Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Harry Potter belong to their respective authors/owners.

A/N: Happy Chinese New Year! Happy Valentine's!

Requested by Shana - Guardian of the Pack who provided me with a few specific prompts.

To the anonymous Sylvia: Thank you very much! I hope this chapter is also on par :)

Worth it

Severus had survived so far and will continue to do so, but he had nothing to live for. Later he'll find something that makes everything worth it.

.oO0Oo.

Kagome blinked and received a blink in return. She heard Inuyasha running and yelling in the background but didn't take in his words. Instead she remained in her position, seated in someone else's lap and staring at their face. He was definitely male, with black hair and eyes, pale skin and a Western face. She reached out to touch him but another hand intercepted before her fingertips could make contact.

"Sorry," she blushed. Kagome really should do something about her impulsive touching. Though in her defence, it might be in her blood since her mother and brother had wanted to feel Inuyasha's ears too.

"Who the hell is he?" The hanyou demanded. She looked up to see him standing threateningly over the mouth of the well and immediately she felt the stranger stiffen. Knowing that the foreign man might not know or react well to Inuyasha's appearance and attitude, the miko started to explain when her silver-haired companion acted before she could.

"What are you doing with Kagome?" He growled out, flexing his claws dangerously. The miko glanced back at the man and realised that he was still holding onto her wrist, which might've been interpreted negatively by Inuyasha.

So she acted without thinking and threw herself over the stranger to cover him. Her free hand wrapped itself behind his neck in a one-sided embrace while her body attempted to shield the man from view. However his head remained unconcealed over her shoulder and probably only angered the hanyou even more. Kagome wasn't thinking of that though because the man had turned his head in surprise, making his breath tickle the side of her neck. Her blush deepened when she realised her position, she probably looked like she was cuddling and straddling the man.

"Move over stupid Inuyasha!" Shippo ordered before leaping down to land on Kagome's other shoulder. His feet prodded at her bag's back-strap but his attention was on the man beneath her, "Who's that?"

She leaned back to take her and her bag's weight off the man and took the opportunity to study his face again. "I'm not sure, Shippo."

The boy hopped over to the shoulder that was closer to the stranger and asked directly, "Who are you?"

He replied in a deep, smooth voice but it wasn't in Japanese, though the words did sound familiar.

She shook her head, "Sorry I don't understand...wait, one of those words was 'where'. English!" Kagome brightened and tested her theory, "Hello, my name is Kagome Higurashi."

"Severus Snape." The accent was obvious when she knew what to look for.

"Move up and talk?" Inuyasha interrupted her, which only earned him a scold.

"Yes."

Kagome pointed to the vine, "You first." When he merely stared back, she clutched her skirt and blushed but he understood the message and reluctantly nodded.

...

The miko climbed up with experienced ease and had her first proper look at the newcomer. Mr. Snape was a tall man, who dressed in black robes? The teenager may be behind on the latest fashion but his clothing still appeared rather odd. There was also something else about him...something not quite normal. Maybe Inuyasha also noticed that strangeness, as he was growling and threatening the man who probably didn't even understand the language.

"Inuyasha..." she warned and his ears flattened in response but he kept his eyes pinned on the other man. Kagome stood in front of Inuyasha to get Mr. Snape's attention and bowed, "Sorry about him," she turned and gestured for him to follow, "Please, follow to safe place."

They walked to another spot that Kagome often frequented. The place was closer to Kaede's village but more importantly, away from the well and deserted. Kagome thought that they should try and clear things up with Mr. Snape before introducing him to the villagers since the teenager wasn't sure how they'd react to the foreign man. She would require Sango and Miroku's assistance though and had asked Shippo to deliver the request.

...

Although Kagome had learnt English and exercised it more often than her classmates, she wasn't fluent and her prolonged stay in the Feudal Era had obviously made her skill rusty. There were many terms that Mr. Snape had used that she hadn't even recognised, like 'hogwarts' and 'dumbledore'. She still managed to translate the gist of the conversation though.

"So you were in England but somehow transported to somewhere, fell and then came here?" She received a nod and sighed.

He didn't seem like he knew what happened or how to reverse it and the miko wasn't sure if the well would work the same way that it did for Inuyasha and her. Sango and Miroku shared their view that the well might be malfunctioning and it would be best not to use it until Kaede checked it out. They didn't want to include Mr. Snape in on the well's secrets though, since he was a stranger who may or may not be trustworthy with something so important.

Kagome smiled a little guiltily at him, "Sorry, but not just my secrets," then she grinned reassuringly, "Don't worry, we will help you get back." He nodded again.

Shippo chose that moment to bounce onto her lap, "Are you done yet? Did you bring me pocky, Kagome? Did you, did you?" The miko laughed and gave him a few boxes, while the rest stayed safe in her backpack. She'd have to ration the modern treats or Shippo would eat them all in one sitting.

"Pocky...?"

She glanced up to see the man tilt his head toward the munching red-head but she wasn't sure of his question, so replied hesitantly, "Yes?"

He seemed to decide against inquiring and merely turned his attention elsewhere, probably to absorb the surroundings and attempt to analyse his situation. Mr. Snape reminded her of Sesshomaru in some aspects, but while the Lord of the West had a calm, cool confidence, this man had a bitter and almost defeated acceptance. Kagome didn't like that look.

She held out another box, this one chocolate flavoured. When he didn't take it, she got up to wave the pocky in his line of sight and grinned, "Eat pocky. Tasty."

Mr. Snape frowned, "No."

Eyes wide, Kagome asked again, "Sure?"

"Yes."

"Eaten before?"

"No."

"Then try now!" Smile.

"No."

Kagome tried not to pout, sighed instead and went to comfort the shocked and now getting-angry-Shippo. The boy had watched the exchange because of the pocky presence and must have figured out what was being said.

.well.

Following his Slytherin instincts, Severus continued to stay with the strange group and was now walking to their next destination. Inuyasha glared at him from behind, the couple glanced back subtly from the front and Kagome walked beside him with the boy in her arms. He could understand the other group members' suspicion and he could ignore the animal-like features on Inuyasha and Shippo, but the cheerful Kagome put him on edge the most. She had stayed by his side in case he wanted to ask anything or required any help, often trying to make small talk and always smiling at him. It was her pleasant, too friendly in his opinion, personality that threw him off. He didn't believe that anyone could be so nice like Li...like that and so the man was tense from waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Severus didn't have problems with the language though, since he had already discreetly cast a translation spell when the group had first started discussing his presence. That didn't mean that he had to, or wanted to, speak Japanese however, the Slytherin wanted to keep his advantage. He was still on high alert from serving the Dark Lord.

So with his Slytherin nature, he had survived so far and will continue to do so but Severus had nothing to live for. Back in England, an important person was married to his hated enemy while he was a branded slave to the merciless Dark Lord. There wasn't any reason to go back so he didn't care if he couldn't. The man was only following the group to gain more information about the place. He was like an aimless moth blindly flying toward the light. Not that he was going towards anything or anyone, he was just following and by light he meant information. Of course.

...

The silver-haired man stopped and tensed, while his furry ears were flickering and alert. The rest of the group instantly responded as well, with the couple taking defensive stances on either side of Kagome and the fox-boy curling further in her arms. Severus suddenly realised that they were preparing for battle, he observed Kagome for confirmation and also saw her frantically searching the dense forest in the distance for something. He watched her lips mumble information that only Inuyasha could pick up until she abruptly shouted in Japanese, "Curse on right shoulder!"

The three warriors of the group leapt into action while Kagome turned around to push him away from a long-ranged attack of some sort. The force knocked them both onto the ground with Shippo barely avoiding being squished by jumping onto her shoulder.

Severus was shocked. By the strange foreign creature, it looked and acted like nothing that he had read about, but then again, Kagome had shouted about a curse. By the intense battle, the fighting was more about physical movements than magic. The wizard was unfamiliar with their use of magic, he hadn't even known before that they could perform any. Finally, he was stunned by the fact that Kagome had remembered him and acted to push him out of harm's way.

She wasn't done though and had stood up to watch, occasionally yelling out the new position of the moving curse. The other group members followed without hesitation. They tried to lead the creature away but something told Severus that they were confident that Kagome could protect him, Shippo and herself. He was proven correct when the creature split and headed toward them just as she had pulled back an arrow. Kagome fired the glowing weapon in time to save them and reduce the potential danger to dust. She quickly pulled back another glowing arrow and fired at another portion that was aiming at Sango. Unfortunately the creature was smart enough to use that as a distraction and was about to strike Kagome when she wasn't ready.

The hit never landed since Severus had cast a powerful shield. Ironically, that was the same instant that the battle ended and everyone had witnessed his action. Inuyasha was closest, having deflected from the main fight to aid Kagome no doubt. Everyone cast him wary looks, everyone but Kagome that is, she gifted him with a bright smile and gratefully thanked him. Severus was surprised by how that small act made revealing his skill more than worth it.

.well.

"Inuyasha, stop harassing Mr. Snape!"

"He speaks our language and has that stick thing, who knows what else he's hiding! What if he's working for Naraku?" The silver-haired man growled.

Miroku interrupted with his usual placid tone, "While it's true that Mr. Snape has hidden his skills, he's also new to the environment and the group. We can't hold it against him for being cautious. Besides, he saved Kagome from an unfortunate injury, surely that should grant him more civil questioning, Inuyasha?"

Sango frowned, "I'm with Inuyasha. He was able to quickly bring up an invisible shield. We don't know what other things he could have done or plans to do. Although he doesn't have Naraku's scent, Inuyasha has detected something else that's suspicious and his behaviour is too careful. What if that recent attack was part of the plan? So he could save Kagome and win our trust?"

"Which is why he will be questioned, just more politely," Miroku smoothly returned.

"Feh!"

They turned to him, silently demanding him to speak. Severus noticed that their hands were either on or within easy reach of their weapons. On the other side, Kagome didn't seem as concerned, merely smiling encouragingly with her arms occupied with Shippo. The boy was still slightly wary of him but seemed to take Kagome's lead and so his wariness was more of childish jealousy, that a strange foreign man was stealing Kagome's attention rather than serious hostility.

Severus debated briefly with himself on what to reveal and then began, "I have been telling the truth, perhaps not everything but there haven't been any lies."

"What about speaking that weird language?" Inuyasha huffed.

"I could only speak English in the beginning and I couldn't understand you then, but I never said anything about later. The ability to understand your language came afterward."

"May I interrupt, Mr. Snape, but when did your ability develop?" Miroku asked politely and subtly laid a hand on Sango's knee.

He decided to be truthful about it, "While you were discussing my presence. I did catch bits at the end, like how you agreed to keep me in the dark about some issue and even then I would have to be monitored, which was why I've been traveling with the group."

"And to help you find a way back home!" Kagome interjected, her eyes shining brightly. He forced himself to break the eye-contact, not trusting his future actions if he didn't. Severus Snape was a hardened man, capable of withstanding insults and torture but genuine kindness was like a foreign virus that he had no protection against.

"I am a wizard..." he could hardly believe that he was saying this, "...and I can do magic. I used a translation spell."

The group remained silent until Kagome hesitantly questioned, "Magic...like with a wand?"

"Yes." The Slytherin pulled out the key to his magic reluctantly, which was swiftly stolen by Inuyasha.

The silver-haired man waved the wand around tauntingly, "This puny stick?"

"Yes," Severus growled.

The other man smirked, "I could snap this in two..."

"Don't. You. Dare."

"Like you could..." The rest of Inuyasha's sentence was suddenly cut off by a glowing arrow that narrowly missed his furry ears.

"Inuyasha, return Mr. Snape's wand," Kagome command was firm and had the thief immediately obeying. Severus couldn't help but be impressed by her composure. "Sit." The latter command resulted with Inuyasha eating dirt, literally.

Instantly the previous effect vanished, Inuyasha jumped up to protest, "Why did you do that for, Kagome? Who knows who he is and what he could do with his magic!"

"His wand belonged to him. We don't know him completely but that's because we haven't known him for long. As for his magic, maybe he'd tell us if you hadn't interrupted and even if he didn't tell us all his secrets, it's not like we share ours either. Besides, I trust him."

"He could kill you!"

"You've tried to kill me," was Kagome's easy but shocking reply.

"He could betray you!"

There was a perturbed silence and Severus would've missed it if he hadn't been listening so intently, but he heard Sango whisper, "Kikyou." Inuyasha obviously heard the word since his ears flattened guilty. Kagome must've noticed too because her demeanour dulled.

The next words left his mouth before he could think on them. Perhaps the situation had him on edge and he slipped. Perhaps the Slytherin in him wanted to be on the group's good side. Or perhaps he just wanted to comfort a certain person, give her hope and maybe bring back a smile on her lips.

But Severus Snape, the Half-Blood, the traitor, would never regret saying to Kagome, "I would always be loyal to you." And keep his word.

Because as he would find out, Kagome was well worth everything.

0o.o0

A/N: I believe that everyone will find their moment of happiness. Perhaps not yet but not 'never'.

I've been busy and/or unmotivated due to personal reasons. The latter is still fluctuating but I am writing again.

.

Wishing everyone a joyful year of the Tiger and good luck in all your endeavours,

Airily

P.S. Quick poll on profile page: Who should make more of an appearance in 'Just a Riddle Away'?