Cold

Chapter Nine

(Severus Snape)

"He passed out," I said, noting the feared look upon Ginny's face. "I think he's just had too much today."

I lifted him up, his legs draping over one arm, the other holding his back. He was quite light for a boy his age. I closed my eyes.

"I've been looking after him since he came running in here, pale as the moon a couple of years ago. Things just seem to go downhill. I don't believe I can really help him. He's too impulsive. I'm always sure he doesn't need my help, until stuff like this happens. Then, I'm not positive he WANTS my help. "

"Professor," Ginny said, eyes glistening. "I don't think that's true. I think... he really does love you, Professor. From what I've seen, you're way more of a father to him than his real father and... and he really looks up to you."

"I wish he didn't," I replied truthfully, carrying him out of my office and to the right to the portrait hole. "He's only looking at sorrow if he wants to be like me. Screwt." The portrait hole swung open. "C'mon," I said. "We won't come in contact with any students. I'm taking him to my room so no questions will be asked. I won't be sleeping much tonight anyway. I've got to join the search."

I lay him down on my bed after closing my door behind the three of us. I moved to my closet and pulled out one of my old outfits, pulling off his shirt and pants and wrapping it around him until he was fully clothed again. I grabbed a towel and scrubbed his head dry, then reached for another one, throwing it to Ginny.

"You can change too, if you like. You can stay here for the night. I'll make up a good excuse for you. Besides, I doubt class will be happening tomorrow. I'd like it if someone were here with him in case something happens."

"Okay," she answered.

I gingerly laid him down upon the bed, staring down at him for a moment.

"If only you were my real son..."

I threw the covers over him and strode out of the room, but not before muttering a "take care of him" to Ginny.

(Harry Potter)

There was chaos in the common room as I leaned over the floor, my forehead pounding, blood trickling from it. My heart was slamming against my ribs. I could hardly breathe. I could hardly think.

"Harry! HARRY!" Ron's voice reverberated through my mind.

"R-ron," I whispered. "I... can't... breathe.... It... hurts..."

"Harry, listen to me," McGonagal's voice came quickly. "You have to stand up. All the blood will pour from your forehead if you stay in this position."

My voice began talking for me. "HE'S COMING! THE DARK LORD IS COMING TO TAKE THE THREE! THE THREE SHALL DIE AT THE HANDS OF THE DARK LORD!"

"What the f-" Ron quieted.

"HARRY!" Hermione screamed out, her arms clutching me so very far away.

My voice began coming in a hiss, rather than words. Everything swirled around me, and I felt my mind fog up. Silence.

(Severus Snape)

"This is insane," I muttered, racing down the hall, wand in hand.

"Severus!"

I turned quickly. McGonagal almost slammed into me. Her eyes were wild.

"What's wrong?" I asked seriously but impatiently.

"Something's happening to Harry Potter. He's speaking Parseltongue and his scar is BLEEDING!"

"WHAT?!" Déjà vu fell over me momentarily, then I shook my head. "Take me there."

(Ginny Weasley)

He looked like a child. I had slipped on one of Snape's robes. It was like a large, black dress on me, but it fit well enough, so I kept it. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, hanging over my shoulder. I lay down on the mattress, staring at his face. The pain was obvious, as was the fear. I sat there, staring at him for quite a while, but exhaustion began to plague me and I curled up beside him, pulling the comforter over me as well as him. I fell into a soft slumber.

(Severus Snape)

Harry Potter was convulsing on the bed in the Hospital Wing, his face bright white, emerald eyes shining. It was worse than I thought. Teachers were actually holding him down.

"THEY'RE GOING TO DIE! THE DARK LORD WILL KILL THEM! HE WILL KILL THEM ALL!" His yells were followed by loud hissing.

Suddenly, he shot upward, vomiting blood. I quickly reached into my robes and pulled out the purple bottle that I had used on Draco and Ginny, shoving it into McGonagal's hands.

"Look," I said with a sense of urgency. "Put this on his scar. And this," I pulled out a black vile, "Make him drink this. It'll give him more will power." I pulled out another vile of green liquid. "This will put a field around his mind. He won't think as clearly but it will keep V- the Dark Lord out of his head for now. I have to go with the others after the Death Eaters."

I quickly strode out of the room and up the stairs. I wasn't headed outside as I had said. I hurried up a spiral staircase and slammed open the door the tower.

"Sybill!" I boomed.

She looked up from her crystal ball, pale. "S-severus..."

"Tell me now. What have you seen?!"

"Seen?"

"Well, you ARE a Seer! If you haven't seen anything, I'm leaving. I need it to be relevant to Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, or Ginny Weasley. NOW!"

"Uh... uh... let me see!" She was quite nervous, on the verge of collapsing from my tone. I softened.

"Please hurry."

(Draco Malfoy)

"Wh-what?" My eyes flickered open and I stared around the room.

All was quiet. I rose up, but lay back down quickly as blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy. That's when I saw her. Ginny lay beside me, sleeping soundly, sunlight glimmering off of her skin and seeping into her ginger locks.

"Wait... SUNLIGHT!" I exclaimed out loud, waking her.

"Huh... what? D-draco, what the hell?"

"It's morning! How long have I been asleep?! What happened?!"

"You passed out," she said sleepily, raising up. "Snape brought you here. You needed the rest, Draco. People can't just run around like that without rest. You could have died!"

I ran a hand through my hair. "Dammit... why... does he always have to take care of me?"

(Ginny Weasley)

"Huh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's a bad thing that he takes care of you?"

"I owe him so much... I'll never be able to pay him back. I... can't give him what he gives me. Mother thanks him all the time. She's so glad I have a man to talk to that won't beat the shit out of me... but... that's not.... I... I don't know what I mean..." Draco sat on the bed, closing his eyes. "It... it's not fair to him to have to do all this.... I feel like such a burden...."

"Draco, Snape doesn't do this because you ask him to," I said, crawling up beside him. "He does this because he really cares about you and he doesn't want you to get hurt."

"I know," he replied softly, "but that still doesn't make me feel better. I... I wish..."

"What? What do you wish?"

"I... I wish... he was... my real father..." he whispered. "I... I would be so... so much happier with him.... I mean, I know you guys hate him, but you don't understand him like I do. I've seen who he is. He's seen who I am. If he was... my real father, he would have seen me cry..."

"Huh?" I blinked, confused.

"I don't cry in front of anyone unless I really, REALLY love them," I replied, "Like family, or the one I feel like I could marry." He fell back on the bed. "My mum has seen me cry, but that's it. I hope that I can find the strength to cry in front of someone else one day..."

"I'm sure you will," I said, smiling softly. "You really love your mom, don't you?"

I stared at him, bathed in the golden light from the window. He was beautiful-he truly was. Sunlight complimented him as much as moonlight did; it just gave him a warmer glow, a happy feeling that not many could see.

"Yeah," he sighed. "I could never make it without her. She keeps me going, I have to say. I just wish she'd stand up to my dad. She lets him push her around because she's afraid that he'll hurt me. She's been hurt worse than I have at times, but she still manages to keep smiling and tell me that everything will be okay. She's the most wonderful mother a boy could have."

"She sounds perfect."

"She IS perfect, Gin, she-"

"You..."

"Huh?"

"You called me Gin."

"Oh, um, sorry-"

"No, it's fine. It's just... that's what my brother's call me sometimes. It surprised me. Go on, really. I want to know more."

"Um... okay... well... she's perfect in everyway. If you've seen her, you KNOW she's gorgeous. She's veela ya' know. She's an amazing actress-after all, she pretends to love my dad and that nothing's wrong. Then, she's always... ALWAYS there for me... no matter what. She told me that she'd be with me until she died. I wouldn't mind that all. I love her so much..."

"I bet I would like her a lot as well," I replied dreamily.

"Then why don't you meet her?" He sat up and grinned at me. "Why don't you spend Christmas with me?"

"Draco, we can't do that! My brothers-"

"So lie! Tell your family that you want to spend Christmas with a friend."

"I don't know."

"Well, Christmas is pretty far away. Think about it. My mom would LOVE you."

"You think?" I beamed at him.

"Oh yeah, I mean, you're beautiful. She'll dress you up like her doll!" He halted and flushed slightly at what he had said.

"You... really think I'm pretty?"

"Why do you THINK guys stare at you?" He rested his head on his hand.

"Oh... I never noticed..." I blushed.

"Of course you didn't. You had your eye on Harry Potter!"

"Did you have your eye on me, Draco Malfoy?"

"Sorry, but no," he replied simply. "Girls haven't exactly been my main focus for the past few years..."

"I understand," I said, "But would you look at me now?"

"Probably not," he returned just as simply. "After all, you have... how many brothers?"

"Six: Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ron; then Harry and Hermione got my back too."

"Good point. See what I mean?"

"Yeah."

"Have you ever watched me?"

"Of course! I'm only a human girl!"

Draco's face went cherry red.

"Well, you ARE sexy," I laughed. "Look at all the girls that LOVE you!"

"Heh..." It was the first time I had ever seen that humble vulnerability on him; then the embarrassment took me by surprise as well. "Thanks..."

(Severus Snape)

Sybill scuffled about the room, desperately reading scrolls and crystals. She had one in her hand when it happened. Her face went dead pale and solid. The crystal dropped from her hand, shattering upon the floor. Something was wrong. I could feel it. The Dark Mark on my arm throbbed.

"DEATH IS ON THE HORIZON! THE DARK LORD WILL HAVE HIS WAY!"

"Wh-what the," I stammered, backing up against a wall.

The door creaked open. I turned quickly, wand out.

"Calm down, Severus; she does this quite often now." Dumbledore peeked at me over his half-moon spectacles.

"D-Dumbledore!" I exclaimed, surprised.

"Sybill is a Seer, Severus," he replied gravely. "If she says someone is going to die, then someone is going to die."

My thoughts immediately fell on Draco. "Who? Who's going to die?!"

"I don't know, but Mr. Potter also seems to be doing this. It seems You-Know-Who has a plan in the works. One involving... three... children..."

"Ch-children..." My breath caught in my throat.

"The ones that bleed, he called them," Dumbledore replied.

"Oh, no," I whispered, feeling my knees shaking. I leaned against the wall, focused on the floor.

"Do you know who these children are, Severus?" Dumbledore asked in wonderment.

I stared at him for a moment, considering the options, when something came to mind.

"Professor, could you do me a favor?" Draco asked softly as I applied the lotion to his arm once again.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Please don't tell anyone about this stuff.... I... I don't want anyone to know. Can you do that?"

"I won't tell, Draco," I replied sincerely.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"No," I said, closing my eyes. "I don't know."

"You know," Dumbledore said. "Harry Potter said in his strange vision that there was one that would kill before being killed."

"What?" I stared at him, trying to read him but to no avail.

"I think... that Voldemort doesn't plan to just kill someone... he wants to... capture someone, if that's a good word for it. He might just turn another one of these students into a blood thirsty killer."

"Another..." I murmured, feeling shame tugging at me.

"And if you know of this three who bleed, I believe it would be in their best interests if you tell me," Dumbledore nodded, then walked out of the room.

My blood was pumping at twenty times the normal speed and sweat was running down my face. Sybill suddenly looked up.

"Severus? What happened? You look positively awful!"

"Thanks for the compliment," I growled and raced out of the room before any further questioning.

"This can't be happening... this just can't be happening... Draco... I have to save him... I... I can't do this on my own anymore!" My thoughts dashed through my mind as I felt the need to faint right on the spot.

I slammed open the doors to the Hospital Wing and strode inside.

"How is he?" I asked quickly.

"Better," McGonagal replied, "but tired."

"I see..." I muttered. "I'll make some more potion for him tomorrow. The stuff I gave you should last him for awhile. Now, if you don't mind, I have other things to attend to."

The 'other things' I had specified were not exactly important. I truly wasn't sure what they were. I felt the need just to collapse then and there. There was too much happening at once. My adrenaline had had enough. My heart had had enough. My mind was no longer functional. I stared outside, thinking about whether I should go see if there were still Death Eaters out there.

"..." I thought about it for a moment. "Fuck it." And I walked away.

(Draco Malfoy)

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked as I lay quiet.

"I... I don't know," I replied, feeling uneasy. "I just... know that something bad is happening. We should go find Prof-"

The door swung open to reveal a highly stressed Professor Snape.

"Speak of the Devil," I replied.

"Sure," was Snape's reply.

"You okay?" Ginny asked, sounding a bit worried.

I was too, but I didn't show it. I had never, EVER seen Snape look so... ravaged...

"Professor?" I asked, approaching him.

"Not now, Draco," Snape said, pushing past me to collapse in a chair. "Way too much bullshit has happened tonight for me to be questioned."

"What... happened?" Ginny asked hesitantly.

"Do you really want to know?" Snape said tiredly.

"Well... yeah."

"Alright then. Your friend, Harry Potter, is in the Hospital Wing, his scar bleeding and puking blood as well. He's shouting out visions of the 'three who bleed' and something that Voldemort has to do with it... Sybill is too. Dumbledore is on to us, I'm sure of it, and that just happens to ADD to all the crap that's been happening to me for the past few weeks! I'm just PEACHY!"

"Professor, I- I'm sorry," I felt so guilty, knowing that half was my fault.

Ginny, however, had been caught by one subject. "HARRY'S IN THE HOSPITAL WING?!"

"Ginny, please don't yell," Snape begged. "I have the worst headache..."

"Oh, Professor, I'm sorr-"

"-Don't apologize. It's my own fault." I could barely hear Snape's voice.

"Yeah," I muttered, feeling as if I would drown. "It's mine."

Snape hadn't heard me. He had fallen asleep.

"It's not your fault, Draco," Ginny said, retrieving a blanket off of Snape's bed and wrapping it around the Professor.

"I wish I could convince myself of that," I sighed. "But I can't, so don't try."

"R-right..." Ginny sighed, sounding as if she didn't know what to do.