Snape's Saviour

Chapter 7 - Surprises

Jane woke slowly. The first thing she noticed was that she could no longer smell hospital smells. Then she remembered that he had taken her back to his rooms. She opened her eyes and gasped. She couldn't believe how beautiful the room was. She was smiling joyously when he opened the door to look in on her.

"I see you are awake sleeping beauty."

"Sleeping beauty?" Jane looked at him quizzically, not understanding.

"Some other time." He smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thank you. Sorry I didn't tell you," she apologised quickly.

"That's fine. Just don't do it again all right?"

"Yes Severus."

"Do you like your room?"

"MY room?!" Jane gaped at him incredulously.

Snape nodded. "What, did you think I would make you sleep on the floor?"

"I didn't expect this. It is wonderful, thank you."

Snape nodded. "I believe this is yours too." He passed her the knife, the only thing she had brought to Hogwarts. He had cleaned it of grime and it now shined brightly, the snake motif on the handle now clearly visible. He recognised the design, but doubted there was any real significance in that fact that some of his own knives carried a similar motif.

"It's so clean. Is it really mine?"

"Yes, it is really yours. Just do me a favour and try not to use it alright?"

Jane looked at the knife in wonderment. It hadn't been that clean since her mother had owned it, well at least not since she had run away from home. Sadness pierced her heart at the thought of her mother. "I will try not to."

Snape, watching her, noticed the sadness that sprang into her eyes as she turned the knife over in her hands. "What's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"My mother gave it to me. I miss her. Sorry," Jane apologised again, quietly. She had been happy when her mother had been alive, and safe. Everything had changed when she had died.

"What on earth are you sorry for?"

"For not just being grateful to have you."

Snape looked at her incredulously. "You're allowed to miss your mother Jane. I can't replace your real family."

"You're better than my father."

"That may well be the case, I certainly don't intend to treat you the way he did, but I am never going to be your real family, no matter how much either of us may come to desire it." The thought of what Jane's father had done to her sickened Snape. It surprised him that the girl was so well adjusted, considering what she had lived through. The whole thing was the reason he hated Muggles so much. To treat one of their own children so badly just proved that nothing was too good for them. For the briefest moment he thought that perhaps Voldemort was right in trying to rid the world of them, then he shuddered, setting the thought aside. The child would be a target too, not just the father, if Voldemort managed to come to power.

"I already desire it," Jane whispered, shaking him from his reverie.

He sighed and watched as she turned the knife over and over in her hands. It intrigued him, and he wondered if the design had any significance for the girl's mother. "Jane, do you remember very much about your mother?" he asked quietly, not wishing to upset her.

Jane looked at him. "Only little bits. She was a teacher like you - she taught ancient history and philosophy at university. I remember she was very beautiful."

"She takes after her daughter then." Jane blushed. "What did she use the knife for, do you know?"

Jane nodded. "She used it to prepare ingredients for her remedies."

Snape looked at her startled. "What remedies?"

"I don't really remember. I think it was some word starting with h." She looked away, struggling to dredge up the information from her childhood. "Homo something I think. Grandma taught her she said. She was going to teach me but -" Jane choked on her words and tears sprung to her eyes. She looked away from Snape.

"Homeopathy, was that the word?" Snape asked softly, squeezing the girl's shoulder.

Jane nodded and turned back to him, eyes now filled with excitement. "Do you know about it? Can you teach me?"

"It is a small part of what I teach, at least the preparation of the ingredients is similar to what I teach. I can probably teach you a little about the art if you would like." Snape lost himself in thought. It was an interesting turn of events that this child had such a knife, and that it had been used in such a way. Homeopathy had its origins in witchcraft. He would have to discuss it with Dumbledore at some stage.

*****

"Severus?"

Snape put his quill down and looked at the young girl who was watching him from a chair across the room. "Yes Jane?" He could tell by her tone of voice that something was bothering her.

"Severus, is everyone here magical?"

Snape smiled, her inquisitiveness amused him. Having no experience of a world such as Hogwarts, she was constantly finding questions to ask him. He knew she tried hard not to disturb him while he was working, and he was grateful for that, but generally she failed miserably. He was surprised that it didn't bother him; from anyone else the constant interruptions would have elicited a less than pleasant response.

Jane was watching him closely, waiting for her answer. Her eyes were filled with trust and adoration of such immense proportions that it scared him. He wanted to run from her before he did the inevitable and destroyed that faith and trust. If she became aware of the details of his activities as a Death Eater, he knew she would run from him, as she had from her father, and never stop. He admitted to himself that loosing her would be unbearable.

He answered somewhat evasively. "Everyone who lives here is a witch or wizard except of course for you, and Mr Filch, the caretaker."

"So some people don't stay here?"

Snape shook his head. "Everyone stays here, but some of Hogwarts' more colourful personalities aren't alive."

"Aren't alive?" Jane's voice rose in pitch slightly and Snape noticed she stiffened a little.

"That is correct, yes. There are ghosts her," he explained.

"Ghosts?" Another rise in pitch.

"Yes, but don't fret, they are mostly harmless."

"Mostly?"

Snape sighed. "Well, Peeves the poltergeist is somewhat of a prankster, but he would never hurt you. Not seriously anyway." Snape watched Jane as she sat thinking about what he had told her. He could see things being turned over in her mind. "I'm sorry this is all so strange for you Jane."

Jane shrugged. "It's not your fault. I suppose I will get used to it all eventually, but everything here seems so different." She paused, still thinking. "So if everyone here is magic, well, nearly everyone, what's going to stop them from casting spells on me?"

"Is that what has been worrying you?"

Jane hung her head ashamed and nodded a little.

Snape hated that. He hated that he had taken a child who was more than capable of looking after herself, and turned her into a panicky, insecure one instead. He had to admit she was far better off at Hogwarts than she had been living on the streets. Even just the ample supply of food, and appropriate shelter was having an extraordinary effect on her health, but she had lost something fundamental to her personality in the transition. She no longer had the pride and self-assurance she had as a homeless child. He hoped her insecurity would be transient.

"No one here would consider doing such a thing Jane, not while you are under my protection. They fear me more than they would like to try something on you."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I am, after all, the dreaded Potions Master." He smiled. "My magic is far stronger than any student's and I won't hesitate to use it if I catch anyone playing games with you. Even if one of them was foolish enough to attempt something I wouldn't allow you to be hurt."

She nodded, accepting his promise of protection without question. "Can I meet them?"

"The students?"

Jane shook her head. "The ghosts."

Snape raised his eyebrows and looked at the child, surprised, again. "Of course." He put away the parchment he had been working on, and capped his inkbottle. "Baron, are you within earshot?"

"Of course Severus."

Jane jumped and hid behind Snape as the silvery form of the Bloody Baron appeared without warning. Holding his robes with trembling hands, she peeked out from behind him and looked at the ghost.

He smiled back at her. He enjoyed scaring students, but this child was not a student, she was Severus' guest, and it had been far too easy to scare her. He was already aware of the Muggle child Snape had brought to Hogwarts, and while he didn't understand his Head of House's attachment to the timid girl, he would endeavour to make her as comfortable as possible with his presence. "How can I help you Severus?"

"Baron, I would like you to meet Jane." Snape turned and took Jane by the shoulders, drawing her forward to meet the ghost. She allowed him to move her forward, but he could still feel her shaking. She was ready to flee at the slightest sign of danger. "Jane, this is the Bloody Baron. He is the Slytherin ghost. There are three other house ghosts and various others that reside here at Hogwarts."

Snape watched as Jane put her hand out. She stammered slightly when she spoke. "H- how do you do?"

The Baron slid forward and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. "I am very well, for a ghost." His eyes smiled with amusement. "Thank you for asking. It is a pleasure to meet you Jane."

Jane was surprised to feel the ghost's touch. It was cold and clammy. She hadn't known what to expect, never having met a ghost before, but feeling him surprised her. She smiled shyly. "It is a pleasure to meet you too. How did you die?"

The Baron was startled by Jane's question. "Brutally child. That's why I am a ghost."

Jane nodded. "Sorry for being nosy." She thought the ghost's answer had been terse; he was obviously touchy about his death.

The Baron chuckled at her apology. "Forgive me for being so brusque, it is a major bone of contention. Few have the courage to ask so I am unused to answering, but I doubt a detailed answer would be suitable for you at any rate Jane." The ghost paused for a moment; he seemed to be listening to something. "Sorry, must dash. Peeves is up to no good." He disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.

Jane said nothing for a few minutes, and then Snape noticed she looked slightly alarmed. "I killed Adam, Severus, does that mean he is a ghost?"

Snape considered Jane's question carefully. "It isn't impossible, but it is improbable, besides he would have been haunting you already if he was."

Jane nodded and looked relieved. "Thank goodness."

Snape had to agree. The girl had enough to cope with without adding her own personal ghost to her burdens.

*****

It was to be Jane's first day in class with Snape. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She was terrified at the prospect. Jane secretly hated the thought of being the object of an entire class's conjecture, but she would tolerate it for Snape's sake. Crowds made her nervous, but she knew Snape would protect her.

She knew he wanted her to join him in the Great Hall for meals too, but that was out of the question and no negotiations would be entered into, at least not at this stage. This resulted in her eating alone most of the time; Snape feeling compelled to put in appearances with the rest of the professors during meal times to allay some of the rumours that were flying around about his recent behavioural adjustments.

"Severus, are you sure about this?"

The wizard didn't look up from his work. "Of course."

"Do I HAVE to go?"

"Of course not, but I would like you to. You can't stay here as a prisoner in my chambers forever. I want you to get to know the students."

Jane wanted to say no thank you, but she couldn't bring herself to. He would like it - that was good enough for her. "All right."

"Shall we go then?" Snape stood abruptly and gathered up the papers he had been working on. "Besides, it is Hermione's class, so there will be at least one friendly face in the crowd."

Jane smiled at the mention of Hermione. The young witch had been so helpful to her even though she hadn't started tutoring her because she had been too unwell. She had managed to visit nearly every day though, and had spent time just talking and helping Jane to feel comfortable with her new surroundings.

Jane knew Snape wasn't entirely pleased with the arrangement, from what Hermione had confided, the Potions Master was hardly one of the school's most popular professors. Jane suspected that he would have preferred to be punishing the young witch than inviting her willingly into his personal space. That made Jane appreciate Hermione's visits, and Snape's efforts to remain civil towards her, even more. It also made her slightly nervous. What if he decided to punish her? What if his kindness was only a trick to gain her trust?

Picking up his cloak, Snape stalked to the door in his typical manner, throwing it on as he waited for Jane to catch up. "Don't worry, you'll be all right. Don't forget, most of them are more afraid of me than they will be interested in you."

Jane didn't say it, but she wondered about the rest. What about those who weren't afraid, and just why were they afraid? What were they afraid of? Was she overlooking something important? She doubted it, she doubted he would actually hurt anyone, let alone her, but she would keep her wits about her, just in case. It wouldn't do to become complacent.

Snape slammed the door open and strode into the class. "All right, sit down and be quiet."

Students returned to their seats.

"Right, before we begin I would like to introduce you to a guest who will be staying with me for a while. I expect you will ALL," he emphasised, glaring at the class, "treat her with the respect you would treat any guest with, regardless of her age. The young lady's name is Jane. Jane, would you come here please."

Jane stepped tentatively into the room, ready to bolt at the slightest threat, and watched as 20 pairs of eyes turned in her direction. Not enjoying the sensation of being watched, she walked even more self-consciously to Snape's desk and turned to face the class. She searched for Hermione's friendly face, and smiled when she found it. Hermione smiled back.

The rest of the class stared at her, open mouthed in surprise. Young lady! Snape hadn't put enough emphasis on the word young. The girl was so small she could hardly be older than 10 - most thought she could well be younger.

For his part, Snape was quietly pleased to find so many surprised faces. It seemed, on the surface at least, that Hermione had managed to keep her mouth shut about Jane. He was slightly surprised at that and decided he would give the Gryffindor five house points for keeping her word. He didn't want to over do it.

"Jane will not be participating in classes, but she will be joining me in most of mine. I suggest you overcome your curiosity as quickly as possible and focus on our task for today."

It was Draco that asked the fatal question. "Professor Snape, Sir, why won't Jane be participating in classes?"

Snape gave the young Slytherin a look that would kill at 100 yards. His answer was quiet and dangerous, daring anyone who wanted to comment on the answer, to do so at his or her own risk. "That, Mr Malfoy, would be because Jane is non-magical."

There was a brief, stunned silence, then numerous sharp intakes of breath at the answer. The Slytherins looked collectively unbalanced, somewhere between shock and disgust. Their Head of House had a Muggle pet! They wanted to run screaming from the classroom. A Muggle! Snape! Yuck!

Most managed to exhibit some sort of control. Draco didn't - he spent the remainder of the class watching the Muggle, trying to decide just what sort of hold she had over Snape. It must have been something special for Snape to openly profess such fondness for her. He would discuss the relationship with her after class; he doubted Snape would be forthcoming with any further information, but he knew he would be able to make the girl talk.