Shadows In The Rain

Arrangements were made for Angelina to spend the next two years living in
another wing of the castle. She would be tutored to prepare her for attending
Hogwarts. Never was she permitted to leave school grounds and for the most
part, her existence went unnoticed. Her outside adventures were with Hagrid,
she was his acting assistant in taking care of the less dangerous magical cre-
atures. She loved Hagrid, as anyone with a heart did, he was like the uncle she
never had. Angelina seemed to be well adjusted to her situation. She had no
friends her own age but several of the professors would drop by to talk to her
and leave her books and other gifts. They seemed to be enchanted with having
a child to entertain to take their minds off their tedious students.
The two years brought many physical changes to Angelina, she went from
a child to a young lady at only eleven. Her blonde hair had transformed into a
lovely shade of russet. She was tall for her age and while still looking angelic
and innocent, she was not the least bit childlike.
Professor Snape had, of course, been very busy - spying for both sides,
research, and teaching potions. In some ways, he was glad when classes
started, Voldemort would call on him less frequently and he might be able
to get a little rest. He was still under heavy scrutiny from Lucius and the
other senior Deatheaters but their torture sessions were less frequent. In
their eyes, he would never be able to make amends for his disloyalty. The
Order of the Phoenix members were even less trusting but there was no
physical torture, no, theirs was mental and emotional. Considering, the
reprehensible actions he had performed as a Deatheater, he felt he
deserved whatever they could dish out to him. It was with this tremendous
weight on his shoulders that Snape watched as Angelina was sorted.
\"Pure, strong, highly intelligent - where to put you? Brave, fearless -
these are Gryffindor qualities but I believe you are meant to be in ...
Slytherin!!!\"
A cheer rang out and she joined the rest of her house at their table.
Snape looked furtively over to the Headmaster - who winked and smiled
as if this was all very natural.
\'She cannot be a Slytherin\' - thought Snape to himself - \'not with her
innocence - it was like taking a lamb to the slaughter- again.\' He glanced
over to his house table and caught Draco Malfoy staring at Angelina
with the same lascivious look Lucius had years before. \'I thought
my protector days were over - I guess not, how do I protect her from
her own room mates without raising suspicions?\' Dumbledore should
have forewarned me.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione also noticed the young girl - having been
through three sortings already they thought it was odd for her to be
sorted to Slytherin. She certainly did not fit the house type. They knew
that she resided at Hogwarts for the last two years. Hagrid sometimes
spoke of her when they visited. Harry, often wondered what the truth
behind her living arrangements were - but Dumbledore only said that
was for the future. Harry had begun to believe that Dumbledore never
told anyone the complete truth, as if keeping something back made
him irreplaceable.
Her first two years sped by. She proved to be a top sudent and that
further distanced her from her room mates. Slytherin was not known
for their highly intelligent students - wicked, sly, and cunning students,
but not intelligent. Snape kept an eye on her and had no reason to
step in and protect her, yet.
As her third year began, it was impossible to not notice the russet
haired beauty. High cheekbones, full pouty lips and sparkling emerald
eyes. Her skin, lightly tanned to a golden brown from helping Hagrid.
She was no taller but her figure had blossomed and could not be
hidden by her school robes. Snape noticed and unfortunately so did
Draco - again.
Draco had decided he\'d waited long enough and began to corner
her in the halls whenever they were alone. It was several months
before Snape caught on to his tactics.
\"Hi there Angelina. You are looking awfully pretty today.\" Draco
hissed at her, thinking he would wear her down. He backed her to
one side of the hallway and placed both hands against the cool
stone to block her escape.
\"Hello Draco. Please excuse me - I have to get to the library
to study for my Potions test.\"
\"You don\'t have to be in such a hurry. We never get anytime
to talk alone. Why don\'t we step into this classroom and sit and
get to know each other?\" He grabbed her upper arm and tried to
steer her into the room. She struggled against him and dropped
her books. The resounding boom was what piqued Snapes\' atten-
tion first. His footsteps echoed in the hallway - Draco tried to
pull her in the room to hide before he came around the corner
but she jerked herself away from him.
\"Mr. Malfoy - please report to Headmaster Dumbledores\'
office and tell him what your intentions were. I don\'t want to
hear anything from you. Save or hor him. Leave now!!!!!\"
Draco turned and stomped off to Dumbledores\' office
but not before throwing a glare towards Angelina. If she
had just cooperated, he thought, they could be enjoying
themselves but no now he would have to listen to one of
Dumbledores\' exhausting speeches and possibly serve
a detention. He knew that she resided here but he couldn\'t
see anything special about her. After all, he had waited a
couple of years to start his pursuit of her. There would
still be another year for him to acquire her for his collection.
\"Miss Moonstar - are you alri Did Did he take advantage
of you in any way?\" Snape worriedly looked into her eyes
and was surprised when she did not look away.
\"No Professor Snape. He was trying to get me to follow
him into that room but I struggled with him again and dropped my
books hoping to draw someone\'s attention. I sure am glad you
came along. He is getting more insistent every time he corners
me.\"
\"How long has this been going on? You should have told me
when it started.\"
\"It started at the beginning of the school year. I\'ve been
able to get away from him every time. I don\'t like him at all
- he frightens me. His eyes look lifeless and that scares me.
But I don\'t want him to think he can get to me.\"
\"I will keep an eye on him from now on. You still have
one year to get through with him. I am sure the Headmaster
will tell him to leave you alone. I will second that when I see
him and make sure he understands I mean what I say.
\"Thank you Professor Snape. I really am glad that it was
you who rescued me. I better get to the library to study
before it is too late.\" She started to bend down for her
books but he had already bent down and picked them up.
When he handed them to her their hands brushed together
and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. She must
have felt it too - they both looked up in shock and backed
away quickly. She thanked him and turned to continue
to the library.
\ str strange - she is turning into an even more captivating
young woman than she was child. I can\'t be having feelings for
a student, especially not this one - a Potter.\' He tried to shake
off the feelings but even later when he was sitting in front of
his fire with a glass of brandy - he shut his eyes and remembered
the electricity he felt when their skin touched.

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling, just
borrowing them for a while.