-7-
A ball flew over my aunt's high hedge. "What are you waiting for, (Y/N)? Go and get it!" my cousin - who's three years older than me, orders. "Why me? You were the one who kicked it!" I snap back. "Do I haveto remind you?" she raise her eyebrow. Defeated, I go and get it. This wasn't the first time the ball had flew over neighbours yard. Luckly, they were nice people and didn't mind whenever it happened. Stumbling thru the spiky fence, I finally made it to the other side. Knees and arms full of tiny scratches and scars, I look around. Where is it? "Oh, is this yours?" one of the most gentlest voice ask. My head snaps right towards the voice. It's a boy. About my age. He's holding the ball in his hands with sweetest smile on his face. A Muggle.
I'm too shy to say anything back. Can't remember when was the last time I talked to a Muggle. My parents gets always so upset if I ever did... The boy approaches:"I'm Edward. Edward Woods.". I'm just staring at the ball. Hoping he'd give it soon. "What's your name?" he ask. My eyes meets with his. He has beautiful blue eyes and ginger hair. "...(Y/N)." I answer. Edward hands me the ball:"How many times can you bounce the ball on top of your head?". And right there... In that moment, our fingers touch underneath the ball. Almost like an electric wave had just passed me. What magic is this? My cheeks turns red and mouth felt dry:"I..-", "(Y/N)!" my mother yelled in the front of the neighbors yard. Oh no! She looks half furious, half worried. "C-coming!" cold sweat slides down my cheek. After that day, I couldn't think of anything or anyone else, except that boy. Edward...
"Sneaking in middle of the night! With a MUGGLE?!" my father screamed at me. We are standing in the livingroom. Fire keeps moving furiously in the fireplace as my father walks back and forth. My mother on the other hand is standing in the corner, giving the crocodile tears. muttering to herself how ungrateful I can be. I'm just standing there, staring at the fire. "How long has this been going on?!" my father finally snaps. Gulping down my throat a bit:"...ar.". "What was that?" he steps really close to me. I can smell the whiskey in his breath. "..A year." I repeat. My mother bursts into tears even louder. This is the second time I glance at her direction in this whole conversation. Father scoffs and turn to lean against the fireplace. For a moment we stand there in silence.
My heart is pounding hard in my chest and I gather all my bravery. "I'm in love with him." I reveal. "In love?" my father repeat while still watching the flames. The mood changes immediately in the room. Maybe I should've never said that. But that's how I feel. I love him. "You're sixteen, (Y/N). You don't know what love is!" my mother snaps. "And you do?" I snapped back. She gasps. Quickly, my father turns around with angry eyes:"Don't you talk to your mother that way! You filthy little brat!". Before I could even open my mouth, he continue:"Wasn't it enough to disappoint us by getting sorted to the wrong House?!". My heart sinks. Then there was a moment of silence again. "You leave me no choise, (Y/N)..." he approaches the table where he keeps the alcohol. Then gently takes the wand in his hand, and stares at it:"Maybe this will teach you to respect your parents.". Knowing what's about to happen, my eyes widens. He swings the wand:"Crucio.".
Sunlight comes thru a window, right in my eyes and I start slowly opening my eyes. Huh..? First thing I see, are the vines that are entangled all over the ceiling of the chamber. Wha..-? Immediately, my head starts hurting and I feel weak again:"Ouff..!". It's not as bad like back in the pub, but still... I feel awful. "You got lucky I was the one who found you, stumbling around Hogsmeade's alley." familiar voice scoffs other side of the room. "What..?" weakly, I turn to see who it is. It's Snape! He has his back facing me, preparing something in the tiny kitchen area corner of the chamber I usually like to make the morning coffee or afternoon tea. What is he doing here?! How did I get in here? I have so many questions about last night. First thing I noticed, Snape doesn't have his long cape on he's always wearing, which lets me see his figure better. Didn't know he has so wide back and shoulders.
Despite the awful feeling, I raise myself to sit. "What happened?" I finally ask. "I'm afraid you were poisoned, Miss (Y/L)." Snape answer with his usual monotonic tone, still having his back on me. Frowning confused:"Poisoned?!". What?! Combing my hair back thru my fingers, trying to take this all in. There is still that taste of bitterness in my mouth. "But how did I end up here? And not in Hospital Wing, for example?" I ask. Had to peek under the blanket. Luckily, I'm still wearing the same clothes I had. Even the shoes are still on. "Thought it would be an embarrassment to bring you to a Hospital Wing for students to see their teacher after a night out..." he explain and finally turns around. Oh... He's holding a cup of tea in his hands. Or something that looks like it. Then I look around:"Where's Sniffy?". "If you are referring to your niffler, he is in Grounds Keeper's capable hands." he answer and walk beside the bed. I sigh deep and shook my head:"Great. Bet Hagrid has given him all of his treats by now.".
Snape sits down a chair next to the bed and offers the cup:"Drink this.". My eyes goes quickly between the cup and him. Letting an awkward chuckle:"Ooh... No, no, no, no. Last time I drank something, I got poisoned. Thank you very much.". With the tip of my finger, I push the cup further away. Snape stares deep into my (e/c) eyes with very threatening look on his face:"Drink it. Or else I shall shove it down your throat.". Once again, using that smooth, yet scary tone. I let out a sharp exhale:"Fine.". Just when I'm about to take the cup, with slightest move he pulls it out of my reach:"However... You must tell me every single detail about your night, how you got drugged in middle of public place like that.". "Why? Nothing special happened." I try to argue and reach for the cup. He pulls it further away:"It's the least you can do, since I saved you from that alley. Talk about when you covered my footwear all over with your vomit, I believe my request is reasonable.". I vomited on him?!
My face goes full on red out of embarrassment, which actually makes me feel sick again. Snape sees this and hands me the cup. Can feel his eyes burning on me while I carefully drink the antidote. Right when my lips separates from the cup, Snape snatches it away. Little by little, I actually feel a lot better. Amazing! He puts the cup on the bedside table:"Now tell me, what happened.". I glance at him with side eye:"Why you need to know? I already told you, nothing..-", "Not just anyone goes their way and tries to poison a professor of Wizarding school like that." he says almost without any pauses. I just stare back at him confused. What am I supposed to say? There is nothing to tell, since I really don't know what happened.
"I have you known, I'm skilled Legilimens. I could enter your mind and see the memory of last night to figure out what happened, Miss (Y/L)." he reveals. My face brightness up:"What?! Really? That's incredible!". Guess he got taken aback I wasn't intimidated by his attempt of warning. To be honest, I want to know what happened. All excited, I start to bubble and do as I speak:"So... How we do this? Do I just sit right here? Do-do I close my eyes like this?". Snape stares at me confused. "Or..-! Or do I look straight into yours?" I open my eyes and come the edge of the bed. Then I stop myself after realizing how close I've brought my face to his. In that quick pause, I can see all the different shades of colors of Snape's black eyes as the sunlight thru the window hits just right in his eyes. They are quite beautiful. Then I lean back away from him:"My apologies.". Out of all of the people, Snape isn't the type of person who'd be ok with this kind of proximity.
Snape stays quiet for a moment, then gets up:"Perhaps, another time. You need a rest now.". My head following him while he's heading to the door:"But..-", "I recommend to stay away from unfamiliar beverages, Miss (Y/L)." he opens the door and leaves the chamber. Says the man who was about to forcefully shove the antidote down my throat... It got all quiet after Snape left. Tossing myself back in the bed with a heavy sigh. What really happened? Trying to go thru the whole night. Detail by detail. None of this makes sense. We were all having a good time. The only time things got tense, was when Lucius Malfoy came in the picture. Could it be..? No. But how? He left after Minerva told him and his friends to leave. For a moment, I keep my stare at the ceiling. Eventually, I squint my eyes. Slytherins.