Trouble

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape had come to Hogseade to get some items & had finished getting them as he left the store, he had every thing sent to Hogwarts to make it simpler on him. Though as he left the store he glanced around & did not miss the people that where around & it was only more clear when he started to walk, for people moved out of his path more as if not wanting to be to close to the man.

He smirked he could not say he disliked having people do this for he found, with them doing it he had no trouble getting to where he needed to go & it was not so likly that people would run into him ether.

[Caleigh Fraser]

Having been given permission to go to Hogsmeade to buy a new set quills and ink, Cally made her way slowly into one of the many shops along Hogsmeade village. Looking for the quills, Cally was about to pay when she stopped dead in her tracks, her heart suddenly in her throat as fear swept through her. Putting the quills back, Cally tried to escape as quickly as possible before her parents saw her.

Taking a deep breath, Cally thought she had escaped without being noticed when she felt a large hand come down hard on her shoulder. Trying to pull herself away, Cally felt the hand grip tighter, nails biting into her skin causing Cally to make a small protesting noise of pain. "And why are you not in school?" The cold males voice ask from behind her.

"I'm just headed back," Cally said trying again to get away, causing the hand to grip her tighter, the nails breaking flesh now through her robes. "Please let me go," Cally asked softly trying to keep calm.

"Perhaps we should teach her why it is so important to stay in school," a high pitched voice accompanied her fathers. It sounded like nails on a chalk board. "She seems to have forgotten that lesson from the last time we saw her."

Cally swallowed, her fear rising as she felt her father grab her arm hard enough to bruise and start dragging her outside the shop. She'd learned at a young age not to call for help or cause a scene, it always caused the beatings to be worse when her parents were in these moods. Cally closed her eyes forcing her body not to tremble. She had promised herself she would never again be caught in a situation like this, and she would never have to see her parents again.

"Well, speak up child, we don't have all day, why aren't you in school?" The voice was cold and Cally looked away her arm numb from her fathers iron like grip which would cause her upper arm to be bruised for weeks now. When Cally didn't answer she felt the sharp pain across her cheek as her stepmother slapped her hard enough to leave a red mark on her pale skin.

Blinking back tears Cally braced herself, they were dragging her down a deserted alley away from preying eyes, and from experience Cally knew nothing could change what was about to happen to her. Her step mother looked for a reason to hurt her, and her father was so bewitched after her mothers deaths that now not only did he allow them, but her participated.

Cally felt another blow cut across her face, she wasn't sure if her stepmother had spoken to her or not, but it didn't matter now. If she stayed quiet this would be over soon enough. A third slap came and Cally felt the slicing of skin as her Stepmothers wedding ring sliced her cheek open, this blow being hard enough to cause bruising. Great a black eye, how was she going to explain this one.

"Please just let me go," Cally started to reason before she thought about what her words might do. If possible she felt her fathers grip tighten on both arms in a bone crushing grip as her shook her violently, before he turned her and struck Cally too, causing blood to run freely from the cut on her cheek and drip onto the freshly fallen snow beneath her feet.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape had moved to pass an ally when he though he heard something, it was faint but it was still there a sound to him that was out of place, he was not sure what made him take note if it was he passed at the right time or his time with in the D.E. to stay alive that gave him the Chance to hear it.

He stopped as he threw a glance into the alley, his cloak's hood hid much of his face but, they with the weather as it was such things was bot uncommon to see people wearing. The snow started to gather on his cloak & robes, he saw nothing but that meant little things could always hid in the dark with in the shadows. With a flick of his robes he turned to enter the alley, his eyes remained alert as he walked, listening for any sound there where times he stopped to give him self the chance to listen better & insure if anyone heard him.

Then there was the sound, faint words of -letting go- from the sound it was a child though it was unclear if it was true. He approached more silently working to keep the snow that was on the ground to make to much sound as he steeped on it.

What ever he expected to find it was not what he saw, it was enough to turn him where he felt ill though he did not show it. One thing he was a master of to hid any sigh of feeling he had, at least to many people. Even with this talent there where a few that still could read him, to some degree but, such people where few.

He was quick to draw his wand & cast to quick spells at the two around Cally hopping to get them away form Cally eve if it was to stun them, at the time he was unsure who they where but, form what they where doing he cared less & the idea that trouble could come to him for his actions. No at the time his only thoughts where on that a child was hurt & one no less that went to Hogwarts, not that it would of effected him any differently.

[Caleigh Fraser]

Cally didn't hear as someone approached where her parents had dragged her deep into the alley, away from prying eyes, and away from anyone who could save her. This was her life forced to live in the shadows and be on the receiving end of beating after beating.

Her heart all but stopped when she saw her stepmothers figure falling stunned into the snow in front of her feet, as she had leap in front of Cally's father protecting him at the last moment from the spells being cast in their direction.

Even quicker was her father to pull his wand. "Dad no, don't that's - " Her words were cut off as her father placed a large hand over her mouth keeping Cally's body positioned in between his and Snape's. Struggling, Cally tried to free herself horrified that someone had found her like this. She was still bleeding and tears of pain where running down her cheeks though she didn't cry and she pretended like the physical abuse she'd gone through didn't hurt.

Cally stood helplessly as her father pointed his wand at Snape, prepared to duel and she knew her father would sacrifice her body to make sure he would win and Snape would lose. "Who do you think you are?" Her father spat, his eyes burning with hatred for his daughter and the new man that had come down the alley. "Be gone, there is nothing to see here."

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape saw one of the figures fall, well the odds where getting better though he wished the other spell had meet its mark so this would be over but, he would see that it ended the same in the end.

He worked not to think of Cally & what had happened before he got there & how long this likely had been going on, perhaps it just started but he did not think it was the case.

There was no missing the mans actions to place Cally in between them both, a cowards actions. Snape heard the mans words & when he spoke his tone was as cold as ice "A better man then you & to leave as you say would only mean I would have to be a worse person then you to turn my back besides, I think you would be the type to shoot one in the back if given the chance"

[Caleigh Fraser]

Cally struggled, this wasn't going to end well, and she needed it to stop. Thinking quickly, she sank her teeth hard into the back of her dads hand. She flinched as he yelped, drawing back from Cally who swayed nearly falling over as she was released. Moving quickly Cally moved so her back was to Snape, knowing for certain now that it was him, and no matter she knew he could potentially be dangerous, Cally feared her father more than her professor.

Cally stood still looking at her father who had his wand pointed at her. "Do you honestly believe to use magic against me too father?" Cally questioned slowly starting to back slowly away from her father, but staying in between him and Snape. "Isn't it enough you've beaten me for years, that you've let that wench corrupt your view of your own daughter?" Cally paused knowing she was unarmed and couldn't fight back if her father used magic on her. "Mom would be so disappointed in you," Cally spat at her father tears burning in her eyes.

Cally was mortified that Snape had found her like this. What if he chose to use it against her too. No one was supposed to know about this part of her life, only one other person had ever known.

"Expelliarmus," Cally heard her father say, his wand pointing past Cally now to Snape. Cally stood frozen in spot not sure what was going to happen, but the last thing she needed was to be caught in the middle of a duel, so Cally did the last thing she could think of.

"Daddy," she said softly, sweetly, trying to get her dad's attention fully on her though it made her cringe to use that tone with him or refer to him with any sense of love. "Why would you point your wand at my Professor... You and step mother were mad that I wasn't in school, well I'm sure professor Snape is here to drag me back to the castle.." Cally trailed off, not really sure what had brought Snape to Hogsmeade, but she hoped what she said would at least stall he father.

Without lowering his wand, Cally watched as her father turned to look at Snape. "He won't punish you nearly as well as you mother and I would do for your lack of self control and your horrible habits of walking away from school.. No I think we will punish you and return you to school at a later date. Wouldn't you think professor? Come to me my child," Cally shivered as her father made it a point for her step mom to be considered her mother. Standing there, Cally wasn't sure what to say or do.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape did not miss as Cally got away form her father but, why she felt the need to stay between him & her father he was unsure, he did not need her to protected him. After all he had faced more menacing men then the man before him perhaps she felt she needed to in so way but, Snape would of felt better if she got out of the path between them.

With the spell that came at him he easily flicked it away like a fly, he had been close to casting his own spell but, Cally words stilled him from acting at least for the moment.

Snape smirked with the mans words perhaps he could play to him, after all if it did not work he could finish where they started left off at now. "To say I cannot punish well, only says you hardly know my ways when it comes to students that, do not do as they are told. I can promise you sir, I am the worst when it comes to punishments with in Hogwarts, there are many you could ask if it is not so"

There was no lowering of his wand but, then again he was not fully trusting of the man so he would stay focused on him, hopping between his words & actions he would force the man to do as he said.

[Caleigh Fraser]

Cally watched her father closely, waiting to see some sign of the man she used to know. Some sign that he was still the father that had loved her as a child, and who had help her mother raise her. Cally wasn't sure what kept her standing between Snape and her father, maybe it was the fact that even through it all, he still was her father, or maybe she wasn't sure which person would be best to go with.

"Prove it," Cally's father's voice came strong and cold. "Right here, right now, prove that you will be a suitable substitute to punish her." Eyes wide, Cally looked from her father to her professor and tried to push her way back further into the shadows suddenly aware that she was very much in the direct line of fire.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape heard the mans words, as he spoke his tone was anything but, pleased. "Now you insulted me to say that, for it only proves you do not know much about me" Snape watched the man but, he did not acted on doing anything to the man at least not just yet. "Would you risk her life, to have such a thing proved to you?"

[Caleigh Fraser]

Watching in horror as her father looked to Cally and then back to Snape at her professors words. "Really, she is nothing to me. Kill her. It won't do anything to me, she is useless and stupid." He shrugged his shoulders. "In fact, I would love to watch, she has been nothing but trouble since the day she was born, and I regret the day her mother found out she was pregnant. And if you don't kill her, we probably will one day"

Cally felt herself shivering at his words. Biting her bottom lip, she knew it was the truth, her father would never bat an eyelash if she died, and he would be the first to kill her given the chance. Looking at Snape Cally waited for him to do something. "Just do it professor," she said softly her voice barely audible. "Pain doesn't bother me anymore, and it will make him stop..." Cally paused, her words were brave, but she wasn't feeling very brave at that moment and the only thing that kept her from running was her fathers wand pointed at her chest.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape did not miss the mans words, he truly was a cruel man Snape could be but, even some lines he could not cross. "If you care so little they why bother with if she is punish or not, then again perhaps it is the feeling you get doing it" Snape did not miss Cally's words to fallow, though she spoke bravely he could almost since her tremble at the idea.

Snape was thanking how best to deal with the issue & there was only one way though it could have two out comes & one was more likely to send him to jail, a place he had been lucky not to be sent but, his luck could only stay so long. As he spoke his voice held the tone as could as Cally father as if the idea of her dead mattered little. Snape had lowered his wand as he listened to the two, though he was schooled in his own spells he did well to cast one at the ground silently as if thinking before he looked to Cally's father & Cally "Very well"

With that Snape moved to cast a second spell though it was not directed at Cally but, her father he hopped to take her of gourd though the thing was that the first spell he cast was not a spell well known or used but, by him for it was a spell that formed a beast out of the surrounding area so since it was dark in the area the spell was aimed the beast would be of shadows though he could grab some one & hold them but, it was more for at the time to get Cally's father away from her & Cally more out of harms way, the second spell he cast was a stunner that with any luck would knock the man out.

[Caleigh Fraser]

Cally swallowed hard, trying to breath past the lump that was forming in her throat. Why did she always find herself in these situations? Why did she have to pick today to get new quills when she could have gone later in the month with the school. People would have been around then and she probably wouldn't have run into this situation. Closing her eyes, Cally silently prayed that if she got out of there that she would attend all of her classes and wouldn't skip anymore.. okay well maybe saying she wouldn't skip at all was a lie, but she would make more of an effort to attend the majority of her classes and stay on the school grounds.

Feeling some form of energy gathering in the shadows near her, Cally gasped in fear trying to push herself closer to a the brick wall, trying to dissoppear. Her eye sparkled with unshed tears, and Cally wasn't sure what to do. I want to be invisible she thought to herself, knowing it was impossible but she couldn't help herself from wishing she had the power to vanish.

"Oh please," Cally heard her father say as he moved his wand from Cally flicking it at the stun spell Snape had cast at him. "Really do you think I'm so stupid. Fine take the girl. I never want to see her again. She is no longer a daughter of mine, but rather a worthless being who doesn't deserve to live. I hope someday, someone will teach her a lesson, and end her misserable existance on this earth." With that, he flicked his wand once at Cally sending a burning spell at her causing her to scream in pain, then grabbing his wife, Cally's father was gone.

Cally screamed, her skin going up in flames, angry red burns covering her arms and body, blistering before the flame died out. If she hadn't been pressed so tight against the wall, she would have toppled over, but as it was, the wall was the only thing keeping her from falling over. Breathing hard, Cally cringed trying to cradle her arms close to her, the stinging from the burns almost to horrible to withstand.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape did not miss Cally's fathers words, as he flicked his stunning spell away, he was unsure if all would go well but, it would not stop him from trying so he watched & waited for an opening to come where he could with any luck finish this.

Though with Cally's fathers next words he though it was over but, it was fair form that, he had cast a burning spell & Snape was quick to cast a spell at the man but, he was gone before the spell hit he, was left with not being able to finish the man for he had to tend to Cally before it got any worse.

Turning he was quick to cast a spell to counter the burning spell but, he knew now for sure that she would have to go to the hospital wing to be cheek over to see to her injury's. Callys scream filled his ears, only once he was sure the spell was out did he approach Cally his tone was flat as he spoke though it was not uncommon form him ether. "Miss. Fraser are you alright? Other then the injury's you have? Can you make it back to Hogwarts so we can get you to the hospital wing?"

[Caleigh Fraser]

Taking a deep breath, Cally closed her eyes. She wanted to pass out, wanted to be numb to the lightening hot pain running through her veins and over her skin. Her father and step mother were gone, and she could only hope it was for good. Blinking back tears, Cally looked up at Snape as he spoke to her. "Physically," she answered his question softly, not trusting her voice. Wanting to scream in pain, Cally blinked hard forcing herself to be strong and opened her eyes again moving away from the wall her whole body protesting in pain making her want to collapse and cry out in pain.

"This isn't the worst they've done to me, I can make it..." Cally trailed off biting her bottom lip nervously. "Professor, you can't tell anyone about them. Most people think there dead, or don't know that I am related to them. Only one other person in this world knows what they've done to me. Please understand.. He is still my father..." Cally felt a few tears escape and roll down her cheeks no matter how hard she tried to keep the pain away, it was killing her, and her skin was starting to peel, her body starting to only be able to focus on the pain.

[Professor Severus Snape]

Snape watched Cally closly, he could see she was in pain & if not she sould be though she did well to hold back form making note of it, so much. With her words he listened "For the time I will say nothing but, we must get you back to Hogwarts to be cheeked over" He knew that with the way she looked he would be asked questions he did not know if he could answer at the moment. "Let use get back"