Restless Hearts
Minerva McGonagall never really liked going down into the dungeons. It was just one of those things that were a necessary part of her job as Deputy Headmistress, but it didn't make it any easier. She and Severus Snape had gotten along purely on a respectful common ground, but seeing the Quidditch cups from years before made her fur stand on end.
On this occasion, she walked the stone paths to the dungeons, the only sound she hears being the sound of her shoes clicking on the floor. As she approached Professor Snape's office and living quarters, she heard something she never expected to hear: singing. She slowed her pace and walked a bit more softly as she approached, listening as the words of a song poured from a man's soul.
"Never knew I could feel like this, like I've never seen the sky before.
Want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything?
Seasons may change, winter to spring, but I love you, until the end of time.
Come what may! Come what may! I will love you until my dying day!"
Minerva was stunned. Was that Severus? She could hear a piano playing in the background and she wondered idly who was playing for him. As she neared the door, she peered in the key hole and nearly died of shock. She had not had a clue! Her suspicions were confirmed when a cool, clear mezzo-soprano rang out the second verse of the well known muggle tune.
"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,
suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,
It all revolves around you."
Then he sang with her,
"and there's no mountain too high
no river too wide
sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
storm clouds may gather and storms may collide
but I love you,(I love you!) until the end of time.
Come what may! Come what may!
I will love you until my dying day!
Oh come what may! Come what may!
I will love you! (I will love you!)
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place!"
Suddenly, Minerva felt like she shouldn't be there. Leave them to their song. But the sound of Severus' resonating tenor was smooth and almost intoxicating. She hid around the corner and peered around the side as the door swung open and Severus escorted his lovely pianist out into the hall. He cupped her face in his hands and Minerva imagined that he was smiling. After looking at her for what seemed like eternity, he leaned over and kissed her tenderly. His companion slid her long, slender arms up from where they had been on his chest and wound them over his shoulders and around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. The woman laid her head on Severus' shoulder as he wound his arms around her, holding her in the most sensual of embraces.
"I love you, so much," he murmured to her. After this, he kissed her again lightly on the lips and disappeared back into his room, his hand lingering in hers as long as possible before she walked away and her fingertips slid away from his. Minerva was stunned. He was still humming the song as he wandered back into his rooms and closed the door. Minerva decided not to stop and talk to Severus just now. She slinked off back to her room, scolding herself for being so bullheaded with her own love life. Sheesh. Even a Slytherin could find love at Hogwart's. So what was she doing wrong?
It seemed darker than before when she reached her own dorms. She sat back on the couch to ingest this new information--Severus had someone. Something she would have never expected in her entire life. Hell, she didn't think anyone would have expected it. She curled up like the cat she was, pressing her fingers to her temples, attempting to rid herself of the guilt she had rested on her shoulders. She could have just left and never seen any of that, but no. She had to be the curious, slightly stubborn Gryffindor she was and just HAD to know. A soft knock on the door made her start momentarily, before she uncurled herself and made her way to the door, albeit hesitantly. What if it was Severus? Had he seen her?
She rested her hand on the handle, taking a deep breath. She nearly fainted in relief when she saw it was only a tired-looking Remus Lupin, an even more worn book in his hands.
"Hello, Professor. I just remembered to return the book you let me borrow. It was quite enjoyable, I thank you." She took the book and nodded.
"Thank you for remembering to return it. I was a bit apprehensive on letting you borrow it: Albus almost never returns the ones he borrows from me." He laughed softly.
"Well, Professor Lupin, it's getting rather late. Shall I be seeing you tomorrow at the Hogsmeade outing?" She nearly made a face. A bunch of students on Honeydukes candy. What fun.
"Indeed you will be." He inclined his head slightly. She ducked her head in goodbye as well and went to shut the door. Remus placed a hand on the frame and frowned.
"Professor, are you okay? You didn't look exactly chipper when you opened the door." She ogled at him with a wary expression. How in the world did he know that she was a little down at the moment? He gave her a dry smile.
"Werewolf senses." She averted her eyes in shame. She should have known. 'Well, that was smart,' she thought with a bitter tone to herself. She took a breath and met the eyes of Remus again.
"No, there is nothing wrong, Remus. I'm perfectly fine," she said with a cheery tone, attempting to cover up something she knew she couldn't hide. He studied her with a look of concern.
"You sure you don't want to talk or something? I won't tell anyone anything."
Why did that sound so inviting? She quietly exited her rooms and leaned against the wall. He sounded so sincere, so concerned. The last time someone had been truly concerned about her was when her mother died, fifteen years before. Yet, that was out of pure sympathy, not the fact that he had actually wanted to help her. Lupin moved to her side and waited for her to begin. Once she did, she felt she couldn't stop.
Minerva McGonagall never really liked going down into the dungeons. It was just one of those things that were a necessary part of her job as Deputy Headmistress, but it didn't make it any easier. She and Severus Snape had gotten along purely on a respectful common ground, but seeing the Quidditch cups from years before made her fur stand on end.
On this occasion, she walked the stone paths to the dungeons, the only sound she hears being the sound of her shoes clicking on the floor. As she approached Professor Snape's office and living quarters, she heard something she never expected to hear: singing. She slowed her pace and walked a bit more softly as she approached, listening as the words of a song poured from a man's soul.
"Never knew I could feel like this, like I've never seen the sky before.
Want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything?
Seasons may change, winter to spring, but I love you, until the end of time.
Come what may! Come what may! I will love you until my dying day!"
Minerva was stunned. Was that Severus? She could hear a piano playing in the background and she wondered idly who was playing for him. As she neared the door, she peered in the key hole and nearly died of shock. She had not had a clue! Her suspicions were confirmed when a cool, clear mezzo-soprano rang out the second verse of the well known muggle tune.
"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,
suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,
It all revolves around you."
Then he sang with her,
"and there's no mountain too high
no river too wide
sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
storm clouds may gather and storms may collide
but I love you,(I love you!) until the end of time.
Come what may! Come what may!
I will love you until my dying day!
Oh come what may! Come what may!
I will love you! (I will love you!)
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place!"
Suddenly, Minerva felt like she shouldn't be there. Leave them to their song. But the sound of Severus' resonating tenor was smooth and almost intoxicating. She hid around the corner and peered around the side as the door swung open and Severus escorted his lovely pianist out into the hall. He cupped her face in his hands and Minerva imagined that he was smiling. After looking at her for what seemed like eternity, he leaned over and kissed her tenderly. His companion slid her long, slender arms up from where they had been on his chest and wound them over his shoulders and around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. The woman laid her head on Severus' shoulder as he wound his arms around her, holding her in the most sensual of embraces.
"I love you, so much," he murmured to her. After this, he kissed her again lightly on the lips and disappeared back into his room, his hand lingering in hers as long as possible before she walked away and her fingertips slid away from his. Minerva was stunned. He was still humming the song as he wandered back into his rooms and closed the door. Minerva decided not to stop and talk to Severus just now. She slinked off back to her room, scolding herself for being so bullheaded with her own love life. Sheesh. Even a Slytherin could find love at Hogwart's. So what was she doing wrong?
It seemed darker than before when she reached her own dorms. She sat back on the couch to ingest this new information--Severus had someone. Something she would have never expected in her entire life. Hell, she didn't think anyone would have expected it. She curled up like the cat she was, pressing her fingers to her temples, attempting to rid herself of the guilt she had rested on her shoulders. She could have just left and never seen any of that, but no. She had to be the curious, slightly stubborn Gryffindor she was and just HAD to know. A soft knock on the door made her start momentarily, before she uncurled herself and made her way to the door, albeit hesitantly. What if it was Severus? Had he seen her?
She rested her hand on the handle, taking a deep breath. She nearly fainted in relief when she saw it was only a tired-looking Remus Lupin, an even more worn book in his hands.
"Hello, Professor. I just remembered to return the book you let me borrow. It was quite enjoyable, I thank you." She took the book and nodded.
"Thank you for remembering to return it. I was a bit apprehensive on letting you borrow it: Albus almost never returns the ones he borrows from me." He laughed softly.
"Well, Professor Lupin, it's getting rather late. Shall I be seeing you tomorrow at the Hogsmeade outing?" She nearly made a face. A bunch of students on Honeydukes candy. What fun.
"Indeed you will be." He inclined his head slightly. She ducked her head in goodbye as well and went to shut the door. Remus placed a hand on the frame and frowned.
"Professor, are you okay? You didn't look exactly chipper when you opened the door." She ogled at him with a wary expression. How in the world did he know that she was a little down at the moment? He gave her a dry smile.
"Werewolf senses." She averted her eyes in shame. She should have known. 'Well, that was smart,' she thought with a bitter tone to herself. She took a breath and met the eyes of Remus again.
"No, there is nothing wrong, Remus. I'm perfectly fine," she said with a cheery tone, attempting to cover up something she knew she couldn't hide. He studied her with a look of concern.
"You sure you don't want to talk or something? I won't tell anyone anything."
Why did that sound so inviting? She quietly exited her rooms and leaned against the wall. He sounded so sincere, so concerned. The last time someone had been truly concerned about her was when her mother died, fifteen years before. Yet, that was out of pure sympathy, not the fact that he had actually wanted to help her. Lupin moved to her side and waited for her to begin. Once she did, she felt she couldn't stop.