Chapter 11

with the Slytherins , after

'' She did what?'' Severus asked looking in disbelieve at Thomas Flint, a first year Slytherin. After he finished another three copies of his Charm homework with his friends, Severus walked with them in the Common Room where people almost couldn't stop staring at him

The boy, Thomas, nods and says in a strange combination of respect and fascination '' Unbelievable I know! And after McGonagall left she just turned around and smashed Potter jaw, it was brilliant!''

'' Rather barbaric though.'' another sixth-year said not taking her eyes off her homework '' I heard Potter has his tooth regrow in Infirmary now.''

A snort from a group of seventh years catch Severus attention '' That blood traitor had it coming.''

Still barely believing what he just heard, Severus was herded by his friends towards his and Evan dorm.

'' So...your kid, relative whatever is adept in muggle fighting and apparently doesn't give a fuck about Hogwarts system.'' Evan said making Severus seat on his bed and letting the two Blacks on his own.

'' Do you think those four will target us all next?'' Regulus asked worried for a fifth year repeat

'' They wouldn't dare.'' Narcissa said convinced '' I'm married to one of the three richest Houses in Britain, Regulus just become Heir after Sirius run away from home. And Evan is avoided after last summer scandal. Everyone knows that that we stick together.... What happened today, was a mistake on our part. I'm so sorry Severus.''

'' I have this feeling that their focus will be more on Athena now.'' Evan said making Severus wince

'' One against four... like the first two years all over again.'' Severus mutters blinking rapidly thinking at her face back in the greenhouse '' You know, for a moment there, I couldn't have guessed she was a student before.''

'' Mmm...-'' Regulus nods ''She looked like, my mother before fighting with Sirius. ''

'' I'm the only one that doesn't get the Athena part? Like aren't your family names from Roman history usually?'' Evan asked making Severus stop thinking of too many possibilities

'' I actually don't know.'' he tries thinking of any family history that he doesn't know about '' Maybe-'' he said almost hesitantly ''- it's her mother side?'' he makes a disgusted noise and goes to the bathroom washing away the though of someone else beside Lily

'' I can ask Lucius.'' Narcissa says almost timidly, making the boys nod

with the Gryffindor's, infirmary

'' You can leave by dinner Mister Potter, you are not at death door!'' Madam Pomphrey huffs and goes back to the other patients

'' Can't believe she really hit you.'' Sirius said poking James throbing jaw '' Aren't girls suppose to use slaps and like, their nails? Not even Bella does that.''

'' I'm sure your cousin doesn't use her hands in a Duel.'' Remus says monotonous trying to forget what just happened

'' True, can't imagine her fighting without a wand.'' James approves

Sirius doesn't mention how much of a sadist was Bellatrix or how she liked to hunt muggle boys, torture them than vanish their memories and let them go. From what she boasted at the last family dinner a good part of them remain like a vegetable most of the time.

'' That aside, how do you want to deal with her? Can't believe you just us to stay still just because it's a girl.'' Sirius said making James roll his eyes

'' Please, I won't consider that gorilla a girl not even if she gets naked in front of me.''

She really tried okay. She really did. It's not her fault that she almost knocked out Xenophilius bloody Lovegood. And now seating in a small corner of the library, where too much dust gathered, with - Xeno it's easier and it doesn't make the Nargles come your way- reading in her hand her presuppose love life. Like that would actually help her situation.

one hour ago

'' Sorr-y?'' Athena said surprised at the boy she just knocked into. Said boy was holding with one hand his red forehead and with another was shaking her hand

'' Pleasure to meet you. Athena Snape right?'' before she could answer or at last pull away, the white haired boy pulled her towards a secluded corner. Despite the fact she had no idea who he was, Athena didn't pull away.

'' Tell me-'' he continue whispering , pale blue eyes staring at her soul '' Did you know, you have not a single Nargle stuck to your body?''

... Lovegood?

'' Oh! You even recognize me!'' he said excited, smiling brightly despite his ghost like appearance he was quite lively. Athena makes a humming sound which he takes it as a 'yes'

'' Xenophilius Lovegood. Call me Xeno, it keeps the Nargles at bay.'' White hair, pale blue eyes, white skin.

'' Sure-'' Athena looks at him and remembers a man, a father with crazy eyes barely holding his ghosts away, talking crazily about invisible animals. In front of her was Xeno though, who was maybe 16 years old, very excited with crystal clear eyes and still talking about Nargles. So Athena took a gamble and asked the same thing she asked Luna Lovegood in her third year. ''- What are Nargles?''

Xeno stops his hands for a second and says smiling more calmly '' They are little bad spirits that make you angry and irrational. Sometimes clumsy, sometimes jealous, sometimes really murderous. They fly around heads most of the time, but can stick to body's just fine.'' he picks his nails, like a bad habit and says almost mournful '' You are the first person who asked me seriously about them. Thank you.''

'' Ah! That's... ok, um, I need to-''

'' As a reward I'm going to read your hand!'' he snatch her hand and makes her seat on an old chair, looking exactly like an over excited teen. Resigned Athena complies, not even trying to hide the little smile.

present

'' This here is Finger of Jupiter-'' he says pointing to her index finger ''- and then comes Saturn, Apollo, Mercury. This here is your Life Line which you should get some protection for your legs in the near future. Here is Solomon Will-'' he points under her index finger ''- then those two are Grindle of Venus and somewhere around here is your marriage line which...is very small.''

Tracing his fingers on her palm and muttering strange words, the line on Athena palm begin to luminate making her take a rather sharp breath.

'' What was that?'' she asked the Ravenclaw curious

'' Where it is...ah! Here!'' he points to the somewhere around the middle of her hand tracing the line gently '' This is your Heart Line and Fate Line, they are very close to each other almost intertwined. Really romantic.''

'' Oh.'' she never really though about it. Love. Sure she loved her father and her friends to death but there wasn't a single time she ever imaged a life partner or a temporary one for that matter. Sure there were some cute girls or boys she liked to look at but never once she though 'ah, i wanna date them'.

Athena tried to forged about that though, didn't she has more important things to worry about?

'' What was that spell before?'' she asked making Xeno finally look up at her

'' Oh, Celtic. My mother was from Scotland that now was Alba, Scottish Gaelic. Beautiful ain't it? The spell help me to find the lines faster and without messing them.'' he smiles making his white appearance brighten '' By the way, you are late. ''

Shit.

'' Today we will make the Elixir to Induce Euphoria. And I dearly hope all of you will have great results.'' Slughorn said looking straight at Severus and Athena, with an only glance at Lily Evans.

The instruction were on the table, same with the manual and necessary ingredients. And both Snapes worked alone at their bench.

Athena never found out why all her potion turn Color Changing ones in the end. Her father stayed with her step by step when she was little, he saw her making it perfectly just to end up Color Changing. He tried spelling the cauldron and knife, choosing the ingredients himself, even cutting them and just putting her to throw them in. Not a single change.