Chapter 32 - Severus

"Protego!"

A shield conjured in front of the broken girl and the torturous spell bounced back at the caster. Black whipped around to be faced with his worst enemy pf all times: the Slytherin, Snape. Candice stared wide-eyed as her uncle and beloved began duelling.

"Confringo!" Black shouted, but Severus easily deflected the blasting curse and shot a wordless disarming charm.

The Potions Master could see the man in front of him was out of his mind, and so he expected to wrap the duel up quickly. However, he underestimated the situation as the ex-prisoner's reflexes were sharp, despite his state. Sirius avoided the silent spell that was sent his way and cast another of his own.

"Incarcerous!"

"Really, Black?" Snape sneered and sent the same curse back, "You don't truly believe you could tie me up?"

Candice ducked, as her uncle let the jinx pass him by and her protection faded. The man in black saw, and then noticed the girl's wand not far from him. Severus kicked it her way, and she scrambled to pick it up. Black growled, but kept aiming hexes at the Potions Master.

"Petrificus Totalus!" the brunette aimed her wand, with a shaky hand, at her uncle.

Unable to defend himself from the back, Sirius froze and fell to the ground. The professor also froze for a moment, then immediately kneeled next to his girl's side.

"Are you hurt?" he tried to remain calm, swallowing the raging fire he was close to spitting.

Her face was white where visible, except for the red patch on her left cheek. Her expression remained blank - as if she hadn't heard his question - and her eyes remained on the dead-like body in front of her.

"H-he... h-he isn't... I h-haven't..."

It took mere seconds for Severus to click on to what she was asking, and he desperately reassured her that Black was not deceased. She barely managed a nod, before reaching towards her dark man. He understood and picked her up in bridal style, and pulled her close. He felt Candice weakly grab on to his robes, and decided their destination better be the Hospital Wing.

The professor strode past the laying man with disgust, but kept himself from throwing the Killing Curse. He made his way down the stairs and back from where he originally came. Kreacher stood next to the fireplace, his eyes filled with despair and worry as he saw the girl in the man's arms.

"She'll be okay." Severus said quietly, feeling the need to reassure the creature.

"I know, Master Snape." the elf bowed his head before reaching his hands towards the man with an object, "her wand, sir." he held it out.

The Potions Master took it, not even noticing she dropped it, and placed it in his pocket. He hesitated leaving for a moment, and faced Kreacher again.

"This wasn't the first time, was it." he wanted to question, yet it sounded like a statement.

The house-elf shook his head sorrowfully. The obsidian eyes lit with desire to punish, though he pushed away the thoughts again, as his girl still laid in his arms. He needed to get out of that horrible place, he told himself, and took out some floo powder from a hidden pocket. Without a look back, he disappeared with Candice into the green flames.

He landed smoothly, maneuvering his beloved over to an empty ivory covered bed. The Infirmary was empty, and the nurse was nowhere in sight. Severus ran a spell to check her vitals and for any injuries, while summoning a sleeping draught just in case. Save for a few minor bruises, her only injury was a fractured left cheek bone. He mentally swore to go back and give Black a piece of his mind later.

Candice's eyes were unblinking, throughout the whole check, and Severus considered that she might had been in shock. He wandlessly called a calming draught from the medical cabinet, and uncorked the vial.

"Here. Just open and swallow, okay?" he spoke gently as he placed the glass near her mouth.

She obeyed without question, and the professor could see her body loosen from the tension disappearing. Severus then picked up the sleeping draught and repeated his previous request. The second phial emptied, and his girl's eyes fluttered closed.

Poppy chose that minute to walk in, and she let out a gasp.

"Severus! What happened? Is she okay?" the healer rushed towards them.

"She'll be fine. I'll tell you with the others here... Could you call for Albus please? And perhaps Minerva?"

The mediwitch went off to complete his instructions, while the man placed his wand on her cheek and muttered a charm to heal it. His beloved's face twitched, but after, her sleep stayed undisturbed. Severus stood and pulled the curtains around her bed, then walked out amd greeted the concerned Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress.

"My boy, what is going on?" Albus began.

Severus conjured some seats and gestured for all to sit. Lastly, he put up a silencing charm, then explained everything from his theories to the house-elf. Albus was reminder of their conversation after Candice's sorting and clearly felt guilty for not looking into it further. Minerva looked baffled, not wanting to believe a cub of hers would ever act such way as Black. And finally, Poppy's expression was the same as everytime Severus had come to her with his injuries; vengeful.

"She's not going back there. I refuse to allow her." Snape hissed, and the others nodded along.

"We will find her a suitable place for the summer. Until then, I think she shall stay here for the school breaks." another few nods now towards the Headmaster, "If you will excuse me now ladies, and Severus, I shall attend to the matter at hand."

The Potions Master stepped to follow the elder, but Albus put a hand up and halted him.

"It will be better for me to handle this alone." he received a glare but ignored it, "Perhaps you could retrieve Miss Lomax from Hogsmeade Station for the time being?"