain…?"

"Yes, the demon of pain. It feeds off other peoples' emotional pain. The pain… And the pleasure… Are one. For us."

I sense a chill going down his spine. He looks away from me.

"Do you like that this demon lives inside you?"

I see the panic in his diverted gaze.

"Yes," I say. "I like this demon. It makes me sense things I wouldn't be able to sense otherwise."

"So… You can sense if someone is in pain?"

My eyes fill with sorrow. He looks so small now, so scared.

"Yes."

His body tenses up. He looks away from me again.

"Can you… Sense anything different in me? Can you…" He trails off.

I whisper tenderly while he's still looking away.

"The extent of it… I sensed it through the door. Through the hallway. It's why I'm here."

He closes his eyes. I can sense he's genuinely scared of me now. There are goosebumps on his skin. He's just… Delicious.

"My demon will not hurt you. Nor will it spill your secrets. In exchange…"

He lets out a shaky breath.

"In exchange…?"

"...For your company."

He looks at me, confused. He doesn't understand what I want from him. Why anybody would want his company.

"My company? In what way?"

His shoulders tense up again as I feel his confusion and pain. He thinks this is a cruel joke. My voice is soft, but also firm.

"You will go to the Yule Ball with me."

He stares at me in disbelief.

"The Yule Ball…? As your date?"

I nod. "Yes, because… When you are close to me, my demon is happy. And so will you - guaranteed."

He takes a deep breath to calm himself.

"I… I accept your… Invitation," he says quietly. "I will join you. A-as your date. For the Yule Ball."

I give him another smile.

"Trust me… You will not regret it."

His eyes remain shy and vigilant. He feels exposed. My demon knows exactly what buttons to press to make him… Vulnerable.

I stand up from the chair.

"So it's settled. See you at the Ball. Show up sober."

He nods, still staring at me. I squint my red eyes at him and look him over.

"You are actually quite handsome," I say in a lazy tone of voice.

His face twitches.

"H-handsome? M-me?"

I find it tiring to explain now. He wouldn't get it. So I just utter: "So my demon says."

He shakes his head. He's frozen in place, thinking about this impossible invitation… He forces a smile on his face.

"Th-thank you… I guess."

"Have a nice rest of your week. I'll let you process your feelings from our encounter."

I turn around and leave his office.