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Kristi looked up in surprise as the door opened, seemingly of it's own accord. She was greeted by a very grumpy looking Darrin; he must not be a morning person. Smiling at that thought, she raised up on her toes and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead while saying, "Good morning." |
Extremely confused and irritated, he shoved her with a hand to the chest, aside, and snarled, "Get out of my way!" Raising a hand to his forhead, his eyebrows furrowed, he walked past her, looking back to gauge her reaction. |
ooc: it kinda gives away what we're going to do- for people who are reading (I'm surprised at how many people have read this RP) Kristi stumbled back as Darrin pushed her aside. What was wrong with him? She ran over and grabbed his arm as he hesitated in his abrupt departure. "What's wrong?" |
"Why does there have to be something wrong with someone, for them to want to not be in your prescence?!" he barked, shoving her aside and tearing his hand from her grip. ooc- I was only aware of 2 people. gamesue and snivvy. who do you know? and oh ;) will do btw. |
Kristi leant upon the wall to steady herself after he pushed her again. She narrowed her eyes, resisting the urge to yell or strike out. "There doesn't. But, there is certianly something wrong for you to just rudely shove me out of your way. And besides, I thought you were going to stay with me." ooc: Eric and some random people. |
Snape listened as Marcella and Archie began giving their testimonies. Marcella had given Fudge a run for his money however, Snape was still convinced, if only by the looks on the faces of Fudge's supporters, that he would not be winning this appeal. In his mind, he didn't deserve to anyway. So, why did he find himself wishing they would grant his appeal? |
"Why would I stay anywhere with you?" he spat, more a declaration of disgust than a question. Unnerved by Severy's obvious negative attitude and lack of willingness to co-operate in trying to release him, she answered his rhetorical question for him, through her mind, unable to keep herself from reading him. "Because you've only just realised what you missed." ooc- random people who want to remain nameless? I really hope it isn't that bad that people might feel the need to criticise me, you know how paranoid I am. |
ooc: random people whose names I can't remember Kristi was furious. But, remembering the events of the previous evening, she resisited the urge to bump into him as she glared at him on her way back to her room. Snape heard the hurt in her 'voice' as she spoke to him through her mind. "I'm sorry if I've been uncooperative, but I do deserve to be where I am. What else was I to say?" |
"Oh I dont know.." she mused, using her inner voice, "Lie for my sake? For your daughter's sake?" She knew this were laying the guilt on thick, but he needed to learn that unless he showed some form of enthusiasm, the court would see that he didn't want to be released and that it was rather her that was the driving force behind this appeal. Darrin watched her leave and then left through the Slytherin Fireplace, knowing he were in for the biggest punishment of his life. |
Snape sighed inwardly. This trial was dragging on. He hadn't even thought about how Kristi would be fairing. She was probably pulling her hair out not knowing what was going on. She always needed to know everything, that girl. Kristi slammed her door shut and flopped down on her bed. She covered her face with her hands and let out a frustrated yell. What was wrong with her? Some guy (a guy whom she suspects of hurting her best friend, no less) comes in here, hits her, and then "changes" so that he's all sweet and nice to her. And she's surprised when he goes schitzo the next day? |
She was glad, in a sense. He had remembered his daughter, after all. "Spare a thought for me.." she wished sadly, more as a random thought than a message intended for him. Reluctant to enter, but a force pulling his legs to walk anyways, Darrin pushed open the heavy emerald-like door and fell flat on his face, almost the very instant that he entered the main hall. "That's right Darrin, bow down to me..." sneered an evil and cold voice. |
"I spare more than just one for you, Marcella," Snape thought back at her before turning his full attention back to the proceedings. After laying around thinking, Kristi decided what she really needed was a distraction. So, she threw some parchment, quills, and ink into her bag and headed up to the Great Hall for a quick bite to eat before going to the library. |
"So.." he mused, twisting his wand in his bone-like thin fingers as he circled around Darrin slowly. "You thought using Kristi Snape's sense of pity toward you, would buy you time away from me? Foolish child!" he spat, focusing the core of his wand entirely on darrin. "Crucio." The pain was unlike anything he had ever experience under the wrath of Lord Voldemort. The earlier incident could compare nought to this. Screaming in agony, he clutched at his head and brought it down onto his knees, trying to block the sound from his ears, the sight of Voldemort from his eyes. Distantly, he could hear a voice trailing off, slowly, "This time, I shall have to give you less self-control, less power over what you do and dont do. I will be in your mind, Darrin Fletcher, night and day untill you bring me my insolent daughter and that wrecthed traitor who has made her filth with his hands. For now, this shall have to do....Imperio.." That was all Darrin recollected of doing willingly, as the Imperius Curse overtook him and he was led out of the manor and back into Hogwarts. |
ooc: that was awesome, Emma Kristi sat down in a dusty corner of the library, as far from the rest of the students as she could get after collecting several volumes from Madame Pince. It was quiet and dim, just the way she liked it, as she began flipping through the restricted texts. |
He found himself being instructed to go to the library, why, he didn't quite know, up untill when he found himself stood next to where Kristi were sat. Taking imediate harsh force to her neck, but not visibly to anyone in the room, he pressed his two fingers against her oesophagus and whispered, so low that only she could hear, "Outside, now." Thank You. |
Kristi's eyes widened in fear as Darrin was suddenly in front of her, his hand firmly clasped around her throat. This time, deliberately positioning his fingers ove rthe most vulnerable spot. Knowing it was useless, let alone dangerous, to struggle with that particular hold, she tried swallowing but, still only managed to mouth the word, "Okay." As Darrin released her, Kristi's hands rubbed at her throat as she tried to recover her breathing. |
Shoving her through the door, into the room which they had previously occupied, he held her tightly, forcing her back against his front and placing a harsh palm over her mouth. "Now, you're going to listen and you're going to listen good. No arguments, no struggle, no fighting and you'll be out of here in no time." |
"well when I say at first I mean I thought he was ok at first" Archie said clearly. "As I was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts I saw and heard Mr Fletcher provoking Severus Snape" |
Marce took a sharp intake of breath, she had no idea what they might make of an accusation that Darrin may have deserved the attack and neither did she know whether saying 'at first' would be emphasised on, as a negative comment. She closed her eyes fast, she didn't want to see it anymore. |
"Would you recall for us the events that took place in the Hospital Wing that day?" Lupin prodded. Kristi fought to stay calm. She didn't like not being in control. She abhored feeling trapped. But, she remained still, except for nodding her head in assent. |
"What happened earlier," he snarled into her ear, his hot breath and foaming spit covering her skin, "didn't happen. And if I hear one word to the contrary..." he sneered, releasing her suddenly, but throwing her face forward on the bed, roughly. "If I hear one word otherwise," he spat, spinning her around so that she were laying down, facing up at him, "I'll make you wish you'd never been born!" he threatened, seizing the oppurtunity that her fright presented him with and swooping down on her, he took a grip to her hands and bit her neck violently, as if to prove the worth of his words. Blood festering in between his teeth, he spat her blood back onto her, sneering, "Dirty blood, as I expected." Wiping his mouth, as if the taste and thought of her disgusted him, he moved toward the door and threatened, his wand outheld, "You breath one syllable about this, to anyone, and you'll be dead before the final words can escape your rotten mouth!" |
"well Miss Riddle was brought up to be cared for and Severus Snape had accompanied her. I followed them up to the hospital wing. As he watched over her, I'm sure this is a result of their time together as Miss Riddle mentioned earlier,Mr Fletcher came into the hospital wing and started to throw very offensive remarks at Severus Snape" Archie said in a quite emotionless voice |
Kristi was frozen in shock and terror as Darrin threatened her and threw her about. He swooped down on her so fast, she didn't even have a chance to prepare for what came next and she cried out as she felt his teeth tear at the tender flesh of her neck. Tears of pain glistened in her eyes as he spat her own blood back in her face. What had happened to him? Even when they were fighting last night he hadn't been this violent and cruel. She sat up, a hand covering the wound at her throat, the other wiping the blood and spit from her face. Looking up into the bloodthirsty eyes of Darrin, Kristi found it difficult not to flinch. But, she managed to keep herself under control, said nothing, and just sneered up at him. |
Having left the room, he ran as fast as he could, up to his dorm and threw himself on his bed, his head face down in the pillow. He screamed in pain as Voldemort's prescence briefly left him, in the knowledge of what he had done. Crying furious tears into the material, he pounded the bed with his fists. frustrated at how weak he had become, how Voldemort had complete control over him and how he could become so abusive toward Kristi. Marce caught onto the emotionless tone in Archie's voice and it reminded her of how, even though he did not hate the Professor, he disliked him because he had taken something precious from him. Her. Wishing the pain would subside easier, she sighed, tears sparkling in her eyes. Would did they have to prlong the hurt like this, why couldn't all this before over in the flash of a light. Butshe knew it could not and so she sat quietly, watching Archie give his testimony, disregarding his personal feelings for the girl he was standing there for, so she could be reunited with the man who had stolen her from him. |
Kristi went to grab her wand before remembering that it was nothing more than ashes in the grate now. She took her hand away from her neck, her hand came away with blood, but looking in the mirror, she could see that it wasn't bleeding anymore. Luckily, he'd missed anything vital and it was just a surface wound. Grabbing a towel and a change of clothes, Kristi made her way down to the showers. She should probably go and see Madame Pomfrey about healing up the wound but, she didn't think she'd be able to come up with a convincing enough lie. It would probably be better to just let it heal on its own. |
Ashamed of himself, disgusted at what he had done, Darrin sat with one leg dangling out of the stone carved window, the other gripping tightly to the inside of the window. Looking up toward the sky, tears in his eyes, he then looked down to the ground far below. Lifting the other leg over, he sat with almost his whole body dangling out of the window from a great. If he killed himself, he'd be doing them all a favor. he would no longer be paining Kristi or Marcella and possibly Snape, as much as he disliked him, wouldn't be held in Azkaban for the rest of his life. Distraught, his face a mess from all the tears of guilt, Voldemort grasped back onto the boys mind just as he were about jump. "There is no escape, Darrin. You're not ridding yourself of me that easily." |
"well I remember Mr Fletcher's exact words before he was hit with Severus Snape's cruciatus curse, they were "she's saved me from killing her myself". This is what I believe Severus Snape was saying earlier, about Mr Fletcher harming the life of one of his students" Archie said also quite emotionless. |
Kristi opted for a bath instead of a shower. She lay back in the tub, the warm water and perfumes she had added to the bath were soothing and calmed her tense nerves. There was something seriously wrong with Darrin and she suspected it had something to do with Voldemort. Her mind kept bringing her back to what he had said to her last night, You protect me. You push me further from Him, Kristi. She wondered if maybe she should try and find him... Though, she should probably find a wand, first. Having finished her bath, Kristi put on a high-collared shirt to hide her injury, and then headed back to her room. Now, all she needed was a wand and she could go and try to get some answers from Darrin. She wouldn't let him get the jump on her this time. |
He dug his nails against the stone, refusing to allow the burning in his mind to take control over his body. "Trying to fight are we, Darrin?" sneered a voice inside his head. "I could always make it easier on you, and command you to kill yourself." Seething at the mouth, she swore aloud, "I swear, you push me once more and I will..." he cried, tears streaming down his heated cheeks, his feet pressed upon the outside of the cool rock. All he wanted was for all this to be over, for the pain to subside and to be in peace. And if suicide meant peace, he was prepared for that. |
"Forget the wand," she thought to herself, throwing her laundry into a corner. She turn on her heel and went to find the room she thought Darrin wsa staying in. As she opened the door, she found him with his body almost entirely outside the window. Kristi rushed over to him and pulled Darrin out from the window frame. He landed on the floor and she knelt beside him. "What are you doing?" she asked, concerned. |
Archie glanced from the wizengamot in front of him to Marcella in the stands. It was hard to tell which this was going. Had it been a waste of time? |
"You stupid tramp!" bellowed Darrin, flinging her hands from him, standing and seemingly dusting himself off. "What does it look like I was doing? Maybe if you'd left me, I would've done it and we'd all have been happier." |
Fudge leaned back as Umbridge whispered something in his ear. Lupin sat and Fudge rose. "So, Mr. Fletcher did not, in point of fact, say he was going to kill her. He merely said that he wouldn't have to. Certainly you are not suggesting that the man was threatening a girl whom he thought to be already deceased." Fudge glanced from Snape to Marcella again; there was something more there than they were letting on. "And there is anothe rmatter which bears addressing. Perhaps you can enlighten us on the real relationship between Mr. Snape and Miss Riddle," he said, narrowing his eyes. |
"Taking life doesn't solve anything," Kristi said, standing up herself and putting a bit of distance between the two of them. "You may have intimidated me earlier, but I'm not going to let that happen again. I want some answers and you're going to give the to me. I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong," she said, keeping a close eye on him. |
Her heart began to beat in her chest madly, but she tried not to show the panic she felt on the inside, on her face. All she could do was to fiddle with the ends of her sleeves and pray for the best. "I dont want your help!" he cried, sounding more in agony than anger. "Just, just, just do yourself a favor, Kristi. Get away from me, leave. Dont ever come near me again." |
"well they are very close friends as Severus Snape has had the task of protecting nd escorting her but Mr Fudge sir please can you tell me what you when you say real relationship?" Archie said |
"Fine, I won't help you. But, you aren't going to get rid of me that easily. I'm not going to leave you alone until you tell me what's going on. I know you've been hurting Marcella. I've seen the injuries you've inflicted on her and after what you did to me... I know you are capable of it. What I want to know is why?" she said, stepping closer. |
Her heart sank as Archie asked for a definition of what the man had meant. "You're digging yourself deeper..." she thought, grinding her teeth together, annoyed that he hadn't seen through the insinuation of Fudge's words. |
"Come now, Mr. Terabel. Surely you have noticed the way they look at each other. And I have it on good authority from the guards at Azkaban that the two are extremely close," he said, knowingly. "Entirely inappropriate, wouldn't you say?" |
"I haven't done anything, Kristi. You know me better than that, now, please, I'm begging you, leave before I have chance or reason to hurt you. Please." |
Kristi closed the distance between them. "I know you may not have been in your right mind when you did it... he's using you, isn't he?" she asked, looking up into his eyes and taking one of his hands in her own. "You told me last night that I protect you. Then, why won't you let me?" |
"Reckless fool..." mumbled Darrin, his hiss becoming stronger, his voice prominent. "I told you to go, Kristi...I warned you." he said, shaking his head and taking her by the top, wrapping a part of her clothing in his fist and physically removing her from the room. "If you want to live to ever see your precious father again, you'd do well to stay away!" |
Kristi surprised herself by remaining calm as he forcedly removed her from the room. But, at the mention of her father, her eyes narrowed and she demanded, "What do you mean, if I ever want to see my father again? What does he have to do with this?" |
"He has alot to do with it. Now, for your sake and mine, leave!" he shouted forcing her through the doorway and slamming the door after he had done so. |
Kristi sighed and walked back to her room once more. She sat down on her bed and ran her hands through her hair. There was just too much to think about and there was noone here to talk to. Her father and Marcella were at the trial and she was left to wait here all alone; she didn't even have Archie to talk to, even if he never did say much to her. Kristi lay back against the pillow and stared at the ceiling, wondering if there was something else she could have done or said to get something other than another death threat out of Darrin. |
"Pleased with yourself now, are you?" he asked, tearing the handle from the door and lunging it at the mirror in total anger. "Why, yes I am, as it happens..." spoke back the voice in his head. Raising his hands to his head, he wished he could just tear the hissing from his mind. But knowing fully well he couldn't, he set about picking up the scattered shards of broken glass. They cut into his finger tips and palms as he collected them, but he felt so numb that the pain didn't register in his mind. Instead, he was silently fuming at how he was being twisted to the point where he was beginning to forget who he was and what he was really like. |
"This is so stupid!" she yelled at herself, sitting up in bed abrupty. "Just laying around feeling sorry for myself." Slipping on her school robe, but not bothering to fasten it shut, she picked up her bag that Darrin had nearly thrown into the fire when he had attacked her earlier that day, and headed back to the library. Apologizing, effusively for leaving the restricted texts unattended, Madame Pince was finally convinced to allow her to use them again. Kristi gathered them up and carefully deliberated whether or not she should go back to her corner or seek out a more crowded part of the library. Opting for the corner, Kristi opened up the first text, searching the index for what she was looking for. "Surely there is something in here to strengthen someone against mind invasion... There, but that's not quite... But, if I cross referenced that with, what was that... Oh yes..." she muttered to herself, pushing the first text off of her lap but keeping it open and pulling over another text. |
"No, I wouldn't call it innapropriate" Archie said in a very flat voice "irrelevant maybe but anything else other than them being close friends would be news to me" |
"Did you not come to me last year and tell me of the relationship between Mr. Snape an Miss Riddle?" Fudge countered. "And if I recall correctly, you were also on the run from the..." "I believe that is quite enough, Cornelius," Dumbledore interjected. "The relationship between Miss Riddle and Professor Snape is irrelevant in this case excepting to say that Severus had a duty to protect the girl." Dumbledore looked at Archie, "You may step down." Turning to the assembly, "If I may, I'd like to say a few words on behalf of Severus." |
Archie went a bit pale as he remebered this. He was relieved when Dumbledore ended his testimony. He was still a bit pale as he walked back up to his seat besides Marcella. As he sat down glanced at Mrcella then back at the wizengamot. |
"I'm sorry Marce" Archie whispered sadly .He was sure nothing had come of his testimony and he had made it worse. |
"You did your best..." she said, her eyeslooking toward him sideward, briefly, with tears clinging at them, "That's all we can ask..." |
Hearing no objections, Dumbledore continued with his own testimony. "Severus Snape has been essential in our efforts to combat the forces of Voldemort. However, in addition to his contributions as a spy, most of you seem to be unaware of the number of lives he has saved by risking his own. He has also, by protecting Miss Riddle, prevented Voldemort from taking his daughter and using her against us. He has given us a powerful ally in Miss Riddle. We should not squander his good works and the potential he has to continue those works, merely for a moment of loss in self control in a situation where he felt life of Miss Riddle was in jeopardy." Dumbledore took his seat and nodded toward the aurors who would escort Snape back to Azkaban to await the verdict. |
Seeing the trial had seemingly ended, she scooted past Archie and quickly ran down the stairs. Stopping shortly in front of the aurors who were escorting the bound Snape, she looked toward them with huge eyes and pleaded with them. "He's bound, he's not about to do a runner, just let me have a few private words with him." She wasn't naieve, or at least as much as she used to be, so, knowing they weren't about to her let her do any such thing, throwing caution to the wind, she slipped her hands onto his shoulders, in one swfit movement and kissed him fully on the lips. |
"You don't think they'll let me off, do you?" he asked, looking down at her with a half smile. One of the aurors snorted at this and Snape sneered at him. "So that was my farewell kiss, was it?" |
Shaking her head, playing with the sleeves on his robe, she shook her head defiantly. "No, it wasn't...it was a kiss to say, I love you." She knew this ounded corny and it seemed rather strange that she were saying this to a man who looked so unfeeling. Ignoring this, she slipped her arms around him and, this time, kissed him properly. |
Snape's arms pulled at his bonds as Marcella slipped her arms about him and kissed him. He wanted so much to hold her; it pained him that he could not. The auror to his left, the one who had snorted, put a hand on Snape's shoulder and attempted to pull him away. "That's enough, Professor," he spat. But, before he could succeed in pulling the two apart, Shacklebolt appeared. "Let them be," he said and Snape felt the bonds disappear. His arms enveloped Marcella, he put his hands through her hair and began tracing the outline of her face. If this was going to be the last time he ever saw her, he wanted to remember everything about her, He wanted to memorize how she felt, the smell of her, and how she could make him feel so alive. "I love you," he whispered before kissing once more. |
Eternally grateful to Kingsley, she took full advantage of the bonds falling and lost herslef in this brief, semi-happy moment. Feeling his arms around her, she stood on the tips of her toes, her arms around his shoulder blades, kissing every crook in his face. Forgetting the people around them, she parted their lips and met his hot breath with hers, she felt a sudden rush of warmth as their tongues met hastily, desparate for the feel of the other's body. In the embrace, she failed to remember the many people around them, the spectacle they were making, but neither did she care. Pulling away, rather reluctantly, but still holding him, she sighed, "I wish they'd let you go." |
Snape smiled down at her. "I know and I'm sorry if I wasn't much of a help with that," he whispered. Kingsley walked back over to them and put a hand on Snape's shoulder. "Ready, Severus?" he asked. Snape kissed Mareclla gently on the forehead and then nodded to Kingsley, placing his hands behind him to be rebound. "I don't think that will be necessary," he said and led them off. |
She watched him leave and then stood, staring at the spot where he had been, unblinking, untill someone shook her out of her hazy trance. Her eyes flickering up toward Archie, she figured she'd wait for him and then she would leave. She could only imagine what stress Kristi was going through and she supposed it was her duty to get back to her as quick as possible and see to it that she knew all that had gone on. |
After sifting through nearly a dozen books Kristi hadn't achieved much more than making herself even more frustrated. Despite the copious amount of notes she now had, she still hadn't been able to find anything to help Darrin. Tired and hungry, Kristi decided to give up for the day and headed back to her room to drop off her things before going down to the Great Hall for a bite to eat. |
Marcella left Archie at the entrance to Hogwarts. Dumbledore timidly laid a hand on her head, seeming as though he wanted to touch her as little as possible, but she, who were grateful even though it might not have worked, wrapped her arms around him and thanked him shortly. Skipping toward the library, knowing that was where Kristi hid when she wanted solace, she circled the many tables and tapped her on the shoulder lightly. feelign ever so fatigued, she yawned into the palm of her hand and then signalled toward the outside. "We should go talk, Kristi." she said, rather sombrely. |
Kristi saw the sombre look on Marcella's face and knew it wsan't good news. She followed her silently out of the library and only once they were outside, did she finally speak. "They didn't let him off, did they," she said, looking down at the floor. |
Wanting more than anything to shorten the pain of not knwoing, she grimaced and hurried down the hallway, saying swiftly, "We really cant discuss this openly, Dumbledore's warned me to be far more careful with what I expose to people." Mysteriously opening the door to her private room, she sat Kristi down on the bed and paced before her, biting at her nails every so often. "We've got to be careful because....because...I think someone tipped Fudge off." |
The dagger still in his tight fist, Darrin scraoed it down the door for the last time and then scowled at the mess he had made. Shards of wood lay everywhere, the door was torn to pieces and engraved in it, were some very deep words, "I'm closer than you think." Demonically, he dropped the knife and scuttled into the corner where he laid and rocked. |
Marcella was being so cryptic, Kristi was almost afraid she was going to tell her that Snape was going to be executed. She sat on the bed and watched Marcella pace in front of her. "Tipped Fudge off about what?" she asked, wishing Marcella would stop stalling and just tell her what was going on. |
Averting her eyes from Kristi's, she sat down, crosing her legs, switching them every couple of seconds and then mumbled, "Us. I mean him...and me. The questions he asked were really probing, I'm shocked Archie didn't buckle under the pressure they placed him on." The words emblazoned onto the wood, he hugged his back against the wall. His eyes closed, his head banging against the wall, they only re-opened at the sudden pain that shot up his arm. In horror, he glanced down at his arm and the dagger sliding down it, penetrating the skin. Inside his mind, he felt a cold mirthless laugh and tears trickled onto his collar as the blood crept down his arm and gathered in the crook at his elbow. |
Kristi turned to face Marcella who was trying not to look at her. "So they asked about the two of you," Kristi said, frustrated. "Just tell me what happened. Is he coming home?" |
"Apart from knowing the details of the trial, I know as much about Snape's position as you." seeing the girl were about to explode with anticipation, she sighed, putting her out of her misery, "We honestly dont know if he's coming out at all." |
"So, is the trial over? Or, are they taking a break or something?" Kristi asked. "Or, were they just finished with you? And what does Fudge knowing about you and Snape have to do with the case, anyway?" |
"Well, our part in the trial is over, yes. They may have other witnesses to question, but we're not allowed to attend for that. I dont see how my relationship with Severus enters into his appeal, but Fudge seemed to wangle it into his questioning." Wiping a hand over her forehead, she coughed into her hand quietly and said, "To be honest, I couldn't care who knows anymore. Right now, all I want is him, back here where he belongs, with us. Besides, I think I pretty mcuh gave us away at the end of the trial anyways." |
"What did you do?" Kristi asked and then put her hands up to stop Marcella from answering her. "Nevermind... I don't want to know." She laughed at herself, easing a bit of the tension in the room. "So, was he okay? I mean, when I last saw him he wasn't quite... I'm not sure how to say it... He wasn't quite altogether, not really himself, you know?" |
"No, he wasn't really himself then, either. We argued quite a bit when we were talking in his cell. Mainly about Remus the feud between them and then he went off on one, saying how we'd only been in each other's company for a few minutes and yet we were already arguing. He said something like, what's the point in trying. His mood didn't alter much at the trial. He pleaded guilty and pledged that he didn't deserve to be freed. I really dont know what he was playing at, but, I think, by the end of the trial, he was thinking a bit more straightly. Probably the effect of being out of the cells of Azkaban for a good few hours. It wasn't anything bad or atrocious, Kristi, your father and I, we're not like that. I just kissed him because..." at this point, she started to blubber, something she rarely did in public. "Because I knew that that might be the last time I would kiss him and before we had entered the courtroom, we had been arguing and I didn't want those to be our last words to each other if he didn't get out." |
Kristi put her arms around Marcella, surprised that she was hugging her of her own accord, this time. "Maybe him pleading guilty and telling the court he deserves to be in there will work for him. I mean, if he knows what he did was unacceptable and he's important to the fight against your father, surely they'll let him out," she said, sounding surprisingly more optimistic than she felt. |
"I cant afford to think that postively," she said, grateful for the unexpected hug. "I really dont think it's going to go well Kristi and I dont want to build your hopes up, leading you to believe something that may prove to be false. I just dont want you to think of me as the big bad scarlet woman who got your father locked up. I did love him Kristi, I do love him and I want him back so badly." |
"No, I don't blame you, Marcella. Well... Okay, I admit he wouldn't have gotten locked up if you weren't here but, I don't think of you as 'the big bad scarlet woman' as you put it. You make him happy and I can see that. It's just that my brain can't seem to reconcile the fact that he's my father and your my friend and the two of you are together. It's creepy and weird and... I don't know. It seems to have caused a lot of problems," Kristi said, getting up and pacing. |
Something clicked inside her head. If Snape wasn't likely to get out and Darrin were still here, then maybe...just maybe... Taking her handkerchief boldy in her hands, she crossed her legs, sat on the floor and said, without looking at the girl, "That's why I've been thinking, about us. It's obviously doing you no favors and it wont do either of us any good if he doesn't get released. So, what is the point in carrying on, together?" |
Kristi turned and looked down at Marcella. "You're giving up on him? What if he does get released?" she asked. |
"I just dont want to carry on hurting you. It most clearly distresses you to see us together and what is the benefit in being together if we're not physically with one another? It would only cause the three of us unnecessary heartache." Bowing her head, she whispered, "I am sorry Kristi. I was thinking aloud when I clearly should not have been." Deep down, she knew if he didn't get out, Archie was her only option in the context of exposing Darrin's abuse. And, if she couldn't have one, she were forced with no choice but to have the other. |
"No, it's okay. I know there's not much hope for him getting out. And I know I haven't helped matters when it comes to the relationship you have with my father. It's just my feelings are all mixed up. On the one hand there's the weirdness that it you and him. On the other hand, I have a heartbroken father on my hands," Kristi sighed and sat back down on the bed. "I think I'll have to disagree with Darrin and say that life wouldn't be dull if it was simple; it would just be a lot easier, a lot less confusing, and I'd be a lot happier." |
"But then, is there anyone you'd rather him be with? Could you stand to see him with another woman?" she asked, drying her tears and then, abruptly asking, "When did he say that? When did you see him? What happened? Are you alright?" |
ooc: I loved the flurry of questions that statement of Kristi's provoked. "Who? Oh... Darrin? Well, I saw him yesterday and we... talked. I'm perfectly fine," Kristi said, carefully avoiding Marcella's eyes. "And as for another woman for my father... I don't know. I've never seen him with any other women before. I always just assumed I'd be more comfortable with him seeing someone who was at least old enough to be a mother to me," she continued, hoping Marcella would drop the subject of Darrin and pick back up on the earlier thread of their conversation. |
"I think Severus sees it to the contrary. He knows you dont need mothering and he isn't the type of man to be bothered with women who are older a great deal more tiresome and talkative. I'm sorry I cant be that to you, Kristi, but I can be something better, something all mothers want to be for their daughters, a friend." Folding her hands in her lap, she noticed how Kristi dodged her eyes and simply added, "I'll sort Darrin. Just dont go near him, no matter what you do just stay away. It'll only get you into deeper trouble if you keep folling yourself into thinking you can help. He is beyond that stage." |
"Thanks, Marcella," Kristi said in response to Marcella being her friend rather than a mother. "But, I think you're wrong about Darrin. I mean, last night he was really sweet; he stayed and talked with me to help keep my mind off of the trial. And besides, how are you going to deal with him all by yourself?" |
"You forget. I know him Kristi, unlike any one here does. Believe me, I can handle whatever he throws at me. Just, dont trust him to be nice all the time, he can violently swing the other way and I dont want you putting yourself in a position where you could be vulnerable to him." |
"Right," Kristi said, clearing her throat, remembering the death threat and it's accompanying violence. "So, we were discussing whether or not you were going to ditch your boyfriend." |
"He's not my boyfriend." she said, rather defiantly. "Saying it in that manner sort of triviliases our whole relationship. I prefer to see us as partners. And if by that, you mean to say I am going to give up on him, then you're wrong. I was merely saying that, this decision by the Ministry is the last oe to be made on his case. We've talked this over and we both know what we'll have to do if he doesn't come back." |
Kristi fell back on the bed and laughed. The indignation in Marcella's voice as she told her off for calling Snape her boyfriend and accusing her of giving up on him, coupled with the intense amount of stress in her life at the moment, boiled over into mirth. It was aggravating the wound at her throat, yet still she laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Marcella surely thought she had gone insane. After several minutes, Kristi sat up and wiped at her eyes with one hand, while the other absently rubbed at her neck. "I'm sorry... I guess I just needed that. I didn't mean to belittle what you and Snape have or accuse you abandoning hope," Kristi said, sobbering up. |
Kingsley escorted Snape back to his cell alone. The wizards said nothing to one another and Kingsley left without a word. Snape sat down upon his bed and thought about the trial and Marcella. He wanted so much to hold Marcella in his arms again. He wanted to see his daughter. And he wanted to continue his mission for the Order. For though he deserved to rot in prison, he would find no redemption here. |
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so uptight," she said, giggling at the sound of her own voice. "I guess we're both just seriously over stressed. I've still got Fudge's voice echoing in the back of my head, his beady little eyes bearing ino mine. He was so prying, I felt like just getting up in the middle of the trial, kissing him, Snape I mean, not Fudge," she said, with a short laugh, "And making a rude gesture at him. Thankfully, Dumbledore saved me from doing such a thing." As she said these last words, she felt a sound of metal echo in her head abruptly and she startled, jumped a little and then sat back down, holding a hand to her head, her mind thobbing. "He's been locked up again, is that good or bad?" |
"If the circumstances weren't so dire, I would have loved to see the look on Fudge's face if you had actually done that," Kristi laughed. "They locked him up again? Well, I guess that could be bad. It probably either means that he's not gettingout or it's going to take them forever to reach a verdict." Kristi frowned, "I wish they would just get it over with. I don't think I could stand waiting much longer. How long do you reckon it will take?" |
"If I had actually done what, kiss Fudge?" she asked, slightly disgusted. "It probably means it's going to take a few days. Fudge, Umbridge and Bagman, seemed unwavering and I think Dumbledore will have a hard time convincing them he's necessary to the order when they know about us....But then, they only see things in one light." |
"No! Not kiss Fudge," Kristi sighed. "I meant, Fudge's face if you had kissed Snape in the middle of the proceedings. But, anyway, you're probably right. Do you think Dumbledore and Lupin will be able to sway the rest of the council? I mean, he was only convicted the first time by a small margin...." |
"I just dont know." she sighed, running a hand over her frowned forehead. "A part of me hopes they do, but if it didn't happen last time, what will stop them opposing it this time? And, they have more evidence against him this time, if our relationship counts as something negative, which to Fudge it seems to." |
"If anything, it should strengthen our side of things. I mean, sure using the curse out of duty is one thing, but out of love? That's more believable. Although, I guess it doesn't make it any more justifiable..." Kristi trailed. Kristi jumped up abruptly, "I can't stand just sitting here anymore. Let's go do something." |
"Kristi, it took alot to convince you that we loved each other. The Wizengamt would never believe that. All they see it as, is him being with a younger woman young enough to be a student. Nothing more." Looking at the girl, with narrowed eyes, she asked, "What can we possibly do?" |
"I have no idea," Kristi responded, deflated. "I'm just tired of sitting around. I sat around for most of last night and this morning. There has to be something we can do to try and distract us from these gloomy thoughts...." Kristi whirled around and looked at Marcella, "Hey! Where's Archie? Didn't you two come back from the Ministry together?" |
"Oh yeah!" she said, taking a hand to her mouth. "I sort of left him at the entrance to the castle." Feeling ashamed of herself, she asked, "Shall we go and try find him?" |
"Yeah, let's go. And maybe once we've found him we can all take a trip to Diagon Alley," Kristi said, moving to the door and holding it open for Marcella. |
"Why would you want to take a trip down there?" she asked, wondering why Kristi would request to do something so random. Walking ahead of the girl, she slid her hand alone the bumpy walls as she walked along and it was with horror, that she found the door to the boy's dorm open, with deep gashes of wood falling from the door. Letters seemed to be carved into it and they read, "I'm closer than you think." Looking beyond that, she gasped and ran straight over to Darrin, who was huddled in the corner, blood pouring from his wrists, a dagger hanging loosely in his hand. |
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