Dark Coil

Dark Coil

Chapter Two

She had worked hard to put the shame of the past behind her, only to find herself hiding from a possible confrontation with the past in a deserted train station in the middle of the Scottish countryside.

"Okay," Olivia told herself, "you can’t spend the night hunkered down here like a hobo." Closing her eyes, she took a steadying breath. "It is over and done with. It can’t be undone, let it go! You’re a big girl now. Act like one!" With that little pep talk, Olivia pushed herself away from the wall and wheeled out of the door onto the curb, only to be slammed down to the hard surface. A crushing weight dropped on her chest, forcing the air from her lungs in a painful whoosh!

"Ah, damn!" drawled a low, angry voice. "What are you about, jumping from doorways in such a manner?" His breath, hot on Olivia’s face, tasted of spice and a touch of brandy. Pushing away from her he sat up right, his thighs straddling her hips. He raked one hand through his long, black hair. Piercing, dark eyes slid over the young woman pinned beneath him. Olivia could only gasp for precious air as her lungs labored to fill themselves once more. That the only wizard she dreaded to meet sat her body in a most intimate manner took second place to her desire to breathe.

Snorting in disgust, the wizard shifted to her side and raised her torso upright. "Are you damaged?" he inquired sharply. "You took quite a blow dashing out onto the curb that way." Though brusque, the voice was deep and melodic, both the same as and yet different from the raging cry that rang in her memory after so many years. Placing an arm across her chest, he leaned her forwards, so that he was taking her weight. "Slowly. That's it. Relax, you will be fine in a bit." Olivia allowed herself to lean into the strength of his body, her forehead pressed to his lapels. As her breath returned and her body ceased its spasms, she became conscious of the bouquet of smells permeating his clothes. Aromas from herbs and other components used in spell casting floated over a deeper, richer scent that she could not identify, something uniquely his own. It had been so long since she had enjoyed the aromas of magic that Olivia rubbed her nose against his robes, inhaling deeply.

"Here now, are you better?" He had placed his other hand behind her head and seemed to be checking for damage. Olivia could only nod and wish for a way that she might continue to hide her face from him. "Well, up you go." His support was removed from her as he stood. Olivia's gaze traveled up a long expanse of black trouser leg, past an equally dark vest partially hidden by flowing wizard robes, up to his face. He reached down a hand for her to take. After pulling her quickly to her feet, he began collecting several packages that had fallen on the curb due to their collision. Olivia watched him stupidly, before stooping to help. Abruptly, he waved her off. "No, don't touch a thing."

"I am so sorry!" Olivia finally managed to bleat. "I mean it. I am sorry. If I had known then what… I am just so sorry about what happened to you." Startled eyes, like chips of obsidian, regarded her as if he thought her mad, his lips forming a silent What?

Recovering quickly, Olivia continued, "I mean, about your parcels. Here, let me help." She didn't dare trust herself to say more. The voice. The eyes, those burning eyes. There was no doubt in her mind now. The fuming wizard hurriedly snatching items from her grasp was none other than Severus Snape. And she had almost apologized, she had come so close to begging his forgiveness right on a public street.

"Madam, please!" he groaned. "Just leave it be, why don't you?"

Olivia rose awkwardly. Still muttering scathingly under his breath, Snape finished collecting his scattered goods. He stood to brush the dust from his robes before rounding on Olivia. "You should be more careful in the future!" He snapped. Olivia winced at his rude tone. " I have several items here that could have been damaged by your stupidity."

"Oh, I will." Olivia answered quickly, not trusting herself to say more. Her cheeks stung from his biting tone. Her tongue struggled for escape against sealed lips. So many words were longing to be set free in response to his churlish behavior that she choked and sputtered. She could not afford prolonged contact by launching into a highly inspired lecture on his brutish manners. Best to let it slide.

"See that you do!" he snarled before stalking away. He had gone no more than three strides when he halted and turned. Olivia was standing dumbly, a clump of long brown hair tangled in the sunglasses that dangled crookedly from her face. "Oh, gods!" Snape snarled once more as he looked her up and down. He took in the jeans, T-shirt, mismatched earrings and her snarl of hair. "Tell me you are not another Hogwarts student."

"No, no. I am here to visit my mother. You see, she…" But he did not allow her to finish. He once more turned from her and made his way quickly along the pavement.

Well, thought Olivia to herself as she watched Severus Snape stride away, robes flowing behind him like raven wings; that hadn't been too bad. At least he had not immediately recognized her, had not yet placed her in his memory. She would have to be very cautious during visits to Hogsmeade. She would take every care to avoid contact with Severus Snape.

Olivia attempted to brush the tangle of hair from her face only to discover it wrapped around her sunglasses like a vine. Eyes nearly crossing, she fiddled with the mess until she was finally able to pull the frames free and return them to her nose. She did not witness Snape's encounter with the giant figure on the road, nor did she see him Disapparate.

What she did notice when she looked up was that she was in danger of being run over a second time, except now she knew she would not survive the crash.

Glancing up to catch a sight of the retreating Snape, Olivia found her view blocked by a man so large she felt sure she was about to be trampled by a giant. His face was almost totally hidden by a beard so long and full that it covered his entire upper body and shoulders like a shawl. He carried a frilled pink umbrella and despite the warmth of the day, he wore a ratty brown overcoat. He rumbled to a halt in front of Olivia, and after closing the umbrella and shoving it into a cavernous pocket, he held out a hand a large as a hubcap and said, "Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts Gamekeeper, at 'cher service. You mus' be Professor McGonagall's girl. Knowed it roit off. You got 'er look about you." His lips, buried deep in the snarl of his beard, spread into a huge smile, revealing white slabs of teeth.

Olivia placed her hand into Hagrid's grip and smiled up at him over her sunglasses. "And which look would that be?" she asked.

Hagrid's entire body quaked as he chuckled quietly. "Oy, an' you got 'er sense of 'umor, too I can tell. Roit funny lady when 'er wants ter, yer Mum."

Olivia couldn’t quite picture Minerva's humorous side, but kept that to herself. "My name is Olivia. I am glad to finally meet you, Hagrid. Mother's mentioned you in her owls." That the references were less than flattering, Olivia kept to herself.

"Yer mum's got the 'hole castle in a uproar, it's that excited she is 'bout you bean 'ere this year. Wan's ever-thin' to be jus'so for 'er lil'girl." Hagrid shook his great shaggy head and stepped past Olivia to bellow through the open door of the station. "Oy, Ern! I'm tak'n Professor McGonagall's girl up to the castle. See tu't that 'er bags gets up, why don'cha? Ther's a good lad!" He must have received a positive reply because he turned back to Olivia and said, "Came over in one of the school boats. B 'ehnuf for the both of us, I'm thinkin'. Roit!, we're off!"

And he strode back up the street, leaving Olivia to follow in his wake.

Making sure her purse was slung over one shoulder and her glasses firmly in place, Olivia jogged after Hagrid as he headed out of the village and down to the docks that stood on the forested edge of a dark lake. Olivia stood for a moment gazing across the expanse of water, the enormous wizarding school, Hogwarts, reflected in its rippling surface. The place still has the power to overwhelm, Olivia thought as she watched specks that she could only assume were owls wheel and swoop around the many turrets and towers.

The setting sun painted the ancient pile of stone with coppery pinks; where the light was fullest, it faded into lavenders, then blues, and where evening's shadows hung thickest, secret-keeping grays and blacks stood out in broad strokes on the artist's canvas. An emerald sweep of lawn picked began at the water's edge and ran in one direction wild and impetuous, first passing by Hagrid's hut and continuing on until plunging headlong into the Forbidden Forest. Its more sedate twin moved quietly up the gentle incline, through the formal gardens with their gravel walks, before melting into the drive that curved in front of the castle, which in turn stopped at the foot of the steps leading to the massive front doors.

Olivia drank in the loveliness of the sight, so much like a tourist post card, it was difficult to believe it could be real. She smiled in satisfaction knowing she would be staying in such a place. She would be able to find comfort with family and make new friends. Here would she shed the hard skin of helplessness and hopelessness that had grown during her years in front of a jury. Teaching Muggle/Wizarding Law to a pack of sixth and seventh year wizard students seemed like parole after a life sentence. As long as she steered clear of Severus Snape when she ventured into Hogsmeade there should be no problem. The young woman sighed.

"Aye, it’s al'ays a beautiful sight, anytime night or day." Hagrid's rumbling sigh echoed her own. "Oi likes to stan' 'ere of an even' and watch the sun go down and then the lights of the castle start winkin' on. Like li'l stars, they are." He stood for a moment, drinking in the view, then suddenly he slammed his beefy hands together like a blast of thunder. "Times awastin'! Bet' be off."

He handed Olivia down into the boat before making his way astern. He sat down heavily, rocking the boat so that Olivia found it necessary to grab the rails to stay up right. Hagrid pulled his frilly pink umbrella from his pocket, and giving a wink to Olivia, tapped the boat sharply. They glided away from the Hogsmeade docks and moved smoothly over the silent waters to Hogwarts.