Loved By You. (A Severus Snape Love Story)

Chapter One: Aria Dumbledore

August 28th 1995
I lay by the Black Lake looking up towards the castle as I have done everyday for the past fortnight, when my grandfather had taken my from the wreckage of my childhood home to Hogwarts, the school at which he was headmaster.
I had out my sketchbook and quill sketching the landscape around me. I was usually more of a portrait girl but the scenery here was so beautiful that I could held but draw it. Drawing was my passion. I could barely go a day without my sketchbook and right now it was the only thing that was keeping me who I was. So much had changed in the past 2 weeks. My parents had died, I have been reunited with my long lost grandfather, I have moved entire country and now I will have to join a new school and learn new skills.

I was a born witch, and in America I had attended Salem's Academy of Witchcraft, but here seemed completely different and I just knew I wasn't going to fit in. I didn't fit in at my last school either. I was always the outcast.
As I began to shade my drawing, basking in the last of the summer sun, a figure in the distance caught my attention. It was small figure, most likely male, and he was dressed entirely in monochrome black robes. I watched as he stormed through the gates, along the castle grounds and into the school. I shrugged and went back to my drawing but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about him, something that just... intrigued me. Flipping to a blank page I almost unconsciously started drawing the landscape in the distance with a small entrancing presence mid-walk. I lay there for most of the day until the sun was almost gone and I headed back to the castle. By that time I had already forgotten about the mysterious man and I just wanted something to eat. I visited my grandfather in his office and asked if he was joining me for dinner. "I'm so sorry my dear but I have a lot of paperwork the ministry wants me to fill out before the school year, you understand, don't you? I shall have the house elves bring something to your quarters." He apologised. I nodded my head and left him in peace. I did understand, really! I just wished I wasn't so alone all the time. Descending the stone staircase I navigated my way to my quarters. Apparently at the beginning of the new year I would have to be sorted into a 'house' but for the time being I was free to do my own thing and sleep in my private rooms.
Not even an hour later I was greeted by a small elf with a large platter of food. I smiled thanking the elf as she set out my dinner and left. I was once again alone. I frowned, ate my dinner and began to read my book.
It was the same routine everyday. But my grandfather said not to worry there was only a few days left until the school year began. But even then I didn't know if my life would get better or worse. I guess I just had to wait.

August 29th 1995
That morning I got up at 6:30 as I did everyday and prepared for the same routine. I washed and showered to wake me up. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I used a quick spell to dry my long black hair, and then another to curl it. And then I spent my time applying my make-up; defining my jade eyes, framing them with smooth eyeliner and Thick mascara, and finally applying my signature red lipstick. Pursing my lips and looking in the mirror I went to choose my clothes. Again it seemed to be quite sunny but partially windy so I opted for my black skinny jeans, black crop top, kimono, and strapped heels.This was my usual style as I liked the way the colour black set off my pale skin with a splash of red lipstick, and my green eyes popping! It was now nearly 8:00 and I was starting to get hungry. Just as I was about to call my elf there came a knock at the door. Jumping to my feet at the hope of company I answered it. As I suspected, but rather hoped against it, it was my grandfather.
"Aria." He grinned.
"Grandfather." I replied politely forcing a smile. "My dear, I was wondering of you would care to join me for some breakfast."
"I would loved to!" I cried, sincerely happy for once. "I must admit something Aria." He began as we walked through the halls to his private quarters. "I know you must be wondering why I have spent barely anytime with you, and why now I was having such a sudden change of heart."
I nodded not really paying too much attention though.
"The Ministry of Magic has been on my case for a while about the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers I have employed in previous years, and so they have demanded that they supply the school with one from the Ministry itself. As a result of this I have been having to deal with a lot of hassle and paperwork and small meetings and what-not, but I do promise I shall make time for you my dear. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I won't intentionally neglect you and I will at some point try and get to know you better. I hope you know your the dearest thing to me and I shall do whatever it takes to protect you."
"Thank you, Grandfather." Was the only response I could give, I mean I barely knew the man, and for what time I had known him we barely ever had time to speak, and here he was confessing his grandfatherly love.
I knew everything from here on out would be different.

While at breakfast my Grandfather announced he would have to leave for the day tomorrow to attend a hearing at the Ministry and I was prohibited from coming. Dumbledore was unsure about leaving me alone in the castle - even though I'm 16 - but he assured me I would be safe and that teachers had arrived, more would come through the night. And there was always the caretaker, Filch, lurking about. Somehow that did not make me feel any better. My grandfather apologised once more, planted a kiss on my forehead and left again to be alone in his office.
I took this opportunity to explore the castle a little more, I would need to know my way about before school started.I wandered aimlessly through halls, and up the moving staircases, not really taking any of it in as my mind was too focused on other things.
As I walked through the long, dimly lit corridors, I ran my fingers along the bricks, lazily leaning against them while looking out the windows.
Deciding that I had delved far enough into the castle, I sat on the window seat on the corner of the corridor. I tucked my legs up and look down onto the grounds, I was at least 5 floors up. Looking at everything from this perspective made me feel tiny. I could see far past the forests and into hills, I could see the steam of a train in the distance and the small village of Hogsmeade opposite.
Without any reason at all I burst into tears, they began to violently roll down my face as I took in the beauty of the country.
I thought back to my younger life, my old life, and prayed that my new one here in this beautiful country would be a hell of a lot better.
I've never had a good life, but now I had hope that it could be possible. From the day I was born I was forced to watch my father abuse my mother. When I turned 5 my father turned on me when I cried and begged him to leave my mother alone. After a few years of him getting tired of my mother, his main play-thing was me. when I turned of age, he started to rape me. It was horrific.
Everyday would be the same; my mother and I would be awoken by my fathers rowdiness, he would leave for work, go and get drunk when he finished come home in the small hours and beat me and my mother before taking me, and forcefully raping me. I would cry myself to sleep, my mother couldn't sleep out of fear of sharing a bed with such a monster and the whole thing would start again. We were powerless towards my father; He had taken my mothers wand and snapped it one night when she attempted to use it in self defence, and my own wand was kept well hidden and I was only allowed it for school purposes. When I eventually did go to school I was laughed at and called names, names like: 'delinquent', 'stupid', 'thick', 'idiot'.  All because I was unable to practice my spells at home. I was thought of as 'weird' and 'freakish' because I was terrified of everyone and everything. I was laughed at when we studied bogarts and I refused to participate in fear of everyone knowing what my father was... because if they knew they would have to speak with my father, and if my father found out I was the one who told them my life would be so much worse than it already was. When I was at school and my father was not around to punish me I felt empty. I thought I deserved the punishment I was given. My father had warped my mind so much that when I would do something wrong like; drop something, or get a question wrong or even just say the wrong thing, I would punish myself in my fathers place. I would get out my wand and scar my arms and legs, I would bruise and burn myself. I thought it would make me the way my father wanted me to be. "It's for your own good." He always said and I believed him. So when he died from alcoholism I continued to hurt myself, and I was continued to be bullied by my school mates. When I was at the peak of puberty I started dressing in clothes that would flatter my body type; the boys liked this, the girls, however, did not. As a result of my fathers sexual abuse I was trained to never say no and I was informed that when a man wanted something he got it and it was just easier for everyone if I agreed first time around. At least that's what my father told me. So when boy, or anyone in fact, took a liking to me, or wanted something, I gave it to them, without question. Of course word spread like wildfire about me and almost the whole school knew. Soon enough more and more boys would come to me for sex and the girls would continued to call me 'slut' and 'whore' and any other degrading name that came to mind.
My grandfather, of course, knew nothing about this, and I wasn't planning on telling him. I had escaped that hell I didn't want to go back ever.
I was crying even harder at this point and thinking about my past had triggered feelings in me I thought I had buried. And almost out of habit, or ritual I took out my wand, whispered a few simple words, and sliced the wand across my arms. From the tip of the wand flickered a dim orange light, it burned and cut when it touched my skin. My arms bled but I couldn't feel a thing.
I cried some more, then slowly drifted off to sleep by the window.