The Chain [Severus]

[daphnegreengrass]

Indeed, It had been month's since her last visit to Kockturn Alley. Nothing had really changed in those past couple of months like usual.The streets were still swarming with ragged looking Witches and Wizards, trying their best to earn their wages in life by selling stolen property. In a way, it was slightly scary for Daphne to even wander down those streets alone. She was only used to the walk with her father or mother. It was something her parents had enjoyed doing since they had been a little off due to the Dark Lord and his antics. It was as if ever since the Lord's death, her parents had begun to change, and oddly enough hide out in their own home. But being the way Daphne was, she decided to keep to herself and choose not to follow in either one of their paths.

Coming up to Borgin and Burkes, Daphne noticed that the sign had been flipped to open. With a slight grin, she slipped her way on in pushing her hood off from her head. Small rain droplets hit the floor as she began to brush herself off. As usual, the store had been covered heavily in a thick layer of dust. Her eyes swelling from the particles that had made it in her direction. But not having a care in the world, she slowly made her way throughout the store, glancing over all the old artifacts. Many worn, and some cracked. She could tell that they had been used plenty of times before by various wizards and witches. Placing her hand on an old vase, Daphne let out a small sigh. The store had brought back so many memories of the time's she and Pansy would go there. It was honestly heart breaking.

Tucking her long golden curls behind her ears, she noticed a variety of cursed necklaces. Being the way she was, Daphne had always found herself wanting to touch anything, and everything in sight. But knowing half of the objects in the store were practically cursed, she decided to keep her distance. It was nothing but black, dark magic in there. Instruments of torture strung the walls, taking up as much room as the possibly could. Human bones laid upon shelves, and shelves. It wasn't a place she would have wanted to visit often, just a place to look around and glance every once in a great while. Shaking her head slightly, she noticed she keeper standing at the front desk. Trying not to keep in eye range, she quickly turned her head merely frightening herself to death. There on one side of her sat a ton more of bones.

Before she could even find her way out of the store, she was stopped by Borgin himself. Her eyes widened as she tried not to slip on the puddle of water she had just hauled in with her. Gripping one of the shelves, she stopped herself. Why she was so scared she didn't know. It wasn't like it had been her first time in the store. 'Anything in particular you are looking for, little missy?' Shaking her head constantly, she took a step back. "No, sir. Just glancing. But I will be on my way." Pulling her hood over her head, Daphne began to hurry towards the door. But before she could even make it, she felt the mans grubby hands grab hold of her wrist. 'You know I don't like when people just think they can walk in and walk out of my store.' Daphne kept repeatedly shaking her head. This wasn't what she had wanted to happen. All she wanted was to look around. But that didn't seem to happen.

[Severus Snape]

Snape had been in Knockturn Alley for some particularly unfortunate potion ingredients (important ingredients for rather innocuous potions, actually). He walked by Borgin and Burke's, completely uninterested in the shop. And then he saw a flash of blonde and glanced over. Well, Borgin was tussling with a customer again.

Wait a moment, though; she had been one of hit students. Tucking his bag of potion ingredients away (carefully) in his robes, the Hogwarts professor swept through the door of Borgin and Burke's into the shop itself.

He glanced around, distaste coloring his features. Snape hadn't been here in a long time and he had wanted to keep it that way. However, the young Miss ... ah, yes, it was Miss Greengrass, had appeared to be in trouble with Borgin. As the man was afraid of Snape, it had seemed that the easiest way to help his former student was to simply show up.

As soon as Borgin saw Snape, he dropped the young woman's arm, bowing low. "Severus Snape," he breathed, oily voice attempting to sound ingratiating. "We haven't seen you in Borgin and Burke's for quite some time, sir. Is there anything we can do for you?"

Snape raised an eyebrow, looking down his nose at the shorter man. "You have not seen me in here for good reason. I am no longer a customer of yours, Borgin, and you would do well to remember that."

The proprietor bowed low, nodding his head. "Of course, sir. We aim to always please our cust--our former customers," he said, correcting himself midsentence. "However, as you are in my shop, is there anything I can do for you today?"

"You have already unhanded my former student, so I believe she will be going now," he said, sweeping past Borgin, expecting Daphne to follow him. After all, she had been trying to escape from Borgin when he had first seen her; it would be rather foolish to refuse the escape route that she had been offered.


((Sorry it took so long! My family decided to whisk us off for a short vacation and this is the first chance I've had to actually respond!))

[daphnegreengrass]

Panicking like usual, Daphne began to look around her hoping he didn't have any sort of back up behind him. It wasn't like she was bound and eager to rob his store. In fact, she practically afraid of it all. Went to show what a Greengrass she was, running from things that frightened her. That was one thing she varied from her parent's. You would think since she had carried their blood, she would follow in their ways. But no. The Dark Lord had meant nothing to her. Daphne was too good hearted unlike her father. Even in Hogwarts she was just a little too nice to even stand up for herself against Pansy. Always being pushed to the side. But, then there happened to be those days Daphne had actually received a back bone.

"Look, I don't want any trouble. I didn't know glancing was such a crime." Before she could even get a respond out of the old man, she heard the store door open. There she watched as Borgin released her arm and fell to his knees. What on earth he was doing, she didn't know. A familiar, heavy voice came from behind her. Slowly turning around, Daphne stopped in her tracks. There in front of her stood Severus Snape, dressed in his usual long dark cloak. Thank goodness someone had come to her aide. This had been her actual first time strolling the streets of Knockturn Alley by herself. And also, the relief she had felt seeing her old Professor getting her out of that situation.

Acting on instinct, Daphne followed him out. It was the best choice she had seemed to make all night. Making her way through the door with him, she gently pulled her hood up and over her head allowing her curls to hang out the sides. Quickly picking up her pace, she found herself following along side him. It had been years since she had to walk along side him. Really, she honestly couldn't remember the last time since she had rarely found herself getting in trouble. "Thanks Professor Snape." Raising her hand, she gently pushed a few curls back. Of course she was nervous. But really she shouldn't of been. He had just saved her rear from getting in trouble. Who would have known what the outcome could have been.

Letting out a small chuckled, she pursed her lips together. "It's been a long time since I have last seen you. I'm honestly surprised you even came in to get me out that situation." Looking up to him, she released a small friendly smile. She honestly didn't know how he had felt about her conversation with him, but she was enjoying the company. Working with the Ministry happened to be tiring. It just wasn't what they had made it out to be, and constantly working almost every day happened to be a pain. "It's been a while since I have last seen you."Dropping her big blue eyes, she found herself watching over the bright white snow.

[Severus Snape]

It was clear that Borgin wanted to argue, to tell Snape that the girl had been planning to steal from him, but he simply bowed low and let both of them leave. But he was going to remember what that girl looked like, and the next time she was in here, it would not go well for her, with what he was planning. And Snape knew that. He was going to have to warn Miss Greengrass about that. Then again, it might be better to simply let her learn from her own mistakes.

Even so, he told her, "Unless you actually have business in Knockturn Alley, it's best not to wander through here. As I'm sure you have learned, it's not exactly the friendliest place, especially for ... window shoppers." He wasn't looking at the girl as he added, "And, rest assured, Miss Greengrass, Borgin will not forget your face or your ... potential theft, as I'm sure he is viewing what happened; in his mind, glancing without any intention to purchase is a crime."

Well, this was interesting. Another of his former students commenting on how long it had been since they had last seen him. If they were really interested in looking him up, all they had to do was to stop by the school; it wasn't as though he was hard to find. Anymore, anyway. For a while, while he had been a triple agent, one could never really tell where he was going to be. But even during that time, he had spent a good deal of time at Hogwarts.

"Even former Slytherins are still part of our House," he murmured by way of explanation as to why he had come to her rescue. Quite frankly, his action had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and even in his own mind, the fact that the girl had been a Slytherin was enough explanation for him.