The Bird Having Flown

A/N : At last! Here it is! Chapter 5. I have no excuse for the tardiness of this update... other than I was working on my other story as well. There will be some sex in it soon, I promise. It just seems inappropriate to include it just now.

Thanx to MegaB, everyone who has read this and not reviewed.

Hurricane - thanx a heap ( blush ) so glad you enjoyed both stories. I'm hoping a lot will happen. It's difficult to keep her away from Lucius.


Chapter 5
Snape sat in the study, flicking through the mail that had arrived. One with the Malfoy seal caught his eye. He had been expecting it. Leaning back in his chair he read the short note;

Return what is mine. L.M.

A smile softened Snape’s irritated features. He was almost of a mind to send Starr back to him - if she wanted to play the whore, let her - but he knew that once he’d calmed down he wouldn’t feel that way. He could think of very few people that he allowed to aggravate him as much as Starr. Potter, maybe, and even he was becoming more tolerable as he grew up. He smiled. That girl would test the patience of a saint, and he certainly wasn’t one of them. He threw the note into the fire. No, he wouldn’t be sending her back to Malfoy. If he had his way she’d never see him again, but he wasn’t sure that he could prevent that from happening. He thought back to the conversation he’d had with Starr. She’d said that she wanted to go back to school. No matter what her reasons were, that would be the best place for her. It would be extremely difficult for Malfoy to take her from Hogwarts, from right under Dumbledore’s nose. And, he allowed himself a moment of indulgence, she’d be where he was. Annoying or not, he still intended to have her... it may just take a bit longer if she was a student.
There were two weeks left of holidays before the new school year sta. S. Snape decided that those two weeks would be spent at Hogwarts. He didn’t think Malfoy would look for Starr there, not yet anyway, and it would give him a chance to check the inventory and acquire any new potion ingredients he needed. He was also hoping Starr would do some revision of her schoolwork, since it had been a year since she’d studied anything... useful.
He wondered where she was, mildly surprised that she hadn’t come looking for him, either to tease him or fight with him. Most of the rooms in the mansion were locked, so she couldn’t get into anything he didn’t want her to. She’d already told him that his library didn’t appeal to her, and there was very little else to occupy her energy or time. He smiled to himself again. It was lucky they were going to Hogwarts - she’d go crazy here with nothing to do... and probably end up turning his well ordered lifle ile into one of chaos. It crossed his mind that that’s what may happen anyway, but at least at Hogwarts there were more distractions.
“Master, sir... there is lunch in the dining room for you and mistress.” Dally’s voice at his elbow jolted him from his thoughts about Starr.
“Thankyou Dally. Where is she?”
“Still in the lry sry sir. Dally saw her when he was tidying, sir.”
Snape nodded his thanks. He’d better tell her there was some lunch. She’d surely be hungry, considering all she’d had for breakfast was a bite of toast. He found her still curled up in the same armchair in which he’d left her, but now she was asleep. “Starr.”
Her eyes opened. He wondered if she’d really been sleeping. “What?”
“You need some food. There is some lunch in the dining room.” he held out his hand to her. “Come on.”
She took the offered hand, allowing him to help her to stand. “I’m not hungry.”
“If you seriously want a healthy baby, you’ll eat something.”
“What do you care?”
“About the baby, I don’t.” Snape’s gaze held hers. “But about you, I do. I won’t let you make yourself ill because of Malfoy.”
Starr smiled to herself at this admission and allowed him to lead her to the dining room, where a simple lunch of sandwiches was waiting. Snape gestured to the teapot and she shook her head.
“Coffee?” she asked, hopefully.
He sighed. Of course she’d prefer coffee, it wasn’t good for her. Dally appeared with a cup of coffee, putting it on the table in front of her. They ate in silence for a while, Snape wanting to ensure she at least ate a sandwich before he spoke again.
“Malfoy sent an owl. He wants you back.”
She swallowed the chicken and bread with difficulty. “He can’t know I’m here.”
Snape shook his head. “Probably just a guess. Do you want to go back to him?”
It seemed to Snape that she thought for too long before answering. “No... I want to stay...” a deep breath. “...with you.”
Snape gave a sardonic smile. “You’ll forgive me if I have doubts as to who you want to be with.” his voice was harsh. “Less than twenty four hours ago you told me that you loved Malfoy.”
“Yeah, and less than twelve hours ago he let his wife use me for fun. Whether I love him or not doesn’t matter.” She finished her coffee. “He... um... I don’t want to be treated like that.” She lowered her eyes, well aware that what she’d just said sounded hypocritical. Lucius had dominated her, many times treating her like a sex slave, but he’d gone too far when he allowed Narcissa to do the same. Starr may not have liked it but she tolerated it from him because she loved him. She still had some pride and she was not willing to lose it to become the plaything of a woman she hated. “I was so close to killing her... I had the knife in my hand...” She wished she had.
Snape closed his eyes as he listened to the flat, quiet voice, filled with pain. “Thank the Gods that you didn’t.”
A short mirthless laugh. “Some Gryffindor, hey. I haven’t got the guts to kill my abuser, and I escape like a coward, stealing away in the early hours of the morning. Now I’m just going to have to keep running from him. Maybe Azkaban would’ve been better.”
“You didn’t behave like a typical Gryffindor.” Snape spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “You thought about the consequences, that’s more than can be said for half of them.”
“No, Lucius woke up.” A small laugh. “I think I scared him though. For a minute.”
Snape suppressed a laugh. He almost wishe’d s’d seen Malfoy’s face when he awoke and saw Starr standing over Narcissa with a knife in her hand. “All the same, you’re right. You are going to have to be where Malfoy can’t get hold of you too easily. Hogwarts is the best place for that... kept Potter safe for years.” An owl startled them, tapping on the window. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning.” He opened the window, preparing to take the letter from the owl, but it flew past him, landing next to Starr and nibbling her sand.
“.
“That’s Hedwig... must be from Harry.” she ruffled the bird’s feathers and unrolled the parchment.

Starr
I don’t want to know where you are...or who with. Though I think I can guess. Sirius and Remus are frantic, worrying about you. Let them know you’re ok. You are, aren’t you?
Lucius is furious. I’ve never seen him like this. It only got worse when he found his shirt in the lounge room. Were you really naked when you left? Most of the remaining guestft vft very quickly this morning when he started cursing those he didn’t like. He told Narcissa he never wanted to see her again. Draco and I were going to stay here for a while...I like the peace and quiet. But not now. We’ve just been keeping out of his way.
I think we’ll stay with Sirius and Remus for a while, just for a holiday, then go home to our own place to see what married life is all about.
Let me know you’re ok.
Love Harry xxx

She laughed when she’d finished reading it and handed it to Snape. It was probably better that he knew what mood Lucius was in. His eyes had darkened when he gave it back to her. “Does that change what you’re going to do?”
“No. I told you. He can’t treat me like that.”
Snape nodded, not entirely convinced. She sounded determined, but what was going to happen when she eventually saw him again... and when he saw her. In a couple of months her pregnancy would be more obvious.
“I think we’ll go to Diagon Alley this afternoon. You’re going to need school uniforms... and other things. Where’s your wand?”
“Lucius has it.” As if it were the most natural thing in the world for the man who had essentially enslaved her to have her wand. To her way of thinking, it was. Lucius was hardly going to allow his captive, even if she was there willingly, to keep her wand, and possibly use it against him.
Snape sighed. This girl was her own worst enemy. He found a piece of parchment and a quill, dropping them in front of her. “I suggest you send that owl back to Potter and ask him to bring your wand to you. Don’t ask me how. You were stupid enough to entangle yourself with Malfoy in the first place.” He left the room muttering about the idiocy of letting anyone else take her wand. “You’d better pray he’s still there.” Shouted over his shoulder as he strode down the hallway.
Tears sprang to Starr’s eyes. She’d felt Snape’s attitude toward her change slightly. He’d even paid her a compliment, even if he had insulted Gryffindor at the same time, and told her he cared about her. Now he thought she was stupid again. She picked up the quill

Harry
I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.
Id myd my wand. It’s in Lucius’ study, in the top drawer of his desk. I know it’s a lot to ask - especially as Lucius is likely to kill you - but can you bring it to me. I’ll be in Diagon Alley this afternoon. Please.
Love Starr xxx

She tied the note to Hedwig’s leg and told the bird to hurry. Hedwig hooted indignantly, as if Starr was telling her she didn’t do her job well enough. Starr stroked the smooth feathers on the owl’s head and apologised, then laughed. Apologising to an owl. No, Snape had said she was stupid, not crazy. She carried Hedwig to the open window and watched her fly away, gazing after her longingly until she was a small black speck far on the horizon. To be a bird... able to fly away from it all. All she seemed able to do was fly from one predicament to another, with an overwhelming desire to be loved by someone, usually the wrong someone.

Surely e, we, with all his potions knowledge, should have something that would make her feel a little better when apparating. Starr considered this as her head was clearing, just after they’d apparated to Diagon Alley. She opened her mouth to say something, but the warning look Snape gave her changed her mind.
“Stay quiet.” his hand closed around her upper arm. “Don’t look at anyone and stay close to me.”
The obvious question was on the tip of Starr’s tongue until, despite being instructed not to, she looked around. This wasn’t Diagon Alley. The next obvious question left her lips before she could stop it. “Where is this?”
“Knockturn Alley.” Snape glared at a couple of low- lifes who were sidling closer to Starr and almost dragged her the rest of the way to Diagon Alley. He indicated Gringotts Bank. “Do you need money?”
“No, I’ll just sign for everything and they’ll send the bills to father. He’ll be happy that I’m going back to school... and relieved that I’ve left Lucius.” She laughed and did a quick calculation of how much she could actually get away with spending, over and above essential school supplies. “He’ll pay anything.”
Snape smiled, again thinking Sirius to be an idiot. Imagine letting a seventeen year old girl have access to that much money. No wonder she didn’t care too much about finding work. He wondered what Sirius would say about her pregnancy, and if the unlimited access to money would continue once he found out.
Shoes were first on Starr’s list, especially since she was barefoot and Snape insisted on dragging her around. ‘Wellington and Buskin - The Shoe Room’ sold Starr her sand shoes, school shoes, and a pair of very expensive black dragon hide boots. Madam Malkin provided her uniform and the shop next door, simply called ‘Silk...’, had every type of underwear, ranging from sensible cotton briefs to crotchless nickers. Starr settled for some silk and lace bras and g-strings, taking her time looking at the racks of lingerie and laughing at Snape, who was standing just inside the doorway of the shop looking extremely uncomfortable. She wished she’d seen him purchasing the silk knickers for her earlier.
“What else do you need?” Snape, never the most patient of men, was rapidly losing what patience he did have. He disliked shopping at the best of times and following Starr from shop to shop, hoping they didn’t run into Malfoy, was intensifying that aversion.
“My school books, but I d kno know what I’ll need yet.”
“I’ll get them sent to Hogwarts. What else.” He was keen to be gone.
“Some casual clothes. Jeans, t-shirts, jumpers... you know...” She looked at him, realising that, apart from the previous night, she’d never seen him wearing anything other than the severe black robes that he wore whilst teaching, was wearing now... always wore. It suddenly dawned on her that she’d like to see him wearing the clothes her father preferred, even if they were muggle-ish (?).
Tight jeans. She smiled to herself, reluctantly adding a shirt, and shook her head. No, he probably had no idea about casual clothes. “Let’s go to The Leaky Cauldron. I’m hoping Harry might be there with my wand.”
“You told him where you are?” Snape was incredulous.
Starr nodded. “He won’t tell Lucius. It’s the only way I’m getting my wand back.”

“That’s ten galleons you owe me.” Harry’s voice from behind Starr startled her. He sat at the table, pulling up a spare chair from another table for Draco.
“Yeah, yeah. Like you need it.” Draco finished his shot of firewhisky and signalled a waitress for more.
Harry shrugged. “We’ll up the stakes then... something more personal...”
“I don’t need to know any more details of your sordid sex- life.” Starr interrupted.
Harry and Draco both looked at her. “Whose sordid sex- life..?” Draco asked.
A grin from Harry. “Us? Sordid? We don’t go apparating around the country, naked, with a Hogwarts professor.” His finger traced the scratch on her cheek and his eyes flicked to Snape. He shook his head. No, the potions professor hadn’t hurt her. “What happened?”
Starr chose not to answer. “Have you got my wand?”
Harry placed the ebony wood wand on the table in front of her. “We just waited ‘til Lucius went out. He’s taking this hard.”
She picked up the wand, reacquainting herself with it and digesting the information Harry had just given her. Did it mean that Lucius missed her? Was he sorry about what he’d allowed to happen? Or was he just pissed off that she’d managed to get away? She tapped the wand on the table and a few silver stars fell from the end, landed in her drink and disappeared. “Good.”
Harry wondered if that response was because of what he’d just told her or because her wand was okay. He waited ‘til the waitress deposited the four glasses of firewhisky on the table. “Are you going home... or staying with Professor Snape?”
“You’ll find out the answer to that in due course.” Snape spoke at last. “Just tell her father that she’s safe.” he looked toward the doorway as someone entered from Diagon Alley. “Potter, take Starr out of here now. Go to London for an hour...” He glanced at Harry, who obviously wasn’t moving fast enough. “Now!”
Starr, Harry and Draco all wondered at Snape’s sudden change of topic, until they too looked where he was facing. Lucius Malfoy was standing just inside the doorway, a look of distaste on his face, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. He hadn’t yet seen them as they were at a table close to the London entrance of the pub. Harry looked aarr.arr. She reminded him of the kneazle that Draco had hexed last week. Those same wide eyes and stunned expression. He pulled her to her feet and pushed her through the door.

#### TBC.... Please review, I need to know.... thankyou ####