Armilla

Chapter 10

I had always supposed I was pureblood because I had known bracelets like mine were only found in pure-blooded families. But after Snape left the room, I found myself in a state of utter shock. I was guessing it was not the fact that Snape had told me that I was definitely pureblood - it was the fact that Snape had actually told me himself. It wasn't really the information I was seeking, and it looked like there would be no easy way to obtain the rest of the facts.

I couldn't sleep that night. Too many thoughts kept zooming in and out of my mind. At home, when I couldn't sleep, I would get up and make a midnight snack. But there was no food kept in this wing - Snape had been getting all my food from the kitchens and bringing it here himself. He often had to transfigure my meals into something else while he was in the Hogwarts halls so people wouldn't wonder why he was carrying food around.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. I ran my fingers over my bracelet, as if willing it to somehow reveal information. I just lay there, staring. Sleepy...getting sleepier...

I was running around outside. The rain had just stopped. It had been pouring for what felt like a lifetime. Being so thankful to see the blue sky, I stopped and gazed at it, smiling. I looked all around me. Puddles. Puddles everywhere I looked. Feeling like a young kid again, I started jumping in them, enjoying the sight of the water flying everywhere. I stopped before a puddle that struck me as a bit odd. It was a perfect circle. The water itself was shimmering in the sunlight. I saw my reflection in it - my dark eyes, my long brown hair. I put my finger in the water and twirled it about, watching my reflection suddenly disappear as the water turned completely white. Intrigued, I withdrew my finger and again found myself shocked. My finger was completely dry. That stuff certainly wasn't water.

I continued watching the white substance as it swirled around inside the perfect circle. All of a sudden, it stopped. I peered down at it. A face was taking form, slowly becoming clearer and clearer. It was a woman. She looked to be in her mid forties. She had clear blue eyes, a creamy complexion and long straight brown hair. She suddenly looked at me, though her eyes seemed unfocused.

"Emiliana, is that you?" she called.

"Er...no," I said.

"And where is Lucia? She is with you, isn't she?" The woman started biting her nails.

I was about to give a "no" when the puddle suddenly moved off the ground. It hovered in mid-air for a few seconds before zooming off into the distance. I ran after it shouting.

"Come back! Please come back!" I kept running but I could no longer see it anymore. Something caught my wrists, bringing me to a sudden halt.

"Miss Kemp! are you quite finished?"

Huh? Finished what? I was breathing very fast, my heart pounding. Snape was standing right in front of me, holding my wrists tightly. I looked past him and saw that I was standing on a dark landing on the edge of some stairs. Nothing around me looked at all familiar, except Snape of course...that was not a face I would forget in a hurry.

"Well?" Snape demanded. "Explain yourself at once. What are you doing out here?"

"Out where?" I whispered, shaking slightly. "I don't know where I am...I must be still asleep."

"I assure you, you are not asleep, and nor am I now since your screams interrupted my sleep."

"My-my screams?" I said softly. "I wasn't screaming. I only just fell asleep...don't know how I got here though." Snape must have noticed he was still holding my shaking wrists. He suddenly let go and folded his arms, fixing me with a piercing stare.

"You have no idea where you are and how you got here?" he asked quietly.

"No."

"You are still in the wing, just far from your bedroom. I had to chase you through several corridors while you were screaming." He smirked at me. "I gather you didn't catch whatever you were chasing? Exactly what were you chasing, Miss Kemp? A decent Potions mark perhaps?"

I glared at him. Damn him.

"Well?" he snapped. "What was so important that you had to catch it and interrupt my sleep? Answer me at once!"

"A puddle," I said, obviously without thinking. I really needed to go to the bathroom.

Snape looked as if he was trying to decide if I was being impertinent. He gazed at me for a moment, his dark eyes fixed on mine. Finally, he spoke.

"You must have been sleep-walking, unless you really believe you can catch a puddle?"

"No," I said quietly. I had to find a bathroom. Too much puddle talk.

"Well come along then, I'll take you back to your room," Snape said indifferently. I followed him through many dark corridors until he suddenly stopped outside what I guessed was his own room.

"Wait here," he said shortly. He disappeared inside it for a moment. I crossed one leg over the other; I really needed to go. Shortly, Snape came out carrying a vial.

"Come," he said briskly.

I followed him into my bedroom.

"Get into bed," he ordered.

"I am not ready to go to bed just yet," I announced.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"I have to go to the bathroom, sir."

He glared at me. "Well go to the bloody bathroom then! I'm not stopping you!"

Putting two and two together, naturally, Snape suddenly smirked at me. "Too many puddle dreams, Miss Kemp?"

I turned on my heel and went into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. When I came out a few moments later, Snape gestured for me to get into bed. After I got in, he handed me the vial he had been carrying.

"Dreamless Sleep Potion," he said simply. 'For my benefit as well as yours. I wish to sleep uninterrupted tonight too."

I glared at him and the downed the potion. I felt myself becoming woozy as sleep tried to take over my body. As I drifted off, Snape took the vial from my hand and silently swept out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.