Severus stood - arms and legs crossed - leaning against the wall beside his fireplace. He was waiting for Candice to arrive and use his floo to disappear for the holidays. He had told her it was fine, yet on the inside he desperately wanted to make her stay. Sirius Black, a person he still despised intensely, was who his girlfriend was going to spent her Christmas with. Not him. That fact annoyed him.
The girl of his thoughts appeared after a small knock. She entered with a smile on her face, but the Potions Master sensed it was fake. Was it because she knew he didn't approve of this trip? Or perhaps she didn't want to go after all?
"You don't have to leave, you know." he blurted, and quickly switched his sight to anywhere but her.
Candice made her way to him, then stood on her tip-toes to be in his line of vision. Their eyes met and he felt her hand uncurling his arms.
"I know. And I know y-you want me to stay." she placed a kiss on his cheek then walked back to pick up her luggage, "Merry Christmas, Severus."
The dark mass felt a pang of sadness at her loss of touch. He was so engrossed in that feeling, his mind didn't even comprehend her last words until green fire flared and his girl was gone.
"Merry Christmas, Candice." he whispered into the (once again) empty room.
The professor didn't know why he felt so alone in that one moment. He was ready to break down for no reason, when another knock was heard. He wasn't expecting anyone else that day... The person on the other side knocked again. Certainly impatient, Severus thought as he regained his composure and made his was to the door.
"Ah there you are son! You took so long for a moment I thought you were elsewhere." Albus entered without invitation and took his favourite seat on the couch.
"Apologies, my mind was elsewhere." he closed the door, and sat as well, "What may I help you with?"
The Headmaster smiled and his eyes twinkled as he look towards the closed bedroom and empty kitchen. Severus raised an eyebrow at his observation but made no comment.
"You are alone, I presume?" the elder chuckled at the glare he received, "I am aware that Miss Black returned home."
"Came here to mock me, did you?"
The question came out harsher than he intended, though he was satisfied about putting out the sparkles of the blue eyes.
"Of course not. I was just going to inform you that Miss Lomax is arriving back today."
Severus froze.
"Miss Lomax? Lyra Lomax? Fifth year?"
"The very same. She was going to surprise Candice in arriving back early. Shame you let her go."
The Potions Master growled, "Stupid kids planning stupid surprises."
"Personally, I think Candice will return beforw you know it!" Albus exclaimed happily, then left with his oddly purple robes flowing behind him.
What was he to do now? He knew Miss Lomax was his girl's best friend and he knew how much she was missed. Of course Candice would've been overjoyed if she would have been there at that moment. Severus couldn't stop imagining the faultless smile on her small face. On the other hand, she really wanted to see her uncle too. The man grumbled at the thought.
Although, she didn't seem very enthusiastic to see her old man. Severus would say she looked more anxious than anything else. He pondered on that for a long moment. After a bad feeling started to fill him up. Candice never really talked much about Sirius in front of him... Snape always believed that she respected their dislike for each other (which no doubt she did), yet now, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something he completely dismissed.
He suddenly stood as memories flooded his mind and all seem to add up and make sense: her flinches, her stutter, her shyness and insecurities... Everything. Severus wanted to slap himself for ignoring the obvious. He was reminded of the first time they met and how his girl zoned out after he snapped at her.
"Don't. Tell. Me. What. To. Do." Sirius said then threw a whiskey bottle at the wall next to her.
The young girl jumped away, but some glass still went into her skin, as the bottle shattered to miniscule pieces.
"P-please Uncle. You m-must stop." Candice breathed, with tears rolling down her cheeks and pain in her bloody arm.
Sirius then came up to her, and the last thing Candice saw was his fist before all light disappeared.
He was shocked at the time, but also sure what her mind showed was made up. The professor was under the false illusions that Sirius Black was her father not uncle, and he thought not much of the memories when he was found to have been incorrect. It was all coming back to him now, making him feel worse and worse for letting his girl go.
Why would she willingly go back there? That was a question he had no answer to. Severus cast a spell to reveal the address of her destination (realising how little he knew about Candice). The name appeared in the air, and the man rapidly grabbed some floo powder and threw it in the fireplace.
"14 Truwe Street." he stated and kneeled into the flames.
Just a floo call, he told himself, just to make sure she's OK. His head popped up in a very nasty looking fireplace, and he had a view of a smashed up living room. He reconsidered going over fully, but in the end, he just called out with hope.
"Candice?"
His voice echoed through the empty room, and he could merely make out a kitchen door to the left which remained shut. No answer was given and Snape was ready to retreat when a pop sounded and Kreacher appeared in front of him.
"Master Snape?" the old grumpy house-elf seemed to exist no longer, as his tone leaked fear above all else.
"Kreacher." he greeted awkwardly, "What happened to the old Black residence?"
"Mistress Black did."
Mistress Black. Did that idiot get married? Severus shook his head at the silly idea.
"Candice?" the elf nodded, "Is she here Kreacher?"
"I don't know if I'm allowed to say" Kreacher started, except was interrupted by a voice from above them.
"What are you doing here, ey?"
Was that Black? The Potions Master looked at Kreacher questioningly, whose frame gave a slight shake. Before he could say anything, the elf got on his knees and put his hands together as if praying.
"Wha-"
"Master Snape know Mistress Candice? Master needs to come through. Master needs to help Mistress. Mistress in trouble."