Falling for the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 6

It's been a month now since Jasmine started updating Severus weekly about her hand. She felt a bit better after taking certain potions, but it wasn't enough.

There was 2 more months of summer and she felt horrible. She couldn't do the things she planned on doing for her vacation. She was basically miserable.

It was the first Sunday of July and she waited until her professor answered the fire-call. After some time, he finally acknowledge her, much to her relief. She wasn't in the best of moods tonight and just needed to get in her bed.

"Anything different this time, Jasmine?"

"It itches terribly." She said trying to scratch through the bandages.

"Good. That means it's healing, Jasmine. Whatever you're doing, continue doing it. Does it still hurts?"

"Not as much as before, but it still does." she said sadly.

He was quiet for a moment, she was usually cheerful whenever they spoke. The first two times they talked, she acted like her old self, but since the sunday before the last, she's been getting worse.

He wasn't used to her different behavior tonight. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he didn't like it.

He was having an internal battle within his self. Should he ask her what was wrong? Should he ignore her and let her be?

'Like the way people did me.'

Before he could stop himself, he asked her,"What's bothering you Jasmine?"

She looked at him in confusion,"What?"

"What's the matter? You seemed troubled."

"I'm fine professor," she lied,"I just need to sleep."

"Do you need to sleep every time you talk to me? You're a horrible liar, Ms. Garner."

"How would you feel if you were useless!?" she finally snapped," I can't do anything at all!"

"Jasmine-"

"I can't cook, I can't write, I can't even have any fun in fear of hurting this stupid hand!"

"Jasmine stop!"

She was in tears now and her face disappeared from the flames. She cried alone in her room, she couldn't take it anymore.

She was losing her mind over this pain, and she felt so alone. Her parents were never there, other people were oblivious to her misery, except for Tonks, and her depression was getting worse.

Just like many nights, knowing she couldn't be heard, she cried in her knees. She felt alone like no one cared about her, she felt as if she didn't matter anymore.

"Jasmine." she yelped in fright when she seen Severus' face in the flames. She turned to wipe her face and control herself.

"There's no need to hide, Jasmine. I've been here for a few seconds."

"Well, that's rude." She stated harshly.

"Interesting Ms. Garner, because as I remembered it was you that invaded my privacy oh so many of times."

"Well I-"

"Rude is exactly how you acted when you left while I was talking to you. I'm sure you were raised better than that." he chastised.

"I'm sorry." she sniffed, wiping new tears,"I didn't want to cry in front of you. My depression is taking a toll on me." she said before she catch herself. She mentally groaned at her big mouth.

"Depression? Jasmine, where are your parents?"

"Gone. Probably at some friend's dumb party or something. They're never home."

"Do they know about this?" he asked.

"Yea, but they're too caught up with things to worry....or care."

He remembered how he felt during his younger days. His family in dysfunctional, almost no friends, often bullied, and overall miserable. He hated his life and he saw history repeating itself once more. He didn't want this sweet girl turning into someone she would hate......someone like him.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Wait, you care?" she asked in a state of shock.

"Yes. You're not alone Jasmine, I'm here if you need it. Now please answer my question."

"Honestly, this is enough. Someone to talk to is all I ever wanted." she answered honestly.

"I thought you had that friend of yours that always have an attitude. Don't you talk to her?"

She weakly chuckled at his description of Tonks,"She's there for me, but she's going through some things with her mom. I don't want to bother her too much about my problems."

"What about your other friends?"

"I don't really have any more friends. I only hang out with Tonks. I don't have anyone to talk to besides her." she said quietly.

'Just like me and Lily.'

"And me." he said.

"I beg your pardon?" she raised her eyebrows.

"No one, especially a child, who is going through this should ever be left alone. I won't let that happen, is that understood?"

"Professor, you don't have to-"

"Is that understood!?" he asked with a stern voice.

"Yes professor."

"I will check on you from time to time, if that is alright with you Ms. Garner."

"Yes sir, it's fine." she nodded.

"Alright. Have a goodnight, Jasmine."

"Have a goodnight professor."

His face vanished, leaving Jasmine to her thoughts. She wouldn't had thought in a million years that Snape would show any compassion to anyone.

Sure he offered to help her because of her condition, but it was only out of pity or guilt. She decided to get to bed, feeling a bit baffled after her talk with Severus.

"Who knows, maybe he could be a friend," she mumbled to herself before sleep consumed her.

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A/N- Sorry if it was too short, but I hope you liked it. Let me know in the comments.