Bound

Chapter Twenty Six

It's finally Friday. After detention earlier this week I told Draco and Blaise about Severus asking me as his wife. They were both ecstatic at the news. Blaise and Draco both are planning on asking Luna and Astoria over the summer break and will hold their ceremonies after graduation.
I watched as their jaws both drop when I told them about what Ms. Bell was saying to Severus. Most questions were
"How does she know?"
"Where did she learn this information?"
"Do you think she's planning something?"
I, myself have a few ideas on where and who's giving her the information and I'll handle that later. I know deep down she has something planned towards me. All week I've caught her staring and watching me and the boys. Sometimes I've caught her following us, hoping to hear something juicy. It's not until Friday night where she attempts her attack.

"Do you know if Snape is still in his classroom?"
Draco asks from behind his textbook.

We're having a study night before heading to Hogsmeade for most of our weekend.

"It's still early. He normally locks up around 9. Did you need something?"
I ask, while looking over Blaise's homework.

"Yes. I just realized I forgot my potions textbook and I need that for our homework. My assignment is tucked between the pages."

"Let's go then."
I finish explaining an answer to Blaise before heading downstairs to the basement level.

Right after coming down the stairs and getting halfway down the hall, I come to an abrupt stop.

"What's wrong?"
Blaise rests his hand on my shoulder. He does this whenever he notices I'm concerned or anxious.

"Someone else is down here."
I speak quietly.

I watch as the boys both reach for their wands. They keep them tucked in the sleeves of their robes. I do the exact same, except I slip my hand behind my back underneath my robe.

"You really are the smartest witch. Much above Hermione's level."
A voice speaks from the dark corner of the basement hallway.

As the footsteps approach, a shadow is seen coming from the darkness. The corner of the persons robe and a pair of coal colored sneakers are the first things seen before the rest of them come forward.

None other than Ms. Bell.

"You've known for a while about me Lilith. My plan and how I've come to find out such detrimental information."

She takes another step forward. A sinister smile spreads across her pale face.

"I also know about your engagement to our potions teacher. Ah, what a shame it will be after this. Poor Severus, grieving over the loss of his new bride. In his darkness, I will come forward and make him forget all about you."
Her voice low, almost sounding like a deep growl.

"What do you think you're going to do? Kill her? There's two witnesses right here!"
Snaps Draco, now pushing himself in front of me.

"You'll have to go through us before getting anywhere near her!"
Blaise speaks deeply, moving in front of me in a protective manner.

I push myself out from between the boys, standing confidently.

"You want something. What is it?"
I ask her.

"Severus."
Amanda takes another step forward. I watch as her features curl into an almost unrecognizable face.

Without thinking twice, my body begins to change. My pupils becoming long, thin slits, and my eye color changes to a deep scarlet red. I can feel my tongue split down the middle to form two even sized chunks of muscle. My body begins to twist and spasm until it falls to the floor with a thud. My uniform lays on the floor around me. My usual soft skin now covered in scales, my legs merged into one long body. My mouth now open, exposing the two inch fangs, leaking with venom.

"Amanda, now that Lilith is in her most deadly form, an eight foot long serpent. Do you really want to continue this?"
Draco speaks from beside me. His tone snarky and cold.

The look on Ms. Bells face is pride but deep down we can all see the fear written underneath. The echo of my slither bounces off the basement walls. I keep my
Movements slick and fast as I go in circles around her.

"What kind of sick joke is this?!"
Amanda spits out. Her hands go up, pretending she's done nothing wrong. She's acting like the victim now.

"I wasn't going to kill her you fools! I was simply going to erase her memory of ever having feelings towards Professor Snape. He's Mine!"
She sticks her arm out, her hand tightly gripping the cedar. A light emits, and Blaise deflects the attack.

The counter attack changes direction and hits Ms. Bell directly in the chest. Her body gets picked up off the floor and sent into the wall, 9 feet behind her. The walls crumble to the floor at the impact of her collision.

Right after her body drops onto the ground, I switch back to my human form. My exposed body lay almost paralyzed on the cold, hard floor. I pull my arms close to my chest, and I bring my legs up to my abdomen, now in fetal position. Tears flow heavily from my eyes, both a very bright red. Nothing like the deep scarlet they were only moments ago. Excruciating, never ending pain coursing through every vein.

"Cover her!"

"Wrap her robe around her!"

"Keep her warm!"

I can hear the boys speaking above me, their voices muffled. My body twitches and trembles as I start to seize. In the distance I can hear the footsteps of three other people running down the basement stairs. I feel warmth on my body after Draco used a spell to clothe me. My uniform sweater fitting loosely over my shirt.

"Hold her head!!"
Through the feeling of my full ears I can make out Professor McGonagall's voice.

"Draco...Blaise. What's wrong with her?..what's wrong with my Lilith?"
Severus' voice breaks with every word. Sounding as if he's on the brink of tears.

I feel two familiar hands on the side of my head. They lift my shaking skull into their lap. They turn my body onto its side. Small drops of water splash against my cheek as Severus cries as I convulse. After another minute, my eyes close. I black out.

*9:00pm that night, infirmary*

"Please wake Lilith. I need to know that you're okay...."
Severus' voice sounds a a million miles away. He hasn't left my side since being down in the basement. I'm not sure how long I've been out but I can guess it's been a few hours.

A large, warm hand is placed into mine.

"Please love..squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
He sounds distraught. The tears haven't stopped.

I force my hand to grip his gently. I apply pressure to give a decent squeeze.

"Oh my baby...I love you. I'm right here. It's Severus darling..."
His soothing words are the last thing I hear before drifting to sleep.