2002-12-01 20:32:00,
I need to talk to someone.....,"

An IC RP with Snape and Jack.

Jack was sitting in his new room, his new home thinking. We was trying to remember things. Albus had asked him to tell him of the most recent thing he could recall, and the oldest thing he could recall. He could find neither with any substance. Every flash of memory he WAS able to mine was connected to The Sour Man, The Bringer of Pain, Severus Snape. Not all of them were painful, but most were ... confusing and odd. He hadn't heard the Voice of Severus, or whomever that was in his head, and he hadn't mentioned The Voice to anyone. He wanted to. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not to be hearing voices no one else seemed to hear.

He would sit and listen, waiting for The Voice, and he had tried even a few times to coax it back. Nothing would come. It seemed he was being ignored now. He had been bad, again. Then along with trying to recall the memories for The Old Man, Albus was his name, Headmaster, there were the dreams he was having. Of dark rooms, firelight, being naked and being with another, being held, caressed and ... taken. He would wake up from those sweaty and wanting the REAL THING even if it was with Him. He was quite sure it was all connected, but making the connections was quite hard indeed.

And what was the thing around his neck that moved, and hissed in his ear, and spoke to him with soft squeezes and nudges of a metal snout? He was sure that was part of it too, but what, and how?

He sat there for a moment, just thinking, and wondering, not realizing he was transmitting his ruminations.

It started off like an annoying buzz, almost, a not-quite identifiable distraction and nuisance. Snape was sitting, working (he'd been feeling guilty for not putting in his full effort and so the students were getting reams of comments tonight) and had the urge to swat whatever it was and get rid of it.

After shaking his head distractedly, and pushing his hair back from his face, he realised it wasn't going away- and if anything, it was getting worse. Annoyed his work and concentration was disturbed, he put up a mental 'go away' sign when he realised who it was, and ground the quill into the inkwell.

That didn't work either. The voice in his head grew plaintive, still insistent, but meekly so. Tugging at his metaphorical robe hem and demanding attention. Snape was very tempted to shove down the biggest mental barrier he could find- or get a pillow and smother that whining little voice altogether.

What do you want? he asked, in a tone that suggested he didn't really want to know the answer, so would you please hurry up the conversation to the end, thank you very much?

The reply took a moment, as though the other communicant was thinking long and hard. Snape could almost feel the cogs moving.

I... want to talk...

Talk is not really the word, but I think the concept made itself apparent in that you have mithered me incessantly for the last fifteen or so minutes of my life.

Silence.

Does that mean we can talk?

Head, meet desk.

A few minutes later and the diatribe settled down. And the dust. Snape spat out the strands of hair that had found their way to his mouth. His nose crinkled up at the aftertaste. When he sensed he'd confused Jack, Snape explained as one would to a toddler.

If it means you will shut up and get out of my head, then yes, we will talk. Understand?

A mental nod, felt rather than said.

Snape waited. Eventually when nothing was forthcoming he decided he needed a cup of tea to deal with this, and rang for one. When he was settled, and taking the first sip, he felt a querrulous sound.

You are the one that wanted to 'talk', he reminded. He was not about to make things any easier, or make the first step. He enjoyed seeing people squirm.

I've been... squirming, ...seeing things. In my dreams, I mean.

I would be more worried had you not.

Oh. They don't scare me.

There was a slight tremor to that, but Snape could almost see the defiant lift of chin. So there was life in the old dog yet? How long til it was kicked out, as it was with everyone else? There were only so many times you could get back up.

They don't? Had anyone else said, or thought, that, Snape would immediately have ridiculed them for parrot-like mimicry, but it was fine for him to say- think- that, because he was doing it for a reason. Part of it was called avoiding the problem. He wondered what kind of dreams, exactly.

The question must have been transmitted, or guessed at, Snape didn't know which. There was a short mental explanation- quick and concise and informative, as if the other person was trying to communicate something they'd rather not as efficiently and effectively as possible.

After a few seconds Snape unconsciously crossed his legs, and looked down at his desk, the slightest hint of blood visible in his cheeks, which was a partial godsend as it stopped it all from pooling elsewhere. Only slightly good though.

They should... he mused, before starting again, with more authority and firmness as he directed his mind down a safer avenue. Dreams are merely the brain processing information during REM, that is, Rapid Eye Movement sleep. This is a normal procedure believed by some to be theraputic and has strong links with memory organisation. If you follow some Muggle schools it tells you about your subconscious, or if you listen to the Divinators, it will predict your future. Personally I do not subscribe to the majority. As you were saying?

Force the enemy into surrender by sheer volume of evidence had often been Snape's method. If you said enough difficult things people often forgot what was being 'discussed' originally and some didn't understand they'd been insulted, thought they had, but would not risk looking an idiot if they took offence over something that wasn't in and of itself offensive.

Of course, some people just tried to rearrange his nose and hex him, but he knew how to deal with that too.

Jack couldn't physically assault Snape right now but he didn't think he would attempt that even if he was here in person right now. Regardless of how difficult Snape was being. There was a touch of frustration, but the voice was struggling to sound as unpathetic as it could right now, calm, weighed, and considered. It was having a little difficulty.

I just want to know more. And... not about what dreams are. I know that I think.

Snape raised a brow, and took another sip of his tea. He rarely finished a full cup. What would you like me to tell you? Then he could utter a placation or whatever was needed. You don't half circumlocute. And that means speaking around the issue, he added before that drew it out any further.

It seemed to Jack that Snape was the one going round in circles. If he wanted this sorting out he was going to have to be blunt and precise and literal.

I'm lonely. And I'm confused. And I'm curious. And I just want to be well again. I want to... I want to not be afraid and I want to understand things. Please...

You don't ask much do you? was the immediate thought. Some people dedicate their lives to those goals, or even one, and never succeed. What makes you think you can?

Glove thrown down, and challenge too.

I have to try?

A question. And what a simple one. And what a response could be given. Snape was mentally shaking his head. You tell me, I have trouble enough with myself. Sorting other people's lives so you didn't have to look at your own was only delaying the inevitable.

While Jack was thinking about that, Snape butted in his reflections; If you don't mind, I have several seventh years who need to know the corrections I will give them to have any chance of not failing. Which is slim to none at best. A dismissal. Snape picked up his quill and left his cold tea forgotten, and would not reply in anything more than mental grunts for the rest of the night."

2002-12-02 21:36:00,
Bored.

Bored I what I am. Jack Grim is bored. Yes I am. I have been sitting in my room most of the day alone, and it is boring.

Albus comes to have meals with me. No one else comes to see me. I wonder why? Are they hiding me from everyone? I think that is the case.

I know I am not right. I want to be right again. Severus said I had to WANT that and I had to DO something about it. I suppose that means I have to remember something. Everything.

Right now all I can remember is pain. Pain from Severus Snape and pain from the Other Man in Black. Severus saved me from him, I think. I wonder if I should ask him about that.

He will probably get mad at me again."

2002-12-03 10:41:00,
Mail for the Prisoner.... / House Elf Note to Blaise,

Jack,

Hey there hun, how are you feeling? Dumbledore said you had fallen ill, he won't let me visit you. What happened? You disappeared again, please don't tell me you had yet another run in with Voldemort. I swear you spend more time in the hospital wing than Neville Longbottom who blows up things in Snapes class. I do hope you get better soon, it would be nice to see you around again. Don't have too much fun, if you need anything let me know I will see if I can find away to smuggle it into you.

Truly.

Blaise

Jack looked at the note for a long time, reading it over and over. He tried to put a face to the name, Blaise. When he read the part about Voldemort, he flashed on something. Something clicked, something came back to him. So he wrote it down in his journal.

I was in a room, a dark room. Severus Snape was there, and we were fighting against Voldemort, and his, others. We cursed them and hexed them and then I was struck down by one of them and ... I was being hurt by him. He hurt me over and over until... Severus Snape saved me... He SAVED me.

Jack looked down at what he had just written, then set the quill back dow as he thought it through over and over until he felt dizzy. He rest his face in his hands and rested for a moment before making a reply to this Blaise person.

Hello Blaise,

It was so nice of you to write to me. I am in a room by myself now. They took me out of the Hospital Wing. I am hungry right now, and lonely. I don't like being alone. I wish someone would come to see me for a little while. Maybe soon they will let you.

I hope to see you again soon,

Jack Grim

Jack looked at the note a long time before folding it up and handing it to the house elf who had remained to straighten up the room, and make up his bed for him. He watched the Elf dissappear with a sound like the crack of a whip, and he was alone again."

2002-12-03 14:32:00,
I just want someone I can talk to

An IC Chat with Jack and Snape.

After Jack had sent the note off to Blaise, and spent a lot of time pondering on the memory, and trying to recall more of it, he decided to tell someone. Hello? Are you there? he asked softly, like a soft rap on a closed door to the Master's Study.

Snape was teaching. That was what you did, if you were a teacher. Apparently. He had a room full of sixth years currently engaged in cleaning up- something that was marginally less dangerous than brewing this particular philtre, and he was watching them like a hawk, and scaring as many as he could. He almost jumped when he was addressed- the thought of being called to whilst in class one he hadn't much pondered of late, though it made sense. Somehow. "Gloves, Salvi, gloves," he said to a gushing Hufflepuff, as he thought a moment. Eventually he replied as though weary, Yes? No doubt this is important, hm?

There came a mental nod, an eager one. I would think so, I remembered something... We were fighting, you and I were fighting against Voldemort, and his followers, and then I was being hurt by one. He paused as if to try to focus the thought, and file it as a memory and not the hear and now. Then, you saved me from them... he added. I remembered when I read a note sent to me by someone named Blaise. he explained, then waited for a reply.

Blaise? Who on--- oh. That fifth year. And a possible substance abuser, if Snape remembered correctly. Having got stuck on her, he started to process the rest of the information slowly. Waved a hand to the cupboard when someone came up asking for wire wool before they managed to open their mouth. Him? Snape's tone was not complimentary. He deserves everything he got, and then some. A brief surge of sadistic pride swept through him at the thought of the strung-up Death Eaters. He dragged his thoughts back again.Yes, you seem to have a penchant for finding trouble. If I didn't know better... Snape would say he'd been taking lessosn from That Potter Brat.

Jack was confused, I have a knack for finding trouble? Is that why we were there fighting Voldemort? he asked, then his mind wandered to other things for a moment. Hunger, it was always there it seemed, and about another dream he had had with Severus Snape in it. Sexual again, and he found them more curious than disturbing. He then inquired on that subject calmly as if he were asking the time. Did we ever have sex together? I keep dreaming that....

Snape snorted and the students closest immediately wondered what they were doing wrong. They exchanged glances, but couldn't work out what they had done wrong now. Yes. Trouble magnet... Snape started musing before a rather blunt question out of the blue. And in front of everyone. He started turning a rather interesting shade, which fortunately passed rather well as his usual angry hue. What kind of question is that? he asked, thankful that mentally his voice didn't hitch up a few octaves. Just the odd note. He stared accusingly at a cauldron.

I was just wondering if the dreams were... wishes, or memories. he replied as calm as you can be. But then, if we were, or ARE having sex... Why would you hurt me? Unless that was before... Unless that happened before the sex, or I was being punished... Maybe that was it... he continued to ramble on until he was stopped or a suitable answer came. He seemed quite engrossed by the connection between the two.

Normally Snape would be overjoyed if anybody showed the slightest inkling that they tried to really THINK about things, truly, and figure them out. What was life if you just went ahead and lived it without stopping to appreciate or comprehend it? But having thought processes mapped out- on subjects like this- was not his idea of fun. Or was. And wasn't. Thankfully Jack seemed detatched at his end or Snape would have had to shut his brain down completely. Maybe... maybe you need to consider other things too? Snape asked, taking refuge in the hypothetical. You assume that pain is only doled out to those who need punishing or to people not in good favour. If the situation makes no sense sometimes you have to question the foundations you have to begin with... Which was cutting too close to the bone by far.

Jack pondered that for a moment, thinking, Maybe I WANTED the pain.... Seems like an odd thing to want doesn't it? he asked, then went onto another tangent. Well, I wrote down in my journal about remembering the fight with Voldemort. But nothing else. I get the feeling that the sex stuff is just between us... he surmised briefly, then went onto another topic. I am doing my best to recall things... Reading the note from Blaise helped, I wonder if I should read more...

All of which was totally... oh nevermind. He supposed he should be grateful that Jack seemed easily distracted by other subjects. But he didn't think he quite managed to bite down a You're writing all this in a journal?! Which was, if he thought about it, rather hypocritical a complaint. But still. He felt his thoughts were pretty safe where they were penned. "Does that look like a size two beaker?!" he managed to snap, before thinking, Yes. Reading is... good... Could the day get any more confusing?

Yes, came the sighed reply, Albus Dumbledore gave me a journal to write down what I remembered. So far, I just have remembered the fight we had. Do you want me to not write EVERYTHING down I remember? he asked carefully. I don't want to make you angry with me again... came the solemn comment. I just want to get out of here, I am so lonely. he added, then came the equivilant of a mental howl of anguish. Solitude was not an effective treatment it seemed.

Convicted by dreams Jack wasn't even totally sure were true? And would Albus really stoop that low? If he would, then not writing them down wouldn't serve much use because he'd not have any qualms about other- less... thoughtful methods? Do what he told you, and he will probably let you out sooner, Snape reasoned, not liking the onset of cabin fever he could sense one bit. Hasn't he even let you out?

A sulky sigh came over next, No, I haven't been out of here since I was brought back by you Sirs. He paused, then continued as he looked around the room, sending mental images to Snape, I have a bed, a desk, a place to bath, a lav and a small small window I can't climb out of... It's nice... but I want to be outside. he lamented, then got up from the desk and flopped down on his bed on his belly, resting his forehead on his folded arms. I want out.... I want out.... he thought over and over.

I heard you adequately the first time, Snape growled, and stood up as the bell went, waited until everyone was looking at- or past him. Paused. "You may go." he glared at them as they left. Outside doesn't really live up to the glowing report it receives, Snape thought in an effort to get rid of the self pity a moment. He could think of worse places to be locked up in. Definately. He shuddered despite himself. I'll have the House Elves bring you something to read, he said, already thinking ahead.

Thank you... he replied, sounding only slightly more pleased than before. You could come see me and talk to me if you like. I dont think I would mind that... he added, then sighed again and closed his eyes. He was hungry, and bored, he might as well sleep.

With the incessant whining stopped- what he supposed was the human equivalent of a parrot plucking its feathers- Snape relaxed a little more. Honestly. What did the world have about shoving everyone elses' problems on him? Room clear he went to the office and picked up the first book he thought Jack hadn't read, and summoned a House Elf. I suppose you'll be wanting grapes next, he said. Then the elf came, and decided that Sibby didn't think Sibby could take the book to Master Grim, only Headmaster had said not to, no matter how much Sibby WANTED to do what Professor Snape asked...

Grapes? came the perked up voice. Yes, please! I would love some grapes! I am so hungry, I would like just about anything to eat right now. Some bread, some juice, some cookies would be wonderful! Can I have those too? he asked as dreams of a confectionary wonderland floated through this thoughts like a parade.

Snape's eyes widened. It just... no. It defied belief. He had to be joking, right? Snape threatened the House Elf aloud, bargaining with his position as head of Jack's house, and finally made it agree to give the book over if Snape went to see Albus immediately and told him what he had made the elf do, which fitted in with the Potions Master's plans fairly well anyway. He also told Sibby that anything going spare in the kitchen should be sent up- and knowing house elves, that would be rather a lot. He did mumble grapes along the way, if only to get some more peace. Is there anything else Sirrah would like? He had, after all, mastered sarcasm.

Sirrah? Is that my name? I thought it was Jack Grim... Hmm.... No, some grapes and snacks would be fine. The meals are well enough here, but they don't come as often as I would like.... he mused then rolled over onto his back and looked up at the stone ceiling of his chamber, studying the patterns of the rock overhead. Thank you Severus... he said with a contented little sigh a moment later, then he went quiet again.

Some animals will eat themselves to death given half the opportunity... And no, your name is not Sirrah, I was being facetious... Yes, something he'd been called a lot over the years. Hopefully that will keep you quiet a while... With the House Elf scurrying off, Snape finished what he was doing before heading off to see Albus."

2002-12-03 23:01:00

Food.,"I like food. I like food a lot, and I like having lots of food. Severus sent the elves with some after I talked to him last, and I ate most of it up.

This made the house elves happy, and it made me happy too. I told them I would be very unhappy and cry a lot and tear my hair out if I got hungry again. They bring food to me all the time now. I am a wicked boy.

I wonder if I will dream about Severus Snape again tonight. He sent me a book to read. It's all about potions. Does it help me remember things? Indeed it does. Well, more snacks have arrived, then some more reading then to bed I suppose."

2002-12-04 09:51:00,

A busy morning..,"Well, perhaps I shall not be so lonely after all. More notes are arriving to me from the House Elves. Blaise wrote back to me, she misses me a great deal and fears I will die at the hands of Voldemort.

Oh yes. I read her notes over and over and things trickle back to me. Other thoughts are trickling in as well. Thoughts of another person. Not Severus Snape, another person. It is almost like I am, recalling a past life...

I also received another note from another girl, Cho. She also wishes me well, and a quick recovery. People out there DO miss me, and it seems I have friends. Female friends. Are they lovers of mine as well? If they are.... Where does Severus fit into all of this? If I could just TALK to him, alone.

I know this may be dangerous. He may want me dead and he is just biding his time for the opportunity. He could be luring me into a trap. Perhaps that is why Albus keeps me here. Severus did sent that book, I am recalling potions and mixtures of all sorts, not much else. I am a student. I am not sure if I am remembering that or if it is just instinct.

At breakfast Albus left me a book, Hogwarts, a History. This has told me much about where I am apparently. Slowly, slowly it is coming back...

The question is... Will I want to be who I was when I know all there is to recall? It is hard to say... I think I will answer my notes for now, and await lunch, the mid morning snack is now gone."

2002-12-04 11:06:00,
House Elf Post to Cho Chang

Hello Cho,

I wanted to thank you for your kind note telling me I am missed. It is so lonely where I am, it does me good to know I have friends.

My problem is, I have lost most of my memory, and they seem to be keeping me secluded until it fully returns. I am assuming we were good friends for you to sound so concerned for me.

I hope we can meet soon. I would like to remember who you are.

Jack Grim"

2002-12-04 11:09:00,
House Elf Post to Blaise Zabini,

Hello again Blaise!

I must say, you are my good friend as long as you keep sending me sweets. The notes are grand too, but I love to eat.

We used to talk alot? I would love to know what about. I can't recall much. My memory is gone on most things of my past, and they are keeping me here until it returns. I may never get out of here.

Perhaps you can tell me more about myself. What was I like? Was I nice? Did I have a lot of girlfriends? I have another girl writing to me as well.

Well, I am going to do more reading, it seems to help. Thank you again for the sweets.

Jack Grim"

2002-12-05 19:30:00,
Visitors to the Prisoner once again.

An IC RP with Jack Grim and Severus Snape, and Albus Dumbledore.

There were no voices to preceed the two men- all the discussion had taken place already. Save for the slight animation of Snape's features he couldn't quite conceal. Albus was inscrutable as ever. He was walking to the left and ever so slightly behind, pausing as the headmaster knocked on the door. "Jack? It's Professors Dumbledore and Snape. We would like to see you." His voice sounded cheery enough.

Jack looked up from his reading of the books smuggled to him, and a panicked look came over his face. "J-Just a moment please, I am not dressed..." he called out and quickly jumped down from the bed and stashed the books under his mattress, then placed the Hogwarts, a History on the table, open to a random chapter before sitting back down on the edge of his bed, and taking in a deep, calming breath. "I am decent now..." he called out after a beat, and waited.

A pause, and the handle turned slowly. However Albus had locked the door (Severus could not concieve of him leaving it open, even when thinking the worst of the elder wizard) he did not make it clear in the way it was opened. Interesting, but not unexpected. They entered, and stood near the doorway, not intruding too much. Snape shut the dor behind him, and glanced covertly about the room, weighing it up for himself, as Albus was still talking.

"My dear boy, have you been sleeping well?"

Jack's gaze flickered between the two men, giving both a nod of acknowledgemnt before answering Albus. "I have been sleeping well, yes. But I want to leave here." he said quickly. "This room I mean." he clarified, then swallowed nervously, and watched Snape more than the other for his reaction.

Snape had demanded he come here himself and see where Jack was being kept- and had hatched a great many things, planned a good deal more, and run through innumerable conclusions. In none of them was he standing back and doing nothing- most of them he had been railing, or defending something. The initial response to being in the Headmaster's presence- so far from his own jurisdiction, was acquiescance, but he fought it, speaking over the Headmaster who was drawing a breath as though to reply.

"He is right this is hardly a fitting... environment." He managed to sound scornful and disdainful, more than anything else. He stared at the thoughtful Headmaster.

Jack's eyes brightened at Snape's concurance with his pleas, and he gave him the shyest, slightest of smiles before turning to look at the Headmaster again. He looked him in the eyes, and nodded in agreement to Snape's statement. "I am quite lonely Sirs. I don't like being alone." he said, further pleading his case, then went silent. Waiting.

"You said yourself he could not last with his housemates, Severus," the Headmaster chided gently, peering over his glasses. "Whilst this is not the best option, there is no better alternative."

He tutned then to Jack. "My boy, I'm afraid you are not well enough to rejoin your peers, and I felt this place would be better for you than the Hospital Wing. That is not to say you cannot leave here sometimes, however," he added, by means of a placation.

"I want to go out, now. With Professor Snape." he snorted petulantly. He knew both were stern men, but he somehow sensed that an outting with his Head of House would involve more than just a promanade and a bag of sweets. He at least HOPED that would be the case. "I know I can't deal with everyone here, not yet. I do..." he stopped, his mind running faster than he could express himself, and he balled his fists at his sides, "I just want out." he said emphatically again. "I'm not a prisoner."

Snape looked temporarily taken aback, and absolutely refused to meet his Headmaster's eyes. Congratulations. Your subtlety knows no bounds, Snape thought. because that would imply it had at least started. "You would?" Albus refrained to ask where exactly Jack thought the two of them were going to go; Severus was hardly the tour-guide type. "I don't think Professor Snape has the time, Jack, he is a very busy person," he stated, being as diplomatic as he could, and flicking his eyes betweent he two.

"Well, yes I would...." he said, sounding just a bit deflated, and the anger in him stirring. Snape's silent scolding wasn't helping his mood any. Fine then. I will get out of here on my own. he thought bitterly then glared agrily between the two older men. He thought briefly of bum rushing the both of them and making a break for it. Maybe he could hide and find Cho or Blaise... No, that wouldn't work.

Snape mentally snorted. All I was saying was perhaps you might employ a little more tact and... more delicate methods, he thought, and turned his eyes to the Headmaster.

"You shall have to let him out eventually, Headmaster," he said, prompting him. "Though he will need an eye keeping on him."

Albus didn't look altogether convinced. But he was lacking too many open reasons for saying as much. "We couldn't possibly impose on your time, Severus, but you are right." He started stroking his beard thoughtfully.

Jack rolled his eyes in typical juvenile fashion and turned away from the both of them and gazed out of the window. There was nothing more for him to say, it was quite apparent that he would not be allowed to make any decisions concerning his life, and it was making him angry. He could feel the anger building inside of him and he folded his arms across his chest to keep them still. He wanted to pick up the nearest lamp and smash it against a wall. Fine, I shall shut up and be a good boy then. he sulked.

Snape had said all he was in a position to, and now it was just up to Albus. He watched him intently for his judgement, passing only mental comment. Oh do grow up, it was constructive criticism you dolt. he couldn't be doing with pride. Other people's at least.

Albus stared back. Looked at Jack. "You may go out tomorrow dinnertime, should you wish, it is a little too late now. The hows shall be arranged later. Will this be suitable?" he asked, with a raise of brow.

Jack remained staring out the window for a long moment. The urge to be sulky and unresponsive was all consuming, but something deeper down would not allow him to do that. Slowly he turned to look back at the Headmaster, and nodded his head. His face was a neutral expression. "Yes Headmaster." he said with a nod, then looked at Snape and gave him the same nod. Thank you as well, Sir. he replied, then slowly uncrossed his arms, setting his hands down in his lap.

Albus broke into a warm smile. "Wonderful!" A buzzing sound started, making Snape jump, but Albus merely rummaged around in his pockets, muttering, before he pulled out a pocket watch and stared at the face. "Oh dear, the kettle seems to have boiled. I shall go and pour the tea." He found Severus' eyes and held them, boring into them. "Severus, I shall just go and pour two cups. Do be a dear and close the door after me will you?" he asked, and left, calling a goodbye to Jack.

Snape blinked, nodded, and watched him leave a little baffled. That was different. He looked back at Jack.

Jack called "Goodbye" to the departing form of the Headmaster, then looked over at Snape as he stood there looking just at perplexed as he was for the moment. He chewed on his lower lip, a nervous affectation, then spoke softly. "What now?" he asked, letting his gaze move slowly over the Professor, scrutinizing every inch of his visible being as if to commit it to memory, or to recall one.

Now you ask me... "I say something suitably Slytherin, Head of House-like, find out if you've been reading your book, and that they haven't been brainwashing you into a fuzzy, un-Slytherin mindset?" he asked, head tilted to one side slightly. "Unless there's something I haven't shouted at you for yet, in which case that would take prelevance." The slightest of wry smiles. Probably because somehow Albus had managed to make him nervous again. One way or another.

Jack closed his eyes partway and then rested his chin on his hands, elbows propped up on his knees. He stared at Snape for a long time before speaking. "I feel I need to answer to you above all others. Is that correct?" He asked at last after a long pause. His eyes stared unwavering into Snape's black ones.

"I am not the Headmaster. I am the Head of Slytherin House,. Responsible for academic and pastoral care, amongst other things..." he replied, careful, measured, strict tones. Stood, a moment. "Perhaps." He felt like he was being cross-examined, despite him being stood up. And he didn't like that in the slighest, so he pulled himself up taller.

Jack canted his head slightly to the side, and continued to watch the Professor before him. He digested the patronizing sort of reply he gave, then sighed as he thought, And what am I to you.... exactly? he said, levelling a stern gaze toward the man, doing his best to convey, he wanted whatever truth he was unable to recall himself. I want to know it all.

Everything, nothing, does it really matter? The small amulet about Jack's neck stirred slightly, restless, sensing its master's own restlessness. Snape didn't flinch from the question, even if he didn't answer outright. He was going to have to settle him one way or the other, or be forever plagued, he realised. He sent a flash of compact, concise images. Summarised everything as cooly analytically as he could. Stared. That was what happened. That is all. He was highly aware that he would ahve to leave soon or Albus would not be so discreet again. But you are not who you were. I made sure of that. "I must go now," he said, aloud. "I shall ensure you have more books and an adequate escourt." He moved to the door, looked back. "And I do believe Miss Parkinson sent her best."

Jack's eyes widened as he read the images, and then filtered them into his mind. He lingered on them, savoring them, devouring them like a man starved, for so many things, then after a moment, "What do you mean you made sure I am not who I was?" he asked aloud, confused, but it wasn't the first time, and wouldn't be the last surely.

Snape lingered on the doorway, knowing he'd have to walk as fast as possible to not be completely... well, obvious. He blinked. Thought a moment. "Are any of us?" he asked, shrugged, and closed the door behind him. I have a headmaster to see.

Jack watched him go out of the room, heard the click of the door, and he sat here for a long time, thinking before he replied. I will wait for you to decide when it is right for us to.... resume. he said, then rolling onto his stomach he retrieved the book from under his mattress, and began reading again."

2002-12-05 22:01:00,
There's hope yet/ NOTES TO CHO, and BLAISE.

Well, tomorrow I actually get to leave my cel, and have dinner with one of my housemates. They won't tell me WHO yet, but at least I am getting out for a while.

More notes, one from Cho Chang, who sounds so nice, and soothing, and one from Blaise, who... I am not sure. Subversive is the impression I get from her. She is a Slytherin, from my house and she implies there was some closeness between us, but I will be damned if I can recall anything. I suppose this means it was a short forgetable affair, or she meant nothing to me. I don't know.

Severus Snape. I still have those dreams about him. Foggy, and hazy, no real details but I know what is happening, what is being done to me. I ache for it to be real. Why is THAT all I can recall of my past save for book learning. I am a real mental case.

I suppose I shall answer my mail then get to bed, tomorrow is the big excursion after all.

Hello again Cho,

Your notes are so kind, and soothing to me in a special way. I can tell we were good friends and must have shared quite a bit. I sense a calmness about you, and I think that must have been a good influence on me both then, and now. They are letting me out for little excursions it seems, the first very soon.

Would you be willing to see me if the Headmaster will allow it? Do not feel presured to do so if you do not want to. I hope all is well with you, I think Iam geting better, I am recalling my lessons, as I read, but not my personal past.

I wonder if it was that bad, and perhaps I am repressing it all. IN any case. Thank you for writing.

Sincerely, Jack Grim

Hello again Blaise,

I am quite curious about the type of friendship we had before. You make it sound so interesting. They weill be letting me out for a meal with one of my houemates tomorrow. I can hardly wait. I will have to let you know how it all goes.

I have been doing lots of reading and studying, this seems to make both Professor Dumbledore and Snape happy. I can be insane, but I will be an educated nutter.

Be well, Jack Grim"

2002-12-06 12:03:00,
Lunch for Two and a Tour

An IC RP with Jack Grim, Blaise, then Snape.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed in his room, hands folded in his lap, and waiting. He blew up at some stray strands of his fringe that were in his eyes and sighed. He was going to actually get to leave his prison and eat with SOMEONE tonight, and he was anxious to get going. He was stuck here however, waiting for his escort.

A House Elf had come to fetch Blaise after her lessons, and guided her to the room. The Headmaster had told him the way to open the door, but House Elves were skilled at this anyway. Not that he would have broken the Headmaster's locks, no no. He rattled twice on the door, smiling up at the witch who was following him, and called out. "Master Jack! Mistress Zabini is here for you!"

Jack looked up when he heard the knock on the door , He rose from his bed and went to greet the visitors. He saw an attractive brunette girl in Slytherin robes, accompanied by a House Elf. He smiled warmly at her, and bowed politely, "Good afternoon."

Blaise waited by the door looking at the the rather eager, she couldn't believe it when she recieve the note that she was going to actually get to have a meeting with Jack. She wondered what had changed. But what would she do with this chance meeting? She wondered if Snape or Dumbledore would be there. Before she left she had scribbled a note to Roger and had a House Elf deliever it. Blaise double-checked her clothing to make sure that they were perfect before the door would be opened.

"Master and Mistress, the food has been taken to the common room for you, Taffy shall leave you now to eat," he said, bowed, and vanished.

Blaise smiled slightly as he bowed, she looked around the empty room and looked back at him, "Hello, Jack you look well." Blaise closly watched Jack she could tell he really couldn't remember who she was.

She really could have lots of fun with this if she wanted to, but something in her mind said to be careful because he could remember everthign any moment. Blaise then held out her hand, "I suppose that means I will be taking you to the common room."

Jack smiled at the young woman, something was familiar about her, but no more could he recall. He took her hand in his and said softly, "I suppose you know how bad my memory is... I am afraid I do not recall your name..." he said quietly as she led him from the small apartment and towards the Slytherin Common Room.

"My name is Blaise Sophia Zabini, you can call me Blaise or if there is something else you would rather call me that will make it easier." Blaise said in a soft and tender tone. She whispered the past word and the portait hole opened. Blaise peeked in and looked around she then pulled back and smiled at Jack, It is all clear, why don't you go in first?"

Jack smiled at Blaise, "Nice to meet you Miss Zabini," he said quietly, then when the portal opened and she bade him to enter first, he did so. He stepped into the passageway, then to the Common Room and looked around. Nothing looked familiar to him. Not a bloody thing. He sighed, then his gaze fell upon the feast that had been laid out for them. Troubles forgotten instantly. His mouth began to water. "Say! Look at all that food!"

Blaise watched him, "Yes it is rather a lot I am sure there is enough to feed me you and ten other people." Blaise walked over with Jack and sat down, "It looks amazing as well. So tell me, Jack, dear, have you rememebered anything at all yet, within the time we have met up?" Blaise placed some food on her plate and started to take small bites.

Jack sat down and immediately began to scoop things onto his plate, and was three mouthfulls down before he paused to reply to her questions. "I am remembering Potions of all things... Book stuff. Things I have learned," he explained. "I don't remember anything about the people I knew except for...." he paused considering, then muttered the last. "I remember things about Severus Snape," he said in a rush, then began shoveling the food down again.

Blaise nodded, "Well if you have any suggustions on how I could help you remember me even if it is a little let me know okay?" Blaise smiled softly as she sipped her pumpkin juice. Blaise watched him carefully; she never seen Jack act this way about food before. Perhaps it was the trama he might have gone through. She wondered what memories of Snape he had part of her really wanted to know and another part really didn't care. She looked up at him, "Would you like to share them or would you rather keep them to yourself?"

Jack continued to devour the food until after two full plates full, he paused, leaned back in the chair and looked around the room they were in. "Slytherin House Common Room." he commented, for the moment ignoring her question. He had read about the Four Houses in Hogwarts, a History, he did not recall them. After a moment, he looked back over at her again, "Share what? What I recall about Professor Snape?" he asked with a slight cock of his eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, if you want I am not going to force anything on you," Blaise said with a warm smile. She watched him carefully and then took another sip from her pumpkin juice, wondering if Jack would remember anything about her. She touched her lips wih her hand then brought it down to her chest. Listeing to the silence of the common room. She hadn't had a dinner like this for quite some time.

Jack watched her carefully, and the coy moves she made. Instinct perhaps, commen sense, or fear of getting eviscerated by Severus Snape told him he should say nothing of MOST of the memories concerning the man. "We worked together a lot." he offered after she paused in her seductive motions. He blinked, clearing his mind of the inappropriate thoughts now residing there. "Things like that mostly. I am guess we were quite close. Perhaps that is why I recall mostly things pertaining to him." he said in a neutral tone with an expression to match. He then went to drinking two goblets of juice, and reached for dessert.

"I do recall that you had saaid you were doing somethign for him, However we were pretty close. Too bad you can't remember that." Blaise toook a deep breath and smiled, "Perhaps in time you will until then." She took a bit from her dessert and looked around the room something about the quietness of the room was getting to her. Blaise yawned slightly, "Excuse me, sorry about that I was up late last night."

Jack watched her closely. Then a moment later, he set his fork down and leaned in closer to her. "Just HOW close were we Miss Zabini?" he asked in an even tone. "Please tell me that much." he said, then locked his eyes with hers.

Blaise kept her expression indifferent but then it fell a bit caught off guard. She thought to herself that he would come to a conclusion on his own. Blaise reached up and touched his face softly, "Jack, to be Honest what we had or might have again it was more than friendship, but it is a bit hard to explain." Blaise then pulled her hand away, he mind flooded for a moment on Adrian. Blaise closed her eyes and then opened them taking a sip from her pumpkin juice.

Jack froze as she touched him, then slowly blinked as she pulled back. He looked at her curiously. "More than friends...." he repeated. "How MUCH more..." he pressed, again looking at her closely. "I need to know these things," he sighed, "Someone, sometime had to start telling me about.... me." he explained.

Blaise her lip, "See the thing is you there was a few moments that things that might have happened, but didn't. And there was one time something did happen." Blaise sighed, "See Jack you and I both are private people, and we both have been through a lot." Blaise leaned in closer to him, " I know something but probably not near enough to satisify you to know more about you. I believe you have this huge secret that you can't or won't tell. As for informantion about you that might take longer than one dinner date." Blaise then looked at him, "I do wish you could remember more about me it hurts a little bit but I understand."

Jack watched Blaise closely, and tried to listen likewise. The girl did nothing but talk in circles, and it was more confusing then beneficial. God, was I shagging this girl and dumped her? he thought to himself angrily, not realizing he was broadcasting. Won't ANYONE give me a straight answer around here? he railed, then nodded politely. "I suppose then there is not much we can tell each ot her at this this point," he replied in a bored tone, and looked around the room again. He was dying to explore it. "I suppose this is where I SHOULD be living..." he mused a moment later.

Blaise nodding and got up and walked over to him, "Okay how about this Jack, perhaps if you kiss me it might bring back a memory or two, and I will also show you around the common room like to where you slept. I will try and give you as much info I can I don't want to over load you." Blaise held out her hand again for him to take.

Straight? There's an oxymoron if ever I've heard one, was the angry, disgruntled reply. Severus Snape was not in the least amused. Would you mind keeping your private life to yourself? Some of us rather enjoy our privacy. Peeved. Very much so.

Jack raised his eyebrows at her blunt offer, and then took her hand and let her lead him out of the room. He was just about to reply to her, when the angry silent diatribe came from Professor Snape. He winced, So I am... was... gay before all this happened? Like you? he inquired, then turned his attention back to Blaise. "Kiss you? You think I should kiss you?" he asked as he followed her along.

Blaise was heading up the stairs when Jack finally spoke, "Kiss me, I don't see how it could hurt it isn't like we haven't before." Blaise then turned away and headed up the stairs again but then stopped and looked at him, "I could bring good memories and perhaps bad ones or even other memories that don't even concern me." She stopped and looked at him and then spoke again, "Just so you know- this staircase leads to the boys' dorms yours will be coming up soon."

Well you certainly bent to go over the fucking desk! Whatever ELSE you were doing I have no bloody idea, came the still-furious response. Snape was sitting at the staff table in the main hall, but stood up sharply, scraping his chair back over the wood and murmuring some excuse to Minerva, who was sitting next to him, and ignoring the polite question from Hagrid. He stormed out, unable to sit there any longer.

Jack looked at Blaise, considering her offer when the mental blast came in from Snape. He winced at the severity of it all, then managed to give her an amused smile. "I'll think about it." he said, remaining non commital to her and her offers for the moment. So I have been bent by you and myself then? he replied silently, then cracked a wide grin.

Blaise smiled back at him, "You do that, but don't think too hard." She smiled gentlely and noticed he had a wide grin, "What has you so amused, 'Mister Grim'?" Blaise ran her fingers throught her hair and then she opened the door to the 5th year boy's dorms, "This is your room."

There is a convention, Mr. Grim, in which one ensures one is not being inappropriate. Perhaps that is one custom you should like to adopt? He stormed down to his rooms quickly, glad to be away from prying eyes, and found his office as soon as he possibly could, before replying with just as much... mischief? Whatever it was. Bent, twisted, pinned, bound... forgive me if I missed anything out. He wasn't going to bloody well back down. He'd had enough of that.

Jack laughed softly, "I am amused by many things." he commented, then stepped ahead of her into the dorm room. Something about this room seemed familiar. He sniffed, yes, he could smell... something familiar. Just then, Snape's reply played out in his head. First the scolding which caused him to wince at the tone, then came the second part. Darkly wicked, salacious, and enticing. He felt a charge twinge in his body, settling in his groin, and his cheeks suddenly flushed with colour. He stopped his slow walk around of the room, and leaned back against one of the posts of his bed. You randy thing... he thought, then shaking his head, tried to push that train of thought away, and concentrate on examining the room, looking for clues.

Blaise pointed to a bed near his, "That is Draco's. You both used to be friends, I am not sure what happened there. And those to beds there belong to Twiddledee and Twiddledumb also known as Crabbe and Goyle." She walked over to him and took his hand and walked him to the arrow slit which had a small vie of the lake, "See that spot near the lake but also near the forest that is were we have talked and things...." Blaise took a step back and also let go of his hand, as she did so she took a deep breath and sighed. She thought to herself a bit more wondering what was going on inside his head.

Complaining? Snape asked, blinking slowly, his voice deliberately purring even in his mind. Oh well I suppose I should practice what I preach and leave you to what you are doing... He fumbled about with the books on his desk, even though he knew Jack couldn't tell what he was doing.

Jack tried his best to make mental notes of all of this information, then came Snape's reply, and his grin widened. No, SIR.... but that, and you, may be the cure I need.... he throught as he again turned his attention to Blaise and her tour. "By the lake huh?" he asked, then suddenly, something flashed in his mind. Memories. Bodies bare, together in the grass. It was like movie clips played at 100 times normal speed, and caused him to stagger with a sudden dizzyness. So much so, he reached out and gripped the stone of the wall. "Wow.... that sort of rang a bell..." he muttered.

Blaise looked at him, "Is that so? What do you remember?"

How could I refuse to help if it was within my power? Snape asked, mock-dramatic, but sounding incredibly sincere. He'd mastered the art of pretence a long time hence. Toyed with things as a distraction, but it wasn't helping. This was familiar territory. If it frustrated him more than anything else.

Jack grinned wider, blinking slowly at Blaise. "I recalled something about that area,"he confessed, looking out at the patch of woods. "I've been there... been with... people I imagine." He glanced back at her, lifting an eye brow, "I couldn't see details, just flashes of things..." he said. "We were there, you and I, weren't we?" he asked, then sent a simple thought to Snape, I would be grateful for such help, Sir.

"Yes we were but I seems to me that you didn't remember us. Oh, well I think I shall escort you back to your room I do need to get going to London." Blaise said in a slightly hurt tone and she started to walk out of the room. She wasn't sure what Jack's response would be but she figured she would find out sooner or later.

Jack looked at her as she turned away, he could tell he had disapointed her on some level. He seemed to be good at that. "I'm sorry if I don't remember what you want me to. I can tell there was something between us, just by how you are reacting..." he said sadly, then nodding, he began to follow her out of the dorms and back to his room of solitude. "Thanks for trying though..."

Well, you'll have to call for your books, sometime,< /i> he stated. The House Elves will not like carting them to and fro- and I do not trust them with them. He looked up at the clock. Oh the joys of third years...

"Don't patronize me Jack, perhaps you don't want to rememeber. I am not going to push you, you will remember what you want to remember." Blaise continued to talk to his room and when she reached it she opened the door. She then gave him a wistful smile, "I am sorry I couldn't help you more, I suppose I shall say good bye, and if you want to talk to me again just write me. However I don't know if they will allow me here again. So until we meet again."

Then I shall call for my study materials and specify who the courier should be. he thought as he walked along with Blaise, then he heard the hurt tone in her voice. "Blaise, I'm sorry I don't remember what you want me to remember. I remember almost nothing of my life, I remember no one. Not just you," he tried to explain, but then went silent, and shook his head as he continued to walk to his room. He gave her a smile at the door, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Thanks for everything Blaise. Be well, and I will be in touch." he added before going inside.

Snape grumbled. I'm sure that'll go down well. He had to stop thinking like this, now. Had to live in a different world, a different him. It was hard. Increasingly so.

Blaise didn't say anything more- she thought to herself that it was best, not say anything or react to anything. She then headed to her room and grabbed a few things, before she had to leave by Floo-Powder to meet with her father. And what an interesting meeting that would be.

Someone knowledgeable on the handling, care and selection of said materials I need is what I meant. Jack replied silkily after Blaise had left him at the door, and he watched the door shut and lock itself. He went to his bed and sat down on it, sullking. See, I CAN learn tact and subterfuge. he sent, then flopped down on his back and sighed. I pissed off that girl Blaise. I didn't remember her, or what we had going. he sighed, then closed his eyes.

Snape grunted mentally. Well, there is no more dedicated a study than I, and I challenge you to find another so devoted to the task... He started setting out things as the Hufflepuffs filtered in. Due pains must be taken, or the results do not turn out favourably... He was half-thinking about his own discipline- couldn't help but in his place of work. He stilled when Jack started talking about Blaise, a frisson of possesive jealousy sparking. Perhaps that is for the best, he suggested huffily.

Jack nodded, even though Snape would not be able to see that. I think it was something that was over a long time ago, if there ever WAS anything. he surmised. I didn't feel anything from her like I do when... he thought, then paused, letting just the thought there finish what he was going to say.

The 'voice' on the other end sounded slightly mollified, if still forcedly grumpy, and the classroom inexorably filled. He was not happy in the least about enforced separation, he was realising. And wouldn't put up with it much longer. Not that he had any leverage. I shall persuade the Headmaster that you are here to... learn... he thought. And speaking of, my class is waiting for me. Reluctant.

Jack sighed, nodding and felt another wave of loneliness and depression wash over him. I understand Mr.Snape. I won't trouble you any more.... I will request the books tomorrow. Thank you... he thought, then rolled over onto his belly, and extinquished the candles in his room with a muttered "Nox", and closed his eyes. He kicked off his shoes with a pair of thumps on the floor, and then sighed.

The Potions Master mentally laughed at that form of address. 'Professor' is the more usual title. I haven't heard the former in years. Hm where were we... Ah yes. Invisibility Serum. I don't know if you remember this. Might want to listen if you do. Never know what comes up in the OWLs... he said, mind wandering a little as he found himself in his element.

Jack opened his eyes, and thought, I should call you Professor, then? he inquired, then sat up. I could take notes while you.... think it to me...<i /> he thought brightly, then reignited the candles in his room, and went to sit at his desk, a quill and a parchment at the ready.

Call me anything else in class and I'll teach you the death of a thousand cuts, Snape relayed, amused. One good thing about studying Defence so closely, you found all the interesting hexes. I suppose you have the 'Most Potente' to hand? Yes? well turn to page 15... he instructed and proceeded to teach two groups siumltaneously. No mean feat, but it kept his mind busy, which was no bad thing.

And outside of class....? he asked cheekily, then began to take copious amounts of notes.

My Lord Most High And Reverend Master Of All He Sees' will do just fine, he replied. Now copy out that diagram already."

2002-12-06 21:22:00,
What a day....

I was allowed parole for a dinner with Miss Blaise Zabini of my own house. She was a vexing creature. So much she said, and didn't, inferred, and denied. She and I have a history but I am not sure to what degree.

She wanted me to kiss her in hopes of starting my memory into working again, but I refrained.

Snape's voice in my ear told me more of what I suspected was occuring between us, "Before" my illness. He seems as eager as I to indulge, but his desires are carefully veiled and subtle in nature, unlike my brash communiques... He seemed rather taken aback and angry to hear my inquiries regarding dalliances with Miss Zabini... He almost sounded... jealous? That can't be... I am insane.

In any case, we are trying to arrange a meeting place, for some "therapy". Wouldn't that be a kick in the arse if such perversions healed the sickened mind?

I feel like I am myself, mostly, it's just my memory is lost. I wonder how much of it I really want to recover, or shall I start anew?

I want to know, I really do, yet at the same time... Ignorance is bliss, don't they say. I am sure Professor Snape would argue that point. He found a way to instruct me mentally along with a class of Hufflepuffs this afternoon. I am not sure HOW he and I are able to talk the way we do, perhaps I shall ask him tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another day after all.

2002-12-08 20:58:00,
House Elf Post to Cho Chang

Hello again Cho,

I wish I could express to you how much your letter made me think, and consider many things. You think I was traumatized, that is why I have lost my memory? Have such things happened to me in the past? Please tell me if you know. The people I do have conversations with, (Professor Snape, Blaise Zabini) they talk in circles, or innuendo. I am guessing Blaise and I had the briefest of affairs and are no longer "together". I get this feeling from the way she acts around me, and frankly, if this is how she is, she would drive me to distraction. I mean, she seems nice enough, but there is just something....

I don't mean to ramble to you about other women. I just somehow feel you will give me the answers I seek. If you would like, I could see if the Headmaster will allow us to visit with each other for tea perhaps. Let me know your feelings on this, and I promise not to interrogate you.

Sincerely, Jack Grim"

2002-12-08 21:02:00,
House Elf to Blaise Zabini

Greetings Blaise,

I wanted to thank you for the wonderful dinner we had the other day. Please forgive me for taking so long to drop you a note. Professor Snape is keeping me busy with lessons. It seems it is OK with my Head of House for me to have amnesia, but not to be stupid.

I hope that the visit was pleasant for you as well, and I know it made you sad I did not recall much about our "past" but keep faith. I may yet, one never knows. Please take care, and thank you again.

Sincerely, Jack Grim"

2002-12-09 17:36:00,
A Question if you please..

An IC RP with Jack Grim and Severus Snape.

As it turned out, Jack DIDN'T ask Severus about the way the managed to communicate the next day, other matters and schemes had kept him busy, along with a mountain of homework assigned by said Professor. It wasn't until a couple of days later, not long after the evening meal when he thought to ask again. Radio silence except for prods about assignments had been the routine, so after looking at the clock over his bed, and guessing the Professor would be done with his meal, he called, Sir, I have a question if you are not too busy...

Snape had a detention to supervise. It was his own fault for giving it out. A couple of Gryffindor second years- who were due to clean the room. He had been sitting and waiting for them when he heard the call, and was for a minute disoriented. Eventually, he found his ground again. Tell me what it is and I shall tell you if I am too preoccupied or not, he replied, decidedly in a neutral (for him) tone.

Jack thought the answer sounded calm enough, well, he wasn't being outright berrated, so he continued. How do we talk like we do? Like this? I am surmising no one else can hear or intercept what we commicate this way. he inquired, then took a bite of a pastry, the last survivor of a now depleted plate full.

Snape nodded. He'd wondered when this question would come, and was only surprised it took so long. The Gryffindors weren't late yet, and he guessed that with nothing but cloths and cleaner there was little mischief they would be able to manage if he split them up. He could deal with this for now. Put your hand to your neck, he instructed, asking the little snake there to make itself known. An enchanted talisman, fuelled by blood, and some very ancient incantations. I trust you do not want to know all the intricacies of the device? he asked. There are several books on it... He sounded slightly amused at that. He knew he could perscribe a book for everything, practically, but at least these he had read most of them if not all.

Jack did as he was instructed, and reached his hand up to the metal serpent around his neck. As he did so, it animated and began to slide the circumference of his throat. He paused, initially frightened, but just as quickly as that had come, the feeling waned, and he felt the tickle of a wee metal tongue flicker over his fingertips before the Ouroboros continued it's circular exploration. You gave this to me... he stated, daze like as he tried to recall when, where, and WHY? he closed his eyes and thought, tried to force the memory to come, but nothing. A moment passed, I think perhaps, I should wait to research this when my activities are not so closely monitored, Sir. came the diplomatic decision.

Yes... Snape answered to the first, then rose, as he heard the timid knock to his door. He called for the boys to enter, which they did, handed them their cloths, and pointed them to different ends of the classroom, before sitting again. He listened to Jack's second thought. A wise decision if I may say so myself, he sent, then snorted. "No, please, put that down unless you like webbed fingers Mr Gilcrest..." Snape continued to let the Ouroboros play, it doing what he couldn't, and then slowly eased back down into his chair a second time.

Jack laid back down on his bed, licking the jam from his fingers, and looked out of his arrow loop at the cloudy sky outside. As he closed his eyes, he felt the metallic asp slip around his neck again, pause to nudge at a spot just behind his left ear, then it slipped down from around his neck, and across his chest, ever so slowly. Jack felt the movement and at first tensed, then something told him to relax, and with a sigh, he complied. A lonely aching emotion trickled from him mentally, but he said, nor asked anything further.

Messrs Gilcrest and Atwood were suitably cowed, and worked in mechanical silence. The Potions Master half forgot they were there- and only felt partially guilty for this, but not overly, for they were interrupting his time. His time. Since when had he started counting the hours? He urged his serpentine pet to slide first to one shoulder, and wrap its way slowly around. You see, it does what I ask... he said, eventually, darkly amused.

Jack's breathing was slowed, calm, and his mental state was likewise, almost trancelike. It was the calmest he could recall feeling since... Since he had awoken, like this. Just like I should? came the lazy, serene reply some moments later as he digested that fact.

Yes. I know best, came the mental smirk. Snape bit his bottom lip a little and half-closed his eyes as he let the Ouroboros curl about Jack's bicep like a living torc, slowly working its way down until it was wrapped about his wrist, head resting on his pulsepoint, and tongue flickering out to taste his palm from time to time, sliding itself gently across warm skin- like a real snake, taking heat from its surroundings.

Jack returned a soft sigh of content, of submission, althought he had no idea to just WHAT he was submitting to. He smiled as the snake explored over him, tasted him, and kept him company. He imagined the metallic touch was a cold hand, a fingertip on his pulse, and he moaned softly, resettling his hips on the bed with a slow lift, and decent. This will drive me insane if I am not already... I can't be alone. he thought, then shut off that avenue of thinking, knowing it would not be a pleasant place to be.

Ah but isn't everyone always ultimately alone... came the silent musing, sounding rather melancholy, with a touch of wistfullness to it. Just fumbling in the dark, and trying not to own up to the fact. Snape realised he had been- well, waxing poetical, and shut up. Those thoughts were for elsewhere, not airing for general scorn and derision. The small, angular head butted into the base of Jack's thumb, and then it started hising its tongue over and along fingers, the tip of its tail tracing small circles. Don't get me bloody started alright? It isn't the wisest of ideas.

Jack sighed and lifted a finger to stroke along the back of the Ouroboros, slowly down atop it's spine, head to tail. He felt the miniature scales under his fingertip, and smiled. I know now that I am never truly alone Sir, I have you to thank for that and so much more I am sure. I just can't recall it. he said, then lifted his hand holding the tiny viper up, near to his mouth, and brushed the tip of it's snout along his upper lip slowly. Goodnight Sir, thank you again. he sent as a final message.

The first sign of madness is talking to yourself...... the second sign? Replying. Snape closed his eyes, briefly, as Jack brought the snake to his lips, wishing they didn't have to do this, wishing it wasn't the only way right now. But it was. And complaining wouldn't change a single damn thing. Goodnight. We are both mad then, I suppose, he sent, amused. Weary. He wanted nothing more than to go to bed and sleep the night away. He looked up. The Gryffindors had finished early. Fifteen mintues, to be sure. "Well what are you loitering for?" he hissed at them, and they looked stunned. "Be off with you before I find you more work to do." They didn't need telling twice, and Snape was left to retire, leaving the link still open, not broadcasting anything other than his need for sleep, and relaxation."

2002-12-09 17:52:00,
We are linked

The serpent around my neck. Sometimes animated, sometimes inert, links me to Professor Severus Snape. I wonder more now about it for several reasons. Firstly, because I am to keep it secret, hidden from all but he and I.

He didn't tell me this, I just know it. Things I don't understand are coming to me in the strangest of ways and moments. Epiphanys they are called when they are religious in nature. These thoughts, and these instincts have nothing to do with anything divine.

He can cause it to move, and he did so. It slithered over me the way a hand would, if it could. If it was allowed to. The way I want it to. It is a very powerful object, and I feel it is Dark Magic in origins. Again, another hunch I have, and in the absense of a novel on my life, I am learning to trust my gut.

I want out of here. I want to be with people again. I want to be allowed to return to classes, to his classes. I like the feel of his gaze upon me. For now, it's all I have."

2002-12-11 17:45:00,
Touch me not....

An IC RP with Snape and Grim.

Jack sat at his desk, reading. He was now getting enough food to keep him satisfied as far as that went, and more text books had arrived from his personal supply, but the ones he desired most, from the Potions Master had yet to arrive. Perhaps they weren't coming at all. He knew nagging would do no good. He was quickly learning just what WOULD and would NOT work with Professor Severus Snape. He preferred to stay on his Good List. He paused to take a drink of Pumpkin Juice, and went back to an essay Snape had been so kind to assign to him.

Severus Snape had, with a little bit of coercion and elbows, managed to convince the Headmaster that Jack was in need of some feedback regarding his studies. He was there to learn, after all, and he had his OWLs coming up. Severus Snape would not let someone skip an exam unless both their arms were being eaten by bugblatters and their mouth was too busy hexing them away to dictate. And then he'd mark them as present if they were in the room and fail them for poor self defence. Albus had finally relented. And so he was here, with yet more books. (You could never have enough.) As the House Elf rattled politely to alert Jack to their presence, Snape sent a knocking sound of his own, but a mental one. Is there anybody there? he asked, sounding bored.

Jack paused in his writing, just managing to keep from dropping a large blot of ink in the middle of his essay, and stowed the quill in it's holder. "Come in..." he called out verbally, then smiled as he heard the other inquiry. Just a student, willing to learn Sir, came the bright reply. Jack slid his chair back and rose to his feet to greet his arriving guests. He watched the door as it opened, waiting to see who would be in the party.

The House Elf opened the door with some small wave of its hand before it reached for the handle, and turned. It started pushing the door open and was about to step in when the taller figure behind, black-clad and looming, pushed past. The elf jumped back a little, shocked, but quickly covered that up. "You may leave us now, I trust the door will reseal itself when I am gone," he said without looking back- a statement not a question- walking straight over to the table and plonking his stack of books down. A bit of dust rose. The elf replied a quick, slightly garbled assurance, and ducked backwards out of the room, closing the door behind it. Snape stood behind his pile, and waited a while before saying anything. "I do hope there is nothing I have forgotten?"

Jack looked over at Professor Snape, his expression a cross between amusement and uncertainty. Imagining the things he had been lately, then having the real thing standing there looming over him were two different breeds of cat entirely he realized, then with a nod, he quickly moved to sit at his desk again, and looked over the titles that had been brought. Most were of course ones no student ever would lay an eye or finger upon, and in the middle of the stack was one that cause his stroking finger to pause upon, and then retrieve. He held the book gently and carefully opened it's elaborate cover and breathed out a sigh of something akin to lust. "I recall this one...." he whispered reverently as he turned the pages carefully. A moment later, he turned to look over his shoulder and up at the imposing form behind him. "You gave me this one, didn't you Sir?" he stated, more than asked softly.

Snape had a patented 'don't be an ass' look that he reserved for people when he actually did have a shred of patience left, but it was being worn thin. He'd never suffered fools gladly, for any reason. Weakness was a sign of, well, weakness. Intellectually, verbally, physically- it didn't matter. He didn't deny the fact, just looked as though he thought there were better ways to spend his time. "Have you something for me to look at?" he asked, not making a move to find it himself. Other teachers might wait- Snape was still setting essays. Even Minerva wasn't that bad. He was stilled, face unreadable, half way between extremes- somewhere underneath.

Jack looked away from him then and ruffled through the piles of parchment on the table, shoving his journal to the bottom of a pile, then handed up three sheets of parchment that were complete, and the one he had been working on when the Professor had entered. "These are the ones from during the week Sir, the classes you communicated to me," he said, then added, "Thank you for that opportunity and extra consideration Sir," he said, then showed him the uncompleted one. "This is what I was working on when you arrived. I am still making notes for the final draft." he said, then turned to look back down at the open book before him. He could tell gaping at Snape while he looked over his work would not be a good move.

He took the papers with an almost dainty grace, scan-reading them in turn, murmuring when he saw something he disagreed with, or would have described differently, but reserving final judgement until later. He rolled them up, one-handed, and slid them into a pocket somewhere in his robes. Them all being the same shade of black, it was rather easy to do so without anyone being able to follow the minor sleight of hand required. The uncompleted parchment flopped over backwards from its own weight, the paper well-used, and he flicked it back up- only to have it fall down again. Snorting, Snape made his way to the table, and smoothed it out, using the inkwell to stop the top from curling down. His eyes followed paragraphs quickly. He looked up. "I do hope you are going to synthesize the reverse arguement in before you reach the end? Or were you intending to treat them seperately?" he asked, looking up.

Jack swallowed as he watched Snape battle with the unruly parchment, and then blinked to the here and now when he was posed with a question. "I uh... was going to treat them separately Sir." he said at last, "I wanted to treat them as two different and equal points of view, and not show my preference for either, leaving the reader to make that decision on his own." he explained, then reached for his glass of juice, his mouth was suddenly parched. He noticed then that his heart was racing and how nervous he was. He had to get this just right. Perfect. He wasn't sure why. He just knew he had to. It was as if his very future relied upon it.

Snape mumbled a little, let his eyes roam a minute longer, absorbed with questions of technique. "The only problem with that is you often throw more light one one or the other. The last, usually, unless it is only a mediocre amount and the beginning was very persuasive... which has led to many a person leaving their best till last and then having no time to argue the point they actually felt strongly about..." A wry grin. "Every method has its downfalls." The Potions Master straightened, brushing his hands over his knees slightly, and groaning a little, mentally, about tables being the wrong size for tall people, who ended up having sore backs. He looked over at Jack, puzzled a moment, weighing up his behaviour.

Jack was still reading the book and nodding at the critiques he was receiving, then paused when he could feel the heavy gaze upon him from the side. He ever so slightly moved his eyes to look in that direction, not having to move the position of his head at all, and found his gaze locked with a pair of black, and bottomless eyes. He blinked slowly, and then cleared his throat, "I shall try not to... to not fall into that trap, Sir..." he said quietly, then sat there, watching Snape. He realized a moment later that his mouth was still agape, and his pulse racing, so he quickly closed his mouth, and turned away, he could not maintain that gaze. Not with him.

Severus Snape watched. It was all really rather amusing-- almost... What was the word? He wasn't sure, but there must be one, for this almost... coy-? behaviour. He was not used to eliciting this sort of response from anyone. Not even Jack. He found he quite liked it, all things said and done. Not like the way some people stared right through him, or others just plain jeered when THEY leered. He bit his bottom lip before replying, eyes intense, and fixed, and focused. For all the time it took to say it, it was rather a short response. "Good." He was heavily aware of his breathing. It sounded too loud- rattling through his nose, amplified a hundred-fold, but he supposed that was just him. He hoped it was just him. He left his eyes, with great difficulty, trail down from those of Jack's, which weren't meeting his, and to his neck- where he knew his little silver serpent still lay, curled.

Jack turned the pages in the book, slowly and carefully, his eyes washed over the illustrations, charts, and the hand written notes in the margins in different handscripts, and colors of black inks. He could feel the gaze upon him, moving over him as if it were the feather touch of fingertips, long, and chilly ones. He shivered at that thought, then squinted his eyes shut, damning himself for doing so. What was the problem? If his dreams were truthful and the innuendo that had been silently tossed about was true... being this close to this man, being ALONE with him should not be affecting him like this. Or should it. He licked at his lips again, and forced himself to open his eyes and look down at the book, the page open to him. Undetectable Love Draughts for Friends and Foes. Reflexively, he shut the book, and carefully set it aside. "Is the work done satisfactory so far, Sir?" he asked, jumping his mind back to another subject. Any other subject.

The slightest of smirks slid across thin lips, swallowed as quick as it came, when Snape started speaking, carefully enunciating each syllable, rolling them on his tongue, enjoying speaking. It really was a pleasure not to have to bark and shout all the time- or even not to hiss. "Room for improvment, certainly, but at least you can string a semi-coherant thought together... in Potions at least." He drew himself up straighter, started looking around the room again. "Has no one else given you anything to concentrate on?" he asked, but didn't sound surprised.

Jack felt the temperature drop in the area around him when Snape stood up and gve him a bit of breathing space, and pose another question. "No. Not really Sir," he said, looking around the room, trying to see what Snape might be looking at, or for. "The headmaster has brought me books on Hogwarts mostly, none of the other professors have sent work as yet." he reported, then let his eyes wander over the tall and imposing back view of the Professor. Another shudder. He sat there, unmoving, transfixed.

Snape shook his head as he seemed fascinated by one of the walls. Even though it was practically the same as the other three. Perhaps it was a little more bare than them. And it was the one closest to Albus' office... He bit his lip and thought a while. No. It was very, very foolish, and stupid of him to even think it. He turned rather swiftly from the wall, a tad flushed, and let himself look at Jack again. Oh one of these days he would drive himself to utter insanity, he knew. "Really. How lax," was his comment. Bored-sounding, but with- an undercurrent? It was always difficult to tell with him, he never wore anything too openly. A heavy exhalation. He should be leaving already, there was nothing else for him to do, no marked work to discuss, nothing.

The Potions Master took a breath in as though to speak- but was pre-empted by the large clock on the wall chiming noisily, and the little cuckoo that came screaming out was squawking 'Late! Late Professor Snape!'. Snape turned and muttered something under his breath, waving his wand. The cuckoo, made dumb, could only look annoyed. Snape smirked. "As he says: for whom the bell tolls..." He walked up to Jack, until he was standing practically full on in his face, held his eye a moment, before he leaned forwards, and brushed past him, bringing one finger down to tap a particular spot on the essay. "Try defining that first," he suggested, looking up. Stayed there a moment, to watch his reaction, before slowly withdrawing, invading his personal space still farther on his retreat, nose brushing far too close to neck and hair and- was he inhaling? A mental purr, a mantra of possession, two dark, heavy-lidded eyes blinking once, and he turned and left the room in his usual flurry of black, a laugh still echoing somewhere.

It had happened all so fast, and was so unexpected, yet wanted. Powerful and numbing, terrifying and erotic. Jack had no time to react until the door had slammed shut, locked and he was alone again. "Fuck me...." he swore under his breath, still trembling and shivering from a sudden chill that filled the room, his back was suddenly awash in a light, nervous sweat. The laughter echoed in his mind, along with the message sent and received. He pushed back from the table, and stood up on unsteady legs, looking around the room desperately for, what? "God how I need a fag right now..." he muttered, then ran his hand through the long fringe obscurring his vision, and staggered into the water closet, slamming and locking the door shut behind him."

2002-12-12 16:28:00,
Tea with Cho - Part ONE of Two

Albus has kept it a secret from Jack that he was going to have a visitor for tea that afternoon, but he had run the prospect by Professor Snape, and Cho Chang, while from another house; was deemed harmless to the recovering young man. Jack was laying on his bed reading the Potions Book Professor Snape had given him for his birthday, (his favorite by far) when there was a knock on his door. He looked over just as a House Elf entered pushing a heavily laden Tea Cart. "Master Jack Grim needs to get ready for tea!" it squeaked at him as the cart was pushed into the center of the room, "Master Jack is going to have a Ravenclaw visit for Tea!" It smiled at Jack. Jack sat up, eyes blinking with confusion. "Someone's coming for tea?" he asked, closing the book and putting it on a shelf over his bed. "Who? Who's coming for tea?" he asked, confused that he hadn't been told.

She had been told that was where he was, and though she hadn't seen him there or anywhere else for quite some time, she could still picture him clearly in her mind. Would he at all be anything like she remembered him?

Taking a tentative step forward she raised her lightly clenched fist to the door and rapped on it lightly, if he were asleep she didn't wish to disturb him.

Jack looked to the door when there was a second knock, and a panicked looked came over his face, "Just a minute," he called out, then raced around his room looking for his wand. When he found it, he quickly did a cleaning charm on the room, himself, and made the bed up in no time at all. He looked around a final time, then set the wand on his nightstand table, "Come in..." he called out, then tried his best to strike a casual pose. His two-toned fringe was hanging in his eyes yet again, and quickly he brushed it aside with his hand as the door opened.

For some reason Cho had expected him to be dressed in his pajamas and lying in bed, shaking and feverish, but the Jack Grim she saw looked nothing like that.

He didn't seem quite as poised as she was accustomed to seeing him as, and there was even something a little innocent about him, but apart from those differences he appeared exactly like the last time she had laid eyes on him.

Glancing around the room for a moment, Cho took a few small steps inside the room, though she was still close enough to the door to leave if he asked her to.

Clearing her throat, she locked her eyes on him and smiled, "Hello Jack."

Jack smiled nervously at the young woman, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, and greet her, he realized that while she looked familiar, he could not recall her name. "That's Miss Cho Chang... a Ravenclaw Sir," the house elf whispered in Jack's ear as he finished his setting of the tea, then vanished with a "crack" sound. Jack smiled wider, relieved. "Hello Miss Chang," he said with a slow step toward her, then offered her his hand. "Thank you for coming to see me." he said softly.

She extended her hand to shake his and hoped that her expression didn't betray any surprise; she had completely forgot that he wouldn't know what she looked like anymore.

"That's all right," she assured him, and then offered a small grin, "do I look like my hand-writing?"

Jack's eyes twinkled with something they hadn't for longer than he knew as he gazed upon her, and he felt, warm looking at her, there was no other word for it. "Your hand writing is gracefull and calming to me, and your presence is the same." he said with a grin, then looked away to the table as a slight coloring came to his cheeks. "Well, the elves certainly out did themselves for us, there is enough food here for an entire house." he commented as he continued to hold her hand in his, then lead her over to the table for a look.

"Indeed," she agreed with a nod, surveying the spread, "if I didn't know any better I'd expect they thought I was staying for a while."

She gave him a sidelong glance and corrected herself, "not that I'm not staying for a while, or a little bit anyway, I mean ... I'll stay for as long as you feel up to it."

Jack let go of her hand only when he needed both to pull out a chair for her at the small table against the wall. "I am glad you came to see me at all. I have been rather cut off from the world since being ill, and I relish any company I can get." he explained. After she was seated, he took the other seat, and flashed a shy glance at her before looking over the food. His stomach was already starting to growl. "I've only had Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore for company now and then. Of course, Miss Zabini came to visit me a few days back." he said with an odd tone to his voice. "That was certainly interesting..." he said as he reached for the teapot.

Cho nodded again as watched him pour the tea and fought back the urge to scoff at the mention of Blaise Zabini's name, there was something quite untowards about that witch.

"I suppose that's one word for her," she said lightly, "was she able to help you with your memories much? I imagine as a fellow Slytherin you knew her quite well, same classes and such."

Jack looked up from pouring her cup of tea, and handed it to her with a look that said "no" to that question. "She confused me more than anything. She would drop clues, give hints, but not tell me much of anything. I am going by my gut on this, but I am guessing we had some sort of "relationship" but it was brief and she wants it to continue or resume." he said with a droll tone. He looked at Cho for a moment, then continued, "I get the feeling from you however, that we were good friends, and did a lot of talking, about real things I mean." he said with a nervous smile, then poured his own cup.

Cho accepted the tea cup and allowed herself a small and triumphant smile at that remark, though a moment later she was chastising herself for being so petty about it. Still, it did somehow make her feel a bit more validated that Jack seemed to appreciate her friendship, or he had a vague feeling that he used to ...

"You never talked to me about Blaise," she said, not bothering to be subtle about the inference that the Slytherin girl was certainly not a "real thing" they discussed, "but we did talk about other things ... I hope I was a good friend to you."

Jack prepared his tea, then looked over at her as he selected a scone, then took a bite out of it before adding some honey butter. "That is what I want you to tell me if you will Cho," he said, using the more familiar address, her first name. "I feel I can trust you above anyone, even the Professors to tell me what I want to know about myself. I feel there are things I NEED to know, and that perhaps people want me to forget..." he said, watching her face for her reaction closely.

Her tea cup was poised just in front of her mouth when he said that, and she averted her eyes into the liquid briefly before taking a sip.

Replacing the cup in it's saucer on the table, Cho took in a sort breath and tried to unblinkingly face him.

"Perhaps there are people who want you to forget," she said evenly, running a finger nervously along the edge of the table, "and I don't know if I'm the one you should place so much trust in, there is very little I can tell you."

Taking in another breath, she continued. "But the little I know is yours if you want it, they're not my secrets and no one has asked me not to say anything ... I think there might be a lot of things that you should forget, and maybe it's better if you never did find them out. That's not my choice to make, however."

Jack paused in the drinking of his own tea, and watched her intently, listening to the tone in her voice. "It's unfair to ask this of you, I realize. I am sure there is stuff I am better off not recalling...." he said, voice trailing off as he thought. He set his tea down, and took another bite of scone before continuing. "Well, I am going nutters in here not recalling anything but Potion Formulas..." he explained, the looked her in the eyes again, once she returned his gaze. "Please Cho, tell me what we have done, and something good about myself." he said at last, then sat back in his chair to listen.

"What we've done." She repeated the words, not as an echoed question that he might reiterate, just as a series of sounds she could try and focus on, make some sense of.

"We've spent time together," she stated the obvious, "we've talked ..." I've tried to sit in your lap before and who knows what I may have tried if not for the small mercies of interruption ... Cho closed her eyes for a moment and ignored those improper thoughts, trying to give him a better sense of himself through her eyes.

" ... about each other mostly, I think we played guessing games a lot - or I did, never could quite figure you out," she gave a short laugh, amazed that she could make that admission. "You were a good and loyal friend, Jack, a protector. And perhaps if it means anything, maybe you'll feel better about yourself knowing that I thought those things of you."

Jack listened to her, and was again puzzled by her answers. It seemed no one was willing to give him a straight out, yes or no, black or white answer about him. Had he been that awful? He nodded slowly, and ran his finger tip around the top of his cup as he thought, then asked, "Was I a secretive person Cho? Did I keep everything about me hidden, or was I just this total arse?" He asked, then watched her closely for her initial reaction as he sipped his tea.

Cho gave a short laugh and smiled, shaking her head, "No, you weren't a horrible person, although I don't think you let many people get close enough to find that out. Sometimes ... sometimes you were difficult to deal with, and a lot of the time impossible to understand, but you weren't mean or cruel."

She took another sip of her tea before answering the first part of the question, it seemed bigger and a lot more important to her, but she doubted it had as much bearing on him.He couldn't remember, most of this stuff wouldn't mean anything to him.

"You were very secretive," she said honestly, there was no way to sugar coat the answer, "But your reasons for being so were good ones, or so you led me to believe. You were protecting people from something."

Jack nodded and thought about her answers, adding them to what little else people had told him about him, and it was quickly becoming apparent to him that he most likely led a life of duplicity, and kept much about his dealings to himself, or someone other than Cho or Blaise. He wondered where Severus Snape fit into all of this. Was he the one he was protecting? Was it someone else? If that was the case, he was pretty much useless as a guardian now. "I suppose I never told you just who I was protecting, eh?" he asked, and poured more tea for the both of them.

Sophist Cho: "No," she said immediately, maybe too immediately.

She looked away for a moment and wondered whether she should mention that night in the Slytherin common room, the tunnel, Professor Snape's rooms ... he hadn't asked, but it wasn't something that was unimportant. She had suspected there was more to it, but he never told her - should she pass on something that amounted to little more than a rumour?

"You might have been protecting us all."

Jack rested his chin on his hands as he leaned on the table, thinking this over, trying to remember. The things he wanted to ask most about, Professor Snape and his relationship with him, he was sure was an improper topic on many levels. He was fairly certain he may have been a star student with him as well as... something more. He wondered if any of that was common knowledge. He had to only think on that a second, and the vision of Snape's stern face to know that would NEVER be the case. "I might have been protecting several people for different reasons," he mused quietly, then looked at her, focused again. "Am I currently involved with anyone Cho?" he asked, then with a grin and a lift of an eyebrow, added, "Girls? Boys?" he smirked, then waited.

Cho gave him a blank look and blinked a few times, ignoring the compulsion to be deceitful with him on this matter.

"I think you were very popular in that respect," she said slowly, hating herself for avoiding a direct answer, "I don't know the names of anyone. Don't you remember at all? Doesn't your heart tell you what you desire?" She bit her lip and blushed, it sounded even more ridiculous to say than tot hink.

Jack blushed as well at her last comment as at the word "desire" the most perverse of images came into his mind. Two forms, entangled, and it did not involve a fellow student. He looked down at his lap, and fidgeted with his hands, then cleared his throat. "I have had dreams... about certain people, but I am not sure if they are memories, or wishful thinking. The trouble is, I cannot really ask the person directly about them. It would not be... proper." he said a bit sadly. He had a pretty good idea of how things had been between Severus Snape and himself, but still, he wanted to know more. He wanted to know it ALL. He pushed that from his mind, and decided to ask her another direct question, "Were we ever involved with each other Cho?" he asked, point blank.

Cho smiled despite herself, hoping that her eyes didn't give away some sort of hidden sadness. There shouldn't really have been any sort of sadness to speak of; she was just being ridiculous.

"No," she shook her head, trying to remain settled, "I don't know that I'm you're type."

Jack saw the concern in her face, and then smiled, "I am afraid that now, I don't even know what my "type" is now." he said with a light chuckle. "So now may be your chance," he said with a sly grin and a wink, then offered her a plate with some tarts on it. "Come on, eat something or I will have to commit gluttony to keep the elves happy..." he joked.

My chance, Cho thought somewhat grimly,I don't have a chance, I never did ... but I wouldn't tell you that, would I? "I really can't," she declined with a smile, "I'm a Seeker, you know."

Cho rolled her eyes at herself at those words, No, you wouldn't know, would you? "I shouldn't go in for indulgences," she added weakly.

Jack looked at her, and his expression of smug confidence melted away. She didn't want him, even in this absent minded state of mind when he was so malable. Neither did Blaise, really, from what he could tell. He suddenly felt very defeated inside. Was that why he "belonged" to Severus Snape? No one else would consider, or condescend to be with him? Did he somehow run them off? He didn't want to show how sullen this made him, or how unwanted it made him feel, so he brushed it off. "I am not sure why being a Seeker would prevent you from having a..." he paused, then decided on another word, "Relationship." he said, then shrugged, acting like nothing was troubling him. "But I suppose if you are too busy, or have your reasons, I don't mean to pry." he said quietly, then sipped for a long time from his tea, and took consolation in a scone, and an apple popover.

"Oh Jack," she smiled and shook her head, a little surprised that savvy and poised Jack Grim had misplaced her remark.

He's really not like he used to be.

Cho wasn't quite sure how she should tread with the fifth year, he was in a very vulnerable position; it would be terrible for him to think that there was any reason why she shouldn't like him ... wouldn't it?

She watched him carefully and took another sip of her tea, "I was talking about the scones."

Jack looked up at her, hope sudenly returning to his soul. He grinned, and even blushed the tiniest bit. "You meant the scones..." he chuckled, than shook his head, sending his long hair down into his eyes again. "I am such a prat." he muttered. Perhaps not all was lost? He sipped at his tea again, and couldn't help but chuckle at himself again.

"Just a bit," she winked and looked back at her tea with a smile; Jack was still very endearing.

"Don't worry about it though," she added a moment later, "I'm sure when you're feeling better you'll catch things like that a bit quicker."

I don't know if I want you to though, she added silently.

Jack gave her a warm smile back, then set his tea aside, he was at last getting full. "I hope things start coming back soon... It's quite unnerving having no sense of self..." he said, then glanced out the window at the darkening sky. "Looks like another storm is blowing in from the west." he said. When all else fails, discuss the weather, right?

"There are storms blowing in from everywhere," Cho said lightly, surprising herself by how serious she sounded.

What did she knew of any storms that were approaching? Lately there seemed to be a lot of those, and usually they didn't have much bearing on her life. She had been trying to ignore the one about - she gulped and didn't even think of his name ... but ever since that day, that day when he Jack said his name ... things always seemed to be rather stormy. Cho shook off the uneasy feeling that was associated with that name; she had to focus for Jack's sake.

"It's a little strange for me to see you like this, though undoubtedly not as strange as it feels for you," she added, "you're usually very together, Jack. Calculated, calm, always a few steps ahead of people ... making the first move before people realise you've done it. Hmm."

Jack brightened a bit at that, and sat up straighter, paying more attention now. This was sounding promising. Maybe he hadn't been such a twit before. "Always plotting eh? I do spend a lot of my time scheming. I wasn't sure if it was just because I have so much free time now, or if it just is a passion of mine." he said shifting his position in the chair, trying to get comfortable. He settled at last, then looked over at her with a leer, "Was I always a step ahead of you as well Cho? Or two steps behind?" he asked with a wink of an eye.

She arched her eyebrows at him slightly and was somewhat pleased to find he still had more nerve than anyone else she knew.

"I'd like to say that we were even," she replied with a rueful grin, "I tried to keep up with you, at least, I'm not sure if I managed it very well, though."

Jack nodded to her, "You do very well. Holding your own, that is..." he said with a dangerous grin. "I find talking to you is not tiresome, but intriguing. Very very people I talk with actually CHALLENGE me to think about so much. There is you, and Professor Snape." he said with a tone of admiration for his head of house. "He is the only Professor who is giving me assignments to do. I daresay he has the right idea... I find that continuing my studies is helping me sharpen what mind I have left."

Cho made an active decision to not react out of the ordinary once she had heard that name, but simply nodded.

"Professor Snape isn't one who would willingly let a good Slytherin go to waste," she said, not really knowing if that were true, but assuming that it was, "he's a very strong motivator, uses fear on the students quite well as far as I can tell."

Jack grinned proudly that this person from another House was speaking so well of his mentor, head of house, and... what else? "Does he scare you at all Cho, or is it just the dullards and na'er do wells that cringe from his imposing form?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

Cho grinned, "he motivates me quite well."

Professor Snape had always seemed an imposing figure to her, she wasn't sure if it was fear that motivated her though, the need to please her professors may have been a bit more overwhelming.

"I don't think anyone feels at ease with him, even your fellow Slytherins," she said truthfully, "those of us who haven't angered or annoyed him, and I gather that there a few, we've always known how to do as we're told - so we keep doing it. I always get the impression that he hates imcompetence."

"And laziness, and, disrespect, and Gryffindors...." he added with a smarmy smile. "I have incurred a bit of his wrath since my recovery began, but I think it was done to keep me on my path to knowledge and academic success. I know he favors those who seek to learn more than just the required information. I am one of those types it seems." he said casually. "He brought me a book, a special Potions book, and I recalled it right off." he said proudly, pointing to an exquisite tome of considerable age on a shelf above his bed. It was made of the finest carved and gold embossed leather and looked like it was in immaculate condition considering it's age. "He gave it to me for my birthday, I remembered that much."

Cho let a fake smile linger on her lips; the more Jack spoke of the professor, the more glad she felt that she hadn't yet mentioned anything that happened on Hallowe'en.

It seemed distinctly inappropriate, especially considering the fact that Jack knew about the secret tunnel that led from his dorm to the housemaster's room, that Professor Snape would have given him such a gift, something that could truly be construed as personal and important - Snape was the Potions Master , after all. Of course, Cho considered with relief, he doesn't know about the tunnel now.

"I never knew of Professor Snape's kindness," she finally said, "how admirable of him."

Jack consdiered that for a moment. "I don't think he is a particularly kind man, but he will encourage, and tutor those he deems worthy, and those who show persistance to learn and excel. "I think the book, must have been a reward for something I did in my studies, perhaps a particularly difficult and dangerous potion I was able to brew, or perhaps I even saved someone with a potion..." he mused, fully interested on the topic now. "What do you think Cho? Why do you suppose he gave me such a present?" he asked with a completely innocent look on his face, but in his heart of hearts, knowing what the book contained, he had a real hunch why. A gift of endearment as well as academic reward.

"You always seemed to know quite a lot about Potions," she said, somewhat disappointed that he was so eager to pursue a subject that included Professor Snape, "and there were times you were working on specific projects for the professor, well, I assume there were because there was one time I saw you studying for it - I wasn't allowed to know what it was for, though, and since it seemed rather involved I assumed it happened more than once before."

Cho couldn't avoid the feeling of distaste that had settled inside her, it hardly seemed healthy to be discussing something that might be a danger to him. "As for why he gave you that book," she paused to take in a breath, "your guess is as good as mine."

No, Cho disagreed with herself, mine is better, and I know that there is something very wrong with him giving you that book. Jack smiled at her, and shrugged the topic off, he didn't want to pry anything out of her if she did, know anything about what may or may not have happened between him and the Professor. He got the impression that perhaps she may have an inkling, and it made her nervous. Well, rightfully so. He seemed to be considering something, then his wicked grin returned as he reached for a cube of sugar, and placed it on his tongue, "I am ashamed to say I can't recall what you gave me for my birthday..." he said with an impish grin.

"I never got to give it to you," she said before she could stop herself.

Good grief, she chastised herself, this is getting really typical, isn't it? Cho was about to tell herself off further when Jack's grin forced her to pay attention again.

"We might have been interrupted at the time," she said with a half-shrug, as though it were neither here nor there.

Bravo , she congratulated herself sarcastically and concentrated on keeping a straight face.

Jack grinned wider, and leaned forward, "Well, you can give it to me now... can't you?" he asked with all the wide eyed curiousity of a younger boy than he appeared to be. "I like surprises....." he said, further egging her on. He folded his hand on the table before him, the picture of good behaviour.

"I wouldn't want to spoil you," she said softly in an effort to keep her voice from cracking. Oh yes, I think I would. Cho would have to make a mental note to hex herself later when time permitted.

"How do you know I brought it with me anyway?" she questioned with a slight smile, casting him a dubious glance.

Jack narrowed his gaze as he considered her, then lifted one eyebrow slowly. "Well, if you don't have it with you, you could always give me a kiss instead." he said with a dangerous smile, watching her for her reaction. He could tell she was always so careful about revealing how she felt, and this intrigued him to no end.

It was definitely an interesting turn of events, Cho never anticipated him when he said things like that, he used to do that to her all the time - did he even realise how he used to take her aback?

"Do you want to kiss me?" she asked, thinking the answer would be worthwhile since it seemed highly likely he'd say no; it was just another part of putting her on the back foot.

Jack's grin slowly changed to a simple simple, and looking her dead in the eyes, he said quietly, "Yes, yes I would if you would allow me to." he said, then sliding his chair back, he rose to his feet, and walked over to where she was sitting, and offered her his hand. Gonna jump in shower, pose, back soon. Wanna get clean before CSI starts.

The niggling voice that told Cho to stop when she was attempting a feint on her broomstick sounded exactly like the voice that told her to keep her hands to herself - except she never listened to the anti-feint voice, so why should she listen to this one?

Cho reached up and took his hand, standing up as she did so; he was still a lot taller than she was.

How can you, Cho? the voice was certainly nothing if not persistant, Knowing what you do, it's not right.

Usually time or circumstance stopped her from doing anything particularly stupid, would either of those things stop her now? It seemed impossible that they wouldn't.

Jack continued to hold onto her hand, and then laced his fingers in between hers, and gave it a reassuring squeeze as he gazed into her eyes. "Kiss me Cho. Please." he said, barely above a whisper, then ever so slightly, tilted his head to the side, and moved his face closer to hers. He stopped just before the point of contact, letting her take the final step, if she willed it to be so.

Continued...."

2002-12-12 16:30:00,
Tea with Cho - Part TWO of Two

Cho gingerly put her free hand on his shoulder; she's never been asked by a wizard - like that - to kiss them.

He's a child with no memory - you'll regret it!

There was a good enough challenge as any, and an incredible feeling of desperation and need rushed upon her; when she tilted her head upwards so his lips rested upon hers, she could hardly feel it for her heart was beating very heavily, distracting her from the matter at hand.

Though not entirely.

Think of what everyone will say ... he's only a fifth year, he's a Slytherin.

Jack's eyes were closed, so he flinched ever so slightly when her lips touched his, but he was glad they had. He pressed his tighter to hers, and then parting his slightly, covered her lips with his, lipping at them softly like a horse would with a sugar cube. He sighed softly, a bit of a soft moan in his breathing as he placed his free hand on her waist for balance, then let her make the next move if she wanted to.

Cho felt her knees buckle slightly at the sound that escaped his mouth; that had never happened before.

That's because every other person you've kissed has been appropriate!

She was conscious of him touching her, even more conscious when she realised her free hand had moved from his shoulder and stopped just above his own hand at her side, sliding it downwards. Cho was so concentrated on forcing his hands down that she didn't notice that she'd opened her mouth.

Jack felt her hand on his, seeking to move it downward, to a more serious position on her body. He let her lead his hand down, but he stopped on the side of her thigh, not moving it around to grab her rump, as much as he wanted to. Then he felt her lips part, and with instinct coming from within, he moved his tongue past her lips, and sought out hers. Another soft moan escaped from his chest as he stroked his hand up and down slowly on the outside of her thigh.

There was still a rational thought there somewhere, somewhere ... she couldn't tell where, but there had to be something that held her back - although she could barely tell what it was when the younger wizard's tongue came into contact with her own.

While one hand was following Jack's along her thigh, the one that was still clasped to his other was beginning to feel a little clammy, but rather than freeing herself from his grip she just held on tighter. An automatic reaction compelled her to shift some of her weight from her feet and towards him, and for a moment reason told her that if she put too much weight on him he wouldn't be able to support her since he was standing.

She really couldn't concentrate on that too much after a breathless sound crossed her lips; the noise alone seemed to excite her even more.

Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and felt one hip of his brush against hers as they shifted. He felt her squeeze his hand, and his other hand flexed, making his fingers into claws, and he slowly raked them front to back over the quadracep of her thigh. He had slightly longer finger nails than most boys, so the sensation was different than she might expect. He made a low growly sound, and continued to kiss her deeply, with a soft hunger born of loneliness, and loss of self. He was touching another human for the first time since awakening. It felt warm, it felt right, it felt good. His tongue stroked and traced along hers for a few, exquisite moments more, then he nipped at her lips with his front teeth, and started to pull back.

She was very aware of him pulling her along with him, pulling her closer towards him; it made her breaths come more raggedly, and now instead of them being silent, she could hear herself gasping. Cho couldn't help it when she moaned softly into his mouth, part of her regretted it tremendously because it seemed so trite, but another part of her just wished he'd do the same.

When he started to pull back from her, he didn't want to take this too far, she moaned. He felt his knees go weak, then he was suddenly doing the same, and pressed in for more. His hand clasped at her thigh, and pulled her hand trapped by his up to his waist, where he deposited it, then after leaving her hand on his hip, slid his now free hand around her waist.

The alarm sound in Cho's mind was dimming a little, but it was still there. And as time passed and Cho realised that it wouldn't be much longer before she would start grasping at him (where she had no idea), her own fear of the unknown got the better of her.

He's the unknown ... you don't know what to do ...

And the thing that separated Ravenclaws from other Hogwarts students returned to her: she couldn't go into something so ignorantly, instinct would only take her so far ...

Shrugging her shoulders, as though that would take his lips off her mouth, she tilted her head to the other side in order to break contact. Still with her hands resting upon him, she cast him a sad and apologetic look, hoping that he truly did see that was how she felt, "I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack's eyes fluttered open as she pulled back from him, and he smiled softly at her. He could see the turmoil in her eyes, then came the soft apology. He tilted his head to the side, and blinked slowly, "Don't be. Please. Don't be sorry, don't regret." he whispered, then reached his hand up to touch her cheek softly, then let go of her, and took a step backwards, still keeping his eye on her, waiting.

"I don't think tea was supposed to go like this," she shook her head gravely, trying to catch up her breath without appearing to be as breathless and dishevelled as she felt.

Jack looked at her, and a sudden sadness came over him. He had done something wrong, very wrong. He could feel it, and it make him sick inside. "No, it wasn't. I was wrong Cho. I shouldn't have done that...." he said softly, then turned and walked to the other side of the room to give her space. He made sure he wasn't standing between her and the door. "I'm sorry." he said a moment later, and watched her.

"No," she took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I knew better and I took advantage of you." Cho resisted the urge to just turn around and leave, she'd done that so many times before though - she had to at least try to leave on a good note.

"Jack," she said slowly, hating the fact that admitting anything was heinously difficult and she may as well have just crawled into a hole died, "it would be dishonest of me to say that I never wanted you to kiss me like that before."

He looked at her, sadness showing in his eyes, and he listened to her, hearing the emotion in her voice, the turmoil. "No, you didn't take advantage of me Cho, I wanted it just as much as you did. I NEEDED it. Don't you see?" he asked, then before she could answer him, "You mean, we never kissed before this, but you wanted me to?" he asked, a bit of hope returning to his voice.

"We never did," she confirmed with another shake of her head, "but I wanted you to ... I never told you, but I think you knew anyway." It had never been this easy to admit things like that to Jack before; was she taking advantage of another difference about him? She felt terribly guilty, no matter what he said.

Jack took a step towards her, wanting to comfort her, but then, there was a knock on the door to his room. He shot a panicked look to Cho, then called out in a calm voice. "Yes?" The door opened slowly, and Albus Dumbledore peered inside, a curious expression on his face. "Good afternoon. I just thought I would stop by an see how your tea party was progressing."

"I was actually just on my way out, sir," Cho said brightly, pulling herself together remarkably fast, but casting a questioning glance at Jack which Dumbledore did not fail to miss.

"Indeed, indeed," Dumbledore smiled, if Cho didn't know better (and maybe she didn't) she could have sworn it was done in amusement, "I expect Jack needs to get back to his ...?"

"Studies," Cho replied promptly before Jack could say another word.

"Yes, yes, studies," the professor nodded, twirling the ends of his beard with his fingers, his smile still in place, "we best let him get back to it, he is looking rather flustered by it, hope it's not too much of a strain," he paused and shot a glance between the two of them, "Perhaps you could tutor him one day, Miss Chang?"

Cho's smile dropped slightly as she turned her back on Jack, following the Professor out of the room, "He doesn't need lessons from me, Sir.""

2002-12-15 12:03:00,
Freedom at last

An IC RP with Jack Grim, Severus Snape, and Albus Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore didn't know what to do with Jack now, short of more memory spells, and they were not healthy when used indiscriminately. He would wait until after Christmas... And then think again. But for now, it seemed that Jack would be best going back to face the Slytherin pack already- any further delay being more dangerous than as a precaution. And so he made his way with Severus up fromthe dungeons in silence, and knocked on the door.

Jack was laying in that morning, which had bled into the early afternoon, he was not doing well with the solitude, and while the visits from Blaise and Cho had helped lifted his spirits, he was sinking farther into a depressed state. When the knock came on the door, he merely rolled over on his bed to face the sound, and called out lazily, "Sure, come on in..."

Albus entered first, as was his custom, with the Potions Master skulking in behind. His expression and air were unreadable, controlled- except for the faintest smirk, mixed with a little disgruntlement. He moved to one side of the door and stood there, letting Albus lead.

"Ah Jack, good evening, my dear boy," he smiled, voice cheery. "How are you feeling today?"

Jack scrambled to sit up when he saw who was coming to see him, and he first looked at the Headmaster, then to Snape, then back to Professor Dumbledore when he asked him how he was. "I... I am rather bored Sir, if the truth be told." he said with a sigh. They with a cautious look at Snape, he rose from his bed, and moved toward the door leading to the lavatory, "Pardon me sirs, let me just get dressed proper." he said shyly, then slipped into the side room, closing the door behind him.

"Not at all," Albus said to the already-retreating back, before turning to look at Severus.

Severus who slowly pulled his eyes to the headmaster when he spoke.

"I see you have been keeping him occupied," Albus said, with a head cocked to the stack of books on the slightly cluttered-looking desk.

Snape made no sound, but blinked and looked non-commitally at the older wizard a moment. Eventually he said, "Somebody has to do it." And then returned to his immobile position.

Jack quickly donned some clothes, a shirt, pants, socks and a sweater. He didn't bother with robes of any sort, and after giving his hair a quick brushing, he re-emerged into the room, and sat down on the edge of his bed. He looked at the two men, wondering what could be occuring now. Sir? What is going on? he asked silently.

I think he would prefer to tell you, came the silent reply, no visible sign of the communication in the professor's stance or face.

Albus was stroking at his beard thoughtfully. "Mmm bored, you say? Well perhaps we can see to that. Professor Snape and I both feel that you would benefit from a return to schedule... you would be staying in your dormitory with your classmates, and attending classes- though you are to be given consideration when work is set, of course." He didn't turn and look at Snape at this point but the other teacher nevertheless felt the dig,

Jack's face lit up immediately, and he jumped to his feet. "Really? I get to get out of here!" he chirped, then quickly adopted a solemn expression as he looked at the Headmaster, "Not that it isn't a fine room, well apportioned and all Sir. I am very grateful for the hospitality." he said, trying to cover his glee at the prospect of being paroled from the pleasant prison.

Albus' laughter was well-meant and friendly, and he looked over to Snape, old face wrinkled with amusement. "Ah, and you said none of them had manners, Severus!"

A world-weary sigh. "I never said they lacked manners, Headmaster, only that those which they had were bad or rusty from lack of use." He didn't even bother looking at him. Sent a wave of exasperation out, though.

Jack was unable to supress the wide grin on his face, and he moved to the jumble of study supplies on his desk, "Shall I start to gather up my belongings?" he asked, voice alive, and chipper for the first time in a very long time. "Will I be going back to my dorm?" He asked, looking at Snape this time.

"The House Elves will see to that," Severus replied, as he was addressed- not bothering to look to Albus for confirmation. The Headmaster might not stick to protocol but he certainly did. "Yes, you shall be in your dormitory."

Albus nodded his confirmation. "Any further questions, Jack? Or shall we get underway?"

Jack shook his head slowly, still grinning like an idiot, and he took a step towards the two men and the door, then paused, and turned, jumping onto his bed, and collecting a particular book from the shelf, and slipping it under his arm as he jumped down from the bed like a spring lamb. "I want to keep this one with me." he said, then walked over to near where Dumbledore was standing. "I am ready Sir," he smiled.

The Headmaster nodded, and put his hand on Jack's shoulder. "Alright, but you might want to leave that behind- we shall be going for tea, shortly," he suggested.

Snape waited in his customary position for the other two to leave first, moving his hands to his sides.

Jack started to shake his head, and opened his mouth to say something, then looking down at the book offered it to Professor Snape, "Sir, can you please see to this book for me. I value it above anything else I own, and do not want any harm to come to it." he said in a soft, reverent tone as he cautiously looked into the Potion Master's eyes.

Professor Snape didn't move immediately, staring back- and looking for... deceit? Something, anyway, in Jack's eyes before he held out one hand and took the book without looking down to judge distance or see what he was taking. He took it to his side, fingers curled over the spine, and held it cradled to his thigh, nodding once. "I will," he said.

Albus breathed audibly- a half-sigh, and continued trying to guide Jack out of the room he was apparently so eager to get out of. "Hm, I heard they were doing toad in the hole today- last time mine hopped onto Professor Sinistra's hat..." he started relating.

Jack gave Professor Snape a relieved look then turned and followed Professor Dumbledore out of the room and to the Great Hall. He was nervous to be sure, but more relieved to be finally getting out of that bloody room."

2002-12-15 16:06:00,Hello again Draco,"<lj-cut text ="OOC NOTE: If you want to play Draco in THIS game, he needs to be like THIS....">

Draco Malfoy had been asked by his house head to escort Jack Grim back to the dorms after tea- and he did so with bad grace when out of sight. "Well, Mr Part Time Student, this is the Slytherin common room..." he said, as he opened the door, and smirked at the third years who were hanging around. They stopped whispering and skulked off. Draco stopped and folded his arms, waiting for Jack to follow.

Jack immediatly got a bad feeling about this Malfoy boy, and kept his eyes on him for signs of somthing off. It seems something Slytherin was kicking in inside of Jack, and he felt himself suddenly going "on guard". He looked around the Common Room, it looked a bit more familiar to him since his last visit here. Nothing special. He then looked over at Draco, "Part Time, but not by choice Malfoy," he sneered back. "I do have a good excuse for missing the classes I did, and yet I was still keeping up with potions." he said proudly, then narrowed his gaze. "What's YOUR excuse for doing so poorly?" he snarked back. He was only guessing Malfoy would not be as sharp as he was when it came to studies, but he was fairly confident this was not the head student in the house.

"Because I have better things to do with my time and I do well enough without being a brown-nosed little snot," Draco said, cold eyes narrowed a moment, before they relaxed a little. A sly smile. "Come along, Grim, I don't have all day," he said, and walked to the dorms.

Jack smirked at Draco's reply, this was interesting. Open hostility as compared to the evasive answers he had been getting from everyone else. Jack hesitated, "Tell me Malfoy, did we used to be friends or not?" he asked boldly, standing his ground, and looking around the Common Room a bit more, seeing if any memories came to mind.

"Friends? Here?" Draco laughed, an odd sound, and turned around when he sensed he wasn't being followed. He looked carefully. "You really don't remember?" Oh that was just fine- he could use this, if he wanted to. And he did. He leaned against the door lazily, at home here, even if he was only a fifth year. "Grim, we were in the same house, and you were..." he shrugged. "Just another Slytherin like all the rest."

Jack stared deep into Draco's eyes, and thought. "Just another Slytherin?" he repeated. "I doubt that..." he said in a low tone, watching Draco closely, reading body language, and other subtle signals. After a moment, he shrugged it off, and set to following Draco, "I suppose that is what you say now. " he smirked, and then chuckled under his breath, but just loud enough for Draco to hear.

Draco looked unimpressed. "You will soon find out, one way or another, Grim. Slytherin House... well, shall we say that there are some in here whose blood is bet