Dont Know What to do My Baby

A figure stood in the rumbling, tattered house and sighed. Her form was hidden with a billowing, black and emerald cloak, her face hidden from view as she looked out of the broken window. How long had it been since she had last seen this place? Five years? No, it was longer than that, had to be at least seventeen since the war was over. Grumbling and speaking in Parseltongue, having lost her ability to speak in English a long time ago, the figure walked over to the crumbled body that was leaning against the wall. Leaning down, she sighed as she studied the sleeping form before her, carefully moving a strand of dark ebony locks from the pale face and bringing the crooked nose into view. She smiled lovingly at the figure before her, a twinkle appearing from under the hood before she winced and her hand, that was once caressing the male in front of her innocently, moved to her neck where her new wounds now lay and she hissed softly.

Standing up slowly, she sighed and lifted up her wand, the black wood, elegantly carved to have a dragon swirling around the wood, showing from the sleeve of her cloak as she cast a locator spell into the sky, flinching as her arm was wounded as well due to what had happened to the man laying before her. Her ears rang as she heard people coming and looked around frantically before she left with a fast swirl, Apparating from the grounds and to a small cottage only a few miles away. Sighing, leaning against the frame of her closed door, the woman moved frantically to her many cauldrons that were all simmering with slowing status spells on them, going to the last of the five and scooping out the contents. She knew if she transformed into her Animagus that she could fight this venom now in her system due to her bond with the wizard back at the house, but she had banned that form after she was taken. Sighing and getting ready for a world of hurt, the woman filled up a cup and then downed the emerald green liquid, dropping and shattering the cup after she was finished as her body curled into itself. Her slim form thrashed and in her struggles to try and fight what was going on in her system, her cloak was ripped from her body, her arms curled over her head as she lay in a fetal position. Past her arms, long ears were visible, adorned with many piercings. Pale, porcelain skin, free of any blemishes was presented as she was just dressed in a tank top and some leather pants. Adorning her skin along her arms were ancient runes of the curse that had plagued her family on her mother's side for centuries, while black vein-like marks were letting themselves show on her neck, elbow and she knew her chest, stomach and hip would have the same markings from the venom being stopped in her bloodstream due to the potions.

Cursing, covered in sweat and shaking, the woman managed to get up and stumbled into the door that lead to a small bathroom, turning on the light and looking at herself in the mirror. Her pale skin looked cold and a clamy sweat covered her, causing her to grimace at her own image, looking into her own sparkling blue eyes. They were the only thing she had that resembled her father, as her naturally dark violet hair and angel-like features were from her mother's side of the family. Yet the mischief-wielding, twinkling blue orbs were from her father, a man that she had no respect for after the way he treated her and had stopped everything for her to become is proper heir. Sighing, she looked down and bit her lip as she inspected her elbow. Damn that snake knew how to find arteries, but she was happy she had managed to save the man in time, or she would have died with him. She wondered what made her care so much, but then found that question to be stupid. Of course she knew why she cared, she just didn't want to admit because she was rejected by the man when they were just children. Sighing and walking over to the shower, the woman started the water and once it became the proper temperature, she stripped of her clothes, being careful of her new wounds, and then got herself cleaned up.

After the shower, she quickly went to her other four potions and took them one by one. Once she reached the last potion, she sighed and swirled the purple mixture in the cup. She hoped the new additions she added to this potion made it not only more potent, but also made the flavor a bit better as this one was always the worst to take. Sighing, she brought the cup up to her lips and drank it all down, pulling away to only shudder slightly. The grape flavor did help but the after taste was awful as the potion for her to mask and “put a band-aid” over her insanity of her heritage was even more powerful than the last time she made it. 'Hopefully it will give me a few more years.....' She thought to herself, walking over to her bed and falling asleep, her body going into a healing comma.

===============Hogwarts, 2 weeks later====================

The school was still being rebuilt, everyone was helping between classes and some were even using their free periods to help cover classes where teachers were incapable, or needed to rest. One who needed no such thing was a black haired man, walking through the halls though everyone kept insisting that he lay down. Black eyes leered at students and tight lips dared fellow staff to speak to him as he kept walking with a purpose in each long stride. Once he reached the new Headmistress' office, his familiar voice filled the halls to be heard over the magical construction.

“Toffee Cake!” Once those words were spoken, the statue started it's climb, the stairs following suit and the Professor went for the ride, knocking on the door once he landed. At hearing an affirmative to his knock, the man walked into the room and sighed as he saw the Transfiguration witch before him looking a bit disheveled. She was worn out, if she were ever honest with herself, but he knew if he pointed it out, she would just get angry with him. Deciding to take a seat, the male looked towards the witch, who smiled tiredly at him.

“Severus, what do I owe the pleasure?” McGonagall asked as she leaned back in her chair. The office had re-decorated itself once she came into power, and the darkness from Snape's worries when he was Headmaster was gone, but yet it was even warmer than when Dumbledore was in office. Her chair was a nice light mahogany, her desk matching. Books were in the back, up the small flight of stairs, but most of them were charms and history books; with the exception of a small shelf that held children story books; both Muggle and Magic. Not many people knew, but the Head of Gryffindor House enjoyed reading to her first years; then again most of the Heads of Houses did. Severus sighed as he didn't let himself examine any more of the room as he had some obligations to being here.

“I wanted to talk about my position. Do you think it wise to keep my here, Minerva?” Snape asked softy, looking to the witch who just smiled brighter at his words. He was still under the impression that he was going to be hauled into Azkaban; though even the Malfoys were spared such fate after the Boy Who Lived Again spoke on their behalf.

“Severus, we talked about this already. Harry has saved you. You are a free man, and I would love to keep you here as you are excellent in your field! I swear, I think only one person has ever been able to out you in Potions!” Minerva laughed, though stress was in it from all she had to do, but it soon stopped after she saw the sad look on Severus' face. “Dear boy, what's wrong?” She asked, looking concerned.

“The only other person who was able to out me was Malice Dumbledore. No one has seen her for almost eighteen years, and she is rumored to be dead. Yet, here I am, completely alive. Life can be so cruel.” Severus thought as he stood up, only to be stopped by a hand lifting between him in Minerva as she examined the broken man before her.

“My dear boy, what about all those feelings you had for Lily Potter?” Minerva had to know why Snape was acting like this for the lost Dumbledore girl. She felt bad for the family, as Aberforth never forgave his brother after his niece was proclaimed dead, just like their sister. Sighing, she waited to hear from Severus, who looked torn.

“Lily was just a crush..... My body made it more to cope with the loss after Malice left. Now, Minerva, I'm going to my quarters. Have Draco teach in my place today, if you will? I'm fine, I'm just really tired and need some rest.” With that, Severus nodded his head to the Headmistress and walked out, going down the corridors and to the dungeons. Salazar Slytherin was waiting for him at the entrance to his chambers and he nodded his head, muttering the password. “Forgotten Dragon,” with that, Salazar bowed his head and Snape walked into his rooms, stripping of his clothes as he walked to his personal bedchambers, collapsing on his bed and falling sleep.