Arielle Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The Man Who Came for Arielle

-Chapter Two : The Man Who Came For Arielle-

BAM!

The door of the shack fell off its hinges. Arielle quickly scurried off to a dark corner while Dudley woke up with a squeak. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia ran in the room. Uncle Vernon held a rifle in his hands which shook.

A tall shadow appeared at the doorstep. It was a man. He had shoulder-length black hair and a hooked nose. His face was set in a fierce scowl that made Arielle's hair stand up at her neck. She shivered subconsciously and stared at the man. It was obvious that the man didn't notice her yet as his black eyes fell on Dudley who cowered behind his mother. The stranger sneered at the child and asked in a cold voice, "Where is Potter?"

Uncle Vernon murmured something that strongly reminded Arielle of 'freak'. She started as she heard the rifle cock and stared at her Uncle. Was he really going to shoot the man? "There is no Potter here! You are breaking and entering! Get out of the house!" The man didn't even flinch under her Uncle's words; he merely smirked and pulled something out of his pocket.

It was a stick.

Why on Earth he would pull out a stick was beyond Arielle's mind. The man flicked his wrist and murmured something. The rifle suddenly flew out of her Uncle's hands and landed in the man's free hand. Her Uncle squeaked, not unlike a rat or a mouse would and stepped in front of his family, minus Arielle of course. The man's gaze turned even colder, if that was possible and he almost hissed his next words, "One last time. Where is Potter?"

Arielle knew that she couldn't hide anymore. She sighed and stepped out of the corner she was hiding in.

"I'm here."

The man sneered and grabbed her hand. Arielle gritted her teeth to not scream out in pain. That was the hand that was bruised the most, not to mention bleeding from where her uncle had slammed her in the corner of the motel after they left it. She couldn't do anything but let herself be dragged away from her 'family'.

The man's black robes were billowing dramatically as he walked down the road to the shore. Arielle almost fell numerous times as she tripped over the rocks and only his hand stopped her from falling on her nose. He stopped so suddenly that Arielle stumbled and almost fell again if it wasn't for the man's second hand that grabbed her shoulder and held her straight. She hissed in pain and jerked away from him. The man glared at her and said, "Sit in the boat."

Arielle thought of disobeying him, since she didn't even know his name, but decided against it. Sitting in the boat she silently watched as the man sat opposite her, pulled that stick from his pocket again and tapped the boat. Suddenly the boat lurched forward and Arielle had to grab the edge of it, to prevent her falling over board. The man didn't seem to notice that, or he simply ignored her. From his other pocket he pulled a small button and with a swish of his stick changed it in a magazine of some sort. Its title was Potions Weekly.

Arielle didn't recognize it. After about half an hour she couldn't stay quiet anymore. Clearing her throat quietly she drew the man's attention to herself. She said, "If you don't mind. Who are you and where are you taking me?" The man's gaze hardened again and he sneered, "It's none of your business." Arielle visibly bristled. None of her business?

"None of my business? Being kidnapped by a total stranger is none of my business?" She quickly bit her tongue as soon as the words left her mouth. She put the hand on it and quickly said, "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, sir…"

The man's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he returned his attention back to the magazine. Minutes passed again before the man spoke, "My name is Severus Snape, and I came to check why you never answered your letter." Arielle nodded appreciatively, although she wasn't sure if he saw it or not. She decided that the best way to treat the man was to be polite, so she said, "Thank you. I'm Arielle Potter."