Forget about Love

Erica rushed to the Room of Requirement. She reached the door and placed her hand on the knob. It was then she felt a strange rush, like something was going to happen.

Cautiously she opened the door. A bright light was flying toward her. She ducked just in time before it hit her.

“How nice of you to join us?” Snape said in an even voice. Erica stood up and looked around the room. It was filled with fifth, sixth, and seventh year students. Snape was standing on a platform in the middle of the room. It looked like a dueling platform.

“Care to join me in a demonstration?” Snape asked with a slight edge to his voice. Erica eyed him while carefully stepping up onto the platform.

“Doesn’t she need a wand?” Neville Longbottom yelled out from the crowd. Snape didn’t even look at him when he responded.

“No, Mr. Longbottom.”

Snape pointed his wand at Erica and smirked at her. Erica just stood there facing him and waited.

“Furnunculus,” Snape yelled. A bright light was streaking towards her. Erica didn’t try to jump out of the way, even though she had the time.

Instead she lifted her hand straight at the light. It hit her hand and pushed her back a couple inches, but she remained standing, and the light was still in her hand. It looked like she was holding a baseball or something, except it was glowing.

Erica looked up at Snape and smiled. Then she threw the ball back at him. Snape fell to the ground out of the light’s path before looking back at Erica.

There were no boils on her hand, or any other part of her body. She lowered her hand and just stared at him.

“That all you got?” She said smugly. Snape glared at her before standing again.

“Incendio,” Snape said. This time a fireball shot out of his wand and flew across the room at Erica. She was engulfed in flames, and for a few minutes Snape thought he might have killed her.

Once the fire calmed down, Erica was nowhere to be found. Snape took a few steps toward the area before he was hit with another curse.

His legs instantly felt like jelly. He looked up and noticed Erica was on the ceiling. She was sitting on the rafters that the room had provided. Snape murmured the counter-curse for his legs and stood again.

“Of course,” he said walking backwards to his post, always keeping his eyes on Erica, “In an actual battle, one wouldn’t be expected to play fairly. Your opponent may try to use an Unforgivable on you.”

Erica jumped back onto the other end of the platform and looked back at Snape.

“If that occurs, you are either forced to give into the spell or be quick enough to get out of the way. No one can block them.”

Erica raised her eyebrow. He wouldn’t dare. Snape raised his wand and aimed it at her. Erica sighed. He would.

“Imperio,” Snape said loudly. Erica watched as the bright beam came spiraling toward her. Erica couldn’t move, so she raised her hand and closed her eyes. She started mumbling under her breath.

Snape couldn’t hear her, but was amazed by what she was doing. The curse stopped in front of her and was just suspended in the air. Snape walked slowly across the platform, around the bright ball of light that was his curse, and around the girl mumbling under breath. She seemed calmer somehow.

Snape inched his way around her and stood behind her. Her hair was flying behind her and her dress was flying like there wind blowing in the room. Several of the students had backed away from the vampire. Snape was careful not to touch Erica, but after a few minutes he had no choice.

He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. Erica opened her eyes, still mumbling, and then a bright blue light shot out of her body and hit the curse that was still suspended in mid-air. The curse and blue light disappeared.

Erica slammed back into Snape with such a force that they fell onto the platform. Snape moved Erica off him softly before looking at her. He was careful not to touch her skin. It wouldn’t do to have him fainting in front of his students.

“Miss Kartake, wake up,” he said forcefully. He turned to the crowd and pointed at Malfoy, who was quite easy to spot. “Malfoy, go fetch Madam Pompry and the Headmaster immediately. Send them straight here. What are you still doing here? Get moving!”

Draco was out the door within two seconds at a full run. Snape turned back to Erica. She looked like she was in pain. Her face was scrunched up in fear.

Should I touch her? See what she’s thinking about? If I do, I need someone here to explain…Miss Granger!

“Miss Granger!” Snape said sharply. Hermione walked up onto the platform and over to Snape quickly.

“Yes, Professor?’

“I need you to explain to the Headmaster what just happened as I will be unable to do so,” Snape said quickly.

“Why would you…”

Snape didn’t listen to the rest. He touched Erica’s hand slightly and was thrown into darkness.

-----

Coldness…darkness…blood.

“Feeling a little disoriented Erica? Don’t worry that will pass with time,” a cold voice sounded out of the darkness. Erica looked up.

She was covered in dirt, blood, and soot.

“What happened?”

“A miracle,” the cold voice said again. Erica recognized the voice, but was unable to pinpoint where exactly.

“I will not do anything you ask. You will have to…” The cold figure laughed.

“I think that you would be mistaken. I have what I want…I have you. Can you feel your heartbeat?”

Erica reached up to find the pulse in her neck, but it wasn’t there.

“No, I don’t think that you would. I knew that those vampires I hired would come in handy.”

Erica’s head snapped up. She remembered now. Her mother was out with father and Erica was home alone. She was writing a letter to Severus when she smelt smoke. The house was on fire. She tried using magic to put it out, but it only made it worse. She rushed out into the forest and watched as it burned.

Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and then there was a pinch on her neck. She tried to scream but no sound came out.

“You idiot…he wants her alive,” someone said. The pinching on her neck lessened.

“What are we going to do? He’ll lock us up…death.”

Erica was starting to black out from the blood loss. She knew she wasn’t going to survive this night.

“I love you, Severus,” she said before closing her eyes and welcoming the darkness. Her captors were making her drink something warm and liquidly. When it hit her stomach she felt the instant response to throw up. She felt like that until she felt her life slip away from her.

She woke up in the dark room she was in now. She was hungry and could smell the strong scent of blood from somewhere in the room. It was making her mouth water.

“Hungry little one. I brought you something to eat,” the figure said again. A young Muggle girl was thrown in next to her. She was cut on the neck. She had to be about six or seven. She looked frightened.

Erica stared at the young girl. The smell of her blood was making her so hungry. Finally she couldn’t take it anymore and she grabbed the young girl and began licking the blood off her neck. It was delicious.

Erica felt the urge to bit the girl’s neck to get the rest of the blood underneath her skin. She felt a slight change in her mouth. She reached out with her tongue and ran it along two sharp fangs that had grown instantly. Erica gasped and jumped away from the girl.

“Not too hungry are you?” the cold figure said. “Go on and kill her. Otherwise the blood won’t be fresh and you won’t be able to keep your strength up.”

Erica just stared at the girl. Erica backed up as far as she could until she felt a shock. She looked at the ground and noticed a bright light on it.

“Like it? It is my own design. You can’t leave the square unless you get my wand to pass the line. It is quite genius I must say.” Erica stood as best she could and started looking into the darkness hard.

“Looking for me?” the figure said walking into the light. Erica gasped. It was Lucius Malfoy.

“I thought that since you were so powerful that you would be perfect to present to the Dark Lord as a servant. I think you would make a great assassin that is if you can figure out how to kill a little girl.

Lucius pointed his wand at the little girl. “Avada Kedavra,” he said in a clear voice. A bright green light speed past Erica and hit the young girl, killing her instantly.

Erica turned back to Lucius. “You monster,” she said. He laughed before tossing a mirror into the square that Erica was stuck in. It broke into several pieces, but a majority remained.

“I think that you are the monster dear girl. Look into the mirror and tell me what you see.”

Erica walked over to the largest piece of mirror and picked it up gently. She looked, expecting to see her reflection, but instead saw nothing.

“What the hell kind of joke is this Malfoy?” she shouted throwing the piece of glass at the nearest wall.

Malfoy laughed.

“No joke dear girl, just a reminder of what you are. Remember the vampires in the woods…that pinch on your neck?”

Erica gulped when she realized what Lucius was getting at.

“No, they didn’t…”she said falling to the floor.

“Oh, but they did. They thought that you were just another girl from the village and that they could kill you. When they realized who you were they had no choice. They made you into the one thing that you dear Severus can’t stand…a vampire.”

At Snape’s name Erica’s eyes filled with tears and she felt them fall down her face. There was no way she could explain this to him. He would kill her on the spot.

“That’s right dear girl, you’ve lost everything dear to you. Your parents will never accept you, your friends you had in school won’t like you, and Severus, who I know you care for so very deeply, will kill you. The only person who wants you is me. Work for me, or remain in that box for the rest of your days.”

Lucius walked back into the darkness leaving Erica with the dead girl, who was still bleeding a little.

“By the way,” Lucius said. Erica looked up trying to fight back the tears, “I’m sure if you want I could arrange for Severus to come here if you decide that the box life is more your style. I think I would enjoy watching him kill you, no matter how much he cares.”
Erica heard a door open and close. It was then she realized that she was alone with a young girl, who was now only good for food. She let out all here tears then.

“I’m so sorry Severus,” she said through the tears.

“Severus, wake up,” someone was yelling. Snape opened his eyes to see Poppy leaning over him with fear in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” she asked concerned.

“How’s Erica?” he asked. Poppy didn’t say anything, but looked up at Dumbledore, who had walked over to the group.

“Good to see you awake,” he said with his usual twinkle. Snape sat up, despite complaints from his body and Poppy.

“What happened to Erica?” he demanded. It was then he noticed that the room was empty except for the three of them.

“Where’s Erica?”

“She fine Severus,” Dumbledore said. “What did you see?”

Snape brought a hand to his head before responding. “I saw Erica when she discovered she was a vampire. It was a mistake. She was upset and confused. Lucius did it to her. He hired vampires to bring her to him. He wanted to present her to the Dark Lord as a present. It was all confusing.”

“It is about to become even more confusing,” Dumbledore said plainly. Snape looked up into the man’s blue eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“The prophecy. The one about Harry mentioned help from the world of the dead. I didn’t think much of it at that point when I saw it, but I knew that it had to mean something. I figured it meant a spell or something, but now I think it means Erica.”

Snape stared at Dumbledore. “You know what the prophecy says?”

Dumbledore nodded. “And you haven’t informed Potter?” Dumbledore shook his head.

“No, if I were to tell Harry about the prophecy, other than what he already knows, then it could change. Harry could die, we all could.”

“What is the role Erica plays? Will she…die?”

Dumbledore shrugged. “I don’t know. It simply said that the dead would aid the Boy-Who-Lived. It wasn’t very specific on how.”

Snape nodded. “Where is she now?”

“In the Great Hall with Remus. They are taking over the lesson. Before you get angry with me, it was her idea. She figured you needed your rest after some sort of singing incident. I don’t know what she meant by that.”

Snape was livid. He stormed down to his private lab and started making some Pepper-Up potion Poppy had asked him to make. He didn’t make an appearance at dinner and Erica was the first to notice. She was sitting between Lupin and Dumbledore.

“Remus, do you know where Professor Snape is?”

Lupin laughed and Erica stared at him in confusion. “I’m sorry Erica,” he said. “It’s just that you have always called him by his first or last name, but never so formally.

“I think that he is still down in the dungeons working on some potions for Poppy,” Dumbledore said. Erica turned to him and smiled. “Thank you Headmaster, I think I will go down there and check on him. Maybe he will let me help. Besides…I don’t think I can eat this, no offence.”

Dumbledore nodded and let her leave. Erica walked out of the Great Hall and turned towards the dungeons. She was halfway there when she heard Lupin yelling for her to stop.

“Erica,” he said when he reached her, “I was wondering if you would join me for a walk on the grounds tonight. I’ll understand if you don’t want to…”

“It’s okay. I will have to think about it, I mean you being a werewolf and all,” she said with a smile. Lupin smiled back.
“Don’t worry, I think I can restrain myself,” he said jokingly.

“I’ll go on a walk with you Lupin, but he has to be a short one. Pick me up at Severus’ quarters later, around ten or something.”

Lupin smiled and nodded. Erica turned and started heading into the dungeons. Lupin was rushing off in the opposite direction, absolutely excited about the walk he was going on with Erica. He had always loved her and now he was getting another chance, and this time there was nothing Snape could do to get in the middle of it.

Erica reached Snape’s quarters easily. She knocked and waited. Within seconds the door was ripped open and a very angry Snape was standing in front of her. Erica was feeling a little intimidated, but she didn’t show it.

“Missed you at dinner,” she said. Snape leaned against the doorframe and stared at her.

“What?” she asked narrowing her eyes. Snape just continued to stare at her. They were silent for several moments before either spoke.

“How long were you under house arrest?” Snape said. Erica looked at Snape like he was nuts. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“When Lucius had you, after you became a vampire?”

Erica took a sharp intake of breath. She remembered that now. It was a memory she would choose to forget.

“What does it matter? Now are you going to let me in?”

“No, not until you answer my questions,” Snape said angrily. Erica growled at him.

“Long enough to know my worth in this world, no move. I want to relax before Lupin comes.”

“Lupin is coming? Why?” Snape said quickly. Erica wanted to get into the room, but couldn’t without pushing past Snape.

“He asked me to go for a walk with him and I agreed. What does it matter anyway? I’m single, he’s single, and I…”

“You don’t care?” Snape finished.

“At least I don’t have to worry about him killing me at the first chance,” she said. Snape glared at her.

“I haven’t tried to kill you since I discovered who you were,” he said. Erica wanted to say otherwise, but he was right. He had actually helped her, but he wanted to kill her.

“You want me dead. What does it matter to you who I go for a walk with? He is my friend and nothing more. I have only loved one person and he wants me dead, so I think I will explore other options.”

“Like werewolves?”

“At least he would understand what I’m going through, please move,” Erica said. Snape stared at her for a few seconds before stepping aside and letting her into the room.

“Thank you,” she said before heading to her room.

“Be back before midnight if you want to work on that potion that could make you human, otherwise don’t bother coming back at all,” Snape said before retreating back into his private lab. He slammed the door and turned back to his potions. He was angry, and jealous.

Even after all these years she can still wind me up.

Erica went into her room and laid down on her bed. She stared up at the ceiling and thought about what she had said to Snape.

\'He probably didn’t even catch that I was talking about him. He will never trust me like he used to, and all because of that asshole, Lucius. I swear that before this war is over, I will kill him.\'

Lupin showed up at exactly ten and Erica answered the door. They left without a word to Snape and headed out into the gardens.

“Lovely night,” Lupin said. Erica nodded. “You know what it reminds me of?” Erica looked at Lupin and shook her head.

“This,” he said. Lupin leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a nice kiss, but Erica felt nothing behind it. Lupin held her close and kissed her harder. He wanted her to loosen up, but she wasn’t. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said stepping away from her. “It’s just…”

“I know,” Erica said quietly, “and I’m sorry too, but I…”

“You still love Snape?” Erica nodded.

“I thought that it would go away with time, but it only got worse. Every day got worse, and now seeing him again, and him being mean to me because I’ve changed hurts so much, even worse than the time I was shot.”

“You were shot?” Lupin asked. Erica looked up at her old friend and laughed.

“Leave it to you to concentrate on the most insignificant detail of the story,” she said. Lupin smiled. “At least you are laughing,” he said.

Erica nodded. “Yeah, thank you for being my friend. At least you understand, kind of, what I’m going through.”

The two walked together in silence for a bit before they started talking about their school days and their old friends. It was about midnight when Erica made it back to Snape’s quarters. She opened the door and snuck in quietly.

“I was about to wonder if you were even going to show up again,” Snape said directly behind her. Erica jumped and turned.

“Don’t do that!” she almost screamed at him. “Next time I may kill you.”

Snape glared at her. “Follow me,” he said. Erica shrugged off her cloak and followed.

They entered his private lab. “I have thought of some ingredients we may use to make the potion,” he said. Erica nodded and sat on a stood near the table.

“Well, let’s get started. I’m not getting any older,” she said with a smile. Snape glared at her as they started working.

The hours passed quickly and the next thing they knew it was five in the morning.

“We should get at least a couple hours sleep,” Snape said. Erica nodded the best she could. She slide off the stool and almost hit the ground, but Snape was close enough to catch her.

“Are you alright?” he asked. Erica leaned back against him and rested her head on his chest.

“I’m fine,” she said. Snape sighed. He wrapped his arms under her knees and the other across her back.

“Where are we going?” Erica said with a yawn.

“To bed,” Snape said simply. Erica snuggled up closer to him. “Okay,” she said, “but no funny business. I’m tired.”

Snape gave her a small smile. “I wouldn’t dream about trying anything funny,” he said. Erica gave him a gently punch on the stomach. “Yeah right,” she said.

Snape reached his bedroom and placed Erica on his bed before climbing in next to her.

“I still have my daggers,” she said quietly. Snape sighed and reached for her thighs. He had seen them earlier.

The dagger was on the outside of her thighs, but the hooks holding the sheath on were on the inside of her thighs. He reached down and started undoing the hooks. Every time his fingers grazed her skin, she would giggle.

Finally he got them both off. He placed the daggers on a small side table by the bed next to his wand.

He turned back to Erica, who was watching him with sleepy eyes. “Good night Severus,” she said snuggling into his arms. Snape wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest before closing his eyes.

“Good night Erica.”