The Bonds of Friendship

O.W.L.s

~9~

Aleanor sat in the horseless carriage, her leg thumping wildly as she found it difficult to remain calm. She would see Severus that night.

In the seat beside her, sat a small locked trunk and a box full of letters for her favorite Slytherin. How she actually managed to get through the last week of break without going utterly mad due to a lack of contact with Severus, she could only attribute to her best friend Lily. Without her shoulder to cry on, and ear to talk to, Aleanor would have never made it.

As the returning students poured into the Great Hall, the red head followed Lily up to their dormitory. They had a little something to hide, and needed to do so immediately. Aleanor didn't feel comfortable carrying it on her even just through dinner.

Lily sat on Aleanor's bed; flipping through the spell book they had found to help them. "Alie, did you figure out what you'd use to mark the compartment?"

Fumbling with the bundle of worn velvet in her lap, she tried to not think about how extremely important the item in the center of that bundle was, and that it was now her responsibility. "Yeah. I know what I'll use," she answered, pulling out a small paper with a sketch of Aqwellyn's amulet on it.

****

"I'm proud of you Sev, you made it through the entire trip without once opening a book." Lucius felt a sneer spread across his face. It truly did amaze him how the dark boy had managed to do so, however strangely uncharacteristic of him. Severus walked silently beside him as the pair headed to their dorms before attending dinner.

Walking into the cold room, Lucius threw his cloak on his bed, himself shortly after. "Ah, I've missed this place."

Severus sat on the edge of his bed, pulling the now familiar green leather bound book from his robes and setting it on his nightstand. Looking over at him, the dark boy raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, not this place, just its convenient distance from home and close proximity to Narcissa," Lucius corrected himself.

With a low chuckle, Severus removed his cloak. "I know exactly how you feel."

Lucius slid his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes for a moment. She's beginning to get in the way, he thought, thinking of how Severus' thoughts seemed to revolve around the fiery Cardinal far more than he would like.

Unless I find a way to pluck that little bird, so Severus could see what she is under all those fanciful feathers, she'll only gain more influence over him... and I know just what that will lead to... he won't join with me, and I can't have that.

~~~*~~~

"For heaven's sake Alie, walk! Do you want to..."

Lily's warning came a bit too late it appeared, as Aleanor ended up missing a step in her mad dash down the stairs in an effort to see Severus as soon as possible. Her heel slipping off the edge, she felt her body leaning forward. Trying to prevent herself from flipping forward, she managed to lean just enough to fall onto her side, crushing her arm under her as she began to roll down the remaining steps.

"Alie!" Lily ran down the stairs and knelt down beside her. "Are you okay?"

Lifting her head up, Aleanor tried to prop herself up, when a searing pair shot through her right arm. Sucking in air through gritted teeth, she cradled her aching limb in her lap as she put all her weight on her other arm. "AH, no! I think I broke my arm."

"Well, how's your legs?"

"Dunno, guess I'll have to stand and find out."

Carefully, Lily helped her up. As Aleanor went to put some weight on her left ankle, she cried out in pain.

"Oh, sorry Alie," her friend apologized.

Despite her pain, she giggled. "For what? Trying to warn me from not only making a fool of myself, but injuring myself as well?" Sitting down on the bottom step with Lily's help, she laughed, "Oh, yes, you should be so sorry."

Finally, the green-eyed girl laughed. "It seems you didn't hit your head too hard... you're still the wise arse."

"A wise arse, Lil," she corrected her friend, "we all know who The Wise Arse is." As she was saying this, the familiar sound of the dark duo came up behind them. Looking over her shoulder, Aleanor quickly added, "Speak of the devil."

Potter and Black looked down at the two redheaded girls. "Well, well, Sirius, what do we have here?"

Lily groaned, unconvincingly. "Potter, Aleanor had an... accident. Could you two help me get her to the hospital wing?"

A devious grin spread across Potter's face. "I don't know Evans... maybe if you'd..."

Lily interrupted him. "If you think that sick bribe would possibly work on me, you're dumber than you look." Pointing at his hair, she added, "You know there's this wonderful little contraption called a comb..."

Aleanor broke out in a fit of laughter as Potter nervously ran a hand through his hair in a fruitless effort to tidy it. She continued to laugh as Black picked her up, rolling his eyes at his friend. "Give up James."

****

Severus kept looking past Lucius and over at the Gryffindor table. Still, there was no sign of Aleanor. Looking back at his fair friend, he watched as Lucius leaned closer to Narcissa, whispering in her ear. A devious grin spread on the girl's face as she playful hit the blonde's arm. Severus rolled his eyes; apparently they had plans for that evening.

Turning his attention back towards Severus, the blonde knew where he was looking. "Can't you stop staring at her for even a few minutes?" he asked sarcastically.

"Lucius, she's not there," he replied coolly.

"What?" Lucius glanced over his shoulder. Turning back to Severus, he grinned. "She's not the only one. Evans, Potter, and Black are gone as well."

"Evans is probably with her," he retorted, knowing where his friend would most likely be taking this.

"Perhaps." A wide grin spread on the fair boy's face. "Then again, Evans may be with Potter, which would leave..."

"Don't be a fool. Aleanor would never do such a thing," he interrupted him, much to the amusement of several housemates who had taken an unwelcome interest in their conversation. Severus glared at his friend contemptuously.

"Really?" the fair boy said with a sneer. "Women can be devilishly clever. As I recall, you decided not to tell the Cardinal about our mutual friend or his gift to you. Are you sure she has no secrets from you as well?"

Feeling his blood boil, he fought the urge to leap over the table and knock the sickening smirk off his friend's face. His remark didn't hurt because it was about Aleanor, but because he actually had a point. If Severus was willing to keep secrets from her, he'd be naïve to think she couldn't do the same to him.

Dropping his fork on the table, Severus glared at the Slytherins watching the two boys with intense curiosity. Several turned their faces back towards their plates, though he was sure they would still be listening intently. Leaning in towards his friend, he snarled, "I really don't think you are in any position to..."

"Snivellus"

Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, the dark boy slowly clenched his hands into two tight fists. This is the last thing I need right now. Slowly he turned to face the insufferable Gryffindor standing behind him. Many of his housemates were already glaring at the intruder. "What the hell do you want Black?" he growled.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he retorted, "Well, if you're going to be that way, I won't tell you about Aleanor." Spinning on his heel to leave, Bellatrix quickly stood, blocking his retreat.

"Spill it Sirius," she threatened, reaching into her robes for her wand.

Black put up his hands as a look of mock fear skipped across his face. "Oooooh, Bella, I'm so scared."

Severus really wasn't in the mood to watch a Black on Black episode, again, so he quickly interrupted. "What about Aleanor?"

Black put a hand on Bellatrix's shoulder and roughly shoved her back onto the bench. Still making ridiculous faces at her, Black answered, "She's in the hospital wing."

Jumping to his feet, Severus nearly knocked Black into his cousin's lap as he bolted out of the Great Hall. Running as fast as his feet would carry him, he skipped every other step on his way to the Hospital Wing. Reaching the doors, he skidded to a halt.

****

Aleanor choked down the nasty potion the nurse, Madame Titchnell, had given her. Setting down the empty glass on the table beside her, she looked over at her friend. "Thanks Lil, for talking Potter out of giving Severus the message."

"No problem Alie. We both know what that would have turned into, so it was the least I could do," Lily responded. "Though I have a feeling Black will still find a way to stir up the rest of the Slytherin table."

Giggling, Aleanor rubbed her sore arm. "I feel so incredibly stupid!"

Her green-eyed friend laughed. "I told you to slow down."

"Thanks," she replied, still slapping herself mentally, "now I feel so much better," she added sarcastically.

Suddenly, the hospital wing doors flew open and Severus stormed in, a look of complete terror written across his face. "What happened?" he cried, overlooking her bandaged arm and ankle.

"Relax Snape, she just fell down the stairs." Behind his back, Lily rolled her eyes. She always thought he had a tendency to overreact.

"You weren't pushed were you?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed as he took her hand in his.

Aleanor chuckled. "No, Severus, I wasn't pushed. I was running and I missed a step."

Lily put her hand on Aleanor's shoulder. "I'm going to dinner. I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye Lil," she called after her friend. Looking back at Severus, she knew he was still worried. "I only broke my arm and sprained my ankle. Madame Titchnell said I only need to stay the night. I'll be as good as new tomorrow."

Finally, a wave of relief swept across his face. "Why on earth were you running?"

With a sheepish grin, she answered, "I couldn't wait to see you."

As one of his scarce smiles played on his face, Severus began to chuckle. Leaning down, he kissed her softly on the forehead as he ran a hand along her cheek.

****

It seemed to take Severus forever to leave the Cardinal's bedside. Lucius had stood in the shadows outside of the hospital wing for his chance to get the fiery tart by herself. As his dark haired friend emerged from the hospital wing, quietly closing the doors behind him, the fair boy watched him walk down the corridor towards the Slytherin common room.

Grinning, Lucius walked over to the heavy doors, carefully opening them as not to attract Madame Titchnell's attention. Getting all the way to the Gryffindors bedside would be hard enough to do without the redhead noticing and raising the alarm.

Luckily, a screen had been placed between her bed and the door, so he could enter quietly and without incident. Silently, he made his way to Delaney's bed. Looking around the screen, he found her settling herself in for a night's sleep. Let's see how well she sleeps when I'm through with her.

"You look comfortable, Delaney."

Nearly leaping out of the bed, her eyes immediately were aflame. "Malfoy, get the hell out of here!"

"No, I'm afraid I was looking for a chance to talk to you... privately," he sat himself in the chair beside her bed, "and I figured what better opportunity than the present?" He enjoyed the way his curled lips seemed to irk the girl even more than when his words were pouring out.

Grinning at him, she replied coolly, "How about NEVER?"

He ignored her. "I was rather surprised when I learned you chose not to tell Severus the true nature of our conversation at the Ball."

"Conversation?" she gave a hearty laugh, "Malfoy, you threatened me! I'd hardly call that a conversation." Now the Cardinal sat up, glaring at him with a look he never recalled even seeing on the girl's face before; and it certainly wasn't fear.

"Anyways.... I thought for sure you would have gone running off to your dear Sev, possibly hoping for him to see my truly evil ways." Lucius grinned.

Delaney smiled, which completely threw him off guard. She should have been scared out of her wits by now. "You really are thick aren't you?" Laughing, she reached over to the table beside her to take a sip of water before continuing. "Like I'd go running to Severus like some weak female? What the hell do you take me for... your bleach blonde bimbo? Sorry Malfoy, but I'm not stupid. Though Severus may trust you, I certainly don't."

Crossing her legs, she propped her chin up in her left hand. "You don't know him nearly as well as you think you do. You honestly don't understand why I didn't tell him, do you?"

"Because he wouldn't have believed it, and would have turned from your pathetic lying arse," he snarled, beginning to hate the turn this had taken.

The tart laughed. "Malfoy, he would have killed you... LITERALLY! However much that would have pleased me, the last thing I wanted was for him to get expelled or spend the rest of his life in Azkaban. So by not telling him, I saved your sorry arse!"

Jumping to his feet in a fit of anger, Lucius withdrew his wand and aimed it directly at the still giggling Cardinal. "You bitch. Think you're clever do you? Think you have Severus right where you want him?"

"Yes, I do," she grinned, showing him she had her wand hidden in her sling, and that it was pointing at him as well, "don't you ever underestimate me, Malfoy. You may have been brought up to believe that witches are merely your playthings, but I most certainly am not. I wouldn't think twice about cursing you into next week if you so much as look at me the wrong way. As a matter of fact... Silencio!"

The blonde's eyes nearly doubled; the damn bird had silenced him. What was worse was the fact that he wasn't skilled in performing the counter, yet.

With a satisfied grin, Delaney put her wand back in her sling and lay back on her bed. "You're so much more agreeable when you're mute."

Furious, he went to grab her throat.

Raising a finger, she mockingly shook it back and forth. "Ah, ah, ah...MADAME TITCHNELL," she shouted. "Guess you better leave," she whispered with a grin.

Clenching his hands in two tight fists, he quickly retreated, letting the doors bang shut behind him. You will NEVER get the better of me again, Delaney. NEVER. One day, I will be rid of you, we'll both be rid of you, and I'll enjoy watching you die.

~~~*~~~

As the O.W.L.s arrived, Severus and Aleanor found themselves spending most of their time together preparing for the exams. Aleanor still needed help in Potions, but was currently helping Severus in Astronomy. Getting permission to use the tower at night for studying was easy enough, Aleanor was one of the professor's favorite students; it was keeping their minds on their work that posed a problem.

"Severus, stop that! We have our Astronomy exams tomorrow." Pulling away from him as he again tried to distract her by nipping at her neck, Aleanor grabbed his chart and slammed it into his chest. "You've plotted Uranus wrong, again."

A ridiculous grin spread on the dark boy's face.

"Don't even... I hear that joke enough from Black, it's old." As his grin faded and he looked over the chart with a look of complete dread, she laughed. "You can follow the phases of the moon fine enough, but can't even tell the difference between Uranus and Saturn? I just don't get it."

Rolling up the offending item, he glared at her. "The phases of the moon come into play in the brewing of numerous potions. Uranus means shite!"

"Maybe in potions, but not in Astronomy, so get back to..."

"Aleanor"

As the two turned towards the tower staircase, they nearly jumped when they saw Dumbledore standing there.

"I'm afraid we need to talk. Will you excuse us Severus?"

Nodding timidly, he answered, "Yes Professor."

With a warm smile, Dumbledore led her down the staircase.

~~~*~~~

"What's wrong?" Severus had never seen her like this before, never. She looked ready to fall apart.

Aleanor burst into uncontrollable tears. "My Gram's gone. Died yesterday afternoon."

Pulling Aleanor to him, he held her as tight as he could, kissing the top of her head. "I'm so sorry," is all he could think to say.

"Th- the funeral's tomorrow," she sobbed, clutching onto his robes as if for dear life.

"What about our Defense Against the Dark Arts exam tomorrow?"

Aleanor sat back, wiping as many tears away as she could. "I have to take them before breakfast, and the practice after dinner when I get back; Dumbledore arranged it."

Severus hugged her once again, wondering how she was going to handle the grueling exam that early and with her grandmother's death on her mind. He'd give anything to be there for her.

What he didn't realize was how much he was going to wish she were there for him...