I Can\'t Sleep Without My Angel

*Sorry it has taken so long, y\'all! I have had writer\'s block and have been stressed about finding a second job, but all is well! Hope you enjoy! P.S. Ron should be getting some action soon:)

*Thanks to my beta who corrects all my lousy grammar and waits in line for an hour and a half to get into \"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban\" with me, then endures my squealing whenever Ron comes on the screen!

*Thanks to all my wonderful reviwers for sticking with me!

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*HP and his world belong to JK Rowling!

Chapter 11: Ashley\'s Protector
>
> Ron sat groggily on the couch in the Burrow’s living area as commotion
> exploded all around him. Everyone was busy getting everything ready for Hogwarts. He
> looked around for Ashley, but surprisingly he did not see her around. They had
> been within eye sight almost all the time since she had first opened her eyes
> after her horrifying encounter.
>
> He was more confused now than before. He had grown to care for this girl,
> which was not something he allowed himself to do. He used girls for attention and
> sex. No more, no less. He didn’t think of himself as cruel. Girls knew his
> reputation and still pursued him. It was their fault if they got hurt.
>
> Ashley was different though, she didn’t see any fault in him. She didn’t know
> about the tears he had caused and the hearts he had broken. This made it hard
> for him to pull away because she seemed to need him so much. And as much as he
> hated to admit it, he had grown to need her too. He needed her support, her
> smile, her caring attitude. He was not sure how he felt when he first found
> out. Ashley was coming to Hogwarts. With her around how was he supposed to be the
> Ron he usually was. He would have to change. He put his head in his hands,
> not sure what he should feel.
>
> At that moment he felt a small hand on his shoulder.
> “Time to go!” He looked up into Ashley’s smiling face. If she could smile a
> day after she finds out that she is part of the Dark Lord’s evil plan then he
couldsmile too.
>
>
>
> Thirty minutes later the Weasley Clan, Harry, Hermione, and Ashley were
> standing in Dumbledore’s office. Ashley just having her first experience with
> floo powder, was being helped to get ash out of her tangled blonde hair by
> Ginny and Hermione. Ron stood by Ashley, holding her hand.
>
> Professor Dumbledore stepped forward.
>
“Hello, Weasley Family, Harry, Hermione, Ashley!” he said in his usual jolly
> tone.
>
“I will have the house elves bring your belongings up to Gryffindor tower,
> except
> yours, Ashley,” he said, turning his eyes towards her.
>
“Your belongings will be brought down to your room, in the dungeons. Your
> room will be connected to Professor Snape\'s.” At that moment, Professor Snape
> stepped out of the shadows to the surprise of everyone in the room,
>
“He has offered to keep an eye on you, dear.” Before anyone else could
> express anything, Ron stepped forward towards Dumbeldore and Snape, his face full of
> anger.
>
“But Headmaster! Why Snape? Why can’t her room be in Gryffindor tower. She
> needs me, not an ex-.” Before Ron could say anything more, Mr. Weasley had
> pulled Ron back, a furious look on his face.
>
“I am so sorry, Headmaster, my son is…”
>
“No apologies, Arthur,” Dumbeldore said putting his hand up. “I understand
> Ron’s concerns. Ron,” Dumbledore said turning and looking right at him.

“Professor Snape is a powerful man, Ron. He can give your friend a little extra
> protection. I think it will be the best for her.”
>
>
> All through this disagreement, Ashley studied, not her Angel, but the man who
> was to “watch over” her. He was tall with dark hair and ghostly pale skin, quite
> like her own. She watched him watch over the fight with an amused smile on
> his face. When his eyes turned towards her, she quickly looked back to Ron, who
> had seemed to calm down. He was still muttering things under his breath though.
> Ashley picked up the words deatheater, scum, and good for nothing human
> being.Though this was probably not the time for it, Ashley couldn’t help but crack a
> smile at the knight in shining armor Ron was trying to be for her. She
> quickly put her hand in Ron\'s.
>
> “Angel,” she said smiling, “I will be fine!” She glanced up at the dark
> haired man. She hoped she would be fine. There was something about him she didn’t
> like, but through the weeks she had been with the Weasley’s she had grown to
> trust Dumbledore just through tamilamily\'s praises of him, so she decided she
> should trust his judgment.
>
> Ron grumbled but gave her a small smile.
“I am going to help you move in,
> though.”
>
“Alright!” Ashley giggled.
>
Snape walked over to Ron and Ashley.

“You may come down, Mr. Weasley, after I
> have a chat with Ashley and get her settled in,” he said with a sneer.
>
> Ron looked as if he was about to say something that would get him kicked out
> ofHogwHogwarts, when Dumbledore intervened.
>
> “Ron, dear boy. It is true that Professor Snape must have a talk with Ashley,
> you will be perfectly welcome to join Ashley in her dorm after dinner.”
>
> Dumbledore ushered everyone but Ashley and Snape out of his office and
motioned for them to go settle in then come down for dinner in 45 minutes.
>
> Dumbledore looked at Ashley with concerned eyes. “We will take care of you,
dear. I know you have lost all your family, and we feel terrible about that. Just
> think of us as your family now. Feel free to come to me with any problems, or if
> you even just need to talk.”

> Ashley smiled back at Dumbeldore as she quickly followed Snape as he glided
> out of the room at an incredibly fast pace.
>
> As they walked down many sets of steps, Snape began talking to Ashley.
> “As Dumbeldore told you, I am Professor Snape and I am the Potions Master
> here. I am sure you are wondering why Headmaster Dumbledore put you in my charge.\"
>
Ashley nodded.
> Snape was silent for a moment as they arrived in what Ashley presumed were
> the Dungeons. He opened the door to a large room. Ashley stepped in and surveyed
> the surroundings. The room consisted of dark leather furniture all around a
> blazing fireplace. She watched Professor Snape head to a door on the left
> sideof the room. She followed him and entered the room.
>
“This will be your room during your time with us.”
> Ashley liked the room. It was small and simple with a bed, dresser, bureau,
> table, chairs and desk. The bed was large and had a dark green comforter.
>
“Please sit,” Snape said sitting in one chair and gesturing Ashley to the
> other. Snape gazed at Ashley’s small form and rested his head on his long fingers.
> “Headmaster Dumbledore has good reason to have me keep an eye on you. I know
> you would like to know all the details, just like your nosy new friends, Potter,
> Granger, and Weasley.”
>
Ashley looked up at him in surprise, and he decided to tone down the sarcasm,
> as this girl was not used to him yet.
>
“I can’t reveal the details to you yet, just know that I will not let anyone
> hurt you. I take my responsibilities seriously and I would never let the
> Headmaster down. All I ask of you is you follow the rules you are given by me
> and by Dumbledore because they are there for your safety.”
> Ashley nodded gravely. For some reason, he could not stand to look at her sad
> face anymore. He stood up quickly.
>
“I will be in my study which is across the living area from your room. I will
> talk to you more later about the rules of MY area. Settle in, and I will come
> get you for dinner.”
>
Ashley stood up and laid down on the bed after Professor Snape left. She shut
> her eyes, wondering what her life would become now that she was at Hogwarts.
>