The Silver Doe

Chapter 29

Professor Lupin barely looked at Lillian anymore, nevermind communicated with her. During his classes, Lillian felt like the weight of the world was upon her shoulders. Why? Why did she feel like this? Well, Remus would say, she betrayed him. Betrayed him in the way which portrayed she was... No! Lillian did not belond on The Dark Side.

Lillian got sick and tired of the way Lupin began to blank her, and in a desperate way, she cowered to Severus, in the hope that he would comfort her.

When he saw her enter his office, and noticed she was crying, he drawled in and snarled at her. "Tears are for the weak!" he snapped. "What's wrong?"

"I..." Lillian stopped. What on Earth was she actually doing here? About to confess about Lupin. Lillian was momentarily lost - staring into Severus's dark, black eyes - until suddenly she began lying. "I fell."

"You... you fell?" He repeated. "And you're crying?" Severus stood up and theatrically turned away from her. "Can't you see that I'm busy, Lillian! I've got detentions to hand out, essays to mark, potions to brew... I don't need this right now!"

"Can't I help you? Or can I just sit here and watch for a while... please?"

"I'm busy!" He shut her off and walked through to the back-room. Seconds after he closed the door, he apparated.

The air was cool and labored around Malfoy Manor. As the remaining Death Eaters recruited within the manor, Snape slowly walked towards the iron-gates. He could hear a laugh; a faint laugh. Bellatrix.

"Why do you still come here?" she laughed. Snape kept on walking, his black robes caging a wall around him. "You don't even belong here!"

Snape snarled at her from under his breath.

"Enough, Bella!" Someone snapped. Snape knew that voice, too. Nacrissa. "Severus..." She bent her head forward a little, formally greeting him as he stalked into the Manor and past Bellatrix. No. Nacrissa was not someone he wanted on his mind right now.

With his back straight, Snape entered the main hall. He had buisness to tend to. Urgent buisness.

- - -

Lillian couldn't sleep for a while. Each night she'd toss and turn in her bed. Often enough, she began to take more midnight walks. She had to... to... get rid of this feeling. She felt so extremely guilty. Not just because of Lupin, but because of everyone. She was lying! All the time she was lying.

Hermione refused to even talk to her now, and the other memebers of the trio were in the same frame of mind. Arostia... Lillian wanted to confess to her and Leo of what she was. She just wanted to tell someone of what she was. What she could turn into at night. But - could she trust them? I mean, REALLY trust them?

The sounding of quiet footsteps were creeping down the hallway quietly, and discreetly the unnoticed shadow disappeared behind a hidden painting, and before it knew it, it was running towards The Forbidden Forest.

Lillian ran and ran until she began to feel sick, and her sides were aching unbelievably. Panting, Lillian stopped near an enchanted tree. The wind was strong when it whistled through the broken up branches. It began to create strange noises around her. Lillian gulped and... slowly... she transformed into her Animagus. Now she felt safe; like her old self again.

As her hooves trudged through the mushiness beneath her, Lillian followed a couple of Centers and stopped by a clearing, which had a small pond nearby.

Lillian couldn't believe she never noticed it before. There was something crouched against a rock next to the pond. It was draped in a long, black cloak. The only thing visible was its hand; it was dangling down from its robes; its fingers just skiffing the surface of the water.

 With caution, Lillian slowly trotted over - her head bent low - and when she stopped near the man, she noticed he was badly cut up; his blood smeared across his face and hands. She would've changed back into her human body, if it wasn't for who she was overshadowing.

The cool, night air whiplashed the back of Lillian's Doe, and brushed all the hair away from Severus's face. As she moved closer, she heard Severus whimper. He was in pain.