Shadows In The Rain

The rest of year three for Angelina went by without any other confrontations.
She spent another summer at Hogwarts helping Hagrid with his latest flock. She
often wondered what the outside world was like but after what she had been through
she never had the urge to step off the grounds. Headmaster Dumbledore tried to
erase her memory of that night but it was still there. She let him believe that
it was gone. He seemed to want to protect her from her painful memories
so wholeheartedly that she did not want him to feel bad. She was glad that
she remembered that Professor Snape was her rescuer. By this time she
knew all about Harry Potter and Voldemort, as well as, Snape and his
spying on the Deatheaters. She had seen that first hand - she also knew
that the man she had to fear was named Malfoy. Now she not only had to
fear the elder but the younger one too. Just one more year with Draco and
then maybe she would not have to be fearful if she was suddenly in a hall
alone. She shuddered to think of how persistent he might be this year.
She had just finished feeding the flock for Hagrid and was gathering
her books to head to the Potions lab - where she was serving as Professor
Snapes\' assistant this year when she ran headlong into Harry, Ron, and
Hermione. Harry grabbed her by the arms to keep her from falling. She
smiled, apologized and thanked him for not letting her fall.
\"I\'ll see you in a couple of days Hagrid - I\'ve got to get to the Potions
lab now. Sorry for almost running you down Harry.\"
\"No problem, Angelina. Be careful.\" Harry could not explain it but he
watched her as she walked away - not in the hormonal way he had a
habit of watching girls these days - but protectively. He thought to
himself he almost felt brotherly towards her and that was odd. She
was a very beautiful young woman - russet hair and wonderful curves.
As he was watching her he caught sight of Draco watching her in his
predacious mode. He watched Draco and saw his attention diverted
to a spot past Harry - turning in that direction he saw Snape storming
towards the other side of the castle. Something is not right about
this - he turned back and saw Draco follow Angelina.
\"Ron, Hermione - I\'ve got a bad feeling about something. Go
and get Snape and tell him he is needed in his lab. I\'m going
to make sure nothing happens to Angelina. I don\'t trust Draco.\"
He went off one way and they went in the opposite direction.
Both of them knew, by now to trust Harry\'s intuitions after six years.
Angelina entered the lab and called out for Proffessor Snape -
no answer - that\'s odd he must have been called off unexpectedly.
He usually left a note for her to start on. She set her books down
and jumped when she heard the door slam shut behind her. Draco
was already behind her when he used his wand to close the door.
As she turned, he grabbed her wrists so she could not pull away
or pull out her wand.
\"Hello Angelina. I\'ve been wanting tntinntinue that discussion
from last year. I wanted to get to know you a little better but
everyone else seems to think I should stay away and leave you
alone. What do you think? I think we\'d make a lovely couple.\"
He could feel her start to struggle and that only excited him more
than he was already.
\"Please get your hands off of me Draco. I am flattered but
not interested at this time.\" She thought that flattery might
get him to loosen his grip. She realized she was wrong.
\"That\'s a shame. I guess we\'ll have to do this the hard
way then.\" Draco backed her up to the lab table and bent her
backwards until she was pinned, he pushed her arms backwards
and pressed his body over hers. He could feel her heart fluttering
from terror and she could feel his obvious arousal. He covered
her mouth with his and forced his tongue almost down her
throat. His hands began to roam from the sides of her thighs
up towards her breasts. She was trying to push him off of her
but he was too tall and muscular for her to even b him him.
Suddenly the door flew back on its hinges, banging against
the wall. Hary stood in the doorway wand raised and ready for
the confrontation.
\"Malfoy get off of her now!!!!\"
\"Potter bugger off. I\'m busy right now.\"
\"Malfoy get away from her right now.\"
Draco turned his attention to Harry but before he could
respond - Draco went flying back towards the front of class
hitting the wall. Harry turned around to find Professor Snape
with the most hostile look on his face he had ever seen and
that was saying a lot. Draco was trying to sit up without much
luck - he had the wind literally knocked out of him.
\"What is going on here? Angelina, are you alright? Potter
speak to me now!!!\"
\"Professor Snape, I saw Draco following Angelina and
something did not feel right so I sent Ron and Hermione to
get you and came here myself. Draco had shut the door - I
could hear Angelina struggling and pleading with him.\"
\"Enough. Please stay with Angelina while I escort Mr.
Malfoy to the Headmasters office?\"
\"Of course, I\'ll stay with her , Professor.\"
\"Angelina sit down and try to collect yourself. Mr. Potter
will keep you company until I get back.\"
\"Yes sir. Thank you both for coming to my rescue.\"
She sat down to try to calm her breathing down while
the Professor jerked Draco to his feet. He did not speak
to Draco, just directed his wand in the direction he wanted
him to walk.
\"Thank you again, H. I . I did not hear him come in
behind me. He just appeared out of nowhere. I guess
I will have to be vigilant again this year.\"
\"Has he tried this before?\"
\"Yes, not this forcefully. I\'ve been able to get away
before - except for the last time, last year - Professor
Snape rescued me at that time too. He seems to be
my guardian angel - always rescuing me from the
Malfoys.\" She bit her lip, wondering if she had said
too much.
\"That is the first time I\'ve heard Snape called a
guardian angel. Don\'t get me wrong, he has been
there for me too. Just never thought of him as an
angel.\"
I know I wouldn\'t want to tell him that to his face
myself, but he has always been kto mto me. He really
does have a good heart.\"
\"If you don\'t mind me asking. What did you mean
about rescuing from Malfoys, plural?\"
\"I know you\'ve probably heard that I am an orphan
too. Please don\'t say anything to anyone - they tried
to erase the memory but it didn\'t work. My adoptive
parents were muggles - the Deatheaters came for
them one night and killed them. I know that was
my fate - but Professor Snape rescued me - I was
nine - he put a silencing spell on me and grabbed
me. As he was carrying me downstairs - he was
stopped by a man he called Malfoy - he him him
he was claiming me for his own entertainment when
of course, he was bringing me here to safety.\"
Angelina actually felt better being able to share
this information with someone who might understand.
Harry looked at her in amazement. \"Yes, I
can understand how you would call him your guardian
angel. He is quite amazing and unpredictable at
times.\" Considering all she had been through in
her short life - Harry felt a great amount of
admiration for the young woman in front of him.
He smiled at her and patted her hand platonically.
They shared the rest of the time talking about
school and ideas of what to do after school. Harry
was considering becoming an auror and she had
thought about veterinary school. Professor Snape
walked in and noticed how comfortable the two
of them were together. They both turned and
smiled at him. He felt a little unnerved - students
never smile at him - it was not allowed.
\"Are you feeling better now Angelina?\" He asked
almost tenderly, Harry thought to himself.
\"Yes sir I am.\"
\"Mr. Potter - may I speak with you a moment
in my office? Excuse us for a minute Angelina.\"
Harry followed him to his office and sat in the
chair across from his desk. He noticed the look
of concern on his face before Snape managed
to revert to his normal look of disdain.
\"Mr. Potter. I wanted to ask you to keep an
eye out for Angelina in the future. I can\'t empha-
size how glad I am that Draco only has one more
year here. I can\'t keep my eyes on him all the
time and I know that Angelina tries but - things
do ha.\" .\"
\"Of course, Professor Snape. I will try to
keep an eye out for her safety. I\'ll ask Ron
and Hermione to help too.\"
\"You don\'t know how happy I am to know
the Golden Trio will be helping me and not
hindering me for once. Headmaster Dumbledore
would like to see you in his office when you
leave here. I need to see if there is any time
left to sort and store supplies with Angelina
now - Mr. Potter. I will let you be on your way.\"
Harry walked out through the lab and said
goodbye to Angelina. As he stepped into the
hall he could hear Snape speaking to Angelina
- he found it amazing how kind he spoke to
her and he always referred to her by her first
name. He made his way to the Headmaster\'s
office.