18 Chapter 18 - Severus

He was not going to lie: Candice was good at potions. She just needed to catch up on the knowledge, and she was easily to be the best potioneer in her year. Of course, he is yet to admit his newfound knowledge to the girl herself...

Severus' thoughts were interrupted, as his door opened and slammed shut in a rapid speed. No knock beforehand; no nothing. Other than the student of his thoughts falling to the ground in a state. He could habe snapped at the intrusion, yet her 'state' stopped him. Instead, he cautiously got up and walked towards her, like a predator not wanting to scare away its prey.

"Miss Black?"

No response. The man was scared to go - even a step - closer. Her eyes were shut tight; her knees pulled into her chest; her body shaking, rocking back and forth. Even though Severus Snape was a Head of House, and has dealt with many upset children in the past, this was different. The Potions Master decided that legilimency was his best option, as it has been many times in the past. Yes, it could mean an invasion of privacy, but sometimes it is necessary for the greater good. Silently, he entered the broken girl's mind.

He has been here before. However, it was never this... Hectic. The girl was counting, as well at the same time chanting almost a verse to herself.

1,2,3,4

I'm Candice. Candice Black. Daughter of the late Regulus Black.

5,6,7,8

Half blood with a dead muggle mother.

9,10,11-

"Oh Candice! There's no point hiding and you know that!" her counting was cut off by the voice from the outside.

The man noted how her fear shot up, which then made her heartbeat and breathing increase. Her success at calming down was equal to zero. Severus was about to pull back and investigate the voice of her concern, when a memory flashed up.

He saw as she exited his classroom from tutoring and felt her relief. He went with her as she walked away, and the cold ran through him as a dunderhead rudely called after her. She turned afraid, wanting to ignore the boy - or boys as he now saw - but knowing that she might as well just hear him out. Severus recognised the idiots instantly. All Slytherins. All pureblood tyrants, who he many times had wanted to crucio, over their five years in the school.

He felt the tormented girl trying her best to push away the memory, but it continued to play. Candice was in no time push up against the hallway wall, four boys surrounding her.

"I just wanted to give you a proper thank you." Severus saw as she gave the leading boy a confused look, and so he added "For taking the blame instead of myself."

The Potions Master's blood boiled connecting the dots. Of course, it was him who made that stupid potion. Mr Penmark. Penmark! His status just below the Malfoys, and he remembered his parents to be loyal deatheaters - although not part of the Dark Lord's inner circle.

"T-thank you a-accepted. N-now let m-me go." she noted in a clipped tone, and he could see her struggle against the strong grasps of the males.

"Ah ah. Not so fast, Black. I'd like to show my thank you. In my actions."

The need to hex the boy grew as Candice's eyes widened with horror. She fidgeted more desperate to get away. Severus didn't want to watch further. No. He wanted to find those lads and give them a piece of their own medicine per se. Though, he had an obligation to listen and learn until the end, so he knows how to help the girl, and whether the Headmaster is to be involved.

"Undress her." Penmark said casually to the others.

Severus let out an unwanted gasp at his bluntness and felt the new Slytherin's alarm. Suddenly, his wand found its way to his hand, but he knew it was an unnecessary object in the situation, as this was a mere memory. It had already happened. He uneasily watched further.

"Accio wand." he heard her silent whisper and noted her hope.

Severus' heart stopped as he saw her grasp the wood and blast the boys back with force. And then she ran. He pulled back to reality as the scene faded back her panicked chants. He perceived the tears on her cheeks. She seemed more aware of her surroundings, so he cleared his throat. She could have got whiplash at the speed her head snapped to him.

Before either of them could say anything, footsteps sounded on the corridor, alongside voices.

"I think she might have apparated somewhere, Dais." a male voice said.

"You can't apparate inside Hogwarts, you fool!" another replied.

The dark man nearly let his magic slip, wanting to torture those imbecile into insanity. He controlled his rage, reminding himself that these were students not deatheaters, and he was a professor in power, not a double spy in need of pleasing his masters. Candice kept their eye contact yet stayed rooted in her spot.

"Shuffle." he commanded to the girl who was blocking the exit.

She blinked and he saw as the words slowly reached her brain and she comprehended. The girl moved - more like crawled - aside, and Severus pulled the door open with a force, that he barely managed to stop, as it nearly smashed into the student behind it. He first saw Mr Penmark jump and gasp as he realised his unfortunate location. The professor then noted his adherents trying to make their escape from his wrath.

"Markle. Hind." Snape addressed them with deadly calmness and they froze and turned back, "Penmark. Explain."

"We were just... We were-"

"You were what, Mr Penmark?" the Potions Master now raised his voice, but only slightly.

"Looking for our friend. Yes that's right."

"You have friends, Mr Penmark? What a surprise."

"Actually, you might have seen her. You see we really need to ask her something about our Transfiguration homework."

Severus knew their lie, and decided not to comment on it until the shaking girl was still behind him. Her thoughts invaded his walls as she pleaded him to not give her away. She, as well as the boys in front of him, were yet to be made aware that he knew what happened minutes before.

"I fail to believe you would actually do homework Mr Penmark. Not to mention that your history with girls is something to be ashamed of." he glared with disgust at his Slytherin, "Now get out of here. Two weeks worth of detention for the three of you. I never want to see you again down here, out of class hours. Understand?"

"Yes professor." the boys mumbled and their footsteps hurried off.