The Snape Kid

Chapter 17

sorry i havent uploaded in so long! and sorry it's sooo short.  just got bak from bali. luv u all heaps!! enjoy!! luv smudge xx

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Chapter 17

Annaleise's POV

I awoke the next morning in a daze. The sun was shining brightly through the small cracks in the ruby curtains and birds were singing. I rubbed my eyes gingerly. God, I really do hate mornings. I snuggled deeper into my nest of a duvet. Then I noticed a warm weight on my arm. Shocked, I looked down sideways quickly, hurting my neck. "Ow!" I muttered as I rubbed my neck. I saw red, pink and gold tail feathers and, instantly, I knew it was Dawn. I smiled. She is always there for me.

I heard a deliberate cough from the otherside of the dorm and, out of instinct, hid my face in my pillow. I must look a mess after last night. Then I heard another cough, a teeny bit louder than the last. It sounded... squeaky and high. I peeped through my long hair to see who it was. It was a short, stocky man with no finger and, well, he looked like a rat. Also he was holding a wand pointed directly at me.

I immediately squeaked in terror and I felt my eyes widen in fear. I felt my body start to shake. I took a closer, scared, look at the rat-like man. His unclean dirty blonde hair was nearly brown with dirt and his eyes were narrowed in concerntration, making him look my age, maybe younger. He's obviously been told to do this, as he looks so uncomfortable. I wonder who set him up to do this? Maybe it's fate. Maybe I'm suppost to die this morning. I closed my eyes and waited for the curse to hit me. Suddenly, a loud squawk came from my bed, and I saw Dawn, in a flash, fly up to attack my attacker, causing me to open my eyes. I know I've only had her for a few days.. maybe a week or two, but I would morn till the day I die if she dies today. The man yelped as her talons dug into his skin. Warm tears splashed down my face. Then I noticed something upon the man's arm.

A tattoo. Just like Snapes. On his left fore-arm. Snape had never explained to me why and what the wierd tattoo was, even when I was little and curious. I've even asked Grandpa before, but he said it was a sign of commitment, which confused me even more. It was a skull, with a long, fearsome snake twirling around as a tongue. It made me nervous to even look at it. His arm around the tattoo was swollen and torn, but the tattoo remained intact. His eyes narrowed at me once again, before he ran towards me, but transformed into.. a rat? I sat there, bewildered, as a sandy-coloured rat sprinted along the floor, with Dawn swooping at him from above. He jumped onto the window-sill and jumped out of the crack in the window. What the hell just happened?

Dawn squawked loudly again, making everyone in the room groan as they woke up. I still had tears running down my face, this time, from shock. My breathing quickened and my body shook. I sat up on my bed, trying to calm myself. Hermione and Padma rushed over trying to calm me, both ushering soft words of comfort, even though they had no clue why I was crying, or what had happened. I saw Hermione glance at the clock. "It's time for breakfast, here's your robe. Are you ok Anna?" I caught my robe with shaking hands when she threw it, and nodded at her question, not trusting my voice. Hermione and Padma gave each other a look as if to say 'What a bag of garbage' but turned away to get changed into their robes too. I pulled my robe over my head, not bovering to change out of my nightdress. I took a deep breath once again and held out my arm to Dawn, for her to sit on. I don't care if anyone stares.

Dawn flew onto my left arm, still on high alert. Her presence gave me a comfort, like getting an A in a exam. Hermione waved at me to follow her and Padma, and I slowly walked towards the door. Dawn softly pecked my tattooed left hand, causing me to look at her. The tattoo was glowing, not purple, but gold. Curious. Tingles shot through my body as I stepped out of my dorm and onto the staircase. I walked down, and saw my reflection in the window. My hair was a reddy-gold colour, and my eyes looked like there were golden flames burning behind my irises. Hm, gold suits me. I smiled unconciously. But my smile was wiped away when I saw nearly the whole school, including teachers, looking up at me walking down the stairs. Everyone's eyes held curiousity and  fear. What has happened?

I ran down the stairs, being careful not to jog Dawn, to Grandpa. I tried to ignore the whispers and the tense atmosphere. But then I heard something my ears dreaded to hear. Something I'd wished from the night I'd found out that no-one else would know. Something that made me want to vomit.

"Is it true the Dark Lord is her real father?"