Back In Time

Back In Time: Chapter Ten

EDITED: Chapter Ten:

“T-T-Thank you.” I muttered, trying to halt my shivering. We stood just inside of the Hogwarts doors. I was still held in my father’s arms, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt safe again.

Severus nodded, but otherwise didn’t acknowledge me, however he had stopped, and he stared straight ahead. Looking into his eyes, I could see a mixture of apprehension and hate, but I didn’t know the cause for it until I heard the unmistakable voice of Sirius Black.

“Spencer?”

I looked over towards him, feeling something similar to relief flood through me as my teeth chattered. I had no earthly idea why I felt it, but regardless, it was still there.

“Black.” Snape nodded, looking horrified that he actually had to speak to Sirius, and Sirius seemed just as disgusted that Snape was actually speaking to him. Though somehow, concern still showed through their revolted looks. My teeth were chattering, and my hair stuck to my face, not to mention the fact that my entire body seemed to be convulsing as shivers still racked my thin body, despite the warm air that surrounded me.

“Is she all right?”

“She’s scared of storms, Black. Not to mention that it was nearly below freezing outside, what do you think? No she’s not okay!” My father sneered, looking at Sirius as though he were the stupidest, lowest life form he’d ever seen.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to the dorms so she can rest.”

We followed Sirius to the Gryffindor entrance, and I felt rather useless after only a couple of minutes. “You can put me down, I’m sure that that would be easier.” After being set down on my own two feet, it took several seconds before I was steady enough to even take a few steps.

We were nearly to the stairs that led to the Fat Lady portrait when the first wave of exhaustion hit me; nearly making my knees buckle from the force of it alone. I staggered onwards, refusing to show any weakness in front of the man I wanted to be strong in front of. Severus Snape.

The moment the portrait closed behind Sirius and I, I sunk to my knees, feeling unbelievably weak, and still cold beyond belief. I could feel eyes trained on the back of my head, and when I looked up to see who was staring, I saw all the Marauders looking shocked. Sirius helped me up, leading me over to the chair in front of the fire, after commanding Pettigrew to move.

“Thanks.” I mumbled, sinking into the cushions gratefully. It was so much warmer here next to the crackling flames, and I immediately began to heat up. I’d have to remember to thank my father tomorrow.

***

Three days later, I still hadn’t left the dormitories. I was much too sick to do much of anything except make my slow way to and from the bathroom. As I didn’t know any girls in my year, none of them were forthcoming in the job of helping me, or even getting any medicine from Madame Celeste, the nurse, so I was left on my own since the stairs were jinxed so that boys couldn’t come up.

On the fourth day, I felt significantly better, and decided that I had missed enough classes for an entire semester, much less a simple week! Sighing, I stretched, feeling sore from all the lying around I had been doing, and realized that I was up two hours before anyone else in all of Gryffindor would be. I dragged my lead laden feet into the bathroom before taking a much-needed warm shower. The water cascaded around my shoulders, making me feel as though I was just one step from heaven, and as I got out and wrapped a towel around me, I avoided the mirror. I knew what I would see, the same girl I always see, only this time she’d be uglier than before due to her being miserably sick.

Sighing, I got dressed before quickly making my way to the Great Hall for breakfast. I hadn’t eaten anything in nearly four days, and my stomach was protesting. It felt weird, actually being hungry, but the moment I sat down, I began filling my plate and stuffing my face much like Ron used to do. As I thought of him, a nostalgic feeling filled me. I missed them all so much, the Twins more than anything.

I had been so sure that George and I were simply a couple of weeks away from being together, it had been so obvious that he liked me, and I definitely liked him as well. And now, there was no way that would ever happen. I wondered if they missed me, if they all worried, or were out searching for me even as I thought of them.

Shaking my head in an attempt to dispel those thoughts, I looked around the Great Hall as I chewed up a biscuit. My father had his head buried in a potions book as he ate, and Lucious Malfoy sat at the opposite end, next to Narcissa and Bellatrix, while they laughed as they daintily scooped a bit of eggs up with their forks. Even the other Slytherins avoided them, which didn’t surprise me, I wasn’t used to being scared, but Bellatrix had always terrified me. Sometimes, when my father was out ‘working’ which I now knew meant running errands for Voldemort, she’d watch me. Her maniacal laughter always meant bad things either had, or would, happen. Her eyes, so dark they were nearly black, were endless, cold, abyss’, and there was always that crazy glint in her eyes that let you know she wasn’t a sane person.

Breathing deeply, I turned away from that group, and looked towards my own. They were sitting nearly next to me, only two people separated them and I. Remus looked better, and I knew it’s because the full moon had already passed, and I was unbelievably ticked off at myself for missing it, but it was my fault for going out when I knew it would be raining.

I pushed my plate away after eating only half, feeling extremely full, although that’s probably because I hadn’t really eaten in so long. Now that I wasn’t hungry, the food had gone back to looking unappetizing so I stood up and went to my first class, ten minutes early.

Professor Slughorn sat at his desk, drinking pumpkin juice and looking over some papers. Clearing my throat to get his attention, I smiled slightly as he jerked up nearly spilling his entire drink out.

“Miss Snape! Welcome. You’re a bit early, aren’t you dear?”

“Yes sir. I had nothing else to do.” I smiled before sitting in my regular seat, and pulling out my text book, and beginning on the chapter that was already written upon the black board. I could already tell today would be boring and rather hard, as I could barely bring myself to pay attention.  I was still sick, after all, and though I did feel significantly better, I could haved used some extra rest.

But there was no point in dwelling on that now.