Dark Desires

Wednesday evening..





“I don’t know what to do, Harry,” Lupin said, as he and Harry remained late that night at the kitchen talking, “I don’t know what to do with her.” “Be with her,” Harry told him, sitting opposite him at the kitchen table and handing him his own mug of hot chocolate, “just be with her. Listen , I know it’s difficult for you to see her like that,” Harry said, drinking from his mug, “but you have to patient. I do really think something happened to her. I don’t want to worry you, but it’s what what it seems..but..”







“But what?” Lupin asked, holding his mug and not drinking from it, “I don’t know.. something doesn’t..Well, never mind.. it’s just that-“ “Something seems to be wrong?” Harry helped him up, looking at his eyes.





Lupin looked back at him. He could see James’ concern and Lily’s wise theories through Harry….





“I don’t know, it’s absurd,” Lupin said, “it’s just plainly absurd. I think we just have to take care of Laiza.. that’s all. She’s still in shock.. panic.. traumatized like the headmaster said..or perhaps.. I don’t know, I really don’t know, maybe or-“ “Or perhaps something is just plainly wrong.” Harry said, finishing half his mug of chocolate drink.







“What?” Lupin said, sitting straight at his chair, “What do you mean?” “I mean..” Harry began but he was hesitating. No, it just can’t be and he was only paranoid.. or something..





“Nothing,” he quickly answered, finishing his mug and standing up, “I’m sorry.. I think I’m tired, I’ll go back upstairs now.. Will you be okay here?” he said, standing up and placing his empty mug at the sink. Lupin nodded at him, “I’ll be alright, Harry.. thank you. I’ll just check on Laiza before turning in.”





“Good idea,” Harry smiled, “I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t think too much..” he said turning to the door. “Yes, that’s what the headmaster and Severus told me too.” Lupin said, smiling and standing up to.





Harry paused at the doorway. “You do love Laiza, don’t you?” he suddenly said, turning to him. Lupin looked at him for a moment then smiled, “Yes.. I am quite sure of that.. why did you ask?” “Don’t let her out of your sight,” Harry said, turning and opening the door, then facing Lupin again, “just don’t. Goodnight.”





Harry walked out of the kitchen and turned back upstairs biting his lips in stupidity. No, it wasn’t the right time to seek out his suspicious to anyone else unless he have an evidence.. and he’ll be needing a great one too….. he only hoped that he was wrong with this one like always before….









Thurdsday…..





Three past an hour that morning, Laiza woke up.. she barely had any sleep.. No, she didn’t have any decent sleep at all. She was thinking. Thinking hard, very hard.







Everytime the memories flashed across her eyes, and the dark mark visible on her skin, she wanted to kill herself.. she wanted to end her life now.. It wasn’t true. It wasn’t possible. She didn’t kill anybody and she most certainly did not want to be a Death Eater.. not ever in her life.







She wasn’t a Death Eater.. but here was the Dark Mark, burned over her skin. It was here, very much visible beneath her silk robe.. and she simply couldn’t understand what was happening..





No matter how hard she tried to think, how many times she hurt and cried to herself, she just plainly could not understand.. She was very sure she wasn’t a Death Eater and she never chose to be.. but the memory inside her head.. it was there.. and the Dark Mark on her arm..



“I can’t.. this cannot be happening..” Laiza cried to herself, as she sat on her bed, sinking hard at the end of it and thinking, “I’m not a Death Eater.. Severus is. That I am sure of. But how am I to say.. to save myself.. to save Remus..”



Throughout, she knew she had to do something. She was the only one who knew about Severus Snape, being still and always has been a Death Eater.. and it was only her words that Snape is a Death Eater..





… and right now, everyone thinks of him as a hero.. He not only found new information for the benefit of the Order but he also made sure it would look like he saved her neck…..





.. What was she supposed to do..?







Getting off the bed, Laiza decided to get out of her room or she was going to turn mad. She needed fresh air.. No, she needed someone to talk to.. No, she needed someone who would listen to her.. someone who would understand her.. But would Remus believe in her..?



Wearing her night robe, she crept barefoot out of her room and went outside. The halls of the place were quiet. It seemed like everyone else in the Order was asleep already.. and that she was the only one who was having a hard time to get to sleep..



She walked around the stairs and looked down. Nobody seemed to be awake.. but.. the fireplace.. it was still burning.. Someone left it open that evening perhaps..? Or was someone still awake..? Someone she could trust..? Or Severus..





The thought of it feared Laiza to death. She quickly looked down to see at the shadows if someone was at the living room. But no, nobody seemed to be there. Perhaps, someone just left it that night before…..







She went down quiet to the living room and looked around. Nobody was there. She sighed heavily, she was beginning to be paranoid. She was fearing Severus intensely.



Laiza decided to go to the kitchen to get something to calm and soothe her down. Opening the drawers and looking for some of the herbs that Remus usually gives her.





When she found them, she grabbed a large mug from the clean dishes and set them on the tiles and began making her tea.





"Can't sleep then, too?" said a voice at the shadows. Laiza yelped in fear and nearly knocked down her mug as she turned in surprise and fear.





Harry was sitting behind the table, liting a lamp on the wooden table and holding a large smoking mug.





"You.. you.. s-scared m-me," Laiza gasped, clutching her heart and wiping her forehead, "I didn't know you were still awake."





"Scared you?" Harry said, smiling at her, "Since when has anybody scared you?" he smiled, drinking from his mug of hot chocolate. "So, can't sleep too?"





"Yes," Laiza quietly said, mixing her tea, "sort of.. Why are you still awake?" she asked him, tasting her herbal tea and giving a disgusted look at it. How something that taste so bad be good for her health.





"I've been thinking," Harry quietly answered, his eyes on the lamp on the table, "thinking hard." "Thinking of what?" Laiza asked, taking her mug on the table and sitting opposite Harry, "What kind of thing Harry Potter is thinking that will make him awake all night and make him drink at the kitchen alone, huh?" she smiled weakly at him and grinned. Harry looked at her for a moment. His eyes lingering on Laiza's..







"Something is wrong," Harry suddenly said, his eyes not leaving Laiza's, "Something is different, Laiza.." he said.



At those words, Laiza actually choked on her tea and pretended that it was too hot. But actually, she could almost swear Harry was speaking of her..





Has he seen the Dark Mark on her forearm? Does he think now that she is the unknown Death Eater at the Order..? Or does Harry know that Severus is still the traitor..?



“I didn’t do it..” she whispered, “he’s the traitor and you’re letting him do this to me before your eyes! Remus.. headmaster.. listen to me..” she cried and cried, until Snape was able to force her mouth open and forced the potion into it.





“I didn’t do anything.. I’m not.. traitor.. he did.. he is..” Laiza whispered faintly, her sense giving away, eyes closing, energy fading..







Within a few seconds, Laiza was back into unconsiousness….and she slowly dropped on the floor in Lupin’s arms..







“What’s wrong with her?” he asked turning to the headmaster, “What is happening with her?” “I think Laiza has mild mind problems.” Snape curtly said, placing away the empty goblet, “I think she needs more than rest.”







“And that would mean, what exactly?” Lupin asked her, as he carried Lynda back to the bed, covering her with blanket.







Snape shook his head and stared at Dumbledore. “Something has been damaged with Laiza,” the headmaster said, nodding to them all, “she needs great rest and we shall provide her that.. at the moment, I shall limit people to visit her.” Dumbledore said, turning to everyone else in the room.





“I shall only allow few people to visit her. Madam Pomfrey shall tend to help her so she will stay with her,” he said, nodding to the nurse, “Remus, ofcourse you are to visit her and stay with her but only with permitted time.. We shall not want to have her around with people much because it might make more damages-“



“What do you mean make more damages? She’s not insane!” Lupin yelled angrily, standing up, “She’s not-“





“I am aware she’s not insane,” the headmaster said, “we are only taking extra caution. It will do for the best. And lastly, Severus.. you shall stay with her also..for as long as you think she needs your help. You can provide her with every medication she needs.. and I think you have the right to be worried of her..Everyone else, please go back to your rooms.”









:: "Different?" Laiza repeated, trying to look away and sound curious, "What do you mean something is wrong and something is different?" "When you arrived," Harry plainly said, gazing closely at her, "everyone was worried about you. Everyone. The headmaster and Remus knows about what happened to you, as they have shared with us what you have shared with them. But something in your story does not seem.. to match."





:: "Harry?" Laiza slowly said, forcing a smile, "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"





:: Her hands were shaking around her mug of tea. Harry knows.. the Dark Mark.. She had the burning feeling inside of her to grip her clothing tightly around her arm so Harry would not dare want to ask or see if his suspicions are true..





:: "You told Remus that you couldn't remember as much," Harry began sitting straighter on the chair and leaning closer Laiza, "but before you went unconscious.. before you were rescued, you could well remember being held captured by Malfoy, at their hiding place.. and that you have seen George before.."





:: "Yes, I did say that," Laiza honestly answered, thinking hard what was coming next..





:: "And that.. after you were knocked out.. by a Death Eater.. the next time you awoke, you are here already.. Is that correct?" "Yes," Laiza said earnestly, sitting straight too on her seat and listening closely to Harry.



:: The spark in Harry's emerald eyes told her something.. That it was not her he was being suspicious on about.. but someone else.







:: "Yes, I was knocked out by a Death Eater, at Malfoy's place..," she began nodding vigorously at him, "I could well remember that.. But the long weeks of being there I could no longer remember because of the torture they have done to me.. That's as far as I could remember. Someone knocked me out greatly that the next time I awoke, I was here already."





:: "That's good to hear," Harry said, a sudden confidence at his tone, "I'm glad you shared that clearly to me." "What's it, Harry?" Laiza asked her curiously, her eyes not leaving his now, "What is it for? What do you want to know?"





:: "Harry, please.. tell me, what do you think is-" "Snape said he found you at saved you from the hiding place of the Death Eaters," Harry stated clearly, his eyes, sparkling, his voice, with utmost silent anger, "and he also said that you ran to him. That the both of you ran out together from the house. That when he has seen you, you were wide awake. Clearly, Laiza, in his side of story, you are conscious."



:: Laiza closed her mouth. A leak in Snape's story.. a mistake he has said. Could she use it? Or was Harry meaning she was the one lying?"





:: "You mean, Harry, that-" "That something is wrong. Snape is keeping something from the Order," Harry plainly said, "I was wrong to think at first, i was thinking maybe he indeed saved you. But after that I've seen him dropped this-" he pulled out a long black ribbon from his pocket and showed it to Laiza.



:: Laiza took one look at it before Harry placed it back inside his pocket. It was a long black ribbon with engraving of a Death Eater's mark. A ribbon the Death Eaters' use for heaven-knows what kind of rituals..





:: "-I thought maybe, Snape has been doing something without the headmaster's Order. That the old Potions Master is doing something we don't know."





:: At those words, Laiza's eyes lit in surprise. the heavy feeling inside her heart suddenly lifting.. as if Harry removed a large stone from it..





:: Laiza didn't know what to do. At that very moment, she was torn between showing Harry the Dark Mark that appeared on her skin, telling him everything, or denying everything from Harry to protect Lupin..



:: She looked up at Harry but tried to avoid his eyes. "Harry, listen, I think-" "I think there is something in here Laiza," Harry said, seriously gazing at her, "there is something going on. And i would find out what it is, at the mean time, there is nothing we have talked about.. You were never here tonight, talking to me about something."







:: Laiza opened her mouth to say something. Harry understood. He wasn't suspicious about her, but about..





:: "What are you two doing here?" a cold voice came at the doorway. At the sound of it, Laiza quickly reacted by looking up and her face, sweating in fear. Snape stood at the doorway, leaning on the side of the door with his arms crossed.





:: "We were just-" "We were just having coffee," Harry quickly answered, "would you like to join us?" he asked him, showing him his mug and drinking from it.

Snape took a moment to gaze at Harry then walked forward the room.



:: "Practical time to have coffee?" he said, entering and slowly walked behind Laiza, "what good timing is it? Having some serious moment of talk?" he asked, his eyes lingering from Harry then to Laiza and it remained there.





:: Laiza looked straight down at her mug. She avoided as much to see Snape's eyes. She was sure he was not going to hesitate to use his powers towards her at this very moment, even in front of Harry.



:: "May I join the two of you?" he asked, walking behind Laiza and gripping Laiza's chair. "Actually, we're done," Harry said, draining his mug, "but if you insist, you may stay here. Laiza, you could make another mug of this for him so-"





:: "No, thank you, Potter," Snape cut short, moving away from Laiza and behind Harry so he could clearly see Laiza's pale face.





:: "I was merely wondering why the two of you are still awake," he said, his voice soft as his eyes never left Laiza, "tell me, what is up with evening coffee?" he asked sitting opposite Harry and sitting next to Laiza.





:: At this moment, Laiza quickly reacted again by standing up, "I'll just wash these," she said, standing up. But it was a wrong move. She shouldn't have done it and she knew Harry was not pleased she had done so. He gave her one look that told her not to move.





:: But at that moment too, Snape grabbed Laiza's wrist and made her to sit down.





:: "I think it is time for bed," Harry said, standing up to and ushering Laiza to do the same, "We have work tomorrow and I believe Laiza still does need more rest," he said, going the sink and taking Laiza along with him.





:: Snape stood up and stared at them both, "Kindly make me some coffee Laiza," he said as Harry made his way outside the kitchen, Laiza behind him.



:: "Laiza?" Snape repeated awaiting Laiza's response.







:: "She's going to sleep now," Harry said, gazing at Snape, "I can make it for-" "No, it's alright," Laiza said, moving back to the kitchen, "I'll follow. Goodnight Harry. I'll just make some coffe for Severus."





:: Harry stood there for a moment, not wanting to leave Laiza, then deciding it was for the best at the moment, he bid them goodnight and went upstairs.



:: Once Harry was out of sight and earshot, Laiza quickly turned to the sink to start making Snape's coffee.



:: She was halfway on making it already when she felt Snape move behind her. She pretended not to notice him, when in truth, she was already shaking in the inside.





:: When she turned, Snape was standing next to her. He was very close to her and he was holding her eyes with his.









:: "I didn't say anything to Harry," she quicklly told him, handing him the mug, "I didn't say anything." "I wasn't asking if you said anything," Snape whispered softly, "I wasn't even asking you anything..yet."





:: Laiza gave him his mug and turned away from him, "I'm going to sleep," she told him, walking away from him, "I need to get some-"



:: "You're not yet going to sleep," he told her, grabbing her wrist back to him, "you're going to stay here with me and we're going to talk." "We don't have to talk about anything," Laiza said, raising her eyesbrows at him and trying to grab her hand back from him, "there's nothing to talk about." Laiza snapped at him, grabbing her wrist back. But Snape didn't let her go.





:: Instead, He grabbed her shoulders and suddenly pulled him towards one of the seats at the kitchen and pushed her back towards it, placing his hands at either side of her to keep her from standing up. Laiza backed away from Snape as far as she could still go and avoided his eyes.





:: "Get away from me," she told him angrily looking away from him, "please.. let me go-" "I'm not going to let you go," Snape whispered at her, his eyes shinning and his. Slowly, he took his long fingers from the chair and removed the strands of hair covering Laiza's face. Laiza shivered in fear as she felt Snape's long fingers caress her cheeks.



:: "In fact.. I'm never going to let you go.." then he slowly bent forward Laiza and brushed a soft kiss right at the side of her lips. Laiza flinched but she was too slow to back away.





:: Snape then smirked at her then caressed her cheek, "Do you know that I will always make sure you'll never had a chance to tell anybody about what really happened?" he said slowly, smiling at her, "And let me tell you, don't you even think of trying to find an ally around this household, especially that Potter boy, because.." he paused for a moment then smiled at her.



:: "I could kill even him-" "Could you?" Laiza said, controlling the urge to spit at Snape's face that was so close to hers, "I doubt that. You would have been able to do that ages ago.. and you haven't. It's only a matter that you have empty words and threats and-" "And I could just slip some poison at the potion the headmaster asks of me to make to that blasted werewolf."











:: At those words, Laiza's eyes sparkled in fear and they quickly softened, almost pleading at Snape. "Good girl," he told her, patting her hair and moving away from her, "go back to sleep, Laiza. And I don't want to see you with anyone else at this time of the night. It makes me think you are doing something..untrustworthy-"



:: "You're the only untrustworthy living being in this house," Laiza snapped at him, quickly moving away from him, "and trust me, they'll figure it out soon. You're going to be dead."



:: "That's if you don't go first," Snape sniggered, walking away from her, "ofcourse, I'll make sure of that. Goodnight, Laiza darling.." he said, watching her closely and walking to the door, "thank you for the wonderful coffee."





:: The following morning, Laiza was the first to get up and she helped Mrs. Weasley prepare breakfast. And then afterwards, she insisted that she'll bring Lupin's breakfast in his room and that she'll just dine with him. Mrs. Weasley agreed to do so, and so by eight that morning, everyone else was at the dining hall having breakfast.



:: "Where's Laiza?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley once he entered the room. "Oh, she says she'll have breakfast a bit later," Mrs. Weasley answered handing Harry his platter of breakfast, "she's going to wait for REmus-"



:: "Wait for what?" Snape asked,entering the room and sitting in his own seat along the table.



:: Harry gazed up at him and noticed that it looked as if Snape didn't get any decent sleep lastnight. "Oh, Severus.. Laiza, she's just going to have breakfast later," Mrs. Weasley answered, "looks like sheisn't feeling well at all. But she says she's alright, would you like some coffee, Severus?"



:: "No thanks," Snape answered, looking around the room if Laiza was going to eat with them, "I don't drink coffee." "But I thought you do drink coffee," Harry suddenly said, smiling at him and handing him a mug of it, "remember? You asked Laiza for one, lastnight?"





:: Snape stared up at Harry with utmost hatred. He didn't know whether Harry was just being nice or was he actually trying to see something through him. "What I meant," he quickly said, looking away from Harry and smiling at Mrs. Weasley, "Is that, I don't drink coffee early in the morning. So you can take that away, Potter."



:: Harry gave him another fake smile then took the mug away and placed it at the other side of the table.



:: "Will there be any work for today?" Harry asked around the table and smiled at Ginny who just entered and made him a glass of juice, "thanks," he smiled at her, "is there any-?" "Laiza and I were given an assignment," Snape said fimrly, starting on his own breakfast, "as for you, you have no assignment."







:: Harry gave him an angry look, then smiled at him, "Then that's good," he told him, "I'm going with you and Laiza."



:: Snape's face almost turned red in anger at this, "You cannot come. It is an important task for the both of us." "I am an important person in this household," Harry reminded him, starting on slicing gravely on his sausages, "and I think i have every right to go to a mission may it be possible and I am not doing anything."



:: Snape sat back at his seat and smiled at Harry, "So, are we now gloating between ourselves what we have accomplished for the Order and we are counting along what we have done?" "Maybe," Harry said, sitting back in his seat too and staring at Snape, "perhaps so. Shall we have a count then?" "Why not," Snape said, smirking at him, "let's trace back then back at the years where the Dark Lord's powers were high and in those old days."



:: "Alright," Harry said, smirking at Snape, "but let's not count along the days when you were a Death Eater. You see, evil business is not counted amongst it."





:: These words gave away to Snape's patience. He quickly stood from the table and grab the table knife. As he did so, Harry stood at the same moment and grabbed the bread knife from the table.



:: Almost nobody sensed the heat of the arguement, although Ginny was certain enough something was going on. Mrs. Weasley merely looked at them as she was busy poring over breakfast to the others that just entered the kitchen.





:: "Will the two of you please seat down," Mrs. Weasley said, "I cannot move around the kitchen when the seats are far from the table and scattered."

The two didn't move for a moment. Both eyes were locked and their hands shaking in anger. Then Harry smiled and turned to his meal. He grabbed a napkin and grabbed some toast from the table.



:: "I'm not very hungry," he said, "I'll just have breakfast in my room while fixing my stuff. I'm going with the two of you." he told Snape and then he walked out of the room, leaving them there and Snape still standing.





:: "I have work today," Laiza told Remus as they had breakfast together in his room. Laiza made some sandwhiches that Remus was currently eating. "But I guess I'll be back early, the headmaster told me about it this morning," Laiza said, wiping some muffin off the side of Lupin's mouth.



:: "I think Harry won't be doing anything today, he could take care of you or something-" "I'd be glad if Harry goes along with you," Lupin said, smiling at her and caressing her hair, "Harry could help." "I suppose so.." Laiza said, looking down at the food and pretending to be interested with it suddenly.





:: "Laiza.." Remus whispered, wiping her cheeks, "what's wrong?" he asked her and when Laiza looked up, she could tell that as much as she tried to hide it, Remus loved her enough to know something was wrong.



:: "Nothing," Laiza replied, smiling weakly at him, "I'm alright.." "You're not," Remus told her, "something is of the matter.. What is it? What's bothering you?" he asked her, sitting straighter on the bed and smiling at her.





:: "There's nothing wrong," Laiza pressed on, making more small sandwhiches, "I'm really alright. I guess I'm just tired or something, is it showing in my eyes? Have eyebugs? I'm okay.."





:: Lupin looked at Laiza for a moment. "Not much eyebugs, but your eyes.." he whispered, leaning closer towards her, "something in your eyes tells me you are unhappy about something.. What is it Laiza? Don't you trust me?"





:: Laiza looked up at Lupin. She would have done already anything and everything for him. And that included wanting to keep him alive. And even she was dying at that moment to tell him about the secret she was keeping, she couldn't.. It will cost Lupin his life. And trusting him with all her heart with it only means killing him herself.. the look of concern and having Remus so close to her yet so far..was almost reaping the life out of her.. it was killing her softly..

:: "Remus.." Laiza sighed, almost sounding as if she grieved every word she tells him, "please.. There is nothing of the matter, okay?" she told him and she pushed away the tray and sat next to Lupin, "Everything is alright. Harry is always with me, you don't have to worry. Get well soon and then we can work again together.. okay?" "Alright..but Laiza-"



:: Before Lupin could say anything else, Laiza gave him one grieving look and she suddenly leaned towards him and kissed him.



:: Locked with one another, the door slowly opened and they didn't hear Snape enter the room and he stood there, watching Lupin and Laiza. His fists curled at the side at the sight of it. The sound of it even killed him.



:: His fists curled at the side at the sight of it. The sound of it even killed him.





:: Before he could not stop himself from lounging forward, he moved and made a sound by pointing his wand quietly at the tray on Lupin's bed and made the mug fell on the floor and shatter into pieces.



:: Laiza bent down and picked it up and Remus saw Snape at the doorway. "Severus!" he greeted happily looking over Laiza, "Come in, come in..i was only having some breakfast.."





:: "I could see that," Snape pointed out, walking forward and halting few inches from where Laiza's was crawled on the floor, picking up the shattered glass, "how does breakfast taste?" he asked, his eyes on Laiza who slowly looked up at him and could almost swear she understoo exactly what he was really asking about.



:: "It's great," Lupin answered, fixing the side sheets of his bed, "it was really good..great taste.." "I could bet.." Snape silkily said, bending forward and helping Laiza wih the pieces of glass, "and I could not wait to taste it myself.."





:: Laiza's eyes were burning in anger and she stared at Snape who was smiling widely at her. In her anger, she accidentally, wounded herself with one of the pieces. Lupin was busy enough with the sheets of his bed to notice Snape grabbing Laiza's hand and caressing it to heal it.....



:: "Shall we go then?" he asked, standing up and smiling at Lupin, "We are going to be late." "We're still waiting for Harry," Laiza said clearing away the glass pieces, "Harry will come with us, Remus.." she gladly told LUpin so Snape will have no time to argue about it. After all, Remus wanted Harry to come along. Of all people he would entrust Laiza with, it was Harry....



:: "That's good to hear," Lupin smiled, giving Laiza a goodbye-kiss on the lips as she went forward, "I'm looking forward to seeing you this afternoon, Laiza. Do take care alright?"



:: "The journey might take two days or so," Snape said walking to door, "or more.. but you haven't got to worry, Lupin.." he said as he let Laiza out of the door first, "because I shall take care of Laiza.. I've got her covered under my skin."









:: Downstairs three bags were pack already, for Harry, for Laiza and for Snape. They held them at their backs and Laiza and Harry bid everyone goodbye for the journey while Snape already went outside to check the map they needed.





:: "Do take care of her, Harry," Ginny told Harry giving him a kiss on the cheek, "and when you get back we'll play more of the wizard chess game like before." "Yes, Ginny," Harry nodded and smiled at her, "I'll take care of Laiza, don't worry." Harry said and bid them goodbye and followed Snape outside.





:: "Mrs. Weasley-" "You don't have to worry about Remus," she told him, hugging her tightly and handing her a pack of bread, "do take care of yourself, dear. I'll take care of Remus. Get back home quick and safe, okay?"





:: Laiza nodded and bid her a tight goodbye embrace, "I will. I'll take care of Harry.." "Harry could take care of himself," Mrs. Weasley said, "I could see that already. You let him take care of you. Trust your life with Harry Potter, Laiza..trust in him."









:: Afterwards, they left the headquarters and headed downtown. Their destination was down some alley way, places where it was likely they'll still get survivors or anything good for the Order like food or other supplies.



:: The day began by them walking around the dead-cry city already. Neither of them spoke any word. Severus walked behind them and Laiza and Harry barely had a chance to talk to one another, although they tried to steal glances from one another too whenever Severus didn't seem to be paying attention at all, but it was hardly something that happened.



:: Harry led their way and when they went down hills into villages, they barely got any. They got food and other medical supplies, but other than that, no one else was much of a help nor was willing to help with the Order. Everyone was already scared as they were.



:: When lunch time came around, the snow was drifting down hard towards them. They did a stop over into a village that reminded Harry so much of Diagon Alley only that when it was after it has been attacked by the Death Eaters.. it was hardly a good place, but it was the best place they could find to eat something and sleep.



:: "We're going to spend the night here," Harry told the two of them as they entered the dingy warm-looking inn and restaurant as the snow hammered outside, "we're not going to last to the next village with this weather. Laiza, let's get something to eat.." he said, placing over their bags at a corner at the table where Severus sat already and began reading a map.



:: Laiza nodded and placed her bag next to Harry and they walked around the restaurant to try and look for something to eat. The restaurant held not so many people, but they looked like they barely sold anything else anyway.



:: The people were all under cloaks, drinking everything that was hot and eating everything that was grilled only because there hardly were kitchen stuff around the restaurant. It looked indeed like the best place they could find.





:: "What do you want to eat?" Harry asked Laiza as they looked around the counter with display or warm breads of different sizes. "I'm not really hungry," Laiza said, holding her hands together, "I'm really not-" "Look, Laiza.." Harry whispered glancing at Severus at the other corner of the place who was still emerged into reading the map.



:: "You better eat something.. anything.. even if you're not hungry. I can't have you losing your energy, alright? If i needed you to run, you would run-" "Run? But harry-" "I'm not stupid, Laiza," Harry said, "I've known Snape for a long time now.. and i know there's something going on between you. Just listen to me. Just trust me.."



:: Laiza stared up at Harry. He looked at her.. the kindest way he could do.. he was so much like a brother to him.. and REmus was right to tell her to trust him..



:: "Remus did say I could trust you," she told him, her eyes shinning, "and I would." "Great," Harry said, smiling at her, "we only need to do this for the time being.. we'll find a way around it."



:: "Just trust me, alright? You have to keep yoru energy and we have to be bother alert at all times. We can't have him suspecting anything.. or knowing something we know something.. We'll talk about it more when he's away, alright? Tonight, you stay with me, is that alright with you?" he asked her, as he started whispereing down his words and started ordering their food.



:: "Anything is better than to be with Severus," Laiza whispered, lowering her face, "I was just about to ask you that if i could stay with you tonight. Thank you so much Harry.. i can pay you back someday too.." "You dont' have to," Harry said.



:: "You're the one my granted father chose to love.. and i would take care of you when he's not anywhere around.. We'd take care of you.." then he took the tray of food and ushered them back in their seats at the corner.





:: Severus was reading something when they returned to their table. He quickly shoved away the map they were using and cleared the table when they laid the food there.



:: "What's that?" he asked them, pointing at the tray. "Our food," Harry simply said, "if you want something to eat, just look around their stock.. there isn't much food, but this is better than eating nothing. We can't afford to go hungry for days if ever we get stranded around town."



:: "You're scared to get stranded? Lazing and lacking back again, Potter?" Snape snapped at him, placing away the map and sitting back at the chair. Harry stared at him but ignored him as he handed Laiza the hot soup he ordered for them.



:: "I'm going to see their available room for tonight." he said and then stood from the table and took his cloak with him. Neither of them said anything else as Severus left the table. When they were sure he was out of earshot, they went on ranting about what they're going to do.



:: "There must be something he has to do.. but what is it.." Harry wondered, munching on the hot bread he got from the counter, "there must be some secret he has to do or something.. don't you have any idea?" "No, i can't think of anything.." Laiza lied quickly.



:: She barely had an appetite even though harry clearly said she should eat something. she couldn't take her mind off Harry and Snape.. shoudl she tell Harry about the Dark mark in her arm..? woudl he believe in her? he must.. or nobody will be believing in her.. but.. how it happened.. she will not be able to tell.. but Harry has to know.. before Severus gets the chance to tell anyone else about it....



:: After about an hour or so, they stood up from the table and Severus returned to them.



:: "There's only one room available tonight," he told them, taking his things from the chair, "and there's going to be another one tomorrow evening. But tonight, we'll be staying here and until the weather calms down. We also need someone to watch out who can stay and sleep at the lobby. Laiza and I will take the room for tonight and you can take the other room that will be free tomorrow night." he announced and he took his bag from the chair and Laiza's belongings.





:: That night, Laiza was still fast asleep since afternoon. For the rest of the afternoon, she slept while Harry stayed at the room watching over her and poring over some notes that they needed to study for the Order’s assignment. She didn’t ask, but she was glad Snape was nowhere in sight for the rest of the afternoon. Wherever he was, she didn’t care.





:: As long as she was more than twenty feet away from her, she didn’t care at all. Harry neither did ask Laiza about anything at all. It seemed that he understood what was seemingly going on, and wanted Laiza to take a good rest first before her asking her anything at all. He knew that Laiza was no longer comfortable around Severus nor talking about him, so he didn’t bother anymore.



:: Around half past dinner time that night, Laiza awoke in the one room flat they managed to get. The room was small and cozy, it was one room with a dividing for a smaller room where a small old end table, old wardrobe, clothes rack and a two-room small bed was; the other side of the room was where a four-chaired tabled was set, with a little kitchen sink and small room to place their things and prepare for food and a bathroom door at the other end of the room.





:: It wasn’t exactly a good room, but it was clean enough for them and comfortable enough with a small, dusty fireplace at the other side of the small kitchen.



:: Laiza was woken by the heat and smell of good food being cooked in the kitchen. She looked at the window and saw that it was already dark outside and the room was lit with the small lamp in the end table. She sat on the bed and looked around to see that the other side of the floor, Harry placed a mattress, pillow and blanket for himself.





:: She took the robe from the end of the bed that Harry placed and walked around the small room. It was a little uncomfortable since there was barely any room anymore to walk around. From the window, she couldn’t see anything else because it was quite dark, but it seemed that the view here at the morning was a side-street murky market.





:: She smiled at the smell of whatever it was being made at the kitchen. Atlast, they seemed to have good food. For thinking for almost ages, she seemed to have finally got the condition that she was hungry indeed.



:: Walked out to the other side of the room, she was greeted by the sight of the small wooden table set for dinner.



:: “Laiza..” Harry greeted at the sight of her, “Come, have a seat already.. Let’s have some dinner. Hungry?” “It smells good,” Laiza commented, taking the chair Harry pulled for him as he walked around the table to grab a platter he filled with mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and some steak.





:: “I am now,” she said excitedly at the sight of food, “I didn’t know you knew how to cook.” “Ah, well..” Harry said, reddening on the face.



:: “I lived with the Weasleys for quite some time too.. and I had some help around the kitchen for Mrs. Weasley… kinda saw how she does stuff.. Great thing there’s a market downstairs at the back of this inn,” he said, placing food on his own plate, “did you see it?” “Yes,” Laiza said, sipping on the mushroom soup Harry placed before her.



:: “It overlooks the window in the room.” Laiza answered, standing up and grabbing two glasses from the sink and placing it on the table. Harry placed the rest of the food on the table and sat opposite Laiza.





:: For quite some time, they ate in silence and had some laughs, not until Harry brought up the topic Laiza was dreading to talk about.





:: “You have got to trust me, Laiza,” Harry said seriously, looking before her, “you’ve got to.”

Laiza’s appetite on her half-finished steak finally gave away. She didn’t feel like eating anymore.



:: She wanted to sleep again, but she was no longer. She wanted to trust Harry, right now.. she wanted to show him the Dark Mark that ******* placed over her.. but.. would he believe in her..?



:: “Harry, listen to me..” she breathed in, moving closer forward the table, “there are things.. better..left..unsaid.. I can’t..it’s too much.. it will be too much-“ “Too much it is that Voldemort is winning,” Harry whispered.



:: “I know and I could tell some things are going on. The Order’s missions and all these assignments..something is always going wrong with them.. do you understand..? Because I do, I really do. Someone in the Order is not being honest with the rest of us. And I think I know who.. Now, I want you to tell me if I am right or-“ “And what are you going to do?” Laiza hissed at him, her eyes shinning in anxiety.



:: “What..Harry.." she breathed heavily,"What..Exactly are you going to do Harry if I tell you what I know? If I tell you that you’re right or wrong? Can you do anything – something -? You can’t – no one can’t-“





:: “You can!” Harry said, placing aside his plate and leaning forward the table, “you can help me.. we can do this. I can do something.. I know I can but you have got to help me, Laiza.. you have to. Think about Remus.. you love Remus, don’t you? Think about him and all that could be if you tell me-“



:: “If I tell you..” Laiza breathed angrily, standing up from the table and leaning forward Harry, “If I tell you exactly..everything that I know.. It would be as if I never loved Remus.. it would be like I never thought about him.. It would be like..I murdered him myself..” she cried at him, tears began filling down her cheeks, her hands shaking in anger on the table.





:: Laiza didn't dare say anything else.. she remained as quiet as she could. She isn't ready yet to tell Harry everything although her nerves were already all dying to tell Harry..



:: "YOu have got to trust me," Harry whispered, looking away from her and sounding very serious, "there's no one else you can trust. ANd it's better if all those who trust in me and trust the whole Order would speak of what they know of before it's all too late."



:: Then Harry stood from the table and moved away from Laiza, obviously, desperate to make her speak.



:: Laiza looked down at her food, suddenly, her appetite was all lost. What Harry spoke about was the truth, and unless she keep her silence, Remus.. what would happen to him..





:: "I can't tell you everything," Laiza suddenly whispered, "but there is an informationt the Dark Lord is seeking.."



:: Harry paused in his tracks and pretended to just stand there few feet from her, listening intensely to her.



:: "He seeks for a new power he knows he could use very well against us all. Not only for the Order, but for the whole world. We all know he plans to dominate and lord over everything.. I don't know what exactly he would do, but I know his Death Eaters is now trying their best to find what he is seeking.."



:: Harry was silent for a long moment. The both of them remained silent.



:: "What does it have to do with you?" Harry slowly asked, still not looking to her, "Why you?" "Because.." Laiza paused for a moment, tears holding in her eyes, this was exactly what Snape was only waiting for her to do...... she could only hope he was nowhere anywhere near them now.....





:: "Why Laiza-" "Because he thinks I have the kind of power that will unseal whatever he is looking for.."



:: "Because you're half a sylph.." Harry slowly said, finally turning to her and staring into Laiza's coloured eyes, "because you're a sylph.. that is it, isn't it?" he asked eagerly, "you are the one they're after? You.. you have got to be kept.. the Dark Lord will kill you.. get from you whatever you are hiding-" "I'm not keeping anything!" Laiza suddenly said, standing up and backing away as far away from Harry, her eyes suddenly streaming with tears and full of fear, "I'm not hiding-" "No," Harry said, "you're a sylph, i know what Sylphs are.. there is something - power in you - in you that Dark Lord wants.. but what.. No, which one.." he stared into her eyes, Harry's emerald eyes unknowing how to look at Laiza..





:: Laiza opened her mouth to say something, when they suddenly heard Snape's arrival at the other room. Harry quickly moved away from Laiza and pretended he was doing something at the sink and Laiza pretended she dropped someting underneath the floor.. her hands and face, still shaking in fear.



:: Few moments, Snape came into view. He was wearing a traveling cloak and then he handed Harry a note.



:: "Go and get these out at the market," he ordered him, almost throwing the piece of paper at his face, "we need those things for some.. experiments. Potions ingredients those are, get them.. Now."



:: Harry stared at the list for a moment then stared back at Snape, "I'll get them first thing in the morning." he said, pocketing the list.



:: Snape gave him an angry stare, "Those are important. Vital. I have to make them tonight, go and get them." "Then.. why don't you get them yourselves?" Harry asked, trying to sound innocent, although his insides were already burning.



:: There came some silence. "Fetch these," Snape said again, pulling a chair and sitting there quietly, "those will heal the wounds of the Order members. We have to send those at once."



:: Harry didn't move at first, then gave him an angry look and took his cloak from the table, "Come on, Laiza, let's get these-" "Laiza is staying here." Snape simply said and Laiza's eyes quickly shot to her in plea, "She's going to help me with something-" "Laiza's coming with me," Harry said, walking next to Laiza and pulling her hand.



:: "Fine," Snape said, "Laiza won't do her job with me, fine then. I was just about to tell her some things about.. Lupin."



:: There was some silence. Great silence. Laiza was torn between wanting badly to stay with Harry and then knowing how Lupin's condition is.



:: Snape sat quietly there, waiting for Laiza's decision. When he suddenly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it on the table.



:: THe moment Laiza saw there was blood marks on the handkerchief, she quickly grabbed it from Snape's hand and revolted at Snape, "What's this? What happened to Remus?!" she asked, forcing him to face her, eyes widening.



:: Snape sat quietly. "Go and fetch the ingredients with Harry," he said sarcastically, "maybe..I'll tell later.. maybe." then he looked up at her, his eyes shinning maliciously, giving Laiza an insulting and daring stare..









:: Laiza stared angrily at Snape with shaking hands. Her anger was beyond anger..



:: "The more time you waste on staring at me like that Potter, the more blood is being lost from the Order members I still have to heal at the other side of this country.. So go on and waste time.." Snape muttered, shaking his head and staring at Laiza..



:: There came another silence then Laiza gulped in the bad words she was about to tell Snape, "I can manage here, Harry," she slowly said, still holding the bloody handkerchief, "we'll be fine here. I would be. Severus is here, after all.. an Order member."



:: Harry opened his mouth to protest even more, but Snape cannot have the chance to know he already know something.. Some chances they have to take, and some chances are just not worth taking.. not yet, anyway.



:: Without another word, he took his traveling cloak, nodded at Laiza and secretly signalled her that there are some potions she may use against Snape he secretly kept behind hid stuff at the other room.



:: Then, Harry went out and from the spot where it was clear, he Apparated towards the other end of the town.



:: Once they were alone, Laiza's insides came shattering. She was dead scared. Now there certainly was NO HARRY POTTER to save her.. nobody else there to save her for whatever would come..



:: "Where..is.. Remus.." Laiza slowly said, her hand shaking, as she stared at Snape..



:: Snape was silent. He merely stared at her, giving her an insulting and amusing kind of stare..



:: "Where is Remus?" Laiza patiently asked again, this time, walking closer towards Snape.



:: Snape shook his head and then slowly stood up, his black shoes echoing down the wooden floor. He walked slowly around the room and stopped behind Laiza..



:: Laiza stood there, with batted breath, her hands, shaking both in anger and in fear..









:: Laiza stood there, shaking in fear.. She could feel Snape's breathe behind her neck and his hands slowly reaching out on her shoulders..



:: "Tell me, Laiza.." he slowly whispered, sneering behind her, "tell me exactly.. what will you do if I tell you what happened to Rem-" "Tell me where he is.." Laiza muttered, shaking in anger, "or I swear-" "You swear what?" Snape countered, "you swear what exactly Lai-"



:: Before they both knew it, there was a hard and loud struggle from one another and one second later, Laiza lie flat, face-down on the table and Snape holding both her hands behind her own back and his other hand with a wand around her neck..



:: "Give me a good reason," Snape said, "give me a good reason Elaiza Raines.." "I'm going to kill you," Laiza said, struggling against his grip, "you monster.. what did you do to Remus.." "That werewolf is no longer coming back," Snape breathed out, sneering at her, "you know why? You see this?" he showed her again the blooded clothing.





:: "Do you see this? You know what happened? He was wounded.. oh no, he was badly.. deadly wounded at the last battle when we left.. Oh yes, Death Eaters scattered around the town he was guarding.." Snape gave a loud breathe of laughter as Laiza's tears began spilling from her face, "And you know what else? Your beloved werewolf tried to become a hero.. and died trying to save the whole town-" "He's not dead!" Laiza yelled, trying to push him away from her, "HE'S NOT DEAD!"





:: Snape continued to sneer behind her, ignoring Laiza's struggles.



:: "Exactly the reason why the Dark Lord wants you," he whispered softly, bending closer her, "and exactly why everyone wants you.." "You blasted-" "Did you know that if you just told me and gave me what i needed from you from the beginning, this would not have-GONE-THIS-FAR!" he yelled at her, suddenly pulling the strands of Laiza's hair and making her scream out loud.



:: Hard rain started pouring outside and no matter how much scream Laiza would do for the rest of the night, nobody.. no one.. would ever hear her.



:: "I'm not giving up," Laiza said, "whether Remus is dead or not.. I'm not giving up and I certainly am not giving up whatever it is you want.."



:: Snape grabbed her hair harder and forced her to look at him, the tip of his want edging closer Laiza's throat he was also struggling to choke.



:: "Your Remus is gone.." he softly said, his eyes, slowly concentrating into her own, to see through her, "and certainly.. if you just give me what I have to know, you will not have to go through the same thing he's gone.. through.."



:: Laiza's eyes started filling with tears, only she could imagine what Remus must have really gone through if Snape was telling the truth..



:: "I can spare you, Laiza," he offered, his voice suddenly gentle, "the moment the Dark Lord saw you.. he knew what you are.. what you have and what you are capable of.. So i can personally tell you that he is most fond of you.. and given the chance you comply with our requests.. he shall.. spare you.." his lips touched Laiza's ears as he whispered the last two words.





:: Laiza felt cold shiver around her as Snape's lips touched her skin.. images flashed across her eyes.. images from her childhood.. it was as if.. almost as if.. that kiss.. She has been through before..



:: "I don't care," Laiza said, her hand still trying to push him away, "I don't care if he's fond of me-" "Don't you understand?!" Snape yelled again, "I-HAVE-THE-POWER-TO-SAVE-YOUR-LIFE!" he yelled shaking her head until Laiza could almost see everything around her spinning, "I COULD JUST DO THAT! IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE ME THAT **** STUPID INFORMATION THAT WE NEED! THEN ALL THIS WOULD BE OVER! ALL THESE **** WE ALL ARE IN WOULD BE OVER!"



:: There came a silence for which Snape could only hear the loud raindrops and Laiza's unstoppable sobbing..



:: He slowly got away from her and took his wand away from her through and pushed her towards the nearest couch where Laiza hit the floor, sobbing and crying, clutching her neck Snape merely tried to break..



:: He walked before her, his footsteps echoicing.. his wand in his want twirling..



:: "If you would not be stupid and pathetic enough-" "If Remus is gone.." Laiza choked out, slowly staring up at him with her wet and sweaty face, "then there is nothing to talk about."



:: Snape stared at her for a moment then without warning, he went on the floor next to her and grabbed her hair again, pulled it behind her, "What..did..you..just..say.." he whispered, his wand at the ready.



:: "You took the most important thing for me," Laiza bravely said, smiling at him, her eyes full of anger, "then I'll make sure you'll never have the most important thing towards you and your Dark Lord.. making sure, this battle will never end as it already is." "You're going to make things harder for you," Snape warned, sneering at her, his black eyes shinning maliciously, "you are just-" "Remus is gone.." Laiza said, "all that I live and all that I am fighting for.. So there is no point going on, is there? And certainly.. you will never have what you want.." "The Dark Lord shall not spare your life if that's the case." Snape went on, sneering still at her.



:: Laiza suddenly laughed at his face and Snape, hearing is.. was suddenly alarmed by the look Laiza was giving him.



:: "No Remus.." Laiza whispered, tears falling from her eyes to say those words, "then there is..no memory. No more bargain." "What the-" "Kill me now," Laiza whispered, grabbing his hand with the wand and edging it towards her own neck, "say the Unforgivable Curse, Severus.. say it. Don't tell me you have no nerve-" "I can do it right here and now, if only there is no-" "No more bargain, like I have said. There is nothing more you can take from me. Nothing more." Laiza stared deep into his eyes, insulting, challenging him, "I have got nothing, you hear me? I have got absolutely nothing to lose anymore. You can now kill me, then your dear Dark Lord shall never have what he needs.. never. We all lose at the end. Kill me, I've got nothing to lose anymore. I'll bring to my grave whatever it is you want from me. You'll never have it your way even at the end of all this war.. If I lost my end of the bargain, then so shall you..We shall all endure **** as it already is. So then..****..be..it. "





:: Laiza closed her eyes, prepared for Snape if he would strike.. Wishing she would merely be with Remus right now.. wherever he was..



:: She no longer care what happened to her, Harry atleast, knows everything.. who the traitor is and how they are going to deal with it.. Atleast, Harry still knows.. Harry knows..



:: With a horrifying scream of anger, Snape grabbed Laiza rigidly by her arm and threw her away from him, his wand shaking in his hand.





:: “You-“ he said, unable to say something pointing the wand at Laiza, his mouth twitching, “I don’t know what you – you – you will stay here – you will rot in this room –“ then without another word, he quickly went out of the room and locked it from the outside and went downstairs.







:: Laiza was left, crying, shocked, her hand rubbing around her painful neck. She didn’t get what just happened.. but it seemed, to her, that she was that important to the Dark Lord.. that at the verge of Snape’s anger, at the line of her death, she managed to escape..



:: Because Snape couldn’t kill her..





:: “Snape can’t kill me..but.. why..” Laiza whispered, sitting on the molten bed next to the window in the inn.



:: She couldn’t possibly get out of the room since earlier, since Snape locked her in there and nobody was checking on her. It seemed, everyone thought nobody was in that room, and it too seemed, Snape placed a Silencing Charm around the room.



:: Harry was still nowhere in sight and that made Laiza feel uneasy. But, the fact, occurring to her, and sinking in her that Snape can’t seem to kill her.. made her feel.. secure somehow.





:: She knew, the way Snape stared at her earlier, he was ready and more than willing to kill her already.. but something, stopped him..



:: “But what?” she asked herself, looking at the dark graying sky, “Why can’t he kill me.. I know he can.. there’s no doubt in that.. but.. Something’s not quite right..” she thought to herself looking outside.











:: It seemed hours as it was, and still Harry didn’t came home. She was beginning to get worried about him.





:: It wasn’t until past ten that night that a sound came from outside the room. The door was unlocking and soon enough, an elf entered carrying a tray of dinner for her from an order downstairs.





:: “Hey wait..” Laiza quickly called, walking towards the door and she was about to launch outside but the elf suddenly raised a long hand towards her and she blasted backward.







:: “What the ****-“ “I’m sorry, Miss,” the old elf said, “but someone from downstairs ordered that you remain here you might spread your fever-“ “Fever?” Laiza incredibly said, “What fever? I have no fever! Do I look like I have-“ she stopped realizing who it must have been. Whose orders it must have been..







:: “Oh great..” she said, staring down on the tray of food, “pathetic..stupid.. Where’s Snape?” she asked the elf who was setting her food on the small table at the other side of the room, “Where’s that stupid pathetic-“





:: “Your dearest is at work and he ordered us to take care of you while he is at work, we ask that you stay here or we shall suffer the consequences..”



:: “Oh really?” Laiza said, crossing her arms, “Tell you what.. I have no fever, just let me out of here, please..” Laiza pleaded looking at the elf.



:: The elf shook his head towards her, “Nobody could fool us,” he said bowing to her, “I am sorry miss.” “Yeah, I know..” Laiza said sarcastically, “Only Snape could fool you around.. I’m going to kill him when he returns..Did he say when he shall return?” Laiza asked, her eyes widening,





:: “Or even Harry? Harry Potter? Is there any mail for me whatsoever? Anything?!” Laiza said, the elf only shook his head and quickly went out of the door, locking it again.







:: “Great..” she said, staring angrily at the food tray, “just great. I’m going to kill Snape when he returns.. No mails.. no anything..”





:: Laiza was at the verge of throwing the tray already when suddenly, she saw couple of table napkins around them..





:: Quickly, without thinking twice she took them and quickly hid them at the drawer, surely..



:: If there is nobody seeking for her or planning to help her.. She was going to do the planning of getting out and seeking help by herself..





:: Past midnight it already was, everything seemed silent and Laiza was already in deep sleep, when she was awoken by sudden movements. She could feel someone moving around the room with her.





:: Alarmed, she silently moved around the bed to see what was going on, but she couldn’t see anything. There was complete darkness.





:: Slowly, she grabbed the knife she has taken from the tray earlier that she hid beneath her pillow and ready to strike..





:: Looking around her, she could see a silhoutte of someone across the room. Slowly moving, she got off the bed to see if it was neither Harry nor Remus.. She was praying that one was either. Or else, she’ll have to deal with using that knife towards Snape.. and in the process, be a murderer and run for her life now..







:: Just as she was few feet away from the shadow, she quickly turned and suddenly, there was nobody in there.





:: Breathing fast, she stayed alarmed, barefoot standing in the middle of the room, holding the knife in her hand.







:: “What the ****..” “Too much **** for the day is enough..” whispered a cold voice next to her. Laiza turned and Snape suddenly grabbed both her hands and pushed her towards to the bed. Laiza dropped the knife in her hand and again, she was left vulnerable.







:: “You evil, moron.. Get..off..me..” Laiza yelled, but Snape quickly placed his hands around her mouth. Laiza suddenly felt and sensed something. Snape..smelled.. well, different.





:: Realizing Snape was drunken, Laiza quickly had the thought on what was going to happen next. With all her might and with fear, she quickly pushed him away and run far across the room away from him.





:: “There’s nowhere to go, Laiza..” Snape laughed, taking his wand from his pocket, “We can do this the easy way..” he blasted one of the lamps in the room with his wand as it missed Laiza, “or the hard way..” “Never in your dreams, you stupid perve-aah!” Laiza screamed and ducked.





:: Quickly grabbing her coat from the chair at the other side of the room, she threw everything she could reach towards Snape to block him from catching her and stopping her for getting into the door.







:: Just as she reached the door, she wrenched it open quickly and ran across the hallway. It seemed like there was no light anywhere.. She could hear Snape’s screams of anger calling her back as she ran barefoot, feeling her way around the inn.



:: “NO WAY TO RUN LAIZA!” she heard Snape scream, running after her.





:: Laiza felt the rail of the stairs, and unknowing where she was stepping, she merely forced her way downstairs, nearly knocking herself out. When she missed a few steps, she quickly slid straight towards the floor until a pair of hands caught her.







:: She was to scream but the hand came over her mouth, “Don’t scream..” whispered a gentle voice, “We can deal with this.. But you’ve got to calm down right now-“



:: “Who are – Harry!” Laiza mouth, quickly flinging her arms around Harry and nodding to him, “You have got to act like we’ve talk about like nothing, please.. I think I know what we can do now..”



:: “Have you seen Remus? Is he alive? Is he alright-?” “We can talk about that later,” Harry said, “Right now.. we have got to-“ “Elaiza Raines!” they both heard Snape yell, “LUMOS!” the room went lit and Snape was standing at the middle of the stairs, looking shaken, but alert, his wand at the ready.





:: Laiza was on the ground next to Harry who just arrived in his traveling cloak and was soaking wet in the rain.





:: “Potter!” Snape said in great surprise, trying to suppress anger, “What are you doing here?” “I’ve just arrived,” Harry said, straightening up, “and I’m glad to find you guys are still okay here. What are you guys doing? Why is Laiza here downstairs?”



:: “She was..” Snape paused, eyeing Laiza angrily as he walked down the stairs, “She was sleepwalking. I was trying to find her. Isn’t that so, Laiza?” he asked, walking and stopping next to her. He extended a hand for Laiza to take.





:: Laiza eyed him angrily, her heartbeat still fast as she extended her hand that Snape quickly took and grabbed firmly. Laiza flinch in pain but she forced a smile as she limped over towards Harry. She had injured her ankle a little for flying down the stairs.





:: “Good you’re in a traveling cloak,” Harry commented towards Laiza, “we’re going now.”



:: “Going?” “Going? Where?” Snape asked, quickly walking forward, “What do you mean we’re going-“ “We’re returning at the Order,” Harry said confidently, his eyes at Laiza, “There are things we have to take care of. We’re all going back tonight.”





:: The next thing Snape knew, he was standing wordlessly, watching Harry and Laiza pack everything around them. Laiza was quiet, but was packing as fast as Harry was doing, who was speaking nonstop about what they were ordered to do next.



:: Snape found no reason or anything to say against everything Harry was saying.. Given he would say something against all of it, he was going to be busted with everything too. So he merely stood there, watching with glinting eyes towards Harry and Laiza..





:: When Harry went downstairs to bring the bags and wait for their company to fetch them, Snape wasted no chance from harassing Laiza. Laiza was on the floor, packing her other things when Snape suddenly grabbed her arm, "What's going on?" he asked, evident fear in his eyes.



:: "What is all these? What do you know-" "I don't know anything," Laiza quickly said, grabbing her arm back, having a bit more courage now that Harry was just few steps down from where they were, "I don't know what's going on, okay? I haven't got any idea-" "If I find out that you have been-"



:: "I have not been doing anything untrustworthy, if that's what you mean," Laiza said, her eyes shinning angrily at him, "it doesn't matter to me anymore whatever *** that you do.. I don't care. If they're going to catch you, they are going to."







"Are you being brave now that Potter is around?" Snape asked, trying to grab her again, but she quickly backed away from him, "Are you being brave now that you know we're getting out of here? Wrong, Laiza.. Wherever you are, I would be there to watch you.. think about that.." he went on, standing over her.



:: "Do you really think that this is the end of all this?" "No," Laiza said, standing up and staring straight at him, "I know this isn't. This is only the beginning of everything. And trust me," she whispered, her hand shaking at her sides, "the ending..," she paused for a moment, anger very visible in her face, "it'll be the end of you."



:: Then she swung her bag around her shoulders and quickly walked passed him out of the room.







:: When Laiza was at the door already with her bag and in her Muggle traveling cloaks, she was up and ready.



:: "You okay?" Harry whispered, taking a glance up the corridor, "You were alright when I was away, were you?" he asked concernedly, caressing her cheek that he noticed had some sort of mark on it.



:: "I'm fine," Laiza said, brushing her cheek bone too, "I'm okay.. and I'm going to be. Let's go back to the Order," she said, her eyes hopeful at Harry, "Remus is okay, isn't he?"





:: "Yeah," Harry nodded quietly, "he's.. he's alright.." he said, quickly smiling at her, "Uhm.. Well, he's.. well, you'll get to see him when we return-" "There isn't anything wrong, is there?" Laiza asked, seeing some sort of tensed look in Harry's face, "I mean, he's really alright..right.." "Yeah," Harry said, forcing another smile, "come on, you don't have to worry about a thing.. You'll be seeing him in several hours' time.. okay?"



:: "Yeah," Laiza said, smiling too, "and i'm excited to see him again.. I really miss Remus now.." "He misses you so much too," Harry said, "but right now, we've got to sacrifice this time.. You'll see him in a few hours' time.." "That's right Harry, i'll just count on that.. Oh, where are we going from here anyway?"



:: "They gave me orders," Harry replied, lowering his voice, "We'll be traveling on a different route, just in case.. Well, i haven't told Snape which one.. just to make sure, then from there.. I will drop you off to the Order and we'll head somewhere else-" "You'll leave me to the Order? But.. you're alone.. and you're with.." "It doesn't matter," Harry replied, "i can protect myself."







:: "Are you sure with this, Harry?" laiza said, nervous about their plan, "I really don't trust him being with you.." "There would be other guards," Harry assured her, "The important thing is that we have to get you away from him.. That's what i was ordered to really do.."



:: Laiza didn't say anything else. So that's the whole plan of this, this wasn't exactly the plan, but more of a plan to take her away from Snape..



:: "Does everyone in the Order know?" she asked Harry, "Do they-" "I haven't told who it is," Harry said, "it's too dangerous.. We're not sure if he's the only one in the Order anyway.." Harry whispered back, "But Remus, I think.. he already senses it.. That's why he completely agreed that I will bring you back alone for safety and so that it won't look anything suspicious.."



:: "I'm pretty dead scared of him Harry," laiza said, "of what he may do to REmus.. WE're running out of time, they want it already.."



:: There was silence, until harry realized what Laiza last said, "They what?" he asked again, "Laiza.. tell me exactly, what is it they want anyway..?"







:: "I miss Remus so much," Laiza went on as she placed her bag behind her, "and i really wanna see him already.." "you will," Harry said, "In no time."



:: Soon later, Snape arrived, wearing his traveling cloak and nothing else, "I'll take care of Laiza," he offered, as they began to exit the inn, "you can be the guard."



:: "Be the guard," Harry said, handing him one of the large bags, "I'll take care of Laiza." then he quickly grabbed Laiza away from Snape and headed out towards the place where a Portkey was supposed to be, to bring them to their first destination where their next guards would be awaiting.





Soon enough, the Portkey they needed arrived and everything was almost set. Laiza was quiet, waiting for batted breathe for whatever Harry was going to tell her to do.



:: Snape, on the other hand, seemingly was far-off from them. Like, Laiza didn't feel good about his being quiet.. It was like he was calm about something.. like he was in control over the things around them..



:: "We are suppose to go to the sideway street?" Harry asked, staring suddenly at the map that was given by the last guard they have met, "But.. this is..-" "Harry, what's wrong?" Laiza asked, as she sat next to a tree, they were somewhere a deseerted valley and Laiza didn't feel the place was good. But still, they needed to rest. They have been walking for about hours or so.



:: "What's this?" Harry asked, suddenly turning to Snape, "I don't understand-" "It seems, Potter," Snape said, taking the map from him and showing it clearly in his face, "That we are going to use this road. Now you get it? It's not very dark and very hard to understand, Potter.. You just need to read it carefully and the instructions-" "I know the instructions!" Harry raged angrily and for the first time, Laiza felt they were in deep trouble..



:: She could see the colour fading from Harry's face.. It was like he was understanding something she wasn't.. something was happening. And Harry seemed.. to have realized it too late..



:: "Harry, what's going on-" "Back away, Laiza," Harry said, quickly grabbing his bag and putting it in his back and pocketing the map away, "We're going onto another direction." he simply said, eyeing Snape angrily.



:: "Harry, what's going on-" "Nothing is going on," Snape said, walking forward them and taking his wand out, "It's just that Harry realized something-" "Harry-" "Laiza, get at my back.." Harry quickly said, backing away from Snape and protecting Laiza.











: The colour from Harry’s face did already fade and Laiza felt herself shaking in fear. Within a second, they heard loud swishing of cloaks and a coldswept wind.. the next thing they knew, about five other masked Death Eaters were surrounding them, one of them holding out a tie and a clothing in his hand..





:: “Finally,” said one of them as he advanced towards Harry who was standing protectively before Laiza, “What has taken you so long, Severus?”





:: Laiza sobbed in fear and Harry felt his wand inside his pocket, “I knew it..” he whispered, backing away from them, quickly thinking of a way how he would get Laiza out of there quickly, “It is you..” he whispered.





:: Snape laughed at him and took his wand from his pocket too, “It has taken you ages,” Snape said, shaking his head, “and it will only take a few moments to take your life away, Potter.. unless..” his eyes rested towards Laiza, “you would move aside and hand Laiza to me.”





:: “Never!” Harry said, gripping Laiza hard behind her and trying to give her signals where she could run, but clearly, there was no escape. And the Death Eaters made sure of that.





:: “Please.. Harry..” Laiza whispered, trying to take some potions from her pocket to throw at Snape, but seemingly, it was no of good use. The Death Eaters were too many and too much on guard.





:: “Why do you welcome our guard this way?” Snape asked, his eyes shinning, “This is our guard that will take us to our destination.” “You jest,” Harry said, “you took away the real Portkey and the real map.. how did you..” “Quick minds think quick, Potter,” Snape implied, walking forward, aiming his wand at Harry, “something you never manage to learn even after you have graduated..” “I won’t let you near her,” Harry said, gripping his wand hard, “never.”





:: “Then,” Snape silkily sneered, “we shall do it, that hard way.. EXPELLIARMUS!” and Harry yelled the same thing. Lights sparkled and they both blasted backward. Before Harry could get up, Snape conjured a piece of wood from the ground and aimed it towards Harry.





:: It hit him hard straight on the face and then he just heard Laiza’s scream of fears as the Death Eaters advanced and grabbed her from behind.