CLARISSA'S POV:

The day went by slowly, but soon it was only two hours until I would have to meet Professor Snape for detention. It was hilarious telling my Slytherin roommates about having detention with him because of their horrified faces.

I swear that they probably think Professor Snape is the coldest, meanest person ever, but they just don't know him. They don't know about his caring personality, his cute smile, his cute...wait! Cute?! What?! How could I possibly have a crush on my Head of House?!

My PROFESSOR?!

This cannot be happening! I mean, I should've realized this sooner, but my mind was fuzzy from everything that had happened the night before.

"Good luck." A fellow Slytherin nodded while leaving the room.

Exhaustion hit me just then. I could tell that I didn't feel hundred percent, so I laid down in my bed, wrapping my arms around my pillow.

It took less than a minute before my consciousness diminished, and then I was asleep.

***

It had been two days since the gentlemen with the red hair and blue eyes had returned.
I was quite worried something had happened to him since I tend to bring trouble with me, like a cloud of smoke that always surrounds me.

A quick knock at the door startled me, causing the glass of water on the table to fall to the ground with a crashing sound.

"Shit." I muttered, pulling out my wand and creeping towards the door.

"Hello? Is everything alright in there?" An unfamiliar voice asked, worry coursed in the deep voice.

"Who are you?" I blurted out, upset that I had revealed that I was in there.

"Name's Gary Trifley." He answered. "May I come in?"

I hesitated for a bit before slowly opening the door, the hinges groaning.

Gary Trifley.

His brown eyes sparkled mysteriously as he scanned the room and then looked at me.

He was wearing very fancy clothes, a suit and tie, to be exact. His brown hair was slicked back with gel, and his face was baby smooth.

I felt like a peasant standing in front of him.

My hair tangled, and my clothes covered in everything possible. The man, unfortunately, could not spare any clothes for me.

"Hi, I'm..." I stopped mid-sentence. I don't even know who he is!

"C.W." I continued, giving him my initials.

His eyebrows rose, and a smirk danced onto his face.

"Well then, I'll be G.T."

I giggled then, smiling at his playfulness.

He just walked into my messed up life and made me happy. Too happy.

"Why are you here?" I straightened up, staring him down boldly.

He smiled weirdly, almost as if he were thinking of doing something to me before answering, "I'm here to kill you."

I felt my insides twisting into many little knots as I fell out of my bed, my face covered in blood.

Shit. Must be another nosebleed.

I rose up from the ground and ran into the bathroom, plugging my nose with tissues. I washed off the blood on my face and sat with my head in my hands.

Why the hell do I keep having dreams about the past?! Why now?! Is it because I'm actually happy?! That I have a family now?! Why?!

I stood up and paced around the bathroom before realizing I was late for detention.

I dashed out of the dormitories and made my way to Professor Snape's classroom, my insides still unsteady as I knocked on the door.

***

SEVERUS' POV:

Where is that bloody girl?! Bloody? No, she's not that, but still. It's the second time she has made me wait for her!

I was just about to go and get her when I heard a quiet knock on the door.

"Enter." I said bitterly.

The girl entered in slowly, making her way towards my desk. She had tissues in her nose, and her skin was snow pale.

I couldn't hide the shock on my face as she shakily sat down, tears welling in her eyes.

"Clarissa," I addressed her by her first name, standing up. "is everything alright?"

I had bent down to her level since she seemed to avoid my gaze, perhaps feeling guilty of something?

She didn't respond but let out a stifled gasp, her eyes closed with tears seeping out.

"I'm sorry." She choked out, now looking over at my worried face with hers.

"You haven't done anything." I spoke, wiping her tears off her face.

I saw a droplet of blood slide out her corner of her mouth and fall to the floor.

"Clarissa, you're bleeding...from your mouth." I said gently, wiping the blood away with my finger.

"Severus..." She was shaking like a leaf now, more blood coming out of her mouth.

I picked her up and guided her to my chambers, laying her down in my bed and running to get some potions for her.

I heard a strangled gasp and ran in the bedroom to see her spewing out blood everywhere. Her face had turned bright red, and I ran towards her, performing the Heimlich Maneuver on her to help her breathe.

She was gasping so much that I thought she would never calm down. I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her head to try to calm her which worked.

After a while, I moved her into the living room and made her drink potion after potion. Soon enough, her color had come back.

"Clarissa..." I caressed her cheek, smiling gently.

"I owe you an explanation, Severus." She said, looking at me with her glittering emerald eyes.

"I-I had a nightmare before I came, and it was of one of the Death Eaters trying to kill me."
She explained, rubbing her arms harshly.

I put my hands on her arms, causing her to stop moving so much.

"Easy there, Clarissa. You're okay now." I assured her, her smile small but happy.

"Severus, I'm sorry for scaring you. I just..." She apologized before stopping mid-sentence, contemplating whether or not she should say what she was going to say.

"Please," I begged her. "don't lie to me. Tell me what's wrong."

"I bring trouble with me, and I'm a worthless freak!" She put herself down, starting to cry again.

I couldn't even speak.

Her? A freak? Sure, she brings trouble, but everything has some trouble they bring. And worthless? No...she's not!

"I'm ill, Severus!" She sat up quickly, her arms free from my grip.

She suddenly stood up and started pacing around.

"I get sick after I have those nightmares! Those horrible nightmares! I never did before, but now I do!" She yelled, slightly wobbling.

"Clarissa," I walked towards her, holding out my hand. "I'll help you, okay?"

I wrapped my arms around her, engulfing her in a hug. I felt and heard her heavy sobs as she hugged me back.

"Thank you, Severus."

"Please, let me heal you." I spoke in a worried whisper, holding her closer. "I was so worried that I would lose you because you make my life...better."

I felt her voice vibrating in my chest.

"I do?" She asked, her voice muffled.

I lifted up her chin, so I could see her beautiful eyes and responded.

"Yes."

***

THIRD PERSON POV:

The autumn blew by fast with Professor Snape giving Clarissa detention every couple of days, so they could talk about their lives then and now.

"Ms. Waters?" Snape questioned as she burst into his classroom.

She was grinning like an idiot as she slipped into Snape's lap.

Snape cocked an eyebrow at her but didn't push her off, so she started to talk about her day.

"Clarissa," Snape interrupted. "what's got you so happy?"

"Well, Hogsmeade, of course!" Clarissa exclaimed, almost falling out of his lap before he grabbed her back firmly.

He only rolled his eyes and sighed. Oh, how he'll have to break the girl's heart.

"Clarissa, Hogsmeade is for third years and up." He informed her, worried about her reaction to the news.

She only smiled wider, her grin now mischievous.

"Clarissa," He warned. "what are you planning?"

"Oh, something great!" She winked at him.

"You'll be serving detention for years if I catch you at Hogsmeade." Snape hissed, but she only laughed.

"You'll never catch me!" She hollered, jumping out of Snape's lap and running out the door.

"For Merlin's sake!" He moaned as he stood up to follow her, making sure she wouldn't get into more trouble.

"What the..." He stopped himself from swearing as some students passed by and looked at him weirdly. They hadn't seen that Clarissa was now outside laying in the snow, making a snow angel.

"She's going to freeze with those clothes on." He muttered, Clarissa only having on a light jacket and leggings.

He groaned and trudged out towards her with a blanket he summoned from his wand.

"You're so stupid, you know that?" He said irritated at her foolish actions, now draping the blanket over her shivering body.

"I know, but I had fun." She quivered, wrapping the blanket tightly around herself.

"Come on, Ms. Waters. You need to change, so you don't freeze to death." He snarled, rolling his eyes at the pathetic looking girl. He couldn't help but smile a little as she started whining.

"But I don't want to go!" She giggled.

"Ms. Waters, if I have to, I will carry you inside." He threatened, now hovering over her.

"Fair enough." Clarissa answered, pulling herself up and following Snape inside.

***

"Here," Snape tossed some clothes at her. "change into these."

They were in Snape's personal chambers again for the hundredth time, so she slipped herself into the bathroom and changed into black sweatpants and a baggy, white t-shirt.

"How do I look?" She cocked an eyebrow at Snape once she had finished changing.

"Lovely." He said nonchalantly, not even peering up at her from his book.

"Ugh, whatever." She plopped herself on his couch, his body warmth radiating her shoulder.

"Must you sit this close to me, Ms. Waters?"

"Well, of course! I was just out in the freezing snow with barely anything on!" She said, chuckling afterwards.

"Yes." He drew the word out. "Any reason for that?"

"I don't know. It was so bloody warm in the castle, so it wasn't worth it wearing heavy clothing!"

He glanced over at her now, and without warning, felt her cheeks.

"You're still cold." He mumbled, his hand now stroking her cheekbone.

"I'm fine." She laughed nervously, feeling her ice cold hands.

"No, you're not." He persisted, moving her closer to him, so she could smell the parchment in his lap, and his musky odor.

He touched her hands and was shocked that her hands were so cold.

He summoned a dozen blankets and placed them over her whole body as she laid in his lap, the parchments now on a table.

"Severus..." She trailed off when his hand touched her cheek yet again.

"Shh...sleep now. You'll feel better." He caressed her head, running his hands through her hair.

She nodded drowsily, and for the first time in months, had a peaceful sleep.

Author's Note: Aww...I think this chapter's adorable!❤️ I know that Clarissa suffers from a lot of health problems as seen throughout this story, but there's a reason. Thank you for 100+ reads on this story! I have also entered this story into the Wattys, just so you know. ;) I also want to thank PhoenixRose1 for voting on the chapters! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! xx