Twelve of the Table

Chapter 3/?
Key Words: Snape before Hogwarts Summary: Severus Snape meets the girl of his dreams, but Lucius Malfoy, the Dark Lords successor, wants Starr too. Starr loves Severus, but is he going too far? Spoilers: All four HP books Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Everything that is related to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series is hers and no profits are being made from using her characters.

Starr stood for a moment, her mouth hanging open. 'Severus I, well I don't know.'

Severus was shocked. After her saying she loved him just hours ago, she was refusing his proposal?

'Severus, I do love you, but I'm not sure If this is the right time Do you understand?'

Starr still had the whole 'Deer in headlights' thing going on, and was stumbling around, looking for the right words to help Severus understand.

'I understand perfectly.' Severus stood back up and placed the ring in his pocket.

After Starr had walked off to Knockturn, Severus had rushed down Diagon Alley to the Jewelers, Backbock's. There he had demanded to meet the owner and buy the most expensive piece of jewelry they had available. The owner, Mr. Backbock, had taken his jolly-good time in placing the ring in a box and counting out the galleons when Severus gave him the large bag from his pocket. Finally, Severus had managed to rid himself of the man and rush here, his heart overflowing with joy.

To face this.

Utter rejection didn't often cross paths with Severus Snape. He had his family fortune behind him; no one had ever wanted to upset him, lest he decide they were no longer needed on this earth.

Now he was rejected.

He didn't like it much.

He turned and looked at Starr, his voice came out cracked and hollow. 'I think I will be going back to Malfoy Mansion now. Good day.' And with that he was gone.

Starr sat down on the steps and began to weep. She didn't want to marry Severus now, she had not said she never wanted to. And now he was gone, without letting her explain.

She was just getting started with the Death Eaters, and that was enough. A wedding would be hard to organize when she had to worry about how she handled herself in every situation!

Couldn't he understand that she loved him, but wasn't ready yet?

She looked around the apartment. Many memories washed over her. Severus had helped with decorating the flat in a retro look. Lots of pillows, a low couch, bright, neon almost colors.

And now he wasn't here.

Why can't he understand??!!!??? Starr thought for probably the thousandth time in half an hour.

She fell over onto the couch and hugged a pillow close to her. I have to go back to Malfoy Mansion tonight for the dinner, and Severus will be there. Everyone will think we are still the perfect couple, and I will have to look at him, sit next to him, and talk with him, as if everything is ok. Well, IT ISN'T!! And I don't feel like putting up with it.

Even with those rebellious thoughts Starr knew she would put up with it. She had no other choice.

Wiping the tears off her face she looked at the nearest clock. It has neon squiggles all over the top. She and Severus have found it in some old junk store and he had magically restored it.

Even a damn clock reminds me of him! Starr was thinking murderous thoughts when a knock sounded at the door.

Not wanting any visitors at the moment, Starr ignored it and curled up into a ball on her couch. But the person was relentless! More knocking came, so Starr quickly sat up and cast a charm to see who it was.

The name above the door didn't persuade her in the least to get off the couch, but the voice from behind the door did.

* * * * *

Severus arrived at the Malfoy Mansion and swept towards his rooms. He halted at the door, not wanting to enter. He and Starr had made love in this room and he didn't think he could stand the thought of entering it without her. What do I care?! Nothing, she is nothing to me!

She doesn't want me, and she made that very clear. Anger surged through him. He jerked the door open and strode into the room. A little house elf scurried away.

He walked over to the dresser and started packing his clothing. He would not be staying in this room again. After he was done packing he dragged his suitcase over to the door. The bag full of Starr's newest purchases was still on his arm so he took it off and dug through it.

When he found the bureau she had bought him he placed it on the floor and enlarged it.

Shoving it against the wall he muttered to himself. 'Happy Valentines Day, Lucius. Hope you like it.' He dumped out all the bags from Madame Malkin's and left the room.

He had one last thing he needed to do.

* * * * *

'Starr! Let me in, Goddamn it!' Severus' voice carried through the thick wood of Starr's front door. Why, in the name of all that is good, is he here? Starr jumped up from the sofa and stood facing the door. She didn't know what to do.

But that was soon taken care of. Becoming impatient, Severus blasted down Starr's door.

'You are breaking and entering. Leave now.' Starr stood firm. The fact that she was still in her Muggle clothing, with shopping bags all around her, made her look very powerless though and Severus walked in.

'I am not here to talk.' Severus' eyes bored right into Starr's. 'I am here to retrieve my things.'

'Fine then, you may do it yourself. I need to go get ready for dinner.' Starr stalked off to her dressing room and left Severus standing there, on top of her door.

'"Fine then "' Severus mumbled to himself as he placed the door back. '"I need to get ready for dinner."'

Severus walked through the flat, placing all his clothing, all his books, and all his other miscellaneous items into a bag. He didn't go any closer to her dressing room than absolutely necessary, and left with a sharp snap.

Starr walked out into her living room after hearing his departure. She looked around at the room, now missing about half of the items that had previously made the flat seem cluttered.

Feeling suddenly weak, Starr collapsed into a heap.

* * * * *

Severus ended up at his house, Snape Estate, where he quickly demanded all the house elves work on clearing out anything of 'Mistress Walsh's' items and boxing them to be sent to her no later than early tonight.

After seeing that all of this had been taken care of, he went upstairs to his bedroom.

He had told the elves not to enter this room only because he wanted to do it himself. He wanted the satisfaction of knowing nothing of hers would disturb him here. Here where they had first made love, here where he had always been able to escape any problems.

No, he couldn't let her get this place, he had to clean out everything that was hers, or even reminded him of her.

He spent a good hour in his room, sorting through what was hers and what wasn't hers.

Finally he was finished. He called a house elf to package the things and left to get ready for the dinner.

The dinner... She will be there. What will I do? The question hung in the air as he prepared to go back to Malfoy Mansion.

* * * * *

Starr woke to the feeling of shag carpeting on her check. Shit! Starr must have fainted. I am so weak. She picked herself up off the floor and walked back to her dressing room to change into her most provocative robes. I don't care what goes on in Lucius' mind. I want Severus to see what he is going to miss out on for not letting me talk.

Once Starr was finished preparing for that nights dinner, spending extra time to get rid of the carpeting imprint on her check, she apparated to Malfoy Mansion. She really needed a shoulder to cry on, and Narcissa seemed like the perfect candidate.

After tracking her down in the green houses, Starr ran up to Narcissa and called out her name.

'Starr! You are back early! I would have thought you and Severus wouldn't be back until it was time for tonight's dinner!' Narcissa put down the watering bucket she had been using and guided Starr to a bench. 'You don't look so good Are you feeling all right?'

'Severus and I, well, we didn't have a fight exactly.' She was sobbing already. How weak! I will not humiliate myself this way! She straightened he shoulders and sat up straight, calming herself down. 'He proposed to me, and I turned him down. I love him, but he didn't understand. I just don't want to get married right now!'

Starr crumpled up into a ball again as sobs made her shoulders heave.

'Starr Starr Starr Do not worry ' Narcissa continued to murmur soft things until Starr was under control again. 'What are you going to do about it?'

Starr didn't seem to have heard what Narcissa said. 'He took all his stuff from my flat already. He came right in like he owned the place and took it all!' The sobs started again.

'Well, are you just going to let him hurt you like that?' A sharp edge came into Narcissa voice. Starr jerked up and stopped crying. 'What are you going to do about him?'

'I never thought about it. Do you have something in mind?' Starr could tell that Narcissa knew something, but she wasn't sure what.

'I would have thought that with your beautiful Slytherin head you would have thought of something by now.' Narcissa did know something, Starr was sure by the way that she was talking.

'I don't know though, now that you mention it, in a way I guess I already had something planned. I wore this dress,' She opened her cloak a little to show Narcissa the beautiful blue silk dress she had on. It accentuated every slight curve of her body. 'To make Severus rethink not listening to me.'

'That is a good base, but you need something bigger than that. Come inside. I will fix your make up and help you form a plan of action.'