Snape's Heart

Chapter Eight

(That's Why I Say Hey Man, Nice Shot)

A few days after the Yule Ball, and that special night that Severus and Julia spent together, Julia was in her classroom working. She was using a large Muggle punching bag. There was a box sitting on the table near her. She had found the box in Tokyo. It looked and acted like a CD player, actually playing CD's. But since nothing electronic could work within the walls of Hogwarts, it had been charmed to play music. She was currently listening to 'Short Bus' by Filter. She liked listening to angry music when she worked out. It put her in the mood to fight. She had yet to find any wizarding music that worked. Next to the box was a stack of CD's, 'And Justice for All' by Metallica, 'Never Mind the Bollocks' by The Sex Pistols and a few others. The music was quite loud and she was really working hard. She never heard anyone enter the room. She never sensed anyone near her. She would never make that mistake again.

She faintly heard someone whisper behind her, "Petrificus Totalus." Before she could react, her body went stiff and rigid. She could still see and hear, but she could not move. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and a prick on her arm. Then a painful warm rush as something was injected into her. The gloved hand turned her around and pushed her hard against the nearest wall. A walking stick with a silver serpent slammed down on her CD case. The music didn't stop, it just got quieter. The man had on a hooded cape so she could not see his face but she recognized the stick.

"You'd fight and you were right, but they were just too strong..." the music played on.

He leaned into her and pushed his face close to hers. "So, my son tells me that you like Death Eaters. And that you have become a toy to a certain Potions Master. Well, I like to play with toys too. Maybe, I'll test you out and see what all the excitement is about," he hissed in her ear. He ran his gloved hand up the back of her leg and emphasized his comment by roughly grabbing her backside. "See, I only want the best for Sevvie. I couldn't have him falling in love with you. He needs to learn a lesson and you, my sweet, will be his lesson."

"They'd stick it in your face and let you smell what they consider wrong..."

He brought his hand around, and with a quick swish he released the binding spell and let her fall to the floor. "Sorry for the needle, but I couldn't have you fighting me. What fun would there be in that? Don't worry. It's just a little belladonna. I had Sevvie cook me up a batch. Too bad he didn't know what my true intentions were. Don't worry, it's not permanent. Just enough to weaken you, but it will wear off. But by then I should be done with you."

"That's why I say hey man, nice shot..."

He reached down, grabbed her hair and pulled her to her feet, pushing her into the table knocking the CD player to the floor. The music stopped. He pulled his arm over his head and back handed her across the face. She fell again.

The only thoughts in her head were; Why he is doing this? Why the hell didn't I hear him? Damn music, damn me, I should have known better. Why was I so stupid? She started to think of how she could get out of this. Maybe her body hadn't betrayed her. Maybe she could fight a bit. But all she could do was stand up weakly and lean against a desk. She needed her wand. She tried to reach around and grab it. But even if her arms had worked properly she could feel that the weight of the stake was not there. She assumed the wand wasn't either. She wanted to cry but refused to let him see her in pain. She tried to yell out for someone, anyone, to hear her, "HELP! HELP!"

He reached over and slammed her hard in the face again. "No one is around to hear you. Stupid girl!"

She thought she saw a wisp of smoke float by the door, but it was gone. She felt defeated as he began to push her to the floor. He began to pull at her clothes. Stopping only to hit her again.

Suddenly, he was pulled back and she couldn't see what was happening. Then she saw Minerva run to her, and pull her to the corner out of the way. "My dear, oh my sweet dear, what did he do to you?"

Julia knew she was safe. She closed her eyes and cried. She didn't want to see anymore. She could hear fighting, knew that Severus had come to save her but she couldn't watch. She just wanted to sleep. She felt arms around her and a familiar warm smell, it was Severus. He scooped her up and ran with her. He brought her to the hospital wing and immediately Madam Pomfrey took care of her. "I will not give her a sedative, not until the belladonna has worn off. Are you sure he that he only gave her belladonna?"

"He didn't say. He had a portkey with him and I could not get any information. I did find the syringe, it looks like belladonna. That bastard," she heard Severus reply. "He did this because of me. He hurt her because of me."

He leaned to her ear and whispered, "Please forgive me, love. I will make this right." He turned and left before she could even register what he had said.

Julia opened her eyes and tried to sit up, her body still not letting her. "Albus, I need my Uncle. Minerva, stop him, please," she said to McGonagall, who was still at her side.

"He is here now dear, you just relax," she said, pointing to the door.

Julia turned her head to see her Great Grand Uncle walking to her. She immediately started, "Stop him, please stop him."

"Julia, dear, relax. Lucius is gone, he can't hurt you now," Dumbledore tried to assure her.

They didn't understand, she thought. "No, Severus. Said to forgive him, he would make everything right. He is going to do something bad."

Dumbledore's face changed. He realized what she had been saying and immediately left. He was heading for the Dungeons when he stopped to listen to a soft sound coming from the stair. He followed it to find Severus leaning on the rail halfway down the steps, sobbing. Dumbledore put his hand on his shoulder.

Without turning Severus said, "I should have known that he would try something like this. I should have known that she would be in danger. I let her into my world, knowing the consequences, and now she is hurt."

"Julia, too, knew the consequences. Though, it does not make this right. You cannot go and change what happened, only try to help her from here," he replied. He knew what Severus was capable of. He did not want him to travel that road again. "He is not worth it Severus, but she is. What would she want you to do?"

He was silent, his rage boiling under the surface. "I will go to her. She needs me. I need you to contact the Ministry to report the attack. If I do it will get back to Voldemort and it could cause more problems for the Order. I refuse to risk all that you have worked hard for, Albus. It is bad enough that Malfoy has a black eye that he is going to have to explain. I don't think he will point a finger at me, yet."

"Very well, go to her and make her better. We have two weeks before the students return and she has to be well for her classes. Once the potion he administered has worn off you may take her to her chambers and care for her," he said, then squeezing his shoulder. He added, "This was not your fault. No one could have predicted that such an attack would have happened in Hogwarts."

* * *

"Did'ja hear me cry for help?" Julia asked McGonagall. "I couldn't fight him."

"No, dear, but Sir Nicholas did and he went immediately for Severus. I was on my way to see you and saw him running to your room. I am sorry I didn't come sooner," she paused to wipe her eyes. "I stopped to yell at Peeves for throwing cauldrons down the stairs. If I hadn't I may have stopped..." she broke off.

"Don't blame ya self, I know better than ta block out all my senses. If the music hadn't been so damn loud... I would've heard him. I am supposed to be teachin' kids how to defend themselves and I can't even defend myself," she cried her voice full of frustration. "Hell, I've never even let a demon get the better of me like that. I've had my ass kicked more than once, but that was just sheer stupidity on my part."

Severus had entered the room at that moment. He took the chair next to the bed and held her hand. "I am so sorry. I broke my promise. I swore that nothing would hurt you. I hope you can forgive me," he said, looking at her with sadness in his eyes.

"You didn't break your promise. Ya can only control so much. Don't ya blame ya self either. I'm a big girl. I shoulda been able to kick his ass. If he ever comes near me again I will," she tried to smile, but the bruises that had formed around her jaw and mouth made it difficult. "I shoulda known better than to underestimate the pretty boys. They're always the most devious."

"Even after all this, she still makes jokes," smiled Albus, as he entered the room. "I have contacted the Ministry, and they will be getting in touch with us soon, about this matter. But I fear that it will be to no avail, for I was informed that Lucius Malfoy has been at the Ministry all day speaking with Amelia Bones. Apparently the younger Malfoy has been hexing house-elves."

"I knew that bastard would sneak out of this. I guess Madam Bones is going to punch him before the day is through," Severus fumed.

"Don't worry. This will get taken care of. No one attacks anyone in my school, let alone my 'niece' and gets away with it," Dumbledore said with an evil twinkle in his eyes. He turned to Madam Pomfrey and quietly asked her, "Will she be okay, Poppy?"

"She is a bit shaken. Except for the bruises, she is fine. He didn't get very far with his attack, for that, I am grateful. She is such a lovely girl, but I have seen her working with the students. I am glad that I am not Lucius Malfoy," she replied.